Heartleaf Creek such great heights

The warming Spring sun shone brightly overhead, casting the world below in a warm, buttery yellow sunlight. Through the canopy of overlapping trees above, the light took on a green tint, staining the girl's coat green. Laughing, she jumped over a fallen tree and cleared it easily. Her shoulder wound had healed completely since her return to the Wildwood and she was just beginning to enjoy the feeling of exertion once more. It was an <span class='word'>apposite</span> moment that she could once more run and jump and hunt like she should as a wild wolf.

She and Ruiko had not decided on a permanent home quiet yet, but that didn't matter. Ranger was happy to simply wander with him wherever they decided to go that day. The sound of slowly trickling water reached her ears, and as ever drawn to the element, redirected herself toward the creek. Smiling softly, Ranger was somewhat taken aback when she peered into the water's reflective surface. She was a beautiful creature, alight with the warmth of Spring and the promise of new life. No, Ranger was not bearing any children -- not yet, anyway. She was simply happy that Spring was finally coming to their Wildwood!

The three-year-old Aquila was a much different creature than when she had first found these lands those many months ago. She was bright, happy, energetic, and ready to tackle the day. She still looked the same, of course: dark fur, golden eyes, and scars riddling her legs and chest, and now her neck and shoulder. But the personality behind those faded pink scars (or in one case, a bright red one) had changed dramatically, and Ranger had attributed her metamorphosis to a single wolf: Ruiko Tainn.

<i>Since Kinis revolves around Ruiko, I'm assuming he knows of/has met Ranger, though they probably haven't spent any significant amount of time around each other :]</i>

<blockquote>Kinis didn't have any memory of the female who spent so much time with Ruiko, but he had longed accepted her existence and presence. Ruiko was above significant errors in judgement, after all; if he liked her company, then her company was likeable.

The nomadic lifestyle was very unusual for the boy, but he chose to bear it with a smile; now that he had a person to go to, if not a place, it was a lot easier being free. He felt less afraid to go exploring and roaming by himself, now. Their strange three-way grouping - if not quite that simple since Kinis had spent hardly any time at all with Ranger - had the feel of the beginnings of something new, if only they could decide whether or not they wanted to be a pack or join another. It was extremely odd not to have any particular rank, though Kinis always deferred to his older brother. Ruiko would forever be his superior, whether they were loners or not.

It was at this creek that Kinis had been reunited with his family, with Ruiko, and thus he had a great fondness for spending time here. Having spent some of the morning practising his tracking, Kinis had chosen to retreat to this nearby water source for a rest and rehydration. It still snowed on a regular basis, but it never stuck, and the world felt brighter, warmer. It was with a peaceful demeanour that he slowly trotted to the water's edge, and though the familiar scent of Ruiko's friend took him by surprise, it was not unpleasant surprise.

Taking a breath to calm any reservations he may have had, Kinis stepped towards the water, quickly taking notice of Ranger just a short way down the creek from him. She appeared to be gazing into the water, but for what reason Kinis could not decide. She was an attractive wolf, he had to admit, and what he could see of her battle wounds only served to add to her intrigue and mystique. Nothing Kinis knew of her suggested she was unfriendly. As such, it was fairly easy to pluck up some courage.

<b>"Hey, Ranger,"</b> he called softly, offering a wag of his tail in greeting in case she looked up.</blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>

She had been gazing into the water after taking a quick sip, wondering what was beautiful in that scarred body of hers. But she knew that it was not just her body that Ruiko longed for, it was her heart and mind as well. They were two of a kind in many ways, though with important differences, and their pairing was almost a perfect match. Neither of them were the jealous type and so it was easy for Ranger to meet other wolves and make acquaintances, though she rarely had the time for it.

Their schedule was pretty busy between hunting and traveling, but Kinis, the youth who had just called to her, was someone she could easily become friends with without any reservations. She smiled softly as she lifted her head and eyes toward him, replying with a soft, <b>"Hey,"</b> and a nod. She took a few steps back from the creek's banks and trotted toward him, leaving enough space for both of them to be comfortable, and grinned again. <b>"How have you been, Kinis?"</b> She wanted to get to know him, both for her own sake and for Ruiko's, as well. He was the rock around which her world revolved.

