Sex: FemaleThese woods were much denser than the Broken Timber Pines, having apparently been sheltered from whatever forces toppled the trees in Nalda's childhood home. Not that she cared much; The old logs had been annoying when getting around, but she'd liked the more open canopy, in the end it all amounted to the same. She was actually pleasantly surprised by the small numbers of the pack, plenty of space in the den at night, and no stumbling over one another doing the day. Though she'd learned that her grandmother and cousin had both been among the wolves who'd recently left. But disappointment was a familiar feeling to the young woman and she'd learned to push it aside, she still had her aunt and younger cousin, which was a lot more than she'd gotten used to. It filled her with a strange… insecurity though. It had been a long time since she'd been around family and she wasn't sure how to act, what to say. If there was one thing the former Zamora hated, it was feeling vulnerable. She'd spend the last year of her life building a hard shell around herself, putting a safe distance between her thoughts and her emotions. It was natural for her to go into every interaction calm and calculated, analyzing every aspect carefully and determining her responses based on the desired outcome. Baring herself to the prospect of making a real connection with someone was scary, she couldn't remember the last time she'd done it; Wasn't even sure she could remember how. A heavy sigh fell from the girl's dark lips, forming a small cloud in the cold air, as she leaned back her head to gaze up through the naked branches of the old oak tree; Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come here..! Words: 302 "Speech" Thoughts |
Aponi had been meaning to seek out her niece sooner but unfortunately the duties of a leader never ceased. However, she had been pleased to see Nalda coming and going from the communal den to sleep and to smell her markers around the border. She may not know her niece practically at all but she knew that she at least pulled her weight and for the Donata woman this would be enough for now. Still, when she came across the yearlings scent the mother did not hesitate to change her course and follow it until her dark rusty form came into sight beneath the oak tree.
Funny how many meetings Aponi seemed to having here these days. After all, this was where her and Serach had declared themselves to each other, damning those who had wronged them and forming a new seal in the Bend. Making no attempt to be silent in her approach the silver woman came to her nieces side and sat beside her, blue eyes following her gaze up into the sky. If you squinted it almost looked like the branches would be strong enough you could climb up them and into the overcast sky itself.
"Adjusting well I hope Nalda?"
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The sound of paws in the snow drew her attention down and onto the silver form, appearing from amongst the trees. Surprise seized her at seeing her aunt, seemingly drawn there by the mere thought of her name, where she was otherwise so busy at the borders and with her other leadership tasks. Nalda quickly hid her shock though, using the skills she had come to master to hide her real feelings behind a more pleasant mask. "Aponi," she greeted plainly, bowing her head slightly in a submissive gesture towards the queen. The question brought her pause though, brows furrowing slightly as she once more turned her gaze upward, trailing the slight fluctuations in the cloud-cover. Her instinct was to agree, meekly bowing out of the conversation by giving the answer the leader wanted. Yet she hesitated. Hadn't she come here to connect with her remaining family? At least that was what she'd told Arion and Ember, and it hadn't been all lies. Part of her still hungered for that connection, that purpose she didn't know where else to find; This might be my last chance… But if she wanted to build on that bond, she had to be open, expose herself to these wolves, whom she knew so little about, despite the risk. Taking a deep breath, she shifted her golden eyes back to her aunt, offering tentatively: "'t's a big change…" After having been mostly on her own for so long, with only Arion for company, and even in the last several months at the Pines, the tight community here was jarring. It was something the recluse yearling was very reluctant to take part in; "'m still gettin' used'o ev'rything." Words: 282 "Speech" Thoughts |
Nalda's face seemed to flash briefly with surprise at her approach but was quickly smoothed into a more composed mask. It seemed that she had inherited at least one trait from her Aquila bloodline then. Aponi herself had mastered a cool, collected expression that could be used at any whim to keep anyone out. Anyone until Serach at least. The bowed head was met with a reassuring smile, she had not come here as the alpha though the submission was noted. The mother had promised Kyna a family and while she may have failed with the blonde girl she was still working on building it for Lila. Even if that family consisted of a mother, her mate and an older cousin. Aponi had never had traditional values anyways.
Still, all of this was unusual for the silver wolf and at first she was not sure how to respond to Nalda. Squinting towards the branches above her again she imagined it like the gnarled tree of their bloodline, twisting and turning before breaking off. This was one branch she wasn't willing to lose yet. Aponi appreciated her honesty and wanted to say something reassuring but as she had no real idea of what kinds of things assured her niece she was at a loss. Instead she just hummed an acknowledgement to her words before a few moments passed and she added, "What was it like? In the Pines?" Maybe understanding her past could point her in the right direction of what to say.
