Larkcall Lowlands The Harsh Light of Day

@Lorcan

It hadn't been that long since she'd been on the tundra but this time she was headed away from Hearthwood. Inna didn't plan to be gone from home for long but she didn't know how this particular journey was going to end. All she could do was hope for the best when she felt like her world was falling apart. Days had past since her fight with Aleksei and she was still reeling from it. Learning how he saw her had been like a head butt to the stomach and she still had not caught her breath. She was not who she thought she was, not even close and that realization tore her apart, how could her father ever be proud of her now.

The news she had to deliver came with an uncertain outcome. She had to wonder was she walking into another situation where she was going to get kicked down. If so would she get back up? Or would it go better than she expected and that maybe it would be her shred of hope that everything would turn out. Until she had delivered her news she didn't want to get her hopes up because if it didn't go well...She didn't want to think of what would happen.

As the scent of Whitestone Monadnock reached her nostrils and soon after it came into sight the butterflies in her stomach fluttered even more. Her appearance would be a surprise, one that she hoped would be a pleasant one but she couldn't be sure after the way they had departed last she saw him. When the scent of the border became so strong she knew she could go any further Inna stopped. She was careful not to disrespect the line that told her she could go no further. Taking a deep steadying breath she called for him, Lorcan needed to know what news she held. What would happen after she'd told him Inna didn't know and in the end it wouldn't matter as long as she did what she had come for.

(This post was last modified: Mar 23, 2017, 10:00 AM by Inna.)

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Early Evening, Blizzard, 20°F, -7°C. Music Inspiration

Lorcan had been curled up inside the main den, huddled up against his favourite back wall in an attempt to avoid to freezing blizzard outside when a howl rang out from the borders.  Russet ears pricked up in surprise when he realised that the call had asked specifically for him and an uneasy glance was made towards his fellow pack mates as he carefully tip-toed his way out of the warm confines of the den.

The harsh wind which hissed outside caused his golden eyes to clench shut for a moment, before he turned back against it to traipse towards the old abandoned goat track. An anxious shiver ran down his spine as he moved down the path towards the level tundra below. He knew that voice, how could be forget it. By why would @Inna turn up at the borders in such awful weather, and at such an unsociable hour? Surely she did not wish to take him up on his offer of hunting or scouting right now?

White brows knitted together as his paws finally made contact with the freshly fallen snow which covered the lowland grasses, his stomach growing anxious as his golden eyes search through the flurry of snow for the dark figure he knew to be waiting for him. Upon spotting her, he wasted no time in his approach. He walked briskly straight towards her, his ears held back in protest against the cold and his tail swaying nervously behind him.

“Inna?” He gasped as he swept forwards to quickly embrace her against the thick fur of his neck. Golden eyes searched for her deep orange gaze then, concern plaguing his expression. “A-are you alright? Has something happened at Hearthwood?” He questioned frantically, all the while shifting sideways to position himself in an attempt to buffer her from the worst of the blizzard. 

(This post was last modified: Mar 23, 2017, 11:11 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

It hadn't been snowing when she'd left Hearthwood but as the day wore on it became worse and worse. She would have turned back in any other circumstances but this she had to see Lorcan, he had to know and it couldn't wait any longer. So she gritted her teeth and shoved on through the cold and the snow determined to reach the Monadnock. It was the last thing she she wanted to do after her fight with Aleksei getting battered by the wind after being battered by her brothers words. Ones that had jabbed her in all the right places and had an effect on her that would be lasting. She realized the monster she had become, when it had happened she couldn't know the exact moment but it had and now she had to change for the better.

The journey gave her time to think despite the biting cold on her ears as her tail whipped behind her in the wind. By the time she reached the Whitestone border she has made up her mind about the life she was carrying inside her. She had made the choice and she was the one that had told Lorcan that it was what she wanted. She would not force him into anything he wasn't ready for, it was the most fair thing she could do for him. As she realized she had not been much of a friend to him just as she had not been much of a daughter to her mother or sister to her brother. With this visit she hoped to turn it all around of her family would allow her the chance.