<blockquote>Very much aware of how little he knew of Ranger, Kinis was relieved and grateful when she returned his greeting. Her innocent question reflected exactly what Kinis had meant about their loose ties with one another; that they had to ask each other what was going on in in their lives was proof enough. Still, he supposed that forming a pack probably had a lot more to it than just, well... he had no idea where to even begin. Maybe he should ask Ruiko sometime soon. Or would that give the wrong impression?

<b>"All right,"</b> he said, the meaningless reply hardly conveying anything about his life so far. But did she actually want a run-down, or just to make idle, polite chatter? See, he knew nothing about her! At the moment, she was just the victim of his conversation-making. He shouldn't assume she <i>really</i> cared. He smiled politely and sat down as she approached, making a display of being comfortable and just giving a hint of submission, though the latter was more instinctual than anything. <b>"What about you? You've been spending a lot of time with Ruiko."</b> <i>Damn, that was more of an accusation than he intended... or was it?</i> Suddenly aware that he wasn't sure where he intended to take that statement (it was more an unnecessary declaration of his jealousy than anything) he tried to extend it as if he had always meant to. <b>"Uhh so have you been together long? I mean - 'known each other'. 'Known each other long'!"</b></blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>

It seemed Kinis was trying to <span class='word'>equivocate</span> his answer to her, by avoiding the question altogether and somewhat accusing her of spending a lot of time with Ruiko. Instead of getting upset or angry about it, Ranger simply smiled. <b>"We have been spending a lot of time together. He's all I have here,"</b> she confessed without shame. <b>"I have been well, though. My wound has finally healed completely and I'm free to hunt again."</b> She rolled her shoulders to show him the pink scar there, far from embarrassed by its presence upon her silver-tipped coat.

Kinis was a young man, nearing his first year of life, and Ranger was glad to be spending time with him. Even though his next statement was somewhat awkward and yet again accusatory, she smiled nonetheless. <b>"I've known him for as long as I've been in these woods, almost half a year. He warned me not to eat too many blackberries during our first meeting."</b> She chuckled, a soft sound coming from her throat, and shook her head at the memory. <b>"I don't much like the life of a lone wolf, but it must be harder for you. Why don't you go back and live with Indru?"</b> Ranger was not trying to accuse him of anything, or even say he <i>should</i> go back, but she was genuinely curious as to why he was continuing to be a lone wolf when his family would gladly welcome him back.

(This post was last modified: Mar 28, 2011, 09:59 PM by Ranger.)

<blockquote>It was a relief that Ranger didn't seem to be taking offence to his thoughtless blabbering. He didn't mean to behave standoffish, or try to accuse her of anything, but his mouth had an innocent tendency to run away with itself when his mind was slow to catch up. Perhaps it wouldn't take her long to realise this, and, hopefully, no real damage would have been done in the meantime!

He felt all the more guilty for his unnecessary tone when she spoke, for it seemed like they had a fair bit in common. Ruiko was, to an extent, all he had as well. He was too grounded by Ruiko's side to be able to consider any other way of life; his attachment to and dependency on his brother was too strong. At her comment regarding her health, Kinis smiled at her and tried to atone for his behaviour by showing her how pleased he was that she was well. The scar looked nasty, but at least it was healing well. He didn't know how or when it had happened, but hey, at least she was okay now, right?

At her next comments, Kinis' ears flicked back and he averted his gaze for a moment. It sounded like they'd known each other for a very long time - almost half of Kinis' entire lifespan. It was very out of place for him to judge her at all, and he felt even more remorse for it. <b>"I don't know,"</b> he said, following a solitary huff of laughter. <b>"Ruiko stayed when the rest left. I guess I'm just..."</b> Eternally trying to make Ruiko proud? Make himself worthy of his older brother? What? Swallowing, he glanced back at Ranger, gently apologetic and awkward in his manner, unable to make himself say any of them. <b>"He's all I had. It's, it's weird, being homeless like this... but he's my brother. My... I'd put up with anything for him."</b> Just on the off-chance that it meant something to him, that, one day, they could be their own family. Despite all his fears and lack of courage, he would follow Ruiko anywhere.


<font style='margin-left:20px;'><i>Did he even notice? Did he even care?</i></font></blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>

Ranger was surprised to find that Kinis felt the same way about Ruiko as she did, but perhaps not in the same vein. He was all the two of them had in these lands and they revolved around him, his strength, and his leadership. Ranger did not credit any <span class='word'>afflatus</span> with their chance meeting, but perhaps she should have. It had been a divine moment when they had realized just what each meant to the other, and it was because they had met on that warm fall day many months ago that they were now here, living as vagabonds. Ranger was not unused to the hardship of this lifestyle, but she knew Ruiko and Kinis were different. They had always lived the life of a pack wolf.

The boy's awkward words were not offensive to Ranger in the least. He was still growing and maturing in many ways and it was the least she could do to forgive some slip ups by her beloved's younger brother. Ranger smiled in encouragement, hoping that perhaps he could learn to trust her in time. <b>"Then we feel the same,"</b> she responded, her eyes searching his for a moment before turning to look around her. Spring was well on its way; the trees were beginning to bud, the flowers were starting to sprout, and the grass was turning green again. <b>"You're never homeless, Kinis, because Ruiko and I both care for you. We don't know each other very well, but I would do anything to keep you safe. Ruiko's family is my family."</b>

<blockquote>His heart swelling as Ranger spoke - <i>see, his first instincts had been right, anyone Ruiko liked had to be a good sort</i> - Kinis cast away any lingering jealousy and let himself relax. Even without Ruiko's approval, she seemed sensible and pleasant, and was certainly doing her best to put Kinis at ease. Young as he still was, her subtle, mature influences on his behaviour worked a charm; he smiled back warmly, and his tail gave another sweep.

<b>"Thank you,"</b> he said, hesitating only a moment before treading closer to her, angling her body beneath her own as he offered her a kiss to the chin as acceptance and respect. <b>"Will we ever be a family... properly?"</b> the boy asked quietly, almost nervously, afraid of any definitive negative answer. It was clear that Ruiko was born to be a leader, and the boy's instincts told him that Ranger would be right there by his side. If this first impression of her was anything to go by, Kinis knew he would be happy living under both of them.</blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>

She was surprised when he licked her chin in respect, but she returned it with a nuzzle to his neck. She appreciated his vote of approval, if this was it, and smiled as he backpedaled a few steps. His question was a legitimate one, and indeed one that made her think. Ranger hoped that one day Ruiko would want to take her as his mate, but it would be a while yet, when they were settled into new lands with a pack built around them. Kinis would join, of course, but as a child there was only so much he could do.

The sunlight fell onto the ground, casting shadows across them, leaving a <span class='word'>dapple</span> here and there on their coats. She smiled, as she always enjoyed the feeling of sun on her back, but looked to Kinis. <b>"I hope, one day, to become your brother's mate."</b> Ranger had always been known for her honesty. <b>"I don't think we'll make it official until we find a new pack, but I already consider him my mate."</b> And, she supposed by default, Kinis was now her younger brother. <b>"Would you like that?"</b> she asked curiously.

<blockquote>If she hadn't already been so blunt about her feelings for Ruiko, her comment may have taken Kinis by surprise. As it was, it only made sense for them to become mates. A pack needed a leading pair, after all, especially a newly formed one. Kinis did not know many of Ruiko's female acquaintences, but he liked Ranger, and, for what it was worth, approved. He could follow her easily. Their brief but satisfying meeting, here, had settled that. The small wag of his tail, and lazy smile on his face, conveyed that with ease.

Something else she said, however, caught his attention. <b>"I would,"</b> he said quickly, genuinely, but there was some concern in his voice. <b>"Do you two not plan to - to start a new pack? I mean..."</b> Some small hope flared, but he knew it could not work. He put his feelings aside and tried to speak plainly. <b>"There are other packs to - other packs around. I thought we might, you know, start afresh. Ruiko..."</b> Would surely never be able to serve under another. Was that not part of the problem with Indru? Kinis may not have known the particulars, but he knew his oldest brothers. They were both born to lead.</blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>