The memory was still bitter fresh within her memory, a haunting nightmare in her sleep...(start of flashback) White paws had hit the ground in even strides, the force behind them propelling the growing yearling forward at a threatening speed. Her jaws were tightened around the limp rabbit in which the scattered brained female had somewhat forgotten about. Instead she pushed herself onward, where was she? Where was Caelia? Nostrils flared with the potent stench of coyote burning them. The pale girl had been following suit for a hot minute...but the scent was no longer fresh. It had seemed the event had taken place when the sun was still high, but now the moon had traded places. Nothing seemed right. The unfamiliar smell of another wolf and the band of coyotes. It didn't settle well with her. Not one bit. But she had already ran so far...and the tracks...they were confusing. Nia had never tried following anything this far out. Tears begun to well up on the brim of her eyelids but she swallowed back all emotion. She didn't have time for her feelings.... (End flash back)
Ni Ni had noticed the subtle changes in her mother before Caelia had disappeared, how she seemed to daze out into another world from time to time. Or forgot simple little things or lost her train of thought ending a sentence abruptly without noticing. It hadn't bothered her too much back then, she simply brushed it off figuring it was part of her mother's weird personality and intense mood swings. However, when...Caelia was taken by the coyotes...Danica had taken a turn for the worse. It was as if her memory had been scattered into a million pieces. Some days she was fully aware, others she was but a helpless child, then others she seemed unaware of everything. She didn't even know Nia's name at times. She would call out for wolves the girl didn't even know of. It was odd, but the loyalty of the brutal woman's daughter shone through. While Nia wasn't the main caretaker for her small family, she was the main provider and with Caelia gone and Danica...lost...she had become the sole provider.
Taking care of her mother, searching for Nia in free time, and scarcely catching up on sleep had taken a toll on the
young wolf. She was constantly exerting herself and biting back all of the bottled emotions, hiding them deep within herself. She had no time for her feelings. No time to rest. She had to find her sister and take care of their mother. It was her responsibility, her duty, her purpose. She could not loose her sister so soon, so young.
However, even that did not keep Nia searching all the time. After some time she assumed the child dead, looking less and less often. The empty feeling in her chest dropping her heart further and further as night after night she found nothing...
A day came eventually when Nia found an oddly familiar scent where it did not belong. She had been hunting when it hit her, drew her in, tempted her to come closer. She couldn't though. Her paws were as if frozen to the ground though her heart longed for answers. Her mind told her no, if it really was Caelia surrounded by all those unfamiliar scents she had to be better off. Their mother...she was not right in her head. And her temper was fierce. Nia had escaped her mother's jaws many a times, but a few light scars were placed on her legs, shoulders, and flanks from close calls. The woman was too unpredictable to bring that upon the child. So Ni Ni left, not even truly knowing better herself, but taking the decision upon herself in attempt to better Cjay.
Nia continued to grow and mentally she grew up faster than what she probably should have. The once careless free princess had learned more and more as time went that the world was cruel. She longed for the days gone of her father and twin beside her. She longed for the warm and cozy night curled beside her mother and little sister. How precious were those memories...but atlas she was alone with the ghost of a wolf to tend for. What had become of her mother? Why did she stare into space for hours at end on some days? Her only response being who are you and yes or no. Mostly just who are you over and over. She would ask, Nia would tell, she would smile then her face would drop into void for a few minutes then it all started once more. Was her memory...leaving? What was wrong with her? Nia didn't understand but she didn't leave her mother. There were brief moments she would consider it, but she couldn't bring herself to it. Instead she moved her mother den to den to avoid the coyotes and tended to her as needed.
Today was different though. Danica seemed to know everything, and was in a bad way. She groaned and grumbled about how much she ached and about how Nia was such a backtalker. The yearling continuously tried to please her mother and settle the woman all the while encouraging her to stay inside. It didn't go as planned though as the still somewhat burly woman lost her temper, shoving Nia over onto her back in a rage. Saliva spread across the girl's pale muzzle as snarls filled the air, wide emerald globes starred back in utter fear. "Momma stop!" She pleaded but it was as if her mother was lost in hatred, her eyes dark and stormy. She hovered over the submissive child with her banner raised and teeth bore.
The sting of teeth met the soft flesh of her muzzle, a burning sensation accompanied by warm blood. Nia screamed as much as one could with their maw forced shut. She wiggled and attempted to fight against the wolf who now seemed a stranger merciless grip. Teeth bit down hard onto her muzzle the sensation near to unbearable as they raked across her muzzle. Danica forced her face into the dirt, the rumble coming from her chest enough to send chills down the child's spine. Nia's whimpers lasted for the whole occurrence, which lasted several minutes, as Danica held her there with nothing to say. The pain begun to grow numb as they staid there intertangled in combat. After so long Nia had placed her paws onto the older wolf and begun pushing on her but Dani's grip only tightened.
Her mother's attack only ended when Nia managed to kick at Dani's gimpy leg, causing the older woman to stumble backwards. Nia had turned in a flash to run away....
Nia had returned to the spot a few times to see that her sister's scent was still lingering but she had never drawn this close. She didn't know what she was doing here. Blood dripped slowly off her muzzle. The wind blew her fur every which was as a light dusting a snow came steadily to the ground. All of her emotions seemed to come forth at once, the whirlwind of emotional pain and anger attempting voicing itself in one long continuous cry "Caeliaaaaaaaaaa!" But atlas her voice was nothing more than a quiet squeal. The sound barely lifting above the softly howling wind. Ni Ni was left there, standing alone, staring towards the lagoon. She stood at the edge of the marshlands with a pained expression. The longing within her heart tugged at her to move forward, but her mind willed her not to. She felt frozen and helpless in what to do. She could not bring her problems upon the child...but to see Cjay...to know she was well...
(This post was last modified: Nov 04, 2018, 03:56 PM by Nia.)