It's lonely where you are - [Joining]

OOC: I was told to skip Tokino again. 

A smile graced the leader's face following Raela's kind words. It was enough to tug a faint smile onto her own lips, something that felt incredibly foreign and yet welcome; like an old friend lost to time. There was still melancholy in the Alphess' candor, though. Raela saw her turn back to face the larger male, and the two seemed to come to silent understanding. The submissive girl swallowed, barely parting her lips in anticipation. Already her heart was pressed into her throat. ”We are willing to accept you into Black Thorn Downs,” the sweet, perfect words might have caused a wave of gratitude to spill excitedly from her baited lips if Minka had not continued speaking. Instead Raela's effulgent eyes quickly grew concerned. Their puppies... That was why both leaders looked so disheveled. Their children could be frozen to death this very minute. Thoughts of her birth pack entered her mind, prodding at the girl's heart. In her pack, there would be no such search parties for lost members. Parents would not grieve; for mother nature would have simply been doing her job to eliminate the weak. ”...your whole life will be consumed with bringing them home.” They were adamant, devoted, even, to finding their children. For a moment after Minka finished, Raela's eyes met the snow in careful reflection; her ears sliding down on either side. To the observer, it was clear that she was playing out scenes from another time in her mind.  All this time she had been unsure of finding even a hospitable pack to take refuge in, and here were two compassionate parents, who looked as if their lives had been ruined by the loss of a loved one, and they dared to show it. Her brother had been the only source of kindness all her life, and her natal pack the only community. These two seemed to obviously share some of that kindness of his in their hearts, unlike her parents. Again she felt the hurt and devastation of finding Tolas murdered, suddenly gone without warning. Looking up once again, she saw her pain played out over their faces; their grief-glazed eyes. ”Of course I will help you.” Her voice was soft and serious, and moisture again threatened to well up in her eyes. She made eye contact for just the shortest of moments with each, trying to cement her sincerity without causing any offense. How could they, too, be wrong to grieve. Every bone in her body wanted to help them somehow; to be the relief that never came to her as a child. Her paws still ached, and her muscles still groaned with each movement, but she was alive, and being offered shelter, food and companionship. The pups could not say the same, and it hurt to think of any young one stranded alone in the cold. She would not complain of her weakness, though anyone could see she needed food and a good deal of rest. If she could bring the children back to what Raela was sure now was a place of compassion and safety, soreness would not stand in her way. She would heal slowly, bit by bit, under the protection of a pack.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

(This post was last modified: Feb 20, 2015, 02:58 AM by Raela.)

            

Some pp of @Tokino here, let me know if you want it changed! Also you can archive this after your exit post Jenandra :)

This time when Raela met Minka's eyes there was no warning given, no aggressive or dominant move of any kind made. Instead the leader nodded in understanding at the gesture that was being made, once more she smiled though the expression was swift and could have been missed in a blink. It pleased her to see how seriously her words had been taken before the fae made her declaration. Nodding once more at Raela's decision she moved wordlessly forward, pressing her flank against each of the other woman's and then waiting for her mate to do the same. It would be clear now that she had been welcomed into the pack lands by the alphas and her presence shouldn't be questioned by the other subordinates.

Stepping back now the golden eyes swept over the appearance of their newest member, noting how exhausted and thin she looked. Normally she would have waited a week or so before asking someone so worn out to pitch into pack doings, but these were extreme circumstances. Smiling in slight apologies but also welcoming she spoke once more, "Welcome to Black Thorn Downs, we're a family here but we expect each member to pull their weight and deserters will not be tolerated or allowed back. I suggest you take the time to make yourself acquainted with your new home and rest up while you can, our next search leaves at dawn." Glancing sideways at her mate she nodded once more, her maw was calm but her eyes still swam with grief. Clearing her throat she ducked her head to hide her discomposure from Raela, "If you'll excuse us, we have much to attend as our latest search party has just returned." Minka's voice was husky with emotion and she felt her body turn instinctively. While she had no problem allowing other's to see some of her despair she held most of it back, she had to be professional after all.

The Lagina woman waited for her mate to say goodbye and reach her side before she truly began the descent into their territory. Fighting back the lump in her throat the pair made their way back within the Downs in search of the scouting party, they needed an update.

MINKA & TOKINO EXIT

click!

Minka's sad smile reassured the girl that her sincerity had been well-received. With a soft nod, the Alphess moved forward. Raela got to her feet quickly, albeit with some awkwardness. With her head and eyes hung to the ground, she received their scents. The feeling of contact from both was strange to her, causing her fur and skin to prickle at the sensation. She had nearly forgotten it altogether. The leader welcomed her, and seemed to take at least some interest in her condition. She was to get some rest tonight, for there would be no lost time in searching for the young royals. When Minka dipped her head in goodbye, Raela's rose to shoulder height, observing the gesture. The poor mother was struggling to maintain her sanity; it was plain in her voice. As she turned to leave, the new subordinate dipped her head as well. Offering a quiet ”Thank you both.” She hadn't the heart or composure to offer more, though she wanted to. The pair shuffled away into the snow as she stood alone, her posture returning to normal. As they shrank into the fog, Raela let out a sigh. Her head was swimming. The tawny girl moved up toward the hill's crest, stopping again to catch the last retreating image of her new Alphas. Her heart ached for them, while her mind sank back into the sad truth that the pups were probably gone. This thought would not stop her, but prepare her for what she knew was a real possibility. Standing atop the hill, bright yellow eyes drifted over the foggy landscape, trying to take in everything they could. Seeing through the mist was difficult, but she could make out the trees and bushes poking through. Here? Her mind was still grappling with the fact that a pack had finally accepted her. This was her home now. She drew in another long, calm breath of frigid, moist air. The fae's maw hung open slightly, as she stumbled dazedly inside. She didn't have to get going; not tonight. She didn't need to trudge her own path through miles of snowy land. She didn't even need to know what was beyond the field she now stared at. (Though her sharpened mind knew it was still a very good idea anyway.) The scent of deer hit her nostrils, prompting a few good sniffs with her eyes closed. The air rushed out of Raela's nose with a chuff, there was food here! She was weak beyond the thought of chasing them down, but the idea was far from her mind now. A stupid, delighted smile flashed across her muzzle; amber eyes beaming with a light long lost. Weakened legs strained with all their might as she hopped forward, propelled by the delight of having finally done it. She had found them! People who thought like her! People who wouldn't pick on her for her body, or beat her for crying in front of them. The giddy girl crashed into the powdery snow, flopping down as relief rushed over her. She wriggled around in the drift; her mouth filled with excited yowls and grunts. Her body finally came to a rest when overworked muscles began to remind her harshly of their exhaustion. She exhaled sharply, clearing the snow from her nose. She would have to find a place to rest, and food to fill her stomach tonight. She rose from the ground with a groan, shaking the flakes from her coat. Another breath of air revealed a nearby cache, and Raela did her best to make a weary beeline for it. She would not traipse about the territory looking for others today. Today she would eat, and then she would tuck herself away and get every single second of rest available to her before the Alphas' call at dawn. She had to help find those pups. { Exit } Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra