Hush Meadow Random

The pressure of winter in the air was palpable. It was heard in the snaps of twigs weighed down by ice and snow. It was seen in the great flying snow-devils that whipped around the landscape like tiny turbulent tornadoes over the stark white earth. Even the tree trunks were white with frost as the wind plastered them with snow crystals. Winter's pressure was even scented in the thin air. It's scent was that of pine broken by the wind and heavy ice, and of a crispness that comes only during the cold season. However' winter could not be tasted. For the cold was tasteless only biting the wolf who dared to stand alone against nature's freezer.

The only sense that overrode any of the others and spoke of the frozen season's might was touch. Everything could feel the cold, hard, yet soft winter.

Hard as frost in the earth, and ice in the rivers, lakes, creeks, and waterfalls. Yes, even the falls of lore were frozen in winters clutch.

Soft as the new snow falling onto the land; soft like the chill breeze calling your name promising fun in the endless expanse of white.

This winter was anything but fun. As the silver she wolf had experienced for herself. The cold season that should have brought easy hunts and fun for her pups to romp in had turned fierce.

Narimé found herself roaming around needlessly and weakly through the old trails in the snow. Most of the trails had been made by either Minka, Inali, Ash, or herself. None had the look or scent of deer upon them. Not that Nari thought she would find a trail with deer scent. A long time had passed since even one good prey item had come anywhere near her borders. She had all but lost hope at finding anything to eat for herself.

All of Whisper Caverns's pack wolves were thinning. Their bodies turning inwards as the cold season sapped them of their precious energy. Even the pups were feeling starvation. Though they had to be the most well fed wolves within the caverns. If any food was found it went to them. Or at least that was what Nari thought was happening. Narimé would rather see herself and friends starve before seeing her own children die before her.

Hell if things continued on like they were the whole pack would be icicles inside their cavern tomb.

"Green earth wakes to the golden rays of the sun. One half cloaked by shadow, one half spying the light. Those who welcome the glittering light, fear the night. Those who welcome the blanketed night, fear the light. Each surviving their own stories on green earths might. Let the dark skies dance with the warmth of a billion souls,and when the sun rises those souls will disappear waiting for the night to come again. When the night comes a second time those bright souls will search the earth for the fallen, and lead those poor spirits to the nether world where they too will become the ebony night. Green earth wakes to the golden rays of the sun. One half cloaked by shadow, one half spying the light. Those who welcome the glittering light, fear the night. Those who welcome the blanketed night, fear the light. Each surviving their own stories on green earths might. And the rain falls on me... When the souls of the departed shed their tears, It is for those who had not yet taken the journey to the deep darkness. Those tears in turn provide life to those in the land of the living. So the rain falls..." The silver wolf's faint voice sang the song that had been sung to her as a tiny pup. A song she could remember, but the face of the real mother who had sang it Nari could not recall.

When will the golden sun come back to warm our land? She thought quietly missing the warmth of sunlight upon her fur during the warmer months. The only thing the young mother could feel was the chill right down to her bones.

It had to be done.

The prince had tried the day before to do it- but something had stopped him in his tracks. Perhaps it was because he and Skoll had found Skana dead, and it had reminded him once more of how fleeting life was. Seeing yet another packmate lifeless haunted him, and he felt little peace in knowing that this would one day happen to him and that death could be completely painless and serene. Because every time the boy thought of death, the only thing he could see was Ice. Cold, hard ice, and dark waters beneath it- but somewhere in those dark waters lurked a face. Unlike Skana, the face had an expression- and it was an expression of fear. Her eyes were open wide and unseeing, her mouth slightly agape as though still trying to pull in one last breath. Her fur would sweep around her like an ethereal cloak, but only from the movements in the water. In those misty eyes there was no life; only the look of sheer terror.

And he was the last one who had seen her; he was responsible for her life...And he'd lost it. She'd lost it. But that wouldn't do- because if he told the truth, he'd be dead. An eye for an eye- he was sure of it. So he'd taken his time, on his own. He'd stayed by himself, quietly speaking to himself under his breath, rehearsing his lines, but not to the point where they were too rehearsed. So he made his way toward Hush Meadow, where he felt sure that he would meet someone from the pack; he needed to give the news....No, he needed to get the news. He needed to hear from them that she hadn't been seen; and he needed to give his own statement, as the last witness...And he needed to be sure they believed him.

