Blackberry Fields I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

Kova Lagina

memoria et lux

Gorgeous blue sky was framed by the scattering of plume-like white clouds in the distance. The field full of blackberries and other assorted plants was half covered in shadow as a cloud blotted out some of the bright hot yellow sun. All manner of insects, birds, and small mammals took the chance to search for food as the shade of the cloud cooled the area down. Meadow voles hopped through the thick thorny undergrowth safe from any hawk or owl that should happen to spy them. Smaller song birds flitted through the field eating the seeds off of flowering plants and gorging themselves on the blackberries that occupied the majority of the open area.

The pack of wolves who had claimed territory within this field were hard at work keeping borders well marked and bringing back fresh kill for the pups and their mother. Only a handful of weeks were left as the pups began to slowly transition into meat eaters. For now they still loved and thrived on milk, but occasionally were given a piece of meat to suck or chew on and get the taste for.

The only wolves not busy within the pack were small little things slowly growing into their tall four legged adult forms. Although the pups could be considered busy being pups. However for one pup, today was adventure day. The gray puppy just shy of two months old wandered through the field on the same paths his parents had brought him along for walks. Kova could easily remember all of the paths he had walked along and was quite confident that he could find his way back before anyone really noticed he was gone. Earlier this morning he had slipped past his sleeping father just outside the den and headed out to walk the trails himself. As young as he was Kova was already getting well acquainted with the packs territory thanks to the walks he had accompanied his parents on.

Though he was off the known trail now, Kova knew that by simply turning himself around and walking forward he would eventually reach an area he remembered. So the boy continued to walk, unknowingly right up to the border where the scents of his pack mates were thickest. Happy to be out, and not using his senses to keep and eye on himself and danger around, Kova walked right over the border and out into neutral land while admiring the birds and bees as they flew around him.

The Star Dancer trod along, a gentle breeze stirring her pelt and allowing a bit of coolness to make its way into her under layers, much to her pleasure. Along the path that she traveled a grasshopper hopped along, birds flew overhead and sung their songs. They flew from blackberry bush to blackberry bush, their nests and families held deep. In fact, even small chirps could be heard from time to time, the little ones calling to their mothers for the food they may or may not bring in an endless cycle until they themselves would take flight and leave to go on with their lives and go through the cycle themselves. Her heterochromatic gaze followed their path as well as her own, a smile that crinkled the edges of her gaze showing up.

A rustling could be heard nearby, as well as the faint thump of something that sounded as if it may be another animal and she stopped. Lifting her nose to the air she drank in the scents, mingling there were blackberries and birds, the still wet smelling air and the soil around her, and, within all of that, the scent of another wolf. Of course she couldn’t tell what age or anything of that sort, but by the sound of it she could tell that they were very large at all. She was sure she wasn’t on any sort of territory, for she had been careful to keep watch of any border markings and while there was one not too far off she knew she had not crossed it and did not plan to.

Moving forward she twisted around the bushes, their sweet scent filling her nose as she went and making her head spin. Finally, her gaze landed on a small pup that was clearly very young. Something in her wondered why they were out here all alone at such a small age, obviously they must still have parents and where were those parents? Moving closer she made sure she was still at a safe distance in case the young one’s parents were around before calling out, “Hello!”

Kova Lagina

memoria et lux

Kova paused as the voice of a wolf called out. He understood the greeting and that it was from a she wolf, but Kova was a bit confused. This she wolf wasn't one of the regular visitors to the den where he and Noble slept. As far as the young child knew this was one of the pack who he had not met yet. Even though her scent was unfamiliar to him, and did not hold his mother or his fathers light perfume. Innocently Kova smiled up at the approaching woman. Though he knew he would be in trouble being so far away from the den. He tried to appeal to the loving side of the adult hoping they wouldn't nip him too hard and let him walk beside them back to the den instead of being carried.

Kova ran right up to her and greeted her with as many licks and nips to her chin as she would let him reach. His tail wagged a mile a minute as the boy tried to butter up the female and make her treat him nicely.

Hello! Mom and dad said I could take a walk! So I did...b..but they said I had to go find someone to walk with.. So here I am! Will you walk with me? Kova lied as he asked the adult to walk with him. He was still thinking that the woman was one of the wolves of his family he hadn't met yet.

Namid had expected the pup to run away in fear, or something other than what happened. But, that was not the case at all as she was attacked by licks and friendly greetings. A confused expression settled on her features, for it was very strange for a pup of their age to be coming up in such a friendly way to one they didn’t know. “Oh, they did, did they?” She replied, cocking her cranium at an angle.

She wondered briefly is she should take the pup up on its offer, and what price she might pay if she did. While she was afraid of the parents, she knew that she couldn’t leave the young one alone. They were on open territory, and the wolves that lurked out here were not all a giving as she was. They would happily take a pup and use it as a snack or something more horrid than that. Her morals would not stand for it.

“Of course, young one. Lead the way,” She smiled, nudging him gently with a paw. Oh, she would end up paying for this, she knew it in her bones. Already she could tell that he was part of a pack, for he had most of the same scent that the nearby border smelled of. This pack she knew not if they were bad or good, and a hope within her wished that it was the ladder. “So, how are you today?” She inquired, trying to make conversation to ease her mind off the worry that she held.

Kova Lagina

memoria et lux

Kova grinned happily as the wolf obliged asking him to lead them forward. With an adult around the child didn't have to worry about remembering where he came from. The pack wolf would know how to get back when he would eventually get lost. Whining happily Kova streaked right past the woman with a bright smile on his gray and black flecked face. He tossed his head up copying his fathers proud stature and raised his tail as if he were the lead wolf. Then Kova marched forward looking at the unfamiliar scenery.

A minute later the boy turned to look over his new pup sitter. He wound up tripping over himself because he wasn't watching the placement of his paws, but regained his balance then stopped to get a better sniff of the woman.

What's your name? He yipped the question to the she wolf while getting acquainted with her scent so that he would remember her later. Her smell was still so different compared to his parents other subordinates, yet Kova hadn't put it together in his head that she was any different form his pack. My name is Kova, but you already know that.. Momma and Pappa probably told you already... He chirped in a high voice while turning to look at the path in front of them once more. His curious blue eyes settling on a large buckmoth sitting on a bush to his left. The boy was mesmerized by the eyes on the creatures wings for a moment. Until the moth fluttered away as his slight touch.

Namid watched the pup throw up its head, a smirk curling on the young male’s maw in obvious pleasure at the thought of leading. Briefly an image of the young one grown up and leading a pack of his own flashed through her mind. It seemed he was well on his way even then, an amused smirk curling onto her lips at the thought. She fought back a laugh as he tripped over his paws, still obviously growing used to them. The Star Dancer remembered those days, the ones where a wolf was still trying to find itself. The days when one could run all around with siblings or friends with no sense of a care in the world. A sad thing it was, that age ruined all that.

“It is very nice to meet you, Kova. My name is Namid,” The silvery canine replied happily. Her speech was very formal, compared to most others. This was from the choppy English that her tribe had spoken, being that their first language was not English at all. Though she did not speak in human tongue, the same formal air resounded in her words from hearing it spoken by her parents and the others around her.

Halting as Kova did she watched him with interest as he came upon a butterfly. It amazed her how little things could completely capture pups attentions. Something as common as the butterfly could easily amuse and enrapture them, though that was not always a good thing. The fae had always had a soft spot for the little balls of fluff, being that her attitude at times could be much like theirs. She understood their minds in a way, which made her an excellent companion or friend to the little ones when no one else wanted to deal with them
“Pretty, are they not? The patterns on the backs of their wings keep predators that wish to eat them away, because it confuses them enough for the moth to escape.” She explained, watching the Buckmoth flutter away.

The pups were old enough now that they could stay at the den by themselves without supervision, and the area they were allowed to wander was also expanding. After assuring them that she would be back after her border patrol Minka had set off and things had been typical. The patrol had been quick and soon the mother had returned back to the den where her children should have been waiting. To her dismay though only @Noble was still at the den. It was a mere few moments of interrogation before her daughter finally caved and told her that Kova had wandered off past where they were supposed to go. Instantly Minka had warned the dark pup to stay where she was and was on her feet, flying after the scent of her son, panic flooding her as she got closer and closer to the border. Bursting through the final barrier of thorns she ignored the way the bushes pulled at her coat, pausing to frantically glance around the fields in front of her. To her left there was a silver coated female and just in front of her was Kova, who seemed unharmed. Her snarl travelled clearly across the territory as the red hackles on her shoulders crept into standing position. Stalking forward she pounced between the two so Kova was at her back and the stranger was ahead of her. Teeth barred Minka snarled once more, her ears falling flat in defensive position though her posture was clear, I mean business. Moving forward the words that ripped from her throat were menacing, "What are you doing with my son?" Teeth flash and clicked as she spoke and her eyes were slits as she stared the silver woman down. It was almost a flash back to a year ago when Malia had wandered off and had been found with Jessie. This was different...This was her son, and the woman before her was not an acquaintance, it was a stranger and from the smell of her she was a loner. Her position so close to her son was unacceptable to say the least.

Vinyonga @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

Kova Lagina

memoria et lux

So your name is Namid! That is a nice name. Kova grinned as he looked over the moth while listening to her voice. He didn't know what predator meant, but everything else he understood. As the pup watched the creature fly away he heard something crashing through the bushes behind them. Then all of the sudden his mother was there.

Uh oh..

The way her body looked told Kova that Momma meant business. She was angry at someone and for a second he thought her anger was pointed towards him. At least until Minka stepped between him and Namid. Then he quickly realized that she was angry with the other she wolf. Why would she be angry at her own pack mate? he wondered innocently while fearlessly standing tall in the presence of his mothers fury.

Momma why are you yelling at Namid she didn't do nothing wrong!Stop yelling at our pack mate! He yipped loudly trying to get Minka's attention and pawed at her tense trembling legs. His blue eyes turned to Namid's two colored ones sheer curiosity burning in his gaze. The boy had no clue how much of a troublemaker he was being. Nor did he realize how commanding his tone had been. Kova was just copying the things his father had showed him to do when someone was yelling at him. If he hadn't been a pup Kova would probably be sharply reprimanded for what he was saying and doing. Too bad he was still so cute.

Namid 'Star Dancer' The silver pelted fae had been following along with the pup at a safe distance, mainly because his rambunctious nature had led him out farther than she was willing to speed up and catch up. She was about to tell him to slow down, when a loud rustling swept across her hearing and caused her to freeze. Instantly her head tilted and her nose went to the air as she pulled in a breath to see what it was, and what she scented scared her far more than a bear would have. Another wolf and, by the milky scent, it was the mother. Namid barely had time to process this when the fiery female leapt from the bushes, barreling herself between her son and The Star Dancer. With heterochromatic eyes laced with fear she rapidly tried to decide the best course of action that would save herself, as she knew that the pup was obviously not in any danger from its own mother. Instincts took over thought process as she automatically backed up, ears folding onto her head as she sunk to the ground and tail tucked submissively between her legs. Her eyes flashed white as she showed her throat in the ultimate act of submission, to show that she meant no harm. Unsure of whether or not she should meet the eyes of the pissed off female she kept her eyes on the ground. Something in her, by the voice of the female, told her to be very careful of what she did at this moment for it could decide whether she walked away with fresh scars or just a simply sore backside. Her gaze, however, did travel to Kova and her heart gave a little tug as he tried to defend her. He didn’t know she wasn’t in his pack and she didn’t want him to get into trouble. A gentle shake shook her cranium and she hoped that the young pup got the picture; don’t try to be a hero right then. Hesitantly she opened her mouth, “Permission to speak?” She inquired. Being not in a pack ever she didn’t know if she should ask for permission or not, but to reduce any signs of aggression she might put off she decided it would be best to ask anyways. Find a place where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity