just one second til eternity

Above Darkwater Rapids, storm clouds gathered in masses so dark and sinister as to appear plumbous, and not clouds at all. They ranged from dove to gunmetal grey, and none of them were inviting. Wise wolves would stay in the safety of their dens to wait out the impending storm, but it could be said that Mace was not exactly a wise wolf. He was a mere two-and-a-half months old, practically still a suckling babe, and had yet to make distinctions in weather to any great degree. Dark clouds overhead meant rain, but that was all he knew; he didn't know that even darker clouds suggested lightning and booming thunder, and he wasn't expecting the torrential downpour that would ensue in a matter of minutes.

For this reason, he streaked from the Darkwater den, unabashed and unperturbed by the livid clouds overhead. Mace never went far—by nature he was a little bit of a troublemaker, but that was what being a cub was all about, and he saw no harm in his actions until his mother scolded him for them—but it was far enough. His paws clumsily stumbled over fallen branches, pockets of thick, spongy moss, and stones as he wandered closer and closer to the hissing rapids, although Mace did know better than to get too close. The danger was one of the first things the pups had been taught, and it was an absolute rule, and Mace didn't break rules he was already aware of. He was a good boy, but naturally, overly curious.

When thunder's gravelly growling began over the deep forest, the pup's head twisted inquisitively upward, accompanied by the pitter-patter of his heart rate picking up. He had heard that sound before, from the bowels of the communal den, but never had he heard it quite so loud or quite so continual… For a long span of five, ten heartbeats, it seemed neverending, a rolling doomsday noise that seemed to vibrate deep into the boy's chest. It died off shortly afterward, leaving Mace to keep his gaze warily fixed to the canopy while he held his breath. When it didn't seem like the sound—a monster, he decided, for only monsters roared like that—would return, he went back to his romping.

It was only a couple seconds before the boy found his next distraction: a strange, earthy pink thing wriggling on the ground. With nostrils aquiver, the boy leant his head down to sniff at it, and the familiarity of its earthen scent triggered his memory; gleefully, he shouted, Weeeerm! and began to prance around it, likely leaving the poor earthworm quite shocked and confused with the heavy pound of his paws on the ground. Werm werm werrrrrm wer—

Suddenly, the sky erupted in a flash of light, stunning the child momentarily, and the following clap of thunder spooked him so badly that he chose a direction—thankfully, away from the rapids—and fled without thought, paws flying wildly and yipping cries hollering from his throat. Soon, his sounds of distress would be drowned out by the rain, and his sense of direction muddled; Mace could only hope he was found before then, although he was not consciously aware how the rain would make him hard to find when it started.

(This post was last modified: Jul 21, 2013, 06:58 PM by Mace.)

gorgeous set by kydnt

As the clouds darkened and the air grew heavy with heat and moisture Ava returned from her daily responsibilities to guard her young within the den. They were old enough now that she hadn't the need to babysit, but this would be their first proper storm and she delighted in being there to comfort them, should they fear the rumble of thunder or violent flash of lightning. Besides, she had wondered which ones would fear the noise and which would be intrigued. She would find out quickly, as the headcount was one short, and Ava knew immediately which one it was.

Thunder snarled overhead as the coal-pelted female loped away from the den, giving a stern glance over her shoulder that none of the others should follow. The little cub's trail was easy to pick up, the freshness quelling the dark mother's fear that perhaps there was an atypical situation waiting ahead. Though she wouldn't speak of it, the Darkwater Queen did, every once and again, reluctantly entertain the idea that perhaps those devil wolves who had once haunted this region had returned to steal puppies again. In their shadow-cloaked home she felt safe, as those leaves that wove the canopy shut belonged to them. But this storm was wild and unpredictable - who knew what sort of evil could be conjured beneath a malevolent sky?

Nonsense, Ava told herself. Just the other day Maksim and she had entertained themselves with stories of the past, but that's all they were. Stories. Imagination. This storm was no omen and brought nothing with it, and Mace had simply wandered too far from the den. That was all. But it was hard to ease herself with something so precious as her own child's life on the line. The closer the trail took her to the rapids, the fiercer Ava's amber stare became. Flashes of fire raged in her eyes, fueled by worry, by anger, by fear. Did he often go this far without her knowledge? The scent thickened as she wove through the trees, growing heavier and heavier - and then it changed instantly. The trail was killed, as though something very sudden had happened.

