Firefly Weir Love without a heartbeat

@Renier

The children had been tucked in underneath a tidy thicket, the sun had long since set. While she was still fearful of the fish that she knew dwelled somewhere nearby, she took some solace in the thought that such a large fish would surely be unable to scale the weir that separated this small body of water from the main Lagoon. It was a location she had long since missed frequenting. Sure they had the kettle pot, close enough, and the water that lay around the base of her Monadnock like some great moat, but it wasn't the same. It didn't have this homey feel, the memories attached to it.

Now used to the open tundra, Morganna found herself unable to sleep in such stifling contitions, the trees pressing close like too many bodies, branches scratching here and poking there. The mother rose and stretched, eyes catching a strange light off towards the water. Quietly she padded forward until toes sunk into water and mud. Peach eyes turned up to watch the fireflies dance against the star studded blanket of the sky and a small sigh escaped her lips. So much had changed in such a short time, and she had been happy, but now the worry of Angier and her brothers absences weighed on her shoulders. Had they really left because they wanted to? Or had Nicolo played some hand in their dissapearance? 

Why did she bother coming back?

you gotta fire up

renier lyall

you gotta let go

He hadn't been out here long. The sun had dipped down, and with nothing sneaking in the darkness he took it upon himself to do so. A recharge was in order, somewhere outside the realm of Archers. So when the night offered its quiet cloak he took it. The soft fall of his paws, and distant lap of the lagoon easing his worn mind. Lately, he had been doing better. Forming purpose in keeping watch over Sven and Attica. Why he was not fond of hope, he tried to keep it alive in search for Angier and Niles. They couldn't be ghosts like the rest. But, they still had little on leads, and he had to pull himself away from faces.

There was only one place he wanted to be. Or at least would suffice. A small spark of light drew his eye, guiding him further to a place he had probably only passed through now and again. It continued on its way, and he didn't hesitate. Soon more lights joined the first. Their movements mirrored. By then he noticed the body of water that stretched beneath. The question of its making played at his mind. Sharply, he took in a breath of cool air when a dark shadow appeared beneath the golden lights. A silhouette of a wolf he wasn't sure was real. Dreams were never this pleasant. A pale limb stretched, pulling him to the edge of the pool in a cautious manner. The familiarity brought him to a standstill. For a moment he merely watched her, conflicted. What on earth was she doing? He knew she had come within the territory some time ago. The Lyall had figured to leave well enough alone. The look on her face was hard to ignore. There were no words.

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(This post was last modified: Sep 25, 2016, 05:32 AM by Renier.)

The still air carried no scent her way, but Morganna's spine began to prickle with the inescapable sense of scopaesthesia, of being watched. For a moment dark fur stood on end, lips drawing back to reveal the tips of teeth even in the muted firefly light, but if an attack were to come there would be more sound than the silence that stretched between them. A deep breath was taken and slowly exhaled, her shoulders drooping in defeat. Critical gaze turned on her watcher, a simple acknowledging chuff offered when she realised who her companion was. This wasn't her land, he could be as rude as he wanted, but she was inclined to fight fire with fire.

She supposed he might want to see the children, but they were currently sleeping and besides, they should talk shouldn't they? "How long 'ave they been gone?" she finally managed to summon the words, her voice hoarse from disuse, having chosen to encourage her children to travel in silence, without complaint. They were making her so proud. "Do yer think Nicolo had a hand in it?" she followed up. After all she had witnessed, she could not bring herself to recognise an ounce of competence in her uncle. Why her mother hadn't run him off years ago she never could quite figure out.

you gotta fire up

renier lyall

you gotta let go

Even when it must have struck her she wasn't alone, he was rooted in place. Trying to fathom what she was up to, and if he could turn away. The Lyall was certain, by the time he did move she would see him. He wasn't going to 'run away'. There was his cue. Peach irises dig into him, but her sound doesn't match the look. There is nothing about her he trusts any more. A couple heartbeats twain between them till the question is posed.

He knows who she is talking about. For shallow reasons he doesn't want to pay it note. After everything, this was what she leads off with. But, hell he didn't expect anything more, her voice itself a surprise.

"Probably after I did," he offered. They had been there when he had gone, and he had taken his own time to return. But, his distinctive black Lyall lines across his brow scrunched at the mention of Nicolo. Part of him wanted to laugh at the notion. How everything seemed to come back to that man. "Unless he did a hell of a job persuading them they should find you, I doubt it. The man isn't necessarily capable when it comes to plan of actions." Nicolo, probably wasn't fond of Skoll, but so far Renier didn't see why he would want to put the grief of Angier and Niles on Elettra. It wasn't like they were going to take his position from him. In their absence the pack had taken another blow. How it benefited the Archer he had yet to see, but understood her concern. He didn't know what had happened to them, and it bothered him no one had answers. "You probably never thought you were the sap holding everything together."

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(This post was last modified: Oct 05, 2016, 04:40 AM by Renier.)

Those four simple words, no matter how innocently phrased still hit her like a kick in the guts (a seemingly never-ending occurance the longer she spent away from the Monadnock). She still hadn't managed to piece it together, as distracted as she was by pregnancy, the mamoth task of relocating and then birthing and raising her children. Had she really forgotten to tell him to be ready? Forgotten to extend an invitation to Sven? ... Was an invitation even really necessary?

Morganna managed to push such thoughts aside as he continued to answer her next question. It seemed that she was the only one left that ever considered her uncle a threat. Perhaps it was just the irrationality that came along with pregnancy hormones but even now she couldn't bring herself to regret the decision to leave him behind. Things finally worked as they should. There was no risk of a call going unanswered, no idle threats to undermine her. Life was simpler in the north, they hunted, they spent time together and everyone had and knew what their jobs were. There was no slack to pick up, because everyone did their fair share. It was how things always should have been.

