Bramble Falls surplus reprieve

The secret impresses no one.

borden lyall

The trick you use it for is everything.

The youth stared down at him but did not speak, even as he invited her forward, but it was with relief that she finally disclosed that she had a way down, that he need only to wait for her. She inched away before finally disappearing from his sight. The shadows seeming to readily take her in and grant her the subtle manner and grace to slip into the night and away from the man who had only wished to help after assuming such a dreadful thing of her. One long minute passed and he could not longer hear her footsteps against the ever-rushing current of the waterfall. Trembling, he painstakingly brought his forepaws back to the ground, and though he longed to rest his muscles he stood in his place, left wondering if he had asked too much just to see her to safety - surely her family was around and would possibly be worried, if she had parents who were anything like he and Jaysyek were. Gazing about, the rhythmic clicking and scraping of nails against stones caught his attention. His tail wagged precariously but the look upon his face was evident: he was glad to see her.

He sat down patiently as she asked him again who it was he had confused her for. Borden took a moment to think, the gap between her question and his answer just long enough for an acceptable pause. "I thought you were Death," he revealed, hoping he did not startle her in the slightest. Truth was, he knew, that most pups, particularly {Trisden} took to the idea of such a supernatural being. In his eldest daughter's case it had been the concept of God or gods, something the Lyall man had actually believed helped look after his children. To this near-yearling, it had been something on the opposite end of the spectrum. Death, a collector of souls, a spiritual identity made flesh and bone if only to assess whether his next victim was ready to leave with him.

A small chuckle sounded from him as if to dismiss his answer with a rather amused note. "My grandmother used to tell me and my siblings all sorts of stories. The Wolves of Winter or the Wolves of Nikolaos, the Sand Wolf... "Aswang." I just... I jus' never grew out of them, I guess." In a rather humble manner, he heaved a light sigh, looking down sheepishly at his paws. After some time, his pale eyes inquisitively went back to her face, wondering in the forefront of his mind if she thought he was crazy or anything of the sort, "What were you doing up there? All by yourself?"

template base formed by GINNYSAURUS.

(This post was last modified: Jun 08, 2013, 10:22 PM by Borden.)

Well, what do you want from me?

Aiyana

I walk upon the river

"I thought you were Death," he said as he sat there, and Aiyana's closed face revealed little as she mulled over the thought. Did Death have black fur and burning eyes? Somehow, she guessed it seemed fitting, knowing how easily she could slip in and out of shadows.. how her spindly form easily scaled these wet cliffs, how the last trace of sunlight could strike her even when it seemed to ignore others. Yes — she assumed it was not too stupid a guess.. although she said nothing as he continued, merely watched him, and tried to ignore the warmth she felt inside. She liked his voice. She liked his posture, the way he sat, relaxed. She liked the peculiar shade of his eyes, the way he tried to help her without trying to smother her. She liked the way he made her feel. She liked that she could breathe around him without having shadows choke her. Maybe it was all because he didn't know, because he hadn't seen her change — because he wasn't trying to compare her to a creature of the past, and not trying to make her go back to the way she had been.

"Death existed," she said abruptly as he gazed sheepishly down at his feet. Suddenly, though, it had her uncertain; ears fell back against her skull. "It lived on the other side of the mountains.. until we killed it." The concept had seemed so clear in her mind, yet she couldn't put it into words in a way that made sense. Frustrated, her 'brows knitted together over her eyes, head tilting and tail giving a flick. She gave up with another headshake. This was why words were stupid and foolish, for they only made things embarrassing and stupid. It even seemed childish to her ears. Killing Death? It always came back, even if you killed the body; it had come here and taken Rissa, and it would've taken more had they not stopped it.. but how could she say that without making it sound moronic?

Maybe.. if things sounded stupid when you said them, they really were stupid?

"Watching you," Aiyana replied to his query, almost recklessly; her wandering gaze returned to his, the fierce amber of hers nearly challenging... She didn't know why. Maybe it was just the frustration? She saw no point in lying, for lies were even worse than mere words, but she did feel bad for the almost harsh way she'd declared it. Her ears fell back again, eyes dropping to his worn paws, and her tail swayed slightly from side to side as she tried to soften her audible voice with the silent one of her body.

like it's easier than land

Love is all, from what I've heard, but my heart's learned to kill

Borden & Aiyana

there is still hope for us yet

She told him that Death had existed and, in being the superstitious man he was, Borden canted his head to one side, a brooding expression making itself apparent on his masked face. The girl said it had lived on the other side of the mountain until she and maybe her pack had vanquished it. It could have been considered as something absolutely silly; one couldn't possibly kill Death, could they? Maybe for sometime, he had figured in all his long years, but a part of him was sure that the Reaper would always find a way back to the mortal realm. The last he had heard or realized was that death was always certain, and that he had never met an immortal being before.

Borden allowed the girl her explanation, nodding once to show that he understood what she had said. Perhaps she had meant that she and whoever had aided her in such a feat had triumphed over and killed such a threat as mortality and disease instead? Either way, the male gracefully accepted and received her answer. When it came to having his question answered, he blinked once before staring at her curiously. What could have possibly made him so intriguing in her young eyes if she had watched him out of interest?

Then it struck him. He inhaled sharply, his brows, and the whiskers that defined them, angling apologetically. "I-I'm sorry," he extended, his sore limbs itching to get him up on all four feet. "Am I intruding? I... I didn't mean to, I was just coming down from th' mountain, you see."

He stalled momentarily to debate over whether or not he ought to tell her why he had come from such a place. After all, she had just told him about the downfall of Death that occurred on the other side. Ultimately he went ahead and indulged her, wanting to still come across the timeworn, defeated and troubled gentleman he really was. "I lost my daughter recently. I've searched the west and all along the River. At this point if I ever made it to the Mountain and was unable to find her, then I... I might as well accept it." He swallowed hard, his own gaze dropping to ground in front of him just beyond the dull nails of his paws. "She was taken from me when the snow was still on the ground. I haven't seen her since. I was... I-I... My wife and I were supposed to move our family out of Relic Lore." His ears lowered and he held back the whine building in his muzzle, keeping his lips slightly parted as he paused, "But I just... I couldn't leave yet... I thought I couldn't leave without her. I had to exhaust all my resources first, so... here I am."

With a pained gaze, he cautiously allowed his eyes to settle on the girl's lithe, shadowy figure, wanting to gauge her reaction to hearing his tragedy of a story. "She's just about your age, I'm scared about what could have happened to her being so far away from home."

(This post was last modified: Jul 09, 2013, 05:24 AM by Borden.)

Well, what do you want from me?

I really don't get how you put up with me, Grey. ;~;
and that table <333

Aiyana

I walk upon the river

It was not the reaction the dark girl had expected. Some hint of defiance perhaps, or outrage that a mere lanky youth like her was spying on him (for that was what she had, nor had she lied about it), but not.. this, whatever it was. Her burnished eyes widened slightly, a startling display of emotion coming from such a dark-hearted and controlled creature, and she watched, incredulous, as he stammered an apology. What for? Intruding? She didn't live near here. No one did, no one of the wolf world with a pack to speak of anyway; perhaps bobcats or cougars lurked, but they were not part of wolf society. Yet here he was, apologizing, and Aiyana tilted her head slightly sideways, watching him, impassive again. Would more come, an explanation, or simply the statement of where he came from? She was willing to wait in silence, bask in her element as he weighed the options, waiting for his decision.. patient like the trees themselves.

He settled for talking, and her ears gave a polite twitch, sweeping forward again. In spite of herself, she was interested in his tale, in what had befallen him, to make him look so worn and tired.. what was important enough to him to make him push himself to the brink of exhaustion, to the point that he cried out from the toll it was taking on stiffening, aging muscles? For suddenly she knew, this was no young wolf, just like Marsh had not been young; silver hairs had flecked the tip of his red muzzle, and while it was less noticeable in Borden's cream mask.. it was there, too gray to fit the tan.

But he spoke of loss, the loss of his daughter, and Aiyana found herself looking away, her eyes hard as they scored the shadows. If looks could kill, the mountains would crumble. For a moment it enraged her, that he spoke of losing a daughter, when she had the gaping hole left by her sister still flapping like a void in her chest – and somehow, she felt betrayed by the truth. The anger rose like a sudden flame inside, and died just as quickly, leaving her hollow and aching. Triell had taught her long ago that she was not alone in her pain. For what they had shared, Borden might as well have been her father – the father Indru had never been, she thought bitterly. The father Ice had tried to be, but eased into too late. The only one he had saved was Fenru, wasn't it? Fenru, and the future.

But not Aiyana's future. Swift River held only an empty ache for her, something she saw in the shadows of their eyes, and she knew it. She knew it, but she doubted they did.

"Perhaps she's dead." She spoke bitterly, feeling the venom of it on her tongue, and her steeled eyes fell upon his. For a heartbeat her shield against the world held, all the pent-up frustration at the damned hand of fate, taking not only her brother but her sister... But then she crumbled, a low whine escaping her throat as ears flattened and she once again looked aside, shadowy tail drooping between her legs. It was not his fault; he did not deserve her pain. "At least, that is what happened to my sister when she went missing," she amended quietly, as if it could somehow change things, once again smooth over her fluctuation in temperament – why did she bristle one moment, only to regret it and not wish harm upon him in the next? Truly, words were dangerous things, and she was not sure if she wanted to speak more, but...

"My father," she spat the word, refusing to acknowledge Indru with love, "left when autumn had barely begun, taking our brother with him." She blinked, felt words roll in her mouth she was not sure she should speak; hesitantly, she flicked her eyes up to his. Grey, worried.. Grey.. and they had worried about her, too, for no real reason. She ran her tongue against her teeth, then wondered if this was not what words were for, stupid admissions and.. wishes, hopes, thoughts. The things that were harder to express with a flick of the tail. Finally, she caved in again, worried simply because it almost felt good to talk.. like draining an old wound. The words came in a murmur, quiet but clear, her bright gaze upon his face, wanting to see his expression even as it made her feel foolish, and childish. Almost ashamed.

"You seem to be what a real father should be."

like it's easier than land

Love is all, from what I've heard, but my heart's learned to kill

midnight + Aiyana = weird trains of thoughts, and kind of disjointed observations xD

(This post was last modified: Jun 26, 2013, 10:27 PM by Aiyana.)

Borden & Aiyana

there is still hope for us yet

"Perhaps she's dead." His eyes should have widened, his hackles should have risen and his ears should have come forward all while he snarled at her to take her words back. The beauty of the moment was that he didn't. In fact, even though his breath hitched in the cavity of his chest, he replied quietly, "Perhaps." She continued despite his small utterance to tell him that her sister was dead. It tore at him, made the lump in his throat climb back up to touch the back of his tongue. Was this how Calla felt inside? How Trisden and Arlette felt when their siblings went missing? He suddenly wished he had done so much more when he had had access to all sorts of resources as Grizzly Hollow's Leader.

He should have sent @Kade, @Elettra, or even @Sibyl to look for his children. He should have stayed home to keep Jaysyek from becoming so heartsick... but then he wouldn't have been here, with this dark young lady, here, right now. At least he would have had Prosper, Hocus, Theo, and Taima with him... and their family. His eyes proceeded to sink downward, the sorrow he had been bottling up viciously flaring up and brimming over tenfold as the girl told him about how her father had left her and taken her brother with him. In his mind he saw himself stumbling over the river rocks as he tried to cross over Heartleaf Creek, injuring his left wrist as he cried out for his first-born son time and time again until he, himself, had gotten lost and far away from home than he had anticipated.

Her next statement was quick to bring him back to the present. "You seem to be what a real father should be." His ears drooped downward, as much as he prided himself in the fact that he had at least been there for his and Jaysyek's second litter and helped raise them to the best of his abilities, and mended his relationship with his eldest daughter Trisden, he knew that he was not wholly worthy of such an achievement. But, look at me, his body language wordlessly said. Look at how terribly I have failed my daughter. I've come this far and I'm still empty-handed... and I have nothing left within me to keep going.

Slowly, he cast his gaze over his shoulder before turning to his companion with a pained smile. "Thank you, I'm glad I seem so on first impression; it... it hasn't been easy...." He sighed quietly, the tip of his tail wriggling just enough to extend his gratitude. "It's getting late," he casually commented, his bear-like ears coming up again at last. "Could I... escort you home? Your mother might be getting worried." Hoping he hadn't struck a bad chord with her, he added on as an afterthought, "We can talk on the way and we can take as much time as you'd like."

Well, what do you want from me?

