Lost Lake Something Fishy...

<blockquote> The moon began to rise over the mirrored surface of the lake as the lady plodded along, onward and upward. She had grown unaccustomed to the journey.

She felt so old.

Her new scars pulled and again she cursed the memory of her golden brother with his ridiculous ideals and the way he... Her lips pulled back in a silent snarl. It wasn’t painful, but she didn’t feel completely herself in this new skin. It would take some time for the newly knit flesh to feel as though it was her own.

She hadn’t slept properly in... She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept at all. All of the food she managed to scrounge was given to the scrap of a cub who remained at her side. She could only hope her other children fared better.

The dark child followed obediently in his mothers footsteps, never faltering or complaining no matter the distance they travelled. He truly was his fathers son. She hated to have him in the open, especially so close... but she couldn’t leave him at their niche in the Heights with night quickly falling. The boy would grow bored and their were others about who would gladly kill a young cub for simply being. Mountain Lions, and of course her old nemesis, the wolverines. His coat blended into the night so well. She was a skeletal ghost and he was merely a shadow.

She would die for him.

She almost had.

It was to her advantage that she had spent so much time during her pregnancy walking these lands. She knew of the perfect place to leave her son, well within sight of where she would be hunting for their dinner on this night. With any luck, she would land enough for them both. The steady ache of hunger radiated from her core incessantly but she would not put her own wellbeing over that of her child, even then, she knew he feigned fullness to allow her enough to scrape by.

Motioning with her nose to the cracked boulder she expected him to wait at, she watched as her son moved obediently to fulfill her wishes. She forced a smile and continued towards the lake, her own thoughts so heavy on her mind that her head dropped to hang at her chest. She had forced him to grow up so fast. He should spend his days romping in the sun with his siblings and pack, but they were loners. All it took was one mistake...

The still waters moved effortlessly around the wraith as she waded deeper into the depths of the lake and stared intently at its mirrored surface. Her stomach growled in anticipation as she stilled to focus on the task at hand.

So enthralled was she that she didn’t notice the white wolf approaching from the other side of the lake...</blockquote>

Chantille moved quietly, her mind fogged as she did so. She had recently witnessed a death; a white wolf dragged himself up the mountainside only to die before her. It was not her fault... no. There was nothing she could do. An infection from a bear attack had spread through the older gentleman's hind limb; nature had claimed another victim. Shaking her head, the woman kept padding along, as if such did not irk her. What a lie that was. A cool wind blew, rustling her creamy coat as she hopped down from a large slab of stone. Her paws gently touched down on the emerald grasses below, pads relieved to feel something that seemed so soft. With a neutral expression upon her face (no smile to be had at all), her brown eyes fell to the massive lake below. It was a perfect night for herb collecting, and she would not let her current state of mind block her from her duties. As she swept down toward the lake, a scent tickled her dark nostrils. It was of another wolf... why did it seem so familiar? With a curious tilt of her head, the woman released a huh into the night. Strange. With a shrug of her shoulders, she soon arrived at the edge of the lake, fur prickling upon her neck at the sight that entered her eyes. That wolf- that's who it was. Naira. Was it really her? No, it couldn't be. Probably another lone wolf. Though she would likely make a fool of herself, Chantille found herself inching around the edge of the lake, closer to the wading woman. "Naira?" Her voice called out softly. Embarrassment would flood her body if this was not the ex-leadess of Poison Path. With her heart pumping within her ears, she teetered forth, ears straining for a reply....

<blockquote><i>Naira?</i>

The soft call could have seemed to fall on deaf ears, if not for the subconscious flick of an ear to the direction from which the voice came. That was her name… Was that her name? It had been many moons since she had heard it on the lips of another… and that voice… it called to her from the fog of a dream… <i>Almost.</i>

Without warning her tawny head snapped down, jaws snatching for her prize, the voice all but forgotten as her sodden head re-emerged from the icy waters of the lake with a small prize clasped tightly between pearly fangs. It was not a large fish, but it would ease some of the pangs in her small son’s stomach. She could try again in a while.

As she waded from the lake, she deposited her prize and took a fugitive look around. It was then her eyes fell upon the white wolf and her tail tucked instinctively as her back arched and her teeth pulled back in a silent snarl. She was facing the other side on, although even from this angle in her drenched state, her emaciation was evident. She angled herself protectively between the newcomer and her son, who had decided to rouse from his sanctuary, his large eared silhouette clear against the starry sky.

For what felt like the first time in an age, her nose began to take in the scents about her. There was something familiar about the apparition before her, although her broken mind struggled to comprehend the good from the bad. Every fibre of her being was screaming at her to run. She was so close to pack lands.

She didn’t belong here anymore. </blockquote>

As Naira's teeth flashed in a sight snarl, Chantille took a step back, feeling her body almost shake. Was this her? Had she been wrong? Swallowing a wad of saliva down her now knotted throat, she frowned at the emaciated wolf before her. "It's.... Chantille...." Her soft brown eyes peered carefully at the woman, her face nothing but that of concern. Naira was piceous; one wrong move and there was no telling what she would do. She'd burst off like a rocket, in either a defensive or offensive manner... Shaking her uneasiness, Chantile smoothed out her prickled fur before taking a step forward. "Would you like me to get you some food?" It was such a Chantille question, but it was a heartfelt one. She hated seeing the ex leader in such a condition.... no wolf should be like that, honestly. With her facial expressions still flooded with concern, she awaited eagerly for the tawny woman's reply. Muscles bunched beneath her pelt if the female was to attack; but that seemed highly unlikely.

