Wildflower Glade into my garden come

(Now that my dramatic muse has been sufficiently satiated... lets get silly!)

Her eyes lit up at once as though struck by lightning and burst into flame, standing tall on her self-righteous legs and grinning almost maniacally. The wind whipped her dark fur and for a moment she imagined there was some magical aura brewing around her and her army of undead flowers. Ava cackled, "<b>Proper? Holy? They're just words, your honor, and your <i>words</i> are futile against my... daarrkkk maggiiccc,</b>" she howled, drawing out the words with a spooky up-and-down inflection. And just like that it would seem that her daaarrkk maaggiiiccc prevailed against the Lore's greatest white knight as he cried against her will and one pretty petal smacked him down. As if falling off his literal high horse (knights had horses, right?) he crumpled to the ground beneath her unholy powers and begged mercy.

If wolves could cry there'd be tears streaming down her cheeks, no doubt about it, at the scene she was watching. It looked like he was flailing, one big white fish flopped on out of the water and into her garden... of the <i>dead</i>! Black as the night itself she indeed transformed into a witch, arching her back as well as she could - which was hard to do properly, being that she was not a witch's black cat - and approached the writhing knight with a delicate step. Her jaw was parted, teeth glinting like her eyes, though it was much unlike a wild animal swooping in on their kill. Her tail, at least, still flickered with the play they were having... though it was difficult to pretend to be something demented without becoming a little wonky yourself.

She lowered herself nearly to her belly in front of him, her gaze wide and wild in itself. "<b>Mercy?</b>" she chuckled and shook her head. "<b>I'm afraid there is no word for mercy in the old witch's tongue...</b>" No word for please, thank you, or carrots either, but that would go without mention. She would hold her bright eyes on him for a moment, her expression going blank as though she were seeing a vision from the underworld that she served. And finally Ava reared back up and whispered hurriedly, "<b>I have seen a vision from the realm...</b>" Then she turned and stepped away, her movements deliberate and slow. She would pace back and forth, occasionally tossing her head. "<b>There is one way to save you, great knight. Only one thing you can do, lest the flowers gain thrist for your blood once again...</b>" Then she stopped, inhaled deeply, and sprung for him.

Ava wasn't attempting to land on top of him, by any means, just in front of him with her tail lashing spiritedly behind her. Dead serious she murmured, "<b>You must swear an oath to the demon god...</b>" Uh oh, on the spot here. Uh, uh, uh... "<b>Vox..y...os. Voxyos!</b>" Immediately her mind began to whirl at all the fun things she could do with an oath... maybe make him stand on one leg and sing Voxyos' official decree? But she quickly banished the approaching grin from her face - somehow she imagined the brave knight would not submerge himself in darkness so easily...

art - threads

( <3 silly threads with you. )

