Growing Seasons of Life (tagged and open)

[Blood]

@shiver
@pittypat

Pearl:

*Several days after the puma attack*
A soft howl rose from Pearl's parted maw and the sound carried only to the surrounding area, as she held her paw on the still body of a small hare. Pearl's silver eyes were closed as she prayed in silent thanksgiving over the life that she had just taken. It would be used for the good of another, and the life and energy of the hare would be passed on in the circle of life that nature was meant to travel in. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled with appreciation at the dead animal before wrapping her small jaw around it's limp body and lifting it. Once her serimonial tradition was finished she bagan her trot back to were she had left her sleeping patent. The silver male had healed quite well from the puma's attack, but Pearl still didn't think he should be hunting for his own food yet, so she went out to catch him some sustinence to further his complete healing. Pearl also found her thoughts drifting towards her friend Caesar and wondered what he was up to on this fine spring morning. He had been gone when she awoke, and she hadn't seen him since. Her assumption was that he had gone off to catch his own prey for a needed meal. With anticipation she waited until she would see him again, she had grown quite fond of his company, and besides, he still hadn't told her how he knew this wolf that had come to help them fight off the puma. They obviously had had a past together, since Pearl had clearly seen how they acted towards each other.

Pearl's tiny feet and swift gait had quickly brought her back to the little clearing that the three wolves had taken refuge in, but to her surprise not a wolf was in sight. She brushed past a greening bush and set the hare down at her side and looked around. Even with her sharp silver gaze she couldn't see Caesar nor his friend from the past. With silent steps the pale pink she-wolf stepped around the clearing and sniffed where the silver male had been sleeping. His scent was still very fresh, but he was nowhere to be seen. Pearl fell to her rump and pondered for a moment before shrugging and turning back to where she had set her fresh kill. If he had gone off to hunt for his own meal then he must have been strong enough, and either way, Pearl couldn't control what he did or didn't do, so with that she lay down and began gnawing at the still warm flesh of the hare carcass.

[Deleted]

Caesar hadn’t been in the best mood recently. With his brother literally leaping back into his life. His only memory of Nico was so unclear, but nevertheless he still knew the tale perfectly. Caesar knew that wolves would change....he had changed much since the pit. But Caesar couldn’t find it in himself to forgive and forget. For the longest time he had put aside his past and all but ignored the happenings of his puphood. It had been easy, he was a new wolf in a new world with a new life. But suddenly his blinded brother burst back into the scene and rudely woke him from his fantasy.

The silvery brown male sighed bitterly, covering his salt-and-pepper snout with his large reddish paws. Was he a coward? A coward for not facing his fears head on? For not giving a wolf he hadn’t seen in over four years a second chance? For not being able to take down a puma and protect Pearl? Would she look at him differently when he told her? With another deep, mournful sigh he rolled over. Where was this frustration and self pity getting him? He needed move on. If not for him, for her.

”It’s worth it, for her.” he mumbled breathily up at the baby blue sky. Pearl had been there for him these last seasons. They had started as nervous acquaintances, but had surely transformed into something more than travel companions. She was the light in his world, she was the sun. His Pearl. Caesar rubbed the goofy smile off his lips and heaved himself to his paws, shaking the stray blades of grass from his thick pelt. Caesar trotted around the rise and past a small copse of willows with an even pace before arriving back at the unofficial camp.

”Hey there Pearl...” He cleared his throat, avoiding her piercing silver eyes.

[Blood]

Pearl:

She heard his familiar voice and finished swallowing the hunk of meat she was working on before looking up at the speckled male who had just walked into the small clearing. "Hello Caesar!" Pearl chipped happily as she smiled with bloody teeth. She suddenly realized how messy she got when she ate and quickly dropped her lips to cover the unappealing sight that her smile probably was. "Sorry," she muttered and did her best to lick her muzzle clean of any hare flesh that had missed her mouth. "Oh!" Pearl suddenly remembered her manners and nudged the half eaten limp carcass towards Caesar. "um, would you like to share this meal with me? I doubt I'll be able to finish it on my own." She paused and her sweet gaze looked up at her dear friend in expectation. "It's still warm," She encouraged. Her toothless smile slowly vanished when she noticed that Caesar avoided looking directly at her. His eyes seemed to look everywhere except at hers. A gently warning probed at her heart, even his continence seemed unsteady as he stood in front of her. Why was he avoiding her? Pearl whimpered internally, she didn't realize how much his gaze meant to her until he withheld it from her. Did something happen while he was out? Did something happen to their healing companion? This question made Pearl think; Caesar's state of being seemed to have started when they attacked the puma and the silver wolf came along to help. Was Caesar's problem with the wolf the he seemed to know from his past?

The small thin she-wolf was up from the ground in one swift action, her tiny paws carried her a little closer to the ashy brown male. With her head lowered but tilted up towards his face, she gently asked, "Caesar, are you alright? Would you want to go on a walk with me?" She took another step closer, she could almost feel the unease coming from him, his spirit was surly troubled.

[Deleted]

Pearl immediately perked up at his entrance, hastily rubbing away the messy remains of her meal and offering him the rest. “Ah, that’s kind of you Pearl,” he spoke softly, avoiding her eagerly kind gaze. She quickly caught on to his less than bright demeanor and asked him if he was alright and if they should talk about it. Caesar knew, even after a simple day of being down in the dumps and conflicted that he couldn’t last long simply moping about. “Yeah,” he sighed, ears folding back against his coppery ruff. He knew that if any wolf could cheer him up it would be Pearl.

So many wolves would take one glance at the pinkish wolf and discount her immediately. She was of good alignment, and rather cheerful. They would immediately label her as an immature ditz. But Pearl was much more than an optimist, she was a deep thinker, a grateful soul, a nurturing lover, and a healer at heart. She was every trait that one would want in a mate. Caesar didn’t know exception how he felt about her, the bundle of emotions inside of him nearly impossible to define. But what was more, the male wolf didn’t know how she felt about him.

If all she wanted was a friendship and a partnership, he would be what she needed and become the best friend any wolf could have. Caesar was determined to protect her, and she was here to protect him. Just like that snowstorm in the barrens. They were protecting eachother, relying on the other.

Yeah, I could use a talking to,” He mustered a smile and glanced into her pretty silver eyes once before his gaze flicked away once more.

[Blood]

Pearl:

A huge beaming smile lit up Pearl’s face when Caesar commented on her offer. It would always make her happy when she pleased others with her actions, but she had become even more so whenever Caesar was the one she pleased. Her intentions had slowly been focusing more and more on how to please the strong handsome wolf, and often times, that brought her out of her way. This moment was exactly one of those moments, as she stepped away from her half eaten meal and left it behind her. Talking came before meal time, and as soon as they got back from there walk, Caesar could have the rest of her delicious catch.

Pearl’s heart leaped when he smiled at her, and she glowed with happiness when he looked into her gaze only if it was just for a split second, but it gave her hope. He still cared for her, but something was definitely hindering him, and she would help him through it. It was never easy dealing with troubling thoughts on your own, she would be there to listen. With her silver eyes still on the male, she started to move along, “Come with me then, let’s go for a walk Caesar.” Her smile shriveled to a small grin, and a tender expression shone on her face.

- Temporary exit Pearl and Caesar