Lost Lake the saddest thing

<i>This fortnight, the rains seem to have stopped.</i>

<blockquote>Lines of deep consternation were drawn in her face, seen in a furrowed brow and a muzzle lightly wrinkled in displeasure. Her eyes, half-way through their gradual change from blue to gold, were raised to the sky. Every morning for nearly a week she had sat in this spot, a short walk from the den in which she slept, and and stared upwards. Her expressions on these occasions had swiftly turned from eager expectation to disappointment to impatience, and now she was bordering on anger.

Why was it so <i>empty</i>?

Perhaps she was just being ridiculous. As she had grown, Belladonna's affection for rain had not ceased, though she was barely beginning to comprehend its strangeness; none of the other wolves she had met particularly seemed to care. Their lack of mutual infatuation did not bother Bella, who did not need anybody else to share her feelings for hers to be validated, but she had noted the curiosity.

She was not yet able to explain her love, either. It was unlikely that she ever would.

<b>"Where are you?"</b> she asked quietly, her face softening as she accepted that this would be another sad, dry day. She sighed, her young shoulders rising and falling to the dramatic rhythm of her internal frustration. There were clouds in the sky, but all the wrong kind - useless, wispy white things, good for nothing, not even shade. Perhaps - perhaps she would be permitted to visit the lake, the lake she had seen but never properly visited. Then, at least, she could jump in and drench her fur and pretend that this miserable situation wasn't real. </blockquote>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/AshTable.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 250px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; text-align:justify;">Satisfaction with ones self was something Ash rarely came upon. He had gained the role of Guardian as one of the firsts, along with Treena, and his rank had been pushed up, and he was now respectful second of Poison Path. Nothing, it seemed, could get any better than it already was. But Ash wouldn’t allow satisfaction cloud his judgment, he still needed to push himself to be the best he could be. His large brown paws thundered on the ground in a repeated rhythm as he continued to think to himself. It wasn’t something he came upon regularly, only being one step away from being alpha, if he would challenge the Tlarx, but he had no intentions of doing so. His goal was to be the best protector the pack could have, and that was why he was just coming back to the den from the borders.

He had finally had the high pleasure of seeing the rain had stopped. . .oh, how he loathed the wetness it would bring onto the land, it had been one of the reasons he loved the mountains, the usually try barren land was now soaked in water, but he supposed it couldn’t be too much of a bad thing. The pups and the rest of the pack definitely needed as much water as possible. So maybe, this time, the rain hadn’t been such a bad thing, but it still didn’t stop him from despising it. When he was close the denning area a small voice called out to him, or maybe it wasn’t him but someone else.

His nose grazed the air as he took in a big whiff of what had called out. It was definitely a pack mate, one of the smaller ones that he had probably met when the pack had gathered. How interesting. . .? His paws then took him in the direction of the small voice and his tail wagged behind him slightly. When he entered the small area, small Belladonna sat there, seemingly staring into space, or at least, that was what it looked like to him. He kept a respectful distance, as to not startle the small thing with his large build. His mouth did open when he finally did decide to sleep, "Are you looking for someone?"

<3
<blockquote>Had the sky been more alluring, the sound of mere footsteps would not have torn her attention away, but it was not so. There was nothing to see, nothing but endless blue, and as such the young girl turned her head as somebody approached. Wracked with childish grief at the pitiful weather, she had no time for fear, but it was not to be so anyway; she recognised that face, for he had been there when she first met all the pack. The memory still made her head swim a little... so many huge wolves! It was funny how they made her feel so small, but spending hours gazing into the infinite beyond did not.

