sail on silver girl

For @Kisla -- @Maksim and new puppies welcome too, since they probably wouldn't be too far anyway. Naia has a report to deliver about all the news gathered during the move.

Naia was surprised to find that all was still at Kisla’s densite. She had expected to find the family out playing or exploring on such a bright afternoon, but perhaps she had caught them during a nap. The scout trotted to the mouth of the den, freshly-caught squirrel swinging from her jaws. She let the kill fall to the ground in order to give a low chuff to signal her approach. The new litter had been born nearly a moon ago and it was likely that Kisla’s protective instincts had mellowed, but one couldn’t be too careful.  Having never experienced pregnancy, birth, or motherhood for herself, Naia had little idea what to expect from Kisla save her memories from last year’s delivery.

The Timber woman stepped over the squirrel to peer into the darkness. “Kisla?  May I have a word? When you have a moment..” Honey eyes adjusted to the afternoon’s glaring sunlight, Naia couldn’t see a thing inside the den but she knew better than to venture further. She would wait patiently for Kisla to emerge, and perhaps if Naia was lucky the little princesses would come out too. Having departed so quickly from this spot on the day they were born, Naia hadn’t even had a chance to look at them properly let alone actually meet them.  

Naia settled in a sunny spot just outside the mouth of the den, glad that at least Kisla was easy to track down since the children’s birth. She had wanted to give Maksim her report ages ago, but the lead male was so busy trying to get the pack settled that the birth was the last time Naia could recall actually seeing the man. She could always howl for him, but then how was she to know if she was pulling him away from something important? The excuses Naia had for seeking out Kisla instead of Maksim were certainly valid, but if she was being honest with herself Naia would have to admit that there was more to it. While she had sworn her allegiance to Maksim and the man held a special place in her heart, his mate was really more of what Naia would consider a friend... and a friend’s shoulder was what she would need while imparting such difficult news.

At one point in her life, the honeyed woman could have considered herself a deep sleeper. It had gone downhill the second time her father had left—perhaps the third – and her mother had been left to raise her litter by themselves. It was around this time that she and her brother played a far more integral role in their younger siblings upbringing.. and the day Raissa had been returned to them.. dead (sacrifice, they had deemed it) she had never been able to sleep as well. The smallest move from her children would cause her eyes to snap awake.. the faintest gurgle in their throats would cause her heart to skip a beat.

Kisla Tainn had never been able to rest due to her haunting memories. Kisla Baranski could not rest for she feared her children would hold the same life she herself had in her younger years.

So when Naia came to the outskirts of the den entrance, the golden mother was awoken, one ear swiveling to the entrance as her eyes would scan over her sleeping children. Bending her muzzle down, she smoothed her nose upon the forehead of both @Inna and Lekalta, as if luring them awake before she pushed herself upward.

Moving to the den entrance, her eyes blinked against the sunlight, noting Naia’s familiar and welcome form. She stretched leisurely for a moment, feeling the ache in her muscles subside before she greeted her friend and scout with a gentle nudge to the cheek. “Naia,” she murmured softly, her muzzle swinging back to the entrance, waiting to see if the duo would make their presence known.

(This post was last modified: Jun 18, 2015, 12:49 PM by Kisla.)

sparking up my heart

Her world was filled with gentle dreams – one that included warmth, milk, and the loving embraces from her parents and siblings. Her eyes groggily pried open at Kisla’s gentle request – her head tipping further up to the loving embrace before cold air would take the place of where her mother once was curled against them. Grunting in displeasure, Lekalta shifted closer to Inna, attempting to replace the warmth of Kisla’s fur with her sister’s.

As she tucked her nose in to the dark fur of her sister (was that her arm pit?) she allowed her eyes to flutter shut once more, attempting to drift back to the soft sleep she had been stolen from only moments before. But already her mind was awake – her thoughts drifting to the light that filtered in through the den entrance, and the gentle lull of her mother’s voice as she greeted someone. The pups did not get out often, and so with a welcomed invitation from her mother, the baby finally pushed a clumsy paw upon her sister’s dark shoulder, using her to push herself away and up before she wobbled her way to the entrance.

It was a slow and steady trek – and yet she was rewarded almost instantly as her baby blue eyes peered out in to the light, noting the shadows of both adult wolves dance before her. Blinking, the little baby lifted her muzzle up, her eyes dismissing Kisla as a known wolf – but instead studying Naia with curiosity and suspicion.

(This post was last modified: Jun 18, 2015, 01:03 PM by Lekalta.)

are you deranged like me? are you strange like me?
lighting matches just to swallow up the flame like me?
do you call yourself a fucking hurricane like me?

 ♦♦♦♦♦

All worries about hormonal mothers vanished into the light summer breeze as Kisla stepped from her den, stretching herself slowly as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Her rest had clearly benefitted her greatly, and she looked better than Naia could ever remember seeing her—certainly better than she had been after the journey to Kingsfall. Naia knew she was still a few pounds (and a couple days of sleep) shy of a full recovery herself, and for a fleeting moment she wondered if it would also do her good to spend a half-moon curled up in a warm, dark den with those she loved.  Naia squashed the budding thought of Inali before it was even fully formed—she was getting better at predicting when Inali-thoughts would surface—instead forcing her attention back to her lovely alphess.

 Naia had missed her friend’s touch. When the Baranski mother nudged her in greeting Naia pressed her face to the side of Kisla’s neck in a quick wolfish embrace and murmured, “Kisla.. You look fantastic.” The two of them turned together as a little form emerged from the den behind her mother, and Naia’s honey eyes lit up with amusement at the child’s dubious scrutiny. “Lekalta,” she crooned to the girl, lowering her entire body to the ground to appear less intimidating. “I’m Naia. I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Words were spoken slowly and in a low, pleasant tone. Lekalta wouldn’t understand what she was saying, but it was always a good idea to make a decent first impression.

 The scout turned back to Kisla, knowing the girl would approach when she was ready. Staring at her, waiting expectantly, would only put unnecessary pressure on the child.   “How are you?” Naia asked her friend with a heartfelt smile. “How was your journey? ..And the newborns! ..I can’t believe they’re already walking!” How long had it been since she had just had a pleasant conversation with someone? It seemed a shame to have to turn the topic over to business, but the information was piling up so high that holding onto it was making even this unnaturally calm woman uneasy. “I have the report from the journey, if you feel up to receiving it.” Naia’s tail twitched back and forth along the ground—a nervous habit for Naia, as those who knew her well would recognize.   ♦♦♦♦♦  

I’m going to leave an overview of what Naia will report on in this thread, for future reference for threads dated after 6/11:

 News from RSC: 
---SW attack by traitors, war scare
---move and name change, pups
---Tokino and Noble missing, 
---Inali’s banishment
Concerns with BTP
---Suspicions of who they are
---Report on hers and Kjors’ visit. 
Other Questions/Concerns:
---Suspicions about Kjors
---OTB alliance?
---Concern about RSC alliance

(This post was last modified: Jun 18, 2015, 06:21 PM by Naia.)

The gentle pressure on her head from her mothers muzzle had woken Inna enough for her to raise her head a little and blinking her eyes a couple of times as she watched her mother move away from them before laying her head upon her forepaws once more to try to go back to sleep.  However the shifting of her sister next to her and the shove of her nose into her side caused Inna to want to shift into a more comfortable position but it wasn’t something that she was going to get easily because then her sister shoved her paw into Inna’s shoulder. With any hope of going back to sleep and the cold seeping in around her from the absence of not only her mother but her sister as well she raised herself onto her haunches with a yawn to see where they were all going.  Seeing that Lekalta was moving off toward the den entrance Inna was sure that she didn’t want to miss whatever they were doing. When she was fully on her feet she followed her sister to the mouth of the den. There was another wolf there that their mother didn’t seem to mind being there Inna decided as she let her gaze travel between the two adult wolves.  Taking up a place next to Lekalta she sat back on her haunches before raising her tiny nose into the air to sniff at this new adult.

(This post was last modified: Jun 19, 2015, 01:36 AM by Inna.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you.

 

Her greeting to Naia was short lived -- the Scout barely had time to speak when her eyes warmed to the sight of something behind her. Kisla's own ear flickered back at the sound of shuffling, and tipping her muzzle behind her shoulder, a bemused smile found its way to her gentle features at the sight of Lekalta poking her muzzle out of the den. The honeyed girl gave their visitor a suspicious once over, settling at the mouth of the den as if trying to determine what she thought of the scenario. Inna seemed lost in the realm of sleep still, and Kisla offered a low, crooning whine to both daughters -- as if she could entice Inna out from the depths of the den.

Shifting her focus back to Naia, she soon settled back upon her haunches in a graceful sweep. It was god to have the she-wolf back where she belonged -- though the Baranski couple had gotten quite used to her long adventures outside of their borders.. and none seemed a better Scout than the Aegina woman. She tipped her muzzle slightly to her friend's compliment, touched. "I'll feel better once we find out where Aleksei has gone to," she admitted quietly, allowing the prospect of other conversation to drift for a stolen moment. Her eldest boy had not been seen in days now -- and his scent was beginning to fade from their home. It was everything she had not to go out and search for him herself.. and if he did not return home soon, she certainly would not be able to refrain from leading her own search party. "He hasn't been home for a few nights now."

Releasing a soft sigh, her ears swiveled forward then, though not before stealing a glance back to the sound of clumsy paws. Inna had come upon them then, settling beside her sister as she too cast her attention upon Naia. "What news do you have?" Her green eyes swept up to  the loyal second once more, attempting to settle her thoughts on what Naia might have to tell her.

sparking up my heart

As the raven child appeared next to her sister, Naia sent another encouraging chuff in the sisters’ direction. She had heard that Inna had been a little more exploratory lately; perhaps Lekalta would follow her sister’s lead if Inna could be enticed out? The Timber woman’s joy at seeing the sisters together was short lived, disappearing from her expression as Kisla answered her question.  Concern knitted into Naia’s brow as Kisla immediately spoke about her missing son, her worry for him obviously occupying the forefront of her mind. The pair lapsed into an uneasy silence, the alphess brooding and her Second hesitating to speak, knowing that her news would not ease her queen’s restless mind. Naia brought news of danger right in the backyard of the River wolves’ new home, and she hoped to the Heavens that Aleksei hadn’t stumbled into it. 

Kisla sighed and broke the silence, and her loyal subordinate gave her a comforting nudge of support. “We’ll track him down,” she vowed, knowing how frustrating it must be for the mother to be tied to this den, unable to go out searching herself.  She’d heard of a young Slayer recently entering their ranks, and she’d also heard that he had been asking around for her. Naia had been avoiding @Absyrtus on purpose as her own little test to see if the aspiring scout had what it took to track her down. Perhaps she would let him find her and they could seek out the Baranski heir together.

Naia nodded, steeling herself for the report—the hardest part came first. “Before we left the Cedarwoods, Inali, the Downs scout, came to our border.” Naia’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke her lover’s name. “She had news of a war brewing between the Downs and their neighbor, Secret Woodlands. The Downs’ herbalist had been attacked and maimed by these Woodlands wolves. “ Now that Naia had met Lugh’s attackers herself, as she was almost certain the Waterfall wolves and the Woodlands aggressors were one in the same, she was impressed the herbalist had escaped with his life. Naia swallowed hard before finishing Inali’s story. “Inali knows the Woodlands alphess well and couldn’t believe that she would order such an attack, so Inali went to speak with this leader, Nina, to investigate. She discovered that the herbalist’s attackers were traitors to the Woodlands and already banished from the territory." This should have been happy news—it meant there needn’t be any war—and in Naia’s opinion Inali ought to have received a pat on the back for this work instead of the scar across her muzzle.  

