Poison Path breath

@Phineas

She had been here before. Only once. She had only just turned four, before she had decided to have children once more, before she had even founded Willow Ridge. She had danced along the pathways of the mountainside, pretending to be the delicate little doves of her home, those who the elders called 'pure'. She was far from it and with age, only seemed to settle further into the 'dark being' she had been 'destined' to become. Pregant, swelling more and more each day, the woman did not dance on these slopes as she had two years prior. No. She trudged upon them, her stare hard, her pant heavy. Her intentions had been as anything natural, time to herself from her Lead duties now that she had someone else along her side to care for them. She was a medic, too, and she came to hunt for the Wormwood which grew here. Her attentions however turned to the giant blazing stars; large, bright and beautiful flowers that she paused to nose at.

The lake was as beautiful as she remembered it - clear, still, peaceful. Though her time here last had been anything but. She had killed a wolf that day. Mercy killing or not, she remembered the breath slipping from the other woman's throat as her teeth pressed firmly against it. How many had she killed here in the Lore, even if indirectly? Two? Three? And before here, how many? ...She was beginning to loose count... She sighed away her thoughts, once more re-directing her attention. The Poison Path. She could see the volumes of deadly nightshade and found herself fluttering into that direction. She remembered this pack who so unwisely decided to start their family around these berries, where their children would grow. It is no wonder the pack faltered. Brushing along the poisonous bushes that edges these pathways, she lingers closer into the direction of the Lost Lake with continual curiosity. The day, after all, as the sun rose into the sky, had yet to fully break and there was much time for venture.

Borlla was due any day now, and despite his best intentions, his discontent within his own home and led him further astray than he normally would have gone at such a time. His lope was consistent as he had treaded the mountain -- a place he had never truly bothered to explore before now. There was no rhyme or reason to leaving the Glen for a few days, spare the simple fact he needed to clear his mind. The past winter had been harsh upon them, and Kyros' death and Borlla's poor decisions still haunted him day to day -- seemingly impossible to forget or forgive.

The sun felt good upon his back. The warmth of it spread across his large figure, enveloping him to the welcoming arms of spring. Finally the chill of winter had slipped away from Relic Lore, and his own bright eyes would drift between the plants that were now beginning to grow in their own homage to the season.

Despite the heady scents of flowers and brush, there was one particular scent that caused him to stop abruptly, his chest squeezing as a flash of ebony came to his mind, and even more importantly, inf ront of him. The lake had beckoned him only as a source of food, and yet before him now, seemingly lost to his presence still, was Elettra.

The one that had gotten away.

His eyes took in the rounding of her own belly, noting that this year, once more she carried a litter. Having never thought to see her again after forsaking Willow Ridge as his home and leaving to establish his own roots with Borlla, the wave of jealousy that quickened his pulse was completely unwelcome, and unwarranted. Borlla deserved far better than that.

It came as a wave over the delicate, cool breeze of new Spring. It washed over her, ruffling through her furs and curling around about her face. Once she scented the man whom she had longed a time ago, she felt herself free in her placement. Along the deadly nightshade brush, her direction straight for the Lost Lake, she was frozen. Phineas was here. She could smell him, the scent was new... Suddenly, she was certain there were eyes upon her, a certain burning gaze that had the hairs along her spine ruffling slightly. Her own eyes, pale as the moon but as bright at it's glow, for a moment stared outward. She thought that perhaps if she blinked, if she tried to clear her mind, it would all go away... he would go away. But it did not, he did not and with a heavy breath she turns, now staring directly at the wolf who had abandoned her and her pack a year ago.

Wonder instantly crept upon her. She had been told by Narime after her travels that Phineas had found a placement upon the lands beyond the mountain. That he had taken Leadership along the side of a woman known as Borlla Tainn. She did not know that the other woman was half his own age. Did not know the troubles he now faced with a life at her side. Did not know that their quick decided life together was upon an even quicker passion based upon his broken heart for her. Still unable to move from her position, still unable to speak, she swallows hard, staring into Phineas Argyris direction.

She seemed struck by his appearance – his eyes rounded the she-wolf, not out of desire (though the flutter in his chest that lingered dangerously lower indicated that indeed was still there) but testing to see how bristled she was in his presence – by word he had gained from Ace, she had given Shade Slayer a taste of what it was to abandon ones family.. would she reserve the same hatred for him?