Still, he had been nice. She smiled shyly at him, her short tail twitching once in greeting. Then he spoke, and she dropped her chin into the fluff on her chest at her question, ears slicked back, embarrassed that she had been heard. She did not know how to answer, aware as she was that the other wolves did not share her passions, but she knew that the longer she waited the worse it would get. So she drew on her courage and glanced sideways at him, the self-conscious smile returning. <b>"Do... d'you think is nice day?"</b></blockquote>

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Once he knew she was aware that he was there, he continued forward, his rump plopped on the ground next to the small form. At the question addressed towards him, his head lifted the sky, his green eyes taking in the blue. He had to admit, the change of weather had pleased him highly, for he, not being a high fan of rain, had finally found peace for a short time. Ash was hoping to bound close with the pup, and he wasn’t going to do that by lying. He was going to do it with utter truth, something he hadn’t been able to grow up with. He had already assumed that Athena and Tlarx were not the original parents, for the markings hadn’t matched up.

His lips soon parted and the answer he was searching for escaped him, "Yes. . .yes I do, Belladonna. Rain isn‘t really my thing. I prefer drier areas." It had honestly been one of the main reasons he had come to the mountains, even though he knew the winters were harsh it was mostly dry. Something that he had respect for. He had never liked the rain, ever since he had been born it had been something that he had loathed. As he sat next to the small form, he looked back down upon it, a small smile on his lips, "How about you?"

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.

<blockquote>As he took his time to ponder her question - which, in and of itself, ignited some respect for him - she stared down at her feet. His paws were a mere glance away, and so <i>big</i>. She shifted her tiny dusty paw towards his slightly, in awe of the difference, and wondering if she would ever be that huge. To have feet so big and legs so long... she would be able to reach the clouds!

His voice distracted her from her admiring, and though his answer was utterly contrary to her own tastes, she had conclusively decided she liked him. She pulled a face at his preferences, in childish but amused disgust, and kept her tongue held out while he turned the question on her. Did she like the day indeed! Silly man and his rain-hating, but she forgave him even as she privately judged him for it - or not so privately, since all he had to do was see the affront in her eyes.

<b>"No!"</b> she yipped. <b>"No heavy wet clouds... not nice day. Not t'all."</b></blockquote>

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By the look he had received from the small pup, he could only guess that she did not think the same way that he did. He did not expect her to, nor did he expect her to answer him. His lips pulled up into a small amused smile and his head tilted slightly to the side. So tiny, yet so curious. He thought it was so adorable. His large, thick tail wagged behind him with the words that were responded to his. And soon, he to had a reply. His throat cleared quickly and he strong voice sang, "Everyone has different opinions." His tone was not matter of fact, just kind and knowing. It was a good piece of advice he had been given when he was younger, and he had regretted never having listened to it. . .he had been a boy.

A large sigh erupted from his muzzle as he glanced down at the small pup. She was five times smaller than him, in minimum. He towered over her easily, his body posture slightly tilted in her direction, as if he were guarding her from something. He had gave his word to protect the pups at all costs and now he just seemed to be doing the job on command, happy with his role in protecting his new family. Speaking of family. . .he briefly wondered how Treena had been coping. He had not seen her for so long, and he had not been overly thrilled about this. If he didn’t have her in sights, then he didn’t have her protected, or at least, protected in his eyes. He fatally attempted to distract himself from his own thoughts with a question towards Bella, "What do you think about the pack?"

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.

<blockquote><i>Everyone has difference opinions.</i> She pondered that, savoured it, held it aloft as some great gift of wisdom. She saw kindness in his face, curiosity and entertainment, and a friend would not lie to her. He was so much older, and so big. He must be wise. The simple profoundness of the statement struck her, besides, and she stared at him in open wonder, her childish derision of his opinion forgotten. <i>Since we all have different ones. I wonder what else he thinks that is different?</i>

Distraction came over his face, and she waited patiently for it to pass, her eyes never straying from their role of watching him. What was he thinking? She found the mystery almost as fascinating as the promise of heavy clouds, but could not bring herself to ask. When he spoke again, she knew it was a diversion tactic, but she was so happy to be asked another question that she did not mind. Perhaps whatever was on his mind was not nice. <b>"Is my family!"</b> she declared with a shy grin. <b>"Mummy says they is friends, and keep me and Datura safe."</b> She hesitated, realising she had said something wrong, and then corrected herself: <b>"<i>You</i> is friends."</b> Because he was the pack, he was her companion and her protector. Yes, that was right. Pleased with herself, she stood, and padded around the front of him, all the better to gaze up into his face. It was her turn to ask a question. <b>"Why you no like rain?"</b></blockquote>

