Secret Woodlands When it Rains

Aideen Smoke

It had been way too long! She'd wanted to talk to @Ashanti ever since her and Coal had come to Secret Woodlands, but things just kept getting in the way. After the short tour of the pack lands, where Ashanti had shown the two new comers the most important parts of The Woodlands, Aideen hadn't caught more than a few glimpses of the white wolfess. There had just been so much to do, eager as she was to show her worth to her new leaders, and both explore and serve her new pack, and with the rough winter scattering everyone wide in search of food; and with her duties as a healer Ashanti had been even busier.

But now the orange lassie had finally decided to take her time and seek out the blonde healer. Coal had been getting better, even without the lavender - which had become impossible to find ever since the snow started falling - but she was still concerned for him, and wanted to make sure she was doing everything she could for the large man. She was also excited to simply catch up with the friendly woman and start a true friendship; I hope she's around... It was entirely possible that Ashanti was out on one of her many excursions to look for herbs, or maybe spending time with her family - In her time in the pack, Aideen had heard enough to understand that the healer had a son.

Pausing shortly in her trot through the thickets, the tri-colored girl turned her eyes to the sky, it's grey clouds faintly visible in small patches between the branches of the tall trees. Cold rain dribbled down from them, hitting her snout before she had time to bend her head back down. Sneezing wetly, she shook her head to be rid of the water, and hurried on towards the area where she knew Ashanti could usually be found - when home. Along with her other purposes, Aideen was hoping to start her training with the older healer, it would be nice to spend the rest of the winter feeling like she had a purpose; Helping someone...

Word Count:360

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PLOT WITH ME!

Ashanti was far from the sane self she had been when she last talked to Aideen. She was losing her ability to recognize those she knew as she ran from Nina, Hollow, Hollow number 2 (Miccah) and young Hollow (Bane). Ashanti was by no means foaming at the mouth, but it was quite obvious that something was wrong with her. When she saw @Aideen she hissed a command to move out of her way. Her eyes held that same crazed look she had when Nina, Hollow, Miccah, and Bane had found her. Her usually pristine and snow white fur was matted down with dirt and mud. Her icy blue eyes were dull and full of paranoia and insanity. Her muscles were fading and she was extremely hungry.

The girl with the russet hued coat was in her way and she needed her to move. She froze and hissed out the command. "Move." She needed to get away from 'the wolves trying to convince her it all wasn't real.' She didn't even know them anymore and so with a temper like she had when she was a pup she took off. She didn't recognize the land she was on and so she was stumbling rather than working her way around the thicket that deep inside she knew by heart. She slipped on a root and fell over and when she got back up she hissed at the wolf. "Did you just trip me?" The words made her even more angry.

(This post was last modified: Feb 12, 2014, 06:19 PM by Ashanti.)

Aideen Smoke

She was still some distance away, when she saw movement amongst the trees. Stopping up, she turned her head to see a wolf coming towards her; Ashanti..? Ears flicking in direction of the shape, the orange girl cocked her head to the side, copper eyes narrowing. As the wolf came closer, it was impossible not to notice her bedraggled state, the unkempt fur, the way she stumbled through the thicket. Aideen could do nothing but stare in panicked puzzlement as the ivory wolfess came towards her, at an alarming speed despite her staggering, she didn't seem to notice that they were on a collision course.

But then; move! The hiss made it trickle coldly along her back, ears flattening backwards. She sought to meet the healer's gaze, found only a wild, haunted look in her blue eyes; What..?! Ashanti stumbled on, crashing through the undergrowth, seemingly without noticing. Even a wolf who didn't know her could see that something was wrong, and Aideen did know her - maybe not well, but she considered her a friend - and seeing the white woman in this state made her sick at heart; her stumbling walk, tripping every few steps, so different from the smooth way she had navigated the thicket on the day she had shown Coal and Aideen around The Woodlands.

She was just getting over her shock, stumbling slightly as she turned to follow Ashanti, when the older wolf fell for real, the low brambles tangling around her legs and bringing her to the ground. Hard. With a small yelp Aideen started towards her, body tense with fear for what could have happened, she was only a few leaps away when the other got back up, and a sigh of relief left her lips; It doesn't look like she hurt herself. Then Ashanti spun around, staring wildly, her snake-like movements making the fox-like girl jump back, hackles rising instinctively when the ivory dame made her accusation.

Aideen stared for a second in disbelief, her, otherwise so sharp, senses only slowly registering the situation, eyes only growing wider. Then she abruptly began speaking, spitting and hacking in shock; "I.. whai... What?! It... I didn't trip you, the branch... You fell..!" She gestured at the brambles with her paw, never taking her eyes of off Ashanti's wild appearance; What on earth has happened to you? She stood openmouthed of another few moments, unable to put her thoughts into words; unsure what exactly to say. Then she tried slowly, voice now low and insistent; "Ashanti... What is it? I mean... What happened to you?!" She looked into the wild blue eyes, searching for the kindness she knew, an icy fear clutching her chest when she couldn't find it; Something is very, VERY wrong!

Word Count:460

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Ashanti was very doubtful in her delusional state when Aideen spoke. "I.. whai... What?! It... I didn't trip you, the branch... You fell..! Ashanti... What is it? I mean... What happened to you?!" Was that what her name was? No... it couldn't be. No, Ashanti was not her name, her name was.... hmmmn. Her mind was rapidly deteriorating to the point where she was thinking that she was still a yearling in her birth pack. Had she wandered off again? Hmmn, she should get back before her mother yelled at her for disappearing on such a short mission. "Just get away from me." She hissed as she ran past Aideen, ready to fight her way out of this encounter if she had to. She couldn't remember anything.

