the end of all things.

Dated to December 21st – I was putting this off. :c Anyone is welcome to join: Lachesis’ return after losing Anastasia. You don't have to match the length! <3

Distance travelled:
Left on December 15th: 2 days travel to Serpent’s Pass (Riddle Heights) – arrived December 17th.
Lost for 1 full day.
Lachesis leaves without Anastasia on December 19th and arrives back in Cut Rock 2 days later, December 21st.

Days gone from Cut Rock: 5

Words: 1209

<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12px; color:#909892;"> They had left together after speaking feverishly about searching for the former heirs of Pitch Pine Trail. After Aeolus had stumbled upon his new home’s borders the pair had been constantly worried of the well-being of the late Shade’s children. Although they had not left on good terms Lachesis still worried frequently – especially of Karpos – despite his best efforts to push aside his former life in the Trail. It wasn’t fair. He shouldn’t have left so abruptly, without a proper good-bye. Lachesis deserved to be hated by the shadow prince, but he still wanted to know that the child was safe. The deer-legged yearling would always care more about others than himself, and Karpos was no exception. While he had not bonded with the prince’s sister, Adsila, his concern did not lessen with the Trail princess. Two wolves so young shouldn’t be without a proper guardian – at least Lachesis knew that Karpos had been travelling with Capella but Adsila’s location was still a mystery. Was she with Ace? Silver, perhaps? Or had she ventured on her own? After nights of frantic whispering and exchanging their concerns, the pear-eyed boy and his companion, Anastasia, had decided to venture toward the mountain to locate the scent of the Slayer children. It had been foolish – Lachesis knew that now – but the pair had been desperate. They needed to know if the pups were safe; at the time, there had been no other solution. Trying to work their way across the frozen mountains was the only way to know. They had left under the cover of darkness, their coats blending in with the snow that dusted their surroundings. Few words were swapped as they travelled, long legs carrying the two wolves swiftly over the frozen terrain. The quicker their pace were the sooner they would reach their destination and be able to return back home, as they were departing without the blessing of their leader. The pair knew what the answer would have been should they have asked their agouti leader – a firm ‘no’ and a quick lecture on how idiotic their decision to climb the mountain was. At the time XIX thought their plan was brilliant. It was going to brief, the pair only gone for a few days, and then they would be back. Flawless. Once they arrived at the base of the mountain everything fell apart. The weather was nearly unbearable, even for their Arctic blood. The snow was impossible to see through and the wolves had to rely on their muted senses to maneuver through the weather. As soon as XIX realized how difficult it was to see through the storm he realized how awful their plan had been – how utterly moronic it was. Why did they think that they would be capable of travelling through this? Barely able to speak above the vicious storm that raged overheard Anastasia and Lachesis pursued the top of the mountain, their pace slowly drastically as the weather worsened with each step. ‘This way!’ She had shouted, voice barely audible as the storm continued. He had followed, struggling to remain close, long legs pushing through the many feet of snow that covered the mountain… Then, in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Her scent lingered only in his nostrils as her trail had ceased – gone, just like she was. His blue-eyed dove – best friend, rock, and companion – had been devoured by the blizzard. He shouted her name hysterically, voice growing hoarse as he battled the storm. Tears were unable to fall from his cheeks as they froze immediately after dropping from his tear ducts, creating icicles along the side of his face. Eventually he grew numb to the cold, unable to tell how much time had passed as he continued to yell her name, desperately searching. No, no, no… She couldn’t be gone. She had to still be here… she had to be okay. He couldn’t… he couldn’t survive without her. She was everything… he loved her more than he loved himself. It would always be that way. He could not imagine his life without her by his side, confiding in each other and swapping secrets. Everything had been so perfect… they had left the Trail together in hopes of creating a better future and they had. Things had finally begun to look up for the troubled pair – Lachesis was working diligently to pursue the role of healer once he came to age and Anastasia had expressed her interest in challenging Astra for her Alpha position. Things had gotten better – they were happy. Everything was perfect. But now… she was gone. Without a word or gesture – just gone. There was an immensely painful weight that developed in his stomach as an ache formed in his heart. His Anastasia, the only wolf that had truly cared for the embarrassingly awkward yearling, had vanished. The snow had swallowed her without mercy, claiming the beautiful china doll and kidnapping her from the boy. He moved blindly through the snow, stumbling and falling down the mountain. He would miss a step and then tumble, unable to stop himself and grab a proper footing. He wasn’t sure where he was headed – every few steps he would call out her name once more, not wanting the blue-eyed dove to disappear from his memories. He wouldn’t believe that she was gone… he couldn’t. She must have gotten lost and returned to the pack – she was probably curled up inside their den waiting for him. Ice formed on his fur, making it difficult for the yearling to move at a reasonable pace. The mountain had defeated him, claiming Anastasia as its prize. His mind would not stop as different scenarios played out in his head – she was alive and back at Cut Rock, she was frozen at the peak, she had made it to the other side, she was dead… frozen and buried beneath the snow… gobbled up by an avalanche… dead. Dead. No. She couldn’t be dead. He would not allow it. She had to be okay. The ground became easier to walk on as the mountain disappeared from beneath him, the earth levelling out as he pushed forward. With his head bowed the youth did not rest as he continued forward – without looking he just knew what direction was home. Would it still be a home without Anastasia? Would everything be okay? Nothing would be the same. As he collapsed under the branches of the cedar trees tears rolled down his cheeks, now able to break free of the ice that had once captured them. He was unable to cease the sobs that rattled his thin body, the ice that clung to his coat rattling against each other as he buried himself beneath the snow, desperately wanting to disappear now that he was back in Cut Rock territory. What if Anastasia was still alive – would she upset that he had left her, alone, on the mountain? He had searched and searched for her, calling her name out to the mountain in hopes of a response. But the youth was only greeted by silence; cold, unwanted silence. She was gone.

