Secluded Spring broken, beaten, scarred

<i>Early morning, chilly winds.</i>

Gone Tomorrow

The sun's rays could not penetrate the ice that had formed around the she-wolf's heart. The water froze her paws as she swam across it, but she barely noticed the frigid temperatures. She was beyond feeling at this point; an overwhelming sense of numbness had taken over her. Ever since she had lost his scent, she couldn't feel anything. Even her senses were less than helpful, all she could smell was his fresh scent. She had lain in her den, dormant for days, simply breathing in the scent. She had refused to go outside, even as her daughters, Rissa and Aiyana, had asked her to. What could she tell them? Nothing would be the truth because she simply couldn't know the truth.

Corinna's depression had knocked her down, but she would not let it kill her. For hours each day she left her pack's territory, crossing the River into the wilds of Relic Lore. Running through the forests, she had tracked the trail of Indru and Torrel. There was little comfort in knowing that they were together. By the fourth sunrise, she had known without a doubt that they were not coming back. The fiery eyed leader of the River wolves had left without so much as a goodbye, sweeping up their son in his powerful jaws, carrying him across unknown land. She had tracked them to the base of the mountains, but there didn't seem to be a way to scale the steep inclines. Cori's fear of heights, once so powerful and immobilizing, was not a factor, evident in her incessant attacks against the mountain.

She kept the mountains in sight, looming up above her as she ran north. But this time, Cori was not following the trail of Indru and her sons (presumably Rihael had gone too, as his scent had also faded on the pack's territory). Today, fighting against the cold winds that barely registered under a clouded sky, she was headed to the borders of Copper Rock Creek. The second oldest Tainn brother had been her rock and her salvation the first time that Indru had abandoned her and the wolves of the River. There was no doubt that the blow that Indru had disappeared yet again would be crushing to his sibling, but at the same time, Corinna could also envision the rage that would consume him at the news.

It was not with a light heart that she made the journey that day, and as she approached the well marked territory borders, she came to a halt, chest heaving at the exertion. Tilting back her head, she called for her brother, begging with howl that was far from being a diapason. Letting her shrill call fade into the clouded sky, the ragged leader, worn from weeks of worry and hunting, fell quiet.

With a soothing lick, Ruiko cradled his daughter to his chest, amazed at how much Vaeta had grown. The little imp had finally been coaxed to spend some time with him, and while he had taken her to hunt ‘bugs,’ the tawny wolf realized how quickly she had become tired. So, after a few hours, he had settled down with her in the den, telling her a story of when eh and Indru had been young – and even Niija. His pale daughter fell asleep quickly, and his bright amber eyes cast over her lovingly, a fierce protection so deep in his chest that at times he did not think he would ever breathe properly again.

Drawing him from his lull was a familiar cry – Corinna’s howl echoed across the Creek lands with an urgency that made his heart drop. Gently untangling himself from his daughter, the male cast one more loving glance to her before he slipped out of the den, telling one of the nearby members to keep a close watch on his princess while he was gone.

Moving quickly now, Ruiko’s large figure blended perfectly with the foliage of oncoming autumn. He wove through the trees, his paws crossing the shallowest parts of the Creek before the silver figure of his sister came to view. Worry and warmth filled his eyes, and stalking forward, the Leader greeted Corinna with a bump to her muzzle, not speaking, his eyes questioning and waiting for her reasons for her visit.

Gone Tomorrow

Ruiko did not keep her waiting, and sooner rather than later, she saw his tawny form emerge from the surrounding forest. He was striking against the changing autumn leaves, and despite everything, Corinna couldn't help but spare him a brief smile. But it was a broken one, and as he approached and bumped his muzzle against her's in greeting, she found herself leaning into his shoulder to seek comfort. But she could not answer his unasked question if she remained burrowed in the protective embrace, so after only a moment, the River leader pulled backward. It was into the space that she looked now, not wanting to meet his eyes. It was not out of fear of challenge, but out of fear of how he would react to the news that she was unfortunate enough to be bringing.

"It's Indru..." she whispered, her voice breaking after only the two words. Her heart, which had grown considerably colder on her return journey and her return to Swift River, had not frozen completely. The pain she was feeling, at the loss of her son and her mate, it would never go away completely. "He...took...my son....Torrel." Sad eyes looked up mournfully at the Creek leader, and without hesitation she stepped closer once more. The heat from Ruiko's shoulder and chest was soothing enough that she didn't care if her words came out muffled. "I've looked...so hard...they're gone...he took my baby...." Broken and choked up, Cori stopped speaking, her body language fully conveying the internal misery that was occurring within her.

Fading this hun, since we're so busy. <33 HEARTBREAK FOR RUIKO'S LAST THREAD. D:

He embraced her – the broken smile she had given him causing him to hold his breath as he awaited her news with a patience he did not realize he had until now. He cradled her like he would a sister – for Corinna had become just as important to him as any of his siblings, if not more. She, after all, had been a more solid presence in his life despite their distance than even Niija or his other sisters had. “Corinna,” he murmured, his tone gently coaxing, encouraging her to speak.

He waited news of death. Of destruction. Of tragedy. And she was not one to disappoint. The brief words revolved around Indru, and Ruiko inhaled a sharp breath, feeling the pain sear in his chest at what his brother had done. Stolen their child. Her son. Indru had not just disappeared this time with a pitiful reason – this time he had taken his son with him, and it became very clear that it would be the last time they would ever see the wanderlust male.

Indru, the solid brother. The head of the family.

The betrayer.

A low growl ebbed past his lips – the pressing love he had for his brother had faded over time. Indru, always believing he deserved everything when he had done nothing to earn it.. he had abandoned his family for a third time now, and Ruiko knew that should he ever see his once beloved littermate and best friend’s face again, he would shred it to pieces. For her. For them.

“Corinna,” he smoothed, his muzzle pressing to hers gently as his tongue would move to caress her cheeks. He would hold her for hours – for however long she needed. The news that he and Aeylen were departing would be devastating to her, but he could not disappear without word like his brother had. Would not. The promise to keep an eye for Torrel was spoken again and again, and the wolf would bring the boy home if he did.

It was goodbye, and it was bittersweet. None would he miss more in Relic Lore than the silver wolf pressed to his side, and yet his invitation for her to join him and his mate was declined, as he expected.

She did not run away from her problems like the Tainn’s did.