Lost... and Alone... (Arctic and iivie only)

[shaegirl]

Kelliria's mother just got back with the body of a small deer clamped in her jaws in the misty fog of the summer morning. She dropped it just in front of her pups ripping out some parts to set aside for herself, and tearing off the bits of it that are good for growing and strength and placed them on the ground right outside the fresh deer, motioning for the pups to eat. As the pups fought over best pieces, Kelliria waited her turn. Over the loud sound of the arguing she heard something louder... Her Mom did too... Just then in the dull light off the early morning they were being snatched up and running through the wet underbrush of the forest. Kelliria clung to her mothers back, holding on for her life. She felt her hind legs scrape the edge of a tree, and when she looked back at it she lost her grip and slid of the side of her mothers icy Grey pelt, to land in the leaves of the recent ending fall and be burred under them. Seeing the large silhouette of a grizzly in her fading vision...

[Arctic Fang]

There were signs of small families that had been in his territory before but they posed no threat to Arctic and his pack. He assumed that sooner or later they would seek him out in order to become absorbed in his protected community. The fact that only 'he' knew of these creatures was fine by him. His pack still did not have sentries and scouts, members of his ranks, sent out, that would find the strays that hide out in the Celestial Terrace. When that time came he would deal with it but for now he would choose peace over petty greed. Their time would come, the time that would force them to choose to either join his pack or leave the territory.

Today Arc was scouting the land for himself. Since his pack numbers weren't large enough to have wolves assigned to scouting duty he was more then happy to do the job himself. Nothing was beneath him. This proved that he was a great leader and destined to do great things with the pack of the Celestial Terrace.

Arctic walked along. He recalled telling Alei to meet him by the white oak tree but she had still not yet arrived. The male began to pace back and forth. Where was she? With each passing minute he became even more worried and agitated with the stress of not knowing where she was. His pacing became quicker and his brows furrowed deeply. Had something happened to her?

[iivie]

A l e i ; ;


Slender paws hit the ground lightly, gracefully, as Alei bounded through the grass, running as quickly as she could. Thin layers of wind lapped at her face, plastering her fur against her slender frame. Her long limbs stretched with each stride, carrying her farther. She gripped the ground, long claws digging into the dirt providing extra balance, and helping push her off the ground. She could see the sun high in the sky, deep crimson and soft lavender fading into the horizon. Just ahead she could see the white oak.

Rays of light showered onto the dazzling white bark, painting it's canvas a beautiful mixture of fiery colors. She smiled at the lovely sight, and quickened her pace. He would be there waiting for her. She was late. Again. Cursing herself inwardly, she tried to keep focus at the joy of her run. The breeze cooling her down from the sun's heat as it beat down on her back... She always loved to run. Still, she felt bad for knowing that she may have worried him. Almost there...

Lifting her maw to the sky, still running, she parted her jaws and let out a long, song-like howl to let him know she was there. It wavered with the wind, in harmony with the birds that chirped cheerfully here and there fluttering through the summer sky. Just a few more bounds and she was there. Slowing to a prance, she saw her pack mate just a few feet ahead. Breathing heavy, she caught her breath, before coming to stop to face him.

"I'm sorry Arctic." She apologized, "I hope I'm not too late." Immediately, she had noticed the worried and upset expression thrown across his face. She chose to ignore it, hoping he would be alright, knowing that she was here now and she was still in one piece. Besides, she didn't want to have an upsetting conversation, she wanted to keep this meeting of theirs happy. Hopefully she hadn't already ruined that... She did appreciate that he cared about her, though. She gave a little smile at the thought.

[Arctic Fang]

Of course Arc was a bit upset. He found that he thought of her more and more and that if anything happened to her he didn't know what he would do. But he didn't take it out on her. It was more then likely him being a worry bug then her actually being a few seconds late.

Arc smiled at her after her apology and then moved into nuzzle her jaw with his nose. "It's okay. I was just getting worried. I'm glad that you could make it. Are you ready for our walk?" His nose took a moment to smell her fur, to remind himself that she was indeed there and with him now.

The male didn't wait for her to answer but rather he moved in along side of her and began to walk, after a little while of walking Arctic sniffed the air. "Do you smell that? A bear has been through here but I smell something else." Arc began to slowly swing his nose around, sniffing in all directions like a turning needle of a compass.

[iivie]

A l e i ; ;

Alei nuzzled him back, and nodded, though he had already started walking. Catching up to him quickly, the two padded side by side, fur brushing every now and then. Stopping, she too raised her nose to the air. She could smell fear, and definitely a bear, she could tell by her surroundings. Clumps of grass lay uprooted, claw marks wounding the earth. But there was something else. A faint smell of other wolves. She nodded. "Yeah..." Her voice was soft, a whisper, as if the bear was still there and would have heard her if she spoke any louder.

[shaegirl]

Kellliria couldn't see but she could smell, and she smelled something very unfamiliar. She could here talking in the distance. Slowly waking up she whispered for her Mom not remembering what happened just that morning, thinking it was just a dream... she called a little louder for here mother still being answered with nothing... She was scared... shivering she started to whine crying for her mother in soft whimpers.

[Arctic Fang]

When the whining of the pup began Arctic's eyes became as big as saucers and he became just a little frantic as his attention darted everywhere, trying to locate what he deemed was a pup. He dashed over fallen trees, between trees and his nose rooted through dead leaves until he finally spotted the source of the crying. It's a pup! Just as Arc suspected. "Over there! A pup!," Arctic shouted as he caught sight of Alei and then bolted over.

