Darkwater Rapids Take it back to the start

For @Nova and maybe @Nalda? Will try to keep this short, sweet and quick.

Logic would have told her to take the tunnels through the underground sea, or traverse the much lower heights, but she had a stop to make on her way out of the eastern lands, and it would take her closest to the Pass, then down through the Ghastly Woods. Her own ghosts had been put to bed long ago, but she wanted to see what, if anything had changed in the time she had been absent. 

Passing through the area that was known to be the stomping grounds of Nova she kept her good ear turning and her nose to the wind. She didn't want to call out unnecessarily, but she did miss the girl. Maybe, just maybe... but just as easily maybe not. She was still here after all this time. Why would she leave now?

The warmer weather had chased the ache from her bones, and she walked with a spring in her step that had been absent all the long months of the depths of winter. In the depths of night she still ached, but she was tough and it would take more than a little arthritis to contain her here any longer. 

Someone was walking up ahead, and she froze, a low chuff sent forth to let the stranger know she was here (not that she had been trying to sneak under all her lumbering bulk and fur), but she wasn't out looking for a fight, today.

Rivers were curious things, snaking through the landscape like worms of silver and blue, ever changing. The studious girl found herself spending a lot of time, trailing the many water ways through the forests, tracking them from the falls and all the way to the mountains where they originated. Some came down from the north though, and she had yet to find their starting point, but she had come across a few springs, feeding into the streams, otherwise mostly made of melt water. As spring slowly grew warmer, the water grew wilder, and Nalda found hosts of interesting things washed up along the banks on her many excursions. Some of them she brought home, once she'd found a fish and received amble praise, prompting her to return with anything edible, both for the accolades and to make them more inclined to letting her out again. It was all a game, and if she played it just right, she could get exactly what she wanted.

Today, after climbing the rocks surrounding Secret Falls, she'd headed east, following one of the smaller rivers joining the main stream just before it all tumbled over the edge. This one was medium sized, narrowing to deep, quickly flowing blur as it entered a ravine, between the Sierra Hills and the falls. The adventurous pup had followed it all the way one time before, and so she knew where to find pathways and proper footholds along the banks; Though that had been some months earlier, when the current wasn't nearly as strong. Already she was beginning to regret her choice as she struggled to get around a particularly narrow spot, foaming rapids churning beneath. She was stubborn though, and besides she had yet to find something worth bringing back. Fortunately the path evened out a bit once she managed the bend, and there was a triumphant grin on her face as she moved away from the bank, trotting along, eyes scanning the ground before her paws. Then she heard the soft call, freezing mid-step, oversized ears perking high as she looked around for the unexpected passer-by.

When she noticed the tawny woman she swiveled to face her, ears flopping back against her skull in a submissive gesture. She didn't recognize the shewolf, but that only meant she wasn't of the Pines, or a friend of anyone who was. As Nalda had learned, these lands were full of wolves, members of other packs or loners, all prowling through the landscape, interrupting someone else's pleasant explorations. Still, her mother had raised her to be nothing if not polite, and with an unknown adult, away from home, it seemed best to heed those teachings. Especially this adult; She's BIG! So the young Zamora gathered herself, straightening into a non-threatening, open stance and calling as cheerfully as she could manage: "He-Hello!"

Word count: 471

"Speech" Thoughts

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Perfect love sometimes does not come

  • NAIRA •

until the first grandchild

He-Hello! cheerful and youthful the voice was not that of her daughter but as golden eyes finally rested on the owner she had to wonder. Could it be? She smelled the same as Nova would, and those dark markings were so like that boy it would be a small miracle if this wasn't who she thought it was. Why, she hadn't laid eyes on her since she was but a few days old. Her head rested easily, her smile, though tinted with her exhaustion, genuine. Her tail took up an easy wave. "Why hello to you too!" she called back readily, slowing her steps to allow the child to determine the distance that was kept between them.

 

Perhaps a year ago, she would have gracefully bought herself to a seat. Now? It would have been a heavy thud that resulted in her sprawled across the uneven ground like a flailing fawn trying to stand for the first time. No. Perhaps standing was currently the best position to be in. "Perhaps you can help me?" she finally voiced, hoping to put the young girl at ease. "I'm looking for my daughter, her name is @Nova?" Two birds, one stone. At least her mind still held a little of its edge.

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(This post was last modified: Apr 26, 2016, 01:31 AM by Naira.)

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

The strange woman slowed, giving Nalda the once over with bright golden eyes. The almost yearling stood stone-still, looking back without directly meeting the sharp glance, a small shiver running down her spine as she tried to judge whether the stranger would react amiably or not. The woman seemed to decide for the former though, smiling as she returned the awkward greeting. Nalda breathed a tiny sigh of relief, tilting her russet head ever so slightly as she looked the older woman over again. She really was big, possibly bigger than any other wolf the youngster had ever seen, though she looked a little bony, at least compared to Koda, the only one she could think of to maybe match the size.

There might have been more thoughts, if she'd had the time to study like she liked, but her mind was interrupted when the woman suddenly spoke, her words making Nalda's eyes widen; DAUGHTER?! It was like her brain suddenly froze like her body had, not a single thought passing through it as she simply stared. "You… Your what?" She finally managed to stammer, the sheer idiocy of the statement kicking her mind out of its bog; Idiot! Didn't she JUST say? But it was just, it had never occurred to the pup that parents could also be daughters, that seemed contradictory. Which was of course stupid, now that she thought about it, where had they come from otherwise? She knew about birthing and aging, she'd witnessed enough of that in both wolves and other creatures, but she had yet to live long enough for the concept of generations to really sink in. Now she felt really dumb.