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His giant head was tilted towards the small girl in front of him. He could easily step on her, and he watched himself closely to make sure he would not. Her statements rang in his ears and a small smile twitched its way onto his lips, "Yes, I am your friend, but pack is family." His words were simple and delicate his green eyes searching small Bella’s ones. His large tail wagged behind him as her next question brought a large, rumbling laugh out of his mouth. When she approached him closer his head bent down more a small purr of pride escaping his mouth. Such a curious young thing. It was highly good for her to ask questions, it was good to know she wasn’t a shy one.

He cleared his throat gently before answering, "It just puts a damper on my mood, I suppose. I like it better when it‘s dry. It feels more like home. Why do you like the rain?" He went back with a question of his own, a small smirk on his large, furry face. His lips pulled back and his fangs slid over his lip, slightly. It was a gesture he had grown used to showing. It did not make his face look vicious. . .just funny.

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.

<blockquote>She beamed as he confirmed her assessment, glad to have it settled, once and for all, that he was her friend. Good! They would have so much fun together now - and hopefully he wouldn't be nicer than her brother, though she loved Datura anyway. Mostly.

Not letting her private troubles regarding her sibling get in the way of this happy moment, Bella was eager to absorb herself in his answer. It made her pull a face again. Put a <i>dampener</i> on his mood? Even at her age, she knew that was funny and silly. <i>It feels more like home,</i> he said, which was curious. Wasn't this home? And when it was wet, well, it felt like home to her. Why wouldn't he like the wet if he lived here? It did not rain all the time, but with the clouds never too far away, and the lake nearby... she was practically a waterdog.

Then he put that question to her, and her eyes went wide with an, <b>"<i>Ooooooh,</i>"</b>. How could she ever answer that? Her mind floundered around for something concrete to offer him, some fact of marvelousness that was only attributed to the sight of a grey sky, the teasing promise of heavy clouds, some reason why the sensation of raindrops on her nose was enough to send tingles of warm fire down her spine, or the sound of it <i>pit-pattering</i> on the ground was a more soothing lullaby than even her mother's voice. Her mouth worked excitedly, but no sound came out, for her tongue was not nearly fast enough to keep up. <b>"Is just, is just,"</b> she tried, the emotions welling up and becoming stuck in her throat. She was too young, she did not have the vocabulary. Would she ever have the words to explain it?

Defeated, she sunk down a little, pouting. That had been a terrible answer. In order to recover - and perhaps distract him from her helpless, excited moment - she perked up and fixed him with a questioning stare.

<b>"What you mean, <i>'feel like home'</i>?"</b></blockquote>

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When he answered the question the pups face only transformed into what could be distaste. It did not effect him what so ever, for he knew that she was just a pup. When she tried answering him she only stuttered, and he wondered that if, in the future, she would have a stuttering problem or not. She didn’t seem much like a shy pup, just one that got excited easily. Proud that she had tried to cover up her own stutter he tilted his head at her. Of course she wouldn’t understand his own meaning of home. She probably thought this was his home. Ash’s thick tail wagged behind him slightly, wondering on how to answer the question asked by the small girl. It hardly rained where he had come from, and from what he had gathered he was living on the leeward side of the mountains. . .the side that was mostly dry.

His mouth finally opened, and his eyes glowed slightly, "I was not born in Relic Lore. . .but in another place. Where I grew up, it was dry. I never was one to like the rain, little one." Amusement was in his eyes as he studied the small figure. He didn’t want to say something wrong, or tell her that it was usually rare for the side of the mountain to get rain. He didn’t want to disappoint her, and so, he simply kept his mouth shut and let her enjoy the wetness while it would last. Why did it seem to matter anymore? He hadn’t been to disappointed with the rain. . .just not as happy as usual.

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.