Hope Comes in Many Colors (closed for Fierfly)

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It had been a long somewhAt long really of a journey for Azerath. She had never traveled so far but not once had the she pup complained she followed eagerly and stayed quiet. Night was starting to come as they reached a meadow. Something not far off catching the purple Gray and black pups attention instantly. With agernss andpup like wonder she ran forward to the glowing blossom as she reached it and she blinked looking at it her tail wagging excitedly"wow what is this place?"She asked immediately and looked to whom she considered her new father.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

It had been a long past few days, and a trying adjustment period for both of them. The male padded on at a measured pace and let Azerath bolt on ahead once the lilies caught her attention. Where she got her energy he'd never understand, she'd nearly been asleep on her feet the first day, but determined not to give him cause to find a family of loners and leave her there, she'd kept any complaints to herself. He was impressed, and admittedly was growing rather fond of the young charge he'd taken under his wing.

He joined Azerath as she fairly danced around the frozen blooms. "Lunar Meadow," he told her. "Named for the way the white lilies dance in the moonlight. Lunar is another name for the moon." he gazed up at the sky. There was no moon tonight only clouds. His wraith-blue eyes suddenly caught sight of a single white flake drifting down and landing on a petal. Snow. The first storm of the season was starting.

"C'mon," he barked firmly, and led the way to an abandoned badger hole. The entrance was narrow, but no trouble for his lean body and Azerath would fit without a problem. He was somewhat surprised with how small it was with just him. He'd grown since he'd last used this den as a yearling. Azerath would take up plenty of space too. It would be tight, but it would keep them warm, which was exactly what the pup needed. He made himself as small as possible (not an easy task) against the back edge of the burrow and waited for his young charge.

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"Wow that sounds like a pretty name"Azerath said looking at the white lilies captivated by them. The young pup looked at him"wow I didn't know that"She said hr tail just a wagging. Though upon the fir order to go with him it stopped and She nodded quietly following after him. She looked to the hole before she crept in after him. Crawling in she curled up close to him looking at the entrance. She didn't say anything at first and didn't for a bit but then she finally said" what's wrong?"She asked quietly she nd been curious because it was a bit sudden.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

"It's late," he shrugged, "You should have been asleep hours ago," he let himself curl around her protectively, but didn't take his eyes off the entrance. The night would be getting much colder before long, she needed to be kept warm. Even with her first winter coat replacing her light puppy-fluff with thicker fur she'd be cold, and the cold was a deadly enemy. Other cubs had died from frost-bite, even yearlings and adults in their prime had frozen to death - he'd seen it.

"Go to sleep Azerath," he whispered, tearing his eyes away from the impending storm and lightly tracing her profile with his muzzle, a trick that had always worked for him when he was a cub and was supposed to be sleeping. "Things will be fine, go to sleep."

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"Why canti watch the pretty glowing flowers for a little bit?"She asked quietly. Though she gave a small yawn before she curled up a bit. As he curled around her she snuggled up close t him quietly. She looked outside briefly for a long moment. She could somewhAt feel a bit of the cold. She the knew way and smuggled as close as she could warmth spread through her. As she did she heard him tell her to sleep and she flicked her violet earbefore slowly going to sleep"ok.."She said quietly and her breathing evened and she started to fall asleep.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

Despite his admonition to the pup to sleep, he couldn't bring himself to let his guard down. Watching carefully he saw another flake come down and land at the foot of the den before it melted. He felt a shudder run through his body and he looked down at Azarath, his little shadow. She was still so small, so fragile, the cold was harsh and cruel. It could easily take her from him. He finally lay his head down and shut his eyes, trying to block from his mind the picture of the coming snow and any thoughts of the dangers it brought.

His sleeping was restless and scattered. He'd not had such a vivid dream for a very long time, but this one brought back all the sensations he remembered. He felt his hackles raise and his breathing quicken. Azerath hung from his jaw as he tried to run through the snow, away from something. It was deep and hindered his efforts and he was blinded by the storm. He missed a step and tumbled down, Azerath flying from his grasp and tumbling away. The dark form they'd been running from reached her and then-

Thankfully he awoke with a start. Little Azerath was still beside him, warm and breathing and he felt himself sigh and relief and his heart-rate began to return to its regular level. Gently shaking his head so not to disturb Azerath, he lightly nuzzled her cheek and leaned against the wall. He could doze, but never - under any circumstances - could he let himself sleep.

[Deleted]

Being fast asleep Azerath was curled up close to him. She seemed to twitched a bit and ever so slight whine escaped the young she pup. In her dream, she had been running from what she dint know it was a giant black shadow of a wolf probably she didn't bother to look back. She was afraid somewhere before she had ran in her dream she lost Renegade and was running as fast as she could. Though not fast enough. In her dream the violet black and Gray pup tripped and th last thing She saw was the black mass surrounding her and then pain before nothing. Azerath helped whining a bit her heart racing from the dream. She looked around slowly before she relaxed and she quieted down staying close to Renegade.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

A slight whimper escaped from Azerath and she awoke with a start before settling down again, keeping close to her guardian. Renegade let his thoughts wander, wander about this strange situation he now found himself in.