stick with those who stick with you

Mace didn't know a lot about the wolves who called Cut Rock River home. Maksim and Destin he knew from Darkwater Rapids, but some of the other members - the lead female, Astra, included - had joined just before the flood, and not in enough time for him to meet them. Amongst those wolves were the two who had gone missing, Anastasia and Lachesis. Maksim had noticed their absence, in particular that of Ana, and had alerted his subordinates. That had marked the beginning of Mace's surest attempts to make himself useful: ever since the announcement, despite being unable to scout far from their land, the young Attaya prince had made rounds of the territory's perimeter.

Walking so much hurt his feet, and he wasn't yet so good at retaining urine to mark long stretches of the borders, but that wasn't yet his job. He grew wear after traveling only halfway around Cut Rock River, but he forced himself to continue his rounds until he got back where he started. Each day, it became easier... But neither of the missing wolves crossed him at the border, and each day, the adolescent knight returned with nothing to report.

This day, however, Mace had a gut feeling that the border wasn't far enough out to find them. He strayed a little from the border, scouting out past the pack's claimed land like a true guardian, and it was this small alteration in his course that brought him directly to XIX.

The yearling was huddled in the snow, thin and worn and wracked with tears. Mace's approach, when he noticed the lump of wolf on the ground, was direct and cautious, but spurred by the urgency of seeing a wolf sprawled in the snow. He had never met either of the former Pitch Pine wolves, but whether or not this wolf was one of them didn't matter. They were small, smaller than the adolescent Attaya, and looked fair enough to snap in half as easy as a twig. Hypothermia could catch a frail wolf unawares here, and no matter who the stranger was, Mace would not allow anyone to perish on the borders of his pack.

"Hang on," Mace muttered as he collapsed down beside XIX, hoping to press near the yearling to share his warmth. He didn't know the first thing about helping a wolf in XIX's position, but he was determined to do something, small and unimpressive as that something was. As he settled to keep the smaller male warm, he lifted his head into an urgent call for help, knowing an adult would be better equipped to handle it. As his song died on the wind he turned his attention to his pack mate - there was no doubt now, not with Maksim's scent clinging feebly to his coat - and said, "are you hurt? What happened to you?"

gorgeous set by kydnt

Look Out!

