Willow Ridge My Soul is In Pieces

Attention to WR wolves. This is Adele's death thread. @Adele @Ravenna @Elettra @Enoki @Renier @Attica @Sven

He should have seen the signs, paid more attention to her and perhaps he would have known. Ever since they were children Adele and Nicolo were inseparable. Ever since they had come to the Ridge that changed considerably. It was not often he was around his counterpart and when he did find time to spend with her, he did.  She was a key point in rebuilding the Willow Ridge legacy. Adele kept him together and made him see rationally when he, otherwise, did not. It was why when he went to go find her, he felt a part of him break away. Nic found her body within the borders, lifelessly among the fallen leaves. Eyebrows furrowing, he moved closer, his breath soft as he called her name. Pale yellow eyes searched her body inquiringly. An unfamiliar painful ache pulsed in his chest and head. The dark Archer pushed his nose into her scruff and was met with the unpleasant smell of death. His eyes shut quickly, trying to block out the scene that he just happened upon. This was his sister, his constant companion. When he thought about their lives, he had no question that he would be the one that died before her, but it was not to be. A harsh whimper escaped his maw. Despite his own grief, he knew the pack would need to be alerted, another tragedy for their ranks. Choking down the knot that formed in his throat, he let out a sorrowful howl to summon the pack.

WesternStock @ DA, KYghost @ DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

Attica was a good girl, so when she was called for, she would come. Usually, she would wait for @Sven to come and get her but there was something different about this summons and she was practically fully grown now. It wasn't like she was leaving the pack borders, it should be fine for her to make her own way there. Brows drew down over ghostly grey eyes, the tiniest hint of green more evident now it couldn't be passed off as a reflection of their surroundings. 

She considered just what that sad howl could mean as she reflected on the changes of the landscape around her. Gone were the green swaying wisps and the soft green grass, replaced instead by bleak snow and brown leaves blanketing the ground around them that only grew deeper as the days became shorter and the nights got colder. She wasn't sure she liked these changes. She wasn't sure she liked them at all.

Pulled from watching the scenery by a familiar smell, and one foreign, the girl began to look around. There was Nico... and...

What was that?

The young girl's stomach lurched. It looked like... It...

No.

She couldn't get any closer. She wouldn't. Why? Why did she have to see this? Why did he make her come here?! Her jaw dropped but no words would leave her mouth. Instead, she turned and ran, the sound of her retching cutting through the silence as she shook.

(This post was last modified: Nov 07, 2016, 02:24 AM by Attica.)

Ebony eyelids shot open quickly and the magpie's head rose from its rested position upon her outstretched forearms as ears were filled with the sorrowful howl of Nicolo, confusion muddying swarthy facial features still dusted with slumber's comforting embrace. Had she really heard such a heart wrenching noise, or had her dreams began to drift toward nightmarish territory? Regardless of the answer there was no mistaking the tug on her inner being and the unshakeable sensation that something was indeed wrong. A quick shake after slipping out from the confined space of her personal den and the patchy woman was off to investigate, unaware of the next installment to Willow Ridge's growing list of tragedies she was about to face.

Dark painted limbs propelled the Ashrelle woman's lithe frame swiftly across the Archer territory, nose inhaling Nico's cologne as she followed in his steps until his swarthy frame came into view and a new scent began to intertwine with his. One that was too familiar. Death. Panic swelled within Enoki's chest as her mind began to conjure up the worst, pushing her muscles further to close the gap between them all the more sooner. Sliding up along his left side the top of her marred muzzle ran along the fur of his side to alert him further to her presence. "Nico what's wr--" All of a sudden it felt like a tree slammed into her body and robbed the air from her lungs the moment she truly took a hard look at the scene, smoldering amber eyes widening in horror as her throat tightened too much to allow the rest of the words she wished to say to be spoken. Laid lifeless before the two among the pack's main cache sight was the unmistakable corpse of Adele, the pungent odor of death emitted more strongly now that she had found the cause which warranted a whine to slip past the inky lining of her lips.

