Fool's Gold Chasm You said you never would be gone

Takes place 12/8 late afternoon. All welcome.

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

Enera wandered straight enough and kept moving through poor weather, only beginning to slow when she reached familiar territory. She recognized these trees, these rocks. It should have felt like coming home and in a way it did, but where there once was life all was still. As Enera neared the Chasm the stale air told her all she really needed to know – nobody had been here recently.

She didn’t know what she expected. Woya? Unlikely, even though they’d agreed to meet here someday. They’d never set a time or a signal. Adelard? She didn’t even know if he’d ever come back from wherever he’d gone off to. @Marrah ? The thought was laughable. Of course her childhood best friend wouldn’t come back here. She couldn’t get away fast enough.

Still, as Enera wandered into the old territory she couldn’t help a pang of disappointment when she couldn’t smell the borders, didn’t hear the distant laughter of her friends of long ago. She glanced in the direction of where she knew the cave of glittering stones waited with its small pool, offering shelter from the brewing storms, but she turned instead toward the where her entire world turned upside down.

"Hey mama," she whispered to the frozen earth that entombed her mother where she'd died pushing the twins into the world, where Woya had planted flowers and Enera had screamed at her for it. Now the ground was barren for the season and Enera wondered if the flowers and herbs would still grow there come spring.

Armand picked his way through the snow-coated brush, a frown effortlessly cutting across his features to make his annoyance known. He hated the cold and wet, and what had become of this place no longer seemed to offer the same protection it once had. Instead of warm and homely, the lighting seemed starkly bleak and the snow did not fade away but rather turned to slush. It was under his paws and dripping from the chasm walls, hitting his fur in splashes, tunneling down to his skin, intensifying his discomfort.

To say he was grumpy was an understatement. Why had he even come back? He'd heard what had happened... but still had to see it for himself, he supposed. This place completely empty. Except... it wasn't. He caught wind of someone else, a familiar scent, and it surprised the grimace right off his pointed face. The yearling moved quickly to track her down.

He recognized the place where he found her, and his steps slowed to a stop while his ears leaned back. Oh... he was interrupting. Unsure of what was the most appropriate thing to do, he hesitated in place, gold eyes dodging around their surroundings as though that might give him ideas.

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

She stood there in silence a moment, listening to the air move. Once it would have been familiar, a comfort; now it seemed forlorn. More so, when the sound of paws drifted in with the gentle breeze. Enera's ears twitched, but she didn't life her head. Not until the paw steps halted and his scent finally hit her. It was familiar, but it wasn't until she turned that she fully recognized the boy. Her brow furrowed while she frantically sought for a name. She'd spent so much time bringing their mother things-

"...Armand?" she said tentatively, hoping against hope she got the name right. All of them started with A, and were so similar...

She'd feel terrible if she got it wrong.

How could this have happened? One moment they’d been climbing the mountain, and the next… It all went by so fast! At some point he and Magg had gotten separated, he wasn’t even sur if she was on this side of the mountain; Or if she’s… Leo gulped. He had to make it back home, it was the only chance, if they all looked together, they would find her, they had to! He took one step – and collapsed. ………… It would be a long trek back to Lost Lake, every step a struggle as he hopped along awkwardly, right front leg dangling uselessly. He didn’t even wanna think about having to climb back up the mountain, he’d just have to figure that out once he got that far. For now, he simply headed south, sticking under the cover of the trees, where the snow was less dense, peaking up every now and then to make sure the pass was still firmly on his right. Even though he wasn’t putting weight on it, the jostle of his limp made his leg throb, all the way from shoulder to wrist. It had to be at least the tenth time he stopped for a rest when he was surprised to hear something rustling nearby. Hobbling through the trees, he spotted a clearing up ahead, the low hum of a voice sounding from within. Fear made his body tense, ears folding back and then flipping back up to listen. Leo was just starting to think it was all in his head, then she spoke again, though he couldn’t make out the word. Taking a deep breath, he continued to push through the last trees, hoping whoever waited behind them was friendly – he needed the help, he couldn’t afford to avoid this chance. To his surprise, there was not just one, but two wolves there; the speaker, a pale young female, and what appeared to be a yearling male. Leo gulped again, leaning his good shoulder against a tree as he looked between the two strangers, brows furrowing as his gaze finally rested on the girl. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said, slightly breathlessly; “Have we… Met before?” It had been so long, wo many new faces traversing the ice – those memories now largely overshadowed by all that had happened on that same ice since. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

