Hush Meadow Faith Healer (Bring Me Down)

@Minka

It was a trip he almost should not have made, but still the Nite had trudged through the frozen wasteland to come here. Hollow needed desperately to see Simaea for the winter had been so very harsh he worried. Worried that so soon after getting her back in his life he would lose her again. No that wasn't a thought to keep, the dark male continued on until he found the border of Whisper Caverns. Hollow hesitated for a moment, considering whether or not Narime was still leading the pack, after all, the leaders of Secret Woodlands leaders had shifted in the the time he had seen Simaea. So Hollow tossed his head back and howled for the leaders of Whisper Caverns and for his dear sister Simaea. For he also would have liked very much to see Sloane and Narime.

Hollow found himself waiting, hoping that she was well, and the rest of the pack was, hoping that things were okay. Secret Woodlands had survived thus far but that did not mean that all packs would be so lucky. This trip alone had exhausted him, and he wished for nothing more than to see his sister and dear friend so that he may return home. Home to his pack, and to Nina so that he could keep taking care of them, for they needed that, the pack needed both of it's leaders to be strong and fit and ready for anything. So yes in his mind this trip was a risk, but his heart said it was a necessary risk.

(This post was last modified: Feb 02, 2014, 04:44 AM by Hollow.)

A call came from the borders, crystal clear thanks to the lack of wind, the world seemed eerily silent to the alpha after the storm. Sun beat down clear against the crystals of snow, untouched in many places and icicles hung precariously from the trees. Silently the woman had rose this morning and stood in awe at the entrance of the cavern at the sight of the outside world. Without a word she had left the cave behind and set to work marking the borders, for many days the wolves of the caverns had been trapped inside by the storm and there was work to do. The trails they had carved within the snow had been filled in, their scents buried beneath mountains of crystals and ice. The snow came almost to Minka's chest as she trudged through, stopping to rub her side against stumps, drag her claws down the bark of a few trees and marking with urine every couple of meters. The passing storm would not be an excuse for loners to walk upon their territory unknowingly, she would make sure of it.

The call came from ahead, a point of the border the alpha had not yet marked and her only though was it must be another loner seeking shelter for the winter. Warily Minka moved ahead, the now familiar questions posed on her tongue, Who are you, what are your skills, what can you offer us a freeloader would not be tolerated in her books. When the dark form came into view the tawny fae's muscles froze golden eyes widening as her heart skipped a beat. Confusion, anger, betrayal all swum across the alpha's features and a growl built steadily in her throat, Asterion? Embarrassment crept onto her cheeks as the woman realized that she was wrong, this was not the same wolf who had abandoned her all those months ago. Doing her best not to embarrass herself again the golden eyes studied the stranger quickly, he didn't look thin and ragged enough to be a loner and he smelled of a pack, and held himself with a deserved pride Minka usually saw upon leaders.

Walking forward warily Minka couldn't help the pride she displayed upon her own stance, tail above her back, head held high. When first entering the position of leader she had been uncertain, now every movement demanded the respect that a leader deserved, she truly had blossomed. Curiosity drove her forward, what could this stranger possibly want if it was not a pack and shelter? The woman stopped a couple of meters away and stood silently for a moment before asking, May I help you? The tone was not rude, though curious and somewhat blunt, after all they were in the middle of a horrific winter, there wasn't time for idle chit chat.

fate hasn't finished

MINKA LEIGH

with you yet

by Sarah

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Hollow waited for someone to arrive, he was patient, knowing full well that it could be a little while due to the bitter cold that had so tried to freeze them all this winter. Briefly the dark male wondered if is sisters pack was even still here, with a worried shake of his head he tried to brush the thought away of her and Sloane and Narime, and their children all frozen in the snow. It would have been an awful tragedy the midnight pelted wolf would not have wanted to return with to Nina. For it would crush her as well as it would him. Soon though his fears were put to rest as a she wolf became visible, but it didn't appear to be the silvery form of Narime, that Hollow had seen once before.