"AND MY NAME ISN'T ASHANTI." She called out behind her in frustration. Her arctic white fur was getting caught on everything, damn her larger size. She tried to get out of the thicket but she kept tripping on everything. When she said everything, she meant everything. She was tripping on branches, bumps, cracks and air. Yes, even air. It wasn't the Ashanti that had found Nina at the borders almost two years prior. It wasn't the Ashanti who could remember her rape. Perhaps her memory loss would be an overall good thing for her. She would not remember the pain or the suffering that she had gone through. But what would happen when she recovered if ever? Would Miccah be furious. If she did find Secret Woodlands again, would she be remembered. Would Nina take her back?

A fight broke out between two male mountain goats. Hunt Opportunity

Aideen Smoke

It was hard to breath, her heart was thundering against her ribs; What's wrong? What's wrong with you?! Wide copper eyes stared at the other's tiny pupils, darting around in a sea of blue. Clearly Ashanti was upset, and Aideen desperately wanted to comfort her, help her in any way possible - if she could just find out what the problem was!

On the white dame's face were no clues, all Aideen could see was confusion. She was about to ask again, when Ashanti suddenly sprang forward, hissing again to leave her be before continuing her stumbling race through the thicket. The orange lass stared after her, ears hanging, hurt by her rejection; You can't fix everything Deen... She felt a sting at the memory, her brother had told her that once, she had brushed it off back then, refusing to believe the words; I wanna fix everything! But maybe he had been right...

Tucking her tail, the tri-colored girl lowered her head, about to turn away from the older wolf and give her the space she asked for; that's when the shout came back to her. Her head darted back up, eyes narrow, ears perked; WHAT?! Had she said..? The words only slowly registered, and Ashanti was shrinking in the distance when the younger fae finally realized what had sparked her worry; My name isn't Ashanti...

Like a fiery arrow, the girl was off, speeding after the white wolf, easily navigating the dense forest that she had come to know so well. With Ashanti's stumbling movement, it didn't take long to catch up, and Aideen quickly turned to place herself in the other's path. Panting, she sought to meet the woman's eyes, concern and fear burning inside her; Whatever is going on, it's not good! AT ALL! It was first as she stood there, that she realized she had no more plan. Her instinct had brought her as far as 'stop her' but now that she stood in front of the ivory femme, she had no idea what to say; Should I call someone? Her first instinct was to howl for Coal, but what would that help? Nina then?! But she had no time! Ashanti was clearly out of it, and seemingly intent on getting away from The Woodlands; and Aideen couldn't let her!

"Stop!" She proclaimed, forcefully, but with begging undertone. What more should she say? What more could she say?! Just, get her to stop up, get her talking! Maybe that would bring her right mind back. "Please, don't run off! ...I uhm..." What?! Her mind was blank; Ask her something! She stared into the woman's wild eyes and swallowed; "What... What is your name then?" It was all she could come up with, she begged it would be enough.

Word Count: 463

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(This post was last modified: Feb 23, 2014, 08:53 PM by Aideen.)

Ashanti turned to the female asking her to stop and then proceeding to ask what her name was. "It's none of your damn business." She responded in an irritated tone as she turned and continued to run away from the female who seemed to be getting on her nerves. What was her name? She blanked as she tried to remember her own name. She couldn't remember so when she had time she would probably think up some new name. Celestina. Her mind whispered to her as a smile grew on her muzzle. That was it, that would be the white queen's name. Ashanti slowly broke into a walk when she was confident she was far away from the girl. She had no idea who that other wolf was.

All she knew was that she was almost sure the girl would not pursue her. The white queen, as she started to call herself, made her way past the borders of the pack. How had she gotten so deep into the territory of a pack? How had all those wolves mistaken her for some wolf named Ashanti. As her mental state started to deteriorate faster she noted something else. They had all called her Ashanti and one of them had called her 'my love' or something like that. Perhaps she should have posed as that 'Ashanti' wolf or something to find out more about these wolves who seemed to think she was Ashanti. As if that was going to make any sense.

Aideen Smoke

As the white wolfess brushed her off once more, her frustration clear in the growling tone of her voice, Aideen felt her resolve falter. Whatever this insanity that had gripped her friend was, it seemed to have taken over her mind completely, compelling her to leave Secret Woodlands immediately, not leaving time to explain herself. The fox like girl looked at her pack mate with wild desperation in her molten copper eyes, tears welling up in them as Ashanti turned away again, running for the borders without looking back; Ashanti...

She stood silent, looking after the white ghost disappearing in the thicket, her chest burning like she had been running for hours; What happened to you..? Head falling low, snout hovering just above the snow, the tri-colored lass closed her eyes, tears stinging behind her lids. She felt exhausted, beaten down, devastated. She had done all in her power to stop the other, hadn't she..? Maybe I could have done more... I should have! She lifted her head, ears hanging in misery, gazing after Ashanti. Then she sighed wetly and turned around, heading back into the pack territory; I should have done more...

Word Count: 193

Dawnthieves.de, Kiwiaa-Stock @ DA & ShawnaMac @ DA