It was getting late by the time she reached the border, the light had started to fade into twilight. She knew it wasn't the best time to be calling but she couldn't wait. So she called and then waited head and tail down bracing herself against the weather. Lorcan didn't keep her waiting too terribly long his voice bringing her attention to the fact that he had arrived. “Hi Lorcan,” she said a small crossing her face as he was quick to pull her against him. She buried her face in the fur at his neck. “No, I'm not alright,” she told him truthfully, “But Hearthwood is fine.” At least as a whole it was it was the relationship with her family that might not be. She pulled away from him and looked into his golden gaze, “There's something I have to tell you.”

(This post was last modified: Mar 23, 2017, 11:36 PM by Inna.)

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Lorcan felt himself ache with both confusion and concern as the young dark woman leaned in to bury her face in the warm fur of his neck. Instinctively he leaned in closer to press his chest his press more firmly up against the slide of her head in an attempt to comfort her with his physical presence. The Whitestone healer still had no idea why @Inna had decided to turn up at his borders during such terrible weather, but he was convinced that the reason could not have been positive.

Russet ears pricked up at the response to his question and in that very same instant he felt his stomach turn with dread. What had happened? A subtle sigh was breathed past his lips when she finally confirmed that all was well in Hearthwood, however, he could not completely relax – not until she had explained to him.

White brows rose up and his ears flattened with worry as he felt her suddenly pull away from him. “Inna, what is it?” He whispered hesitantly, growing more anxious with each passing second as she looked at him.

“There's something I have to tell you.”—those ominous words were enough to cause his tail to dip down and tuck gentle between his legs. “Tell me?” He echoed back, his brows knitting together in confusion. “Tell me what? Inna, what’s wrong?” He was getting desperate now and stepped forwards to re-close the distance between them. Salmon pink tongue swept nervously across his charcoal lips as he waited for an answer, his mind growing more and more impatient with each passing moment. 

(This post was last modified: Mar 24, 2017, 07:14 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

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

Feeling Lorcan's fur on her face and the warmth of his body was a comfort the Ebony Baranski needed. To know that she still had him, at least for that moment causing her to falter in giving him the news that he needed to hear. She worried that once he knew he wouldn't want anything to do with her or their children. Inna didn't want to believe that Lorcan was like that but deep down inside was that feeling that everyone did eventually leave.

She knew what she had said to Aleksei about wanting to change but that was the one feeling she hadn't been able to shake. The one worry that plagued​ her always, when would it end and everyone would decide to leave her. Maybe it was because of the things Aleksei had said about her that made it so or something else, Inna didn't know. What did know was she had to find out before her children were born, she didn't want to pass it on to them. She didn't want them to know what kind of a monster their mother really was.

Lorcan who she'd always been able to tell the truth to she'd told him she wasn't okay. How could she be after what had happened? Now she was pregnant with the children of the man who held her tightly to him. She cherished the last few moments of his embrace as she told him Hearthwood was okay. Then reluctantly she pulled herself away from him and prepared herself for the worst. As she looked at him asking her what was wrong she knew she had to stop this for him, a small whine escaping her, she would miss her friend.

The sentence uttered to let him know that it was something she needed to tell him, maybe not the best sentence but the one that fit. She could hear the desperation in his voice at having wanting to know what was going on. Once again she met his golden eyes with her orange ones “I'm sorry,” she whispered after he'd closed the distance between them. She rose her muzzle to his ear and whispered, “I'm going to have your children.” She did not want to about it or say it at a normal volume for any that might be hiding just out of sight.

(This post was last modified: Mar 24, 2017, 09:33 PM by Inna.)

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The way she held his golden gaze unnerved him.

“I'm sorry.”

Russet ears folded back and his stomach turned with uncertainty as she whispered the apology to his ear.

“I'm going to have your children.”

It took him a second to register her words. The first thing he felt was surprise and in the next second, confusion. White brows knitted together for the briefest of moments as he remembered back to the two weeks they had spent to together and then to that special day they had spent atop Sunrise Ridge. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out, to put the pieces back together—and yet, for some reason he hadn’t expected this. It had only been a bit of fun. Not once in the time that his body had been entwined with hers did he stop to think of the consequences.