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. He managed to twitch in a fairly and disturbing way, nearly convulsing with the occasional spasm as a dead, broken little flower flitted closer on the unruly wind. Wide-eyed he tracked their progress, writhing sideways like a rabid snake and yet never coming anywhere safe. It was spring - the world was full of flowers in spring! This she-demon had him at a very, very sore disadvantage, and not even his holy powers could save him. He had nothing to counter her magicking with, nothing to pit against her army of undead flowers. She had proved earlier how fragile the live ones were, so there was no point in risking their life for him - it would only spell certain death, something he couldn't force upon the poor mites. And so, he had not a clue what to do except twitch like something well and truly insane. Not that she was any better, howling and wailing and cackling. She came closer to her downed prey, and like a terrified little moues he tried to inch away, but all the forced trembling had sorely locked his muscles. He could've laughed at the perfection of it as his static body tried to twitch away, but you didn't laugh when your nemesis was staring you in the face! He forced his grin under control, edging away; it was easier to shake now. It was just to hold the laughter in, and his body did the rest of the job for him. No word for mercy... Damn, he was out of luck tonight! As she took the moment to space out, her fiery gaze blank and distant, he kept edging backwards, heart hammering against his ribs. Despite the utter silliness of the situation adrenaline had poured into his system - this was a fight in itself, in different ways, where the one who outwitted the other would rise as victor. Right now, she had the upper hand, because he'd tossed himself at her feet. Her voice cut across the silence again as her eyes refocused, and Ice's ears twitched in amusement. A vision? Would she spruik now, and defeat him with a long-winded speech on "the realm", wherever that was? Battling his own amusement to stay the image of the downed and pitiful knight, Ice listened. One way to save you... Well, what was her interest in saving him? Gaining a servant? Or just, a shred of mercy in her witch's soul? Perhaps she couldn't speak mercy, but still feel it? That must be it! His spasming had mostly passed and he lay still on his side, as if winded and tired, though quaking with the occasional fit of laughter held back. She leaped at him as he was trying to catch his breath, and with a genuine yelp he rolled over in an attempt to get away, but even as he was halfway to his paws she landed well clear of him. Ice snorted, weakly, and collapsed on the bed of flowers again, face-down. Swear an oath to the demon god? Well, sure, he could... The knight wouldn't, though. The image of dignified rage, Ice's head shot up as he "glared" at his still-nameless friend. "An oath!" he roared at her, the army of flowers forgotten - for now. They need only touch him and he'd writhe again, and perhaps reconsider or die honorably with the light in his heart. "An oath, to Voxyos!?" Whoever that was... Probably some monster of their joint nightmare, dark and sludgy, and snail-like. Snails were nasty, all cold and wet and slimy. Hnrgh, no thanks, no snaily demon gods for Ice! "You are utterly mad, witch, mad! I will not forsake the Light for my pathetic life!" Still lying, though albeit a bit more regal than when he'd been twitching around, he raised his head and closed his silver eyes. Let her kill me, and let my knight's life be done for tonight. I'll just say I was reborn at dawn, when the Light touched my fallen form and banished the Darkness from my soul. It sounded good, plausible enough for their game of imagination, and it was a suitable end for the noble protector who would not yield to the forces of the dark. Plus, it'd even the score out a bit - he'd felled her that time in the Willows, it was only right she got to kill him, too. .ice aesir

let the stars above shine in your soul

( <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CMejecRpWI' target='_blank'>This</a> is their song lmao )

Patiently she stood, her eyes a little less than as fierce as she wanted them to be. It had to be said that it was much better that the two wolves were constantly fighting laughter and grins amongst each other, rather than fighting themselves... of course it did make the whole roleplay thing a little bit difficult. Ava supposed that she could get away with maniacal cackles as the demon witch she was portraying tonight, but unfortunately her laughter often sang a lot more pleasantly than an evil witch's hack. Or she liked to think... Her jaw remained shut should some bubbly giggles dare to try and leap from her, maintaining her stare to the best of her ability. The black she-wolf didn't mean to jump when he suddenly lifted his head and bellowed back about the oath, so she attempted to cover it up by fidgeting and wavering back and forth like the creepy demented thing she was playing. With all the will-power she could muster she made her gaze cold once again, attempting to form a snarl on her maw that ended up looking more like a pout. Close enough?

So, he had not only refused her generous offer, but went off insulting her again! Ava reared back on her hindlegs and flailed one dark leg in the sky as though she were so appalled and in horror and shock that her body was convulsing from how much she couldn't believe it. Dropping back to her four she snorted and growled, "<b>You've made an unwise decision, fair knight, but now there is no going back. Nothing can save your soul, and I'm afraid your valiance means nothing... in the <i>realm</i>.</b>" Cue dramatic gasps. The little devil was about to send the great Ice underground and forsake his very being to the underworld of Voxyos! Her mind raced for some new form of witchcraft but Ava, being unpracticed with the art (thankfully) resorted back to her army of undead demon flowers - since they were quite plentiful in the glade anyway.

"<b>Now,</b>" she started powerfully. "<b>I will touch you with the wrenched petals of the flower army that have come in contact with my demon hairs!</b>" Which was a fancy way of announcing she was about to fling all the pretty little colors off her coat and on to his. Her steps close she took exaggeratedly slow and painful, soaking up the moment for maximum suspense before the demise of the greatest paladin that Relic Lore had ever known. "<b>And when these tainted flowers touch your honorable body, the life will leave you... <i>forever</i>.</b>" Satisfied that she had set up the mood properly, she craned her neck forward so as to lean over his downed form and graciously shook the few remaining petals from her dark coat. Pretty little specks of blue and pink and yellow teetered off herself and went gently floating down... <i>to kill him!</i>

Then Ava would rock back on her heel and throw her dark head to the sky to sing a song of victory - a loud, booming howl full of all kinds of wonky flat notes (to denote its demonic nature of course) that sang of all the doom that was to come of the land. Now her evil flower army could take the pale body that remained... and the wraith could take the night!