Horror widened her eyes, irises yellow with a shaking terror. Fat droplets of water began to bleed through the canopy, a rumbling crescendo of noise shaking the tree trunks all around her as thunder crashed wickedly just above the Attaya woman. The storm was no longer on its way, it was here, and Mace was anywhere but. Frantically she rose her slender muzzle to the sky, her voice a booming homing signal as she called out to her boy, her sweet boy, to call back to him so she could bring him home.

art - threads

Maksim stalked through the undergrowth of the forest, dark green eyes locked on a fox that was sniffing around their territory. The vermin must have been very hungry (or simply stupid) to simply disregard and waltz over the border, probably looking to steal from the Darkwater Rapids’ cache in the dead of night. With his tail held high, Maksim suddenly rushed forward with a snarl on his lips. The fox, a young male, turned on his toes with a loud shriek. Snapping his jaws, the Darkwater wolf growled audibly at the fact he had barely missed the fluffy red tail of the trespasser who shot off at the speed of sound. Slowing to a halt, the Baranski made sure the dirty vermin was well out of his sight before snorting. “Stupid little creatures,” he scoffed. Why, if he saw the creature again he’d make sure to— Plonk. Maksim blinked, his brief victory very much disturbed, looking upward after a large raindrop crashed down onto his nose. Only now had he noticed the vicious grey clouds that brewed and churned in the sky above. It seemed that only now they were tearing open and showering the forest in rain. Storms had never bothered the brute, in fact he rather liked them and especially so as a child. Why, he could recall a certain storm that blasted through Tall Trees. It ripped trees from the ground and stirred the lake until it roared with waves. Perhaps that was the main thing that fascinated the silver and brown male about nature and weather: how devastating it could be. He was snapped out of his little trip to the past as a crack of loud thunder made the presence of lightning known, suddenly realising just how heavy the rain was falling. He’d have his paws full with remarking the borders where the rain swept scents away, though that became the least of the Baranski’s concerns when the sound of Ava’s cry burst through the rain. It was so faint to his ears amongst the noise of the storm and that set off alarm bells. He ran, quick as he could, with a look of steel in his eyes. Trouble, he figured, and very serious at that. One—or more—of the pups had to be missing. Why else would she make such a worried call? She needn’t worry about her pack mates in such a storm but her children? Now, that was an entirely different matter. Hopefully the youngster had heeded her call and was already home … hopefully. Rounding a thick tree, he was met with the dark frame of Ava but, after a quick search of the ground around her, no pup. “Ava,” his voice was stoic and sharp, lacking the trademark ma’am, “who is missing?” As soon as that question was answered by the mother of four, he’d set off to search the area and thoroughly. No pup was going to perish as long as he stayed within the pack. MAKSIM BARANSKI “the only thing we’re allowed to do is believe we won’t regret the choices we make”

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

Yaaay thank you both!

He was blind. Blinded of sight by the rain that pelted his face and eyes; blinded of smell by the scents that suddenly seemed amplified hundreds of times over, and all but masked everything; blinded of hearing by the wild rustling of leaves and the growl of thunder overhead. His paws carried him with, for once in his life, surefootedness, but it was anything but certainty that guided him. He had no idea where he was going, no idea where home was, and that terrified him. He was too young, too afraid of the loud noises and the rain that pelted him, to remember that he was supposed to be brave and fearless, to use his head; how could a boy so young think of such a thing? Instead, he ran and ran and ran, as fast as his little legs would carry him, without direction.

Another loud boom of thunder froze him in place and tore a whimpering cry of, Mama! from his lips. His eyes were wide, pupils shrunk to fearful pinpricks in the baby blue, and wild as he cast about himself for his savior, his guardian angel, the love of his life to find him. But she wasn't there; Ava had just reached the point where he had fled, but he had no idea. Mama! he cried again, plastering his ears flat against his head as his heart slammed madly against his thin chest. Mama! Daaaa! Mace was beginning to fear he would never see her again, or Kade or his siblings either, and would be swallowed up in this storm, when the faintest sound rose above the rain: a howl.

