Nothing but the sea {OPEN}

[Rykett]

Striken:

It's an ocean, Striken decided as he stood looking over Sunbeam Meadow. The stormy gray male had been travel far to reach this valley. His own pack's territory hadn't been far from a body of water that his mother called the sea. This ocean of grass reminded him of it. The wind blew through his fur as it created waves in the seemingly endless grassland. The male overlooked the landscape atop a hill.

After a couple minutes enjoying the sight, Striken trotted down the hill and into the grass. Among the green and brown grass, Striken almost felt as though he was swimming since his head barely poked above the higher grass. The sensation didn't last long because the grass's height shortened until it was only brushed against Striken's thighs. He looked around the meadow, trying to focus on the scenery instead of worrying over Calypso and Mysti.

Striken decided to practice his power a bit. A rush of electricity charged his fur. A crackle filled his ears as his power mark glowed yellow. A prickling sensation crept down his spine as a spark traveled through his pelt. The speck of energy popped off the end of his tail. A second later, Striken's fur puffed up with static electricity.

[Deleted]

Ah, the refreshing taste of freedom! No more stuffy milk-scented cave! The air was brisk and laced with ice. The wind spiked through her fur, the harsh coldness muted by her thick pelt. Her silvery form slid through the grasses, frost-like blue saddle patch bobbing along. Molten gold eyes danced with an ember light. She raised her head to the riding sun with a bark. Her six boys were safe at home, protected by Zeke. Shiver would return to them at sun high. She smiled at the thought of their noble, kind mate cuddling her pups. She hoped that he wouldn't be to rough when playing with them. They were only newborns after all.

Shiver was ripped from her ulterior reality by the prickling sensation that accompanied the presence of another wolf. [/b]"Why hello there."[/b] Shiver turned around to look at this new wolf and nearly burst out laughing. His dark fur was fluffed up, making him look like a spiky grey rain cloud. Then she heard the crackling if lightning and suddenly became defensive. He better not try to hurt her. Or her pups.

[Rykett]

Striken:

At the sound of another wolf's voice, Striken jumped. A small zapping spark of electricity flew of his to accompany his surprise. He spun around to view the silver she-wolf who'd startled him. "Oh! Hi!" The words flew out his mouth as fast as lightning cracking in the stormy sky. She tensed as the another crackle of power sounded from his charged fur. His power mark was still glowing visible on his shoulder as his power sent electricity flowing through his pelt. He took a breath and shut off the flood of energy. The mark's yellow glow dimmed until the power mark blended into the rest of his coat.

"Sorry, 'bout that. I haven't really gotten the hang of my power yet. My name's Striken. Are you a part of Eternal Snowfall, too? I haven't seen many members, lately." As he spoke, he tried to smooth his fur with a paw. He only managed to cause the fur to stick up more. He shook his pelt, frustrated. The sky overhead was covered by light grey clouds that were the exact color of his sister's fur. With the thought of Mysti came the immediate thought of Calypso. The two she-wolves still had not returned from their trek up the mountain to find White Magic. It'd felt like seasons had past since Striken had seen them last. His heart had begun to ache with loneliness. It was an emotion that the male was very familiar with.

Striken tried to push any his worries for his loved ones for what probably was the millionth time. Instead he consider the silver wolf standing in front of him. She smelled familiar though Striken was sure he'd never met her. Was it just the anxiety for Calypso's safety that made this she-wolf's scent similar to hers? Calypso hadn't mentioned any relatives, had she? Nope, not that Striken could remember.

[Deleted]

Shiver stared at this make with a skeptic eye. Well, he says he was just practicing and that, he too was of Eternal Snowfall. Shiver briefly thought of the forming pack with Snow at the head. Would she keep her word and return to him? Maybe once her pups were old enough to travel. Shiver raised her head higher, golden eyes staring piercingly at this Striken, their golden depths tinged with kindness and acceptance.

"I am of eternal snowfall. My mate and I came here for a while, and maybe fit longer since we just had six pups! Ha!" Shiver chuckled and lowered her voice to a whisper. "If Calypso could see me now!" She chuckled some more, ears swiveling to pick up on the other sounds of the meadow.

[Rykett]

Striken:

It was eerie how much this she-wolf's expression looked similar to Calypso's. The way she raised her eyebrow skeptically and smiled so kindly kept reminded Striken of the light blue wolf he loved. Striken couldn't hold back the flood of emotion and worry for Calypso around this she-wolf. She reminded him too much of Calypso. Striken felt like he wanted to sob though he managed to keep up a facade of relaxed friendliness. He'd lost track of how many days they'd been gone. He needed to search for them, to find them, to protect them, but they were out of his reach. Striken was breaking down. He couldn't just keep on pretending everything was going to be alright. His protective nature demanded that he raced up the mountain to find Calypso, Mysti, and Jekyll.

When the she-wolf spoke, her words gave something for Striken to focus on other than his nearly overpowering urge to protect. She was raising a family within the borders of Tranquil Meadows. No doubt the six pups she mentioned were adorable. If only Calypso and he... Striken tried to cut of the though, but the unfinished sentence lingered in his mind, another reminder that Calypso was missing. Striken nearly missed the wolf's next whispered words, but one word seemed as loud as a thunder clap the way it rattled in his brain, shaking apart his barriers. "Calypso?" He echoed. That single word almost broke apart his friendly manner. "You... You know her?"

[Deleted]

Shiver eyed the male, he seemed uncomfortable. His smile was genuine though it looked a bit strained. His amber eyes look void of hope, and full of anxiety. Something must've happened to this poor guy. Shivers fresh maternal Instinct told her to comfort him. So she did. The silver female trotted towards him as he exclaimed a bit about her sister Calypso. Shiver sat next to him, yellow tail brushing his paw.

"Striken. Calm down." Shiver looked the ecstatic wolf hard in the eye with her forceful golden gaze. "And of course I know Calypso. She's my sister." Shiver spoke with a shrug. It wasn't a big deal like this male seemed to think. "I haven't seen her since we were both kids." The corners of her eyes crinkled in a smile as she reminisced. "Calypso, so timid and so selfless. The next second a hurricane of emotions. She said no one would ever fall in love with her. Though I'm sure she's found someone. If I can, so can she." Shiver finished her soothing speech then turned to this electric wolf.

"What do you about her anyway?" One brow lifted slightly in question, nose crinkling as she did so. Did this Striken know of Calypso? It had been many seasons since they had met.

[Rykett]

Striken:

"Calm?" Striken laughed shakily, "I thought I was being calm." He took a deep breath as the she-wolf spoke. It rush out in a puff of foggy white before he responded, "Who wouldn't love someone like her?" Striken met the she-wolf's golden eyes as he spoke. He paused for a second to reflect over how to answer her question. He decided it'd be best to tell how he knew her and where she was. "I... We meet in the Lily Warren. I was... uh... lost, so she guided me to Eternal Snowfall. We've been pack mates ever since. But, Calypso... she was sick... last Spring she went to see White Magic with my sister, Mysti. They haven't returned. I should've gone with them. I could've protected them. I keep telling myself that they're okay, but I don't know!"

Striken nearly broke down, but sucked in another deep breath and looked to the snowy horizon where the mountains towered. The gray clouds overhead began to sprinkle snowflakes from their foggy depths. The rocky crags of the White Wolf Mountains loomed darkly as if ready to swallow the ones Striken loved. The stormy male shuddered internally at the thought of what dangers might've attack them while they traveled up the mountain.

[Deleted]

"You didnt sound like it." She spoke dryly. Shiver listened to Striken's response as he built up his composure. The Lilly warren, yes. Eternal snowfall..."So she belong to the same pack as myself..." Shiver commented quietly. Sick? That was Calypso for you, always getting herself sick. White magic eh? She must be very sick. "Listen here Striken. Don't underestimate Calypso. She may look and act as fragile as a spring petal, or as brittle as a frond of frost. But Calypso is stronger than you may know. If she made a promise to come back, she'll keep that promise and come back. Don't worry."

Shiver examined this male, did he have a crush? That was adorable. Hopefully Calypso wasn't as naive as she'd left her. That Calypso would move too fast in a relationship. Heavens know that's not good. Shiver traced Striken's line of sight to the rocky teeth of the white wolf mountains. By this time in the season they were glowing and glittering white with snow, the sides scraped with that dusty bluish green of evergreen trees. Calypso was up there. Shiver wanted to go and see her again, but she had other responsibilities here.

[Rykett]

Striken:

The she-wolf's words reinforced what Striken kept telling himself. Somehow, hearing the statement said aloud helped. Striken managed a laugh, "You're telling me! She once threatened to stuff a mouse down my throat when I tried giving her half of it." The memory made him smile. Striken fell silent as he became surrounded by his own thoughts and memories. He was feeling better, new hope that his loved ones would return had filled him. This she-wolf had come to comfort him when he was struggling and he didn't even know her name.