She was smaller than that of Hollow, with golden eyes and typical brown and grey fur, nothing too striking first off until she got close enough for him to see the small flecks of silver... or was it grey, in her eyes. A thought crossed his mind, it would seem that every wolf had some kind of tell, something for you to tell them apart from all others, be an earned scar or something marked from birth. Truthfully as much as he pondered this he was not one to try and get close enough to find out, simply because he may be removed of his fur. Minka spoke and Hollow dipped his head as she addressed him. "Yes, I am Hollow Nite, leader of Secret Woodlands, I have come for a few reasons, First and foremost, i'd like to see that my sister Simaea is okay, the winter has been cold and I worry about her."

He paused for a moment to be sure his mask of neutrality stayed in place, Minka did not know of the history between himself and his sister. She may not know of the tragedy, or of Hollow's time in despair, thinking that his entire family was gone forever, and that he was the only one left in a mysterious bloodline that he himself knew nothing about. "Second, I'd simply like to ask how the pack is doing, I know Nina has good friends here, and since our alliance, was finalized through Sloane and Narime, I'd like to be sure it still stands." He finished with an air of uncertainty, as he did not yet know how to address Minka, but soon he was silent and waiting for her response.

His words confirmed her suspicions from before, so he was a leader, Hollow Nite of Secret Woodlands, not only that but he was brother to Simaea. Nodding her own head in respect Minka introduced herself as well, "I am Minka Leigh, leader of Whisper Caverns, I could call for her if you wish? Either way you are welcome to stay with us for a few days to rest and recover from your trip." The invitation was formal but the alpha found herself wondering why she was so welcome to give it, food supplies were low and her first priority was keeping her pack stable. Yet, she felt the same attraction to Hollow as she had to Asterion, perhaps because he reminded the woman to strongly of the man, either way she knew in her heart this attraction was dangerous, she had learned the hard way the first time. Realizing suddenly she was probably staring the tawny woman averted her eyes, happy her thicker winter coat would hide the blush that was creeping up her neck.

A darkness entered her eyes at the mention of Sloane, though her face remained a mask that hid the true emotions. Minka would never forgive the former alpha for disappearing in the middle of the night without a word to anyone, practically leaving them for dead. Golden eyes focused once more on Hollow and the words that left her muzzle were slightly more harsh than she intended, "Sloane abandoned us early into the winter, he is no longer welcome on pack lands." A moment of silence passed before the alpha's expression softened slightly continuing, "Narimé is recovering from a long trip over the mountains, and as for the alliance as far as I'm concerned it still stands." The tone was softer though still formal, after all this was business even if Minka couldn't bring herself to look directly at Hollow. It was odd how he affected her, but she couldn't figure out whether it was the wolf himself of the ghost he brought of her past love.

fate hasn't finished

MINKA LEIGH

with you yet

by Sarah

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His eyes widened slightly at Minka's offer, and heat crept up the back of his neck as her gaze remained on him, but he was unsure whether or not it was embarrassment or something else entirely. For a leader to offer her land as shelter for a few days to a stranger was crazy, but for some reason, he felt he already knew she would offer. Soon she broke contact and he shook his head, Secret Woodlands had to come before his own desires and plus that odd feeling seemed o swirl the things he was feeling at home back to the surface. Now it would seem that things had become that much more complicated with the heat in his face, the dark male was very happy that Minka could not read his mind. Of course nothing could ever be easy, if it was, something was wrong.

Soon thought the she wolf had returned to reality and the long moments of silence between them ended. The news of Sloane she delivered to him made his lip curl, revealing the tips of his canine's. This was the only emotion the Nite male showed. Another betrayal by some wolf he thought he could trust. It was good to know however that Narime was okay, but how she came to longer be the leader; Hollow did not know. "It seems this winter has been full of betrayals and hardship for both of us this winter. But I am glad to hear that Narime is okay, who has taken Sloane's place?" The question rolled off Hollow's tongue and once more he turned red hot beneath his fur because for some strange reason he wanted to know of Whisper Caverns in fact even HAD a leader anymore.