Sadly things would only get worse as the sound of approaching footsteps warranted ebony ears to pivot backward to catch the arrival of young Attica long before her gaze tore away from the lifeless body of her pack mate and friend laid in the snow. Frozen to the spot in her own reaction to the tragedy, the older woman could only watch mutely as the child was shocked to the core before bolting off back into the barren willow forest, the sound of stomach contents being purged fading with each step that took her further from the scene. A frown carved itself deeply onto Enoki's dark features, eventually finding her muscles thawed enough to turn her head back to the man at her side who no doubt was spiraling through hell. Another whine erupted from the magpie's lips as her head rested upon the top of his shoulder, hoping to offer some form of comfort. A sign that he was not alone.

The sound of his call was hollow - broken and dull. It was far unlike his normal plea, one the boasted a need to be heard, a need to be someone. The call alone was something to fret over and Elettra followed the sound of her counter part with a hast. As she did so, it was not long until a sudden rush of Attica's dark frame went rushing past her, back into the safe confines of the pack territory, the echo of her sickness causing Elettra's silken black ears to turn in confusion and worry. Still, Elettra pushed forth to the scene, uncertain of exactly what display she may find. Had this dark Halloween night brought upon something hideous at their doorsteps? The tricks of this hallowed night had not been forgotten of her, whom had suffered a number of tricks far beyond treats a time or two. When the scent of death touched her nose, mingled with that of the scents of wolf, she could feel the heat burn under her skin, the hairs along her spine lifting. It could have been anyone lying there - Ravenna, Sven, Angier? She brought herself along, nose crinkling. The scent was unpleasant and with her weakened senses, did not due her justice to try and sniff out what had happened. Her approach was slow, eyes trailing to Enoki whom resting her head to Nicolo's chin in comfort. Pale gray eyes dance to the wolf on the ground, stiffened, sunken, cold... An image which she had noticed more and more she was seeing and closer and closer together. They were growing old, the <i>pack</i> was old... Perhaps on this All Hallows Eve, this was a sign that Willow Ridge's reign was ending. Adele. Her young sister, her blood, and Nicolo's closest and most dearest relative.... Quickly her eyes dart back to her brother, knowing fully well that he out of anyone and everyone within the ranks, would take the hardship of this blow the most. She did not dare break the silence with question, yet instead cried out. Cried in a form of a howl which echoed over the pack lands in horror and sorrow. 

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

As soon as his summons were sent through, his pale yellow gaze returned to his sister. Empty. The broken man did not process anyone who arrived, a heavy weight sitting on his heart. Since the moment he was born, Adele was his constant companion and now she was no more. The whole reason they had come here was for her and everything he had done was for her. Now, he felt useless and defeated. A weight on his shoulder caused him to turn his head. He met a familiar amber gaze but his eyes were not filled with their usual spark at seeing her. This was certainly no day for happiness. This, after all, was his fault and he was sure that everyone knew it. Nicolo tore his gaze away from the beauty at his side and looked back towards his fallen sister. What could he possibly do now without her? Another sorrowful call sang out from behind him, Elettra. At this, a dry sob escaped his throat, unable to help the pain he was feeling. Not everyone arrived but it was fitting to have Adele's relatives and close friends be the first ones to arrive. They would need to bury her, she deserved everything and the world had given her little.

WesternStock @ DA, KYghost @ DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

Renier Lyall
don't worry about me the heart is suppose to bleed

He had no idea anything was wrong until a howl of pain that beckoned the pack carried across the Lore. Outside the Willow Ridge, his limbs rapidly took pace to reach the borders.Fear immediately gripped his own heart, his mind swiftly went to Sven,Ravenna, and Attica. How often the terrible happened to the younger members. Curse and prayer both passed from his huffing mouth.

The great tops of the willows came into his golden sight, when Elettra's cry began, cutting deeper. Who? Was the question that would not leave his mind. What if, what if he could have prevented it?

