Fierfly [Taboo]

[Fierfly]

  Fierfly:

  The young she-wolf cautiously picked her way up the steep Mountain. Loose rocks, hidden chasms, she was familiar with a mountain's tricks and she was determined not to become lost or hurt before she reached the top. She paused and gazed up at the peak, sharply outlined by the brilliant summer sky. What was it that drew her to it?

  A young cub curiously chased a butterfly, giggling with joy when the winged insect turned around and landed on her nose. Delighted with the attention the cub had stood perfectly still, reveling in the beauty of a single burst of color on the wings. Eventually it fluttered off and she began chasing it again. The pup stopped abruptly and turned her head to stare into the distance. To stare at the Mountain. No matter where she was in her parents' territory, she could see it, and she could feel an urge to go to it. She threw back her head and let up a light, puppy-voiced howl, calling to the Peak.
  The dark colored female smiled at her pup. "What is it Fierfly?"
  The cub stumbled over, her young paws still clumsy and inexperienced. "Mama, what's out there?"
  Fierfly's mother had begun to groom her cub as though she hadn't heard the question. "What do you mean?"
  "The Mountain, what is it?"
  "It's a mountain of course," here she stopped to tickle her pup.
  Fierfly giggled, then pushed to loving muzzle away. "No, I mean: What is it?"
  The large, dark, male wolf now nuzzled his pup. "It's stone, it's rock, it's earth, it's a mountain."
  "No Daddy," she insisted, then got to her feet and continued to stare at it. "There's something more to it, I know there is." she looked back at her parents. "It's calling me,"

  And it called her still. She couldn't understand why it did, it just did, and now the pull was even stronger.
  She was a stranger here, she was new, and she still didn't understand so much of the world away from the Mountain, but she pressed on. It was still calling.

  The climb grew easier and her curiosity piqued and her attention focused on 3 caves. One was dark and cold and foreboding, another was welcoming, but strange. The third was bright and hopeful. She didn't remember making the decision to continue her search. The pull and instinct that had guided her up the treacherous paths of the mountain now guided her paws to the mouth of the light cavern. She paused, realizing that she would soon learn what had pulled her here. Fierfly lowered her head, took in a breath, and placed a paw inside.

[Deleted]

Taboo loved summer. Sure it was pretty scorching down in the valley meadows, but up here, it was perfect. The mountain was tall, the air clean and moist. Taboo loved to lay, draped over a sun baked boulder, the cool mist rolling off of the thundering waterfall spraying her pelt with jewels of water. The pool collecting the cascading falls burbled and lapped against the smooth stones lining its edge. Reeds clucked together, whistling in the summer breeze, sweet scents weaving their way through the land. Trees trailed tendrils of foliage and vines over and through ricks just to get a taste if the magical pool. Birds twitters in the trees, winging their way through the happy summer days. The bugs in the grasses chirruped and whirred, their gossamer wings and leaf disguised suits of armor gleaming in the dappled rays of gold. This was summer in the mountain. It was good, it was kind.

The white Mage yawned as she withdrew from the granite slab, budding her zen garden farewell. For some wolf was in need if her assistance. The sister of good weaved through the trunks and branches if her forest, returning once more to her cave. It was bright and warm, the sun reaching its silken fingers into its comfortable depths.

Taboo wasn't at all surprised to see a shewolf one paw inside her home. Her easy smile grew on her kind face, her iridescent eyes gleaming fondly. She loved the wolves if this valley. They never ceased to surprise her. What a good life she had bringing them gifts.

Coming up behind the girl, the shewolf spoke. "May I help you dear?"

[Fierfly]

Fierfly:

The she-wolf was glad of her sure footing and the firm instinct overriding her paws or she was sure she would have jumped out of her skin and quite possibly off the Mountain. She whirled around and came face-to-face with the purest white wolf she'd ever met - which in retrospect wasn't saying much because she didn't know many wolves to begin with. Still, the white she-wolf demanded respect. Her fur fairly glistened in the summer sun and dancing, iridescent, rainbow colored eyes overflowed with a hidden smile and with care. She felt her heart begin to pound. For seasons she'd wondered what the magic shrouding the Mountain was, and now she was about to meet what had called to a curious young cub from a wilderness beyond.

"H-hello," she wasn't entirely sure what to say next. Surely she ought to have reverenced the kindly mage but she was caught off-guard. She had so many questions and no right to ask them, she she-wolf was likely busy and she suddenly felt small and insignificant. Finally she decided to simply say things how they were.