(This post was last modified: May 16, 2012, 09:50 PM by Ava.)

art - threads

( So true! Ava's Todd and Ice's Copper, no? xP Aaaand Marsh's Chief! <3 )

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. Even though he knew he wasn't going to really die, his heart beat faster, exhilarated and afraid all at once. His defiance was going to cost his persona its life - at least for tonight. The knight ought to quiver in fear, knowing that Ava would most likely sell his soul to the Voxyos creature, but it couldn't let it show. He had to die as bravely as he'd welcomed it, eyes closed and face serene - regal. Awaiting the dishonorable sacrifice that would tear the living light out of his body and toss it into the dark underworld, the realm. An army of undead flowers prevented him from running for his life, but he had a plan in his back pocket, an ace up his sleeve... For the sun would never truly forsake one of its most valiant servants, but would try to reclaim its chained spirit and empty vessel, searching in the shadows until they were found and rejoined; whole. Ice squeezed his eyes shut as she began her incantations of his demise, claiming nothing would save him. The paladin fought to keep its tongue in check, not wanting to reveal that it did not believe it would die today. Let the witch believe she had won, and let the tired body rest, chilled, for a night or two. Such a loyal and active servant as he had been, it was a rest well deserved. He could only hope Voxyos' punishments wouldn't be too taxing on the spirit. There had to be something left for the light to save, come dawn... Oh no! She was going to kill him with her flowers! Ice suppressed a keening laughter, fighting to keep his serene death-mask in place. Could valiant paladins make their hearts stop beating and set their spirit free? Kill themselves before the dark forces got to them? Certainly it was more honorable to commit a controlled form of suicide than being taken a slave to their arch enemy... Surely, it had to be. Still, Ice could hardly fake his own death at the moment, so he resigned himself to the fate of being viciously slain by flowers. Every nerve in his skin was alert, waiting for the physical touch of the fragile petals, the cue for his death to take place. Twitchy and on edge, he nearly leaped out of his skin when the first of the flowers fell upon his pale coat, and a strained gasp escaped him, followed by a ragged moan of pain. Still he didn't open his eyes, and as the sound of his agony died away, his head sank down to rest against his forelegs. The paladin's life was ended - for now. Ava's howl was so dramatic he had to bury his nose in the mess of ground and legs to hide his grin. The breeze tousled his fur in a comforting manner, as if to say, we won't let you stay dead. He was quite certain that their game would continue on some other dark and lonesome night, but for now, it was ended. As her witch's howl dwindled to nothing and the echoes died away, Ice toppled over on his side, sprawled amidst the dangerous flowers. He gave a snort of laughter, before stretching out all four thick limbs in different directions. The knight was gone, leaving only Ice - the real Ice - in place, and his silver eyes slipped open to the world again, merry and bright. Lifting his head, he gave his friend a wry grin. "But, of course, I don't believe the sun and the holy powers of the light will let their most trusted and courageous servant in the grasp of Voxyos for forever," he said amicably. It wasn't fair if she got to destroy his paladin-self for forever! "After all, it's in the powers of life to give life back, so I'm sure some sort of blazing rescue will be made and I'll be incarnated in a couple of days." His grin widened a fraction. "After all, if I disappeared forever, I'm sure you'd miss me." Smirk. He winked at her before rolling over on his belly and collecting himself into a sit - though, it was quite graceless and slouching. The grin reduced itself to a heartfelt little smile that played about in his face and in his eyes. For a while, Ice said nothing. In so many ways it seemed it was only yesterday he'd met her in the Willows, but so much had happened since then - the fight with Rhysis in the Rise, Indru coming home, pups forming in Corinna's womb... A shiver crawled down his spine. Ruiko had come bearing sad news about a Tainn going missing, something that had affected Triell deeply; it had been his littermate. So easy to forget the hardships of the world when playing - he refused to let the missing Tainn darken his situation though, and pushed Kinis aside again. "It's good to see you again," he said quietly - sincerely. "How have you been?" Hopefully she'd had some happy moments as well - not only reasons for getting very paranoid. Then again... her paranoia with being woken could be older. He wasn't going to ask directly though, not right now. He didn't want to tense things up again. .ice aesir

( aka the woe of killing characters without player consent? xD)

let the stars above shine in your soul

(Ahahaha omg it fits <i>so</i> perfectly...)

The wavering cry fell short, dying and letting the silence re-emerge as victor. Defeated, the knight fell on to his side, all life taken from him - and with a snort of laughter broke back into reality. While he sprawled amongst the wildflowers (which were now, once again, just little flowers) she allowed her hindlegs buckle, joining what once was her victim in the glade. Mindful of his legs as they sprawled all over the mess she'd made of the previously lovely garden she fell into an unsophisticated sit and rolled her shoulders as though stretching out the last of the demon stiffness from her body. fixing her amber gaze upon Ice. "<b>Oh, of course not,</b>" She agreed, a slippery grin appearing on her face. "<b>He'll be back before you know it. Voxyos is actually kind of a sucker for a demon; he's not very powerful. I give the valiant knight 24 hours and he's home free.</b>" She gave a curt nod, completely and totally confident in her prognosis. His day would come again, but for now both the witch and the knight would rest.

The dark girl snorted, <i>as if</i> that were even a question. "<b>Of course I'd miss you,</b>" Ava replied plainly, because she found it downright factual. She liked to think herself and Naira were close, although their relationship was a little more mentor-apprentice than it was good friends. She and Athena were strong together and supported one another, but they didn't talk much. Besides, the white wolf outranked her and Ava wouldn't be too keen to voice a dissenting opinion anyway. It was a genuine pleasure to be around the nameless River male, so freeing to show let her wacky colors show true. Ava would go so far as to assume he felt the same way too - at least, she got the impression that he was happy in her company. Except for perhaps the first couple of moments earlier in the night... but she was content in pretending that hadn't happened.

Her wandering eyes were drawn back to him at his sincere words, matching his gentle smile with a brilliant grin. "<b>Things have been great, I suppose.</b>" With the demons fought off - with his help, she'd never forget - Ava had been able to submerge herself in the mountain pack and, as it turned out, it was actually quite fulfilling. It was hard to remember the danger that loomed beyond the stones because trouble did not come looking for them as she had suspected it would have - besides that one visit from the Copper Rock Creek leader, but that was only one visit in several months. She thought of Jedd and his betrayal and his death, and the addition of Vafri and Chantille. And Kade had come back for her... Lost Lake was an eventful place. It struck her too that the Willows was a long time in the past now. It was so weird to think that the last time she'd seen the pale paladin she had thought Athena to be a guarded, unpleasant female... and now they were practically a package deal at the borders. It was especially weird to think that the wolf beside her had his teeth in her leader some short while ago... Ava hoped their allegiances would never cause trouble for them - though in all honesty, she just couldn't really see it happening!

Content with her quality of live she smiled something bold and let her head flop lazily toward him as she began, "<b>Over at Poison Path we are casually drawing up the plans of your pack's eminent demise. Except that we aren't, really, at all. We've really only thought of the pups on the way this whole time.</b>" She paused and furrowed her brow, because it seemed strange that the line drawn between their two packs was supposedly flaming-hot and full of fury... and yet, it appeared neither side was really looking for trouble. "<b>And</b>" she puffed up proudly, "<b>I lead a hunt. How's that for <i>well-adjusted</i>?</b>" At the very least it was an assurance that her future was going well enough; that there were more meetings to come, after this one. Her time in Relic Lore was, surprisingly, not ending. "<b>Oh, but I did sort of have a little fight... with an absolute <i>psycho bitch.</i></b>" She tried to withhold the violent snarl that always came with her thoughts of the encounter, so as to not give Ice the impression that she had some hidden crazy inside of her... even though she sort of did. Swallowing her anger she looked apologetically upon her friend and mustered, a bit quieter, "<b>I thought you were her, come back for seconds... sorry.</b>"

For a moment she'd sit quietly in her shame, her tail giving a gentle and nervous flop in the flowers behind her. Ava lifted her head again, a sly grin taking over her previously embarrassed expression. "<b>It's a good life, I would say. Top <i>that.</i></b>" Which was, more or less, her formal invitation for his life story next.

