Sanguine Cove See you again

Backdated to 7/20 This thread is an announcement for all packmembers of Sanguine Cove however it is not a mandatory meeting. @Nash @Aquene @Moonshadow @Leo @Stella @Galen @Magg

The drought had relented for a few days and Aquene had worked so hard but in the end it hadn't been enough. Aleister had passed quietly in his sleep succumbing from the injuries that he'd sustained. Oksana was glad to have been there with him as he took his last breath. After Oksana was both devastated that she'd lost the man that she loved but relieved. For weeks he'd languished with his wounds from the mountain lion. She knew he'd tried so hard to recover for her, the children, and the pack.

The crow wanted to ba angry with him for leaving her but she couldn't. How could she be when he was only doing what a good father would do. He was protecting his children from harm by fighting that mountain lion. It had never mattered to her what Aleister had thought she knew the truth. His last actions had proved how good of a father he truly was to his children. She would make sure everyday they knew how much he loved them.

Even though he'd had to he taken from them so soon she was grateful that he'd been with them long enough to meet his newest litter. That they'd had the chance to meet their father and know him and she hoped that his memory would live long in their hearts.

Oksana stayed with her husband for a long time after his passing. She spoke quietly to him even though he could no longer hear her. She assured him that she would take care of the pack. Make sure the children would grow up to be strong  and healthy amd that she wouldn't let them forget him. She promised to look after Leo, Stella, and Lynx.

Then finally as the first rays of light came over the trees she left his side. Solemnly the crow made her way to the birthing den where she quietly woken her children and beckoned them to come with her. Her dark figure led them to the fallen tree where she would raise her muzzle into the air and call the pack, her family to her with a sorrowful song.

This was going to be hard on all of them. Aleister was well loved among everyone, the grief would be deep. Oksana knew as their leader she had to be strong for them amd for the pups.

(This post was last modified: Jul 28, 2022, 12:41 AM by Oksana.)

It had been a hard summer. He'd never really looked forward to winter, but this year Nash would be relieved to see the snow. That was still many months away; several months of danger and struggle, he was sure. With water dwindling in the Lore, more and more predators were encroaching on their territory, and Al had paid the price for it. Guilt wracked through Nash; he should have been there to help his leader, but he'd come too slow. He hadn't been doing nothing, at least; he'd been on patrol on the far side of the territory. He couldn't possibly have covered the ground any faster.

And he'd been too late.

His wife was doing everything she could to save him, and Al was fighting valiantly, but Aquene had her own children to look after. Moonshadow was usually happy to take the children, but there was only so much she could do.

Nash knew what the call meant when Oksana's voice poured into the sky. Nash's stomach clenched and for a moment he could only stand there, numb. It took a force of will he wasn't sure he'd had to move his limbs, to carry himself to his leader's summons and stop before her, her children around her. "Sana," he said, voice broken, unsure what to do. He bowed his head. "I'm so sorry."

Something was very wrong. Di had known that for a while. Dad didn't visit anymore; he was hurt. She didn't really understand beyond that, but she knew her mom and older siblings were sad and scared. Mom often left them at night, and Di didn't try to follow her. She chose instead to stay with her siblings, snuggled in the den and wondering what was happening.

Mom woke them earlier than usual. It was barely light out as Di groggily stepped outside. Mom beckoned for them to follow her. Something was very wrong. Her heart heavy in her gut and not understanding why, or what it meant, she trailed after mom to go visit dad where he was recovering.

The morning was bright and clear following the passing rains. The world felt as if it had been rinsed clean. Stella had risen early, intending to scout for prey , and wondering how long their luck could hold. It seemed like whenever things were looking bright, a shadow was sure to fall too. Then Oksana's call caught her ear, and she paused and turned on her heel, wondering whatever her step-mother could have to tell them today. A part of her knew what it meant, but she did not want to believe it. Maybe, just maybe, Stella was worrying over nothing again.

It still felt a bit strange, thinking of Oksana as leader in Pa's stead, but the yearling Vuesain girl had told herself it was for the best to adapt to the hopefully temporary situation. She cast her gaze to Oksana questioningly as she arrived, but there seemed to even more of a shadow cast over the woman's features than usual, and the girl could not read them. Or, she did not want to comprehend that emptiness she saw there.

"What's happened!" she asked, more of a demand than a question, looking from Oksana to Nash for answers. Looking anywhere, and not finding the answers she wanted at all. No, it just couldn't be true. There had to be another reason the Crow was calling them today, not her Pa... He was getting better! He wouldn't, couldn't leave them like this. Leave her like this. Not him. Wasn't he the strongest wolf she knew? Hadn't Aquene been helping him back on the mend? Stella could feel a heat rising in her face, and turned her gaze away, searching for some ray of light, unable to face the looming darkness before her. If she did, she might just fall apart right here and now.

(This post was last modified: Jul 28, 2022, 04:36 AM by Stella.)

The little blackbird slept soundly after finally settling down the night before. She was in the middle of a really nice dream when her mother woke her and her siblings. Fey was aware that their mother often left them once they were asleep. She knew their dad was hurt and recovering. The dark child had gone to visit him a few times despite their mothers warnings that he need to rest. Feyre was sure the mom knew she was visiting dad but she never said anything.

On that morning it was much too early to be waking up. Orange eyes barely saw the light coming through the entrance of the den. The sound in their mothers voice wasn't right which caused the small dark head to tilt in confusion. They were being coaxed to follow the dark form of their mother. Feyre didn't hesitate and she didn't act up. Obediently she followed behind her mother and sister.

She thought maybe they might be going to visit their dad altogether this time. That wasn't where they were heading though. This was a new place she hadn't seen before amd then her mother sang the sadest notes she'd ever heard. They sent chills down the young girls spine. Something was very, very wrong.

Nash came, she knew him from his visits with them but he wasn't his cheerful self and that caused her brow to furrow. Why would he tell mom he was sorry? It was the demanding tone of another that drew her attention from the Guardian. She cuddled against her siblings and mother searching for the comfort that their closeness had always brought her. Were more coming wanting to know the same thing, what had happened?

Much like his siblings, Galen had been sound asleep until the sudden and insistent nudging from their mother finally coaxed the youngest Vuesain boy to pry open sleepy eyes. Yawning, he stumbled onto sleep-riddled limbs and gave his inky coat a shake. What was going on? A strange sensation churned in the pit of his stomach once he finally became more aware and began to pick up on this strange aura emitting from their mother which clung heavily in the air. Why wasn't mother with dad? Galen had become accustomed to her leaving the birthing den once the children had settled in for the night to visit their father who was still healing from injuries he acquired. Something wasn't right, though.

Ebony ears pinned themselves backward as Galen obediently fell in tow behind his sisters, wondering where mother was taking them all at such an ungodly hour. Clearly, his siblings were just as concerned as he was. Oksana led the children to a new place where a fallen tree lay across the way, choosing this spot to halt. Then, without much warning or understanding, their mother released the most gut-wrenching song into the first rays of morning light. Why was mother so sad? Galen didn't understand what was going on and the confusion plastered itself further onto the young boy's facial expression as members of the pack began to filter in, speaking strange things like "I'm sorry." and "What happened!" Sorry for what? What did happen?

Galen didn't like this. Hunkering down between his sisters, the boy released a low whine.

Where was dad?

(This post was last modified: Jul 29, 2022, 08:15 AM by Galen.)

I think I need help, cuz I'm drowning in myself

The drought held its grip tightly on the lore refusing to release them, even when the heavens blessed them with rain. Though brief the rain brought relief it wasn't enough to free them. Moon had filled her days happily looking after the children, both Aquene and Oksana's litters. Her old age didnt grant her the ability to roam the boarders each day, hunt frequently or protect her family from rival predators, like she once did. Her new duties were not regrated in the slightest as she loved the nine pups with all her heart. Her new role became ever more important when Aleister became injured from fighting off a mountain lion that wandered too close to the birthing dens. The shadow felt guilty for not being there to help him as she should have been. Though one would've argued that her taking the pups out of danger was helping. With Aquene tending to him and Oksana being there for her husband, Moon's paws were full.

She often slept midway between both birthing dens as to be able to keep watch over both. She slept lightly as to be alert to any dangers or needs for either litter. This early morning it wouldn't be danger that woke her, but instead her leader's sad song that rang through the air. Silver dusted audits flew to attention, her greying head followed suit. A ton of bricks hit her stomach; she knew exactly what the call meant. It couldnt be...