The last wolf he wanted to see was Titan, as he had been the one who had trusted Asriel with Malia's life. Yuka wouldn't have been much better, but he would have preferred to see Yuka rather than Titan. So Asriel found himself quite relieved to find neither of them, and instead, he found himself following a familiar scent. A kind, motherly woman who was on good terms with his mother. He remembered having her visit when he was young, before the winter had come, so he felt slightly more optimistic about his task as he approached her, chuffing a greeting to catch her attention as soon as he finally caught sight of her.

Note to self: this is dated before the Ash and Minka meeting where all hell breaks loose.

The sound that brought her out of her thoughtful state was the chuff of another. She turned,a bit startled, then lay her blue gaze upon a somewhat familiar shadow.

Having not seen the child since he was much shorter than she, Narime checked the scent of the wolf before realizing that it was a prince of the willows. One of Elettra's boys. She thought as a smile came to her muzzle and a slight wag flicked her tail back and forth.

Things had been hectic lately. Everyone within her pack was on edge about something. It hadn't helped the mother to calm down as she waited for the return of her mate. However another problem had surfaced that she had realized was a pressing one. Her daughter had been gone for some time. Nari had thought Malia had gone with Simaea for a while. However both wolves had been gone longer than the silver wolf liked. The few months passed with her keeping a close eye on her sons as they ran about the territory.

So as Nari looked to Asriel she couldn't help but feel relieved about meeting with a wolf outside of her pack. Someone who might be willing to chat and take her mind off things.

"The first born prince of the willows is beginning to look grand as he grows." She dipped her head in a respectful gesture of greeting between equals. She looked over him with a curious gaze wondering if this child had the same nobility about him that Elettra always showed. "It is good to see you again Asriel." She stay seated as the tall gangly pup approached. Her gaze lingered only momentarily on his rusted bits of fur wishing the sun would grace them with the warmth of those colors among the skies.

"Is your pack well?" the gray wolf asked while taking her gaze away to look over the landscape once more.

Though the boy's memory of her was somewhat foggy, there was no denying that this was the woman he sought now. Not simply because she had eyes that could not be mistaken as belonging to any other, but because she was exactly the type of wolf he wanted to make his confession to. He couldn't have been more fortunate, both to run into an old friend and to find someone he hoped would believe his lies. She, unlike Titan, would have no pre-existing grudge or reason not to believe him, and so Asriel was able to summon forth one of his usual, mild smiles as he continued to approach her.

Respectfully, his head lowered. He couldn't remember what rank she held, but simply assumed that she was a leader, given her close relationship with Elettra. Even now as he saw her, no longer from a point of view only inches above the ground, he still saw her as a noble figure, beautiful and immediately respectable. She was not fickle, nor did she leap about like an untrained colt when she saw someone she recognized. No, Nari had poise, and Asriel liked that. He knew that out of the two of him, he was far less superior, and bowed his head to her in a noble and respectful fashion.

He was surprised, then, to see her bow her head back in the same way. His pride grew, and his ego flared when she spoke to him. Yes, he liked Narime, she knew how to talk to royalty. Still, he was just humble enough to allow the compliment to sink in and flavour his own words. "And the lady Narime is as beautiful and radiant as ever," He said. While it might have sounded slightly odd to hear such earnestly spoken words from someone so young, it simply felt natural to Asriel to flatter someone who was so fondly appreciated by his mother. "And you as well," He said in response. Yes, he was thankful he'd found her, not some other stranger from her pack, or Titan or Yuka.

He sat down and when she looked away, his ears turned back. Winter had been hard; they had lost wolves who had wandered away, and others who have died. But They were strong; they had to be strong, and they had to seem strong. "We are surviving," He said, before he too glanced up at the sky. "But the winter has been hard." He said, a tinge of regret lacing his voice. He could not lie to Narime about their pack thriving in these conditions; she was a friend and ally. "We've lost a few." He said quietly. "And yours?" He asked, dread hanging on his words, for he already knew too well that they were missing at least one.

Had to go back to see what wolves had been missing since her old mission.

"And the lady Narime is as beautiful and radiant as ever,"

Narimé shook her head charmed by the youths words. A slight chuckle came from her black rimmed lips. Yes, he definitely seems to be growing up to be a lady killer. Nari stiffened at the thought. She shouldn't be thinking that way right now. He was just a pup handing out a compliment. Shame filled her as she thought of Sloane.He probably would have went all protective he-man over her if the rusted Thorben had been there to hear Asriel's comment.

Turning her head to the side she viewed the charming Archer prince with a soft gaze.

"We are surviving," Asriel spoke, before he too glanced up at the sky. "But the winter has been hard."

Nari nodded. She had already met with Elettra and discussed some of their packs problems. Those who had gone missing or lost to that darkness called death.

"And yours?" The dark child's question had Narimé thinking. A few members of her pack had disappeared. Her own mate being one of them. Then there was her old second Kieth, Simaea had been gone for some time, and lastly Harp whom Nari guessed left to find a different place the woman might fit into better. Her own pups sometimes went missing for a day or more. Well, Titan and Malia were the two who often ventured around Hush Meadow and the Southern Eden. Yuka had obediently stayed within the borders most of the time. Though Nari had noticed Malia's scent slowly disappearing from the territory. It had worried her for a time enough to make the silver wolf search for her little girl.

However just like when Nari had heard about Titan's disappearance the gray hunter had to calm herself down and hope that Malia would come back on her own. Especially since some of her pack had thought Malia had gone with Simaea on her trip north.

The children are all getting older, they need to learn some things by themselves like I did. Was her way of thinking. Unfortunately for Nari she wouldn't realize her parenting mistake until the knowledge of Malia's death was given to her.

"We have lost many." She paused a sad look crossing her face and clouding her blue eyes. "My own mate Sloane Thorben mysteriously disappeared. I...I believe a winter storm separated him from us..." She looked to the ground and scratched at its cold hard surface with her front paw.

"Around the same time our second male Kieth Tatum also disappeared." She flipped her gaze back to the landscape wishing deep in her heart that the two males were safe, or at the very least resting peacefully wherever they were. "The packs only healer has also recently gone missing. Most of us thought that she would be back by now. Simaea Nite had told us she was searching for hard to find herbs someplace north." Her eyes glazed over in pain. Should she have let everyone head out to work in this harsh winter? Or had that been a mistake? Should everyone have stayed in the den and waited it out?

"Malia too, my daughter has been gone for a while. The others thought she had been with Simaea while on her journey north. I've been really worried about Simaea and Malia in particular." She could feel her heart crushing at the thought that both she wolves might have gotten lost in the winter storms. However she had no right to tell them what to do anymore. Losing her leadership meant that she didn't have the chance to really object to the healers traveling plans.

The silver mother sighed trying to calm herself and rid her mind of worry. She had to be strong for those pack mates still around her. Crippling worry shouldn't be carried on her shoulders while doing pack chores.

A young pronghorn has fallen behind its herd and starved in the snow. +5 Health

His heart began to beat more quickly when Narime began to speak of wolves who had gone missing. He knew that one name would come up, but he waited, still, with a sympathetic gaze, for her to speak it. He found himself somewhat distracted, though, and upset by the amount of other names Narime mentioned- when would the list end? He remembered the sullen face of Skana as she slept eternally, and could think of nothing other than the sound of water ice chunks being flung about while Malia struggled to break through and pull herself back to the surface...And he shuddered. Narime only said that these wolves had 'disappeared,' though, not that they had been found dead...But her assumption was clear- she mentioned a storm, and it was apparent enough in her tone that she did not believe these wolves would return to them ever again.

And there it was.

"Malia?" Asriel repeated, his throat and tongue dry. And as Narime spoke, he searched her face for the truth, and found himself overcome by guilt. He'd been there. He'd let her fall in. He'd done nothing to help her and had seen the moment when she'd passed on, when the waters went calm and the ice began to settle together again. And here was Narime, Malia's heartbroken mother who was concerned for her daughter- but still obviously held on to some feeble hope. He looked away; it was his fault...If he hadn't been so proud, and had listened to Titan, Malia wouldn't have fallen through the ice.

"I...I saw her not that long ago," He said. And at that moment, he considered ending Narime's suffering by telling her the truth- but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "With Titan. I walked her most of the way home before we parted ways," He said. He remembered, now, promising Titan that he would escort her home. "How long has she been gone?" He asked, lifting his gaze to Narime's again. He knew the answer- he knew exactly how long it had been, for the thought of it had haunted him each and every day.

There was no stopping the tremble in his voice which crept under his skin as well. He looked every bit as frazzeled as he felt. He knew he'd never see Malia again; he'd know it for some time. But he'd only really been able to feel the grief now, when he stood before the young girl's mother.

"I...I saw her not that long ago," Asriel's words made Nari's heart constrict within her gray chest. She saw a look in his eyes, a look that had not been gaurded. Guilt... and that look of guilt frightened her. "With Titan. I walked her most of the way home before we parted ways," These words left her mouth dry.

