Swift River cut to the feeling

Autumn was making its first appearance with an unseasonably cool day. Despite that, Pip found herself yearning for a swim. Following her nose, the mute took a deep breath of relief upon finding the swiftly flowing river. While it lacked the calmness of the pools she'd grown used to in Cedarwood, it certainly reminded her of the white caps of the sea. Excitement took over and the small female rushed to the river with the recklessness of her youth. A mother, yes, but not far from her yearling days.

Cold water sloshed over her head as she dove right in, using one of the large boulders along the edge to give her more distance. The feel of the current reminded her of an undertow. Familiar muscles engaged as she fought it, breaking the surface with breathless laughter, though no sound could be heard. Pip swam to the other side of the river before kicking off one of the large stones to swim back again. She bit playfully at the whitewater that flew up and daringly flirted with rapids before twisting around before falling victim to their strong flow.

She knew she should be using this opportunity to fish and hunt for her family, but it had been so long - since before her pregnancy even - that the sea wolf had taken the opportunity to have such time for herself. Overhead, brown leaves floated down from the overhanging trees, another sign of summer's end. Delighted with the challenge, the agouti female swam back to the edge only to use the stones as sounding boards to leap up and snag leaves from the sky before they could hit the water. So enraptured in her play, Pip was heedless of any witnesses she may have watching her odd behavior.

At first, she couldn't quite believe it. The scent just couldn't be Pip's could it? It had been well over a month since she had seen or smelt any sort of signs of the younger wolf but she still recognised it as if she had smelt it yesterday. And ever since her scent had slowly faded from the borders, along with her mate's and sons's, the worry and hurt of her leaving had slowly grown in Amaryllis's chest. Part of her understood why the small family had left, what with the chaotic nature that had become Grizzly Hollow.

But that didn't stop the anger and hurt of the mute wolf just leaving without a single peep as the grey woman weaved between the trees, eyes slightly narrowed as she kept on the trail. While she hadn't been the best of friends as the weeks leading up to her departure, wasn't she still Pip's friend? Hadn't she helped dig the other a birthing den? Hadn't that meant anything? Even if Pip couldn't utter a single word, something would have been better then the silent departure that had happened.

Yet as she drew closer to where Pip was, stopping at the tree line before the river, her anger having slowly simmered to a point yet it was quickly dashed when her pale eyes landed on Pip and the happiness that rolled off, as she played with the leaves.

Her shoulders dropping Amaryllis accepted she couldn't be mad at Pip, especially watching her now. How could she be? The other had a pup to think about, just as she did. And to keep Ageir in the cedars, even for a month more, would not have been a good idea. At least Pip, Kjell and Ageir made the choice to go before it was forced upon them.

And she looked happier and more free out here, in amongst the brown leaves and rushing water, then in the suffocating cedars. So much better then Amaryllis' rough look. Opening her maw, Amaryllis wanted to say something. Wanted to ask how she was doing, how was Ageir and Kjell? How was the loner life treating them or had they found a much better pack, one without such inner turmoil like the Hollow?

But at the last thought and her blood sounding like beating drums in her ears, she found she couldn't say a word. Why ruin the other's fun with such a depressing question? Or even the memories of her old pack. It was clear she had moved on as it were. Deciding to just leave without saying or doing anything, Amaryllis stepped back only to freeze as a loud SNAP of twig sounded.

(This post was last modified: Sep 04, 2017, 08:42 AM by Amaryllis.)

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

@Amaryllis

Upon setting her eyes on Lily, Pip's tail fled between her legs. The guilt slammed her anew. She had reasoned herself it would be better for those of the Hollow with a clean break. That as there was no way for her to explain her intentions, perhaps it would be best to just disappear. And Kjell had wanted to leave right away and she hated to argue with him in front of Aegir. Pip had no way of explaining this to Lily now. Her former Alpha and friend could not understand the reasoning without an explanation and she really had none to offer in a way the woman could understand.

Cautiously, the little mute edged her way closer to the female. Her frame was lowered into submission as it always had before, but there was more tension in the hold of her shoulders now, fearful of the wolf's reaction. Would she be angry with her for leaving without notice? Would she hate her?

But also...was she okay? Was Veho? And Rook and the other pups? How was the Hollow faring? Hopefully no further misfortune had befallen them. If it had...would the fault be hers for leaving? Would it have been something she could prevent? Or was it simply a sinking ship she'd abandoned in the nick of time? She longed to know how the wolves - her family - were doing, but also feared she no longer had the right to know in their eyes.

She'd done it for her son and her mate. For no others would she show such a lack in loyalty. It was simply that her loyalty to them had to be stronger, for they were hers and hers alone. Pack life had been drowning her mate and the misfortune surrounding it had not been one she wished Aegir to be exposed to. It was for the best that she left for her loved ones, but how it would affect the others was a mystery to her.

She could only hope Lily would not hold it against her.