The queen seemed… nice, offering a smile before sitting down, clearly wanting to ease the younger wolf. Nalda meanwhile was naturally weary of niceness, in her experience it often aligned with softness and indecision, both traits she despised and in her mind had no place in a leader. It was only as they sat side by side, silence stretching awkwardly, that the girl began to feel more at ease, like she might actually have something in common with this woman, more than just blood. She got the sense this kindness did not come so easy to her aunt, that perhaps it wasn't something she tossed around willy-nilly, unlike so many wolves she'd known. Which, ironically enough, made her feel so much better. She'd had enough dealings with fools driven by sentiment, that this last hope of family might be a much more sensible sort was a huge relief; But then, why fain this cordiality? Indeed, it might just be that Aponi was trying to reach out too, and it made an odd feeling stir in her niece's stomach. When finally a question fell from silver edged lips, it was enough to make Nalda's brows quirk slightly. She'd expected something else, more empty, gentle comments before the inquiries began. Again she was relieved; No beating around the bush! A derisive snort escaped her as she looked out over the clearing, mouth twisting in a disdainful grimace. She would let herself be honest as well, adhering to her initial decision of opening up to her aunt. "'t'was a bloody mess," she sneered, turning to look at Aponi again, eyes cold and voice sharp in the memory; "Even b'for 't all started fallin'part. Th' leaders wer'gone half th' time, so were th'rest of th'adults. No'ne cared enough t'keep 't together." She paused, shaking her head lightly, mouth twisting in a smile void of amusement; "Guess tha's wha'appens when three bitches t'young 'n dense decide t'ave pups'n band t'gether t'survive!" Even as her words grew more passionate, the voice remained controlled, more like she was deriding the group as an outsider, than yelling about her own childhood; They all got what they deserved..! They had dug their own den and watched it collapse around them, killed or as good as in the process. She was lucky to have gotten out alive. Words: 387 "Speech" Thoughts |
It did not come naturally to either of the women; trying to forge a connection even if they were both trying so desperately to make it work. Aponi had no example of what family was supposed to be, though she had promised Kyna all those nights ago that she would forge one for them. Nalda was her niece and therefor there was a connection by blood, and perhaps were more similar than the girl was to her own mother but in times like this it mattered very little.
She’d never cared much about talking, growing up as an isolated pup she hadn’t needed it, her parents understood her needs fine without. When she finally did start to speak, no one cared enough to correct her most of the time, or consider why she never grew out of the rushed and choppy speech pattern her delayed start had landed her in. By now it was too late to remedy, even if she had been interested in doing so, but she found that she got by just fine with the rough language, and it didn’t take a smooth voice to spin other wolves around your paw. She was hardly even aware of the quirk anymore, it was rare for anyone to address it, and just like no one had bothered to try and change it, no one had ever mocked her impediment either. Golden eyes flicked up again, into the branches of the old Oak; How long has it stood here? Growing through generation, withstanding every disaster nature threw at it, staying strong and tall while the land around it changed, rivers found new runs, creatures lived and died. Nalda was a practical wolf, usually not much for symbolism, but even she found it poignant that the timbers of the Pines were broken even before the pack, but the Bend’s oak tree stood tall, and rooted deep; A welcome change! As if hearing her thoughts, Aponi spoke up beside her niece, and the girl turned her attention back to the queen, an icy smirk cracking her lips at the assurance. “Tha’s w’I ‘s hopin’for,” She answered gleefully, wagging the dark tip of her tail. Her aunt was already looking like a much better suited leader than anyone in her old pack, and she was quickly growing to like her. An iron paw was exactly what a pack needed at its helm; A welcome change, indeed! Her second comment drew another snort from the younger shewolf, though this one was lined with the same amusement as Aponi was showing. It was a strange thing, to sit across from someone who had known her mother, probably better than Nalda ever had herself. She could see in the ice blue eyes, hear in the tone of her voice, that she knew exactly how Nova had acted, faced with the turmoil of an unstable pack. Still the girl replied: “Sh’as out’a there ‘soon’s th’craks began t’show!” Again her smile was cold and devoid of emotion, no sign that it was her own mother’s abandonment she spoke of; “No ounce’o’ strength in tha’bitch.” A russet brow quirked then, golden eye fixing the woman by her side, as the amusement snuck back into her voice: “Surprised th’two o’you share th’same blood!” Words: 455 "Speech" Thoughts |
Nova and Aponi had never gotten along particularly well. Childhood rivalries deep rooted with jealousy and accusations, teenaged angst and finally the news of murder had broken them. They had tried multiple times to heal the wound that festered between them but after their last meeting the silver queen knew it would not happen again. The dark wolf had really gone off the deep end this time, with whatever cult she had joined that had messed up her face so badly, not that it had been particularly pleasant to look at to begin with.
Still, abandoning a child to go off her own chasing magic or whatever the hell it was Nova thought she was a part of was a new low. Had she even mentioned that she had a child when they had last seen each other? Aponi couldn’t be sure but didn’t recall that conversation. Rolling her eyes at Nalda’s comment she grinned, letting her in on one of their family’s deep dark secrets, ”I’m not so sure we share anything but a mother. Nova looked just like Naira’s new mate she rang off with, old friends I heard.” She had no way of confirming it, but Aponi had a sneaking suspicion that Nova was little more than a half sister.
Aponi glanced sideways at her niece, didn’t even look anything like the mother that had brought her into the world. ”Last I saw her she had fucked up her face and she was spouting crap about magic or something equally ridiculous.” That must have been after she had left Nalda behind, had she even gone looking for her daughter?