Defect and Dig [Sheba]

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(They are returning to the white wolf after Sheba told them to come back in Autumn. I'd prefer @shiver to reply to this, but if not please refer to this thread.)

An all encompassing howl echoed through the mountains. "Sheeeebaaa?" Dig called, his voice somewhat muffled, as they got closer and closer to the White Wolf's cave. He had learned to give her lots of warning after the last visit. He turned his head to his blind sister who had now ceased howling and was lowering her head and was scanning the area with her ears. "You're getting good at that, Dee!" He proudly exclaimed, still muffled. Defect looked down, embarrassed. "You've gotten pretty good at hunting, Dig." She retorted, making her sibling smile, dropping the present he was carrying in his mouth. The purple male gently scooped the object and pushed forward. "Hey, there it is, I know that smell." He said, wagging his tail. "Sheeebaaa?" The wolves called in unison, both much more perky than the last visit.

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Sheba was bored. You would think that with all the power she had, she could never be bored. But the white wolf had truly seen it all. At least that's what she had come to think. She believed she had nature, wolves, and fate all figured out. Just as she had suspected, the two siblings had come just as soon as the seasons changed from summer to autumn. Predictable mortal haste. Well, it was understandable when your lifespan was do short and could be cut even shorter at any moment. Sometimes even without warning.

The sister if neutrality cracked a smile as Defect and Indigo made their way up White Wolf Mountain. Indigo's braying calls could scarcely be heard, while little Dee's lovely voice was amplified over half the valley. Sheba was glad she had given that precise power to ghostly Defect. She needed a strong voice to chain her to the earth. As for her stronger, more capable brother; Indigo, he had returned for a defensive power. For Sheba had promised him one. She would normally say to her sisters how foolish making an oath with a mortal was, but now here she was fulfilling her side of the bargain. Here he was, at her door, ready for a gift.

"Back so soon?"

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@shiver
Defect had now synchronized her walk to match her brothers. Thanks to good nutrition from her loving brother, and rest through the summer, her deformed shoulder was giving her less pain. She had elected to keep her back straight and stiff to prevent injury, and this had helped her even further. She gave a short, sharp bark and formed the familiar map with her ears. "You're right, we're here." She said sweetly, excited for her brother. "Go get 'em, tiger." She cheerfully giggled. With that, she heard the padding and scratching of claw on rock turn into a skitter. The ghostly-blue wolf picked up her pace, but not to the point of skidding clumsily as her now plump sibling was.

Dig stumbled to a halt at the cave entrance, his left paw touching the noon shadow that marked the boundary. He pulled back, hoping the White Wolf didn't see, then bowed, dropping a bright orange leaf, dotted with yellow at his feet. "The first copper leaf that I saw fall. I caught it and brought it straight to you. A gift, for being so generous to my sister. It's so much easier to hunt, 'cause she can call me if she's in trouble. Thanks." The male spoke. "I hope all is forgiven from last time. Please give me a power." He thought to himself with his mouth still open. Defect came along with closed eyes, and snapped Dig's mouth shut with her paw, giggling. It was much easier for her to map out everything with so much echo, and no wind scattering scent, and leaves to block her "vision". She addressed the White Wolf that stood before her "Nice to hear you again, Wise White Wolf." She smiled and bowed her head. "Forgive me for not bowing fully, for my shoulder needs to be taken care of." She spoke calmly, but with obvious tension and nervousness. Noticing this, Dig side-stepped so that his sister could feel that he was there. He could feel her shaking, but he stood boldly nevertheless. "He glanced at the leaf, then to the she-wolf. "It's pretty, isn't it?" he said, hopefully wagging his tail.

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Sheesh, they were trying so very hard to be polite, they even brought gifts! Perhaps, she had scared them a bit too much last time. With a small smile she accepted the leaf. Perhaps she could use it in one if her potions. Botany perhaps. But back to the matter at hand.

Sheba glanced at Indigo, very muscular and loyal to his smaller sister. He had gained weight since the last time she had saw him. That meant that the valley was treating him well. Sheba glanced up the mountain wondering whether the great power would let this peace and plenty last much longer. "Come, into my den." She ushered the male into her cave, past drying herbs and empty flasks, past brewing and aging potions. She stopped by a shelf like formation, scanning the rows for the one she desired. There! A creamy brown potion that had thick bubbles rising from it slowly. "This is what I promised you. The gift of barrier, take it and use it well."

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@shiver
Defect looked towards the "Oh so important" leaf that lie on the ground. She took a shakey breath, and silently wished she could see it's beauty. The shadowed outline of the three-pronged leaf didn't seem as pretty without colour. A sudden blinding silence surrounded her, filling the cave. "She doesn't think it's pretty?" she asked herself after a few seconds. Feeling her brother's fur comforted her, so she gave no sound to map out the room.

The siblings swooshed their tails up in unison, signaling anticipation as the White Wolf invited the male in. Defect forgot her worries, and sat while her brother bounded after Sheba into her home, almost as excited as a newborn pup. He twitched his eyes left and right, glancing at all the glorious potions in the making. By the time the two wolves got to the Barrier potion the dirty purple male had his maw wide open, his tongue hanging over the edge, panting with excitement. He gazed at the bottle, and slowly, he became unsettled as he looked at the potion. "Use it well? H-how do I use it?" He asked. "Mama never told me about this one, or any defensive ones." He explained, starting to blush. Dig had waited for a whole season to get this "barrier" and never even knew how to use it. His greed had told him to take, not think. "Why did I say that?! I'm such an idiot! he thought, scowling.

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Sheba chuckled as Indigo looked so ashamed. "Hush,hush. Do not be ashamed of curiosity and question. How would you know how to use it? There are not many in this valley that hold such a power." Sheba sat down and thumped her tail against the stony ground. The white fringe dusting the floor. Now, to answer the question. Should she direct him, or just let him figure it out. If Sheba followed through with the latter option, it would make the male think that he should indeed be ashamed of his simple minded curiosity. The white mate decided then that she would take the gentle approach and only tell him how to start, the rest he would and could figure out on his own. Indigo was an intelligent enough wolf, otherwise he'd be dead. Dumb wolves don't survive without their moms. "Listen here, Dig. They key to creating process is focus. You can't build up a barrier without focus. Narrow your eyes on the spot where you want your barrier to stand,mthen if youre focused enough one should appear, though if you break focus while building it, it will fall apart." Sheba warned with her famed words of wisdom. Wisdom usually is spoken out of the mouth of the neutral, for they can see both sides of an argument. "Now enjoy yourself."