art - threads

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. Like water running off their fur the masks slid off, leaving only the two wolves and nothing of magic. Curious, really, how little they truly knew of each other - most of the time they'd spent in each others company tonight had been as others. Then again, he guessed their conversation in the Willows made up for it. Smiling slightly he watched Ava through brilliant silver eyes, giving a bark of laughter at her description of Voxyos. "I'm glad," he said with a grin, stretching his shoulders a little before tilting his head to the side. "And you know, I kind of picture him looking like a slug." Hopefully he'd not invite the witch and her ire back, but... he'd just had to say it! How could he possibly not tell her that her frightening Voxyos was something dark and shapeless to him, carrying a faint trace of being wet and slimy and cold? Ice leaned back slightly in case one of her dark paws would come flailing out to smack him for his disrespect of her god-with-the-fanciful name. He had to admire the speed at which all their remarks came flying, though, with the clarity and speed of lightning bolts. It was great to be so free, with only the stars - and perhaps some disgruntled birds losing sleep - watching. His grin widened when she affirmed that he'd be missed; he would've missed her, too. A lot. Corinna was his friend, someone he valued greatly and always was happy to see. Triell was also a very good friend, close to his heart. Marsh... he'd not really figured it out yet, but he cared a lot about the grumpy, russet wolf. Indru was his leader, his protector. But Ava - the stranger girl - she was.. different. She was a friend, and a damn good one at that, deep and wise and fierce. Not pack, but rather from Rhysis' pack... He'd decided, back in the Willows, to not care about that, though. Rhysis wasn't worth ruining their bond. Ice wouldn't let go of this friendship easily, unaware of how it would test them in the future. He was content to just be her friend, for when had things ever been this easy and pleasant? Not often; pack life tended to tie his mind into knots, and this was like untangling them. Groaning, he toppled from his slouched sit and onto his side again, burying his head in the wildflowers. He couldn't bother sitting up, but.. it was a tad rude to stick his head in the flowers. Ice wriggled around until he found a comfortable position on his side, propping his head up to better look at her. Great, huh? It looked like their little chat had done some good, then, for she'd hardly seemed this enthusiastic in the Willows. He was surprised to find that he felt a mixture of regret and fierce pride at her change. Poison Path? He'd never known their name - only their location, smelled off the fur of his night-time friend and others - but now he did. Poison Path. Fitting; they poisoned the lives of all who walked their path. Startled by the vehemence which accompanied the thought, he shoved the monster back into its cage and slammed the door shut. Rhysis and Naira spread poison. Ava certainly didn't. Pups. She'd fled with the scent of pregnancy hanging thick in the Grove, so of course; Swift River was likewise occupied preparing for their arrival. Ice grinned at her. Lead hunter, huh? Not bad for one who doubted her pack a month ago. He said nothing, though, but let her continue - fight with a psycho bitch? That sounded unpleasant. Huffing a little, Ice tossed his head sideways and tried to smooth out the unruly fringe of hair upon his head and batted his lashes at her. "I put it down to my femininity," said the tank of a male with a wink before sobering a little - still grinning, though. Damn, he could hardly spend more than three seconds in her company without smiling! "Quite different from the last time we met, then. Not quite the same pride nor.. position." His tongue lolled out for a moment as he assessed her situation, before taking her up on her offer of sharing his .. events. Life had been better for her, he guessed, than it had been for him. He felt a bit battered, like a wet bundle of fur tossed about on a stormy ocean and being hammered against rocks. "Well. Rhysis bit me and some crazy bitch from the Creek punched me, and then he threatened to kill me the next time he saw me, which, of course, I won't allow. Then I nearly sent my friend into a fit of hysterics by accidentally bringing him to his birth den, where his parents burned to death in a wildfire." His story was starting out well, wasn't it? "Ruiko - the Creek lead male, and Indru's litter mate - comes along to tell us Kinis, said friend's litter mate, is gone. Woe commences, but on the other hand, Indru returned, so." He gave a small shrug, forcing his mind away from a conversation he still wasn't sure had actually taken place or not. "Theeeen.. we'll be having pups too! That's about the good piece of news. A storm completely ruined our old den, so we've been digging a new one. Oh, and the last sibling in that litter comes to the Grove but apparently she's a bitch and Corinna hates her, so Indru had to reject her. They're not having much luck at the moment, and crazy loners have been running rampant at our borders lately." He snorted, locking his pale gaze on Ava. "Swift River is great, but.. we've not had much luck of late. Everyone's sort of in a pup-daze though, so I hope things turn out better once they arrive." .ice aesir

let the stars above shine in your soul

Voxyos - the not-so-powerful demon lord slug? An expression of disgust etched itself into her features. "<b>Eeeww,</b>" she half-whined and half-giggled, sticking her tongue out as a visible rejection of the slug idea. "<b>First the slobber, now the slug. I think there's some underlying connection here.</b>" She grinned, though she wasn't certain what the slimy undercurrent had to do with anything. Well, she could pretend that she was still a pup and say maybe it was just 'cause he was a boy and boys were yucky? Well, that explanation would do for now. And she would forego the repercussions that ought to have followed such an insult to a demon god her witch persona followed so faithfully, but the witch persona was off somewhere on her broomstick and she was quite content to let her weirdness fly on a different path than herself right now.

