Pasos al Cielo Paper Moon

@Orionis Afternoon, cloudy and cool.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Everyday her son grew bigger and stronger, Inna became more proud of Ori everyday. For many days now she'd been thinking it was time they moved on from the place that had served as their home over the past weeks. She feared the coyotes would come and there would be nothing she could do about it. She had made the decision for them to travel to Driftwood. Orionis needed to meet his sister and she wanted him to meet Lachesis. After the last meeting she'd had with the pale leader and the help he'd offered her she wanted her son to meet him.

Raising Ori on her own was the easy part but raising him as a loner did leave him with one disadvantage. He didn't have the connections that her daughter have which she hoped to give him should he ever need them. So once she felt he was ready she lead him away from their home. Inna didn't know if he would understand that it would be the last time he would sleep in the den he had known but he would soon. The going was slow, Inna was patient watching and making sure that throughout their travels the dark pup was safe.

Once they left the meadow that they had called home the land became more treacherous. Inna stayed close to her son to make sure that he was careful in his steps, this was an important lesson for him. “Watch your paw steps Ori. I don't want you to get hurt on our adventure,” she told as she urged him forward along the path she'd chosen for them to take.

Adventures, he was learning, were good. Now that he was bigger-ish and a little more coordinated with his paws Orionis was able to accompany his mother on longer excursions. For most of his (short) life he had kept close to the den, abiding by his mother’s rules and staying out of trouble. He knew it was for his own good; that the outside world was a scary, dangerous place. But he also understood that it was a good place, as his mother always returned unscathed. But it was just the two of them; he couldn’t scamper off whenever he pleased. He didn’t want to worry his mother.

The land quickly changed from soft grass to rugged stone. It hurt his paws and made travelling difficult, but the boy was still excited. It was new and different, even if it was a little unnerving and made his stomach flip flop. He nodded in response to his mother’s warning, his little lips falling into a soft, determined pout as he continued forward. Each step was slow and carefully placed, and he dared not let his gaze waver from the path in front of him.

The scent of a large band of coyotes is on the breeze.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

At that point she had no plans beyond getting to Driftwood but she didn't need them until they did what they had gone there to do. She let Ori set the pace that they traveled and made sure to rest when he looked like he needed to. She didn't want to push him too much but she wanted to get through the rocky terrain they now found themselves in.

Her won was a good boy who obeyed her well so she had no doubt that when she gave her warning he would heed her words. She remained close to her son ready to catch him if he lost his footing. The nod he gave her let her know he understood what he needed to do. Though without telling him he seemed to know to place his paws carefully.

As she place her paws and made sure that Ori took his next steps without incident she caught a scent in the breeze. She touched her muzzle to her son's shoulder in hopes to stop him before lifting her nose to the breeze. The all too familiar scent of Coyotes was there, they couldn't get away from them. “Come Ori,” she told him. Inna didn't want to scare him but she also didn't want to risk the scavengers finding them either. “It shouldn't been too much longer before we are through this.” She would feel more comfortable once they were on flatter ground. “Are you ready to see your first lake?” She asked hoping that would help to relax him a little.

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His path occasionally swayed as something caught his attention, luring him away from his mother’s side. The ebony boy still made sure to keep close, his navy blues seeking out the familiar shape of his mother to ensure he hadn’t gone too far. He continued to keep a cautious pace, his steps deliberately placed, as they maneuvered across the unfamiliar territory. Inna appeared comfortable and moved with ease, giving the boy a surge of confidence. She had mentioned where they were going before but the boy had already forgotten; his memory was the size of a bunny poop at this age, but he was excited nonetheless. There was so much more to see beyond the dark den—everything was so much brighter and colourful. He couldn't wait to see where his mother was taking him!

The boy was too young to notice the strange scent on the breeze—or too preoccupied by everything surrounding them. But he did notice that his mother’s steps had quickened as she urged him forward, her tone soft and reassuring. He complied with a soft squeak as he continued shuffling forward, his chin lifting as he flashed a bright smile in her direction.

Lake. There was that word again. He did not know what a lake was, but momma made it sound cool. Lah-key? Orionis hummed as his tail swayed behind him. 

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Along their journey toward the surge Inna kept a close eye on her son as his trail wandered away from her. Orionis was a good boy and never went too far but he was still young yet and didn't fully understand what could be a danger. The trail they followed was dangerous so she wanted to also make sure he didn't take a misstep. She'd already lost his sister and couldn't lose him too. Still she felt it necessary that he go off on his own a bit within reason of course, it would get a good learning experience for him. With Oksana and now Orionis she had always wanted to make sure they had what they needed to survive. Besides she liked watching him when he discovered something new and interesting to him.