“Minka had been.. very angry about the attack. She was demanding war, and ordered all Woodlands wolves attacked on sight. She.. would not see reason or consider any other option, as I was told. So Inali’s meeting with Nina was considered treachery, especially since it could have tipped the Woodlands off about an incoming attack. Inali’s intel did stop the war, but since it had been obtained behind Minka’s back it had her.. it-- she.. was banished.” The scout stumbled over her words as her jaw wavered, and she took a steadying breath for the last sentence. The last sentence was the hardest. “I sent Inali from our border and—and I told her that as a Downs traitor, she was no longer welcome in River territory either.”  There was a knot the size of an apple in Naia’s throat, and her honey eyes glistened with unshed tears.  

(This post was last modified: Jul 07, 2015, 03:42 PM by Naia.)

Naia spoke to her -- and in turn, Lekalta canted her tiny muzzle slightly, intrigued by the woman. She uttered a low, impish yip, a paw coming to bat at the ground in request of play, but her short attention was soon drawn to Inna, who's ebony fur brushed against hers before sitting down. Lekalta blinked her puppy blue eyes at her sister, waiting for some form of greeting -- and, receiving none, as her sister seemed far more taken to sniffing at the air and the stranger.. which would not do in the little girl's mind.

What the young cub considered to be far more than enough patience (allotted at about five minutes), she leaned her honeyed form heavily toward her sister, her jaws opening to grip Inna's cheek or ear in her her grasp before she would give a tug, hoping to elicit some play.. or at least some form of reaction. At a tender age, her needs were rather simple, and while she would have been content to eat, the thought of playing was far more crucial on her mind now, and so she tried to bump even closer to Inna, her little butt scooting to press entirely before her sisters.. before she shifted clumsily, and her left forelimb gave way beneath her weight. Collapsing down, Lekalta grunted as her nose smacked in to her sister's paw, and irked at this change of events, she chose to simply stay where she was, her ears sliding back to her skull.

are you deranged like me? are you strange like me?
lighting matches just to swallow up the flame like me?
do you call yourself a fucking hurricane like me?

Inna tilted her head as Naia spoke to her and her sister but the attention she was giving the older woman was soon drawn away but Lekalta.  She felt the weight of her sibling as she leaned against her which Inna returned with a lick to her sisters cheek however that didn’t seem to be what Lekalta wanted as she was soon grabbing at Inna’s cheek  and tugging with her sharp puppy teeth.  The message that her sibling wanted to play was rather clear by then and who was she to disagree when it seemed like a perfectly good idea to her. Once again she felt the pressure of her sister against her and Inna nudged her on the chin with her muzzle but then Lekalta collapsed to the ground her nose hitting Inna’s paw.  That was when she took the opportunity to pounce on her sister before trying to grabbed at her ear before rolling away till she was lying next to her.  At that point Inna waved her paw playfully in Lekalta’s direction letting it fall against her forelegs.  This was much more fun than listening to the grown ups and all thoughts of food and sleep had left Inna’s mind with her attention now focused on play.

(This post was last modified: Jul 09, 2015, 03:10 AM by Inna.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you.

 

Sorry for the wait!

Naia had quite the information to give her, and while one ear flickered in the direction of her now tumbling girls’, Kisla’s attention remained rapt upon her companion. News of their allies were always welcome – but it seemed strange to her that Naia would focus solely upon this one she-wolf called Inali. Perhaps she had been the Downs Scout, much as Naia was the main scout for the River?

Kisla nodded in agreement to her Second’s orders to the girl – previous friend or not, if the female was a traitor to the Downs in the eyes of Minka, then Hearthwood River would need to have little to do with her. “No, she isn’t,” she confirmed, her tone soft as she studied the she-wolf before her. There was something more to the story, but Kisla was not certain how to press for it – or if she would be welcomed to. “But neither are any of Minka’s pack without an escort. Our alliance does not give them privileges to roam our land – nor would I expect our pack to expect the same.” Unless Naia had meant near their territory, rather than within?

Her eyes drifted to the girls for a stolen moment, noting the play that currently maintained their attention. For now, they offered only innocence to the world, and did not yet understand the troubles that pressed upon their family. She could only hope they continued to live so exuberantly as they grew – her other children did.. except Aleksei was missing.

(This post was last modified: Aug 13, 2015, 04:05 PM by Kisla.)

sparking up my heart