It was funny to her that she had hardly noticed him flopping into the flowers and wiggling around until the moment before he found a comfortable position. With anyone else she would've immediately realized the odd movement and given an expression to match, and yet she didn't even have to forgive him for his silly comfort - what was there to forgive? Ava practically expected it. Proper etiquette seemed to fly right out the window whenever the two met (probably aided by her witch persona and that broomstick) and she definitely preferred it that way. For a moment she was envious of how relaxed he looked, but she remained sitting after recalling how comfortable her own lazy ass-plop was. A dark ear drew toward him to hear his comments, followed quickly by a dark laugh. "<b>Ah yes, your feminininey,</b>" she agreed with a whole-hearted slow nod and completely ignoring that his fanciful word had tied her tongue into a knot. <i>Femininineee</i>, she practiced in her head, but it just wasn't doing it for her. But in truth there was no comparison to be drawn between Ice and that mangy lunatic.

For a hot second she jammed her yapper shut and let him go on, beginning his recollection at the event on the Fireweed Rise. The black she-wolf chuckled delicately, knowing full well that Rhysis had indeed bit her nameless friend... and that he'd bitten her leader back! Well, that was as far as she knew. They didn't exactly hold a pack rally for the return of an ass-whooping. But she had been around to smell him on her leader's dark fur and it basically spoke for itself - unless Rhysis gnawed on his own hide, but she rather doubted that. <i>And then he threatened to kill me the next time he saw me, which, of course, I won't allow.</i> Her smile disappeared for a moment. It was something she didn't dare speak aloud, as though the whisper of her voice might catch on the night wind and carry itself into the Poison Path den... but Ava would not allow it either.

Her thoughts would reel along with his word; she really didn't want to get caught up in some emotional business yet. "<b>Her name is Nina,</b>" she couldn't help but interject as though the name would come in handy, all the while her eyes widening. They had... a <i>common enemy</i>?! But her amusement easily fell again as he continued. The flame in her eyes flickered quiet, feeling a mutual pain for both Ice and his friend who'd had the terrible flashback. When that tree had caught on fire in front of her she had frozen, an absolute useless lump. What if <i>her</i> family had been taken in a fire? Would she have jumped in to save herself the pain? And what if the wolf who had saved her had been his friend? Ava likely would be dead right now (irony!). Ruiko - that would have to be Aeylen's mate. Finally she was learning about the Creek wolves. Naira's brother was their second. Nina was their fucking obnoxious bitch. And their Kinis... gone missing? No, the wires about Sticky and Kinis did not cross in her head... not yet. But the knowledge was there, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the Tainn loss.

It would appear Ice was finishing off on a congratulatory note - puppies, yay! And then he went ahead and mentioned that their freaking <i>den</i> got destroyed in anticipation of the new arrivals. And then Kinis' sister showed up and pissed off Corinna. <i>And</i> annoying loners. Then, somehow, he looked at her and said Swift River was great. Unlucky, but great. It was comical to list off so many tragedies and then deny it, but Ava couldn't help but hope for a turn-around for the strong rival pack. Maybe if they were happy they could forget about the ol' Poison wolves they didn't like so much.... eh? eh?

For a moment she only shook her head. "<b>Wow... I mean, that's kinda rough.</b>" Ava's crooked grin didn't shine with a cruel intent, rather that she felt for him. Truly it sounded a little weary over in the Grove. "<b>I hope it gets better,</b>" she added hopefully, completely oblivious to the extra havoc she was about to wreak on his already difficult life. "<b>Maybe the missing will show up, ot a crazy loner might end up being an actual asset to the pack?</b>" Ava wasn't fantastic at optimism, but she was damn well trying!

art - threads

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. He gave a snort at her "underlying connection". Well, who knows - maybe Ice was Voxyos, and it hadn't been normal wolf slobber, but demon overlord slug slobber? Somewhere along the lines of there, Ice decided it wasn't worth thinking about, and shoved it aside. She could have her "underlying connections" for all she wanted, but he didn't want them. So he left them on her table, chuckling at her pronunciation of femininity. He knew that he sometimes tossed big words around, but still, it made him grin wider and he wriggled a little through the flowers like some wolf-worm trying to come closer. She was sitting like a slouch, but it seemed comfortable, but it was comfortable down in the grass, too. As he spoke she commented only once, giving him the name of their common enemy - Nina. It seemed that his story had had the desired effect of "woe on Swift River", and with a sort of grumble-grunt he placed himself on his back in front of her, lazily waving his paws at her face. "I hope so," he mumbled, very innocently stretching up his front legs in an attempt to grab her around the neck and bring her down. It was much better on the ground! Still, though... Ice sighed, sneaking a glance at the sky beside Ava's dark face. Why wasn't everything this simple? Why did bad things happen? Why is life? He could easily spin away into questions neither of them could answer, and with a resigned look on his face, he gave up his attempts of dragging her down and instead sank back in the flowers, quietly watching the stars. Their packs were enemies and yet she offered hopeful advice, and his heart beat with the certainty that they were not enemies; nameless friends, but not enemies, never that. Ice blinked slowly, the moon reflected in his silver eyes. It was beautiful - it always was, and as it always did, it made his throat constrict and tears formed, creating a thin layer of shining light over his irises. When he looked up at the stars like this, traced the familiarity of their patterns, it wasn't hard to imagine the cutting winter wind, the glaciers and mountain tops, the valleys and the deep snow, the bitter roar of the gale as it stole the very warmth from your body and left you nothing but a cold husk, a shell... it wasn't hard to think back of the promise of certain death, of unyielding jaws around his neck, words that scornfully spoke of winter and brown fur and eyes like ice. He let the memories lay as dormant as they could, slowly pulling back from the reverie as if to not waken something that was best left asleep; the stars here were on a sky that was less cold, the wind smelling of new starts and fresh greens, and Ava's dark form was still there like a guardian angel. "You know," he began quietly, staring at the different types of darkness that made up the night, his eyes roving. "Life isn't always easy." It was probably the most retarded thing to say, and the deep sincerity with which he delivered it was not much but laugh-inducing; there he lay on his back, staring absently at the heavens, and said the most obvious thing ever as if it was some great secret he had just uncovered. For a few moments longer his silence held, as if he was truly so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed what he'd said. Then, he gave a snort and his head a small shake. He'd been intending to ask her something, but couldn't put his paw on it - frowning, he tried to backtrack their conversation and his own thoughts, leaping deftly over the mental glacier crack that was his past. In the snowy wastelands of his mind he suddenly recalled it, closed eyes snapping open. "Nina," he began, a spark of curiosity lighting itself within him. "What's your story with her?" .ice aesir

sorry, this sort of sucked. xD

let the stars above shine in your soul

In hindsight Ava had decided her comments might've been a little... uh... poorly chosen? They didn't seem to reflect the kind of attitude she would've liked to have, perhaps a little more up-beat than a nonchalant "oh man that's rough". He seemed alright with it thought as he voiced his quiet agreement. Then he waggled his paws in front of her face and she was tempted to nip at his toes as though they were little slug Voxyoses when she was lazily snagged around the neck. With a playful laugh she resisted being dragged down and instead waved <i>her</i> paws all up in his face, but eventually Ava gave in. She allowed her forelegs to buckle and her weight to fall, landing in the tormented wildflowers with no grace whatsoever. Sporting a half-assed grin she remarked, "<b>Well jeez, ya could've asked!</b>" But that was a joke as Ava knew full well that he really couldn't have asked. That was not how their friendship worked! After a moment of rustling among the decimated garden she picked herself a comfortable spot on her stomach, and allowed for the silent stillness to take over, for a moment.

Briefly she glanced toward Ice, but his eyes had taken to the stars as though the shining lights had a magnestism he could not fight. Ava left him to whatever it was that had taken over his thoughts. For as much as was inside his head, she found <i>hers</i> to be sufficiently... empty. Calm, without worry for once. It was absolute bliss not to have anything nagging her at the back of her mind, and while she wasn't a wolf free of regret or fear they were both pleasantly absent from the quiet night in the glade. And when he commented, suddenly and quietly, that <i>life wasn't always easy</i> she couldn't help but smile. "<b>This is one of those rare times, then,</b>" she commented softly. Ava agreed, of course; since when was life without cruelties? But she couldn't help that under the moon's pale glow it all seemed alright. But she stopped basking in the absolute nothingness of her mind (before it sucked her in and she became lazy) and flicked an ear toward his question.