Water is beginning to freeze and some fish are trapped. Hunt Opportunity

Minka's heart beat furiously in her ribcage and the woman fought back the frustration and confusion her physical response to Hollow brought. He was a complete stranger and yet she was acting a fool in her own pack lands, she was supposed to be a leader, stay level headed and one attractive wolf was tearing her down. He didn't answer as to whether she should call Simaea, or if he would stay within their pack lands for rest and so the she wolf hesitated. She felt almost selfish not calling for the healer, but the fae couldn't help but revel in this time until she could control herself. The last thing she needed was to make a fool of herself in front of her pack. The thought of Tokino wandered into her mind, she had no romantic connection with him, but she had promised to carry his children in the spring, how could the sight of Hollow cause her to question her plans?

Golden eyes rested upon the curled lip at the news of Sloane, exactly how she had felt when she finally realized the previous alpha wasn't coming back. Minka knew that Narimé would like the male to return, that she loved him and wanted her children's father to return but the alpha had declared him banned. At least while she still led here he would not be welcome back into territory, he was a traitor. The woman shook her head at Hollow's words, "I'm not sure winter has anything to do with it, perhaps it was just the nature of those wolves to leave as soon as life gets hard." When first arriving in these lands Minka had strongly believed in fate, that karma would give you what you deserved, now though, now she knew you had to make your own fate. On a lighter not she answered his next question, "Ash Hervoc, I believe he is Nina's brother, a good man as far as I can tell." Unsure as to why she added the last part the woman focused her golden eyes just above a point on Hollow's ear, trying to get her internal monologue under control.

fate hasn't finished

MINKA LEIGH

with you yet

by Sarah

click!

Hollow was burning up now, all of the thoughts of his sister fading away in the presence of Minka, he did not know whether or not he was even compatible on a personal level with the Caverns leader. But for some reason he wanted to find out more, before he knew it he couldn't stop the thoughts that rolled through his head, all the while a voice screamed Nina's name in the back of his mind. She was a wonderful wolf and he had developed feelings for her but he still couldn't stop his eyes from tracing her figure. He couldn't stop his mind from wanting to wander closer, and get to know her. But he knew he had obligations, Nina couldn't be let down. Not again.

Instead he found himself attempting to be calm but failing miserably while his eyes refused to stop their journeys and he said probably the dumbest thing he ever had to date. "So, there's no mated pair here either huh?" WHAT??? you fucking moron what are you doing stupid??!? Hollow got extremely hot under his fur now, and kept repeating Nina's name to himself hoping that he could make this go away, he had no idea what it was but he hoped against hope that she was just pretty. After a few deep breaths he managed to calm down, "What I mean to say is, you're right Minka, wolves cannot seem to stick around and keep to their loyalties sometimes. Yes by the way, I could stay for a night if you so wish" His own words echoed in his ears... disloyal.... like him now.

Minka couldn't help but notice the way that Hollow's blue eyes lingered on her figure, though it was much leaner now due to lack of food. For some reason this made her blood feel hot and a small gasp escaped her muzzle as she raised it even higher. The golden eyes held a challenge, not one for submittal, some kind of challenge even she did not understand fully. They begged for him to come closer, to claim her, even though she was absolutely silent physically. It was odd, and crazy she knew, Hollow was a stranger, why did he have such a strong physical effect over her? Tokino was far from her mind now, vanished by the look in the blue eyes, the strange attraction that was almost tangible in the air between them. His question only brought further challenge to her eyes, what was he implying? "Ash has a mate, her name is Namara, but I myself am mateless." Why was she clarifying this? It was none of his business whether she had a mate or not, and yet she desperately needed him to know that she didn't.

An a flash of pleasure rippled down Minka's spine when Hollow said her name, how it sounded coming from his maw. Nodding the woman fought to hide her joy, surely by now the dark male was going to think she was crazy, acting so foolish around someone she had just met. Attempting to keep her voice cool she responded, "It would be my pleasure to offer you our home to rest, and I'm sure Simaea will be thrilled." The dark healer was far from the only one who was thrilled that he was staying. Minka craved to know more about him, find out who he was and what he wanted from life, and if he could possibly ever want her.

fate hasn't finished

MINKA LEIGH

with you yet

by Sarah

click!

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health