They must've been a funny sight, the two females sunbathing on their perch: one black and one white, but both with amber eyes sparkling in the rays of the sun. Yet the difference was clear up close, though it was not in appearance. Ava was at ease, prepared for pleasantries in the golden warmth of that day. What she didn't see was Athena's discomfort at her good-natured question. It wasn't until the white she-wolf sighed and turned her gaze toward Ava, seriousness peering into her depths. Instantly the black female respected Athena's moment to speak. Even though she hadn't been prying for the deepest truth about her second in command, she realized much like the white wolf had that this was an excellent oppportunity to close the gap between the two, as much as they could - to solidify their pack-sworn bond. Who knew, perhaps Athena could be a friend as well?
The story began well - she found that they were both wolves of the water, even if Ava's was fresh and her's was salt. But as Ava listened her expression went from respect and peace to utter horror. The tears that began to well in the white girl's eyes struck Ava even more harshly. She had always felt such a strong wall from Athena, perhaps even a coldness. Seeing such an open break of that boundary, with such a great expression of emotion, was somewhat an honor as much as it was a shock. To be polite she turned her eyes away from the female, giving her respect, although she stuck the occasional <span class='word'>apercu</span> as to not appear disinterested or bored. She'd only return her gaze once Athena regained her strength. But that eye contact was short lived - she had to turn away to hide the surprise and confusion that grew upon her face at the story's continuation.
Athena had killed. Tiny, unknown Athena was a wolf capable of it. Ava honestly didn't think she could ever do such a thing. Suddenly she became overwhelmed with a curiousity that disgusted her. What was it like, she wondered. Was it like sinking your teeth into the succulent neck of a deer, feeling the warm rush of blood flooding between her canines and on to her lips and into her cheeks and loving every moment of it? It couldn't possibly be anything like it - that was bloodlust of hunger, bloodlust of the hunt. What was the bloodlust of malice? Of revenge? Of death? Ava was certain she would never know the feeling, never have it within her to take the life of another. Then again, perhaps she had never truly known <i>hatred</i> so deep... She would at least look upon Athena in a different light - a strong, wise wolf. They had chosen Athena for a reason and know she knew why.
"<b>I'm terribly sorry for everything you suffered,</b>" she said quietly, then turned her eye upon Athena with a crooked smile. "<b>At the very least you have proven you are not the weakest link. And guarantee I will protect your secrets.</b>"
Then she felt almost ashamed to share her past. Within it there was much less strength and ambition than what was in Athena's. But if her fog had now lifted, Ava had to do her the kindness of providing a new landscape to look at. So she turned her eyes to the clear sky, becoming lost in the pure blue. Feeling as though she had exited the bodily realm, she was able to truly open her mind and speak.
"<b>I was born to the south of the Feather Valley pack on the banks of a large lake. I had a large family, very loving and very close. Our pack was quite huge - it was such a different environment. My four older brothers were members of the guard, and they also guarded me, my two littermates, and my baby twin siblings.</b>" She paused, already feeling as though she were coughing up too much of a mouthful. But she couldn't help it. She wanted desperately to re-live that childhood, back when times were good and she was surrounded by love and warmth and protection. So she kept going. "<b>We had a huge land. There was a neighboring pack that wanted it. There were frequent border skirmishes, but nothing that my brothers and I couldn't handle. It was child's play for us every time they came around, threatening to edge in. We never took it seriously.</b>" She glanced at Athena briefly, knowing that the she-wolf could assume what would come.
"<b>One day they turned a border skirmish turned into an invasion. And,</b> the next words came out forced, unwilling to feel the pain of admittance. "<b>the alphas - my parents - had gotten too old to win once more. They pushed us off of half our land, and in the process they <i>slaughtered</i> my baby brother and sister. They killed innocent little ones. Patak and Pakshi.</b>" Their names felt foreign on her tongue. It'd been so long since she had thought about the loss, much less talked about it. Previously she had spoken with Naira about her family, but briefly, and of good memories of Finch and Wren and a goose that whooped their asses. Never of the wrongful murder of harmless children.
"<b>Following the weakening of our path, the Betas challenged for leadership and they won. Everything changed - it became awful.</b>" She failed to mention that they had conceived before taking over, just like Naira and Rhysis. Ava had finally accepted her position in this pack. She couldn't doubt it, she <i>couldn't</i>. "<b>Much like the pack our family literally fell apart. Two of my brothers left almost immediately. Then another. We had gone from nine siblings to only four. Then my mother died, and my father became so weak and heartbroken that he was basically dead anyway.</b>" She immediately regretted speaking so cruelly. "<b>My littermates told my brother and myself to leave - there was nothing left for us. So we did. Once my father died, they buried him and met up with us... It was terrifying to have your life completely ripped from the ground, leaving with you with broken pieces of equally broken wolves. I couldn't bare to remain around my siblings. They took off one way... and I took off the other.</b>"
The pain of remembering four in her family were dead, that she hadn't seen three of her oldest brothers in over a year, and the rest of her siblings in months. Ava had fled them, with a sorrowful but short goodbye. Had she done the right thing? She closed her eyes to force her thoughts back into reclusion. Finally she sighed and looked back to Athena, awaiting what ever her judgment might be.
(This post was last modified: Apr 17, 2012, 02:37 AM by Ava.)
Sex: Female