His ears shot straight up, recognising instantly the voice of the woman he wanted most to run to and hide beneath. Relief fluttered through him as he lifted his head back and loose his own responding howl, as he had always been told to do, a fear-filled yap against the storm that screamed from his throat in the loudest and most desperate sound he had ever made. The rain was falling even harder now, drenching the rapids in a curtain of near-grey that made it hard to even see the trees in front of him. He began to very slowly pick his way in the direction Ava's summons had come from, only to cower to the ground when the sky lit up and roared once more.

(This post was last modified: Jul 21, 2013, 07:01 PM by Mace.)

gorgeous set by kydnt

Ava stood anxiously, swiveling her ears to every imagined sound she could hear, hoping desperately that it might be Mace's voice. She was torn, for her every instinct pushed her to keep running until she found her child - but logically she knew someone had to stay in place. She could hardly hear, she could hardly see, and he certainly wouldn't be able to either. It made no sense to have both of them chasing ghosts out there in the forest, but no way was she going to keep standing here, drenched in rain and powerlessness alike. Damn it, she had to find her precious babe, tell him how much she loved him and take him to his family where fear was irrelevant.

A streak of silver flashed by her peripherals, turning her head to catch Maksim's arrival with her panicked stare. She'd nearly mistaken him for a flash of lightning as she couldn't smell a thing and took a moment to wipe the flabbergasted look off her face. Despite the crisp tone of his words the man's voice soothed the rise of her hackles, if even by a little bit. "Mace," she answered promptly, attempting to shelter the quake of her voice. The new mother was terrified, certainly, but on her pride she couldn't show it. She thanked the darkness that the thick cover of storm clouds created in hiding the shake of her legs as she stood in the downpour. "I don't know where he is. The trail dies."

The crack of thunder drowned the last of her whimper, yet as the noise drained she heard it - a howl. The tail-end of a distant howl, but a pup's howl none the less. Without a second thought she called to him once more, louder than before: come here. Her paws pressed deep into the mud as she tried to pick out a return against the clangors in the sky. Taking a few distressed steps forward she peered into the abyss of the surrounding foliage, desperate for another flash of lightning to illuminate the shadows and show her her son on his way home. With a quiet growl she let her gaze wander toward her trusted friend, lost for direction.

art - threads

Should you decide that Maksim finds Mace, Chelsie, then feel free to PP Maksim picking him up and carrying him to Ava. c:

Maksim could barely make out the expression on her face through the rain though he knew it would be a fearful one. A pup lost in a freak thunderstorm was absolutely hideous news, especially for a new mother. But where was Kade? Was he already out in the storm, fighting through the rain to find his son? Or was he too far away, on the other side of the territory? Well, hopefully the Baranski’s presence was enough to calm Ava somewhat. He exhaled heavily when she told him the name of the pup—Mace—and spoke of the dead trail. Not good. A dead trail was definitely not what was wanted in this situation. A crash of thunder seemed to highlight the danger of the situation yet, emerging from the tail end of it, came a faint and distant howl, a howl that Maksim could only put down to one thing: Mace. Another heavy exhale. Thank God, it sounded like he was okay; most likely scared out of his mind but otherwise okay. The young prince would remain that way. Still, he was not home with his family yet. Ava returned the call, as expected, and the Darkwater male stepped forward when she did. One of them would have to remain and perhaps it would have been better for her to remain. If the boy managed to find his own way home then he would most certainly want to return to the warmth of his mother. The Darkwater leader cast her gaze to Maksim and he took it as a signal. Without another word he was off, eyes peeled against the rain that struck his nose like rubber pellets. If he knew anything about pups, it was that they usually ran in one direction when scared. Also, given that the black female had called for her son a second time and gave him another inkling as to where she was, Maskim was sure he’d be picking his way home, no matter how terrified. Ava and Kade’s children would be as strong as them, of this the large male was sure. His voice called out, hopefully loud enough for the pup to hear him. “Mace! Where are you?” He pushed onwards, cursing the weather under his breath. He enjoyed storms, yes, but not when they threatened his friend’s children. “Follow my voice,” he almost roared, trying his damn hardest to shout over the rain. Again, he cursed under his breath before shouting out once more. “Follow my voice if you can hear me!” There was a chance this storm would get worse and the soaked male very much hoped that both he and young Mace would make it back to Ava safely. “I’ll take you back to your ma!” MAKSIM BARANSKI “the only thing we’re allowed to do is believe we won’t regret the choices we make”

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

As lightning fizzled across the sky in brilliant cracks and pops of colour, the pup's fur yearned to lift and bristle in fear and apprehension, but each sodden hair was lain flat by its own weight. He faltered under the light of the sky with heart hammering, until again the call for his attention broke through the din and set his feet moving again. It would have continued in this fashion, minimal progress for maximal effort, should the pack not have risen to the occasion; however, Darkwater Rapids was a family pack, and even non-Attayas were as blood to them.

And so he didn't have to spend many more agonizing minutes alone, for soon there was another voice rising above the noise and piquing the dark child's attention. He lifted another howl in response to this newest voice, lacking both the lung power and the composure to shout out any verbalized response; instinct would have to do for now. His pace was quicker now, with Maksim's words serving as a strong homing signal that was growing even stronger the closer the Guardian drew. Wolves were excellent navigators, and if anything could prove that to young Mace — who, of course, would never be truly aware of the lesson here — it would have been his ability to follow their noises back to them.

He found Maksim in the rain, and never had such reliefe poured through him as it did when he saw the third, fur plastered to his body in much the same fashion as his own. Mace's tail began a wild wriggling behind him, and his body cowered low to the ground even as he stepped close to the male, his savior, with knowledge that he was definitely going to be in trouble when the fear blew over, but of this he cared little. What he cared about was that this wolf was pack and he would be able to bring Mace home. His submission was severe, with his head bowed low but nose upturned in silent worship, tongue flashing out over his lips in fearful swipes at any part of the older male he could reach, and his body trembling uncontrollably against the floor to which it was pressed; but this was instinctual as well, it was respect, and relief and gratitude and admiration.

The Baranski male wasted no further time, and soon Mace, cradled by his scruff in the earthy male's jaws, was able to see his mother as the pair stepped back into her vicinity. Ma! he cried with relief, the words punctuated with whines and whimpers of regret and happiness, for he might not ever have seen her again if Maksim hadn't found him. His torso nearly craned toward her from the older wolf's hold, and it was a wonder that his movements, his excitement and his fear and his yearning for his mama, didn't wrench him free of the Guardian's grasp.

(This post was last modified: Jul 31, 2013, 03:15 AM by Mace.)

gorgeous set by kydnt

this post is gross ._.

Her amber eyes followed Maksim's body as far as she could, paying no heed to the storm's distractions unless it would come with the scent of her pup - though it never did. When she could see him no longer, Ava dug her blunt claws into the moist terrain, trying to steady herself though she wasn't physically moving. Her vision felt hyper, hardly able to focus on any one object through the vicious rainstorm and constant crackles of lightning, much less through the panic that fogged up her brain. Her hackles bristled at such a foolish response - this was no time to fail herself and much less fail her son! Her anxious muscles quivered beneath her drenched coat but she refused to humor them any longer. The violent lam of thunder overhead would not curl her tail in. She had to remain vigilant for their return, because it would be coming along shortly, and the three of them would need to be quick to return to safety before the storm got any worse.

She was uncertain if it was an eternity or a few sparse seconds that she remained in wait but it became irrelevant the moment the Guardian reappeared with her soggy son in tow. Mace's cry never sounded so sweet, but she would not let the relief flood her eyes just yet. They were only halfway there. "I'm here, Mace. I'm here," she called over the noise, but she wouldn't reach out to him yet. Instead the she-wolf turned on her heel and ducked her head for low-hanging branches, headed home. Through the darkness she could hardly see the den that sat above the wild rapids, but she could see the forest thin and felt the earth grow tall as they approached the earthen rise that would bring them out of danger. It was not until they were all three past the mouth of the den that she would turn back to her faithful Guardian, seeking his green eyes first before lowering herself to her belly to receive her eldest son.