It was with this he took a tentative step, his ears slicking back to his skull as his fiery eyes regarded her wearily. Swallowing the jealousy that surged through him, he buried it in the depths of his soul where none would ever hear about it.. for if Elettra Archer did not seek a vengeance on him, Borlla Tainn would have certainly castrated him if she had heard word of the emotions that filled him just then.

Elettra, he greeted with a quiet rumble, his stance remaining neutral – long gone were the days he bowed and called her his queen. You look well. But what brings you up to the mountains? It was an attempt to keep the conversation light.. casual, even, as his eyes looked anywhere but at the swell of her stomach and the notion another man had once given her children. Borlla was beginning to show now as well, and the two were as different as light was to darkness.

Shifting himself then, Phineas made no more movement to close the distance between them. After nearly a year from looking upon her, it seemed almost as if nothing had changed.

He stared back at her yet still and she, unmoved. Unlike Shade Slayer, who had taken up Leadership at her side only to quickly not only mate with a subordinate (his little girlfriend) but to both abandon his pack and his title without word, Phineas had not done this. He had been obviously very upset with Elettra's pick in breeding of the year, having not held a mate herself that would have been an obvious choice. His feelings for her unknown until it was too late, he had decided to leave. His howl of farewell had been expected, for after all, he had already stayed longer then he had originally intended. It was true she had missed him when he had left, a lot, but it was also true she had gotten over it, gotten over him, or so had by long now hoped.

He took a step to her, and she remained, if only her limbs tensing, locking within their placement as her ears fell, her eyes bright as they met his attention directly. "Phineas..." The name soothed coolly over her lips. She stops there for a moment, unsure if she should even bother a conversation. ...But why not? If there was nothing there, then there was nothing to be uneasy about... "Just thought I would take a chance for a little stroll beyond the willows before I become held down..." It was a comment, related to the obviousness that she would be forced to keep close to her territory once her children were born and she had to keep constant watch upon them. Right now, she was exploring as much as she could to ease her restless bone's urges. "And you, at the Lost Lake? I'd imagine your far from home... unless you just so happened to live just on the opposite side of the mountain as I?"

As he took steps to close the distance between them, the swarthy female’s ears fell back and he instantly stopped – apparently, he was as close as she would like. His wolfish brows would have arched at her tone had he not held his emotions so carefully, and so his heated stare lingered upon her features for only a moment before his tail gave an idle flick, realizing that whatever friendship or trust that had been between them was now long forgotten. It was not surprising – he had, after all, swept away from her lands any had barely looked back. Her choice to mate with the omega had offered him perfect clarity to where he had stood in her eyes – her insistence she had no idea had done little to soothe him. She had still chosen the lowest over him.

But that was in the past, and as his eyes swept over her warrior-like form, he found he felt no regret for his decision.. though now, with he and Borlla at odds, it had become rather obvious that his choice in a partner had been sporadic at best. But he was an honorable man, or he liked to consider himself so at times. He would not ripple the water around his children, and he would keep his tongue and work towards the relationship he once had with his hot-headed and childish mate.

He gave a nod to her words – Borlla herself did little traveling when pregnant, and given the long trek when they had first claimed Magnolia Glen and the mishap of Kyros’ missing limb, he found it best to be so. Her question was what drew a response, his muzzle giving a brief nod in the direction of the east side. Yes, we settled across the mountain on the opposite end, he confirmed, offering no insight exactly to where. Given Shade Slayer’s fate, one could never be too careful.

Poor Elettra is so lost for words... @Phineas brings out so much feels.

He hardened suddenly, quick to be unhappy with her movements as she had stepped towards her. When she was uncertain, he closed himself off in a manner she remembered well enough. Despite the trust and friendship they one held with one another when he was in her ranks, it became suddenly so clear that he had never quite truly understood her nature. She nods slowly to his words which were clipped and offered little to respond to. She side steps, her attention moving away for a moment along the path of poisonous plants and down towards where the Lost Lake lie. The silent was smothering as it ticked by and although yet still her gaze laid somewhere in the distance, she spoke to him. "If I'd known..." She stops, her words catching as she bites her tongue for even bothering to mention it and she swallows hard. Yet the odd tension in the air was obvious. He had left specifically because of what she had done, because of his feelings towards her and her unwillingness to see what could have become of it - be it out of fear or simple blindness towards it. "I never met to hurt you." Still, she did not regret it. Would never regret it. Of course, she could have had a good thing with Phineas. They would have been a strong, capable pair, with beautiful and healthy children. She would have stayed with him, unwilling to loose out on love yet again. Yet she had not been ready for love, not yet ready to loose control of what she had held for her own. Kiche was a large wolf, healthy, powerful and of outwardly appealing appearance. She had chosen him by not only this, but the loyalty and willingness he had towards her, to obey her desires.

And now she had @Angier . A story that played out perfectly to this very day as she stood along the Poison Path with his children inside her. She was his now, carrying his very first litter, his legacy. He had been obedient to her, loyal even before he joined her ranks, and had taken it slow and patiently to not change her flaws, but understand them and accept them in a manner Phineas had not the care nor time for. Even she Angier had stated his affections for her and she told him she was pregnant, the man had never turned his back on her. He was everything she could have hoped for, and more...

"I should go." She speaks then suddenly, her wild emotions once more getting the best of her. They were nothing. Had never really been anything, but knowing that something could have been made this obviously awkward. For the both of them. She turned, with every intention to pad away from the scene as swiftly as possible. He had once ran away from his problems. So could she.

(This post was last modified: Oct 01, 2014, 05:38 PM by Elettra.)

She spoke – cutting her words off as he looked to her. The ‘if’ hung thick in the air, the possibilities practically swallowing him over as he recalled his rash decision to turn his back on Willow Ridge and Elettra, seeking solace in the arms of another. One who had been incredibly younger than him – her maturity showing harshly through this past winter. Borlla and he had a whirlwind romance, they had settled for one another as they had wanted the same things.. but had that ever stemmed to love? Or had he simply been content at having a prize like the ivory female by his side?

Her words, despite the simplicity of them, meant a lot, though he practically cringed. Only moments passed and he found himself unable to respond, and as she turned to flee, he now found himself desperate to close the distance between them, his strong figure loping forward with quick strides that covered an impressive amount of distance. El, wait, he managed, clearing his throat from the emotion that threatened to swallow him. I want to.. He paused, hesitating as his eyes fell upon her pregnant belly once more – would any good come from this? Would he find the closure he required.. and did she even need it? Both of them had moved on from what could have been, and now they were simply strangers, standing before one another in an awkward mess.

I want to explain, he responded once more, firmly, as his pumpkin eyes shifted back up to her features. Why I left. Why it mattered so much. He had never told her the entirety of his past – Desdemona had come to the borders once upon a time, and had he been smart.. he would have shared with her then.

She was already well into taking off, leaving the seen as she dashed down the Poison Path that lay near the Lost Lake. Her feet carrying her swiftly along the rocky pathways back towards home. Her movements were within a swift trot, her rounded hips and enlarged belly a sway as she moved, determined to leave the seen quickly enough yet not enough to injure herself over the rocky slopes in the process. It became very quickly clear that the large pale wolf was on her trail, determined to explain himself to her. He was larger but at the moment, quicker as he covered the distance, cut her off enough for his orange attention to meet her pale, cold gaze. She stiffens in her placement, silent as she looks directly at his features. It was not so much as a challenge of dominance then a test of wills, wondering if he could yet still look at her without wanting to turn away as he had done before. She says nothing. Only stands there as she looks upon him, awaiting what he had to say to her. She had never known truly how much he had felt for her, nor why he had been so enraged by her decision despite the fact that she had been a single woman, the sole Leader capable of choosing who she pleased. Of course, she had once met his former mate, someone who referred to him as my Phineas and it had certainly put her off, yet still as the situation had obviously irritated her, she never knew exactly what had been up.

The view would have been comical at any other time to the ivory regal, had it not completely jeered his heart and fray his nerves. The wobble of her rounded body as she attempted to skirt quickly away.. it would be as much of a waddle Elettra Archer would ever give from her usual grace, and had he not been so worried she would actually fall and hurt herself, he might have been more amused.

She finally stopped, earning a scowl on his features as he had finally caught up, his eyes roving her to reassure she was fine. Sweet hell, she shouldn’t have even been out here. Kyros’ birth had been unexpected with defect, and the only reasoning the parents could come to conclude was the stress and pressure of Borlla’s travels – but they were not medics, and Elettra was well renowned for her skill – surely she would not endanger the lives of her future children.

He refrained from lecturing her – a reaction to the concern that had ripped through him. He knew it would be unwelcomed.. nor was it his place. Her sides were not swollen with his young – she had made it very clear long before that he had not been her choice.

Now, as he stood before her, he felt deflated. The sudden desire to explain to her seemed a moot point now, and he gave a quick shake of his muzzle. Do you remember the she-wolf that came by the Ridge that day? She was my ex-mate. He began slowly, his voice trailing as he watched her carefully.