Cedarwood Forest when doves cry

Ruiko moved at an impressive speed for a wolf who’s hind ankle was torn and tattered – the deep gashes from Weldering’s attack still broke open quite frequently, and despite his brother’s request that he remain off the bad limb for a few days, the River wolf knew such a thing was not possible. Besides, with three bored little pups at the den site, he wouldn’t gain much rest anyhow.

The clouds rolled above, darkening the sky in grey. The Tainn wolf paused a moment, his eyes glancing up to the angry skies and briefly wondered if they would receive rain. It was needed. The ground was far dryer than it should have been, and the sporadic puddles that usually littered the forest floor were long gone. The air felt humid, and as the crackle of thunder emitted across the sky, the male ducked his wounded head down as he swept his large body in to a small cave. It was shelter from the storm, but a sad storm it would be, for only the sky would rumble with distant thunder and the forest would light up with flashes of lightning. There would be no rain.

Ranger had strayed a bit too far from her makeshift home in the Thicket of Secrets that day, and the dry rumbling of the storm clouds overhead caused her to duck quickly into the closest bit of shelter, which happened to be a cave. Only moments before, Ruiko had entered that very same cave, and it was with the utmost surprise and worry that her eyes alighted upon him. A flash of lightning outside illuminated his torn figure, and immediately a whine escaped her lips. She couldn't pin-point it exactly, but something about him had immediately drawn her to him, and she felt more deeply for this tattered, broken beta than she ever had for anybody else.

She approached him cautiously, knowing how much that ankle must hurt, and nudged his chin softly, gently, before placing a lick to his nose. She carefully, methodically, moved her nose from his face to his neck, where she buried herself into him for a moment, before tracing her muzzle the length of his spine and to the broken leg upon which he must know he shouldn't be walking. Another whine escaped her, though she did not speak aloud, as she began to gently and carefully clean his wounds there. They were not exactly fresh, but his movement upon the tender skin had caused the wounds to open again, and therefore ooze. Ranger wanted to tend to him and she did not exactly know why.

The male strode to the center of the small enclosure he had found; a dry and cozy place, if he had to describe it as anything. Just as he was about to settle down upon weary haunches, a flash of black alerted his senses, causing his muzzle to swing to the entrance. With hackles bristled and a low growl seeping past his lips, Ruiko only recognized the slender figure moments after her arrival. Instantly his annoyance and defense was hushed, and his imploring bright gaze caught hers as she brazenly tread forward.

A whine broke from her lips as her eyes sought his inflicted injuries, and before he could reassure her of his well-being, the rogue wolf moved closer to him. His eyes remained fascinated upon the silver that spun itself upon her dark coat, unable to ignore the feminine curves that softened her warrior spirit. He lifted his muzzle slightly, and upon the embrace she gave as she nudged his chin gingerly. The soft lick to his nose ignited a powerful desire to protect her, and as she buried herself to the soft gold of his neck the male finally allowed himself to move. Bowing his muzzle slightly, Ruiko nipped playfully to her ear, accepting her as he would a pack mate. Wanting much more than that.

She moved now, stirring a light shiver from his large figure that he was unable to conceal from her as she touched him. He stiffened greatly as she found the sharp wound upon his ankle, and only relaxed after a few moments of her tending to him. He could not decipher what this moment meant, and instead, the stoical brute expressed his tender concern for her the only way he knew how: “The water in Relic Lore is drying up. Have you found a decent water source for now?”

Ranger did not even flinch at his growl and her assumption that he would not attack her was proved right when his voice ceased, and he nipped at her ear affectionately. She wanted to stay with him like this forever, tending to him, caring for him, slowly learning how to be a loving and open-minded wolf. It wasn't easy, but she was going to try her damnedest. She felt him shiver as her nose moved down his body, and she felt him flinch as she began to cleanse his wounds. He relaxed after a few moments, though, and the warmth in her heart began to spread to the rest of her body. Ruiko was allowing her to tend him, and she felt completely honored by that fact.

He brought up the lack of water, which she had of course noticed, and paused in her ministrations to look up into his gold eyes. She thought for a moment, trying to remember any decent water sources she had come across, and coming up slightly blank. <b>"I hadn't thought of it, Ruiko. Has your family found water? Those pups need it more than we do."</b> She loved the way his name rolled from her tongue, loved the feel of it as she said it. It sent shivers through her, however small, and she enjoyed the way her heart raced and adrenaline pumped through her veins as she looked at him. Ranger moved away from his leg, having cleaned it thoroughly, and sat up, her eyes trained upon his handsome, irresistible face.

He remained still for her as she sought his wound – thoughts of Weldering and Ruiko’s desire to find the coward had subsided in her presence, and while there was a sharp pain that throbbed along the joints of his ankle, he knew if any were to care for him she would do it the gentlest. It was just something he could feel.