Before she could come up with some snide remark about her uncles incompetence, Renier spoke again, the comment bringing a pained expression to her face as she moved to leave the water. "I didn't. After all, he's the one holdin' everythin' I wanted since I was a pup. I wasn'enough,", wasn't worth fighting for, wasn't worth supporting or saving... A foreign sting plucked at the back of her eyes but she wasn't about to go getting sentimental now. "What about you?" What was that in the tundra? Why did he come back? They shared too much history for her not to bother and ask.

you gotta fire up

renier lyall

you gotta let go

Golden eyes lingered on a fluttering firefly, sure she was going to take a bout at her Uncle. It didn't come, and he tipped his muzzle to her. Catching her anguish at his statement. How could he see the fearful girl worried about making a mistake, and fearless woman at the same? In the moment it was easy to distinguish between the two. It was the young girl, unsure before him. Words she'd never quite told him come to life. Other reasons she had left the Ridge behind. He would have scoffed. Told her how wrong she was. But was she? She must have felt like nothing to him in that time, but it only hit him now.

Nothing came out, and he shut his eyes, as he tucked in a breath. Fumbling over his own silent thoughts. He'd never been her savoir and wasn't about to try. Yet twice now they had departed with no real good bye, no end to put to rest. This was tearing at a mending wound. "You should have been."

The turn of question made his eyes flash, a heated spark. He had gotten a good grip on his anger, but now it began to rise. But, she really didn't understand. If he'd never see her again, he wanted to try to do the right thing. Even if his words might cause more harm. It was a faint sigh, letting his eyes rest on the surface of the water.

"When I realized I had nothing, and there wasn't a damn thing I could change, the first thing I decided was the least I could do was stay out of your life. Try not to fuck it up any more." There was a sad smile there of irony. "You finally had what you needed...what you wanted." Though he wasn't sure he believed it, maybe it was true. The Monadnock a dream that took the place of the Ridge. His russet shoulders shrugged."I had intentions to return to the Ridge, but it wasn't' till I realized they were gone that I needed to. Here I am.." Maybe, he was still trying to do what he hadn't managed. What other life did he know? Both his parents' realms belonged to his siblings, and there had been a part of him that had wanted the Ridge with her. Now, he would like to see it continue, thrive again. Under what circumstances he wasn't sure.

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That she should have been enough was met with a bitter huff of what once might have been a laugh. It was growing more and more apparent that she probably wouldn't travel this far south again unless some message of urgency met her in the north. That there would be nothing for him left her puzzled, the Monadnock wolves had forged themselves a family, something the Ridge had struggled to be since the days of her youth. Wasn't that what he was after? What was there to fuck up? Had he wanted to be the one to lead by her side? It was all so messy, so complicated, and as the seconds ticked by she found herself missing @Craw more and more.

So he was back out of some sense of duty? Morganna had her own glaring insecurities surrounding abandonment, was it that Renier needed to feel... well needed? Did he have some sort of hero complex he realise she didn't need? (being perfectly capable of rescuing herself should push come to shove). Her nose wrinkled as she tried to wrap her head around his words, unable to make any real ends of any of it. Perhaps it was time for a change of topic. "Do yer want ter meet 'em? @Kara and Odin? They're sleepin' jus' over there..." or at least she thought they were. Her muzzle pointed to the wooded area at her rear, brow raising questioningly. Were they nothing too?

you gotta fire up

renier lyall

you gotta let go

"All right then, I can see it doesn't matter." Teeth dug in his cheeks, a steady flow of anger beginning to spread. He should have turned around like his gut had told him. Nothing was out of place to her it would seem. He could see how buried she was in her own little world. No problems there. He was the mental who had walked away without explanation at the Monadnock. It had never mattered where he was. So what had brought her down here?

Then just like that she would dangle them in his face. There was no hiding the flick of surprise to his pale mask. One point he had wanted to. If she had acknowledged, reacted, anything he might have still held that want. He was trying to decipher why she would even offer at this point. Confusion marked dark lines in his face. "You're kidding, right? I don't think Craw would approve of me being near his offspring." Why her coat held the rattle breather's scent, it was clear it had faded from her travel and he was not with her. He didn't think Craw necessarily dictated, but he imagined he was the only wolf she did respect besides her parents. He doubted that man would approve. So what was this?

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(This post was last modified: Oct 13, 2016, 02:53 AM by Renier.)

Morganna found herself dumbfounded. Much like Sven's accusations of her leaving (what did they expect personal invitations? She could not remember imploring one of the wolves that followed her to come, they simply did), now Renier was mad at her, for what? Her confusion was painted clear on her face, "They aren't @Craw's..." she had to make herself stop short, "Well, I mean he's their father, but they aren't his offspring." But what did that matter anyway? Hadn't that been why he had made the journey north before suddenly storming off when his horrendous manners were addressed? Isn't that who the food was for? Didn't he want to see them at all? Why was he acting so damn wounded right now? He was the one that chose to walk away!

She huffed in annoyance, too tired and too damn upset at the turn of events this journey had unveiled to pretend that anything could ever be okay between them, that there might ever be some sense of normalcy in her life while ever he remained in it. "Whatever. Jus' go," she finally spat, defeated. She would return to the cramped little thicket and try to get some sleep before they continued on their way in the morning. Unless he had something else to add, she was done with the south completely.

(This post was last modified: Oct 13, 2016, 10:32 PM by Morganna.)

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity