The Wildwood the audience knows the truth

O O C | Lol. “Fun sized.” Awesome and cute. (:

A wave of triumph washed over him and he impishly chuckled, ”Good game,” He draped himself over the log, gazing down at her warmly, ”Hmm. Perhaps one might relax for now. Any more of this and we might find ourselves snowed in somewhere.” He glanced up to the sky, noticing now that the moon had been tucked away and the whole of Relic Lore was being dusted with large snowflakes.

Borden smiled, closing his eyes as the flakes fell over his face and along his back. Ah, snow... As much as he hated how much it sometimes hindered his daily strolls and kept him from his perch high upon the mountain, he loved it so. The feeling that instilled itself within his chest was something like being blessed by nature herself. It meant a change in seasons, a lesson of hardship and a test of endurance. The way the snow sparkled like diamonds for miles around and froze the streams and ponds over with ice held a charm all its own that only came about this time of year.

Raising a hind leg onto the log he lifted himself up and sprawled across the frosted bark. ”I didn’t startle you that much, did I?” he asked, gently shaking the flecks of white from atop his snout. Another charming smile… He drew a breath and exhaled slowly, the thrill of excitement starting to mellow out into his usual calm demeanor. The black-tipped plume at his back settled for a moment before waving about once more.

Adrenaline. His body must have been craving for it. Why else would he feel so… elated? Uplifted? One of his forearms hung down on her side of the log, his claws disturbing the once-smooth surface of the frost that coated the ground. It was getting late; he never wanted this night to end. To forever play amongst the intimidating shadows of the wildwood trees and continue to pursue Jayse in and out of the moonlight would have been ideal if he never had to mind his duties as Midnight Plateau’s Beta. He watched Jayse for a while, smiling softly as she panted, trying to catch her own breath. He wanted to treasure this moment, her and their late night game, and the way the moon and trees, even for a moment, gave them a playground to frolic in. The chase. The laughter. The joy of having a pack mate to converse with. With every fiber of his being he wanted to remember it, so he could always have a marker to remind him how nice it was to let down his guard, to play, at least every now and then.

Well, what do you want from me?

ooc; read it on a shirt once lol, it said i'm not short i'm fun sized. The chase was done, and her pursuer still appeared in good spirits. She would not forget his laughs, or different faces from their game of tag. The good, surpised, and really surprised. Head nodded in agreement, guessing he had had his fill of running, and the fact snow could pile up high in a blink. Especially with the flakes no longer small and delicate but falling like minature cotten balls. She smiled a soft, worn smile, walking over to the log where he rested, lids shut against the world. It was then she wondered what he was thinking, and knew better to ask the question again. She titled her nose to the dark gray ceiling, the white dots appeared to zoom past her, like she was floating past the stars. Another activity she had done in her youth, something like playing make believe. Stand and lose yourself in a safe haven from the world you couldn't escape. Motion brought her down to earth. An expression of huh, then oh exchanged on her face. "Only enough my heart stopped," She laughed, meeting his gaze, then looking down the white puff."I'm sure I deserved that, though." She spoke more humbly, chin coming to rest on the top of the dead tree. She also, did not want tomorrow to arrive. Though time was against her wishes, as always. It was like the moonlight and winter had breathed a magical spell over the woods, and maybe even them. Perfectly enchanting so when the clock struck twelve it would be ordinary again. Nothing the same, only the memories that would dim. She will instill in there as best she could. A content sigh escaped her, body winding down from the excitement, she became a good picture of relaxtion. She was sure the sand man would be on the look out for her, if not already. She was not tired enough to yawn, and wanted to live in the moment, enjoy his company while she could. There was a part of her worried this was to good, and he would once again vanish into thin air. She'd wake from her vivid dream a hopeless mess wondering how she'd thought of such a wonderful thing. The feeling of it all was not familiar to her nor her heart. It made no sense to feel like this. She would see him again. He couldn't be gone without a trace. Eyes shifted as if to test this theory, but he was still there, a kind smile on his muzzle. She did not know where the uneasiness came from. But it was not hard to be happy in his presence. She liked him. "What about you? You didn't pass out after I surprised you?" Jayse asked, voice hushed more quiet then before. Like she'd done in play, alabaster muzzle reached for his nape, but instead of nippin she nudged at his shoulder-a silent appoligy for any harm done. + lost your balance on a tight rope. lost your mind trying to get it back.

(This post was last modified: Feb 09, 2011, 04:20 AM by Jaysyek.)

Keeping his eyes on her for only a few seconds more, he smiled warmly as she approached and rested her chin near him. ”Nah,” he stated. ”Well… okay, maybe a little.” He turned to gaze at the mountain side; snow was beginning to accumulate within the nooks and crannies, piling high wherever it could properly sit. He lowered his head onto his paws, leveling his maw with hers. ”What about you? You didn’t pass out after I surprised you?”