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by a bear nearby. +10 Health

<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#F4DA00;"> Beaten and battered from the long trip off of the mountain, Capella was thankful to be back on level ground. The snow up there had been blinding, refilling the cavities made by the pack in front of her almost as soon as it was packed down. She had peered through the falling snow every so often to find a dark coat still moving, before shutting them tightly once more against the frigid air. It wasn't until she was sure that Karpos had survived the brunt of the journey that she stopped following the pack, setting out in search of her own home. The light had quickly faded in the hours since she had changed course from those who were heading the escape. The moon was now her constant companion, illuminating her path as the rest of the world delved into darkness. Only the sound of stumbling paws crunching through the snow, and her labored breath could be heard. Bitter chills swept across her spine as exhaustion cracked it's way into the edges of her vision. The descent itself had seemed endless, but her journey wasn't over yet; Not even close. Her mission was to see Karpos to a safe haven, then meet Lachesis wherever he may be. Phase one was complete, and although it had taken an enormous toll on her body, it's silly pleads for rest were not going to stop her from completing the second. It wasn't until the sun touched her dandelion eyes again that she gave in and allowed herself the privilege of sleep. It was short, and restless, filled with far too many nightmares for her taste. The last one had even ruined the thought of sleep for her, as she'd seen herself standing over Karpos' lifeless body frozen in the snow. She was begging an unseen force, asking to trade places with him. It was with that image that she began again, this time not stopping to give her body the break she so desperately deserved. It was in the quiet hours that followed where she was able to think about how selfish her plight really was. The pale fae who had once been called 'aunty' had shamed her title. She had just left the two heirs to whatever fate that may lay before them so she could chase after her own happiness. What would become of them? If she had put up a fight, or just given in and joined the same pack the dark male had, then she wouldn't have to worry about him. Unfortunately she'd always have to worry about the young princess. Why didn't she ask Adsila to come with her? Somehow it didn't seem right. After all of the time she had spent in Pitch Pine after her return, she had never attempted to rekindle the bond between herself and the young girl. Maybe it was purely the fear of another rejection that she couldn't handle. Knowing where they stood might have killed the creamy rogue, and now it would remain one of her biggest regrets. Capella knew that Adsila went with Ace, as their scents were intertwined, and that meant she was safe. Unfortunately, that was all it meant, and now her chance was gone. Their paths may never cross again. Flying forward, she made an attempt at running from her thoughts. Muscles never stopped begging for a relief that they would never see. Not until her body finally gave out, or her eyes touched the ghostly form of her only friend. Blinking more rapidly than before, she could feel the merciless fingers of winter grasping at her again. Dark spots appeared in her already blurry vision, as the wobbling of her limbs increase, but still she willed herself to move. It wouldn't be long now, just a day and a half at most, then she would have fulfilled her promises. The next step would be to ask their alpha for entry into the pack, and if he accepted she would have a home. It would be good for her to jump aboard, and stop watching life pass her by, as she'd already spent too many months of her life as a bystander. Pushing on through the night, she crossed a river that seemed to be completely frozen over. A light sigh escaped from between her lips as she put it behind her. Thirst wasn't her main concern, as the snow had been satisfying enough, but actual water would have been a treat. Not long after the disappointment of finding a still river, her body finally decided enough was enough. All of her weight came crashing down atop the sparkling floor beneath her. Using the last meager bit of energy she could scour, the female rolled herself over until she had a clear view of the sky. It was a brilliant sight, filled with twinkling lights over a deep obsidian background. Dandelion eyes were surprised to find constellations they remembered so easily. Long ago, in another world entirely, her mother had taught them to her. It was a tradition in her family that each newborn cub would be named after a star, and it had been honored for generations, but was that to stop with her? She'd never really thought about having a family, or what she would name her pups. Many dreamed of the day they would be able to rear their own children, but she had always lived in the moment. It always seemed so far away, a thought for another day, and once again, she would have to put it away. Each puff of breath released into the air conjured a small cloud that she couldn't help but watch. She took note as it rose above her, fading away to became one with the sky. Where did it go once it left her lungs? Did it find it's way to the place souls were supposed to go? Would Shade see her breath, wherever he was and know she was alive? Capella didn't really know what she believed happened after one died. She had meant to ask Lach, or Shade what they thought, but life got in the way, and now more than ever, she was desperate to find something to believe in. It didn't have to be otherworldly, or supernatural, she just wanted to feel hope once more. Real hope, not the pseudo kind she was now used to. Closing her eyes, she found no sleep, but relief from the stinging sensation. Once she was confident that she could open her lids, and see without the blurriness, she did so. Finding the constellation that held Capella, she felt some peace. Her mother always told her that it was her star, but of course it wasn't. The tiny light in the sky belonged to everyone, and no one at all. It was not an object for keeping, but still it offered comfort, and for the first time since her death, she felt a little closer to her mother. An odd sensation touched her ears. It sounded almost like voices, but how could there be voices in the middle of nowhere? She couldn't fit her head around it. Then the familiar scent of her ghostly companion filtered it's way into her nose. Rolling back over, driven with renewed strength, her paws began moving. She was a mess of legs and feet, trudging through the powder, desperately wanting to see his face. It wasn't until a dark mass atop a very familiar form that her heart sunk. Her body felt cold. It was as if the winter's chill crept into her skin, tearing it's way as it went. She wanted to move, begged to breath, but it wasn't possible. Finally, the slight rise and fall of his chest allowed the tears to break free, and small sobs to leave her throat. He was alive, but something was wrong. One paw in front of the other she made her way to him. Ignoring the dark male that resided with him. Once in a closer proximity, she dropped into a crawl, pushing forward slowly. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#F4DA00;">"Lach...?" worlds are ruined this way, and we've all been there time and time again.