She became uneasy when the scent of Coyotes reached her nostrils. She hoped the vermin kept their distance with the two of them out in the open and exposed. More and more she thought it might be a good idea to take Lachesis up on his offer. While she may not be allowed within the border the scent of the pack might help to protect her and Orionis and he could spend some time with his sister before they would have to move on. She spoke in such a way that she hoped wouldn't upset her son and he seemed to be at ease as he smiled up at her which she returned. “You're being such a good boy on our adventure Ori. I'm really proud of you. I want you to keep it up once we get to the surge okay?”

Their first stop though would he turtleback lake which she was eager to show her son. She thought that he would love it incentive he saw it. She smiled again as he tried to say the word, “Yes, the lake is a very big body of water. You can swim in it and catch fish. We can get a drink there too.” She explained though she felt that it would be much better for him to see it.

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Good boy. He liked hearing those words. Momma said them often, too, which made him even happier. He wasn’t quite sure what the opposite of a good boy was, but he never wanted to learn. He only wanted to be in the good variety of boys. The little blackbird hummed thoughtfully in response to his mother, his oversized paws thumping clumsily against the ground as he hurried to maintain his pace. It wasn’t fair. Momma had such longer legs than he did; she could travel much quicker than he could. He hoped that, one day, he would surpass his momma in height and have even longer legs. That way he could travel even quicker and see more of the wondrous world around them! Even if it was a little too big and a wee bit scary. He knew once he got bigger it would become less scary… or so he hoped.

Serrrrrrr-ugh, he attempted, a little frown twisting his lips as he struggled to make the same sound as momma. The Surge was near the lake and had friends. Wolves momma wanted him to meet. Important wolves. He couldn’t remember their names but he knew there was more than one. And that it was very important to momma that little Orionis met them.

Lah-key, he repeated once more as his denim gaze turned to his mother, his brows pinching tight once more. She mentioned swim and fish but those words were still new to Orionis. Drink, however, was not. Dreeeenks!!! Dreeeenk!!!! He bounced on the balls of his feet as he flashed his mother a triumphant grin. 

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Inna couldn't help but be proud of her son and the wolf he was shaping into. She knew he was still young with a lot of growing but he was off to a good start. The Raven felt she'd produced two very good children despite everything that had happened. Though she often thought of the words that woman had said to her, she hoped she'd never see the day that was spoken of, she still worried. As far as she could tell Orionis loved living the loner life and for now she felt it was in a way good for him, to learn to survive on his own. With the coyotes seeking to dog their every step she did worry but maybe that was for the best too, he would learn to defend himself and about the dangers the world had to offer. She wanted him to be prepared for the day when he might go off on his own and start his own life. Inna had realized that was her job as his mother and she would do the best that she could. If he chose to stay she would welcome him but if he didn't she would wish him well and hope for the best for him, it was all she could do.

It pleased her when he tried to say the words that she spoke, he wouldn't ever learn of he didn't try. “Very good Orionis. When we meet the wolves we're going to see you can show them how well your doing.” Inna couldn't wait for him to meet his sister, she hoped things would go well between them. Oksana seemed okay with the idea of having little siblings, she just hoped her daughter still felt that way.

He tried the word lake once more, “Don't worry my love you will get it soon enough.” Soon enough he would get able to say whatever he wanted and the frustration she saw in his face now would be a thing of the past. There were plenty of things to do at the lake when they reached it but Orionis caught on to the most important. “Yes, we will certainly have a drink when we get there,” she said rubbing her muzzle against his cheek, “You're not too thirsty yet are you?” She asked to be sure.

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He didn’t really understand why going to the Surge was such a big deal but it made his momma happy and excited—the most excited he’d seen ever. Her steps were quicker than normal, strides long and determined. He did his best to keep up, his stubby legs working feverishly beneath his plump body to match his mother’s pace. But he did not mind. Excited surged through his small body, a wide grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. It grew wider beneath her praise, his hindquarters wriggling ecstatically as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Words were hard but he knew he’d get them eventually—he’d just have to keep trying. Plus, the more he tried the more praise he got from momma! And that was the best part. You’re not too thirsty yet are you? He shook his head at the question, the smile still present on his charcoal features. Nooooo, he howled, his nose pointing to the sky as he bumped against her leg with a cheeky giggle.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

The closer they can to reaching the surge Inna started to think about how Oksana would take to her new little brother. Her daughter was no longer a pup but a yearling now who had her own ideas about how her life should be. The Raven had seen it the last time she'd visited with her daughter. Inna hoped that the fact Oksana and Orionis had different father's wouldn't matter and that she would love him just as Inna herself did.

She was proud of her son too of course for they had been traveling for a few days now. Even as they trekked through the most treacherous part of their journey he didn't complain. Instead he seemed to take it in stride and remained curious about everything.

Once again she found herself smiling at the progress her boy was making each day. His words became better and his movements, he would be a big strong wolf. “Good, you let me know if you are. It shouldn't be too much longer to the lake. We will drink there in stop for a rest. You can play in the shallows too.” She thought that would be lots of fun for him.

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