Sex: FemaleNiija was often one to disappear and return as she saw fit, though it never before had been so long—but then, she had never before seen or dealt with such tragedies. It was as if nature herself were turning against the Tainn family; first the fire, followed by the slow disappearance of water and its effect on the wildlife. It was only just beginning when the druidess had left to seek out answers, but seemed to have worsened in her absence. And she did not yet know the true extent of the troubles that now clung to Relic Lore like a blackening cloud.
Her questions—and, no doubt, the questions her relatives had and expected her to answer—remained. Although she was well-tuned with the earth and her fickle changes, this series of events was beyond Niija's full understanding. Bits and pieces of it made sense; an absence of water could cause fires, and the obvious migration of prey, but it seemed that none of this was happening in order. Finding no answers in the lands beyond Relic Lore (where everything seemed normal), the tawny female returned to divine more knowledge from the source.
But first, she needed to talk to Indru. Throwing back her head, Niija sang a command for him to come and knew that he would without challenge.
To say things weren't in disarray at Relic Lore would of been a lie; Indru was only too aware of the slowly depleting water having suffered from it before and even now could feel it making him more sluggish and weak than normal. The pack still had not settled from the tempestuous last meeting either — Ioni had shown her true colours for once and had plotted against her remaining siblings to overthrow them and run the pack herself. It was exhausting, trying to find answers and solutions to everything that was going on and it made him miss his littermate, Niija, even more.
The absence of Hotei, Niija and now Junai hung heavy on Indru who felt that slowly his family was vanishing around him, one by one. Each night he tucked the youngest of the Tainn's right up against the pack of the Den they all shared and blocked the entrance with his body, hoping to at the very least keep them safe if he had failed with everyone else. Ruiko, who he had always had a special bond with, was now someone Indru had found invaluable to have at his side, but it was still not the same without Niija's council to guide them. So it left Indru with some concern for himself when he heard his sister's howl begin not too far from his location now, calling him, perhaps he had been rationing his water too much and had hallucinated again like he did with Hotei, but this just seemed to real and on instinct he rose and rushed towards her.
The Tainn did not allow him to believe it until he could smell her and see her and when he did, however concerned and slightly angry he was at her, he couldn't prevent himself from rushing forward and brushing his nose against her cheek in sheer relief.
Niija.The brother breathed, taking a step back to quickly asses her wellbeing,where have you been? Are you okay?Though she was the wolf he was least concerned over when she went missing (as, out of any of them she could look after herself best) her arrival offered him hope for their current situation as well as hope for return of the never-found Hotei Indru refused to call dead and the now missing Junai.
Niija, of course, had no idea that Indru had a disappearance of his own—she had been gone before he left and arrived later than he had returned. She was only mildly surprised by the relief emanating from his presence upon seeing her and she nosed back against his cheek in response to his affection. Almost before the pair had pulled apart, her brother assaulted her with questions and Niija couldn't help but to chuckle softly.
Yes, Indru, I have returned.She sat, settling with a roll of her shoulders, the leaves and feathers caught in her long fur rustling softly. For a long moment, Niija did not speak further—it was her frustrating way to seem caught in a different time-stream than the rest, as if the present did not affect her quite as strongly as it did the rest of her kind. Really, she was merely thinking of how best to answer the questions asked of her and how best to tell her tale—words were important, and the delay only served to help her choose the correct ones to convey her thoughts. Such long pauses did no harm, except to impatient wolves.
Seeking,she said finally, simply,and finding nothing but more questions.Of course, Niija knew there were never solid answers to anything in the world; the best questions led to more questions. But in this case, the resulting questions offered her no satisfaction. Wolves were slowly dying because a solution, as of yet, could not be found.I am fine, if but a little thirsty—as we all are.She sighed before continuing.
The source of the diminishing supply is definitely in this area; I have traveled far and about a week's journey out the water flourishes as normal,Niija eyed her brother critically. She knew what he was thinking, for she had thought it as well—at first.It is too far out for an entire pack to migrate, especially with such young pups in tow. If there are any answers to be found, any solutions present, they are here in Relic Lore.