Nomads Pass Ghost Stories

Aponi Aquila It was the sounds that woke her up, it sounded like monsters outside and had woke her up from her dream of chasing a rabbit along the pass. It had been a good dream, she had been about to catch the rabbit, but now she was standing near the entrance to the new communal den staring out into the dark. The sounds were scary, like dragons or bog creatures were walking around out there in the dark where she couldn't see them and the girl quivered slightly in fear. Aponi wanted to turn and run back to her mother's warm side and curl back up and go to sleep, but her Ma wouldn't have run away and she wanted to be just like her so she stayed. Another moaning sound came from outside and the girl stepped backwards farther into the cave, but called out, "The princess of the cave says GO AWAY!" Her voice trembled slightly, but she was trying to sound tough, scare the bog monsters and dragons away so her Ma would be proud. Another sound came from outside, a creaking sound this time and the girl growled slightly, yelling out again, "I'll call my Ma on you!" She didn't realize how loud she was being, and that she had probably woken up the whole pack with her shenanigans, she just wanted to prove that she was brave like her mother. The sounds of course were just wind from the woods below, but the girl had never heard such noises before and had no explanation for them. She ducked down as another sound came, hiding against the stone side of the cave trying to blend in, she was more scared than brave now, but she was to afraid to leave the side of the cave. In her mind if she left her hiding spot the monsters would see her and take her away, so she stood silently now rooted to the spot staring out into the darkness.

mapplethorpe

there are ghosts everywhere

As Mapplethorpe had sent {Taima} to run a late-night patrol around the perimeters of the new pack den, he had fallen soundly asleep at @Naira's side, his body slightly angled toward her while he kept an ear open to the entrance of their sleeping quarters. For some time he slumbered, undisturbed and nearly-snoring, until one of the girl's shrill voices sounded out into the night. "The princess of the cave says GO AWAY!" she cried. Mapplethorpe's eyes fluttered open but his head rose when he discerned the creaking and howling sounds coming from the west. How the Ghastly Woods managed to make the bone-chilling sounds was somewhat beyond him, but he did have a theory that somewhere in the middle of the claustrophobic spaces between the trees laid an undiscovered cavern... much like the one he was nestled in now.

He lifted his head, recognizing by scent that the dark shape huddled into Naira's side was Nova, the quieter of the two girls. Not wanting to disturb his monarch and princess, he carefully removed himself from their corner of the cave and stepped past the rest of the pack, resting comfortably in their own part of the cavern. Stepping forward and feeling the slight summer breeze against his face, he took a deep breath as Aponi tried again to threaten the daunting sounds. A yawn parted his jowls and he shook his head as if to rid himself of the shroud of sleepiness that still adorned his shoulders.

A deep and tender growl rolled from his chest as he craned his neck downward, looking as though he had been marking a small rock that laid to one side of the wide entryway when he was simply touching his nose to the space between the girl's ears. "Aponi," he half-cooed, his fatherly mannerisms making itself apparent in the gentle tone of his voice. "What are you doing up, hmm?" His eyes went to the landscape through the trees and over the stony cliffs before returning to the cub at his side, a small smile coming over his lips. "Should be sleeping, young lady..."

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Aponi Aquila The sounds of paws upon the stone echoed throughout the cave, scaring the little princess half to death, her heart pounded as she shrank further back into the shadows. Her blue eyes as wide as the moon in the sky as she stared into the dark depths of the cavern, waiting for what surely was a monster that had already crept into the dark without her noticing. What came into her view was the furthest thing from a monster that she could have thought of, with a happy exclamation of, "Daddy!" she bounded between his legs, weaving herself around as a cat would to its owner. When she felt his nose upon her skull she quickly looked upwards, playfully licking at his nose, enticing him to play with her even though it was the middle of the night. His next words reminded her of her original mission and she stomped out from between his legs, her frustration and bossy attitude returning. Her tiny front paw stomped impatiently upon the ground as she huffed, "I tolded them to go away, and they didn't." The last word was stressed as if they had broken some law by not doing as she said, she was the princess after all, and that made her word law. Turning from her father she faced out into the open, growling and yipping at the monsters that laid outside shrewd by the night. Now that her dad was there she felt much safer, much bolder, he surely wouldn't ever let anything happen to her, and she would never let anything happen to him. Mapplethorpe's mention of sleep caused a yawn to rack her tiny body, her jaws stretching wide as the air was exhaled. Aponi stretched her muscles and ruffled her fur, there was no way she would be sleeping when she had to keep her family safe. Turning to him with a serious expression she declared, "I keep you safe," as if this would be the end of the matter. Turning back to watch outside she plopped her rump sternly upon the ground, there was no way she was moving, not yet anyways.