The dark fur along his spine bristled as he suddenly realised the seriousness of their actions. Golden eyes widened in shock as he glanced across to Inna, the young woman who now had the burden of carrying his pups. Charcoal lips parted to speak, but his voice was swept away from him as thoughts suddenly shifted to @Piety and an unwavering sense of dread clenched at his gut. What would she say or do when she finds out? He could feel his skin growing hot and prickly with guilt. After all of that anger he’d held against her after finding out about her and Wraith, only now for him to discover that he had gone and done the very same thing himself.

He was a hypocrite. 

Lorcan couldn’t hide the guilt as it washed over his face, nor could he hide the instinctive way his tail curled anxiously between his legs. He felt awful. A small whine whistled past his lips the second it dawned on him that, not only had he betrayed Piety, he’d betrayed the pack. It was not his right to breed, he knew this—but why, oh why, had these thoughts not crossed his mind earlier? He’d been too wrapped up in their drawn-out game of kiss and chase. 

Salmon pink tongue licked at his muzzle anxiously as his attention flickered back to @Inna then. He didn’t know what to say to her. “Inna, I—” He breathed, voice shaky. Sorry? Happy? Scared?! He looked across to her then, an awkward expression on his face. He wasn’t sure what the right answer was, so he refrained from giving an opinion at all. Instead he’d out what she thought of the situation first. “How do you feel…” Breathe. “about that?” He asked quietly, before trying to force a smile to his lips, one which turned out to be nothing more than an awkward grimace.

(This post was last modified: Mar 25, 2017, 07:11 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

'Liar’ what her brother had called her, the word stuck in her head, has haunted her since he had uttered it at her.

Had she known of the consequences of their actions that day in Sunrise Ridge? Once she had learned what was happening to her they had been there and then gone. She'd been so caught up in the the time she was spending with Lorcan, the fun they had in their little games. When the time came that she decided she wanted their games to be more than just games the consequences had not been on her mind.

She'd whispered an apology to him, ‘I'm sorry’ for doing this to you, for jeopardizing everything you have worked for. These were the things she knew needed to be said, she wanted to say but the look on his face after she told him...Now wasn't the time. He had made it perfectly clear to her last time they saw each other what his place on his pack meant, his work as a healer. She would not ruin his life.

Inna stepped back from him, not so far she couldn't see him through the calling snow but far enough she could see his face better. She watched the various emotions cross his face and her heart fell. They were friends and that was all but she had hoped that maybe he would want to know his children. The knitting of his brow and look of guilt gave her little hope of that, it hurt but it was okay. She would be okay no matter what, she always was.

Her ears came forward and she lifted her head to meet his golden gaze once more at the sound of her name as it passed his lips. He stopped after that not finishing what he was going to say, she wished he hadn't done that but it couldn't be changed. A question left his maw next, 'How did she feel about it?’ That was the question wasn’t it? Hadn't she thought about it all the way here, what she was going to do, to tell him? Her sides heaved as a sigh left her, this was the hardest part wasn't it?

“I feel this is my fault and that you should not suffer the consequences for my actions,” she told him never letting her gaze falter as she spoke quietly to him. “I did not come here to ask you for anything but merely so you could know because you deserve to.” She had made that decision, no matter what her hopes might've been she had to think of Lorcan. Protect him from the consequences of her choice whatever they maybe. “I know what this means, what could happen if either pack found out and I won't ruin your life. This is my secret to keep.” And she would until the day she died if she could.

(This post was last modified: Mar 25, 2017, 01:31 PM by Inna.)

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It was only when he finally looked back up at @Inna that he noticed she had stepped away. Golden eyes held her stare of deep orange for a heartbeat or two as he tried to determine her feelings about their situation from the expression on her dark face. The deep sigh which caused her chest to heave was a big enough clue though. It was obvious that she was hardly over-joyed by the news, but Lorcan allowed her the time to speak so that he could better understand her reasons before he went and formed an opinion of his own.

The agouti male remained completely silent as Inna spoke, russet ears perked forwards to listen carefully to every word that left her soft ebony lips. A frown pulled at his pale brows as she immediately placed the blame all on herself. That was wrong and the fact that she was even thinking in such a way made him feel guilty. It was as much his fault as hers and Lorcan would make sure that she understood once she had finished explaining her feelings to him.

His frown then shifted into an expression of concern as his friend then went on to explain that she would not demand anything from him, simply because she did not want to ‘ruin’ his life. His eyes narrowed then and his forehead wrinkled in sudden realisation at just how much she apparently cared for him. He couldn’t help but gasp as his stomach began to tie itself in knots in complete astonishment at the idea. How could she put him first in such a situation? Surely it was her life that was more at risk of crashing down around her as the result of pups? Yes, Lorcan was terrified of what could happen if his pack found out, and god forbid if Piety should ever catch a whiff of what was going on—a shiver ran down his spine—his reputation and friendships would shattered. But how could he be soo selfish as to let Inna go through all of that alone?! Surely the same would be true of her and her family?

No. If they were to fall from grace, well then, they would plummet into chaos together.

“No, Inna, this was as much my fault as it was yours.” He whined, stepping closer an attempt to try and embrace against his warmth again. “I’m so sorry.” He sighed, golden eyes clenching shut as he struggled to remain composed. Truth was, he was scared. He could feel his heart racing within his chest but he was determined not to let his fear of the consequences stop him from doing what he felt was right. “I won’t let you do this alone, I promise.” He whispered, pulling his head back a little so that he could look right into her orange eyes. “We’ll work something out…” He breathed.

(This post was last modified: Mar 25, 2017, 07:52 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

After she'd told him she didn't say another word but gave him a moment to process the fact he was going to be a father. In any other circumstance it might have been happy news for him but things being as they were she did not feel that it was. The facial expressions that crossed his pale face only served to prove that he wasn't exactly happy about being a father. She couldn't blame him, their morning of fun had turned into a much more serious situation with consequences that could ruin them both if the wrong wolves found out. It was all of this falling upon her shoulders that caused the sigh before she spoke telling him how she felt about the fact that she was carrying his children inside of her.

What she had left out because it was not important until she made it clear he was under no obligation to her. She was happy that she was going to be a mother, that she would have her own children to dote on and teach things to, take on adventures. After she had found out and before everything else had crashed down on her she had taken a moment to imagine what they might be like and how life could be for them all. It was a fantasy and something she doubted would come true but it had been nice, something to think about when she needed that moment away from reality. It was also that moment she had vowed, she would make sure her children knew how much they were loved.

Yes, in that moment it was hard to be happy when nothing was certain except her resolve to make sure nothing happened to their father. She cared about him too much and she didn't want her children to end up like her, fatherless yearlings that she told Lorcan what she had. They were friends not mates, not anything more than that and he should not have to deal with something so life changing. All she had wanted was to give him the chance to make his decision because she wanted to be fair to him. If he chose that he wanted nothing to do with her and their children then she would not return and raise their children on her own, she was fully prepared for this.

Once she had finished speaking he surprised her telling her that he was to blame too for this position they were in. She brushed his muzzle with hers at the sound of his whine and when he embraced her she let him. He like she had apologized before promising that she wouldn't have to do it alone, that they would work something out.

She wanted to feel the joy that came along with the words that he spoke but just because he said he would help her didn't mean he wanted to be a part of his children's lives. “It's not your fault Lorcan,” she said into his fur, “Had I not done what I had, made the choice that I did nothing would have happened.” It had and now they had to figure out what was next for them. “You don't need to apologise to me,” she said pulling back and meeting his gaze, “I'm happy to be carrying your children,” she whispered to him as she let a smile slide across her lips before letting her head rest against his chest again. He needed to know that, to know that no matter what she was not upset about having his children growing inside of her. “You're sure that you want to be involved in all of this? Because I really need you to be.” Some relief had come over her at his promise that she wouldn't have to do this alone but then he pulled away from her just until he could look into her eyes, “I believe that we can as long as we work together,” she said a tear falling from her eye.

(This post was last modified: Mar 25, 2017, 08:58 PM by Inna.)

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