Sex: FemaleApril 6th 11:23 AM — Cloudy 25 ° F, -4 ° C
@Triell @Spieden
Returning a year later to Relic Lore was not the same Anneliese that had left it. What crossed back over the Sierra Hills, long legs coated thickly in the red-as-blood dust, was something of a shadow of what she had been before. For the first time in her life, through the disintegration of her birth pack, the companions come and gone, all the death she'd witnessed, the miles her paws had covered, Anneliese was lost. For the first time in her life, she had broke her word and compromised her values.
It was, perhaps, bound to happen. Such fierce loyalty could be a destructive path if not given singularly, especially when sworn to two opposing forces. She had claimed the young Lalani as her comrade, her best friend even, and promised both the youthful girl and herself that she would stay by her side and protect her. In following the girl, she was also called to swear herself to @Maksim and his pack, Cut Rock River. It had all gone so well, until Lalani had disappeared and Anneliese dispatched herself on a frantic search & rescue mission.
It hadn't been like her to vanish so thoroughly; she had always either been within the pack's territory, with Anneliese, or with the mute known as Taras. And so worry consumed Anneliese and what started as a simple scan of the outlying area gave way to a futile chasing of a faint scent dissipating by the second. She forgot herself in the haste, did not say a word to Maksim or his mate Kisla, nor anyone else within in the pack. It wasn't until she had stalked Lalani's scent out of Relic Lore that guilt assaulted her and she was forced to come to a stop.
It was at that time that she was forced to choose, the first straw of many that would break her back. She could either continue to pursue Lalani, completely abandoning the pack that had given them refuge, or she could deem Lalani irrecoverable and return to Maksim with a heartfelt apology. It took moments for her to weigh out these options, and in that time she decided to act upon who needed her the most. Maksim and his pack were strong, and Anneliese had been an incredibly new member with little to no ties within the domain besides Lalani. They would carry on unblinkingly without her; the only thought given to her would be to label her as a deserter. But it was this word that strained Anneliese's heart so; never before had she given a single soul reason to call her such a horrid thing, and it went against the code she held so dearly to her heart. Still, it could not be ignored; Lalani was on her own, emotionally unstable and more likely to make ten enemies than one friend. She needed Anneliese, and that was the deciding factor.
So with heated determination, Anneliese pressed on, delving deeper and deeper into foreign territories to chase a dying trail. Months and months she tracked Lalani, and some times she would gain hope, while at others she would lose it evermore. Even after the scent disappeared completely, she did the best she could to continue the hunt. However, even the most diligent must face the inevitability of truth.
On a frigid winter's night, in the shelter of ice-laden pine boughs, Anneliese reflected upon the futile journey she had undertaken. It was with heavy heart that she forced her racing heart to slow into a depression, allowing facts to clear the adrenaline from her veins and weigh her down with the simple fact that she had failed. Lalani would not be found, and Anneliese had long given up the opportunity to keep her word to Maksim. She had sacrificed for the wrong cause, and lost on both fields. The gravity of the situation was immense for her, and for the first time she found herself feeling empty and without any form of motivation.
It took her three days to shake it, and six months more to trace her steps back to Relic Lore. She could not return to the river pack, but she still craved familiarity; another oddity for one so consumed by wanderlust. The closer she came, the more the air around her warmed, as if beckoning for her to continue, rewarding each step with the promise of spring, of renewal. Anneliese scaled the red stained hills, and skittered down them, eager to plunge into the foggy recess of the Spectral Woods.
Upon her descent, however, two things assailed her senses, freezing her legs in place and widening her beryl eyes. Firstly, not too far from the foot of these hills directly ahead of her, was the boundary markings of an unfamiliar pack. Second, something mingled with the territorial markings, something was familiar for the first time in a year. She racked her brain, able to clearly picture his face but taking a moment to recall the name... @Drestig . Something close to hope began to flit around in her chest. She would never be able to make up for what had happened to Lalani, but she could find something of a second chance here if they allowed her into their ranks. This pack, she would not fail. She couldn't. And eventually in the far future, perhaps as an ambassador, she could find her way to Maksim and offer an apology.
Anneliese pressed forward, mindful of the boundary and her status in regards of this pack, and let out a couple of barks, hoping summon an audience. A part of her wished for Drestig to show, as she desperately craved a friendly face, but knew it was the alphas that she would need to contend with and persuade. It had been a long time she had been in such a position, but it felt good. Anna took in a deep breath, and the cold air felt fresh as it flowed within her lungs and filled her chest. Here was her redemption.
my lungs will fill and then deflate
they fill with fire, exhale desire
i know its dire, my time today
(This post was last modified: May 07, 2015, 07:09 PM by Anneliese.)
