Sacred Grove So Low...

<blockquote>Despite her friendly encounters, and perhaps even the not so friendly (although she did manage to get a free meal out of it), she had continued to wander. Deciding to admit defeat and search out directions to this <i>Copper Rock Creek</i>, she had somehow turned west, and back towards the trees. Her travels across open spaces were still disjointed and lengthy, but now she was back under the cover of the trees. She had caught a waft of the dark wolf on the breeze and it was with great trepidation she had chosen to investigate it further, although it was faint. Faded. Stale.

Even with her nose she struggled to discern the direction the wolf had been travelling and she almost fell in a heap with the recognition of her sisters scent amongst those fading back into the damp earth beneath her paws. Her heart began to pound in her ears, thudding in rhythm with the pulsing of the earth, drowning out all other sounds as she continued to wander in a startled daze. Stumbling across the pack borders was entirely a coincidence and she recoiled in fear. She shouldn't be here, not so close. She back-pedalled until she was still within sight of the borders but not on them.

She hadn't realised how exhausted she had been. She hoped they wouldn't mistake her scent as being a request for an audience, but she was too tired to travel much further. Making herself comfortable amongst the roots of a large tree, almost well hidden from the casual eyesight of any who may wander past, her flecked through coat the perfect camouflage in this sort of environment. She was nervous but exhausted, and despite her want to travel further, her eyes began to uncontrollably flutter downwards, towards sleep.</blockquote>

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. Bitterness, desperation, and confusion marked Ice these days - restless anger coiled up in his soul as he stalked across their home. There was a dangerous sort of edge to him, a brooding darkness resting just behind the pale of his eyes, and it seemed that no amount of exercise could tire him out, nor could anything please him nor soothe the rugged rage. It smoldered in his soul, like embers glowing under the hot breath of a devil, threatening to burst into flames at any moment and scour the world clean; reduce all of this to nothing but a wasteland of ashes and despair, regret. Rhysis, the flood, and Naira's betrayal stung, preying on his normally jolly mind and inserting poison into his veins. Every breath felt foul and tainted, each faint scent of Naira - each reminder of her, little tufts of hair or bundles of herbs, just her scent rubbed into their land - caused a growl to rise in his throat, hackles on end as he viciously destroyed whatever pieces of herself she had left behind. That she had done this - that she had done this to Corinna - was beyond his understanding. He had believed in her, thought her honest, a worthy member of Swift River. She had crushed that notion, with the same finality a beetle is crushed under a rock. Whether she knew it or not, she'd caused a change. There seemed to be more tension. More anger. Likely because Ice supplied a fair share of it, but strangers seemed to harden something in the pack, like a cold creature gathering its limbs in and hugging itself. Ice's border patrols had taken on a frenzied edge, and his relentless pursuit of their integrity was overzealous. Every Zeitgeber a wolf normally followed was ignored, and as the lack of sleep too preyed on his sanity, Ice descended into a spiral of snappiness and boundless anger. He'd never felt like this before - never been like this before. Never wanted to be like this again, but no matter how far he ran or how long he stayed awake, tossing his head down on soft moss brought no rest. If he slept, it was in fits and starts, bad, haunted sleep. Naira was something of gray, something that challenged his world of black and white. He could not wrap his head around it, and it was driving him mad. Bits and pieces of fur and forest flew as the large wolf hauled himself off onto another patrol, nose twitching and itching as he prowled forth. A wind slapped on his face, brushing soft hair and dark whiskers, teasing into his lungs and into his mind; it smelled of stranger, and it smelled strongly. Smothering the desire to growl he plunged through the undergrowth, discarding visual clues as he let his nose do the work. He caught onto her trail, smelled her straight across the border and black rage threatened to descend, but the trail led right out again, as if the wolf had been very tired and simply happened to stomp into their home. The mistake had been remedied, but... It did little good when it came to soothing his restless fury. It was simply looking for an outlet, but he had none, and fought to leash his flaring temper. Taking it out on a random loner wouldn't do anyone good, and so it was with moderately more control, the heat of his emotions reduced to cool ice, that he shoved his nose into the nest of roots and into the wolf. Startled, leaped back, landing in a fight-or-flight posture as he stared at the curled-up little wolf. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't to nearly step on her. .ice aesir

let the stars above shine in your soul

<blockquote><i>She was running. Running as fast as she could. Her brother was on her tail and they were laughing. She was happy... until a blur flew out of nowhere to whack her in the ribs.</i>

Heart in her throat, the static wolf yelped loudly, attempting to backpedal against the tree, but found her way blocked. She ended up half on her back against the trunk, front legs curled to her chest revealing her pale belly to the stranger, tail tucked completely, ears flat, head pressed up against the trunk so all she could see was the dark green of the canopy over her head. Were she not so petrified she may appear as some anthropomorphic queen sitting upon a throne... but her disheveled spindly frame would dash all regal thoughts from any casual observers eyes.

