Oak Tree Bend turn to stone; lose my faith

She returned Kisla's greeting tensely, never really having known the woman for her time in the pack. They had never truly gotten to know one another, one of the reasons being that Jessie had separated herself from the rest of the pack for quite some time, and had stuck closer to Ice and Fenru while they had been there. But now both of them were gone, and the reminder brought a heavy ache in Jessie's heart. It was not too much later that Triell arrived, Jessie greeting him with a simple, polite dip of her head to him. The Swiftpaw had grown to respect Triell and his mannerisms, he was a respectable wolf, and thus far, had done nothing to make Jessie feel uncomfortable. It became quite obvious to Kisla quickly that her mother was not here, and at the mention of such news a dark shadow seemed to fall over Jessie's eyes. She had not been close to Corinna either, but the Swiftpaw had been quite fond of her alpha and had respected her highly. Her loss still laid heavily upon the Second's shoulders, and she often tried to send such morose thoughts into the back of her mind.

She saw Serach looking between her and Triell, and the gray woman found her emerald eyes moving expectantly towards Triell's figure to share the news with his niece. But the voice that came did not come from the alpha, and the small woman's head turned back to look at the young boy that she had placed herself next to. He should not have had to have such a burden of telling such a thing to his sister, and Jessie felt an unfamiliar ache in her chest at the thought. It was definitely something that she could not recognize. It was also a reminder to Jessie that, if Kisla had not known that her mother had died, then Fenru had not found her, which also meant that her friend was not coming back. Sighing softly, she let her gaze wander back towards Triell, awaiting for the words that he would surely speak.

Dawnthieves.de, somestock @ DA & candyhorse @ DA - Table by PuppyThief

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

:X whoops wasn't aware it was my turn

This cloud still hangs over me

The dark wolf offered an affectionate nuzzle to her silver crown in turn. At least one Tainn had made it back, and despite not knowing what her news was, he was proud of his niece. Despite those feelings of joy, there was something somber to his facade, like his smile could not stretch as far any more. The question he had been dreading cut into them all. Mindfully, he shifted to Serach seeing the young boy struggle as Triell understood his sudden torment. It was difficult to keep the truth, the words, she's not here, in his head. Corinna's mark upon them, upon the lands was not exactly tangible any more. He was about to say it for his nephew, but the boy managed to explain.

Then it seemed like the world was cold again, and suddenly small, even for him. For their sake, and knowing Cori had left him the care taker of her pack, her family he managed to speak. "Fenru had left before spring in an attempt to find you, to tell you." Briefly, he fell silent not knowing what his heart wished to say the most. The phrase I'm sorry didn't seem to cover what he felt. For him that felt like more of a slap in the face than an act of comfort. They were all orphans now, and it didn't seem fair even if she was grown, and Sceral and Serach not far behind. They had only ever really had one parent, and now she was gone too. "I wish you didn't have to hear it this way, that you could have all had more time together..."He fumbled, trying his best to rein his emotions in to be the one solitude thing they could rely on.

There was a moment when the world began to spin. Somehow, when Serach began speaking, her eyes fixated upon the boy, what jovial moment she held only moments before quickly fading at the solemn expressions she was receiving – the first hint that something was dreadfully wrong.

At first her mind didn’t seem to take it in. She’s gone. She stood for a moment, her eyes drifting between Triell, Serach and Jessie as she began to decipher this information. Somewhere within these silent moments she felt her heart begin to hammer in her chest, and her throat suddenly went dry. It didn’t feel real except the implications began to settle on her shoulders now, and she felt herself rocking as a low moan escaped her lips.

She could not see Triell now as he spoke – Fenru left looking for her. She hadn’t seen him. He had left to tell her what had happened. I don’t understand, she spoke now, her voice hitting a shrill note as her eyes, panicked, began searching the three of them, yet not seeing them Her vision blurred, and before they could even answer her, she swung her muzzle away as her stomach emptied itself – the panic caused her ears to buzz, and her sides heaved as she began to wretch.. nothing coming up.

Corinna was gone. The days she had waited to return to her family, to announce she was fine. The happy news she had come to deliver.. that her mother was going to be a grandmother. But she was gone now. Swaying now as she finished, her breathing coming heavily now, she swung her muzzle back, searching for her mate. Maksim, she pleaded, as if he could somehow take this news and make it not exist.

As if he could bring her mother back to her when she needed her the most.

sparking up my heart

@Kisla @Serach @Jessie @Triell - I'm so so sorry it took me this long to get to!

KING OF CUT ROCK RIVER

IF YOU DO NOT FIGHT YOU CANNOT WIN

Home. The youngster said she had come home and he felt himself internally wince. Was this her home any more? He kept it to himself, though. It would be devastating to hear from a stranger that she was going to be leaving again shortly after. It was then that the pale boy questioned who Maksim was, and he glanced to Kisla momentarily. Should he be the one to tell? Or would she introduced him with the news she brought her family. Unfortunately, he made a point to paint a good impression of himself and opened his mouth to introduce himself.

The arrival of another cut him short before he could even start as she eyed the couple and cleared her throat. He turned his attention to her and held his tongue, jaws closing before he had a chance to ruin the surprise that Kisla would undoubtedly want to tell herself. He had to remind himself, he had no authority to be making the shots here. He was the leader of a territory far from here, across the mountain. The newcomer was a female, with a pelt of silver and grey that made her seem almost ghostly, especially with the swirling mist that gently drifted. Something about her as respectable—it was as if she had seen more than enough for one lifetime already.