mapplethorpe

there are ghosts everywhere

For some time it had been a secret indulgence of his to think of himself as Aponi and Nova's father. It had started when they had first moved into their new sleeping quarters and since then he had lightly and coyly ignored whenever the girls called him any variation of "Papa" from mispronouncing the syllables of his name or Nova's rather dyslexic take on the word "Appa." However, Aponi's delighted squeal of "Daddy!" had his mind react in a delayed fashion, and he slowly glanced about as if to wonder if anyone had heard her. By that point, as the princess began to explain what it was that she was doing, he had to let down the front he had tried to maintain, at least for the girls' sake. He had been there since the day they had been born and, though he had only just laid eyes on them for the very first time when Naira had called the pack to a quick meeting for relocating to the new den, there was no doubt in his mind that he loved them as though they were his own. If Aponi acknowledged him as her father, then he was already willing to be that figure in her life.

She yawned, her small muzzle parting to reveal her tiny teeth, still sharp and white the moonlight that shone through the clouds. He had to stifle back a small chuckle. In all his long years, he thought he would have never had a chance to see a cub, let alone watch one grow up before his very eyes. Just watching her quiver as her lungs tried themselves with oxygen made him realize just how fragile, small, and precious she - as well as Nova and Mercy - really was. For a second he could not even fathom being so small at one point in his life until he remembered that his sisters often tried to pick on him for not being as "brawny" or as "impressive" as their father. He had come quite a way, he was sure, and now that he had set his mind to it, he was going to ensure with all his might that cubs of Nomads Pass would grow up to be just as strong and wise.

The girl stretched and bristled her fur for some time before looking to him and plunking down to sit at the entrance to the cavern. He couldn't help the closed-mouth grin inching up along his masked face; she had probably picked that up from him but he wouldn't dare admit it. "I keep you safe," she had solemnly declared and Mapplethorpe slowly sat down beside her, still watching as she straightened up and returned her eyes to the night-cloaked landscape. In all truths, just hearing her say such a thing touched him, warming him all the way through from the lining of his ribcage to the very center of his beating heart.

He reclined forward, the bottoms of his rough paw pads grazing the cold stone with a light scratching sound. Once his elbows rested firmly on the ground and his muzzle was brought closer to Aponi's height. "Sounds good," he murmured, gently pressing his lips to her small temple. "You do that." He made himself comfortable, stretching his hind legs out behind him and draping his tail over them as he looked the princess over again. It occurred to him then that she hadn't actually told him exactly what she was trying to do. Still whispering in a hushed tone, he lightly smoothed out the fur at the side of her face with his tongue before pulling away from her, "Wait. Who didn't go away, love?"

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(This post was last modified: Jul 05, 2013, 11:59 PM by Mapplethorpe.)

Aponi Aquila When her dad told her she was all good to keep them safe the young princess nodded her head proudly, as if she wouldn't have left if he had told her she had to. Aponi probably would have left with him, but then snuck back to the mouth of the cavern the first chance she got, either way she liked having him there, in case one of the monsters came inside. Puffing out her tiny chest she put her muzzle higher into the air, though the feeling of Mapplethorpe's lips on her head made her giggle, "Stop Daddy!" She said the words though it was obvious she didn't mean them, the girl was always open for a play session, especially one with dad. After his tongue was done smoothing her fur her muzzle turned swiftly, hoping to catch him in a sneak attack the girl began licking and nipping at his chin, giggling madly while she did. Slowly she worked her way under his chin, climbing over his leg so she was in the space between his forepaws and under his muzzle. About to start nipping at his other side she was distracted by his question and her eyes widened dramatically, though the question confused her. Settling in she laid down between his legs, her head resting upon one of his arms, her belly facing the air and her legs dangling. The blue puppy eyes stared up at the stone ceiling as she tried to find an answer, "Uh......I dunno......the thingies, they go WOOOOOO!" The last sound was almost like a howl, but it sounded gurgle as the girl's howl hadn't come in yet. Aponi was soon bored with talking about the thingies from outside so she leapt to her paws, climbing out from under her Daddy. In a flash she was behind him, pouncing on his tail as if it was some kind of giant play thing, giggling away again as she ran a circle around him. It was an obvious bate, she wanted him to chase her and wrestle her, a noisy game that was likely to wake the whole pack should the man give into her desire to play. Sinking down low on her forelegs the girl wriggled her bottom in the air, her tail swaying like a flag in the wind, while she emitted a playful growl between her delighted giggles.