He'd found a mere pup of a girl at the Ruins, she'd been cold and lonely and afraid. Parents and family all dead and running blindly from the cruel circumstances life had given her. Somehow, for reasons he still didn't understand, except maybe for empathy, he'd taken her in. Sheltered her, comforted her, provided for her. The responsibility wasn't his, according to the Law of Nature, by rights Azerath should have died as well, or if she had survived, she would have been taken in by a pack or a loner with her own litter of pups. Yet take her in he had.

For nearly a week now she'd followed him, enduring his demanding pace as he wandered the territory. She was a determined little vixen, he'd give her that and he felt that little involuntary smile flit over his maw again.

Relaxing and now assured, he dozed off, this time into a rest-full dreamless unconsciousness. Things would be fine.


((Time-skip to next morning? Azerath wakes up?))

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(Sure)

Azerath hadn't really slept at all the rest of the night more or leas the young pup just had her eyes closed. Once the young pup was sure morning had come she opened her baby blue eyes and looked out the entrance. Though she didn't leave Renegad's side. Though the young se pup took notice of the white stuff that was outside. Though dispute her desire to stay warm she slowly got up and curiously made her way to the entrance just close enough to look at the snow. Slowly Azerath poked the white stuff with her paw and flicked it off stepping back from it.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

Sensing Azerath's warmth leave his side and hearing curious paw-steps he opened his wraith-blue eyes. Azerath eyed the powder intently, dabbing at it with her paw before retreating. His eyes came wide open as he too took in the site. At the entrance it wasn't so bad, the over-hanging rocks had blocked most of the snow blowing from behind them so you could at least see outside, but beyond that the world had gone completely white. The stray flake still misted down from the gray sky on occasion, but other than that, the world was still and silent. Buried at least up to Azerath's knees - if not deeper beyond his view - in the cold and white.

He stood and stretched, tail in the air and claws showing as they griped the earth and he joined Azerath at the entrance, staring out into what had once been a clear valley full of lilies.

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Average after shaking the powdery white stuff off her paws she heard Renegade as he started to wake. She was quiet as she looked at the white stuff and then said"what is that?"She asked looking at him quietly as he came over to her. Curiousity seemed to fill the pups baby blue eyes. Quietly she went to the stuff and set her paw down on it hesitant. She then looked back at the Der wf"what is it...its cold"She said quietly as she looked at him. She holed he knew what it was because she really wanted t know.

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

He looked down at the pup, his own eyes were filled with surprise and wonder. "It's snow Azerath, snow. It's like rain, but frozen into soft flakes instead of drops." he stared out at it. They weren't holed in yet, but would they travel or stay in the den where it was warm? He wasn't sure. "You've never seen it before have you?" it was more like a statement, although it was phrased like a question. Of course she hadn't seen it before, she wasn't a yearling yet, she must have been born in the spring or summer. He'd find out about that later, he had to know if they could still travel through the snow.

A few cautious steps weren't so bad, but once he was about 10 feet from the den he plunged into the snow-back. Blazes! This was why he hated living in the valley in the winter, the highlands weren't quite so deep if he stuck to the rock-faces and cliffs, but the valley was constantly flooded with the stuff. Oh well, the snow there wasn't too much deeper, and nothing had been broken. He looked back at Azerath's head peeking out of the badger den. "Come on," he coaxed,

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"Oh ok wow "Azerath said eying the snow quietly smiling a bit. She then pawed the snow again"no...I've never seen it before"She sai her tail wagging a bit. She then watched as he padded out into the snow. She didn't know neither to follow or no. So after a little while the young she pup poked her violet and grey head from the den and looked at him quietly. As he beckoned her yo come to him she at first tested the snow before scampering to him snow flying a bit as she half ran half jumped to him

[Fierfly]

Renegade:

That dratted involuntary smile flitted over his face again as Azerath bounded - then more wallowed through the thick, white powder over to him. Her bright enthusiasm was obvious as she experimented with her new surroundings. Her innocence and wonder were alien to him. Most of Renegade's life had been solemn and serious, and while Azerath had certainly had her trials and tribulations, she continued to see the world in wonder and awe rather than enmity and bitterness. He was proud of her.

"First rule of Winter my Little Shadow," he allowed the smile to stay and he wondered if that nick-name would too, "Either be moving, or be in shelter. The cold is dangerous, you need to keep warm." He picked her up and set her back on top of the snow, only to have her sink in again. He shook his head, and set off.

[Deleted]

She had kicked powdery white snow behind her as she half ran half jumped to Renegade. Once she had reached him she blinked smiling at the Nick name he had given her. Little shadow,she kinda liked it. As she had stopped she had sunk into he snow and blinked. Though he picked her up and set her down again her tail wagged before she once again sunk under the snow. She yipped a bit before she nodded"ok!"she said and she followed after him snow flying behind her as she tried to keep up. She smiled a bit"so where are we going now?"She asked.