Paradise Falls my voice has gone to hell

Night, Light Snow, 26.51 ° F, -3.05 ° C

Isla had stuck to the edges of the territory.

As promised, she guarded the borders with a ferocity fitting a bear more than it did a young woman. Each sounded from outside had earned a low growl from her and a snipping of teeth at each creature that skittered too close to their claim.

It was easiest to be nocturnal among the group. Just as she had attempted when she had returned home. Although this time she stuck to it harshly. Unseen in any hours before sunset. She had also carved out a place among a tangle of roots for herself, far from prying eyes and close to the borders.

Perhaps that was why she hardly expected to see anyone tonight. Even as she laid perched upon a stone. Pale grey-blue eyes fixed on the land as she watched for whatever had created sound tonight.

Atara had grown much, and her confidence had kept up just fine. She saw little to be afraid of in the world, and certainly had no qualms venturing so far out within their home alone. The night brought new sights, sounds and smells for the diurnal pup, and when her paws were more restless than tired she pursued them without bothering to wake anyone for their company. Sometimes, it was good to be alone.

At least... her brother Ryder had surely seemed to feel so. She thought about him a lot. Missed him, a lot.

Atara didn't think to disguise her steps, especially without knowing there might be another wolf out here to wake. She passed beneath Isla's perch without realizing she lay atop it, but the yearling's scent caught her attention. Atty halted and looked around her, curiosity peaking. The new girl... what was she up to?

Yet Isla stayed silent like any good sentry that lied in wait.

A child below, one that was dark coated like the good leader. Smelled like him too. It burned within her chest. The very thought of childhood, of being a protected girl with a future ahead of her.

Isla had a future ahead of her. Dark and winding, years of misery if she was fortunate enough.

A tongue swept across her lips as if she had become serpent, tasted the air. The cold winds and the snow were as pure as the life before her.

"Do you want a story?" Her voice a purr against the night air.

She was about to ask, failing to think of looking up until Isla's voice finally came, floating down unto her ears. Atara's oversized ears lifted to give her an almost bat-like appearance as she craned back her neck and looked into cold, unfamiliar eyes. Still a wide smile spread over her muzzle.

"Sure," she agreed easily, even lowering onto her haunches as though this were one of her guardians offering her a tale. After all, even if it was faintly, the older wolf still smelled of her father. That was all Atty needed to know to be comfortable with her.

Her father had not warned her of things that went bump in the night, surely.

Her innocence was like a pulse in the air around the sentry. "Have you heard the one of Sephrina? She is a witch of the ocean, a place far far from here..."

Or was the ocean a place of make believe? A place like heaven or hell perhaps? Wherever her sister had gone when the dull light in glazed eyes had gone out for good. Strangled beneath churning waters of a lake not meant for them.

Her gut clenched beneath her, but she steeled her features in the face of the wide-eyed child.

Sephrina. The name was long, elegant, beautiful. She imagined a gorgeous wolf with fur that practically flowed through the air as she walked, like a river or the wind through trees. Thanks to Chan she knew what the ocean was (or so she thought), but the other word?

"No, I haven't! What's a witch?" she asked with the wrinkled muzzle and half-crescent eyes of happy curiosity. The word was a bit harsh to her ears, that way in which it ended. Maybe Ryder had used it at some point? It couldn't be bad though, not if it described the Sephrina that Atara was imagining.

(This post was last modified: Dec 15, 2023, 02:33 AM by Atara.)

Her neck extended, head lowered slightly to peer down the length of her muzzle at the young face.

So curious, so innocent.

"A witch is many things. She can control the world around her, she has endless knowledge. A witch is whatever she wants to be." What a magical thing to plant in a child's mind. It sounded far too kind for the mouth that it had come form. Admittedly it was, but there was always a reason to be kind.

A bit of trust could go a long way.

"Some wolves get jealous of such a thing... Do you know about jealousy too?"

A witch wasn't bad; it was something wonderful. Atara was thoroughly enthralled in what the newcomer had to tell her, so far exceptionally happy she'd happened across the young woman. Her front paws even tippy-tapped, a subtle shuffling that spoke of her enjoyment.

Jealousy. She thought of Ryder, but wasn't entirely sure why. Her brows knit slightly with confusion. What did that have to do with this story of Sephrina? It was her first hint that perhaps this was not a happy tale.

"Yeah. When you want things someone else has, so you kinda act a brat about it."

It wasn't a good thing to be, but it did happen.

"... were wolves jealous of Sephrina?" she almost whispered the question.

(This post was last modified: Jan 14, 2024, 06:28 AM by Atara.)

Here, a hook.

Her features turned downward, somber and pensive. Brows pinched so tightly that her blue eyes narrowed from the pressure.

"They were horribly jealous." Pain in her voice. Was it true hurt or was it all a part of the story as well? Isla muddied the waters enough between the two to even convince herself.

"Do you know what they did to Sephrina in all their jealousy?"

Her own voice dropped soft and low now. Eyes fixed firmly upon the child that seemed all too keen to hear a tale from a stranger. The kindness in these woods seemed far too grand for a creature like Isla.

Isla's answer sent a shiver down her spine, and stilled the child completely. She thought she could feel the pain in her own heart, inexplicably saddened not just by what was being said, but also by what the emotion behind it threatened.

'Do you know what they did to Sephrina in all their jealousy?'

Atara's ears were lowered completely now, a small frown on her dark lips. She didn't want to wonder, but was ever the dutiful audience.

"Did they bully her?" she whispered, fearful of the answering being worse. What else worse, she couldn't rightly imagine. Unfortunately for her young soul, she was likely about to be darkly enlightened.