Aiyana

I walk upon the river

She wasn't sure what she had expected. Aiyana herself had always simply stared at those who praised her, at least that was how it had been once she'd left pup-hood behind, but she knew the power of words. The carelessly, recklessly said ones were cruel and could hurt in a way that actions had a hard way to mimic, but the kind ones could soothe aches and bolster courage and confidence. She had seen it, felt it, both the good and the bad, and she loathed the kind of power they held, the sharpest, double-edged weapon she could find. She envied Marsh, for he did not understand them all; he was not simply quiet, but the language of words was lost on him. She longed for that kind of blissful ignorance.

But Borden defied what she had expected. Instead of drink it in like sunlight, he withered away, folding in on himself, ears drooping as if the words were hurtful. Aiyana cursed her black tongue. If not even that meant with kindness were kind, then what use were words at all? Small, white fangs bit the edges of her tongue, to keep it silent, and wonder washed through her when, after all, Borden said thank you and even gave the tip of his tail a wag that made her heart ache. Such a lonely, small thing, and it took an effort to not order him to be happy. She didn't even know why she cared, about a stranger, and that was a sobering thought. Scolding herself, Aiyana retreated further inside, though his continued stream of words made her black fur bristle. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to return to the oppressive air of the Grove, to the impending move, the start of something new she couldn't connect with; they went to a new future and she was just a remnant of the past, a shadow to haunt the darkness of their dreams. It would not be a new start for her. Perhaps it was the pessimism of a depressed youth, but she knew that she did not want to go with them.

But she was not yet a year old; how could she even remain behind?

"Do all little girls need to go home when darkness falls?" she asked bitterly, sweeping her lantern-eyes aside. Her hackles shifted, rising a little before falling flat again. "Or do you simply seek to shield my mother from the pain you are feeling?" What did it matter if they "took time" on the way home? They would still go home, later rather than sooner, and if they were to take all the time she wanted, then that'd be forever. "Perhaps it is ungrateful of me to not wish to go when your own daughter is missing, but if so, then I am ungrateful." Her voice was subdued but strangely defiant, wary of hurting him but not desiring to be subtly bullied into going. This was a taste of freedom, and she knew it was a childish indulgence to want to stay; she could not imagine being out here long enough for the River pack to move, and was not sure she wanted to rob Corinna of the chance to say goodbye to her child. Too many had gone without a word.

But still, where would she go? Nowhere, she answered herself bitterly. She would dally out here in the invigorating dark for as long as she could, but her return to the Grove was inevitable, and with it, the journey someplace else. All other things were simply the frustrated dreams that made up her existence, and in them she saw no future either.

like it's easier than land

Love is all, from what I've heard, but my heart's learned to kill

Borden & Aiyana

there is still hope for us yet

Her question, though bitter and harsh on his eardrums, made him reconsider his offer. Ah, there was Trisden and Taima again. He had to give in to her, "If you have to voice it that way, I s'pose not." The smile he gave her this time was much more genuine than the last, rather touched and humbled instead of distressed and anguished. "But I--" She cut him short with a truth that he had not even come to acknowledge yet, and to that he simply nodded once more.

He wanted to move away, to try and see if he could entice her to move with him, but she opened her mouth again, "Perhaps it is ungrateful of me to not wish to go when your own daughter is missing, but if so, then I am ungrateful." His eyebrows angled downward then, his eyes straining to see the emotion on her dark face. At the back of his mind he could just see his daughters' own faces reflected back at him, disappointed and ashamed and stubborn all at once. "Oh, come now," he made an attempt to soothe her, his voice coming across a little louder than before. "Don't..." Don't, what? Don't say that? She shouldn't have said that, really, if she had the heart and smarts to take into consideration everything that he had explained and she had told him about. But, oh, just to hear her say such a thing out loud...

It was apparent that her father leaving her had left such an impression on her as to turn her gentle heart into one of stone; and, it was suddenly so crystal clear to him as to why Trisden had so readily shut him out until each of them had finally compromised with one another. To even think of this young lady possibly becoming another Trisden Lyall was painful... until he thought of something that only a daughter-less father could and would offer a fatherless daughter. "Perhaps that was where I went wrong," he breathed, coming to terms with how he had raised his children by keeping them a hair too close. "Let me try again..."

Borden tried another smile, glancing at her through the cover of night to see her face again. "If I can't leave you here on your own and you can't go home," he began, slowly enunciating his words so that she would fully take them into consideration as soon as he had said them. "Then come with me. We won't ever have to feel like this again."

Well, what do you want from me?