She trembled. She had trespassed and now the pack that owned the lands had come for her blood.

Her shaking was so severe that she slipped from her throne and down amongst the roots, digging painfully into her ribs, but she did not shift her submissive position to make herself more comfortable, and she didn't dare look around her to see the army that had come for her hide.

<i>I'm too young to die...</i></blockquote>

(This post was last modified: Apr 04, 2012, 12:14 PM by Aniu.)

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. It seemed he wasn't the only one startled by his sudden find. The sylph-like she-wolf flew up from her fitful doze, falling over backwards and curling up like a pup just out of the womb. Ice was rigid, head and tail high and frozen, wary eyes latched onto her upturned face. What was she doing? Having a seizure? She was trembling, shaking, her small form sliding down the roots. In cold and careless contempt, Ice watched her. What could he do about it anyway? Hit her on the head so she relaxed? He snorted, waited for something to happen.. only, noting happened. She just lay there, pale soft belly glaring him in the face and her forelegs tucked up against her chest. The realization dawned on him, then, that she'd likely stay like that until he either left or poked her. Perhaps the latter would cause her heart to seize. Morbidly enough, that dark notion flooded him with a sort of mirthless, destructive joy, a warmth much like blood seeping from a thrashed body. A voice of reason prodded him sharpy in the ribs, asking whose blood he'd like flowing - everyone he encountered from now until he met Naira, or just Naira's? He stilled his anger, lowered his head, and stepped over her - shoved his face close to hers as he towered above her trembling form, craning his neck to get a good look straight in her face. She seemed mad. Insane. His hot breath came in steady rushes against her muzzle, and for a rather long time he searched her visage for some sort of clue as to what she was doing here.. or who she was.. or why she had randomly stepped on their borders. But there wasn't anything, and with a dissatisfied grunt he stepped back as to only stand half over her. "Get up," he snapped, paying little heed to the fact that he was, mostly, in the way. That a myriad of insults threatened to leap off his tongue didn't improve his mood - this restless anger was nothing he had even encountered in himself before, and it was frightening him. Briefly, he turned his eyes aside, ashamed, trying to douse the pale flames in them and in his soul, but there was nothing here that could cool the fire. What has she and her black-hearted villain done to us..? It was a question he couldn't answer, and in frustration he spun around, marched a few steps back the way he'd come before freezing again where he was. "What do you want here?" he asked wearily, stiff and broad back turned in Aniu's direction even as his words floated to her; his voice not its usual clear and joyous melody, but tired, hurt, angry, chafing, grating, useless and broken. Words felt like ashes in his mouth, clogging up his throat and his lungs and scorching his insides with unreal fire. The world, it had lost its clarity, lost its beauty. Even the stars seemed to have gone dull... Ice smothered the rising growl, smothered the rising desperation - the despair that threatened to swallow him whole - and stared, not in the physical world, at the broken beacon of hope. Naira's betrayal stung, and somehow, she had torn down every thing light and beautiful in his world, reducing even the hope of Indru returning to nothing but bloody shreds scattered across a dead forest floor. .ice aesir

let the stars above shine in your soul

<blockquote><i>Get up.</i> It was an order and the salt and pepper coloured girl rolled to her hollow stomach, matchstick legs shaking beneath her but still keeping her low to the ground. She didn't want to risk the large male taking her stance as a threat. Ears pinned flat to her skull and tail tucked to non-existence she settled her eyes on pale paws so she could not meet his icy stare and provoke an attack. She really didn't want to be eaten before she managed to find her brother.

Here? She had never meant to come here. Voice a little more than a whisper, the girl responded shakily <b>"I-i-i... I got turned about in the storm. I'm looking for C-c-copper Rock Creek but I lost Volkan's scent after the rain. My b-b-brother Kanosak is there..."</b> The more she spoke the lower she sunk until her nose was almost buried in the moss that blanketed the large trees roots. She reeked of fear. The trees gave her comfort but strangers still terrified her.

She wanted to go home.</blockquote>

(This post was last modified: Apr 05, 2012, 12:58 PM by Aniu.)

Gone Tomorrow

Broken.

That was how the pale woman felt now, after what seemed weeks upon weeks of disappointment. The tawny furred male who had once stood beside her had resorted to his old ways, and she just wasn't up to forgiving again. Not after what happened with her loyal Second, and two of her subordinates. The blood in her veins boiled just thinking about it. How could they have done that to her? Upped and left, like thieves in the night, stealing her trust and stability all in one go. What was worse? The scent on Naira had invoked a coursing jealousy in Corinna, one that could not be calmed. Indru's absence had left her womb empty, but the lack of him there did not still the desires within her. All in all, the green eyed leader of the Swift River wolves was not a very happy camper that day. So when she caught wind of Ice, she immediately headed towards him. She had grown to depend on him, more so than almost anybody else in her pack. His constant presence, along with her ebony brother-in-law, was a comfort where there seemed to be no others.

As excited as Corinna was to see the silver hued man, her excitement was quick to be dashed when she realized that there was something funny about this particular venture of his. She caught it eventually, just a passing in the wind, nothing concrete. Female. Wolf. That she knew for sure, but her guard immediately went up, and the growls started. They grew in volume, the closer she approached to the borders. Enough so that when she arrived, she missed the entirety of the female's statement, minus her mention of Copper Rock Creek. That was enough to get Cori's attention, but she didn't stagger in her posture. Head and tail were lifted, and she pressed herself shoulder to shoulder with Ice. In all honesty, she had no desire to hear an excuse for why this girl has trespassed. It had become clear as Corinna had stepped over the borders why Ice had cornered this particular girl - she had wandered into River territory and then right back out again. Growls fading away, she shifted her weight, gently bumping against Ice. "Who is she?" He would understand her frustration, her pain, and more than that, he would understand why meeting new wolves along the borders was now a torturous activity.

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. Even though he wasn't looking at her, he heard her follow this harsh command. Dead leaves and dirt was unsettled as she scrambled, and a smile that entirely lacked mirth crossed Ice's face. It didn't feel good to scare her out of her mind, nor did the power of command feel good. He just felt hollow, and wicked. It didn't please him, but he didn't have the peace of mind to sort it out now. And all of a sudden, he just wanted to run away - far away, where no one would hear him shout at the stars and no one would see him as he cried... where no one would see as he beat his head against stones and clawed his own legs open, as if bleeding could somehow get the darkness out of his system. But only cowards run. He wasn't the worst off - Corinna was. He couldn't leave her alone, not when her mate - the man Ice had been ready to die for - chose to not appear at every important happening. The meeting, the flood... Indru's voice, filled with anger and hurt, hadn't echoed theirs the night Naira and Rhysis ran. He'd been silent. Ice couldn't run. He couldn't do to Corinna what Indru had. Surely the Tainn had his reasons... but nothing was explained. He'd just walked into some sort of fog, and it was getting harder and harder to make out his shape. His scruff twitched as Aniu's shaking, stammering voice split the silence of the Grove. Storm? Copper Rock Creek? Volkan? Brother Kanosak? Looked like everyone had brothers here except him, but she knew of Volkan... With Rhysis' betrayal, the story he had told had come into light again, and it gave Ice the creeps. How could he trust the words of someone who ran away in the night? Perhaps she wasn't at all what Rhysis had painted her to be... Anger hardened his heart, even as confusion snaked its constricting tendrils around his mind. Ever since that night when they eloped, everything had gone agley. He opened his mouth, preparing to speak, when the drifting scent of Corinna touched his mind and he stilled, straining to catch sight of her through the trees. Likely, she'd found his scent.. or Aniu's. He'd be glad for the distraction, even though seeing her filled him with rage - rage at the memory of her voice as she'd damned her former Second, all the emotions laid bare to the stars. If Ice didn't hate them for the confusion they were hammering into his soul, he'd hate them for causing such pain in her. He wished he could wipe the memory of her scream from his mind, but it was etched into him, echoes of that night bounding through his head whenever nothing else distracted him. Slowly, the large male turned his head around to peer at the thin, small she-wolf cowering behind him. Copper Rock Creek, indeed... He stood frozen like that until he could hear the soft sounds of his leader's presence; her breath coming in growls, the scarce audible thuds of her paws against the ground. Ice's large head came around again, ducked and ears flat, and he pushed his nose in under her jaws, giving a soft whine in greeting. His tail had dropped from its dominant pose to somewhere that was more or less vertical. As they stood so close together, Ice returned the motion, leaning into her. Corinna's scent had always been strong on him, for they seemed to cross paths with each other frequently. Now, though, he wasn't merely making sure he'd not stop smelling of Swift River anytime soon, but was offering his support in a more physical sense. It seemed to say, I am here. I will always be. Heaving a tired sigh, he answered her query. "Some lost girl looking for Copper Rock Creek - don't know her name." Sluggishly, he peered over his shoulder at her again, before giving Corinna slight nudge and trudging in an arc to face Aniu. "You're a long way from the Creek," he said, coldly. Numbly. "And very close to Swift River." It wasn't a threat. Just a statement. But he had no means of knowing how to say anything and have it come out the way he meant it right now. .ice aesir

