Hanging by a Moment (open)

[<3Kodi]

The night felt like a sweet comfort after the intense summertime heat. Kodiak could smell rain in the distance as she traversed the Emerald Twilight Glade, trying to keep herself busy while Haben was off somewhere doing something important. Kodi didn't particularly care for the distance between them and it made her restless like nothing else could. She wasn't worried that he was unfaithful, no, she just missed him. Since the pack had been growing slowly with the addition of Desoto and Kirah to the lands it seemed Haben was busy with patrols and who knew what else. Being the alphess, Kodi kinda wondered if there was some part of the job she was missing. Was she supposed to be busy like that or was she ok just making rounds and touching base now and then with packmates?

Heaving a sigh the golden-furred femmora padded toward the small pond in the middle of the terra, glancing up at the sky. Clouds had rolled in around sundown, chasing away a marvelous sunset with black angry clouds that promised a good summer storm. As she looked, thunder growled in the dark sky making Kodi's ears twitch. Still, she wasn't going to go running for shelter. Instead the alphess continued to head toward the pond as thunder growled at her like some unspoken warning. To her surprise even with no light from either moon or sun, the pond still seemed to shimmer at her paws as she stopped at the bank.

Seating herself on the sun-parched grass, Kodi stared at the waters mere inches from her paws and sighed for a second time. She was lonely. She missed Haben. When it had been just them in the terra they had hunted together and romped around like immature pups. Now her heart was heavy, knowing she had to set some kind of example for Desoto and any other future packmates that might approach her. Kodi liked to run and hunt, liked to be on the move and romp around under the moonlight but then lay out all day and soak up the sun. It wasn't because she was lazy but just because she failed to see the whole point of continually making border patrols or trying to act like there was a stick stuck somewhere it shouldn't be. She liked to appear friendly and maybe a little immature, just to show how she was approachable plus, that was just her.

Since the pack had started growing however, Kodi had felt alone. She had dreamed of being in a pack, nevermind leading it. She'd loved the wonder of having someone that loved her but now she never saw him. It was more lonely then she had been after her uncle and caretaker had died. Staring at the waters, Kodi let her mind toil in her misfortunes and angst feelings, who knew? Maybe a little angst moment would make her feel better?

Right on cue, the rain stated to fall, tapping on the waters in the pond and leaves in the nearby trees. Grass blades bent as water dropped upon them and Kodi felt her fur laying flatter against her strong bodice, the warm summer rain not exactly helping but instead adding to her angst mood. Gloomily the alphess remained sitting in the wet and stared at the rippling pond.

[Halo]

Finally! The alpha feels confident that the border is secure and that the wolves under his care will be safe from harm. Now he is on a search, not for gold or silver, but for something more precious. And as he hears the rumble of the approaching storm he feels the need to make more haste, picking his paws up into a swift jog as he moves through the forest with ease. He has left this fester for too long and now he worries that if he puts it off too much longer, allows himself to be distracted one more time, that it will be the end of something that barely got started. He has been foolish up until now and he doesn’t plan on making it work.

Haben stops, feeling the first droplets of rain tap dance on his ears. He looks up with a soft whine, feeling despair hit him. She’ll most certainly head for shelter and be hidden from him so that amends will be impossible. Maybe if he hurries he can still catch her. The ivory brute resumes his trot, leaning his head down to swipe a pick of several daisies into his jaws for a sweeten the deal kind of result. He’s willing to start all over if he has to, woo his mate all over again or climb the tallest mountain and jump off screaming her name if that is what it will take for an apology.

His nose twitches and through the rain he picks up Kodi’s scent, his whole posture perking up as he turns in that direction. He feels his tail wagging furiously behind him; it’s happy that they’re getting close now. Haben pauses at the fringes of the forest, looking out through the sheets of rain to see his love sitting at the edge of the pool and looking forlorn in the rain. He whimpers, his heart sinking into the mud beneath his paws. He’s neglected her and he feels terrible.

Slowly he approaches, paws making quiet splashes in the rainwater running upon the earth, and as he gets near he bends the water away from him like an umbrella, enlarging it to encompass the female as well. He stops at her side and lowers the flowers at her forepaws, whimpering and flattening his ears back sadly. The alpha sits and scoots a little closer, nuzzling the femora’s soft, and now wet, golden neck, licking her jaw lovingly. “I’m sorry I’ve made you wait so long. I’ve been neglectful...”
~Haben

(OOC: OMG! A POST WORTH SOMETHING!

[<3Kodi]

Rain made for good therapy, that was what Kodi was thinking as she sat staring at the healing pond. Nobody could tell if you were crying, so you could cry your heart out. It would listen to your problems and not remember or hide them from the world through the noisy thunder. The constant patter of droplets hitting the ground was a rhythm lulling her to sleep, helping her relax just a little. The only thing it didn't help was her lonely heart. Haben and the others were probably holed up in some old dens or seeking shelter in a dense corpse of trees and hoping there was no lightening.

Kodi's head snapped up in surprise when suddenly she stopped feeling the many drops of water hitting her golden fur. Looking around, amber optics widened in surprise, Kodi felt her heart lift. Her optics seemed to visibly brighten when she saw who was bending the water away from her. Coming toward her was none other then Haben, Emerald Twilight Glade alpha but more importantly her love. Kodi had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling at the sight of her mate carrying a cluster of daisies in his maw as he settled beside her.

A low whine worked its way out of Kodiak as Haben nuzzled her neck and caressed her jaw. If it had been under other circumstances she might have just ignored him to give him a taste of his own medicine but sadly, when it came to Haben, Kodi just didn't have that kind of will. Any thoughts of doing such a thing flew away like frightened butterflies from Kodi's mind, leaving her giddy as a lovestruck pup that Haben was simply there. Pressing her muzzle against Haben's neck, Kodi sighed softly and closed her eyes for a moment.

"You've been busy. The pack needs you. Thanks to them I've gotten better at waiting."

It was a lie but maybe Haben wouldn't notice. She was no more patient then she had been when she'd met Haben and they'd spent the night hunting and romping around like foolish pups. That seemed like something so distant it made her heart heavy again.

"You know I'll always be waiting around somewhere" Kodi added, more as an afterthought then anything.

[Halo]

“You shouldn’t have to wait on me,” he mutters into her neck, quite content to get reacquainted with her scent and her voice and the sound of her heartbeat. He has missed, really, really missed her if she would ever believe it for the length of time he has taken away from her. “You deserve better from me than what I’ve been giving you. I want to make it up to you.” He pulls back to press the tip of his nose against hers until she looks at him. He catches her gaze straight in his. “Really, I do. I need to.”

She has such beautiful eyes. He wonders if he ever told her that before. Not to mention a gorgeous smile, tantalizing fur, a mesmerizing walk, hypnotizing voice...he could gone on and on all night about the things he likes about her. Oh, it’s not just physical. She’s the sweetest thing he’s ever come across before and playful enough to match his energy (which is practically a must in any of his relationships). And though she claims to be patient he knows she isn’t, which makes the fact that she has been waiting for him all this time all the more special. She didn’t just walk out on him because of the lack of attention he was sparing her.

“I love you, you know…you’re the most important thing...person...in my life. You are my priority.” His tongue snakes out to lap her muzzle gently, rubbing his wet black snoot on hers with a warm smile in his eyes. “You name it, Toots, whatever you want. I’ll get it, do it, say it, make it...anything for you.” He probably sounds pathetic and desperate, yet maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe she’ll take pity on him and forgive him.
~Haben

(OOC: SO SO SO SO SO SORRRY that it took me THIS long to reply! I’m such a loser!)

[<3Kodi]

What did Kodi love about Haben? Some girls would be asking that now that he had ignored her for so long but Kodi never really doubted it. He had a warm voice, was simply inviting to anyone and everyone but fierce enough to protect them all. When she'd "signed" on to be his, Kodi had had no doubts about Haben and her faith didn't waver. He had ignored her and left her all alone but...he was a busy wolf. An alpha. More of an alpha then she was, at least in her mind. Humbled by her raising, Kodi doubted she'd ever be one of the alphas to throw her authority around. She would stand next to Haben for as long as she lived but, standing with Haben and comparing him to anyone else was just impossible. He was his own wolf, the love of her life and if she had to learn to wait to be with him then....somehow...she'd manage to creep along.