As she paused for a moment to seek his gaze, the male returning her look levelly as she moved away from him now. Finished with her ministrations, Ruiko shifted his injured limb closer to him now as she spoke. Her response was far from what he had expected – the idea that she was thinking of his younger siblings stirred an appreciation to his protectiveness of them, and he gave her a rough nod. “We’re fine. The river is still plentiful – we’re just not sure for how long. It’s dwindling quickly.” There was a light pause in his words as his ears perked at the sudden crack of thunder in the sky outside. “You should come back with me to the river. Meet my brother.” There was no point in hiding that he worried about her now.

(This post was last modified: Oct 02, 2010, 11:42 PM by Ruiko.)

His worry for her wellbeing stirred her heart for him, something that had long been dormant. Ranger had no idea that she could feel this way about anyone, but she knew that if she were to love anyone, it would be Ruiko. His visible concern for her was heart-warming; she had never felt so loved before in her life, and although their budding affection was young yet, she knew it was far from reaching its potential. His request that she come meet her brother made her smile, and she nodded in response, <b>"I'd love that."</b>

Only when he heard her words of agreement did the male fully settle, and while it elated him to know that she would do so, he offered only a small nod before settling to his haunches. Withholding a wince of pain from his torn ankle, the male’s bright eyes were once more drawn to the storm outside as the wind seemed to pick up, whipping small bits of foliage and dirt in to the very entrance of the cave. And still the grey clouds that darkened the sky did not offer what Relic Lore truly needed. “Perhaps the rain will come,” he murmured gently, his eyes soon training back on to the dark she-wolf.

She was captivating to him. She was larger than any other she-wolf he had met, though her figure emanated grace and power. She was not as gentle-natured as his sister Niija, but nor was she power-hungry and malicious like Ioni. No, she was a warrior, and that was what drew him to her.

Ranger was not altogether assured that the rain would fall during this storm, but she did not speak her thoughts aloud. It was hope that would keep them going through this trying time and she was not going to dash Ruiko's hopes like that. She smiled softly and nodded, snuggling up close to him, careful of his injured leg. She settled her chin on his shoulder and felt his warmth and strength beside her. There was nothing quite like it, and she wanted to stay there forever. Ranger never thought for one second that she'd ever feel love for anyone. It scared her, but also made her feel so invincible to the terrors of the world, like she could live through anything with him.

But their feelings, while hinted at during their brief encounters, had never been fully explored before. She hoped that with this meeting with Ruiko's brother, Ranger would be more welcome into the Swift River pack. She wondered briefly if she would even move there, and then pushed that thought away. Of course she would move there to be with Ruiko. She asked, very softly and tentatively, <b>"Would meeting your brother be a step toward me joining Swift River?"</b> It was mostly her curiosity that prompted her to ask this, but she also very much desired to be closer to Ruiko.

The she-wolf was silent, though action spoke to him far louder than any word. Her dark frame nestled softly against him, her chin finding its way to rest delicately upon his shoulder. It was a very natural feeling – as if she was always meant to be there, and thus was the reason why she seemed to fit so perfectly. He shifted his muzzle lightly, tracing the tip of his nose along the top of her head as he listened to the roaring thunder and sweeping winds outside. It was a storm like he had never seen, and while he worried for the whereabouts of his younger siblings, it was hard to completely keep the girl in his embrace from his thoughts.

Her query interrupted their silence, and Ruiko pulled his muzzle back slightly. Shifting his figure down to stretch across the smooth den, the large male brushed his muzzle ton her nape in invitation for her to follow suit. “Yes,” he responded simply, his bright eyes studying her features as his intentions became more clear. “That is, if you want to.”

Ranger had always wanted to be with Ruiko, from their first encounter. There had been something about him, something so intriguing and similar to herself that she felt pulled toward him. She had never really knew why, but know she did -- she loved him. Ranger had never felt love before, not true love. She had felt the "love" of her cruel father, the way he had taught her how to shun her brother for who he <i>was</i>. But Ranger was no longer that wolf. She might still know how to fight and protect those she loved, but she was not the judgmental wolf she had been. It took some effort to refrain from judging others harshly until she knew them, but she was trying, and she felt better for it.

So when Ruiko said she could move to the River with him, if she wanted, a smile parted her lips. She had never really been this happy before. It was a different happiness, complete and resolute, and nothing could deflate her. She didn't know what she'd do if Ruiko's brother didn't approve of her, though she wasn't sure how that could be. She had never met him before and had done Swift River wolves no harm. <b>"I would love to,"</b> she replied softly, nuzzling his jaw as she joined him, sprawled across the dark cave floor. <b>"I could help protect the pack, feed them during winter, and find water for everyone."</b> Her voice was wistful; she was thinking how great a team the pair would be.

(This post was last modified: Nov 07, 2010, 09:31 PM by Ranger.)