mapplethorpe

there are ghosts everywhere

As soon as he grew still, listening intently to the princess' words, she pushed up against him, giggling as she pressed her lips and tongue against the underside of his own muzzle. His eyes closed momentarily, steeling himself as she romped over his forelimbs while hoping she didn't trip. Much to his relief, she slowly worked her way into the space his throat and arms made, then laid down, cradled perfectly between his elbows all the down to his wrists. His heart gave a sudden pang; he wished Aponi could stay this way, just as she was, sweet and small... inquisitive and everything that his own sisters were not.

He angled his head slightly, staring into her eyes as she looked over and up into the cracked cavern ceiling. She answered him in perfect detail and he gave a short chuckle, even as she regained her feet and began to run in a circle around him. Once settled in a play bow, he eyed her quietly, lifting an arm just enough so that he could reach out to her in attempt to draw her close to him again. "Tut, tut, now," he quietly murmured, shifting to that he could place his chin over her forehead. "Quiet time..."

His tail rose from the stone floor twice in a wag, his smile still touching his eyes. "I think those thingies want you to be out of bed," he whispered. "So, you lay down here with me... Stay here, keep me safe from those things that go--" WOOOoooOoOoooOo... Mapplethorpe didn't even have to finish his sentence; Mother Nature seized the opportunity to fill in the blank with a much more appropriate sound effect. He pretended to cringe and his ears lowered on either side of his head. "Aponi," he partially pleaded as he shuffled back a few inches on his stomach, hind legs, and elbows. "C'mere, keep Daddy safe." For good measure, he brought the corners of his mouth downward in feigned fright, "I'm scared."

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Aponi Aquila Tiny barks were streaming from Aponi as her dad settled into a matching play bow, sure that this meant that he was in fact going to play, but she was disappointed. Doing her best to guilt him she widened her eyes and pouted out her bottom lip all while whining a long, "Aaaaaawwwww but Daddy........" Soon she gave up and flopped over onto the ground, once more rolling onto her back and pushing her legs up into the air, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth. She was a puppy after all, though better than most her age, her attention span was very short and she was easily distracted by the smallest of things. When Mapplethorpe explained his theory about the thingies her jaw popped open into a silent O, her eyes once more growing wide, she had never thought of that. When Aponi saw how scared her daddy was she rolled herself over and rushed back to his side, at first unsure of what to do, then she remembered what her Ma did when either her or Nova were scared. Too short to reach his head the princess settled for his shoulder, nuzzling up against it with her muzzle all while murmuring a soft, "Doon be scareded, Doon be scarded." Taking a few steps back her face was serious, looking him in the eye she declared, "I keep you safe," before returning to her spot at the mouth of the cave, sitting her rump down once more. In her mind she was just like her Ma, all grownsed up and she could in fact keep her Dad safe, though really it was the other way around. This in mind her tail started to wag and she repeated once more, those this time the words gleamed with obvious pride, "I keep Daddy safe." When the noises returned once more the heiress let out a growl, though this one obviously wasn't playful and she surprised even herself with how scary it sounded. Looking back at the large wolf she couldn't contain her excitement about being able to make such a noise and she rushed back to him, her tail beating like a drum and a smile covering most of her face. Once she reached him her curiosity overcame her and all in one rushed breath she let out, "daddywhaaredathingies?!" Aponi had felt wind before, though she didn't know what it was called, but she had never heard it make such noises, it was all strange ti her and would probably take some explaining.

Frick. I think I'm gonna have nightmares, LOL. Grey is a wimp.

mapplethorpe

there are ghosts everywhere

Once settled back on his stomach and somewhat certain that Aponi would cease moving about in hopes of getting him to play her game, the Advisor stretched out his legs behind him as they had been before. She actually came running and, to that, Mapplethorpe managed a small, heartened smile. She stopped for the briefest moment then he watched as she buried her nose and muzzle into the short, graying fur at the closest shoulder she could get to. "Doon be scareded," she readily assured him, "Doon be scarded.".

Mapplethorpe inhaled quietly, mentally releasing it in relief. "O-okay," he stuttered, continuing shortly after to "ease up" and convince her that he was "all right" now that she had returned to her post. Again, she informed him in a dutiful and solemn tone, "I keep you safe." He nodded quietly, perking up only when the princess began to growl back at the mysterious sounds. His head canted to one side, tickled as he watched several emotions dawn on her. Surprise, exhilaration, confidence, and curiosity. She drew closer again and he warmly met her eyes.

