Oak Tree Bend the fire's found a home in me

AW, but hoping primarily for @Serach and @Triell , though @Ice could be an interesting thread.

She had taken far longer than intended -- there was a part of her heart that hammered with the pang of regret, knowing that @Inna must have awaited her at home, worried for her.. but in the solace of her prolonged travels, she had felt a certain healing -- a solace that she had so desperately needed. Maksim was gone from this earth -- the warmth of his body, the earth-y scent of his pelt.. his bright eyes that had lingered only upon her. Their time together had been far too short -- but all she could do now was move forward.

She just needed to learn how.

The borders of the Bend did little to reassure her, though she felt a certain longing to fall in to the caring arms of uncle Triell. So many times the girl had sought him out for advice -- for reassurance. She was no longer a youthful girl now, and there was little his embrace could magically erase problem-wise -- but her family would need an update, and her heart needed to see them more than anything right now. Tipping her muzzle back, the honeyed woman called for the Tainn's and Donata's -- for @Triell , or @Serach --her fellow cousins would have been a welcome addition, but for now.. it was those two she needed the most. For she could not prolong the news any longer.

(This post was last modified: Dec 16, 2016, 03:00 AM by Serach.)

sparking up my heart

Every day, Serach awoke and wondered if that would be the day that he finally woke up from his dreams. But night turned to day (no matter how brief) with regularity and still their scents remained. @Ice and @Lena were both still here, their scents now as common as those of the Bend members who had been here for years. But the fear persisted that somehow it was all in Serach's head and that the reunion of his small and scattered family was destined to end. So when Serach's ears twitched at the recognition of a familiar voice just beyond the Bend's borders, he was sure that this dream was about to end. But he would be damned if he gave up a chance to see his sister, even if it was just his imagination.

Moving quickly through the snow, the pale leader left the warmth of his resting spot behind him and headed to the northern reaches of the pack's borders. Even after so many months apart, Kisla's scent was unmistakable and Serach was drawn it to like a moth to a flame. Seeking her out, he was smiling and offering a wagging tail before she came into view. That smile broadened as he spotted her tawny form against the snow. "Kisla!" he woofed as he padded up to her. She certainly smells real, he thought, happy to accept the coincidence for reality no matter how unlikely. "I didn't know you were coming down. There's so much I have to tell you."

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Serach -- he emerged from the shadows of the trees, and nostalgia spurned the image of him galloping toward her as a pup once more.. Surely that hadn't been so long ago, had it? But he stood before her now -- proud in his stance, and jovial. This was all she had ever wished for him -- to be happy. Her breath caught at the sight of him, and despite the tears that threatened to brim to her eyes, the woman composed herself, forcing a smile of her own to her lips, though she knew it would not reach her gaze -- happiness had been long sapped from her only weeks before.

"And I you, brother," she murmured, shifting her weight, though not crossing the border that separated them, despite her longing to press her own pale muzzle in to the soft white of his cheek.  She paused then, wondering if she simply tell him of Maksim's death -- of the ousting of Kjors, and her daughter who felt the need to steal away with the one-eyed wolf. She wanted nothing more than to tell him of her loneliness -- her need to escape. But she knew even the best of circumstances she could never draw those final words from her lips. And so she waited for his news -- wondering if their uncle would also make an appearance.

sparking up my heart

A lady's voice, a familiar one, echoed across the blue misted wood. First, he had to tilt his head, hold his breath to be sure it was her. Kisla. He had not expected to see his niece, and when the yearlings had went things seemed well with her pack. He actually, didn't know if he would lay eye upon her again. Ears turn, listening, and he was torn with both joy and anxiety. Had she come to visit? Or was something wrong? It was hard to kill the gloomy thoughts with a name like Tainn, as he traversed to the borders. But, as his bright eyes fell upon the pair of siblings a smile lit his dark muzzle. There was a lot for Serach to tell her, what would she think of it?

"Kisla!" No matter why she had come, he was happy to see her. On first look she appeared in good health. He bounded forward with a thorough wagging banner. Swiftly, embracing her, with his neck over hers. Breathing deeply, as he held her close. Suddenly there was something different there. But, he held onto her for a moment longer, having felt it may be needed. Because despite all the time and space between them had missed her in turn. She would always be the young girl he looked after.

(This post was last modified: Dec 22, 2016, 06:15 PM by Triell.)

are you with me through it all?

The young leader was too caught up in his own excitement to notice that Kisla's reaction to his arrival was not as enthusiastic as it would have been once upon a time. In a moment, the pair of siblings were joined by Triell and for just a second it felt like they were being transported back in time to a place where everything was right in their worlds. Serach's heart soared with joy, and he carelessly stepped over the border that had separated him and his sister and offer her his own embrace. Nuzzling his forehead into the tawny ruff, he breathed in and embraced the moment as much as he could.

But there was more to say, and so he did eventually step back to give her space to breathe. His grin was wide and his expression eager, though, as he began to tell her of the news that had changed everything. "Sceral! He's alive, and he has a family. I met his daughter @Lena and brought her back here to the Bend. She says he's doing well and that he misses all of us," it was a big bomb to share, but he was a long way from over. "And there's somebody else too...@Ice...my father, he's come back." Perhaps that was the bigger of the two revelations, if only because the periods of absence were so different.