"Sorry, but I think I missed you name." He said as his amber eyes turned back to her golden ones. The familiarity of her expression, kept Calypso's names repeating in his head. No doubt could be found in him that this she-wolf was Calypso's sister. Calypso would probably be delighted to see her again, if they hadn't seen each other since they were pups as the she-wolf had said. Also, didn't the silver female mention that she had pups? Which meant Calypso had nieces and or nephews.

[Deleted]

Shiver listened to Striken's vivid tale of her pale blue sister threatening him with a mouse. She had used that one on grandmother once when she refused to eat. Calypso was so heartbroken when Brika died.Shivers eyes saddened at the thought of the wild storyteller that took care of them while mother and father were out hunting. "I have no doubt she would've done it if she hadnt been so hungry herself." Shiver spoke softly, staring at her paws in the frost covered, wind blown, dead grasses.

"Forgive me, I'm Shiver." The ivory pelted shewolf smiled, a white canine tooth sneaking over her bottom lip to poke out under her smile, making her look a tad suspicious. Impish if you will. That's what she was as a pup; an imp. She remembered teasing her sister to the brink of tears before being scolded by Brika and sent to the darkest point of the den.

[Rykett]

Striken:

After responding to his words, Shiver had grown quiet, her eyes distant. The she-wolf seemed to be in thoughts of a time past. Striken was silent as well. He'd acknowledged her words with a small nod, though now he remained as quiet as Shiver as he contemplated possibilities.

Within his head, an image of Calypso became so clear that it felt like she was standing in front of him. The wavering vision of the light blue she-wolf smiled warmly. Then she looked away, her lime green eyes focusing on something to his right. Striken looked over and the shifting forms of pups ran to Calypso's feet. Their coats shifted colors as Striken tried to pin down their appearances. Calypso bent down and gently licked their coats. The young wolves turned to Striken. Their mouths moved silently as if calling for Striken. He attempted to walk to the pups, but his paws refused to move. The stormy gray male leaned forward struggling against an invisible force. Suddenly the occult chains relinquished their hold and Striken fell forward into the dirt. When he looked up, the mirage-like images of Calypso and the pups had gone.

He glanced at Shiver as he scrambled to his feet. Striken's cheeks puffed up in a wolf's imitation of a blush. "Uh..." he said as he searched for some words to explain his strange behavior. If he said that he was seeing thing, there was no doubt that Shiver would think him crazy. Finally, he just said, "Sorry..."

[Deleted]

Shiver raised an eyebrow as Striken face planted. What a strange creature. She wondered what Calypso had gotten into, becoming mates with this ditzy lightning rod. The shewolf's golden eyes swam with anxiety. She had been away from her pups too long....too long....what if Zeke had gotten worried and came looking for her, being a stupid male and leaving her pups unguarded?! What if a rogue wolf came in to steal them away?! What if a lynx had killed her mate and devoured her six sons?! A cold drizzle began to seep into her fur. She wondered where all these clouds had come from? She wished the rain would go away. Just then, the rain miraculously stopped. Confused now she gazed up at the heavens. What was going on? Rain. She thought, and it began to rain, and then she saw it, there on her shoulder blade, a glowing power mark. Where had that come from?! She hadn't visited the white wolves! What was this cursed valley doing to her? Shiver shook as the rain began to thicken slightly, misting up when it hit the hot rocks. "I-I've git to go now, s-sorry." Shiver stuttered and stood, nodding at her sisters 'friend' before dashing away, back home.

-exit Shiver-

[Rykett]

((Ditzy lightning rod! XD ))

Striken:

Shiver rushed off quickly as a light rain pattered the ground. Striken hadn't noticed the mark glowing on Shiver as she departed. His eyes were drifted across the landscape as he thought. Through he tried not to jump too fast to rash conclusions, Striken supposed that she wanted to free herself from the presence of a insane wolf who hallucinated images of a family that may or may not be possible. 'OR she could just not like being out in the rain!' The rational side of him argued.

The stormy grey male tilted his head up to the cloud that released the raindrops. He caught one on his tongue, absently. 'Guess power practice is over. Might as well go back to the den to see if Calypso, Mysti, and Jekyll have returned.' He turned and padded toward the copse, where his den lay.
-Exit Striken-