Always with the questions... Always. He grinned openly now, some part of him wanting to retell the tales that he had grown up with. The ones that he never truly believed but would never admit to somewhat thinking that some of them were plausible enough with some explanation. "Well..." he began, tilting his head the other way in thought. "Y'know what, Princess, I actually don't know." His tone bordered on teasing her ears and mind, but he went ahead and began to tell her a story that his grandmother had once told him and his sisters so many years ago.

"But, I might have an idea," he quickly added. "Do you see those woods over there?" He squinted his eyes and gestured with his muzzle towards the shadowy wall of crooked trees in the distance. "The trees riiiiight over there... That's where the yeth hound lives..." Dramatically, he paused, paying close attention to where Aponi's eyes went and just how attentively she was listening. "Sometimes, when he is lonely in the middle of the night, he calls for the puppies who are out of bed."

As if on cue, the ghostly hound wailed again from his shady lair and Mapplethorpe sniffed. "He might sound lonely, but he really isn't. He wants to take all the puppies from their parents and keep them all for himself. In the Ghastly Woods, he wanders the shadows with his dark black fur and glowing eyes, waiting for you to come out of bed and join him." Suddenly worried now that Naira's eldest daughter would be prone to exploring the area if she ever managed to find the opportunity, he hastily continued and planted a small kiss to the base of her ear again, "Ma and Daddy don't want you to disappear, okay? You stay here with us. We don't want that yeth hound to get you..."

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Aponi Aquila Tiny brow furrowed in confusion at his first response, "But grownups know every ting!" Aponi protested, surely her daddy must know what it was, he was a grown up wasn't he? Black rump sat upon the stone floor once more as she became enthralled in his story, this was one she had never heard before though her mother often told her and Nova stories in the den there had never been one like this. A tiny gasp came from her muzzle at the name of the hound and blue eyes squinted towards the woods as they strained to see the yeth hound out wandering between the branches. Giving up she turned her muzzle back to her father as he finished the story, concentration covered her expression as she considered it, unsure whether or not it was a Yet Hound that made those noises. Finally she decided it wasn't really fair that nobody would let the yeth hound play, they didn't know he was fooling unless they tried it. Huffing in exasperation of her new opinion she declared, "I think he is nice, we should lettem play," after all, didn't everyone just want to play with her all the time? That was the grownups jobs, to keep her happy. At his next comment the princess shook her head forcefully, her ear flapping all over and her eyes closed and then she stomped a paw upon the ground. "Yet Hound not gonna get me, I won lettem!" In her mind she could wrestle and beat everyone, she beat Nova all the time and when she wrestled with the other grownups they never hurt her, so why would the Yet Hound? Mapplethorpe had been right to worry, for Aponi planned on sneaking down into the woods in search of the Yet Hound as soon as she was big enough. This threat was still months away, even she knew she was much too small to walk all that way, she became tired without even getting close to the borders of the territory. Stubbornness was already beginning to make itself apparent in her personality, in the way she forced everyone to play and in the way she would refuse to let this go until she travelled down into the woods to find the Hound.

mapplethorpe

there are ghosts everywhere

Mapplethorpe's brow nearly wrinkled as Aponi told him that she thought the yeth hound was nice. He clenched his teeth but was ultimately relieved when she declared that the mythical creature would not get her. Phew! "The yeth hound is not nice," he informed her. "Very, very bad yeth hound." His tone was riddled with all sorts of high and low tones, but overall quite serious as he eyed the princess carefully. It made him proud that she boasted the confidence every little girl ought to have, but he was already ruing the day, if it ever came, when he would have to explain that the yeth hound was more than likely nothing more than a ghost story.

"But good," he stated quietly. "Don't want him to eat you up for being outta bed." He playfully stuck his tongue out at her but with stretching out his arms and digits, he stood up. The yeth hound continued to moan and wail but the Advisor paid no mind to it. "Come on now," he began to coo again, clicking his tongue to call for her attention. "Bed time." He slowly stepped further into the pack den, his eyes fixed onto the small girl at his side.

"If your mother catches the both of us out of bed, we're both going to be in trouble." He raised a brow as he waited for her to make a move. If she had been just a tad smaller than she was now, all this nonsense wouldn't have even started. The moment he realized she was gone and saw her at the entrance, he could have easily picked her up and nestled her back down in-between him and Naira. As it was, he hoped he still had the knack for persuading even the youngest members of the pack to heed his words. "Aponi...".

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