(This post was last modified: Dec 11, 2023, 11:26 PM by Leo.)

She noticed him, and his eyes ceased their searching. His tail gave a few sweeping wags and he smiled as she spoke his name.

"'ey, En," he answered, having no issue in remembering her name. She had been their only older sister, after all. Not his only company, though; Armand's small musculature jumped as a third presence jostled the brush nearby, a less familiar, but still recognizable face, appearing to observe them. The older wolf settled on Enera, and Armand's frown returned. Great. He had one-on-one attention for what, seven seconds?

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

Enera smiled as Armand said her name, her own tail swaying slightly to mirror his. "How are you?" she asked, the first in a long list of questions she had for the boy. She opened her mouth to speak again when another appeared, one she had seen more recently. He... did not look good. He didn't look good at all, and she frowned. She glanced back at her mother's grave and whispered, "Sorry, mama," before moving to stand beside Armand and facing the man before them. "Leo," she said, confused. "I'm Enera. This is Armand, my brother. We've been to the Cove before," she said. She was pretty sure she and Leo were even the same age. "We're originally from Fool's Gold Chasm... here."

If he’d had any energy to spare for it, Leo might have noticed the younger boy’s discouragement and felt appropriately bad, but as it was, he was struggling enough to focus on his agemate answering his question. Two-colored eyes narrowed as she spoke his name, and gave theirs in return, strands of memory flitting into his tired head; They’re… Family. Relief flooded his chest, drowning any embarrassment at his initial confusion as he managed a small, if strained smile. “Of course… It’s… Good to see you again.” And no better time for it either. Her mention of the Chasm made him cast his eyes around again, nodding to himself; So that’s what this is… Despite several visits from their kin down the mountain, Leo had never been here himself, but he recognized it from description. Trying not to notice the encroaching walls and how claustrophobic they made him feel, he quickly looked back to his cousins; “Your mother… stayed with us, last winter.” He paused for a few heavy breaths, eyes closing for a moment before he refocused, voice a little shaky; “I’m real sorry but… I need your help.” He hated saying the words, begging for help, even if it was from family; A small comfort… But as it was, he was struggling to stay upright, blinking rapidly to keep his vision straight; “I’m hurt pretty bad.” Understatement of the year. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

How are you? Such a simple, kind question for all the time between now and the last they'd seen each other. Standing at her mother's grave...

She introduced them both to the interloper, and Armand moved to stand at her side, both to better face Leo and assert his place here. Higher on the totem pole than L- oh he was hurt? Dammit. No no no, this was not how he'd wanted his homecoming to go. What kind of work was going to be asked of him now? His gold sights eyed the other wolf, assessing as best he could just what might be wrong with the guy.

"... what do you need?"

Trepidation clear.

(This post was last modified: Jan 24, 2024, 04:59 AM by Armand.)

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

Armand didn't get to answer her question, because once again Leo was speaking and it wasn't good. He'd remembered that Woya had stayed with the Cove the previous winter - I did too - and that seemed to comfort him. Enera didn't recall that he was related to Woya right off, but there had always been a connection between the Cove and the Chasm. She glanced to Armand in concern; she didn't know much about healing.

Her brother was quicker to answer than she was, a hesitant question of what was needed. Enera had come here to visit her mama, not go on a quest, but she couldn't completely abandon someone so in need.