let the stars above shine in your soul

<blockquote>She could hear another wolf approaching and the scent told her it was a female, she began to shudder again inching even lower to the ground. Everything screamed at her to get on her back again, but he had told her to get up. A sideways glance told her all she needed to know. This wolf was one of the leaders here and she had trespassed. She was going to be torn limb from limb and scattered across the borders as a message to others. A small puddle began to form beneath her shuddering body, coating her tucked tail with the warm liquid, but she didn't dare move.

Folded ears listened closely to the words of the wintery male who had initially accosted her. He was so large, and she was little more than skin and bone. A soot coated cotton ball on toothpick legs. She couldn't even stand with her head even with her shoulders. Everywhere she travelled, she did so at a nervous shuffle or terrified slink. She couldn't even bring herself to cross a meadow at any height above dragging her belly on the ground. Being alone left her broken. They had all left her. Everyone would leave her in the end. Nobody would miss her anyway. She wasn't contributing to anything of import. She was ready to resign herself to her inevitable death (or so she thought - for now). <b>"A-a-aniu..."</b> she stuttered out at little more than a peep. She even flinched at the sound of her own voice. Pathetic.</blockquote>

Gone Tomorrow

There was comfort in standing next to Ice, that helped to soothe some of the pain in her heart. But it did not alleviate it completely. But his comforting nudge, his physical promise to be there for her, was enough that she would be able to get through this particular moment in time. Which seemed to be easier than she would have expected. Green eyes stared coldly at the other female, and apparently went above and beyond the desired affect. With Ice and Corinna both watching, it seemed that fear had completely overcome the lone wolf - indicated not only by her posture but by the pool of urine that had appeared beneath her. It took willpower, but Corinna had to resist tilting her head to the side as she was known to do when she was confused. This was the first time that particular reaction had been received, and despite everything, there was some satisfaction in that. Finally, somebody who seemed to fully realize what a mistake it was to trespass on lands that did not welcome them.

Stammering out her name, Corinna dismissed her, looking at Ice. So the girl, Aniu, was looking for Copper Rock Creek. And Ice was very right...she was a very long way from where she meant to be. Perhaps it would be best for Cori to do Ruiko a favor, and send the girl scattering now. If she was terrified of Corinna and Ice, then there was no way she'd be able to stand the scrutiny of the tawny Tainn. Taking a step forward, closer towards Aniu, she spoke. "You'll never be accepted into the Creek if that's how you behave around a leader. Ruiko doesn't take wolves who don't have spines, nor wolves who let themselves get confused in the midst of a storm." Granted, the storms recently had been particularly bad, as evident by the lack of a Swift River pack den, but that really no suitable excuse. "Either way, you made the mistake of trespassing on my lands, and I don't particularly take kindly to it." Corinna's tone grew sharper, and the light growl returned. Lunging forward, she snapped her teeth together in a threatening metallic click. Ears forward, brow creased, the leader held her dominating stance. If the girl left now, then Corinna wouldn't follow, satisfied that the lesson had been learned. If she didn't, then they would see.

<blockquote>What a terrible way to wake up. Or perhaps she hadn't and this was all simply a nightmare. But it seemed so real, from the shudders that wracked her body to the sudden cooling of her damp fur. She listened closely to the leader, very well aware that these might be the very last words she would ever hear. She wanted to run, every part of her being was screaming at her to do so, but she was frozen.

When the silver lady snapped at her, she froze, the only reaction her body would allow was to throw her back onto her back, apologies yelped to the sky <b>"ImsorryImsorryImsorry!"</b> she almost sobbed. It truly was an accident. She was so tired, so hungry... but that was no excuse for trespassing. She had done something terribly wrong and she knew she was probably going to die for it. She should have run much further before she decided to settle for her nap. <b>"I-i-i don't want to join Copper Rock Creek. I just want to see my brother and take him home..."</b> She wanted him to take her home... she stopped on the edge of screaming that she missed her mummy but the message was clear. She wasn't meant for the life of a loner and she just wanted to be surrounded again by the familiar scents of her family.</blockquote>