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Post by euphie on Jan 24, 2022 19:51:51 GMT
When Cinders had first spotted the lake, she honestly had to stop and wonder if she'd been dreaming. She'd lost track of how many days, or weeks even, that she'd been traveling. Still caked in the blood and guts of either things she had killed or those she had loved. Until this very moment, water had been scarce, and never enough to take a bath. But as she rushed towards the oval of crystal blue that was all about to change.
She had her priorities in order though, stopping herself from throwing her body into the lake until she'd drank her fill, she wasn't sure but she felt like it wouldn't be a good idea to drink the water after she'd bathed in it, at least not for a few minutes. But once she'd had her fill with the life-giving liquid she swam out to the deep part of the and submerged her tiny body. Surfacing she let out a happy bark as some of the blood and dirt worked it's way out of her fur finally after all this time. She took her time bathing away the grime of the last weeks until she was done and finally she swam out of the water and plopped down on the grass to dry, her eyes instinctively looking about to check for anyone who might have been attracted to all the noise she was making.
After all, for the first time since she was alone, she had willingly trespassed on claimed territory.
It's not that she hadn't known, unlike last time this scent was prevalent, but between the need for a bath and the scarcity of prey she simply couldn't be bothered anymore. It was either starve out there or possibly die from an angry wolf pack here. If nothing else, the pack that had sent her on this path, they probably wouldn't be near as brave. That being said, she wasn't going to linger and find out, she'd gotten her bath and now as soon as she found some food she was off back to the neutral forests with her hide (hopefully!) in tact!
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Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Feb 8, 2022 3:15:59 GMT
 Why did it always happen to him? How was it always him that ended up in these situations? He was always being dragged away from the safety of home every time he turned around, typically by Zero or Shep, or both. Usually it was for crazy adventures that he didn’t particularly want to go on; unlike them, he did prefer to stay home where it was safe.
Though, in this scenario even he couldn’t deny that this excursion was understandable. They were all thirsty. They had asked Ara for water a few times, but each time she dismissed them or gave them some random answer like ‘in a few minutes’ or ‘I have a few things to do first’. In the end they never did end up getting to go get some. So Zero and Shep took it upon themselves to arrange their own little trip for water consisting of just the three of them. Kai was actually somewhat more ok with this trip away from home, unlike most of the other trips they took. Only because it was for water and they had reason to get it themselves.
What he hadn’t expected when they picked what turned out to be their meeting place was that he would be left by himself. They wanted to split up and search to cover more ground. That was one thing that they hadn’t thought of prior to planning this trip: they didn’t even know where any water was.
So he stood alone, looking back and forth between the two different directions they had ran to search. He didn’t move at first, the realization of being alone too much to grasp. He stood there for a couple minutes before he finally took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. He was a big wolf. He was a big wolf. He was a big wolf.
He went forward, his attempt at making himself feel brave and bold only lasting a couple minutes before his eyes betrayed him, looking around constantly for anything, everything. The sound of a splash made his ears perk, his head lifting. His pace quickened a little bit. Maybe one of the others had found water! He even heard a playful bark. It had to be!
This thought only rang true for a second before he realized. Wait, Zero and Shep’s barks aren’t that high pitched…and they didn’t go this way…
He hesitantly moved forward, poking his head very slowly through the bush ahead. What he saw on the other side both was and wasn’t what he was looking for. It was a lake, one that was actually familiar. He could remember Ara bringing them here once or twice for a drink. So he had found their original destination. But he also found something else. Someone else.
It was a pup, but it was not Zero or Shep. It was too small to be, and they didn’t, from a distance, look like any of the other pups back home. It was someone else. But who?
He watched silently, both scared of being noticed and interested in seeing who they were, if not a Vertok. They were splashing and kicking in the water, almost making his mouth feel more dry. But upon closer examination, what was all of that around them? Mud? Dirt? He tried to look closer, and though he saw a tinge of red coloring in what he saw, he tried to tell himself over and over that it wasn’t blood. They didn’t look hurt or in a state of panic. It couldn’t be blood. It couldn’t be.
As the other pup swam from the water and pulled themselves onto shore, he blinked a few times. They looked so small. It wasn’t just their abnormally thin frame or scraggly fur. They were actually tiny, not even his own size. How old was this pup? If they were even younger than he was, where were their parents? How did they get here? Were they by themselves? I have to find someone, get help.
Just as he went to turn, his paw met a tiny dry branch fallen from his hiding bush, a crack sounding. He froze, scared to move for a moment. His eyes widened significantly, looking sideways without turning his head. He could feel them looking his direction. Maybe he should talk to them? Make sure they weren’t in trouble or if they actually needed help? Maybe they were lost?
Swallowing down his fear, he turned back forward, his head lowering to meet the height of his shoulders, though his stance was not threatening. He slowly stepped out of the bush, silver eyes meeting the other pup. He only took a few steps forward before he stopped, body slightly angled away from the pup, but his eyes remained on them.
“H-Hello…? I…um…a-are you lost?”
"Speaking." Thinking.
802 NOTES (C) ABYSS |
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Post by euphie on Feb 8, 2022 4:03:17 GMT
The ones she had lost and the ones she Found
And the ones who had loved her the most
It was a risk, that was obvious from the beginning, no matter how bad things were in the already dried out neutral lands there would be consequences if someone found her trespassing on pack territory. But she didn't have a choice, and it hadn't purely been for the bath, but young as she was going even a day without any water to drink was to stare down the specter of death. In the neutral lands death was certain, there was at least a chance if she was careful on pack lands, and so she'd made the gamble to explore.
It wasn't all that surprising when she found water in her search, of course the best spots would have been claimed by those with the power to defend them from outsiders, and flush with success in her mission Cinders allowed herself to forget caution and just.....indulge. For a moment she was no longer an intruder on someone's lands, just a pup bathing and drinking after too long a fast, and it was as indulgent as it was glorious.
But then the snap of a twig cracked the silence like a howl, and she remembered how she had barked in her excitement, and suddenly she was no longer a pup but once more the fierce and spiteful creature seeking to live purely to defy fate. The hairs on her back raised, and the pup did her best to crouch down out of site, even when it was obvious the other creature had seen her and was addressing her.
And, as it would seem, was around her age!
"No, I'm not lost, I was looking for water and I finally found some," she offered, far less aggressively than she might have otherwise spoke, because this was the first time she had seen someone her age since her pack was killed and she didn't......she didn't want him to run off and didn't want to run away herself. How nice would it be to just.....exist with someone her own age and pretend for a minute everything was okay?
"You came for the water right? Go ahead and drink up, it probably belongs to you unlike me, it's just getting really dry in the neutral lands these days," Cinders continued as she backed away a bit to give him access without being too close to her, for perhaps both their sakes, and yet desperately hoping he'd play along. So she offered him the truth, that she didn't belong here as a loner, but despite that she didn't come with ill intentions.
Just the desire to survive that had likely driven one so young from his own home. |
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Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Mar 31, 2022 1:47:36 GMT
He was unsure. Where did he go from here? This other pup didn’t really seem like they were hurt. If anything they were kinda lively, jumping up and getting into almost a fighting position when he came into sight. It definitely caught him off-guard, but he didn’t really know what to say.
It wasn’t until they spoke that he realized that this pup was a girl. For a moment, he thought back to Zero’s sisters at home, how prone they were to getting lost or ending up hurt. But this wasn’t one of them, this was a different pup, one he didn’t know.
And she claimed that she wasn’t lost? He didn’t recognize her as one of the other pups from the pack. Maybe she was from another pack? Or maybe she wasn’t? No, if she didn’t have a pack she would have an adult with her, right?
This thought caused him to look around for a second, caution suddenly filling his body and making him tense. If there was another wolf nearby, he was just a lone little pup that was here by himself. He could never fend off a full grown wolf. He wouldn’t stand a chance. Zero and Shep were probably nearby, but even if he howled and called for them, there was that high likelihood that he would be gone by the time they got there. What was he supposed to do?
He swallowed, trying to distinguish his nerves as his silver eyes landed back on this other pup. She claimed she was looking for water. Was this the only little lake within a far distance from here? Why would she need to come into Vertok territory to get water? Then again, that posed the same question of why did him and all of his friends have to be taken to a pond nearby to get their water instead of drinking at home?
He tried to push these thoughts aside, glancing then to the lake itself. He peered over the edge at the water, his nose wrinkling a little bit. He had seen all of the dirt and mud and whatever else had come off of this pup when they went swimming in there just a couple minutes ago. And while he was thirsty, he wasn’t dumb.
“I…think I will wait on that...for a little bit.” He turned his eyes back to her, confusion and caution still present in his gaze.
“Neutral lands? Are you a loner? It…isn’t exactly safe for a pup to be by themselves.” Even as he said it, he knew that the same could be applied to himself. Technically he wasn’t alone, he just…wasn’t near the others. Which meant he was alone. Just like there was that chance that this little she-wolf also wasn’t “technically” alone, which never left his mind once it entered it. He tried his best to focus on her, but he couldn’t help when his eyes would glance past her occasionally, looking for any secret big wolves waiting to pounce. Kai was relatively little. He doubted he would make a filling lunch. But still.
"Speaking." Thinking.
517 NOTES (C) ABYSS |
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Post by euphie on Apr 4, 2022 0:35:03 GMT
The ones she had lost and the ones she Found
And the ones who had loved her the most
Cinders was, perhaps painfully, aware that she didn't have the best social skills. And while the pup appeared older, he hadn't necessarily been forced to grow up as fast or as harshly as she had, so her aggressive opening had caught him off-guard. It was.....actually rather adorable, to meet someone her own age and unlike her entirely, he was just a normal pup who found an aggressive stranger frightening, and something about that pure innocence made Cinders want to protect it. The world took those like this pup and tended to ruin them, as she had learned firsthand, but what if for once it did not?
The thought was ridiculous of course, this pup was a stranger, and one she had threatened to boot! Yet the thought came to her unbidden, the lonliness she had only known for so long now reaching out to the first creature she'd set sights on who didn't appear a threat. It was so rare to see a lone pup around, and yes she knew lone didn't mean alone, and something about just....having a peer to talk to was scrambling her mind into complete disorder.
"I see you missed me being covered in blood and mud before, you can stop that, I don't have anyone with me. I should be doing that to you though!" the words were good natured, soft and attempting to undo some of the damage she had wrought with her....less than friendly introduction. He definitely didn't smell alone, but he was nervous enough that he was clearly alone at the moment, otherwise he'd of howled for help by now.
So guess there goes any chance of meeting a fellow loner.
"Stuff like this doesn't go away, it just sinks, you're not saving yourself by waiting," Cinders pointed out, gentle but teasing, still if this pup had a pack he probably was a bit....soft. Generally pack water was cleaner, less used by other animals, whereas she and those like her just took what they could get. Which, of course, brought them to the pup scolding her for being....exactly what he was right now!
"Well duh! Of course it's dangerous to be alone! Which is why I'm obviously going to be looking after you until we find your family! Where did you lose them?"
Even if it wasn't forever, just this once, Cinders wanted to not be alone |
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Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Jun 15, 2022 1:33:13 GMT
He didn’t realize it at that moment, but the young pup’s jaw had opened, eyes wide, confusion and speechlessness hitting him quickly. He tried to form words, his maw moving to speak, but nothing came out. You….are gonna….pr-....but it....what? An utterly baffled Kai glanced around himself at the ground, trying to piece together what he had said, and what she had said, and what he saw, and what she saw, and whatever kind of logic was being put into place.
Before he could even continue to attempt to make noise or words, he heard quick but small steps and felt himself getting pushed. At first it was his neck, then his shoulder, then his side, each shove turning him. “W-Wait what are- wait no you- what are you-” Each time he tried to say something that made sense, another little shove cut him off. Despite the fact that this little pup was smaller and younger than he was, she had still managed to completely turn him around and face the forest. And even when he was turned away, she kept pushing, nudging at his butt with the side of her head and pushing him forward
“W-What are you doing?! That wasn’t-.....this isn’t…” What in the world was she even doing? There was a thought in Kai’s mind, a comparison, between what was happening and what he experienced almost constantly no matter where he was. Back at home he was always being pulled or pushed to go places, usually to eat or get water or go to bed or whatever situation required him and the other pups to be moved about. And even if he wasn’t at home, even if he was out and about with Shep and Zero, he was pushed and dragged then as well so that he would go on adventures with them. He already got herded enough as it was, and now he was being herded by a pup that wasn’t even his size.
He wasn’t entirely sure how to make her stop or what to say or what she was doing. She asked where he lost his family; was she trying to make him lead her to where he remembered them to be? Why in the world was this random pup that was younger than himself trying to guide him home when it should have been the other way around? Taking this thought into consideration, and thinking even more on the fact that this reminded him of all the pushing and pulling from his friends, he shook his head quickly.
Just as the little she-wolf tried to give him another push, Kai lifted and planted his paws against the ground, stopping himself from moving. Before she could try again, he quickly turned around, facing her with his ears pinned to his head. He tried to make himself look bigger, more fierce, more demanding. He couldn’t let this little pup push him around! He didn’t even know her! Even though he tried, and maybe he did look bigger and more authoritative, one thing still failed him.