Aiyana

I walk upon the river

Suddenly it felt like she was simply waiting: waiting for his tongue to lash her with prickly words, to show her that once again her careless tongue and defiant nature had taken her a step too far, crossed some line she shouldn't have crossed... Because wasn't that what happened when she let her black heart out through her mouth? Don't... Her ears twitched, despite herself, and she fought to keep them forward, to not give in any flatten them, look aside and apologize. She didn't want to apologize, because it was the emotions raging in her locked-up heart simply given voice, and if she always kept bowing her head and apologizing..? Didn't she have to start making a stand for herself some time? And yet she hated the hurt she inflicted upon them, but simply couldn't find a way to pull her thorns in.

But in the end, before he had the chance to speak, her face betrayed her, and her soft ears fell back against her head. It amazed her that he wasn't angry, and for that he deserved her compliance, didn't he? She should just swallow her own life and meekly go home, be the quiet shadow choking up her heart in the darkness; would it be selfless, and right, of her to live in her misery if it kept the others whole of heart and mind? And yet, the thought of such a way of life made the bitter venom flow faster through her veins.

So when he finally spoke, first a whisper and then stronger, calmer, she was first wondering if she had simply gone insane when no one was looking. Her bright eyes remained somewhere in the vicinity of his nose, not quite daring to stare into his grey ones when she was so wary of setting him off with her already rude words, but she could see the smile tugging at his lips. And she could hear his words, coming from a far-off dream, and slowly she raised her head to better see his face – to search his eyes for honesty. Had he truly..? Just said that..? And why, oh why, did it make her heart hammer faster, harder? He was a stranger; in her book, strangers kidnapped and killed you. Was she walking into the exact, same trap as Rissa had? Come away, come away with me, things will get better, and then you die? Her fiery eyes grew passive, mind warring with heart- the way he made her feel, the way he cared, that.. that.. he even offered such a thing. And at the same time, she tried to tell herself it was stupid, that it was just a sham, a ruse to get her out where he could kill her; what sort of man took in a complete stranger?

And at the same time, she just wanted to run away with him.

"I will not simply disappear," she murmured at last, daring to meet his pale eyes. "So I assume I will go home tonight, after all, and take you with me." Ice had killed the murderers; Ice would know. Ice would know who this was, and if he was dangerous or not. And if he wasn't.. Aiyana would gladly let him take her away.

like it's easier than land

Love is all, from what I've heard, but my heart's learned to kill

I don't think we would need to roleplay it out with Ice, Cori, etc? :x It'd be so horribly back-dated and at this point I'd just love to be able to tie this whole plotline up. :)

Borden & Aiyana

there is still hope for us yet

Nope! We shall just assume. It's all been worked out already I think. <3 Thank you for this; I'm sure Borden and Jaysyek have been taking very good care of her thus far.

"I will not simply disappear," she then said, meeting his gaze. Borden merely nodded. "So I assume I will go home tonight, after all, and take you with me." Of course that was one reasonable and very viable way to go about such a thing; it hadn't even occurred to the Lyall that he might have been too eager to do just what had been done to his own little girl. This dark daughter was quick to gain control of this situation though and it was with a small bit of pride that he continued to watch her before they started to make their way to where she lived within Sacred Grove.

"Take me away then," he encouraged. The inkling of the knowing expression he had glimpsed on her face had one brow lifting in curiosity but he did not even dare to question it. As he allowed her to lead him on, letting her leave the Falls whenever she felt she was ready, he followed her in the silence, using his nose whenever his eyes struggled to keep her in sight. For every step she took, he, too, took a lengthy stride. He would not dare to lose her. Not here, not now... Not when there was a possibility that she would actually oblige and escape the Lore with him to have a happier life.

It might have been quite sometime until they reached the banks of the Swift River, and as the girl began to make her way over the rushing current in a shallow part of the stream, he stopped. His nose twitched and his elbows and knees locked. This was Corinna's daughter and she belonged to Swift River. Aiyana seemed to have had a mind to continue on without him and he hastily tried to catch up while his mind frantically tried to keep itself in order. Indru was gone... And now Borden Lyall - a father who had lost nearly all his yearlings and his youngest lookalike daughter - was mentally piecing together a credible plea to one of Jaysyek's most-trusted allies in hopes that her daughter would not end up like one of his: closed off, resentful, and so helplessly lost.

Well, what do you want from me?