art - threads

Relief washed over the guardian as the pup came to view. Small licks were offered from Mace wherever the youth could reach. Maksim gave a swift swipe of his tongue over the boy’s head and nosed his scruff gently, simply glad he was okay and not injured. The older male wasted no time in gently grasping onto the boy by the back of his neck and lifting him into the air. It was time to find mama. Turning and walking with a quick gait, he made sure to take the majority of the storm’s force, keeping his head duck and Mace as close as possible so the rain and wind would mostly batter Maksim’s bulky frame. That, and perhaps the prince would find some sort of warmth and reassurance against his mother’s loyal guardian and his rather soggy coat. Keeping his pace up and ploughing on, it wasn’t long before Maksim spied Ava and the prince was reunited with his mother, lurching forward with a yelp. The guardian kept his hold, though he huffed a little as the boy wriggled desperately to be against her. Ava’s response would surely relieve the boy. Soon. He just needed to be a little more patient. They weren’t exactly safe yet. “Whh’re nhhrly hmme,” Maksim rumbled, hoping the pup would understand his attempt at saying we’re nearly home with his mouth full of pup. Ducking under the low-hanging branches that shuddered violently in the howling winds, the guardian hoped some freak accident would not occur. The den came into view and the trio, with no more obstacles blocking their path, made their way within. He let out a breath of relief, glad the warm darkness of the den pushed back the cold of the storm. Resisting the urge to shake out his wet coat, Maksim’s eyes fell upon Ava, who sought only one thing: Mace. Lowering her boy to the ground, the guardian released his scruff before he dropped to his belly too, folding one paw over the other so that he may rest his head. Green gaze fell upon Ava, somewhat apologetic for his sudden collapse. He hoped she’d pardon it. Outside a flash of lightning signalled the approach of thunder, filling the den with light briefly, though Maksim’s frame mostly blocked it out. The loud crackle from outside caused his ears to twitch. Things would be okay. MAKSIM BARANSKI “the only thing we’re allowed to do is believe we won’t regret the choices we make”

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

OOC: Howdy howdy! I'm back now. :x Sorry to be gone so long!

He just had to be patient; he had to wait, and count like his parents had been showing him, and soon the rain would stop and the clouds would clear, the thunder would cease its endless roars, and his mother would be there. She would shower him with kisses and let him snuggle and his siblings would be happy he was home, and there would be no repercussions… Although the child knew, deep deep down inside, that he was in big trouble when all this blew over. He didn't acknowledge it, because it was deeply rooted beneath the primal fleeing instinct that the storm had triggered, and beneath that another layer of primal sociality, where he needed to be surrounded by others; thoughts of consequences were far from his ability to comprehend, and therefore, far from his mind.

A grunt and puff of air across the top of his head was all the warning he needed from Maksim; his movements halted instantly, in part aided by his mother's distant reassurance, because some part of him knew that struggling would only make it harder to get home. He was soaked to the bone, and his tiny body wracked with shivers. Even the two older wolves were likely cold, and if there was anything Mace didn't like being, it was cold. But cold he was, even in the midst of a muggy summer, with his skin crawling with water, so he knew that getting home was going to be a good thing.

The minute the pair crossed the threshold of the den — or rather, Maksim strode over it, and Mace was carried along, helpless and useless — his tail began to whip at a speed previously unknown to any of them. The rotor of a motorboat might've been jealous had it borne witness. Maksim gently dropped him to the ground, and his feet had scarcely brushed over the terrain before he was scurrying forward to bury himself against his mother, quivering harder than he ever had with a flood of emotion and fear and regret, with apology and plea, and sheer happiness, all at once. He had been terrified and she had sent her loyal Guardian to find him and bring him home, like his saving angel, and he only had eyes for her.

Well, briefly. When warmth began to find itself back in him, when his shaking began to wane into mild trembles, he turned back to the agouti Baranski. Even though his steps were less vigorous and eager now than they had been when he'd run to Ava, Mace was no less sincere when he approached the Guardian with his body slung slow, ears pressed back and nose raised in thanks and gratitude, for if it hadn't been for Maksim, he might never have had the strength to return to his family.

gorgeous set by kydnt