White Fir Notch Nights grow shorter

OOC: For @Moraxia <3 Backdated to 3/6.

3/6/2016
Weather:
28° F, -2° C
Sunny
9:05 AM

She had taken to checking in on Moraxia every once in a while ever since the incident just days before. They were just getting settled in the new territory, and now it all had to be done without one of their hardiest members. The Queen though, was just thankful that the girl was alive. She resided now more often than not in the den of the very creature who had wounded her. Slowly, bit by bit its lingering musk was being erased; drowned in the unmistakable scent of their pack, of their victory. Raela only hoped that the mammoth female took as much snide satisfaction in her new living quarters. 

This time she had managed to snatch up a vole, with every intention to offer it to her wounded comrade. Meager perhaps, but any food was welcome. It would be a few days before any decent hunting could take place. First they had to learn the lay of the land, and where the prey liked to hide. The smaller woman trotted along through the woods, following both her memory and Moraxia's still hormone drenched scent. Both of their heats had persisted, despite what the matriarch had been up to in the last week. Exactly how long it was supposed to last was beyond her, but she knew the change would not be instant. No one knew for sure if she and Gent had really done anything, even if their scents were almost constantly intertwined. 

That would not be so in the coming days. Despite the uncertainty, Raela was rather confident that it would work – if she and Gent were both able. What she did know already, was that she felt different. Something was the slightest bit odd, and what other reason would there be? Maybe excitement was getting the best of the woman, but it didn't really matter. She would find out soon enough. The Queen neared the den with a wagging tail, drawing just near enough to deposit the broken rodent at her friend's paws. A faint smile crept optimistically onto Raela's face then as her voice rose. "How are you feeling?" She asked, sliding back onto her haunches. 

(This post was last modified: Apr 01, 2016, 01:49 AM by Raela.)

            

Moraxia was growing accustomed to the boring, quiet den she had been living in for the past few days while she healed. The attack was still fresh in her mind and the silence allowed even more time for her thoughts to circulate than she wanted. This particular morning the woman had stretched herself out, back pressed lazily against the cold stone along the left side of the entrance, and was aimlessly staring outside at the many birds as they hopped from branch to branch. As much as the wolf enjoyed her solitude, watching the birds sing to one another and dance their silly spring rituals, the emptiness was deafeningly apparent. Sparrows paraded about just outside the den almost mockingly, daring to hop a few steps closer then soon retreating back to safety in a flurry of feathers.

The woman huffed angrily in disapproval.

The den was no place for a guardian in training, even if her leg was still moderately paining her; it existed solely in her mind as a place for the weak to rest. Was that all she was now—weak? A burden placed on the rest of her pack? Certainly they all pictured her now as a brute, inexperienced and unprofessional in her ways. Moraxia would have to re-earn the respect of not only her leaders but of all the new members, still so freshly invited into their family. She debated if the effort was even worth it anymore, rolling gently onto her elbows and glaring back at her scar. “Stupid freakin’ bear,” she huffed disgustedly.

Her moment was cut short by the sound of approaching footsteps. Moraxia turned and met Raela’s eyes, gesturing back with a light tail wag and uncertain smile. A vole was held limply within her maw, the smell of fresh blood filling the air between the wounded wolf and her alpha. Plopping the carcass down in front of her, the woman retreated into a sitting position and spoke. The larger creature smiled and nodded gratefully at the kill, but didn’t make a move to eat. Her mind had chased away her hunger.

“I could be better, but I can’t complain,” she smirked light-heartedly. “Thank you for the morsel. How are you this morning?”

To her delight, Moraxia was in reasonably positive spirits; and didn't appear in any way to be weak or fading. Good. Now she just had to stay strong for a couple weeks and it would all be okay. Every day the girl persisted her chances of making it through with nothing but a few scars grew and grew. They grinned in mutual amusement, and Raela chuffed. She was very lucky to be alive after such an encounter. Moraxia was taking it in stride, and the Queen didn't expect anything less from her second. She answered the question almost reflexively. "I'm good," she wagged, glancing between the murdered vole and her friend. 

Another might have taken the time to scold her; to explain why her thigh was torn open and to warn her against another such mistake, but Raela knew better. Not only would Moraxia likely despise any sort of lecturing, if the Queen knew anything about her personality, but on top of that she knew the lesson had made itself more than clear. If the girl didn't know better after this, then she was a fool, and that was seemingly far from the truth. She was young; inexperienced. Mistakes would be made, and forgiven. So it would be with her own, if they were on the way. Raela highly doubted the young guardian would make the same blunder twice; and especially not with this pain to remember it by. She only wished life didn't have to be such a brutal teacher.  

No, something else had been on her mind, and she could think of no one better to discuss it with. Her grin faded in favor of a more serious downward expression. The younger wolf probably had her suspicions about the lead pair, but nothing had been revealed yet, and it was about time that changed. The Queen was tired of keeping it all to herself, but how to begin? "So..." she led in, unable to stop the corners of her lips from rising. Why not just jump? "Me and Gent are mates now," she confessed, her tone rising expectantly, and with excitement, "and that's not all..." Her grin was ear to ear as the anticipation bubbled up. She could only hope Moraxia would share in this secret elation, and her bright gold eyes locked intensely onto the girl's earthy brown. 

            

There was a slight bit of silence after the smaller woman answered Moraxia’s question, leaving the girl to wonder where exactly her thoughts were. Something important must have been going on otherwise she wouldn’t be acting like she was; her body language screamed anxious. There had to be something troubling her that she needed to speak to the giant about—that must have been why the alpha wandered up to check on her. A suspicious eyebrow was raised as Moraxia continued to watch the woman ponder her decision to talk.

Raela finally spoke, but her words were slow and methodical. The injured wolf felt excitement grow inside her; this had to be something big. As she contemplated the outcomes the Queen continued to speak, until suddenly her voice cracked with enthusiasm. The shock hit her like a ton of bricks, everything at once slamming full force into her chest. Moraxia was unable to breathe and for a moment her mouth dropped and her eyes locked themselves to the floor. A grin instantaneously hopped onto the wolf’s face, her body stiffening beneath her. Staggering to her legs the red-backed wolf barked in excitement. “YOU DIDN’T!” She screamed, electrified by the thought of puppies. Mini Gents’ and Raelas’ danced throughout her mind as her body toppled back down to a lazy resting position. “Congratulations—I can’t believe—who else knows?” Her words spat forth in a fury and tumbled out into the crisp morning air.

The look on her friend's face only made Raela grin more. An excited whine built in her throat and escaped as Moraxia's words burst into the air. She shuffled a little in place, her tail beating furiously against the ground. The Queen nodded swiftly, a high-pitched "Yeah," parting her jaws in between bouts of laughter. A tinge of concern dampened her mood only briefly when the girl tried to stand, only to flop back down in the next second. When the larger wolf continued speaking, her words crammed together and frantic, Raela relaxed. 

Her own speech was fast and disorganized as well. "I- I'm not completely sure that I am yet but, we've been trying," she confessed, and infectious grin on her creamy maw. "I haven't told anyone anything," the woman continued, her tail still swishing away, "but we'll know soon." The chill air between them fell silent, but inside her mind was nothing but noise. There was so much she had kept to herself the last few days, and it was all tangled in a nerved up, jittery mess. "I've- I've never done this before," the matriarch admitted, glancing excitedly at her paws. In all likelihood the girl before her was even less well versed in the way of pregnancy and children but she really didn't have an older face to talk to. This would be Raela's fourth spring; it was about the right time to have a family wasn't it?