<blockquote><i>Chantille...</i>

Memories flashed before her eyes. Rhysis returning with two white wolves. Her sister and another. A healer. This wolf was family. <i>Was...</i>

Her gut twisted as she lowered her posture a little more. The woman seemed to mean no harm and so the mother in her was content to lower her guard a little. Her son was four months old, and had been through so much already. She was quick and fierce.

He would be ok.

A quick glance back to her son told her he had stayed where she told him to. When she nodded to him that it was ok to come forth he moved to the fish she had dropped and began to eat. His own sides were only a little more filled than her own. He deserved so much better.

He was growing up more than he was growing out and it concerned her, but his father had been the same. While her family were all on the heavier side, it would seem he was going to take after the Aquila clan. He looked so like his father.

Words seldom passed the tawny wolf’s mouth these days so it took her a moment to find the words she was looking for. <b>”I can hunt.”</b> Her words were clipped and brokered no argument. She would not take charity, something deep down told her she had wronged the woman before her. A great sadness crossed her face. She only remembered the names of her children and her mate. She would tuck the white wolf’s name away and try to place it to memories later.

She had to ask.

<b>”Bella? Datura? ...Lilly?”</b></blockquote>

(This post was last modified: Sep 06, 2012, 10:57 PM by Naira.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/ChantilleTable.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top:325px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;">

I can hunt. Of course she could. Chantille did not doubt Naira's abilities, but she could use more weight on her. And her son... the poor dear did not deserve to have hunger biting at him constantly. Chantille shook her head at Naira's question of names. Bella and Datura are healthy. They're marvelous pups." She allowed herself to smile, but it was weak. Her lips twitched as they attempted to raise upward, and Chantille felt her tail droop.

"As for Lilly...." Looking at the ground, the creamy wolf allowed a loud sigh to escape her jaws. Pursing her lips, she shook her head again, this time slower and more sullen. "We don't know what happened to her... she was gone..." Feeling a pang of sorrow slam into her heart, Chant's eyes widened as she took a step back. Tears began to blur her vision, and she looked away from Naira, breathing in heavily to regain her composure. After a few moments of heavy breaths, she looked back to her, feeling her limbs begin to shake.

"Naira.... you are always welcomed to come back..."

(This post was last modified: Sep 09, 2012, 05:44 PM by Chantille.)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/caved.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> Her heart had caught in her throat and would not budge. Bella and Datura were fine. Lilly was gone. Her earlier inspection of the borders had told her Rhysis was gone. She couldn't go on without him for much longer. The thought of returning to him and her other two children had been one of the few things that had kept her going through it all... Kept her justifying some of the terrible things she had done. The memories she had buried the deepest. The next name on her lips was but a whisper. More a wish than a question. Clearly she knew as much as the woman before her. "Rhysis...?" Welcome to come back... Now she remembered the wolf before her. So kind, and gentle. Chantille... Her whole demeanor relaxed, although her mind was still whirring with questions and thoughts. There were new leaders on the mountain now and she had little desire to submit to a stranger. Through it all, her stubborn streak had not budged, and for now, she was content to remain free until she figured out just who had filled her role. A sad smile crossed her face as she moved to sit, her casual, if exhausted disposition all but vocally inviting the woman closer. Words were too much for her at times these days, and she willed her former pack closer... Close to her and her son. She had missed her family terribly and even from here, the alluring scent of her lost children, and of home calmed the edgy beast within her. She needed to belong. If only for a moment.

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Sep 11, 2012, 12:54 PM by Naira.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/ChantilleTable.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top:325px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;">

In silence Chantille watched as Naira frowned, moving her body into a seated position. She had seemed to be growing more calm, yet the way she spoke and questioned her kept Chantille concerned. Taking a careful step toward Naira and her son, she shook her head yet again. "None have seen him. Since you had left, Rhysis has been gone, as well..." If she could bite her lip, she would. She'd bite it right off. How awkward she felt at the moment. Chantille felt like leaving her body; just leaving herself on autopilot. But she could not. She was speaking to a wolf she hadn't seen in what felt like forever.

Her mind convinced her to change the subject, and Chantille agreed to it. "This must be Adonis" she said, lowering her head slightly toward his level. Though he was several lengths away, the kind cream-coated wolf smiled softly. It was difficult to smile in a situation such as this, but she somehow succeeded. "What a handsome young fellow you are." After she spoke, Chantille suddenly felt fear. What if Naira would grow angry at her speaking to her pup in such a way? Would she, or was Chantille just being ridiculous?

It must certainly be the latter. The smile slowly faded, and Chantille lifted her head back upward, chocolate eyes meeting with the ex-leader's.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/caved.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> An absent minded smile crossed the tawny wolfs face as the white lady before her began to question her son soothingly. Yes, she remembered this wolf. There was very little harm here, even so close to her former packs lands. Her tail thumped reassuringly against the dirt and still, her son quailed behind her, peeking out at the unfamiliar wolf. She looked at him for a moment her small smile evident along with her relaxed stance and finally he emerged to sniff at the stranger before him. Rhysis was gone... Well that wasn’t really news. She had sniffed the borders when she had returned. The lack of his scent was the reason she hadn’t called out... At least he hadn’t been overthrown by a hostile wolf... but that could only leave one other option. He had awoken to find her gone and had come to seek her out, perhaps thinking it a repeat of the night they fled Swift River. Her heart sunk and she felt sick to her stomach. She watched as Adonis yawned before seating himself back at her side. It truly was late, but she wasn’t ready to leave just yet. Inching herself forwards, her nose butted against the cheek of the wolf before her and she breathed in the familiar but very changed scent upon her fur. Ava was still there, and Athena, but all the others were different. So different. But there didn’t seem to be more than when she had left. She moved back to allow the other her space as a sad sigh escaped her mouth. If only she could remember how to speak. There was so much to explain to the white lady before her.

code by bryony