Looking to Triell for a moment, he decided to press on with the last bit of news that he felt Kisla would want to know. "One last thing. This summer Triell and I were teaching some of our younger wolves how to hunt and Triell got on the wrong end of a pissed off elk. He's fine now," she could see that with her own eyes he hoped, "but I'm leading the Bend now." The last update was thrown in, and then it was time for Serach to quiet down and listen, although it was clear by the smile on his face that he was not prepared for the news she would have for them.

-dumps a hot mess on you- Sorry not sorry.

She all but quaked before her brother -- his enthusiasm at her presence so great, he did not yet see the life that had been stolen from her very eyes yet. It was Triell's presence that escalated her heart higher, and she tried so hard to maintain herself. He sensed her need for her family -- wrapping himself around her, and quietly understanding that all was not well. He had been the father she had never had -- he and Marsh together had always kept her from harm.

She buried her muzzle in the warmth of his fur, managing to compose herself for the moment. Serach did not notice yet -- and he continued onward with his news, ecstatic. News that should have drew a smile from her -- he had become leader of the Bend, risen to manage their mother's legacy. It was what she would have wanted for him -- and even the mention of @Ice , a ghost from the past should have intrigued her more.. but she could feel nothing in that moment but the heartbreak of her realization that the last time she had been here.. it had been to introduce her mate to her family.

And now he lie, buried in the ground.

The dam broke with the thought, and the tears flowed freely -- a strangling sob escaped her, and in that moment, just as he had so many times in the past to console her, she pressed herself further in to her uncle, finally allowing her grief to completely consume her beyond comprehension.

(This post was last modified: Jan 06, 2017, 03:10 PM by Kisla.)

sparking up my heart

Despite his best intentions, Serach had always been a selfish creature. While he had wondered why Kisla was visiting now, he had been too self absorbed in his own joy at seeing her to take note of the heartbreak in her eyes. Even as he cheerfully delivered his news, he still did not see that she was leaning into Triell for more than a greeting. She needed support and her younger brother was completely oblivious to it. Serach was expecting a smile, or eyes wide in surprise at the revelation that Sceral and Ice were both alive. But instead all Serach saw were tears, and his own smile twisted into a surprised look of confusion. 

The half audible sob broke him out of his self-absorbed bubble. Kisla leaned further into Triell, the tears flowing freely from her green eyes. Looking on in confusion, the younger man wondered for only a moment if it had been something he had said that had set her off. He opened his mouth as if to ask, but no words came out. No matter the reason, Kisla didn't need that right now, his brain yelled at him. Cautiously, he stepped forward and dipped his head below her's to nuzzle her scruff once more. He wanted to tell her that it would be okay, but how could he make that promise when he didn't know what had set her off in the first place? "We love you, Kisla," he murmured instead, deciding that affirmation of their love and support would be the next best thing.

The Tainn could not blame Serach's for his excitement. A lot had happened. The Bend had been without good news for so long, and to have all this knowledge of loved ones, or themselves was miraculous. If anyone should be as thrilled it would be her. In turn she should be sharing news of the River's growth, and in her brother's excitement. They hadn't seen each other for some time.

Kisla was anything but steady. She felt small, and he nuzzled his cheek against hers. Hoping she would take the time she needed, and whatever else. What a long journey it must have been for her to reach them. The Tainn only wished he had known sooner how much she had needed them.

The woeful sound broke against his ears, and heart, and her tawny coat threaded itself with black. Firmly, he held place, kept her wrapped against him with his neck, wishing he could take the pain away. He had thought there was a scent that should have more dominantly draped her. Her mate's, and he could only guess something most dreadful had happened to the man.

Thankfully, Serach seemed to realize her distress, and brought himself to comfort her in turn. While the Uncle wanted to assure her, she would always have them, that would seem like such a sad promise to make. They were not immortal. "We're here Kis." He murmured.

are you with me through it all?

And so he held her – a presence in her life that despite having not seen him for moons now, still felt achingly familiar, and with a touch she found she would always need when desiring comfort, much like a toddler reaching to their parent. The sobs that broke her wracked her entire frame in that moment, her muzzle remaining in Triell’s nape as she cried – an ugly cry that twisted her entire being as she finally let loose the pain and loss she felt. Her kids were not here for her to be strong for – her pack was left in the capable paws of Lachesis and Lilya. Here, she could simply be Kisla – the Tainn girl who had so desired to be like her mother and who failed completely at it.

Their soothing words grounded her, and her sobs lessened. Her breathing was erratic, but she tried to even it, inhaling sharply before slowly beginning to pull away from the cradle of affection her family held her in now. “Maksim is dead,” she spoke, her voice numb as she cringed within at having to speak it once more. “He succumbed to long term injuries. Maksim is dead, and most of my children have gone.” All she had left was @Inna – and the girl deserved far better than her. “I just.. I need to be here for a few days, if that’s okay?”

sparking up my heart