If Malia had been with Asriel around that time instead of Simaea... Then she should definitely have been back by now. Nari closed her eyes to calm herself knowing that Asriel hadn't given a particular day or time that he'd been with Malia. Malia very well could have been with him before heading off with Simaea on her trip. It all depended on what day Simaea had left and when Malia and Asriel had their little adventure together.

"How long has she been gone?" Nari sighed as the question left Asriel's lips. Hi voice had been laced with an undertone that held worry.

"It's been about two months now..." Pain flooded her words as Nari realized just how long Malia and Simaea had been gone for. Way too long for Nari to be okay with it. Her blue eyes opened up to look at the sky as Nari stifled a whimper. "I..I just wish I knew where she is... How she is..." Nari gave away the fact that she was damn scared for her child as the concern on her face gave way to an immense sadness. She could only hold out hope for so long, and two months had been a long time.

Two months.

Had it been that long? Had two months passed by before him since he'd seen her fall through the ice? It seemed impossible- it felt as though it had only happened the day before, so vivid it still remained in his mind, the bite of the cold, the feeling of icy water at his toes as he'd leapt back just in time, the sound of water, of ice clinking against ice, of silence...Two months had passed. Two. Months. In his mind, Asriel Archer could not help but picture Malia now in the water which had begun to thaw- perhaps the ice had melted already, he wasn't sure- he hadn't been to the lake since then and was not sure if he could ever go back, for fear of finding her sodden body there. If the lake had thawed, her body would have dropped to the bottom of the lake. Her fur would have lost its luster. The fish would have begun to pick away at her frail body...Perhaps there would be nothing left of her now, just bones...

He looked up at Narime just as she lifted her gaze to the sky and he knew then that the mother wasn't hoping her pup would return, but grieving for one she likely already believed was dead. He knew it, but he couldn't say it. As guilty as he felt, he could not confess his crime, and while he longed to end her suffering and give her the truth she sought, the selfish, fearful boy could not. Instead, he felt his lips tremble slightly as he looked at her, and felt an immense hatred for himself. He loathed himself; he was a selfish, stupid boy who'd watched a princess fall through the ice and die, and he couldn't bring himself to do the right thing and confess his sins. No, that was not his way. He had to hide that secret and take it with him to the grave, even though he knew that Malia would be there, waiting for him.

Seeing Narime so upset made Asriel nervous and agitated and sad. He hadn't cried, but now that he saw Narime's grief he felt himself finally registering the emotion he would have felt had he not been the one to see Malia die. He would have missed her. He would have gone searching for her, and he would have cried if he'd found out that she'd died. And even though he knew the truth, he hadn't been able to grieve, not until now. He pulled in a shaky breath, and his weakness became audible as he stifled a whimper. "I'm sorry," He said, trying to control himself, but he couldn't do it.

The silver wolfs blue eyes traveled slowly downwards tracing the edge of a bright white cloud down to the side of Asriel's crown. From there her eyes paused while traveling over his face. Surprise fluttered across her eyes as she noticed the look of pain on the Archer boys face. She hadn't expected him to be emotional about the loss of her child. Unless maybe he was good friends with her... She thought quietly while biting her lip in brief anger. Why did she go? Nari closed her eyes once more and buried her face into her chest fur fortunately for Asriel missing the guilt that crossed the willow wolfs eyes and muzzle.

She heard the dark wolfs shaky intake of breath and wondered how a noble rigid child of Elettra could feel so much for her loss. Even if he had been friends with Malia. Loss was loss and it happened everyday in their world, whether it was the loss of friend, family, or comrade. Nari knew that Malia wasn't the first loss Asriel had experienced. She knew of the comrades Elettra had lost to death during the winter. He should be hardened to it alre-

"I'm sorry,"Her thought was cutoff by his voice and instantly she pained from it. Why does he say sorry? It's not like it is his fault she's gone... She sighs shakily then opens her light blue gaze to pause on Asriel's form once more.

"You honor her with your words, but you shouldn't say sorry to me... You did nothing wrong in this matter Asriel." Nari tilts her head ever so slightly to one side looking at him with pools in her eyes. Tentatively she reaches forward to touch her nose to his in a kind gesture of "thanks".

"However I have to thank you for showing you care. It.. it's helping me... I think. to cope.." She answered turning her gaze away one more to make sure she didn't make him too uncomfortable.