/Stop\ I need to {Rewind} |Open|

[Destiny]

The glimmering star splattered ebony sky hung far above the land. The glow of the moon shone brightly. Lush new spring grass was a comfortable landing spot for her sore paws. Long claws had become blunt within one day, too much travel over rocky terrain and no time to sharpen them. Young femmora's stomach was rumbling with hunger once again, no food had entered her system for three days and three nights now. Long pinkish tongue rasped hungrily over her lips as a small vole was brought into view. The hunt was over before it had begun. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the vole caught scent of the wolf nearby and darted into a small hole in the earth. The wolf was much to exhausted to attempt to dig her prey out from it's underground den. The shade of the forest's canopy had been welcome during the hours of daylight, now it was a curse. The darkness and icy cold of the forest speared her with fear. This land was familiar, but unlike the territory of the Sheeran Pack femme did not know what lay behind every crevice or under every stone. It was this lack of knowledge that made young wolf anxious.

At the edge of the forest fae swept icy liquid blue optics over the land that was now before her. Twas a treeless grassy land for many feet. In the center was a beautiful lake filled with icy crystalline liquid. The lapping of the water on the shore made the femme betray her better judgment. The sound was soothing to her strained auds. Carefully, as if fearing that some creature would attack her any second, femme crept from her hiding spot. Belly brushing the ground. Tassel sweeping over the lush stalks of green grass behind her. Young wolf edged towards the Twilight Lake.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>"YAAAAHOOOO!!!!" The howl erupted from the maw of a beautiful crimson femme as her head bobbed up to the surface of the lake. "Dude...I don't care that we've already done it twelve times....WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN!" She howled with glee. Her vibrant green eyes had yet to rest upon Akaira, but she seemed to know she was there, anyway. Thrusting herself forward, the fae climbed out of the crystal waters and shook the damp from her pelt. Glancing upward, she smiled a little as the rain started up again. "And who might you be, young'un?" She woofed to Akaira, still staring up at the rainclouds with wonder. "Darius! We have a new friend here!" She barked to her mate, voice a melody of springtime.

Darius emerged from the lake, shaggy black fur hanging down like a mop. He, too, shook the water from him pelt, only to be soaked once more by the rain. "It's getting a little too cold, tonight...we should head back to the den. We can come here again tomorrow if it's warm enough," he answered, oblivious to her last comment. "Say, who's that?"

"That's what I was talking about, silly!" She giggled. "This is....well, I don't know her name yet, actually. Uh...we don't bite or anything weird like that. Heck, we're not weird at all!"

"Oh yes, that's why we enjoy jumping into freezing cold lakes...just for the thrill!" Darius chuckled.

"Oh, shut up, you!" She grumbled good-naturedly.</sup>

[Destiny]

As exhausted and famished young wolf slunk towards the Twilight Lake for a drink of delicious crystalline water to quench her dehydrated body femme froze. Silverish grey auds swiveled forward, in the direction of the lake. There was something odd about it. Young one pinned her figure to the grassy ground as the form of one wolf, then a second emerged from it's icy depths. Optics of ice took in the creatures before her as both emerged from the water. The first was a reddish colored femme, her partner a dark ebony brute. As the unknown fae's voice pierced the silence of the night femme lowered herself even more. Too late. The reddish wolf called out to her. Fae watched as the brute spoke and the two seemed to bicker in a good natured way.

Rising from her attempt at hiding in the middle of an open space femme carefully advanced a few more paw steps. Many colored peltage rippled over still developing muscles. This one seemed to be made up of liquid silver, soot and cloudy grey, night sky ebony and a strange blueish shade. On left side of femme's face was a wide long scar. It stretched from between her aud and left eye halfway down to her cheek area. Long tassel was held at half mast to show respect to these older wolven. Velvet maw parted so that a few hoarse yet melodic notes could be heard. "Greetings. I am Akaira, rogue without a friend or foe." Words were simple yet held great meaning.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>"Pleasure to meet you, Akaira. I'm Santi...exiled and probably a major irritance to the packs. So is Darius," she snickered. "But you, dearie, have paced along the borders of the Destinians and run along with the Sheerans. Why is it, then, that you say you are both friend and foeless?"

"Santi! You're going to scare the crap out of her!" Darius growled, serious this time. "It's not any of our business, anyway. Oh, and Akaira...it's not like we're felons or anything!" He groaned, ears twitching with embaresment.

