Falling Up (open and tagged)

[Deleted]

Obscure

Helios sat in the clearing, snow surrounding him, warm winters sun shining pale through the maze of bare branches. He couldn't believe that he was nearly a year old, but looking down at himself, he realized how grown up he actually did look. He had grown with these trees, while they lost their leaves, however, he flourished. He has shining golden tan fur with strong muscles and a body like a god. His face was quite handsome, his eyes bright and alluring. Helios knew he was pretty, but he realized that none of the young she wolves noticed him? Was it because they too had grown up around him? Or were they hiding their true feelings? Helios had Mickie, but his chipper heart didn't feel complete. He thought of romance quite often, observing his parents play and share mushy moments. And he relied that that's what he wanted, not just to become Gamma like his dad. He wanted a mate.

And so the young hewolf sat, staring up through the thatch work. Contemplating. He knew that there were perfectly acceptable shewolves his age here in Secluded Sunrise, but what if his soulmate was out in the valley? Would he ever know if he didn't leave? But what if she was here and he left her? Nodding his head, he decided he'd stick around awhile. Perhaps his love would join the pack soon....or perhaps she was hiding right under his nose.

[Obscure]

Dahlia was prancing about in the snow, wriggling around in it and basking in the somewhat warm winter's sunlight. Her pink and black fur was dusted in the fluffy four of precipitation by the time she stood up, shaking it off and wagging her bushy black tail eagerly. Her pale blueish-green eyes scanned the snow-covered landscape of the Sapling Grove territory, looking for a new playmate.. Or mate in general. It had been practically a year now and she had grown up from a pup to her young-adult stage and was now more than capable of producing offspring if any he-wolf was willing to stick around long enough to get to know her. And then get past her scattered mind and energetic self. The female never really saw herself as pretty, just an ordinary-looking, petite female with more energy than she really needed. She sighed a bit glumly at the thought of never finding a soulmate, or at least having a nice little litter of her own, but brushed away her current doubts and bounded about to have fun and enjoy herself some snow and sun, or whatever light crept in through cracks and gaps from the canopy of leaves and other plants that were entwined together.

It was a little while later that she tired herself out, now laying and panting and letting her mind go to work to entertain her like it normally did. The thought of potentially having to leave in search of a partner crossed her mind a couple of times, but when it crossed her mind for the sixth time in under seven minutes, she decided to ponder on it and think how it could go. She could be alone on her own for a while, or potentially not be good at hunting and starve.. Then the idea of her and the highly vulnerable pups having no protectors scared her and made her uneasy, as that could very likely mean that she'd be killed or.. The pups killed and she taken hostage.. When it got to those thoughts, the she-wolf immediately had to push them from her mind and stood up, padding off in an aimless direction and hoping that she'd find someone to talk to and share some ideas with...

The she-wolf didn't have to walk too far before she stumbled upon young Helios, blinking at him and frowning some. "When did you grow up?" she asked, circling him curiously before breaking out in a grin. This meant she could play with him and wouldn't have to worry about hurting him or tiring him out too soon! "Wait.. What're you doing out here by yourself Helios?" Dahlia asked quizzically, laying down on the snow-covered ground beside the year-old male, her pale blueish-green eyes studying his facial expression to see if he was upset or something, soon starting to wonder what it was that was going on in his young little mind. "Forget the other questions. What're you thinking about in that intelligent mind of yours?" Dahlia murmured softly, sitting up and looking at the young he-wolf, now prepared to listen to whatever it was he had to say about what was going on in his mind and hoping that they'd get to play afterwards...

[Deleted]

Helios rolled his shoulders back, stretching out the muscles that lay underneath his glossy pelt. His silent spence was disrupted slightly by the twittering of rouge hued cardinals, their stocky bodies flitting from one bare branch to the next. Turning away from the joyful winter scene to see one of his younger pack mates. "Oh hey Dahlia." He smiled and thumped his tail in the thin layer of snow. The young shewolf was quite pretty, her pink fur bright, the darker points stark in the snow scape. Actually, everything about her stood out. Not only her vibrant fur. Her personality was bright and physically made the world around her seem that much happier. She smiled at him as well and sprawled on the ground next to him. And that was when the curious questions started.

When did you grow up?

"Well, I-"

Wait...What're you doing out here by yourself Helios?"

"I was just-"

Sitting up, Dahlia asked yet another question. And by the look on her face she was going to let him answer this one. with a chuckle and a sheepish grin, the tan and gold male spoke. "Well...er...I wouldn't say intelligent....but..." He took a deep breath. He wasn't about to tell his first lie. Why should he be embarrassed about the subject on his mind. He was a young male, romance wasn't unusual for him to be thinking of. "I was wondering where I would find my mate. Whether she be outside of the valley or by the Amoux creek. Perhaps...perhaps she's here in Secluded Sunrise." He turned to face her, his cheeks fluffing up with slight embarrassment. "I know it's silly...but...I want something and someone special who will love me for me and not just what I look like." Helios knew he was handsome, and he j ew it was an advantage...yet he didn't want that to be the only reason a shewolf liked him.

He looked over at Dahlia, looking into her cheerful, soul searching greenish blue eyes. She was a bit older than him, and they had been around each other his whole life, they hadn't necessarily been inseparable, but he liked to think they were close friends.