Secret Woodlands I slither like a viper

@Coal or @Nina or @Aideen or @Iopah or @Koda or @Miccah maybe?

Nervous? Yes, she was nervous. Wise? She couldn't say that now could she? Ashanti had pushed forth from a small cave she had found, not comfortable being around the den or pack members for fear of what they thought of her. If she had truly lost her mind, which she did not doubt Miccah's words, than she doubted she would get good reactions from them all. It plagued her, she wanted to know who she knew and who she didn't but she couldn't because they probably thought her insane. Since her join she had been repeating a line over and over, just trying to convince herself that she could work her way back up in the pack. According to Miccah, she had been a second of the pack. She had been right below Nina, whom she understood to be the female alpha.

The woman had no idea that the den she rested in night after night was the very den that she had her child in, the den that she went mad in, it just seemed like an isolated place. More importantly, it made her feel safe. How ironic it was. Ashanti Aranna, a name vastly different from Celestina and I begged the question of why she kept repeating Miccah's name. Why had she not been repeating her name over and over. It was, she wasn't sure, something that was meant to be looked at. Did she feel something for him? It was the only thing she could think of and it was then that she dedicated her time to finding an answer to the problem. He had rushed to leave after appearing to be happy that Asha was back, but why did he leave so suddenly if it was true? The questions had plagued her every waking second of her days.

(This post was last modified: May 06, 2014, 02:47 AM by Ashanti.)

*SNATCHES*

Dawn was creeping across the horizon, orange light bathing the thicket in glittering gold. The young wolfess was already up, trotting along the borders at a quick pace, not bothered by the morning chill. Her morning patrols had become earlier and earlier, unable to sleep in the lonely burrow without a warm body beside her - she had considered joining the others in the pack den, but it felt like giving up, and she wouldn't! So she kept to herself, spending cold, waking night gazing into the darkness, waiting, hoping. So far without result. But trailing the borders every day offered a small comfort, hunting for herbs at the same time as she searched for any sign, the smallest scent... She found the first in abundance, but the second... Where have you gone?! With so many days past, any older markings had faded, covered by the newer scent trails of the pack leaders; she couldn't even smell him anymore.

She wanted to go looking for him, leave the territory and search every part of Relic Lore to retrieve him; but her place was here. At the moment she was the only other wolf in The Woodlands, besides Nina, with knowledge of herbs and healing. She couldn't go. So she patrolled. Two, sometimes three times a day, she traced the borders, the exercise providing a faint comfort, and in the evening she returned to their den, where the faint scent of him still lingered; Oh, my @Coal, please come home!

The vixen lass finished her round and started back into the land, not knowing what to do with herself. She considered seeking out Nina, but with the new pups, the alphess would have more than enough in her paws already. @Miccah then? She was sure the dark leader shared her concern for the lost man, but in truth she just wanted to be alone. So she turned towards the den, slowing into a walk, she was in no hurry.

Then the scent reached her nose, its familiarity making her heart jump. It took her brain a moment to realize that it wasn't the marking she was searching for, and by then her paws were already carrying her hastily in direction of the wolf; It's not him. But then who..? It had been so long, and her mind was working unusually slowly, all she could tell was that the scent was familiar, that it was a friend. Only as she rounded another corner, emerging from the dense foliage to stand face to face with the white wolfess, did her memory finally kick in; "A... A-Ashanti?!"

With her mind so preoccupied with worry, the orange girl hadn't paid much attention to what else had gone on in the pack, she'd stayed to herself, she'd foraged... She hadn't even noticed... "You... You're back! ..?"

Word count: 470

”Speech” Thoughts

The woman was startled as Aideen came crashing through the thicket to stand in front of her. Ashanti cowered slightly as her tail tucked in respect for the woman who was of higher rank. The woman called out her name, her true name, almost in a disbelieving manner. She had known this woman because this woman had known her. "D... Did I know you?" She asked in an almost curious tone. Her eyes filled with a startling emotion. She felt like she should recognize Aideen but she couldn't managed to find anything inside her mind. "I... Miccah told me I use to belong here, that I was a healer and that I went insane.... I... I can't remember anything." She whispered out some sort of an explanation to the woman for her strange questions.

Ashanti knew the sciences behind her insanity, that her memory loss might reverse itself and she might remember everything if something triggered it. She just hoped to avoid the trigger, so far so good. "I have a question, one I didn't get a clear answer to. Miccah said I shut him out. His answer was not clear. What was I shutting out? What was he to me?" She asked the question boldly with the hope that the girl knew the answer to it. The name Ashanti, Asha recalled, was still so foreign to her but she was getting use to being called as such. She drew in a small breathe and gazed at the woman, though not in the eyes as the healer awaited an answer from the other healer. What was I to anyone?

The white woman was startled by Aideen's outburst, shrinking before the smaller wolfess like a subordinate; What..?! The lady spoke with a stutter, and her words rattled the young lassies heart, sending her mind back to their last meeting. ' Just get away from me... MY NAME ISN'T ASHANTI!' The woman had disappeared in a crazed fit, run off the land in the midst of winter... And now she was back, but it seemed her mind wasn't. Her next words explained, making Aideen's face twist in sorrow; She can't remember... Not ANYTHING?! The orange girls ears and tail fell, her happiness deflating as fast as it had blossomed up. Tears pressing, she looked into her friends clueless blue eyes; there was something there, a faint glow, like she almost remembered. Almost... Ashanti's voice pulled her out of her gloom, the question making Aideen's brows rise; Miccah..? She didn't know what to say; What was he..? She knew the dark guardian had been distraught when Ashanti disappeared, that he had retreaded to himself, but exactly how close they had been... She didn't now. Shaking her head slowly, the orange girl tried to smile, though it was a little shaky. She looked at her friend, trying to meet her eyes - though it seemed the white woman did her best to avert eye contact - her voice unusually low as she spoke; "Miccah... Miccah cared for you, he was very sad when you left..." Fighting to keep the tears back, the younger fae turned hear head away, breathing deeply; "We... We all were." Word count: 260 ”Speech” Thoughts

Hjoranna @DA & Dawnthieves.de

To the healer's disappointment, Aideen didn't quite have a clear answer, though it was obvious she actually had given her best opinion on the subject. The woman offered Aideen a small smile as she nodded in understanding. "I understand. He said we had been close, and if it is true than I hope we can rekindle our relationship, but I just still wasn't quite sure how close it was when he said we were close." She said in a rather confused voice, her eyes fading with a small glow. "H... He said I went insane, that I had lost my mind or that you guys had pushed me to hard but I don't understand what any of it meant." Ashanti said, continuing her confusion. If Aideen was her friend, maybe she would spread some more light on what had driven Asha insane.

She blinked, her eyes focusing on the female. "I'm just trying to piece together my life before Ipsum Falls, where I started to remember things again. It's proving more difficult than it seemed to be at first. Miccah... he said he knew me from my past but he's avoiding me... something makes me feel like I said something to upset him." She admitted to Aideen with a small sigh as she rested on the ground, her head on her front paws as she gazed at the female, waiting for some sort of answer if she was to get one. She hoped she had not messed things up; she didn't want to pass the point of no return. There was pain in her eyes.

There was disappointment in the cream pelted dame's eyes as she heard Aideen's answer. The fox like girl wised she could have given a clearer response, but she had none. Ashanti spoke again, and moist, molten-copper eyes returned to her face, noting every small tremble of emotion; I still can't... She's back, but she's not. It was a bizarre statement, yet it was the truth; the healer of Secret Woodlands lay before her, but her friend was not there. The confused words falling from her maw confirmed as much, she remembered none of what had happened that day, when she went insane and ran off, and apparently only small parts of what was before. The white wolf looked up, and Aideen met her eyes, kindness, care and pain all mixed together in her gaze. She listened as Ashanti tried to get her thoughts together, to understand what had happened, and a resolve build within the young wolfess; I will help you, I will tell you everything! And maybe, maybe one day her friend would truly return. She stopped speaking, releasing a regretting sigh as she lay her head down. Aideen swallowed, sitting down and closing her eyes for a moment, collecting her own thoughts. When she looked back down at the other woman, her eyes were love and determined steel; I'll get you back! She parted her dark lips, and when she spoke her voice was as determined as her gaze; "Yes, you lost your mind. I don't know why or what exactly pushed you, but you were incoherent. You..." The reddish girl had to pause for a moment and swallow hard, the memories were still painful; "You refused your name, didn't recognize any of us..." She shook her head remorsefully, turning her eyes to the ground between their paws; "It was like you'd shut us all out, and then just... Become someone else." As much as she wanted to tell Ashanti everything about her episode, it was still hard to memorize; and even harder to put into words. Another pause stretched silence between them. Aideen scratched at the ground, trying to figure out what else to say; I wish a knew more about the whole thing... But after their clash, she had tried to forget the episode. When it became clear that Ashanti wasn't coming back, she had done everything to forget her departure, only remembering their good times before. The slender lassie looked up from their paws, seeking to meet her friends eyes once more. If it hadn't been for the pale woman, Aideen would never have come to Secret Woodlands; she considered the older healer her best friend. And yet they had never spoken much about their pasts with each other; Maybe if I had learned more... But it was too late now, all she could do was tell what she did know; "I tried to stop you from running away, but you wouldn't... I think you thought I was trying to hurt you." She forced herself to keep looking at the other, to not shy away or close her eyes; "I know you went through many rough things in your past, before I knew you, but as far as I know, your life here, in Secret Woodlands, has only been good." She didn't know what else to say, so she stopped, looking kindly at the other, hoping she had been of some help. Word count: 567 ”Speech” Thoughts

Hjoranna @DA & Dawnthieves.de

She didn't want to believe it. She had never wanted to believe that anything like that could have happened and it was because it frightened her. She felt like she could still be that mentally unstable woman who would go insane and not remember her family or her past. The look of shock and despair on imprinted on her face."I... I'm really sorry about everything that I've put you through. I... I think my return is doing more harm then it is good sometimes. But if I'm going to be here... I need to know everything. I feel like Miccah was holding back things, important things, and I need to know what they are. Can we start with your name, miss?" She asked as politely as she could.

Occasionally she had a nightmare or a good dream that would hint at her past and she still had Miccah's name which she had murmured when Dractive had found her so long ago. Asha had been careful to watch what she said in case she hinted that she might know more about her past then she realized. The nightmares were too terrible and she hoped they weren't true. But the dreams... she hoped those were true. "Also... do you think it is wise for me to go see Nina? Miccah told me I had been close with her but I don't want to bring up any bad memories for anyone... especially if I have no idea what they are or why they are bad..." She asked her friend who seemed to be taking the fact that she couldn't remember anything pretty well.

It was hard to tell whether the vixen girl's words were more helpful or harmful, as Ashanti's face hardly twitched while she listened; she still just looked sad and lost. It pained Aideen to see her like that, her posture low and dejected, and the tentative tone when she spoke made the ginger wolf's heart contract. Her words as well, were painful to hear, wide copper eyes once more filling with tears; No..! Don't say that, never..! Aideen wanted to interrupt, to assure her friend that her return could never be a bad thing, that having her here was the best thing that could have ever happened, but the words stuck in her throat. Ashanti's insecurity was such a terrible contrast to the confident, easygoing woman she used to know; was that wolf gone forever? Ashanti's final question shook the young healer out of her wallow. She stared blankly for a moment, unable to comprehend the query, then a sudden, dry giggle escaped her. It was a small, desperate sound, quickly dying out, but leaving the corners of the red lass' mouth turned up in a tiny, warm smile. "My name..." She said softly, looking to meet the alabaster lady's eyes; "I'm Aideen Smoke." She had more questions, and Aideen listened quietly, brows contracting slightly in anguish, though she tried to keep her face straight. After she finished, the silence stretched for a while, until the smaller fae was sure she had no more to say. Then she sighed lowly and straightened herself, seeking again to meet her friend's ice-blue eyes; "Ashanti, I love you! You are my friend and seeing you back here is the best thing that could have ever happened, trust me!" She paused for emphasis, looking at the older female with eyes full of honesty and warmth. When she continued, her voice was softer, but still steady; "I can't speak for Miccah, he might have been cautious with you... I think you hurt him more than anyone, when you left. But I promise I will tell you everything I know, I'll do all I can to help you come truly back." Smiling wistfully, the orange girl rose to her feet, feeling the need to stand, to confront Ashanti with her full force; however petite. "As for Nina, I can't imagine anything bad coming out of talking with her, she knows much more about your past than I do, and she loves you too, probably even more! I'm sure she will be happy to help you... She's a very caring wolf." The last was added in a murmur as Aideen turned her eyes to the ground, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. She wasn't a great speaker, yet she seemed to find herself holding speeches very often. When it came to Nina, she believed fully in every word she'd said about the alphess; it was hard to believe that when she first joined Secret Woodlands she'd felt intimidated by the scared woman... It feels like so long ago... Word count: 501 ”Speech” Thoughts