"My name is Fierfly," she drew erect to better be able to see the White Wolf, "I apologize for intruding, but I am a stranger to the Mountain and the land surrounding." she dug her claws in to the rock for support, she was shaking like a pup in their first rain-storm. She was afraid, yes, she didn't know where she was, she'd started her life over and this territory was strange to her, but she wasn't going to let her fear stop her now. The kindly gaze encouraged her to continue, "I-I'm sorry, I don't know your name, and I don't understand what you mean with 'helping me' but I do appreciate it."

"I've-" she hesitated, what right did she have to burden the white she-wolf with her problems? None, but neither did she have the right to come all this way and stop in fear. "I've seen the Mountain since I was a cub, I've always been pulled to it I guess." Her shy blue eyes turned down, "I'm sorry, I don't know where I am, or why I'm here, I don't know how you can help me...but I would gladly accept any help or advice you could grant me. I want the Territory to be my home,"

She bashfully looked back up at the great White Wolf. Her smile radiated kindness but what would come now?

((@shiver))

[Deleted]

Taboo listened to her new client attentively, it was only polite. Her white ears pricked forward, rainbow eyes dancing. She nodded at the appropriate times and chuckled a bit at her story. Sitting down, the graceful shewolf spoke. "Sweetie, let me explain something to you..."

"This mountain on which we sit, is home to The Great Power. This power is what draws you to the valley. This power is what makes the valley so vibrant. This power is what gives our surrounding inhabitants such curious coats. This power created my mother, and thus, created myself and my sisters inadvertently." Taboo waited for the first part if her speech to sink into the young wolfs tender mind before starting again. "The Great Power gave White Magic, my mother, the power to heal. It gave myself and my sisters the power to gift the wolves if the valley powers, amazing abilities that can bless or curse. I myself am not obliged to give out the more destructive powers, as they would only scar the earth with evil and mishaps." Taboo chided softly. "Do You understand? I was assuming you were here to petition for such a gift. Would you like one?"

[Fierfly]

Fierfly:

Her mind was spinning, pouncing on each word as it fell from the White wolf's maw. The words she heard, Great Power, White Magic, powers, gifts, they were all foreign to her, part of her didn't understand, but deep down inside it all seemed faintly familiar. Like the misty memories of her first few days of being alive, she could remember, a little. It was more instinct really, something deep in her blood that reacted to some promptings that reminded her, or in this case, had pulled her to the Mountain.

She felt the fur on the nape of her neck prickle and her heart begin to race at the idea of a 'power'. "I-I understand," she said slowly, "Yes, I think I do - but...a power?" the pull urged her to accept the offer. She had no idea what sorts of powers there were, but she felt she had an idea. Suddenly, she knew what she wanted if it even existed, but the kindly mage had made herself clear that she would not give out destructive powers, and certainly what she wanted was often seen as destructive. She lowered her ears and eyes, "Can I prove myself capable of wielding a power of fire?" she was being very generous as it was, she didn't want to disrespect her generosity, Fierfly waited apprehensively for the answer.

((@shiver ))

((Oh @shiver ...))

((Count to 20 can wait @shiver ))

[Deleted]

Taboo narrowed her eyes. Perhaps Firefly did not know Taboos's outlook on....fire. "Are you familiar with the disaster that struck this valley long ago? The great fire as it's known?" Taboo took a step closer to the flame bearer. Fire powers were dangerous, they were offensive and couldn't be used for anything but evil. They were out of control, and Taboo refused to inadvertently cause the valley harm. If she blessed a wolf with the powers of flame, and their fickle heart decided they could be evil all of the sudden, the world would be consumed in flames once more. Taboo didn't ever want to see her home wreathed in fire again. Never, ever again. "The valley was decimated, many lost their lives. One wrong move, or I'll intron could rebound and kill everything in its path. And theres no stopping it. I can see that you are a good wolf at heart, but please.....find something else. Anything else. But not fire." Taboo's iridescent eyes burned with a warning. Perhaps firefly would only take the power of flame. What if she went to one of her sisters? Taboo couldn't bear to see that happen.

[Fierfly]

Feirfly:

She felt her head lower and her ears fold back in apology as the white mage chided her choice and recounted a horrible history of destruction. A history that though Fierfly had never heard, had lived for herself. "I am - truly so sorry for what happened. To have to see so much hurt. I did not know." What was she doing? She couldn't possibly ask for the power again, yet to ask for anything different, seemed...wrong, disloyal almost.

She hated the destruction of fire, for it had destroyed everything she'd known and loved, but it had also brought her here. Was it truly all evil? "But I have seen for myself the damage fire can do. My home, a valley many days away, was destroyed by fire. My parents killed, everything I knew was gone, and as you can see I didn't escape without a scar." her right ear flopped awkwardly, she could still hear out of it, but couldn't move it the way she wanted it to face to focus on a sound.