Eyes gazing at hers through the falling snowflakes, she pressed her nose against his shoulder. He chuckled softly, ”Ah, almost. I’ll admit it… was more excited than shocked, really. Would probably take more than a pounce to take me out.” The winds began to pick up and he slowly rose to his feet. One quick shake of his pelt sent the snow on his fur back into the air only to be carried away.

Each second that passed seemed to bring the storm closer and closer to the mountain. The Lyall gent leapt down from his perch with ease, walking around the log to stand beside Jayse. ”Shall we?” he asked, tilting his head slightly as to gesture towards the Mountain of Dire. ”Or…?” He wondered what they ought to do. If the blizzard did worsen, they risked being stuck on a ledge, unable to find shelter; or if they remained out here, in the open, who knew where they might end up if they didn’t start walking.

Placing one paw in front of him, he waved his tail. Once they found a suitable place to take cover, they could continue talking or simply settle down for the night. Either way, he hoped to get her out of the flurry.

Well, what do you want from me?

The snow began to plumit down in huge clumps. One right after another, Borden was starting to look like a white,fluffy wolf. She grinned at his comments, likeing this less worried Borden much better. Nodding in agreement, she couldn't see a small thing defeating the Beta of Midnight Plateau. But him saying he was excited, paused her to think about that for a second. She had little time. A strong gale started sending the snow rushing by. She closed her eyes against it, then turned her head away. Nice, it was going to drift , and drifts could get larger then she. Watching him shake, she roughly shook her coat to clear it briefly. Eyes glanced for the mountain, she could still see it, just so against the closing in storm. Yes, it was time to find a nice place out of this. Would spring ever get here? When he came ot stand by her side, she hesitated, looking back to home, then him. She had no want to climb in this. Her orginal den was much too high to find before getting lost. She thought for another option. Swallowing, eyes of gold and blue steadied upon him, she tried to find her words. "Remember when you brought me home? That abondened den you told me about? Is it near by?" She had remembered the collection of trees, but in this she had no luck of finding it. Nor being sure where it was located. She was for sure, he would. Or maybe he had another place. The other option was digging in the snow along the hillside, or curling up letting it cover them. Those did not sound like the greatest ideas. It would bury them in no time, and again with this wind who knew how big the drifts would be. Last winter she had slept outside in a few storms, but nothing like this. The mountain was a hot spot for snow all right. She wondered if it ever all melted, and how long that took.She looked him earger to follow, but waiting for what decision he felt was best. A soft whine faded in her throat. Clearly asking him she'd do what he thougth was best. He was the vetran of this place not she. She knew he would do the right thing. lost your balance on a tight rope. lost your mind trying to get it back.

O O C | Totally delayed. LOL. But, woot, you got my 100th post! :D {throws confetti}

She whimpered. Right. The den… Where was it again? He narrowed his eyes as he scanned the area before striding towards the mountain. ”This way,” he said, trying his best to take on a tone that would assure her. He doubted they’d get far, but he was certain the deserted home was near. Bracing himself against the wind, he forged onward, not stopping until he stopped before yet another cluster of stones.

Edging toward the frost-covered sight he raised a paw and brushed away the snow. Wrong marker… He scowled and glanced to Jayse. His tail had stopped swaying a few steps back, but his voice still held a warm, confident tone, ”A few more steps from here. Come on.” One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Borden started counting the paces it took until he found the shelter they were searching for, starting his tally as they passed a slanted sapling with burnt bark.

A wave of doubt began to linger on his mind. Fourteen… Fifteen… Sixteen… Six…teen. It should have been here… Wait. He turned around and lowered his nose into the snow. After a few deep breaths, he picked up the faded scent of badger mingled with hints of a wolf he did not know. He wrinkled his nose, following it until he placed his paws into a deep depression in the earth. There!

Taking care as to not send snow and mud everywhere behind him, he scraped and plowed the debris out rather than digging. When the wolf-sized hole had been refurbished, he backed out of the way to reveal a large tunnel, just spacious enough to house two large wolves. ”Ladies first,” he smiled, looking like an abominable snowman with the ice clinging to his chin and whiskers.

(This post was last modified: Feb 10, 2011, 01:34 AM by Borden.)

Well, what do you want from me?

ooc; congarts lol. and don't worry about it. :) Strong faith in her companion, she was not concerned of the weather, doubting they could become pupsicles. It was more the fact she didn't want to "have" to be out in it. Tail wagged a few hopeful swipes. Best she could, she titled her forehead against the assaulting wind, and her nose to her chest, following the trail he broke. She admired his memory when it came to finding things, and wondered how he could remember details so well. Maybe all she needed to do was pratice more.....concentrate. He stopped pausing to check the snow, but it had not been what he wanted. She gave a small, comforting smile. They could always figure out plan B, it wouldn't be a big deal. All the more she wanted to reassure him she was all right. His tone soft, secure she didn't hesitate to continue onward. Bi-colored eyes studied him close, wishing she could be more help to him. He had a destination in mind, and she stayed inches from his haunches feeling if she blinked to much he'd smear with the whitening landscape. He started tracking nose to earth, and she tried to catch what he was smelling. It was old scents one of wolf, and the other badger. She quietly thanked them for choosing a new home imagining miserable circumstances if they had still been there. Right away he started to work, cleaning it out. She did her best to help, by packing what he dug as a windbreak outside the opening. All the while doing well to keep out of the flying particles. She huffed a sigh of relief, and satisfaction when it was done. Though he'd accomplished a deal more. Ladies first, Head turned from tunnel to her companion. Shaking her head, she gave a throaty chuckle at his icicle features. Then walked over to him, pink tongue gently brushed his chin in one swipe. One- trying to get rid of the cold flakes, and two in appreciation. "Thank you," She said pulling back, taking a good look to see if she'd gotten the white collection off. Mostly perhaps, she decided. Then shook the collected snow from her coat, crawling into the temporary den. It was roomy, and she was glad for the fact. They could both get out of the winter weather, no debate about it. Circling, she breathed in the earth scent, making her miss warmer days. Memories of puppyhood briefly came, and a quick, sad smile. Fast as the came, they quickly left. She did not want him to wait long outside. Choosing the back for her bed, she made her loop to loops, and layed down. She tucked her hind feet, tunderneath her underbelly best she could. One small yawn pried her lips open, but she did not rest her head. Waiting for the four-legged snowman to enter. lost your balance on a tight rope. lost your mind trying to get it back.

(This post was last modified: Feb 10, 2011, 04:36 AM by Jaysyek.)

Snowed in… again. Great. After giving the sky a rather disappointed glance, Jaysyek licked his jowl, causing him to smile again. She looked at him, laughing softly as she looked at him. ”Thank you.” He nodded chivalrously, watching as she shook out her pelt and crawled inside. He followed suit, also taking care to rid his own fur of the large bits of snow.

Eyes blinking against the storm, he crept inside after allowing her a few moments to get settled. Winter, though it dulled the scent of everything in the world, seemed to hold onto the scents in the burrow. A family of badgers must have lived here at one time before a lone wolf decided to make it his home for a few hours. Even with the foreigners’ perfume, the aroma of mud and wood also lingered, reminding him of the hollow that had served as one of his birth pack’s rendezvous sites. With bent legs, he crawled to Jayse’s side, turned around and settled down.

Eagerness started to pool in a corner of his mind; snow was lovely, but spring never seemed to come soon enough once he had had his share of fun with the storm-filled season. One butterfly rose in his chest, fluttering about from his lungs to his gut. Their time together, spending the night at the foot of a tree a few weeks ago, had been fine with him but, somehow, being alone with her in the den made him feel apprehensive. He wasn’t claustrophobic nor was he nervous... No one had seen them together or even suspected anything. So why, all of a sudden, this discomfort or edginess? He swallowed quietly before gazing out to the den entrance. He was safe, she was safe; the storm wouldn’t get to either of them. Mission accomplished. Now to wait out the tempest...

Well, what do you want from me?

Faint smile caressed her lips,and she layed her chin on her paws. Inside the den was arleady ten times better then outside. The small hole was starting to fill with their wamrth, and it was not quite pitch black. Close, but the moon even behind the storm clouds gave off a very,small dim light. She could still see the flakes falling. It was suddnely quiet now, uneasiness washing over her. The last time they'd been together crossed her mind, like this is how it had happened. They had gotten along well till she talked herself into a hole, or something. She was not eager to do that again. But where her eagerness came from, was beyond her. She was use to wolves not likeing her, and simply let things like that go. She'd done it often enough, she saw this as no different. On the other hand she was trying to stick around, make things work for her. She could not nor would want to stay ifshe had nobody. She shifted slightly, enough not to disturb him. Minutes ago they were having a good time, and he did say he liked her company. But was he here because he had to be or wanted to be were the two questions she asked herself. Maybe he didn't like the fact he couldn't leave, and thus his silence. Nothing would make her speak her mind, especially so personal a thing, no matter she did wish to know. She could only faintly make out his face, and eyes. Surely he would sleep at some point? She didn't see what could prowl around now. Or maybe he was only thinking again, of the mess of things he couldn't just tell her."I'm sorry your stuck out here." She whsipered indifferently, feeling she should at least get some part of the emotion inside her out. They both would have been home sooner if not for her, and if he didn't want to be here she'd take the blame, say the right appologies. Hopefully she was only assuming wrong, after all she really should just stop assuming. It wasn't good to do that. Maybe he didn't want to have them stuck in a hole miserable at each other.p align="right">lost your balance on a tight rope. lost your mind trying to get it back.

♫ | OneRepublic – Secrets

As the silence edged more and more space between them, he glanced down at his paws, unsure of what else to say now. ”I’m sorry you’re stuck out here,” she murmured. Borden was surprised he heard her over the wind whistling outside. He tried to give her a smile; it made him look like he had bitten something unpleasant while persuade someone else to sample whatever he had tasted. His next string of words, however, were genuinely modest, ”Oh, don’t be sorry for that; it’s not your fault for stirring up a storm or turning the weather around.”

Why was the tightness in his chest still there? Should have gone away by now… They were talking after all… Well, kinda. Sighing quietly, the beta looked her over, taking in the way she delicately curled up against the back of the den with her head on her paws. His ears began to lower and that familiar discomfort that had linked them together since their initial meeting was rearing its ugly head at the both of them, perhaps even more so at him, or so he felt. He bit his tongue, not knowing how to open their conversation, that particular topic, the… can or worms.

Everything between them was what Borden had expected of their relationship. She was respectful and she now knew how to bring out an air of casualness in him that he had practically forgotten all about in the midst of serving their pack. She was a breath of fresh air away from the worries he carried around; and, while he missed Vlarindara, Jayse – who seemed to be his currently only companion on the Mountain – did all she could to make him smile and laugh, simply enjoy life even. ”I had a great time tonight, Jayse,” he offered, hoping to at least get a smile out of her. ”I haven’t had that much fun since I was a pup.” His words tapered off as he studied her eyes; he couldn’t read them well in the dimly lit den, but he felt the haze between them needed to be dealt with. It had lingered long enough. ”I’m… not sure h-how to go about… about this, but, this… thing between us... We… We practically communicate in apologies and I want it to stop. Whatever it is, I’d like to hear it. Please. And, if I misread or misunderstood something, please me. I’m-I’m sorry to have started all this; just because you first caught me on a bad day doesn’t mean we need to carry on like… like this. Whatever is on your mind, I’m open to it; if there’s anything you want to know, ask me, there’s really no use in being a closed book to one’s own pack member anyway.” He drew a breath, holding it for a while as he wondered what she’d say. It had come out in almost one large sentence. Did it make sense? Did he make sense? He hoped so…

Well, what do you want from me?

His smile spoke eons, even those his words were more normal. She was not talking about the weather, but of coarse he would. No, but it's my fault you were out in it. She wanted to say. And why your uncomfortable right now. And, who knows what else. No single trace of this was on her face. She was going to put up her guard again, though she did not want to. He wasn't lying she knew, but he definately wasn't telling the whole story so what was the difference? "I know," Indifferently spoken, she wasn't sure if she should bother trying to fix it. She had said sorry to him, more than any other wolf in her life. She'd come to the realization she could not fix things, she broke things. Made them a huge mess, like paper hitting a fan blowing up in her face. Luck, she had nothing but bad luck that could diguise itself as good. Could meeting him have been a bad thing instead of good like she'd thought? His aura was not as it had been, his ears mashed to his head. She did not understand why her close contact brought forth inner turmoil, but would he tell her why? That's the question she had wanted to speak. That's what the problem was, she didn't know what it was. Maybe she wasn't a bad problem solver, only ignorant of the wrong. Her words would not fix this, and they remained in her head. Praying he would be the one to open up, let them put this past them. Familiar voice starting, her triangle points flicked but she did not look at him thinking it could help. She was surprised he talked of the time before, when they had been having fun, getting along, no tension. It did warm her heart, and draw the corner of black lips upwards. It did put her in a better mood, to know she had made him happy, happy like he hadn't been in awhile. That could not be a bad thing, could it? No. She would never regret it, and actually never forget his words. She could tell his eyes were searching hers, and she could not help but do likewise. Wishing she could read behind his. She expected him to look away as he always did, the upset, dead silence to drive her to pure insanity till this storm passed. No, he spoke and she listened. And she did understand. He did want to change this, but didn't know where to start? Now, what was it she wanted to know? How should she ask, ahow could she say it? She took in a deep breath, letting it pass quietly. "Look Borden, I don't know the magical question to ask you. I honestly don't. But yes I'm tired of this-" She stated, waving her nose to the air with a grim face,"I guess I want to know,what's wrong? Why can you be laughing with me one minute and then act like you can't wait to run the next? What did I do? Please...please tell me. I...I don't want to antagonize you..." Voice held the plea, and desperation she'd been holding back. Even though she felt like she was rambling. "Just, please tell me what did I do? What do you want me to do?"Last few words were hushed, as she did best to bit back tears...tears from sadness,frustartion, anger, and pure lack of reason. She closed lids, doing the best she could though moisture was there. lost your balance on a tight rope. lost your mind trying to get it back.