(This post was last modified: Dec 31, 2013, 06:48 AM by Capella.)

Lovely table, and signature by Arla <3

i probably should've replied to this sooner--sorry @Lachesis!

Where were they? Lachesis and Anastasia had been missing and with each day they had no been within the pack territory, Maksim worried. He had swiftly alerted his subordinates to the fact two of their members were missing and Mace, the devoted lad, had pushed himself to patrol borders. This would mark the fifth day they were both missing from their home and the agouti wolf could not stop his own constant checks on the borders, hopeful that he would find their scent trail returning to Cut Rock River. Alas, the evenings ended in disappointment with no sign of the Arctic pair. There's always tomorrow had become a prominent thought process for the River leader now but that tomorrow never came. They were always still missing.

He had set out early morning, shaking away sleep from his tired eyes. With a quick and steady jog to jump start his patrol, to get his blood pumping and he made his way to the edges of his territory. He would mark here and there, making sure the borders were obvious to any passing-by loner—or scavenger—creeping along. Minutes ticked by, hours rolled past and the Leader marched on, steely gaze peering into the surrounding forest in hopes of finding a glimpse of the missing pair. It was then that he caught the howl of Mace requesting an adult's appearance and, from the sound of thing, it seemed important. He paused a moment, wondering if he should continue his patrol or come to the Attaya boy's aid. He wasn't all that far from the lad and it would be no problem to return to his patrols after tending to the cub. Turning, the Baranski charged off in a flurry of snow.

Beyond the borders, it wasn't long until Maksim came to find Mace in the snow and a stranger crawling up to him. They seemed to both be looking at something and, briefly, the agouti male's lip raised—was she attempting to steal a kill from the boy—but it quickly lowered as he slowed to a halt. There was concern in her sunflower gaze which led Maksim to the conclusion that, no, she was not stealing something from the boy. Now that he was still, the River leader could hear the sobs which certainly did not belong to Mace. “… Lachesis?”