"Well....this is going to seem odd to you, but I can sense movements, both past and present. I don't know what's going on during the movement, but I can feel the pawsteps of all wolves. That's why I was exiled from the Siverians....and later the Destinians. I was too...quirky."

"I was exiled from the Destinians for similar reasons, only my...er...gift differs from Santi's. Isn't this a little rash, dear?" He glanced at Santi.

Santi shook her head. "Nope. I'm tired of being all sneaky and secretive. I'll come right out and say what I am from now on...I'm not ashamed."

"Well...there you have it." Darius sighed...expression tired and weary.</sup>

[Destiny]

As the reddish femmora spoke young wolf's auds swiveled forward. Icy optics glimmering with shock,surprise and many a question. This wolf new that she had been a Destinian and a Sheeran. At first little wolf trembled with a fear she had not known for many a moon. Then, as Santi explained and Darius spoke, fae gradually began to understand. Opening her maw she spoke once more. "A pleasure to meet you both Santi and Darius." Femme dipped crown in a respectful way. Then padded forward a few more steps. "I will explain who and what I am in a moment, but first I must drink or I think I shall die of dehydration." Tone was not quite serious nor was it joking. Glancing from one wolf to the other Akaira padded between the two and to lake shore. Halting at it's edge femme spoke before drinking. "Thank you Twilight wolves for allowing me to quench my thirst in your beautiful lake." The stars sparkled on the water and the moon's reflection was there too. Dipping her crown many colored maw hit icy water and femme drank for a long time. It took much water to quench her thirst.

Raising her crown she shook it slightly, crystal droplets splattered into the lake. Turning around she padded a few steps from the lake shore and sat. Tassel waving thoughtfully behind her as she looked from Darius to Santi. Icy gaze filled with a storm of emotions rested on Darius. "Darius, Santi has the ability to sense the past and present movements of all wolves. If I may ask, what ability do you posses? You said you had a gift that differed from Santi's own." Femme herself had no gift. Wolf was not an excellent fighter, nor a great huntress. Still, she was learning. Suddenly a spark glimmered in her eyes. "I'll tell you my tale when I have heard yours." It was a statement, not a question, a statement. If brute did not wish to share, then she would not either.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Darius cursed loudly. "It's hardly a gift!" He growled, aura growing dark.

"Steady, Darius..." Santi sighed, pressing against him lightly. "Darius...he sees the world in a different...color, if you will. In fact, he can read the colors of every wolf he meets or has met, and different auras mean different things. But it has side-effects...if he's not careful, the aura reads into him instead. Meaning...if there was a not-so-nice wolf around, Darius risks becoming not-so-nice. Oh...and as a side-effect for me, I'm..."

"Jumpy!" Darius rolled his eyes. "We both tend to be high-strung and wired. Not good for pack life. In fact, we expect these things shall shorten our lifespans considerably," he explained, growing a little less surly. "I was exiled when I became too angry. I found Santi in a hollowed log...nearly dead. We helped each other."</sup>

[Destiny]

Figure of little fae stiffened considerably as brute cursed and growled. Fear coming from her being in waves. Apparently she had not worded her sentences correctly. As Santi seemed to calm him a bit little wolf relaxed the instinctive tension in her figure. Paws kneaded the ground anxiously for several moments. As the brute seemed to become calmer little wolf relaxed. Glimmering optics drifting from one wolf to the next. Remembering Santi's earlier question maw was opened and an icy melody of a voice weaved through the night. "I say I have no friend or foe because the statement is quite true. Among the Destinians no wolf ever showed me an ounce of kindness, except my brother Rapier and he seems to have turned away from me too. The Sheerans might have took me in but it was out of pity for I was nothing more then a bleeding scrap of fur without a safe haven to reside in. You see on the night of the first Moonless Meeting in this new land, or so I believe, there was much bloodshed. The snowy alphess of the Destinains, Destiny, was speaking with the other alpha's before the meeting began. I, though I was supposed to remain in camp with my brother, had followed the Destinians to the meeting. Before hand I had felt that something great would happen that night, being who I was I had to be there. Had to know what it was." Young femme paused, as if remembering some important detail. Maw opened and she continued to speak. "It was so sudden. A brute, reddish with ebony streaks through his pelt. Fangs and claws stained with the blood of wolves though he was only just neophyte age. Amber blue eyes glimmering with a hunger and a want to kill. It was my brother, or now I know him as my half-brother, Loni. Stolen from the family only hours after his birth by a vicious rogue called Mephisto." Once again the female halted her tale. Optics glazing over with a tormented pain."Loni attacked Destiny. That was when I saw my kin with a new light. I saw a rival. Not a foe, this was different. Lunging from my hiding place I launched myself across the open space straight for Destiny's attacker. I aimed to kill. To my great distress Destiny moved at the very last second. Though my fangs pierced flesh and slaughtered a wolf that night. The wolf I killed was not my brother, but my mother." Femme moved her crown so that the scar on the left side of her face could be clearly seen. "Destiny left me this so I would always remember what I had done and who I was."

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Santi backed away slightly, appalled. "B-but...she knew you didn't mean to, right? What kind of mother maims an innoccent child?!" She gasped, shocked and nearly speechless.

"Now I think it's you who has to steady, Santi," Darius licked her ear affectionately. "I'm deeply sorry for your tragedies...but...why did you leave your homeland, then?" He woofed, utterly puzzled. "And the Sheerans...?"</sup>

[Destiny]

Crown of femme was tilted so that optics glared up in the direction of the Twilight Realm. A hideous snarl erupting from her maw. "Destiny knew what I did was but a simple accident. The mistake of an Innocent pup. Did she care? No." Momentarily waves of despise rolled off of femme's figure. Then, as if the feelings of betrayal and despise had been called away, emotion became calm once more. Perhaps she had remembered Darius' ability. Turning gaze of ice back on both wolven femme opened maw to speak an icy melody once more. "I did not leave my homeland. Sirius, beta and official new alpha of the Destinians after Destiny's death, was present that night. That night he sealed my fate. Erupting in a fit of hatred I was banished from my homeland. I was threatened, if I set paw back on Destinian terra, Sirius would shred me himself. The brute was Destiny's closest friend." Oddly long claws were burrowed into the soft grassy earth. Blueish ebony tipped tassel lashed for several moments behind the young wolf. Eventually it returned to waving calmly behind wolf's figure. Femme remembered Darius' second question. Turning icy gaze on the ebony brute creature did begin to speak once more. "I did, however, leave the Sheerans. Mist, the Sheeran alphess, was considerate enough to take me in after Sirius' banishment of me. Femme felt sorry for the little scrap of fur that was Destiny's daughter. Or perhaps it was because Destiny and Mist had somewhat of an understanding, or so I believe. After completing a little more then half of my lupus proeliator training I realized what I was doing. I was living a life that I was not living at all. I was alive but my soul was dead. Among the Sheerans I did not find my home. Among the Destinians I would not find my home. The Siverians, I know that can never be my home. They do not live in a style which I could become accustomed. And the Yozorans? They live in the darker forests, much to shadowy for me." Optics changed from the figure of ebony brute back to reddish femmora. "So, here I am. Rogue,loner, lost little wolf. Whatever you want to call me."

[Sivoncé™]

^{Santi sighed sadly. "That's so...depressing! But...well, I can't say I didn't kill anybody, because I honestly don't remember what I did, but I know how it feels to be homeless...." She glanced at Darius, gaze soft. "I'm not anymore, though. It took me a long time...much pain...and imeasureable suffering, but think of it this way: if it had happened to anyone else, they would crumble and wither away. Since it's you and me, we're tough enough to shoulder through it. Darius, too, and many others. Don't think of yourself ever as a curse, young'un. No...not at all. If anything, we are blessings. Different, but we press on no matter what. The world needs more wolves like that. You're welcome to stay in our den tonight if you wish," She woofed, yawning towards the end of her declaration.}

[Destiny]

After her tale had been finished femme perked silverish ebony tipped auds forward. The reddish femme, Santi, was speaking once more. Not a curse, a blessing. Long tassel was laid across medium sized front paws. Perhaps to warm them from the icy cold of night. Even though Spring and sprung, Winter still lingered nearby. Optics of ice looked from Santi to Darius. Then back to Santi again. "Not a curse, but a blessing. Strong words Santi, strong words." There was a respectful edge to her tone as she spoke. Perhaps because these wolves, or Santi anyway, were so wise. They didn't look all that old either. Little wolf's gaze danced from one corner of the lake to another. Taking it all in. "Your offer is a kind one, and I would be honored to share your den tonight." Little femme padded up to Santi and gave the femme a respectful lick on the shoulder. Turning, she did the same for ebony brute. Then femme padded a few steps away from them. Raising ebony blueish silver maw to the heavens, velvet lips were parted and a long, sad,icy melody poured from the little wolf. As her song was finished, she brought her crown back down and looked in the direction of the Sheeran, then the Destinan terras. "Goodbye pup hood," Turning around she looked from Santi to Darius. "Hello new beginning." An odd grin, that revealed her pearly fangs, appeared on her features. Was she actually....happy?!?

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Darius offered her a wide grin. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like...but just a heads up--"

"Hush up you!" Santi grumbled. "If she wants to stay she'll stay. If she wants to leave she'll leave, pups or no pups!" She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "In case you didn't quite understand out little banter...I'll be having pups in three moons or so." She set off a ta quick pace, Darius stepping in beside her.</sup>

[Destiny]

Young femme returned ebony brute's grin with her own sweet little smile. Auds perking forward to catch every word of Santi and Darius' little exchange. Femme blinked, confused at first. Then, as reddish femme explained that pups were expected in about three moons, little wolf understood. They didn't think she'd want to stay, knowing that pups were coming. Or perhaps they wouldn't want her around. Then again, Santi seemed to and Darius did as well. As reddish femme and ebony brute set off at a rather quick pace little wolf lingered for a moment. Then, leaping to her silverish blueish ebony paws, her lean figure could be seen dashing after the duo. "Pups? That's wonderful!" There was an excited edge to her tone. Little pups running around the den. Femme could help Santi and Darius by hunting for the little ones when they were old enough to eat meat. It would be like having little brothers and sisters running around. Akaira quickly expelled that last thought from her mind. Silently the femme wondered where it had come from. Perhaps her loneliness? Who knew. Either way, now that she would be living with the duo she was dashing after, she wouldn't be lonely any more. When she caught up to them femme padded along Santi's side, opposite to Darius. A smile on her maw. Optics glimmering with happiness.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Darius was delighted. "Exactly!" He glanced at Santi meaningfully. "And you'll be an extraordinary mother!" He sighed.

"Pfft. I'll believe that when the Destinians come trying to hug me!" She spat, sarcasm thick in her tone.

"What makes you think you won't be a good mother, love?" Darius sighed again, rolling his eyes towards Akaira. "She's a little sensative about this!" He whispered.

"I am not that--- okay, yes, I am sensative about it. But what if--"

"What if they're messed up just like you and me?" He finished. "Well, then we'll all have a familiar bond, I suppose..."

Santi couldn't supress a small smile. "I suppose so. And Akaira, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you'd like to," she added.

After treking through some dense woodland, they arrived at what looked like an abandoned barn, The doors hung off their rusty hinges, wide open to the world. The rotting structure was laced with greenery, nearly covered with plantlife. They slowed their pace as they entered, carefully checking the premesis for danger. Once they were certain the area was safe, they entered the barn.
It was rather small for a human barn, but huge for a wolf. Soft, sweet hay littered the floor and was stacked in great dunes on the sides. Santi climbed up onto some square stacks, a crude staircase to the second level. Darius followed her.

"We usually sleep up here since the door's stuck in that position," Darius explained. "Not that it will do much to stop others from tracking us, but usually we'll have a fair warning if someone's in the barn, then. We've only had a guest once -- a bear, actually. We stayed well out of his reach!"

Santi nudged together some hay for Akaira, forming a comfortable nest before turning towards the one she shared with Darius.</sup>

[Destiny]

Little wolf's audits were perked as the two wolven spoke and 'bickered' in a way. Though little femme knew that it was only a normal conversation, they weren't really bickering, just socializing and talking. Like most wolves do. Femme simply wasn't the most social wolf, odd and loner like had she grown ever since her banishment from the Destinians. These thoughts only entered her mind as Santi spoke of her birth pack. Young wolf didn't remember many from her birth pack. Not even the image of her dearest brother, sweet Rapier, was strong in her mind. Or perhaps it was, and she refused to conjure it up for fear of the emotional and mental pain that it would cause.

After much travel through very dense woodland there was a strange scent on the air. Just ahead of her a rather large structure loomed. As the older wolven disappeared into it's depths femme faltered. The doors were old, the hinges rusty, and they were swung wide open. As if calling out to travelers to come in. Optics of ice danced over every crevice of the outer structure, or that which she could see, rather warily. Moss and plants, every type of greenery you could think of, seemed to coat it's walls. Little wolf padded forward and sniffed the door, there was no scent of it's creators. "This den was created by man, by lera. It must have been more then fifty moons ago, for there is no scent. Yet, this place...." Here, in the home of Santi and Darius, there was an odd feeling pulsing through Akaira's veins. This very place, it felt as if some long forgotten presence resided here.