Broken Timber Pines help me pick up the pieces

Set to 6/03
For @Zeta <3
sorry for the really crappy first post, trying to post while on the run >.<

Happiness was just a shy feeling that fluttered through her chest when @Iopah accepted her back into the pack again, but her soft words still stung. "They know how to find us, it's up to them to try." Zane had to have left for a reason, not knowing the reason and being unable to track him down, made the pain of his disappearance practically unbearable for the mother. Delia would have searched to the ends of this earth for him, but she also had Zeta, @Erebos, and @Maeve to worry and care about back at Secret Falls. Though, coming to terms with having to give up her search for her only son was harder than she could ever imagine.

Finding Zeta was the D'astrous woman's first instinct, as she made her way through the broken pine logs in search for her. Her daughter had to be hurt. Zane never left for this long. He would always be at one of their sides, certainly always looking after them. With him gone, Delia could feel part of her own heart gone, lost like he was. Her children were everything to her, the only few treasures she had left in her world. But it would never be the same without all of them together.  

(This post was last modified: Jun 07, 2016, 08:53 PM by Delia.)

The Argyris child watched the snail crawl its way painstakingly slow across the rock in front of her face. Her head rested on her delicate grey paws, the snail only inches from her nose. Her eyes were fixated on it, somehow being interesting enough to not think about anything else -- though that was a welcome feeling these past few days. What did snails taste like? Why didn't they have legs? Could they wag their tails? Why did they carry a shell but slugs did not? Was their slime like her drool, or more like urine? Her thoughts had genuinely boiled down to things like this, her attention completely undivided. Undivided, and yet, still a look of melancholy sat within her expression, her brows slanted forlornly. 

Anyone who knew the Argyris' story knew exactly where her thoughts would be if this snail hadn't been putting on such an alluring show. Her searches for her brother did not go unnoticed, nor did her empty returns and long faces. Her hope had dwindled considerably; mostly because there was no definitive reason for @Zane's disappearance. Had he fled? Been threatened? His frustration with @Erebos had not been unnoticed, but she never felt like she had been so pushy that she pushed him away. Had this been her fault? Had she expected her brother's love to be too blind and too tolerant? She just never had expected there to be another option other than being together.

Rustling along the forest floor caused her to quirk an ear, and she reluctantly gave her snail friend one last glance before she turned to see her mother's frame come to view. She had a sad presence about her, and part of Zeta's heart ached for her. The two year old felt conflicted by times, her mother grieved like she did, so the sight of her only reminded her of the void in her life; and on the other hand, sometimes her mother's understanding of her grief was the most comforting thing in the world. She glanced back to the snail who had almost made its way over the rock, its slimy line giving away its position. She supposed it was about balance, having enough support and enough distractions to get her through the days. Her ears flattened against her head and her tail began beating affectionately against the ground, and as she approached she stood to move her nose against her mother's in greeting. "Hi Mum," she said softly into her neck.

the rabbit

Adopt my twin!

Her beautiful green eyes were the first things that caught her silver eyes. A soft sigh left her lips as Delia quickened her pace to embrace her daughter. The mother could hear her grey tail thumping against the ground loudly as her own darkened charcoal tail wagged happily behind her. Ears flattening against her own dark crown, she embraced her daughter, her nose trailing along Zeta's muzzle and her salmon tongue dousing her with affectionate kisses. "Hi Mum," Zeta greeted her softly, her breath hot against her neck. "Hello, my dear, mon amour," Delia whispered quietly into Zeta's warm nape. 

Holding the embrace for a few moments, Delia stepped back to give Zeta a complete once over, making sure her daughter had stayed safe and unharmed. Turning her silver eyes onto Zeta's mismatched green pair, she could see the pain in her daughter's eyes and the grief they shared together. "I promise, we will all be together again. For now, we need to be strong," Delia spoke softly, her coal washed muzzle bumping lovingly against Zeta's. They had each other to lean on, to care for while they waited for Zane's return. If he ever did...

For now, Delia would distract herself and she knew Zeta would need the same. "Let's go for a walk amoureux," Delia encouraged, her eyes happy and bright as she looked upon her daughter. Time with nature could heal anything for just a moment.

 

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

@Delia stepped back to examine her, like she always did when she first saw her children, inspecting them to ensure nothing had harmed them from the last time she had seen them. She stood there obediently and examined her own mother's demeanour at the same time, noticing the same sadness lurking in all her expressions and movements. Her words spoke a gentle promise, a promise that the two-year-old knew was not in her power to uphold, but she appreciated the kindness anyway. It was not unlike Delia to be hopeful, a trait Zeta had inherited and ran with. She nodded somberly and smiled politely. Be strong? That's what I had Zane for, he was always strong for all of us.. but she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. By now she had learned that negativity benefited no one, and it was always left a bitter taste on her tongue, unhappiness such a foreign concept to her. Then again, life without @Zane was a foreign concept to her, too.

The offer for distraction was a welcome one, and her mood brightened slightly. "D'accord, maman," she agreed, enjoying the comforting French language from their old pack. It made her feel close to her family amongst the rest of Broken Timber Pines, like having a secret escape if need be. Zane had always spoken French to her when he found situations to be questionable or concerning. The uniqueness of it made her feel special then with him, and now with Delia. "How is father, and @Maeve?" She asked, continuing in French as she turned around. She stepped alongside her mother, allowing no space between them. Her tone had lightened with the thoughts of her remaining family. He should be here with all of us.. she thought, immediately guilty, but she aimed to stay positive and pushed it to the back of her mind for a while longer. 

"Everyone has been so nice here," she continued with a smile before letting her mother begin, another habit she had picked up, though this one all her own. Whatever popped into her head usually fell out of her mouth, sometimes without considering their implications; a trait her brother had always been picking up after her for. Her eyes dropped to the forest floor.. he was literally everywhere in her life, she couldn't avoid thinking about him. 

the rabbit

Adopt my twin!