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Post by Cascade on May 20, 2014 17:15:39 GMT -5
Vega felt a bit guilty leaving her pack's borders, especially when their numbers were so low and they were vulnerable to attack. But there had been so many months of peace between the packs that she couldn't imagine an uprising would happen today, and Kanut was strong enough to handle himself if one or two troublemakers showed their faces, which somehow seemed like an even less likely possibility.
No, it would be fine. Things would not all fall apart in the couple hours she was gone, and she needed some time away from the same familiar sights and scents. Eternal Snowfall was wonderful, but it was summer and she hadn't been to the lake in who knows how long? The sight of it and the cool air that surrounded it made Vega sigh with relief, but as she bent down to take a drink of the cool water she saw her reflection in the lake, and she realized that she didn't like what she saw. Last summer she looked at her reflection in the water and promised herself that next time she would visit the lake with her pups, but here she was still alone. There were no eligible bachelors in Eternal Snowfall except for Kanut, and he had already politely turned her down. She knew he'd done his best not to embarrass her and that the rest of her packmates were kind enough not to draw attention to her very much undeliberate lack of a mate, but she couldn't help but feel as if everywhere she went there was a large sign above her saying "Vega: Spinster."
Irritated, she plunged her muzzle into the water and took big, unladylike gulps of water, trying to disrupt her reflection. She came all the way here to relax and have a nice time, and now all she could do was stew in frustration.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 17:34:26 GMT -5
Valravn sighed as her target hopped away. Looks like she was spotted once again. There was no hopes of her ever catching up with the speedy rodent, so all she could do was sit and pant. 'Well thats great for you, but what about me?' she thought in protest, glaring as the critter escaped. No amount of imaginary telepathy or sympathy would make an animal accept its death. She would just have to try harder next time. If she waited for the dusk hours, maybe her coat would put her at an advantage.
But Valravn was hungry now and her stomach was not afraid to remind her of the fact. She got up and made her way to the nearest water way. Maybe if her stomach was full with water, she would feel better. Kai Lake was beautiful and glimmering in the sunlight at this hour. It made her wanted to go for a dive. It was a rather hot day and she was tired from her failed hunting attempt. Like Vega had done, she looked into the reflection of the waters and was disappointed in what she saw. Her face was gaunt and her eyes was more pale than usual. At this rate, she would disappear before she reached adulthood. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. She wasn't too fond of the idea of growing up. If she was behind in the game of life now, what would she be then, provided she hadn't starved?
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Post by Cascade on May 20, 2014 18:34:15 GMT -5
The sound of another approaching startled Vega, and she quickly composed herself so that the stranger's first impression of her wouldn't be that she was a sloppy drinker. Alarmingly, the sound came from a small and visibly malnourished pup. Vegas heart pounded in her chest at the sight of the poor thing all alone. An orphan? That simply wouldn't do.
"Good morning, little one," she called gently so as not to scare the pup, "My name is Vega. What's your name? I can't help but notice that you're out here all by yourself, why is that?" Vega tried not to get ahead of herself, but it was taking all of her willpower not to spring to her feet and get the poor little one fed and sheltered. What kind of wolf would leave a pup to fend for herself?
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 19:09:20 GMT -5
Valravn hadn't heard the wolf approaching, as her ears weren't too attuned like an adult's would be. When she heard a voice, her immediate reaction was to tuck her tail, quickly face Vega's direction, and rear her sight to the ground. The voice sounded gentle and comforting. She wanted to lift her gaze, but she was afraid to. It had been instilled in her at a very young age to look to the floor unless she was ordered otherwise.
"Um...Good Morning, mam." When Vega introduced herself, Valravn's tail slightly twitched in amusement. Both their names started with V.How unlikely. "My name is Valravn." Though, her own name wasn't quite as charming. Half-wolf half-raven creatures who eats the corpses after wars. Clearly, not much was expected of her from the beginning of her life. "I don't have anywhere to go. I was traded to a pack, but I didn't like it there, so I ran here." A sudden wave of guilt washed over her. She probably sounded like a spoiled brat. In fact, she was. In her pack, she had food and shelter. There were problems, but not every life was perfect. Unfortunately, it was too late to go back now...
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Post by Cascade on May 20, 2014 19:17:59 GMT -5
"Valravn? What a pretty name for a pretty girl," Vega cooed, heartbroken by the pup's utter submissiveness, no doubt something conditioned into her in her old life. "You look hungry."
Looking around, Vega hoped that not all the prey in the area had been scared off by their conversation. Unfortunately there were no rabbits around, but a fat mole sat lazily in the grass a ways away from its burrow, oblivious. It wouldn't be much, but it would be something, at least until something better could be found. Crouching, Vega slunk around the mole in a wide semi-circle to be at its back. The wind was in her favor, thank the Power, and her powerful legs propelled her into a great leap that landed her right on top of her prey. With a quick bite to the throat it was all over, much to her relief. Taking the mole in her jaws, she padded back to Valravn and set it down in front of her. "Here you go, little dove," she said encouragingly, "Why don't you eat up and tell me how you managed too find yourself in this valley? It must have been a rough trip over the mountains for someone as small as you."