Immediately he dropped down to Lachesis' side, pressing himself close to the young Arctic. “Lachesis, it's alright, it's me; Maksim. I'm here.” He did his best to comfort the obviously distraught ivory wolf, though he stumbled on his thoughts and spoke without thinking. “Where is Anastasia?” Perhaps he should have stopped himself before he could utter the words.

(This post was last modified: Jan 04, 2014, 12:27 AM by Maksim.)

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

Throwing Astra in here. ;) Winter continued to drag on, each day seeming colder than the last. Another few inches more added to the already heavily covered ground. By now, Astra had grown used to the severe conditions, as intolerable as they were. There was no use sitting back and complaining about it. She would just have to make due. To work harder, think smarter and plan further ahead. Days had passed since she had last been summoned to the borders by an outsider and it was a relief to be undisturbed for a while. Her peace though, was bound to come to an end sometime. And so it did, when the cry of a pup urgently filled the air. Snapping her head up from it's resting position over her legs, a surge of worry raced down her spine. A dozen possibilities of what could have gone wrong raced through her mind. Though backed by a formidable pack, any pup was still at risk from a wide variety of dangers. What if it was another lynx? Or worse yet, a bear out of it's winter sleep in search of food? For all she knew, there could be a stranger on their doorstep, bearing ill intent. Whatever it was, the butterscotch female wasn't about to let it slip by unnoticed. Shuffling to her paws, she emerged from the warmth of the den at a sprint. Leaving a trail of paw prints in her wake, she struggled to plow through deep snow, which was now at chest height. It was quite a ways yet until she would reach the pup, or anyone else who had reached him. Like Quil and Cinder, Mace was a youth she didn't know a thing about. Only that he was born in Darkwater Rapids. That was it. Still, like most wolves, Astra's instincts to look after the boy surfaced, especially now. This could've been a fine day socializing with the youngest members of the pack, had they been around. A twenty minutes had passed by since she set out to find the male, and as his scent grew stronger, she knew she was getting close. What piqued her interest though, was the presence of another...one that did not belong. Stifling a low growl, she approached the scene cautiously. Mace, as he was known, she spotted easily. He stood out like a sore thumb with his black coat in this landscape of white. He was crouched down...at something. Her eyes fell upon another figure, this one an agouti female she didn't recognize. She too, was bent down low. Why was she here...? Picking up the pace, Astra closed in, arriving only seconds after Maksim. Holding her tail high in a clear display of her authority and identity (towards Capella), she trudged through the snow until she stood opposite of Maksim. What she saw alarmed her. Lachesis, collapsed under the branches of a tree, looking frazzled and sobbing. Most notably, his constant companion Anastasia, was not by his side. Now that she was near, Astra could only smell the old, faint musk of the pack on him. Not that of his female friend. Needless to say, she didn't display any regret. Only shock. "What happened? How long has he been here like this?" She queried, concerned for his physical well being. Their absence from the pack had not gone unnoticed. It was alarming how long they had been away. Now, she turned her attention upon the lone female. "And you, miss. You seem to be acquainted with him. May I ask your name?" Stormy eyes locked upon Capella inquisitively, with a firm yet warm hold.

thank you all for joining <333 lach appreciates it just as much as i do! :)