Steering in the direction of the group he saw only the other adults. Except. Breath fell short, realizing who had fallen. Adele. There was no relief to be had. Sorrow was a heavy thing, and he could feel it. A sibling gone. A friend lost.

 Slowly, he made his way closer with a droop to his frame,ears, and tail. Sadness, even if not directly his own, was suffocating. Why he did not know her well, he had thought her a great lady in her own right. Knew it was a great loss that would weigh on all of them. It was painful to see them all distraught. Another blow they did not need nor deserve. A low whine gently sounded. It did not seem that she had been attacked, but death had still insisted on taking her. He attempted to brush his muzzle to Elettra's cheek. Hoping to help give comfort, and to help make sure the Archer had a place to be put to rest.

It had taken her some time to follow through with the mournful call which had echoed over her homeland. First it was by her uncle, then her mother, which sent an obvious panic through her. Any time she thought of someone dying it reminded her of her sister. Death was something which unfortunately for the young woman she had been introduced to at a very young age and her head now spun with the possibilities of who the pack and family might have lost now... Even before she reached the scene, knowing someone in her pack was now gone left her eyes welling with ears, Her vision blurry. When she arrived, Enoki was there comforting Nicolo, Renier comforting her mother and on the ground before them was her aunt. To be honest, Ravenna had not been as close to her aunt as she would have hoped for, maybe due to how busy the two wolves were with their different tasks, but this did not change the fact that Ravenna loved her aunt dearly and the moments they had spent together were pleasant. After all, had it not been for her aunt and Enoki's teachings, she wouldn't be the hunter she was now today. A whine squealed high into the bitter air and she finds herself falling down into a lay on the outskirts of the little group. She wonders now where Sven was, knowing that he if anything (due to his harder exterior) would be the wild they would need to help lay Adele to rest. She should go with the others. With great warrior and advisor which her eldest siblings so loved... And her sister. Ravenna breathes deep, choking out another painful cry as her tail curls around her, head resting to the cold, hard earth.

Enoki Ashrelle

Her touch had not gone unnoticed by the grief stricken man for as soon as the weight of her head rested upon the top of his shoulder Nicolo's head had turned to capture her gaze with his own for only a spare moment. A deep frown etched itself onto the magpie's scarred muzzle witnessing how void his pale yellow eyes were in that moment, no trace of the spark that usually filled them present. Only sadness and guilt. A low whimper was emitted from the woman's lips as the man turned away from her to fixate his gaze back onto the fallen body of his beloved sister, dark lids closing to prevent the tears that had began to swell up behind her eyes from falling and staining her cheeks. 

The sound of approaching footsteps, though, had a dark tinted ear twisting backward, but the magpie made no attempt to glimpse the new arrival. Smell and the sudden sorrowful howl that broke the silence were tell tale signs enough of the dark queen's presence. Enoki's heart broke further upon feeling Nicolo's shoulders begin to quiver beneath the weight of her head, ears catching the dry sob that consumed him beneath the sad notes of Elettra's howl. Soon the sound of more footsteps filled the gaps between Nicolo's sobs and Elettra's howl, this time the patchy woman opening her eyes to see whom had come to answer the heart wrenching call. 

Through blurred vision caused by the tears that began to steadily fall uncontrollably now from Enoki's eyes, the piebald could make out the two distinct figures of Renier and Ravenna. Her heart being shattered further by the sight of the silver princess crying along the outskirts of those gathered alone. Lowering her head, Enoki ran the length of her scarred muzzle along Nicolo's throat before offering his cheek a few licks, slowly pulling herself away to quietly pad over to the lonesome princess. A low cry escapes her lips as she hunkers down to lay beside Ravenna, using a paw while resting her head upon the top of the girl's to embrace her in some type of way, offering her just as much support as she had Nicolo.

Word Count: 320

Ashbash 2016 - Sebastian Unrau 

(This post was last modified: Feb 22, 2017, 04:30 AM by Enoki.)