Kodiak breathed in deeply, savoring Haben's scent, letting scenes of their first meeting flit through her mind. It relaxed her and sometimes managed to keep her from running around like an idiot when she was impatient or bored out of her brains. Leaning back when Haben did, Kodi studied her mate. Amber optics lit up like lanterns with amusement when he spoke. Trying not to giggle or laugh, Kodi leaned forward so her muzzle was next to Haben's ear. "Really? Anything?" Kodi's eyes seemed to have flames in them as she stepped back from Haben and stood up. Her banner waved, the rain pelting her back but she didn't mind it. Storms didn't bother her. They excited her.

Lurching to the right, Kodi ran around Haben, leaving the pond behind and heading for the rest of the open meadow around it. The ground was soft under her paws, grass damp but it was fine to Kodi. She sprinted up one of the slopes that led to the forest until her paw slipped on the wet ground ending the fae tumbling back down to lay on her back looking up at the stormy sky with her paws in the air laughing like a maniac. Looking for Haben, Kodi vaguely wondered if he'd get his nice white fur filthy in the rain.

[Halo]

Haben feels somewhat nervous when she leans in close to his ear to clarify his offer, trying not to fidget with both excitement and anxiousness. The ivory brute has a split moment to catch the fire that dazzles in her eyes before she darts around him. She wants a game of chase? She could have asked for anything and she wants to play? It’s fine with him! Every couple as their own little thing that they do together that when they do they really connect; for Haben and Kodi it’s to run and chase and play. It’s what they did when they first met, two strangers out for a walk at night, a chance meeting and a game of tag. Very romantic.

The alpha shakes his head to snap him out of his reverie, turning quickly to follow after Kodi who had already gotten a substantial lead, paws slipping slightly on the wet grass but managing to keep his footing. This storm is precarious, he remembers thinking with an inward laugh as he chases. Haben is able to catch up when she takes a tumble, sliding to a sloshy stop beside her and growling playfully as he leans over to kiss and nuzzle her all over. “Run from me, will you! I thought you were going to tell me what I could do to make things up to you. And you run?” He chuckles and nips her paw.
~Haben

[<3Kodi]

Haben loomed over Kodi, his white fur managing to glow even in the gloom and rain of the storm but it was nice, almost surreal. Then again, Haben had always been like something magical to Kodiak and she hoped deep down that would never change. His kisses and nuzzles were better then any attention she'd ever gotten from any other male and now that she pondered it a bit, it was worth waiting for Haben if this was the welcome she got when he ignored her. It stung a little that he had ignored her, but Kodi also understood why. That didn't make it one hundred percent ok but Haben was quickly closing the little gap in her heart and she was loving every minute.

Grinning at her chosen one, Kodi leaned up and pushed her nose against his ivory muzzle and laughed. "If it means you'll chase me, I'll run forever. Soon or later you'd catch me." Kodi winked and batted her paw lightly against Haben's broad chest. Looking up at Haben, Kodi studied his expression, pondering his earlier offer as she laid on her back in the wet grass with her mate beside her.

Well, they were kind of mates. The thought made her squirm a little. She'd been thinking about the meaning of being mates while Haben had been away. Usually she didn't entertain the thought much but nowadays when Haben had been busy and away she had been pondering it more. She was a young fat, beautiful in Haben's eyes and an alphess...Being both a mate, fae and alphess all brought a certain responsibility to Kodiak's mind now that she was sworn to Haben. The day before she had seen a fox den on the edge of the territory, the mother watching four playful fox kits play. It had stirred strange thoughts and emotions in Kodi and now she wondered what Haben would think if he had seen what she had or if he would even see it.

"Haben...I was wondering, what would you think about...a few little ones running around?" Kodi asked, stumbling over the words and almost choking a bit, looking up at her mate.