<b style="font-family:georgia; color:#909892;"> Time had frozen. The world around him no longer made sense – there was nothing left for him. With his blue-eyed dove now gone, stolen away from him by the snow that swarmed the mountains, he had nothing… Everything he had done – everything he had strived for – was now pointless. It had all been for her, and without her here… what was the point? Pain… there was so much pain. It consumed him, devoured him, tore away at his insides. It had slowly begun to rip apart the fragile yearling, causing each breath to feel as though he was inhaling fire. Although time was at a standstill, the world around him spun rapidly; his claws dug into the snow in order to steady himself even though he was already laying down. Why had he left? He should have stayed… searched longer… would she be disappointed in him for abandoning her? That’s precisely what he had done – he had abandoned her, the one who had always been at his side defending him. The one who had always been there for him, regardless of what he had done. He had betrayed her. Would she ever forgive him? A sob shook the skeleton as voices appeared, his thin shoulders quivering violently as he buried his snout beneath his paws. First there was one, whose words went by unnoticed as the sound of his own weeping drowned out all other noise. His nose wasn’t working – as more voices approached Lachesis was unable to detect who they were. It didn’t matter… none of them belonged to the one he wanted to hear the most. He was frightened he would never hear her voice again. Even worse, he was worried that he was going to forget what she sounded like… what she looked like… Then, without warning, one of the voices spoke her name… Anastasia. The single word ripped through him, causing a cry to choke past his lips, breaking the still air that surrounded him. While there were warm bodies pressed against him XIX could barely feel them – his bones rattled beneath his skin as the cold blanketed him. His eyes struggled to focus, once bright pear eyes dull with pain as they rolled around in his skull, blindly searching for the faces that belonged to the voices. They sounded familiar, yet the yearling was unable to gather their names. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t the same… Not the same… Never the same… Scrambled thoughts swam furiously through his mind, confusing the zombie as he searched the wolves that surrounded him for the one he so desperately wanted to see. He gasped slightly as his eyes focused on a bright blue gaze – could it…? No – the blue was all wrong, as well as the fur that surrounded them. Wrong, wrong, wrong! <b style="font-family:georgia; color:#909892;">“G-Gone…” He mumbled incoherently as he tore his gaze away from the cream female, eyes squinting shut as he leaned against a warm body (Mace’s). <b style="font-family:georgia; color:#909892;">“I-I’m so s-s-sorry…” He wasn’t sure who he was directing the apology to as the words dripped off his tongue, body shaking uncontrollably causing his teeth to clatter together. <b style="font-family:georgia; color:#909892;">“Capella.” The name dropped off his tongue suddenly as the familiar scent worked its way into his nose. He allowed his dull gaze to land on the sunflower-eyed female, vision blurred as he sought out the comfort of her bright eyes. <b style="font-family:georgia; color:#909892;">“Gone, gone, gone…”

(This post was last modified: Jan 04, 2014, 07:13 AM by Lachesis.)

stick with those who stick with you

Although Mace carried with him an aura of heat befitting a strong young wolf, its comfort did not seem to reach XIX. The yearling's body railed against even his best attempts at sharing warmth, and the shaking did not stop. Grief was evident, palpable and almost thick enough to taste, but the young Attaya was ill-equipped to deal with it in any way. He had never seen grief so strong as this; he had missed the bulk of his sisters' grief, and his inexperience was clear. Nevertheless, the youth did his duty as a wolf, and remained by his pack mate's side, frantically looking about for signs of anybody coming that would truly be a help. Where his eyes did not look, his ears swivelled to, so that at any given time, their lines did not match up. He could "see" more that way.

His attention was snatched away by the crawling approach of someone who most definitely did not smell of Cut Rock River, and all at once Mace was on his feet, crouched over the yearling with a look of fury on his face. The female was a collection of sandy hairs and chocolate hairs, with brilliant amber eyes that would have been stunning in any other circumstance, but Mace didn't care to admire her. He cared that she was approaching his packvmate, and his pack, without paying him any heed. Instinct reared up inside him as he stepped forward to place himself firmly between XIX and Capella, not caring that she seemed to know him. For all the Attaya knew, she was the one who had left him in this state. He lifted his lip in a warning, displaying red gums and tongue betwixt bared teeth, as he raised himself to his full height and stared her down, silently demanding she explain her presence.

Before he could say any words, however, Maksim arrived on the scene. The Baranski initially approached with haste and lip raised similar to Mace's own, but stilled once he arrived. Cowed by the presence of his Alpha, Mace retreated back to XIX's side and settled again, feeling the yearling's weight settle on him as a choked sound strangled from his lips. A glance of concern was given, but Mace left much of the speaking and tending to Maksim, who was no doubt more capable. Instead, he fixed his eyes warily on Capella, unwilling to allow her near the downed yearling until she explained herself.

