Charred Ash Draw In the end, we'll all become stories

Pack story telling night - @Triell @Leotie @Maera @Kerberos

your heart got a story with mine

Naira

In a few more nights the moon would be gone. Naira sighed, her breath billowing in white clouds before her eyes. She had perched herself on the side of the draw, the rest of the pack within sight as she looked up to the stars through a gap in the once burned canopy. There was some solace in these trees, that something once so broken could rise up new, and with each passing day it seemed even the trees themselves approved of having another Tainn walking in the wildwood. Perhaps she was imagining it, but the ground seemed to thrum it's approval right up through her paws.

The shooting star took her by surprise, a murmered "Oh!" slipping from parted jaws before she could catch herself. Somewhere deep down her stomach flipped, melancholy taking her over as she got wrapped up in her own memories. "Come up here," she beckoned to the others, "I just saw a shooting star." Honey hued eyes turned skyward again, hoping to catch another glimpse of light streaking across the sky. If it didn't eventuate, well, they wouldn't be any worse off for the experience. How was it Vafri had told it? Something about the first hero and a great snake? She wracked her brain for the details, knowing she couldn't nearly do it the same justice as the story teller could but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.

Maera had been settling down to rest for the night, tight against Kerb as she started to doze off when she heard the beckoning call of Naira through the mouth of the den, her eyes lazily dragging themselves open as she let out a yawn. What was she going on about? I just saw a shooting star. She let out a soft sigh. Everyone seemed to love the stars – she remembered Kerb dragging her out of the den to see them more than once – that and sunrises… “M’coming.” She mumbled out as she started to push herself up, stretching out a little as she pushed her front legs out and her back legs pushed up before she was back upright, giving Kerb a soft nudge before heading out.

A soft smile formed on her maw, despite the evidence of her exhaustion behind them as she took a seat near the edge of the den, partially sheltering herself from the winds of winter that still blew through the healing forest. She’d heard a tale or two about the way the forest connected with each other. She remembered the stories her mother used to tell her, about the stars and how her ancestors were watching… so what did one falling from the sky mean? Had one of the ancestor’s committed a grievous fault? It was one of those questions she’d never gotten an answer to, her mother either dead or living with her traitorous aunt… she doubted she ever would get an answer to it.

“The stars are beautiful tonight.” She whispered as her chocolate gaze turned to that of her leader.

This was something that was different for Leotie, the whole pack together at the end of a hard day's work. She liked that feeling it gave her, like they really were a family and not just a pack and it was something she hoped they would be able to continue. Even as their pack grew as she thought it inevitably have to since that was the way of things. Leotie also didn't think Triell or Naira would turn away a wolf in need of one did come to the borders. The agouti woman lay on the snow not far from where Naira was up on the draw. Laying in the snow the beta dozed lightly not quite ready to fully fall asleep.It was Naira's voice that brought her to a more alert state as she called everyone to her to tell them about a shooting star. Leotie rose from her resting place to join the woman on the draw to see if she might see one too. She couldn't remember if she'd ever seen a shooting star before and it would be nice to see one. She wasn't pressed about it sure she would get another chance. Maera had also joined Naira her voice meeting Leotie's ears, “Yes, they are,” she too whispered looking up to the sky.

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(This post was last modified: Jan 24, 2017, 01:11 PM by Leotie.)

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won't you light my lonely way back home?

Treyah Tainn

She had made herself at home out in the open air, a brown smudge against the white blanket of snow that stretched as far as the eye could see. She had tried to imagine what this place might look like with it gone, but all she could see was the misted spectral woods and the edge of the red hills. All she saw here was white, and ratty burned trees, would that change with time? Did spring even come to this side of the mountain?

Her mothers words were met with a grumble and a masked roll of her eyes, but it was all meant in good nature. The girl rose and shook the snow that clung to her fur free as she sauntered up the side of the draw to join those already gathered, sidling alongside her mother and leaning into her flank to try and force her head into the same spot, the only way to guarantee she would see exactly what her mother saw.

But all she saw were the same old stars she had seen every night since she was born. The girl yawned, and voiced as much with a smirk, "They look the same to m-" but her words were cut short as another star streaked across the sky. Well maybe things were a little different tonight...

He was fast asleep like usual, Mae settled tightly against him. He had grown used to being near someone while sleeping. Reiko or Mae being his usuals. Sometimes he wondered if he'd wake up sandwiched between the two of them. He never did but he didn't mind. It made getting out of the den easier in the mornings. Not that it was an easy feat no matter the occasion. Maybe once the season grew warm he would be more happy to rise for patrols.

Being so heavily asleep he barely noticed Naira's voice. Wrote it off as some part of his dream. The tawny male felt Maera move and thought nothing of it either. Perhaps she was going to get a drink or late night snack. He rolled over to turn his back to the opening of the den in an attempt to keep warm while his lover was gone. He heard more chatter, Maera's voice included. With a groan, he rose to his feet and noticed the two male Tainns still asleep. He offered a soft nudge to Reiko's hip. "Mmm," He took a spot next to Maera and sleepily leaned against her. His brain thought about the time he had dragged her out to look at the sunrise. "What're we looking at?" He whispered to her only as his eyes stayed half closed.

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A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity

With warm bodies around him, Reiko easily fell asleep these days. He was nodding off when Kerb's wet nose hit his hip. A sign he was to wake. "What?" he mumbled, letting out a yawn. No one but his father remained. Trying to blink the sleep from his eyes, he shuffled over to the dark figure, gingerly tugging on his ear. "Come on dad," he encouraged, now eager to see what the fuss was about. As the old man shifted, and he could see his eyes open Reiko took his leave. He was not one to miss out.

Eyes found their way to the others, who seemed to be staring at the sky. Why it wasn't strange, he wondered what would make it any different tonight. Eagerly, he made his way to his mother's other side, nestling up beside her tawny form in time to see another shooting star. His eyes lit up in both surprise and delight. They moved! He didn't think they ever did. He felt so small again. So little, as if he might never know about things like the others did."What does it mean mom?" He whispered, afraid to break the moment between the pack.

I'll be the bright, and black, that's making you run

He hadn't realized he'd been asleep until he felt a familiar tug. Surely, it couldn't be morning already? Groggy, his eyelids opened, and he was greeted by a tawny-red face. A grumble rolled in his throat as he lifted his head not quite certain what was going on. It had been some time the pups had been excited to show him anything, and wake him.  "Okay," he murmured in reply if only to be given a moment. He was sure part of his rump had fallen asleep, as he looked around it became clear he had been left behind.

A soft huff, he rose, and followed after Reiko, soon realizing everyone else were gathered around. It was a familiar site, but something seemed different. Slowly the fog left his mind as he made his way next to Treyah. Easily he dropped to his haunches, tilting his head back to see the star streak across the sky. "Make a wish," he whispered in her ear, then brushed his nose behind it in a tickling motion before pulling back with a smile. How she had grown. Almost a year now... He tipped his nose in Naira's direction, having not quite heard Reiko's question. But, as he looked he felt he saw something in her eyes. 

Triell Tainn

(This post was last modified: Feb 07, 2017, 08:50 PM by Triell.)

are you with me through it all?

your heart got a story with mine

Naira

What does it mean? Well, she wasn't quite sure she had the poetic ability to tell that one, but she supposed she could try her best to remember. "A wolf once told me they are the spirits of great warriors, swimming back across the black sea to light the way for those they lost, to help make them brave and strong." It was a story that had struck her at the time of its telling and so she decided to do her best in retelling it, knowing like all tales it was likely to only grow and warp with each retelling, but not much minding, it was a good night for stories.

“It is said that the first hero was named Ulf. His mother taught the wolves to sing and his father was a giant. There are many stories about Ulf, but the one that is best known, and the only one I have heard, is the tale of how he called the ice ghosts home from across the black sea.” She paused for effect, much as her great storyteller had done on the night her first litter were born. When she was sure her children were listening she went on. “Eventually Ulf was slain, and even though his body grew cold, his spirit still ran fierce and strong through the driving wind and the frosty night. His howl shook the earth and made the herds all fear to linger in the dark. They say Ulf’s ghost roamed fearsomely for many lifetimes, but at last, he reached the ice at the top of the world and looked out across the black sea with hunger in his eyes – hunger that no mortal flesh could sate.”

Another star raced across the sky and she followed it with her eyes, a small smile touching the edges of her mouth, embracing the warm memories that had begun to engulf her in the retelling. Her muzzle tipped to the sky for emphasis ”In those days the Great Snake still swam in the waters above. Her eyes still burned, two, so that night only came in flashes when she blinked. We mortals could not see the waters of the black sea beyond the brilliance of her gaze; nor could we see the lights burning across the waters on a far shore. Only Ulf knew of them. He could see them as he stood on the ice and howled to call the serpent forth.” Naira managed another pause, not wishing to overwhelm her audience all at once. “She was the last thing in all the world he had not fought, the last prey his mighty ghost would hunt, alone... Beyond the reach of all his brothers and sisters and children and friends.” For a moment she considered halting in her tale, but then thought better of it. It wouldn't be fair to make them wait for the next star shower to hear how the story might end (although she had already given that away in a way, hadn't she?)

“The serpent answered as all beasts do that fear no teeth on the wind. At once her great jaws came from the water to devour Ulf! But he was the greatest of all warriors and fought the snake for many days and nights. Sometimes he pulled her onto the land and sometimes he fell into her mighty coils. Their battle made the earth shake and the skies grow black and purple, until Ulf struck a brave blow to the serpent’s face and took her eye. As she turned her blind side to the earth all those below saw what our hero saw... a thousand lights, bright, shining on a distant shore.” There was more... but her memory was growing hazy. She paused in her story to gather her thoughts, allowing those around her a chance to consider the tale they had been told so far. She looked to @Triell with a smile, basking in the warmth that was their new family.

She could appreciate stories, even if they didn’t align with her views of the world or her views on what actually lingered up there in the sky, watching over them. She listened intently to the alphas story, her nose twitching softly as she leaned against her mate just as he had her. She found the lesson intriguing, wondering if there was any truth to it. They say Ulf’s ghost roamed fearsomely for many lifetimes, but at least, he reached the ice at the top of the world and looked out across the black sea with hunger in his eyes – hunger that no mortal flesh could sate. She found herself enraptured, eager to find out what would happen next.

And she listened, to the resolution as Ulf slayed the mighty serpent, her grin growing wider. A thoughts lights, bring, shining on the distant shore… the lifelines of the ancestors, watching over Ulf as he slayed his foe and brought a level of tranquility to the mortal realm. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought, gazing back up towards the stars with hints of wonder. She was surrounded by family, and she’d fight for them like Ulf fought the mighty serpent, just as she trusted they would for her. "What happened to Ulf after he struck the serpent?" She asked softly as her gaze fell upon Naira.