Tears erupted from their silver pools, soaking the fur beneath them. Her mind swirled about in a violent hurricane of emotion. The grief of losing Al reopened the wound of losing Tagg, both tearing at her heart. The fear of her own mortality and that of Kajika also added to the pain. To say the least Moon was a mess, trying to keep her sobs quiet as to not draw attention to herself. After what seemed like an eternity, the Eastfall woman was able to reign in her emotions enough to focus. She slowed her breathing and wiped the tears from her face. She blinked the last of the salt water from her eyes after taking a deep breath. Moon lifted her aging from to her long limbs and slowly walked to where the grieving widow had called them.

It wasn't long before the raven's dark form came into view. She stood atop a fallen tree, the irony not missed by the elder, her pups at her feet, along with Stella and Nash. Moonshadow's heart lurched again. These children are all now fatherless, and Stella...without knowing where her mother is? Mercury orbs had to tear away from their confused faces to prevent another wave of sobbing. They landed on her own fatherless child unable to hold back the tears anymore. They fell silently as she stopped a ways back. She didnt want to scare the children further with her sorrow. Finally, her gaze fell on Oksana. Her heart felt for the woman, as she knew what it was like to lose the one she loved most. She knew that nothing would ever take that pain away and that broke her heart further. This cove was supposed to give them new beginnings...not repeat their tragic history.

 

Word Count: 541

Leo had been patrolling, as he was almost constantly these days. He’d wanted to stay with the little ones, while Oksana sat with their father, but he knew Nash couldn’t manage the entire border alone, and keeping them up was even more important, keeping them all safe. As the call rang out though, he regretted his decision, stomach clenching painfully.   The sorrow resounded clearly in the crow queen’s voice, betraying the truth even without her saying it directly. As Leo rushed to meet her summons, he felt growing pressure around his chest, breathing growing fast and shallow with each step. It couldn’t be, he’d worked so hard, they’d all worked so hard! He had to pause for a moment, closing his eyes and forcing a few, deep breaths, trying to stop the flood of thoughts in his head from spinning out of control.   Looking up, he could see them in the distance, gathering around the fallen tree, the little ones around Oksana’s feet, and Nash coming to a halt before her, soon followed by Stella. Leo swallowed, pushing down his own feelings. He had to keep it together, for them. As his sister asked her desperate question, the oldest Vuesain walked up to her side, leaning his shoulder into hers protectively. Eyes turned to their stepmother, he bowed his head slightly, accepting the reality before him. He dared not speak, afraid his voice would betray him. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

She was warm snuggled against her siblings with no thoughts in her head. That was until she felt the nudge from her mother and the quiet but sad urging for her and her sisters to follow. Star wanted to stay in the den but the tone in her mother's voice was very different from any other that she'd ever used with them before. She was soon up following behind with the rest of her siblings.

Exiting the den Star saw for the first time how early it still was. Thst was strange since their mother never got them up this early. The silver girl started putting things together. Their mothers tone, how early it was. Something just wasn't right.

What added to her conclusion was that mom took them to a place she'd never been before. The fallen tree was strange to the little Vuesain. Then the sorrowful song that came from her mother once they were there. Others started to arrive and they all seemed as sad as their mother. She looked to the crow to see if she would answer the question of her sister.

 

(This post was last modified: Aug 01, 2022, 09:54 PM by Star.)

She had run herself ragged between trying to help Aleister fight through his injuries and raising her kids, but in the end it wasn’t enough… she hadn’t been enough. Sleepless nights and restless days haunted her until Aleister Vuesain, father of her first born and one of her best friends, was drawing his last breath. Oksana had been present, because Aquene had informed her that she didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold on… and the stillness in his body brought a wrack of sobs to her chest, a heaving…

Pain radiated out of her chest and Nash’s arrival would have her burying her face in his fur, seeking comfort from her mate as he offered his own condolences to Oksana. Aquene had not managed them yet, but the other woman would no doubt know that they were given. She didn’t know how to find the words… worse yet, she had no idea what she might tell Kateri should she ever see her again.

She had failed once more to save someone so close and so important to her. Did she really deserve to call herself a healer? The questions plagued her as she silently slipped out of the den, tucking herself away outside as she tried to suppress the aching of her heart, reminding herself that she needed to be strong. Last time, she had run from the pain, quite literally… but she had a husband and children here, and that was simply not a solution this time… she had to find a different way.

Aquene Slayer