Upon approaching the pup he tried to shush her. "Shhhh... It's okay little one. We're not going to hurt you." Of course instantly Arc knew that it was a 'she' rather than a 'he'. His sense of smell was terrific but his pup-caring skills left something to be desired. He loved pups but he just didn't know what to do with them when they were crying. He looked over at Alei, his eyes begging for her to help, to instruct him as to what he should do or that she could take over and do what female's do best.

[iivie]

A l e i ; ;

Alei too, heard the sound. Instantly her motherly instincts kicked in. Head raised, ears perked, eyes darted in every direction. She noticed Arctic doing the same thing. Then he shouted that he found the pup. Turning in the direction he had bolted off to, she followed him quickly. Standing by his side, she heard him try and calm the pup down. She joined it as well, her gentle voice singing softly through the air.

She wondered where her mother was. She noticed that she wasn't too young, she had probably been weaned already. Still, she couldn't help but wonder.

[shaegirl]

Kelliria spotted Alei, not knowing who she really was but hearing the same soft song like voice of her mother that she heard just this morning, she staggered trying to jump up fast and getting a little dizzy, "Mother!??!!!" She screamed in a light exhausted voice,"is that you?"

[iivie]

A l e i ; ;

Alei couldn't help but laugh as the little pup asked her if she was her mother. Though, sadness filled her eyes. Her mother couldn't have gone that far, poor little pup... She turned toward Arctic, not knowing what to do. Should they try to find her mother? Or should they take her back to the den and feed her first, she didn't know how long the pup had been here. All the other scents were stale... Turning her eyes back to the pup, she leaned down her muzzle just a few inches from hers'. "No..." She answered sadly.

[shaegirl]

All of what happened this morning flashed through Her head all at one time when the heard the answer of the mystery wolf that she could now see clearly. A few small tears escaped her cloudy eyes as she remembered, And realized that she may never see her ever again. A few more tears come running down her cheek and she looks behind her to see a young male. She lets of a small scream with the jump back words she did at the sight of him.

[Arctic Fang]

.:':.Arctic.:':.

Arc thought it to be funny that the pup seemed scared of him. Really he wouldn't hurt a fly but he said nothing in that regards to her. What was really on his mind was trying to get to the bottom of this whole situation and so he allowed Alei to comfort the young one. "We'll take her back to the cave and feed her." He looked at Alei and nodded as he took his leave. "I'll be right back. Keep her hear." Soon the only thing that they two femmes saw was his backside as he sauntered away.

His nose knew that something was amiss here. Arc had an overly keen sense, perhaps gifted to him by the wolf gods knowing that he was to be Head Guardian and Alpha to his own pack. Either way the male has learned to use it wisely.

Arctic was now a little distance away when he same upon the murder scene. His muzzle opened slightly when he gasped lightly. It was the pup's mother. There was no other explanation. Arc shook his head and then bowed it slightly out of respect for the fallen female. She must have been only trying to protect her pups against the bear.

The male said nothing but decided to get the two female's out of there as quickly as possible. His walk was a little more hasty as he trotted past Alei. "Let's go. I fear that the bear still may be in this area. Let's get her back to the cave." His eyes knowingly looked directly into Alei's. He hoped that she knew what he was saying without having to speak it.

[iivie]

A l e i ; ;

Alei lifted her head back to face Arctic and nodded to his directions. She watched him walk away, then turned back to the pup, laying close to the ground, so the two were at eye level. "Don't worry." She barked soothingly, hoping to cheer her up, "You're safe now." She gave a slight, half hearted smile, though sadness for the pup's lost mother filled her eyes. She too, had lost her mother. And her father, and brothers, everyone that was once close to her. If anyone, she knew how this pup felt.

Her ears swiveled backward, as she heard the quiet footfalls of Arctic, indicating his return. Stepping back to her paws, she turned back to him in hopes that he had brought back good news; but just the fact that there were no other footsteps with his, proved that he hadn't. She heard the sadness in his voice, as he spoke his next words, then looked into her eyes. "Oh no..." She whispered the words, so low the pup wouldn't be able to hear. Her eyes closed quickly, she couldn't bare to see the sadness in his any longer. She lowered her head in sorrow and held back tears.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her gaze back to his, and nodded. "You're right. We should get out of here as soon as possible, and warn the others." They didn't need anymore tragedies. One was far more than enough...

[shaegirl]

Kelliria watched as the wolf walked off and listened to the soothing song-like voice that was slowly making her drift in and out of sleep and consciousness. the sound of the male's return frightened her awake and she was suddenly being rushed off in the other direction. She didn't know what was happening and she didn't have a chance to ask so the followed with out a sound, running at times to catch up to them.

[Arctic Fang]

.:':.Arctic.:':.

Arc was a male and wasn't accustomed to having such a small one follow him and so perhaps he 'did' walk a bit to fast. The venture didn't last to long though. The cave loomed in sight distance. Arc then let out a howl. All those around the land would sense by its tone that it was a howl that warned them of impending danger. Immediately there after he entered the cave.

His prance took him to the pantry where he plucked up a rabbit and then took it to the pup. She would have to learn to be free from fear of him sooner or later. It looked like she would be staying here since she didn't have a home to go back too. "Here little one. Eat until your bellies full and do not stray from the cave. Alei and I have some things to talk about. We won't be far." Arc turned and when up the rock steps to his room. As soon as Alei would arrive he would talk to her about the pup and what he really saw.