Hjoranna @DA & Dawnthieves.de

The subordinate had been shy around her friend because she had no real idea about what had been going on. Normally she was so outspoken and caring but with all the knowledge of her past being entered into her head once more had put her into a bit of a shock. She sat down on her haunches before the woman named Aideen as Aideen tried to comfort her fears. Only a few wolves could do that and one was avoiding her. One of the wolves probably didn't even know she was here and the last was dead. Miccah, Nina, Dractive. Still, she would give Aideen a shot. The woman burst out a love confession before quickly explaining it was a relationship of being friends and she smiled a little bit with a giggle. She promised to tell Ashanti everything and so the subordinate's tail wagged vigorously from side to side.

She was going to get answers.

Then the woman went on about how she didn't think that Nina would react badly to her return and it really did assure her. This woman knew her... or at least who she used to be and she probably knew Nina just as well. She motioned for Aideen to take a seat and then she spoke. "Aideen, please, tell me everything." She asked of the woman with a huge grin on her face. At the very least, Aideen seemed excited that Ashanti had returned. Ashanti... she was still getting use to that name after going by Celestina as far as she could remember. She could see the kindness radiating on her face. "All Miccah told me was that I had been close to Nina before my untimely disappearance and that I had used to be a healer. I still am and I wondered why I was drawn to herbs pack where I had been treated... I guess I know why!" She explained what she knew about so far and then waited for more answers.

Her words seemed to reassure Ashanti, who finally started livening up, wagging her tail and smiling at Aideen. This of course made the reddish girl smile back, her own tail swaying happily; There you are..! This was the Ashanti she knew, her friend. As she followed the white woman's invitation and lowered her hunches back to the ground, her copper eyes sparkled, resting in the other's crystalline blues; not as a challenge, but rather filled with all the care she felt for this wolf, who had meant so much in her life. Ashanti eagerly requested that Aideen tell her everything, and suddenly the orange shewolf felt nervous; Everything?! I don't know if I can do that... Did she know everything? And even if she did, where should she begin?! The ivory dame fervently recited everything she had already been told, and then looked to the young healer, expectantly. She looked back, still smiling, but stayed quiet for a while, mind reeling to try and get order in all her thoughts. Then she took a deep breath; "Everything... Okay then, I'll try." She flashed a grin that, she hoped, looked confident and started: "Well yes, you were a healer, quite good as far as I know. And Nina and you were very close..." She nodded slowly, smile gone as she concentrated on what she had to say. It wasn't exactly easy, while she and Ashanti had been good friends, there were large gabs in Aideen's knowledge of the older girl, especially when it came to her past. "I'm afraid I can't tell you much about your time before originally joining Secret Woodlands, we never talked much about that..." She decided to admit, quickly continuing: "But maybe Nina can help with that. As of your life here... You were happy, you had a good position and cared well for the pack, you were well liked..." The young woman paused, furrowing her brows, what more should she say? "You helped Nina through many tough times, and you found me and told me about Secret Woodlands... And about healing." I tiny smile curled her lips; "Oh, and you have a son!" Aideen could have almost kicked herself, she should have opened with that, obviously. Looking questioningly at Ashanti, she shrugged her shoulders lightly; she didn't know what else to say. Word count: 386 ”Speech” Thoughts

Hjoranna @DA & Dawnthieves.de