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 19:52:01 GMT -5
When Valravn heard Vega say that her name was pretty, she smiled. It really meant something to her, though she quickly wiped away the smile, hoping she didn't give the impression that she was laughing at Vega. Valravn perked her ears when Vega pointed out her condition. She heard her shuffling around and lifted her head-just this once- to see what was going on. Valravn watched in awe as Vega closed in on the prey. Her eyes widened in amazement when she attacked. What a leap! Not only was she naturally powerful, she must have mastered hunting. She could probably eat anything she wanted to if she could find it. Valravn immediately radmired her, and when Vega offered the mole to her, she dropped the submissive act to savagely devour the animal.
When Valravn heard Vega speaking again, she slowed her pace and momentarily paused. "It was hard, but I had to. I knew that the pack wouldn't follow me into the mountains, but when I found out how hard it was up there, I just wanted to leave. I couldn't go back, so I had to cross it." She shuffled her feet, trying to recall. "I found a scent of another wolf and followed the wolf's trail and ate their scraps-ah,yes! Thank you for the meal!" She had almost forgot. Vega will think she is an ungrateful and rude little girl now...
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Post by Cascade on May 22, 2014 9:09:12 GMT -5
Vega sat down, listening intently to the pup's words. "You're very welcome. You've certainly had a rough time lately, I can't believe you've managed to survive for this long on your own..." It was truly a difficult situation. She wanted desperately to take this pup in, but she didn't have the authority to bring those outside the pack into the Eternal Snowfall lands. Then again, she couldn't imagine that Piala would turn away a starving pup, as if such a little thing could be a danger.
"Listen, I'm not going to leave you all alone, okay? Why don't you stick with me and I'll make sure you have plenty to eat. The wolves in my pack are very nice; they will accept you and treat you with kindness."
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2014 17:49:18 GMT -5
Being an omega of a unsteady pack meant that Valravn was quite used to going long stretches with little or no food. The only true challenge was the rugged terrain and the weather. Fortunately, she had decided to run to the mountains in one of the best seasons to do it. While she did recall almost falling to her death more than a handful of times, the trek was more tiring and terrifying. It was a test of endurance and perseverance, the only two things she truly could claim to have.
When Vega told her she wouldn't be left alone, her heart fluttered. She had not a single doubt in her words and was thrilled at the idea of joining the pack. These were the good things she was hoping for-the visions and dreams that made her flee from that place and carried her through the mountains. She could feel it. Now, Valravn's tail was wagging and she finally gave a bright smile. She would have to do it again; be selfish. She wouldn't tell Vega that she wasn't actually very good at anything. Valravn decided just to try twice as hard and hope Vega doesn't notice. "I'd love that! Oh, thank you so much,mam!"
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Post by Cascade on May 23, 2014 21:39:39 GMT -5
Vega smiled warmly down at the pup. It was very promising to her to see such quick improvement, and it would only be quicker when they returned to the Eternal Snowfall lands. "Shall we go, then?" she asked, giving the pup a quick nuzzle of affection, "And you don't have to call be ma'am. Just Vega, okay?" She had to bite her tongue to keep herself from saying "mum." That was pure wish fulfillment, and she didn't want to go down that road.
The meadow that was her packland was very far away from Kai lake, and Vega briefly wondered if she should go north instead and seek a place to rest from the Honovi before making the journey to the Eternal Snowfall lands with the pup. On the other hand, going there would just make the walk back longer, and considering who the Honovi wolves considered their allies she wasn't fully sure she could trust them. There might be evils lurking on those lands, and that was the last thing she wanted to deal with with the pup in tow. No, they would go directly home. It would be a straight line through the hunting plains, so at least they could stop and catch food if they needed to. And if the pup had gone over the mountains to get here, this would be an easy trek in comparison.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2014 22:24:29 GMT -5
The nuzzle caught Valravn off guard, but in a pleasant way. She wasn't quite sure how to react to it. Unlike with most approaches to her, it didn't give even the slightest indication that it could be a hostile advancement. "Um, okay ma-ah, Vega." She gave Vega a sheepish grin. "I think I'm ready."
Valravn made sure to stay just close enough to satisfy her own comforts but not close enough to be potentially in her way. In the past, she would have to walk behind the other wolves, but she had quickly caught on that Vega was earnestly concerned for her, and that would probably make her worry. It gave everything in her world a bit more brightness and color than it used to have. While her mother wasn't blatantly abusive, she wasn't among the first of her litters. Bad seasons and little food had made her and her siblings more of consequences of her promiscuity than beloved children. She didn't even blink twice when Valravn was being offered away.