"And yet-" she must be careful, she was only a pup, compared to this wise white wolf, she couldn't possibly know better. She had to be respectful. "And yet, as I was leaving my valley to respond to the pull I have felt from the mountain since I was a pup, I saw new plants growing, a flower growing from the ashes, a new life and a new chance was on the rise." she smiled faintly as she thought of Azi, her strange new friend, and Eclipse, everything that was new to her here, but it was good. "Fire does not only destroy, but brings new life. It's brought one to me. I was so dead inside after the blaze, but it also gave me a new chance to start anew and to come here. To try again, to find out where I belong here." she paused, re-positioned herself as more submissive and accepting again and bowed her head respectfully. "Forgive my ignorance. I know Fire's danger, and if you do not find me worthy of a power then I thank you for teaching me at least of this valley that has called to me. But if I can ever prove to that Fife is more than death and evil, I will guard it with my life, and give my life - if needs be - to protect another from the hurt of Fire and show them the good." she held still, head bowed like she was submitting to an alpha, but her voice was soft and confident, submissive and accepting, but pleading, just for a chance.

[Deleted]

Taboo shook her head and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, my daughter. But I must refuse you this power." Taboo turned to withdraw into her home. Her elegant face saddened but firm. She hated turning wolves away, as Raboo had the kindest soul you could ever meet. But she simply could not bear herself to betray the valley and cross her word just to gift a mortal who would simply die soon anyways. "I hope you find your own flame, Firefly. In your heart to keep you going. Don't give up hope." The white sister of good returned to her cave and began idly sorting her herbs.

[Fierfly]

Fierfly:

She nodded her head solemnly as the white wolf firmly, but gently put her paw down about the matter. "I understand. Truly, thank-you for teaching me about the Valley, the Power." she was bitterly disappointed. Something about the power of flame had called to her. Maybe it was just her fire-branded and patterned coat or the scars she bore underneath from the fire that had both destroyed and renewed her. She wasn't sure. Her ears perked however as the guardian went on. "My own flame...a flame in my heart," her down-cast expression lightened curious and suddenly eager. Another memory came to her.

"Oh my little Fierfly," her mother had crooned, "My little fire of hope,"
"What's hope?" the sweet little cub lay on her back between her mother's paws, slowly drifting to sleep, but not yet, not when there was still time to discover one more thing about this fascinating world.
"Hope my little Fierfly," her father stood over his mate and daughter protectively to defend them from any harm the night might have brought. "Is the fire in your heart, life gets dark my little one. You have to keep going."
"You have to have hope," her mother finished, then began crooning her evening lullaby.

"Thank-you," she insisted, and started to turn to leave, Azi would be wondering where she'd gone. She hesitated, "What is your name?"

[Deleted]

The white sister tossed her head over her shoulder, saddened eyes brightening once more. "It's Taboo, the immortal daughter of White Magic, sister to Sheba and Geist, embodiment of all that is good, the bestower of powers. But yes, you can simply call me Taboo." The Mage smiled cheekily before retreating into the warm depths of her sweet scented den. She truly was good hearted, she truly was immortal. Though sometimes she wished she could live a normal life. But then the she wolf would look into the valley and remember all she's seen, all the love and new life, all the spring seasons. She would remember all those individuals she had met and blessed, and she knew she wouldn't have life any other way. This was her eternal calling, to love and benefit the wolves below. To bestow them with the powerful potions she brewed in her potent home. This was her work and her glory, to bring to pass the love and life of wolves in her valley. And she. Was content.

[Fierfly]

Fierfly:

As the white mage - Taboo - retreated into her den, Fierfly stared after her and said softly.

"Thank-you Taboo. I may not come away with any of your magic. Not with the power of Flame or any other magical gift you could give me, but my purpose is not empty. I don't go away with magic, but you have given me a gift Taboo. Your gift to me this day is memory and hope. I may not have gotten a power, but there is still a mission and a purpose waiting for me. And for that reminder Taboo, I thank-you."

Fierfly was trembling, she wasn't used to giving speeches, but her steps were firm and steady and she carefully worked her way back down the Mountain. She had not received a power, but she had received a lesson. She now understood just a tiny bit more about the Valley and why it called to her. Why she belonged - that she still had to learn, but she was starting.

For the first time in a long time, her heart was completely light and for that moment she knew no fear. Whatever was ahead of her, she was ready.

-Exit Fierfly-