“Hold ON!” His voice cracked. Not a great start to match his attempt at seeming bigger. Slightly embarrassed, he grimaced, his teeth poking out just a tiny bit. But he tried to keep going. “I was talking about you! Not me! It should be me taking you home! I…I c-can fend for m-myself!”
Not exactly convincing, he was sure of it. But at least he had tried.
"Speaking." Thinking.
581 NOTES (C) ABYSS |
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Post by euphie on Jun 15, 2022 2:44:04 GMT
Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure Nothing ever lasts forever Cinders had to admit, while she had planned exactly none of this encounter, she was growing to rather enjoy it. Which wasn't at all usual for her! Even other wolves who clearly had the best intentions, such as taking her back to a warm den and offering care, tended to just get on her nerves due to her own suscpicious nature. But not this one, she had great fun purposefully turning the offer back onto the one who'd made it and rushed to start herding him around, and she was smilling and wuffing with laughter at the series of cut off protests he kept making.
"We're going to go find your family, so they can keep you safe, it's dangerous to be alone after all!" It was a challenge to talk like she wasn't about to collapse into peals of laughter, partly because she couldn't ever recall having felt that way before, and while she was largely still amused there was a growing shock within her at how this lone pup seemed to be undoing weeks of rules and conditions she'd taught herself to follow and endure.
Was it really just because he was cute in his helplessness?
Except, as it turns out, he wasn't quite as helpless as she'd assumed. Because her pushes, while intentional, were not hard enough to move someone whose paws were planted in resistance. She'd only just moved her head up to figure out what was wrong, eyes actually flashing with concern, which only intensified with the sudden aggression in his stance and not to mention the loud protest that followed.
"Shit, sorry, did I do it wrong? It's been awhile since I've been able to watch mother and maybe I forgot how to do this?" Her words were genuinely concerned, and once more dangerously close to the truth of her own loner situation, but something about this not entirely helpless pup seemed to bring out the worst (or best?) in her!
"Hey! Don't be rude! I can take care of myself just fine thank you! Always have always will," Everybody wants to rule the world |
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Sept 20, 2022 2:13:39 GMT
For a few moments, he didn’t know how to feel. All Kai ever did was get pushed around, and after a while it got tiring. This was the first time that he had fully tried to stand up to himself, and he only found the courage to do it knowing that this pup was a stranger. She had no right to push him around! Nor did she have any right, as a pup who was smaller and younger than him, to assume that she could help him. But, at the same time, he recognized something there that he envied. She had only just met him, he was a stranger to her, and he was bigger than she was. And yet she still had the confidence to just shove him around and view herself as being in control. When he was with adults of the pack, he always felt helpless, as they could just pick him up and move him if he tried to protest to anything. Even with Zero and Shep, if they wanted him to do something he didn’t want to do, either they could push him to do it, or he would do it anyway out of fear of displeasing his brothers. Even a tiny pup was stronger than he was…
Something flashed in the younger wolf’s eyes at his demanding statements, no matter how pitiful they may have sounded. Was she…scared? Concerned? Worried? Frightened? He didn’t know what it was. But the moment his silver eyes found her’s and saw that expression, guilt washed over him. “Wait, I’m-”
She spoke first, apologizing with a certain tone in her voice. Forgot how to do what? He didn’t know how to respond, especially since he didn’t even know what she was trying to do. He hadn’t meant to suddenly seem so aggressive, or at least not as much as he had, and he felt bad immediately. He hadn’t wanted to scare her.
But then she flipped it around, raising her own voice right back at him. First he had felt envy, then anger, then guilt, and now it was turning into a mixture of confusion and frustration.
“You can- what do you even mean?! You are smaller and younger than me! You shouldn’t have to take care of yourself! Even I’m not supposed to be out on my own, so why would it be ok for you to be?! What would you do if some big scary predator came after you and you were by yourself?!”
His eyes darted around them for a moment. Surely she had a guardian? She had to, right? He hadn’t smelled any other wolves on her, but she had also been swimming in the lake. Should he take her back home? Did she have a home of her own that he could return her to? Could he take her back to the densite so they could take her in? What was he supposed to do in this situation?
“Is there…where did…do you have somewhere or someone that I could take you back to? There’s no way you are actually by yourself.”
"Speaking." Thinking.
517 NOTES (C) ABYSS |
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