A third came, painted black as the night with fiery eyes. His tail stood erect and his figure was one of authority—no doubt, this was one of the leaders of Oak Tree Bend. And yet, Kisla's mother had not yet arrived. He could feel the eyes that stole odd glances at him here and there, questioning silently who this stranger on their lands was. It felt strange, to remove himself from a position of power and to take the back seat.

Uncle. It seemed that this leader was his mate's uncle. She briefly and swiftly questioned where exactly her mother was and something just seemed wrong in the way the atmosphere changed. His attentions snapped back to the gathering when her younger sibling spoke up. He watched his panicked gaze flick between the older wolves present. Immediately, the king of the River braced himself. This would not be good news.

“There was a blizzard. It was so cold … she didn't make it.”

It was like a gunshot ricocheted through the forest, Maksim's body stiffening where so many others drooped. He felt suddenly detached from the gathering, like he wasn't quite supposed to be here. He drifted, momentarily, his thoughts muddled as he thought of his own mother. Was she okay? Had the winter reached as far as her? And what of his father? Only when he heard his name fall shakily from the lips of his mate did he step forward. Pressing himself into her side for support, he placed his chin upon the top of her head in an embrace. “Shh, love.” He wasn't sure else to say. To say it was alright would be a lie. “Deep breaths,” he whispered to her quietly.

So just to be clear, my impression is that Kisla and Maksim are facing each other, with Maksim's head on Kisla's. Serach is now standing to Kisla's side with his head on her back/haunch. If this isn't right, just let me know and I'll change it!

There was a roaring in Serach's ears, like the wind had picked up and swept them all up in a whirlwind. His pale yellow eyes had misted over - it was like trying to look through a fog. Except there was nothing to look at besides his own paws. Through the roar in his ears, he heard Kisla begin to panic. The sound of her retching brought his head up and he took a step towards her. This isn't fair, he thought. But he wasn't able to speak and before he could get to his sister to offer what little comfort he could, she was moving. Not towards him, as he expected. No, she called out a name. Maksim. The stranger responded and through his foggy vision, Serach watched the stranger embrace his sister, offering his shoulder for her to lean on.

Days later, when Serach was reflecting on what had happened this day, he would realize that it was at that moment, when Kisla reached out for Maksim instead of him, that he had known that she was not coming home. In the present though, Serach's intuition was too blinded by grief to make that connection. Instead, the juvenile closed the distance between himself and the couple. With a whine, he nudged her haunch with his nose before setting his head on her back. Careful to avoid eye contact with Maksim, the youth mumbled into his sister's fur, "I'm glad you're safe. Mum is too. I know it." In his own grief, he had found comfort in thinking that his mother was now at peace. Rather than worrying about all of her children, scattered over Relic Lore and beyond, she could watch over them all. It was an idea that helped him, and feeling helpless to comfort his sister now, it was all he knew to say.

Rapidly, the dark wolf blinked if to hold back a flood of memories. Rissa,Marsh,Corinna were the only known departed, but the others could have very well been on that list. Death seemed to greedily take from their family, and he wished it was an enemy he could defeat.

This should have been a reuniting, but that had been taken from them as well. A low whine hummed in his throat, upon her distress. His heart seeming to twist, and he took strong steps toward Kisla, afraid she would fall from the weight of it all.

It was to Maksim, Triell could now see must be her mate, she sought comfort from. It was bittersweet, he lingered, orange-yellow eyes looking the pair over. He had always wanted her to have her own life, own family. Something beyond the misery her sire had left her, Fenru, Aiyana, and Corinna. Yet, she was not exactly his to watch over any more. Someone else was taking that place. There was reluctance, and protectiveness that rose in his chest, but if this man had won Kisla's heart, the Tainn felt assured he had rightfully earned it. Kisla was no fool.

Beside Serach he found himself, letting there contrasting coats mingle, while the brother spoke words of comfort. The Uncle found peace thinking the same, and that at least temporarily one family member had found her way back to them.

Permission to fade by everyone else given. Thanks for the thread!

Maksim was quick to sweep her in to embrace – the familiarity of his touch was all that kept her legs from buckling and allowing the grief to wash over her like a tidal wave. Surely, if she did, she would drown – there was no recovering from this. There could not be. The ache in her chest was something she would come to realize that would be a more permanent fixture for months to come – the pang that the world was now that much more hollow without the grace of her mother to bestow upon it. There would not be a visit after her pups were born and older to meet their grandmother.. she would not see that the honeyed woman had taken her words of settling down to heart – or that she had finally found someone that she felt she could entrust her marred heart to.

Comfort only came from those that held her in that very moment. Maksim’s whispered words were what steadied her, but it was Serach’s own embrace that reminded her she was not the only one who felt this blow. With Fenru now gone, her two youngest half siblings were all she had left of the Donata matriarch. And the idea of parting with them and placing a mountain between was far more than she could take.

The travelers remained within the Bend pack borders that night – Kisla spending time with her youngest brothers and her uncle. The happy news she shared about her pregnancy was overshadowed not only by current circumstances, but also the news she would be remaining in Cut Rock River – this was the way of the wolf.

The next day would be met with a shaky and tearful goodbye, and the trip back to the River would be numbing to the new Baranski woman. But they could not linger for long – the life that grew in her womb waited for no one, and each passing day, the journey became riskier.

Finally, when returned home, Kisla would attempt to find sleep. But it would not come without nightmares.

(This post was last modified: Dec 03, 2014, 03:06 PM by Kisla.)

sparking up my heart