<i>Nina</i>. "<b>Oh I don't have one so much with her as Athena does.</b>" She shrugged a little. A part of her regretted that she hadn't been there that day in the Rise when it seemed like everyone else had. It had been like being left out of a team-building exercise, for after that fight Rhysis had absolute trust in Athena. It wasn't like Ava was some shitty pack wolf, but wouldn't it have been cool to be the warrior he wanted? Of course Ava realized it wouldn't have been cool at all because Ice had been there too, and then she would've had to... well, done something at least. <i>Oh no,</i> she realized finally, that it would not have been a good thing at all for her to have been there. "<b>You probably had a bunch of black fur blocking your view but Nina went after Athena in that fight and the hatred extends to the next-most dominant subordinate,</b>" she explained, mostly joking about the automatic way that the "hatred would extend". But it was true that it had happened that way, just sort of trickled on down to Ava. With a gentle push of her legs she rolled onto her side so she could face her friend, giving him a goofy expression. "<b>I don't get into meaningful fights myself. Just stupid ones,</b>" she said as if it were something to be proud of. Hopefully she'd never be in a "meaningful" fight - spare herself the emotional trauma.

( ... ditto mine D: )

art - threads

Ice's 200th! :D

you do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the   ICE breaks. He wasn't surprised at getting her paws in his face again, but gave a muffled yelp and snapped lazily after one of them when it collided with the side of his muzzle. Just as he was about to give up and let go, she relaxed and came crashing down, a cascade of black fur and muscle hitting the ground with a thud and narrowly avoiding crushing him. Breathless with laughter Ice wriggled out from under her as she settled, but somehow he managed a backwards, half-choked snort when she complained of his brusque invitation to lie down. As if he could've had! They'd not had one really polite gentleman-to-lady conversation ever, so it was doubtful they'd start having them now - they'd been playmates, rough but gentle, and he liked it that way. They weren't meant to be polite, but he knew that she knew, so he didn't answer, just laid there by her side, feeling the warmth radiating off her in the dark night. Flowers lay strewn about them and it looked more like a fight scene than a warm meeting between two silly souls. Almost self-consciously he glanced at the poor colorful wildflowers, then shrugged. He hadn't done it intentionally, like a certain female had, so it was.. somewhat okay. Besides, they'd killed him! So they were square. "This is one of those rare times, then," she said and he smiled at the moon, pale teeth like ghosts in his cold face. To respond would be to ruin the moment, so Ice kept silent, allowing time to flow by, rocked as if by a gentle stream. It was peaceful, despite the small weight of sorrow on his chest, and the knowledge that the sun would rise and they would part. Despite knowing that their packs were enemies, but perhaps glad that they had one they could share? Nina, a female he barely knew, had met only once - and ironically, the tale that unfolded revealed that the enmity stemmed from the very same incident. Ava's movements caught his attention and he tilted his head to watch her, a matching grin spreading across his own face. Just stupid ones? He laughed, giving his head a small shake. "I just get into crazy ones," he said jollily, tongue lolling out between his teeth. "But ironic, that it was the very same fight! That girl sure needs to check if she's still got all her marbles, because I'm fairly sure someone's stolen some... That, or she needs to figure out which side she's on." Then he stuck his tongue out purposefully, before settling back against the grass carpet. It felt nice, lying here... And memories of their previous encounter swarmed back in. It'd been much like this back in the Willows too - they'd been lying down together, though curled up in a wolf-hug because it had been blowing like crazy. Then, instead of falling asleep, she'd gone back to her mountain, and he to his Grove. It sounded a bit odd to say, but one thing Ice really wanted was to be able to fall asleep next to Ava - it would.. be like a victory, to him, but over what he wasn't sure. Cautiously he wiggled closer, pale fur brushing against her dark one, and then he rolled his head back further to stare at her upside down. She was beautiful, but his heart wasn't fluttering; she was beautiful and wild and he liked her a lot, but not in that way. Their bond was of another sort, but he was mildly worried of scaring her off, so it was with a soft voice that he asked: "Do you have to run back towards home again, or can you fall asleep here, tonight..?" .ice aesir

(This post was last modified: Jun 13, 2012, 06:50 PM by Ice.)

let the stars above shine in your soul