Astra arrived next, and although Mace had never met her, her position in the pack was one of strength and respect, and he showed it to her as well. His ears settled into a halfway pull between touching his neck and planing to the sides, partially relaxation and partially submission. His mouth, formerly held tightly closed, parted into relaxation; he was now in the presence of pack mates that were not in danger, and could afford to let his guard drop and defer to them. His gaze shifted down to the pale yearling as Astra repeated Maksim's own concerns, but still he didn't say a word until Astra asked how long he'd been there. "I'm unsure," he answered automatically and honestly. "I just found him like this a few minutes ago, before she arrived." The word "she" was weighed heavily, and punctuated with a sharp lift of his eyes to Capella once more.

"Speech."

Through blurred vision she could see the dark male begin to stir, and position himself over Lachesis' heaving body. His stance warned her to come no closer, but how could she listen? Was it possible for her limbs to still, and her body to settle? The ghost was within her grasp, just a few more tail-lengths, and then she could bury herself next to him. Why was the boy standing in her way? Didn't he see that she was trying to help? She thought of pleading, but the words wouldn't spill out. Everything was happening too fast now, and her mind couldn't keep up. Two more strangers appeared, but she couldn't will her nose to work. Their scents were masked by the panic, and fear in her heart. Their presence only signified in the way that their shadows moved toward the edge of her vision, but all eyes were on Lachesis.

His voice finally touched her ears, as the two mentioned Anastasia. He met their questions with only one word, gone. The strange numb feeling took hold of her once more, as the tingling in her stomach increased. The world had stopped, and in that moment nothing else could exist. This was a nightmare, and she would wake up soon. Unfortunately reason told her that this was all real, and terror began to set in. Blood rushed to her ears, blocking off her senses. A small whine escaped her lips, and she managed a "no". Not Anastasia. Her soul was too good to be swallowed up. Without her love and guidance Shade's cubs wouldn't have made it. Had it not been for her patience, and determination Pitch Pine would have likely failed long before Ace's rule. How could something so pure just cease to exist when evil was still allowed to walk among them? The blue-eyed woman was a saint, brought to them in their darkest hour, and how had they repaid her? The Trail wolves had chewed her up, and spit her out. The icy female had been named an alpha, only to be thrust from her position, not once, but twice. Yet still the good that resided in her heart had not waned. It wasn't fair that Ana had done so much good, and what had she done herself? Nothing of any value. The pale girl had not saved lives, or led a pack. She hadn't even been there to protect Lach from Shade's death. No, it certainly wasn't right that she should live, and the kindhearted fae, with a coat white as snow, should die.

Now the only wolf Lach knew he could count on was gone. Anastasia had proven herself where Capella could not. She had meant everything to the ghostly boy. Their relationship had been one to adore, and now it was over. Was it even be possible to come back after such a loss? Would she ever look into XIX's pear colored eyes to find them clear, and sane? The answer was, probably not. When you lose the one you love the most, it takes a part of you away forever, and there is no coming back.

A voice tore her focus from his snowy form, falling toward the female who addressed her. She just barely registered the stance of the light wolf, and bowed her head. Dull eyes fell back on her friends snow covered body before she spoke, too afraid that he would disappear if she looked away too long. "My name is Capella. I... We were pack mates on the other side of the mountain." She wasn't worried about her posture, as she knew how pathetic she probably looked. Still exhausted from her trip, and already down with her stomach planted in the snow, the alpha would know she posed no threat.

Tears formed in her eyes, as his own pear gaze found hers. The desperation she found only supported her earlier theory. If the eyes really were the window to the soul, then his was broken, and she had a feeling that no one would be able to fix it. Glancing up, she noticed the dark cub had relaxed himself, probably secure in the knowledge that the odds did not favor her. Chancing another tail length forward, she looked to the larger male, silently asking for permission. She was so close, but not close enough.

worlds are ruined this way, and we've all been there time and time again.

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health