But now she was here. To think that there was a wolf who knew her less than any other wolf she had encountered was showing her more affection than all of them combined meant she would have to try harder to break old bad habits and start some good ones. It wouldn't be too unpleasant of an ordeal; she could tell by how much softer and comforting the plains were compared to the mountains that it wouldn't. They were rich with life and potential. Maybe one day, even someone like herself could be skilled enough to hunt in these plains.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2014 17:55:47 GMT -5
All the sunshine, moving and talking around him broke the daze of one little creature who had been hiding in a small divvet in the ground, where the grass hid him perfectly. Instincts took over him, and he attempted to lift his head as far from the cool ground as possible. Little puppy yips might have been heard as he tried to get the attention of the creature that smelled in someway similar to his natural mother.
Little paws tumbled him away from the smell of dead that has been around him all day, and towards Vega and Valravn. The nameless one did not yet know much of this world, but what he did know is that he needed warmth and food, and to be around someone who will give him these things.
In the grass nearby might be disturbed grass, like where one may give birth, and where the resulting bodies wriggled and crawled around in their desperate search for the guardian they should have had. There also might be a very little corpses, two black and one a lighter green than he. They are all in various forms of decay and eaten-ness. This is the smell that the little green sausage on legs was trying to get away from.
Starting to tire, he gave off more yips in an attempt to bring the potential provider over to him.
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Post by Cascade on May 30, 2014 0:10:22 GMT -5
Vega was just about to turn her back on the lake and head home when she heard the sudden cry. Whipping around, she stood ramrod still to try and pinpoint the location of the sound. It was a little ways away, and it could just barely be heard. "Stay here, Valravn, I will be right back," she said, voice full of concern.
It wasn't until she was close enough to see the pup that the smell hit her. Pungent and vile, it almost sent her reeling back if not for the knowledge that there was a pup still alive and helpless who needed her. Pushing through the rancid air, she knelt down besides the pup, not even old enough to walk on its own. Vega took only one brief glance to confirm what she already knew; this one was the only survivor. Not bothering to call out to see if a mother might somehow be around, she picked up the pup gently in her jaws and circled back to where she had left Valravn.
"Abandoned. What are the odds...?" she said it out loud, but she didn't know whether she was talking to Val or herself. Vega almost felt as though she was being given some sort of divine reward for her years of patience, but at such cost...it made her nearly sick to think of it that way. She set the pup down in the soft grass and looked it over. Not injured, thank the Power, but the poor thing wasn't even old enough to open his eyes, let alone talk. What was she going to do?
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2014 16:45:47 GMT -5
Valravn followed her command without question; one of her positive traits. Her untrained ears did not pick up on the sound, so she was under the impression of danger. She watched as Vega moved forward, growing a little more anxious after each step. She was terrified; terrified of the imaginary danger she was in, but more terrified of the danger Vega might be in. It was too soon for things to go wrong-especially when things were just going right. She could finally see the face of hope before her and it was already moving away without her. Every bit of her rising anxiety told her to move, but she didn't. She resisted her temptations and kept her emotions bottled up, opting to just watch her intently instead. When Vega paused, Valravn's breathing paused as well. After she picked up the pup, Valravn relaxed and tilted her head to the side curiously, remaining in her spot. Valravn sniffed the pup. It was a pungent little guy, but nothing she wasn't used to in a sick and oversaturated pack. Something about the little thing tugged at her heart a little. Luckily, the only thing she was schooled on in her short life was nursing pups. "He will still need milk for at least 3 more weeks to survive, right?"
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2014 19:02:24 GMT -5
The first thing he felt was fear as he was being picked up. But soon that fear dissolved into relief. The thing that picked him up was the one thing he was trying to call to. His potential provider had come for him. His instincts yelled very loudly through his whole body. He was hungry, he needed food. He needed warmth. He needed to get this creature's smell on him as soon as possible.
Despite the fact that he woukld need to be on the ground to accomplish all these things, he barked in protest as he was set down. Vega would have a difficult time with her examination unless she could stop his movements because he would try his very best to wiggle his way back to her. It didn't matter that he was weak and tired, and it certainly didn't matter that he was going in the wrong direction. Being the most determined abandoned pup ever, he was going to get back to his new provider despite these very huge obstacles.
So he yipped and barked and weakly howled as he slowly slugged his way in the opposite way that he wanted.....right before plopping down in exaustion, not really making any real headway, maybe a foot or two if Vega didn't stop him.
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Post by Cascade on Jun 1, 2014 15:20:18 GMT -5
Vega sighed heavily. It may be a dream come true, but she would have appreciated a little bit of advance warning. "Yes, he is very young," she replied to Val, giving her a lick on the cheek, "There isn't anything I can do, but White Magic should be able to help us. Then we can all go home to the meadows and leave our pasts behind us, okay?"
She nudged the newborn with her nose, "You've got an admirable spirit, little one. You were very lucky that I was around to help you." It seemed a bit simple, but Vega decided that that's what she would call him, "Lucky." If she was going to raise them, then it should certainly be her right to name him. Picking Lucky up once more, she beckoned Valravn to follow her and set off at an easy pace towards the mountain.
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