But, if it was that Nova – Maybe it isn't, it's just a name, there could be other Nova's – However if it was, what did that make, well, her? If this woman was her mother's mother then… The boxy pup shook her head, blinking a few times to clear the muddle of thoughts, which were coming all to readily now. One thing at a time. She reminded herself sternly, focusing back on the tawny woman who waited a few steps away. Slowly, gingerly she spoke, choosing every word with care: "Sorry. I know a Nova, of Broken Timber Pines. Is that your… Is that who you're looking for?" It still wasn't up to her standard for conversation, but it would have to do for now.

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"Speech" Thoughts

(This post was last modified: May 15, 2016, 12:03 AM by Nalda.)

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

The girls shocked expression was confirmation enough, although it seemed she wasn't quite as convinced as Naira. She kept her peace while the young wolf processed what she had said. Broken Timber Pines, was that where she had wound up? "Last I saw her she was down in the fen, waiting for Camio to come back and save her from a porcupine," her smile was a slight one, still not convinced the boy would have stuck around, and the absence of any notable trails only further cemented that belief. "I know she had planned on heading north and I've caught her scent in this area before but I am not familiar with Broken Timber Pines. Old hips make it a bit hard to get out while its cold."

Her smile was an indulging one as she looked the child over once more. Where her children seemed to consist of more silver than gold, or outright black this girl had more red and black in her coat. It was such a distant memory she nearly forgot the name. Almost like Indru, or maybe even Ruiko (who she had never managed to meet but imagined he looked similar to his brother based on Triell's tales). Perhaps there was a hint of Kinis (a familiar face lacking a name) in there too. She wished @Triell was here to see this .

The name send a physical jolt through her though she did her best to hide it, eyes widening for  second and then narrowing. There was no doubt then, this woman was looking for Nalda's mother, and if she was to be believed, she was her mother. It made the pup's head spin a bit and she couldn't help but study every inch of the other even more closely, almost as if she wasn't sure she was real. There really wasn't much resemblance, this burly woman holding none of Nova's disproportioned awkwardness, her graying, tawny fur much lighter than her proposed daughters. Even the eyes, though similar in color, had a much different look to them from her mother's familiar, dreamy gaze; Though they did seem to soften as she looked back at the almost yearling. In the end, it seemed an odd thing to lie about, especially in the manner that this stranger had.

Nalda huffed, shaking her head lightly, a hint of a smile even sneaking onto her face in response to the older woman's. "Yeah 'is tha' Nova then, she lives in th' Pines." She proclaimed, keeping her voice mostly steady. As utterly shaken as she was, she wanted to hide it to the best of her ability. She wondered briefly if she should tell the stranger what she wanted to know, but, other than Nova having never mentioned her with even a word, she seemed nice enough. Was there any harm in giving her directions? Let her mother confront her herself? This old woman couldn't possibly pose a thread. No, she decided, if Nova had wanted to stay hidden, she should have warned her daughter of those that might seek her out; "'is jus' west o'here, on th'other side o'th'falls." She motioned back with her head, flicking her tail. There, now they could have a proper reunion, and Nalda could have a ring seat and do what she did best: observe.

Her own relation though, she did neglect to mention, keeping at least this boundary between herself and the woman claiming to be family. Or so she thought.

Word count: 351

"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

A smile lit her face as the girl confirmed they were acquainted with the same Nova, who now resided on the other side of the falls. Her glance had been an easy one, but mention of the falls summoned another dark woman's face, long since put from her mind. "The falls you say? There was once another pack by the falls, just a few years ago when I still lived on the mountain, where Nova was born," her voice took on a wistful quality as she remembered what had been. "In fact, I'm fairly certain they were right here." Her head turned to consider the location. Yes, she was certain Ava had settled her family on this stretch of the river.

Perhaps the journey had made her more doddery than usual, perhaps even she was finally slowing down enough to stop and smell the roses. Gods knew she'd earned it after all this time. Unsure if her companion would be intrigued by such stories, or bored out of her pretty little head she managed to refrain from waffling on more than she already had, trusting if curiosity had snagged her that she would speak up and ask for more. "Would you mind showing me the way?"

This old lady seemed about as innocent as they came, smiling and nodding, and following her motion towards the falls with a wistful gaze; Almost dreamy. Which was all the proof the young wolf needed; Those eyes! She felt a strange mixture of hot and cold rush through her body, eyes widening slightly. So it was true, this was her… Mom-mom? Half her mind still pre-occupied with why her mother could have possibly hid this from her, Nalda listened only absently to the anecdote, though her gaze remained fixed on the dark-masked face with those deep, golden eyes. A russet ear did flick near the end though, brows lifting; Did she say mountain?! She'd had a strange fascination with the distant peaks, ever since she first laid eyes on them, and her mother had told her stories of their paths and passes when she was small. Stories of her own childhood.

There was no doubt now, as incredible as it seemed, she'd stumbled right into family. Falling right on the end of this revelation, came the older woman's request, and again the almost-yearling bubbled over in her surprise; "Wh' uhm…" Was she really doing this? Taking the estranged mother right to her daughter's door? "Sure," Fell from her lips in a breath, a small smile unexpectedly slipping onto her face. The apprehension was melting away, leaving room for blooming curiosity as the girl recognized just what she had in front of her. The concept of a grandmother might be totally new to her, but what she did realize was that this crone was a fountain of information, and she longed to dig it all out.

So the child nodded, lifting a paw in a vague, guiding gesture; "'s'this way." Starting off at a slow walk, gold-colored eyes remained mostly on the adult, rather than the path ahead. After a short silence, she made her best attempt at politeness, as her mother had taught her; "'am Nalda, uhm… Nice t'meet you." And then, giving in to her curiosity: "Wo'd y'… Tell m'more? About th' mountain?"

Word count: 344

"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile