Is it a Mirage or is it Real? (Open)

[Ärï]

Ebony paws carried the lithe black bodied femmora across the Xavrien Heights. Stormy blue eyes that had once shown pure azul gazed over the rolling slopes and distant forest and mountains. Sunlight had managed to break through the bank of clouds and a bit of the snow had started melting though Mirage knew it was only temporary. Soon it would snow again or freeze. Like a shadow brought to life Mirage raced across the open land, nothing tieing her down anymore. No temporary pack. No Liviana, no mother, no father and no sister. They were all off somewhere and Mirage had gone off again, running like always.

Silent, swift and mysterious the empath femme moved undisturbed across the Heights. She had no real destination in mind but then again, Mirage never really knew where she was going or what she was going to do. Mirage sometimes wondered if it was her empathy that made her so restless but then again, it could just be her parents, one a headstrong cripple unwilling to be held down and the other a gentle-minded healer. The mix usually wouldn't be expected to be a good one but then again, their daughters weren't that normal, one an empath and the other...well...Mirage wasn't sure about Illusion. Last time she'd seen her sister, Illusion had yelled at her. Mirage had no inclination to repeat the experiance.

The scent of another wolf however, drew Mirage to a halt. Her elegant black auds flicked to the right, then the left, forward then back. Stormy blue eyes scanned the area as she listened to the pad of approaching paws. "Who's there?" Mirage barked.

[Sivoncé™]

After ditching Wolfgang, Liviana had wandered through the woods aimlessly, knowing full well she wouldn't den there. She didn't know why, but she dreded even the thought of it. So the young, soon-to-be-mother had picked her way through the woods and meadows, all the way to what was known as Xavrien Heights. She hadn't happened upon any other wolves since her arrival, and had found a small, but cozy cave to claim as her own.
She'd been out for a hunt when the scent came to her. Mirage? I wonder if she knows I'm pregnant? She breifly wondered if her friend would lecture her upon finding out Liv's secret, but one glance at her belly told her it was not at all something to be kept hidden. Sighing, she emerged from the snowy brush and smiled slightly to Mirage. "We meet again, friend."

[Ärï]

Mirage's empathy had not dimmed since last seeing Liviana. She was sad to notice that Liv's emotions were quite a mess. Usually her friend was calmer then this, or at least a little brighter. Mirage's keen navy eyes didn't miss the swelling in Liviana's belly. So that was why she was so off? Well, what more could Mirage expect? Even though Liviana was older then she was, Liv was still fairly young to be having pups. Her emotions weren't dark enough to suggest she'd been forced so Mirage could only guess it had been willing but then things had gotten worse.

The ebony fae kept herself from sighing. She wouldn't judge her friend. "Hello Liviana" Mirage said. "Are you well since leaving the pack?" Mirage sat back on her hunches, onyx coat setting off her cloudy sapphire eyes.

[Sivoncé™]

"Hm. Well, I haven't really met with another wolf since leaving the packlands," She admitted, sitting as well. "On my way out I was stopped by some...ignorant wolf who calls himself a wolf gangster. That gave me a good laugh...and then I headed off. What of yourself?" she woofed calmly. She breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm her varying, sharp emotions. She'd let them have free sway lately, but with Mirage here, she rushed to get them under control.

[Ärï]

Mirage shrugged a little when Liviana asked how she'd been doing. "I've been alright. After I left I set up a den in the forest down there." Mirage flicked her tail toward the forest below the slopes of the Xavrien Heights. "I started stocking herbs, whatever I could find which isn't much but it'll have to be enough until spring." Mirage looked out over the forest. She was a born healer yet she was one of the healers that was always looking sad for an unknown reason. Part of it was still missing her family but another part was something else. "I...I felt someone die" Mirage murmured. "It was an old rouge and I couldn't help him. I was so close....." Mirage shuddered, her voice barely above a whisper. Liv was one of the few wolves that knew that distance meant how well Mirage could sense things. If Mirage stood too close, it was difficult for her to focus. The emotions of a dying wolf however, is something Mirage will never forget but won't let it stop her from healing. It was the strangest sense she'd ever felt...

[Sivoncé™]

Liviana twitched her ears sypathetically, eyes flickering briefly with sorrow. "Mirage, a healer cannot help every wolf," Liv told her softly. Liv's parents had both been healers, and Liv had picked up much from them, though she didn't make a lifestyle out of it. "How..." she paused, wondering how to ask her question. After hesitating a few moments, she spoke, "...how exactly did it feel?" Most wolves would expect it to feel terrible...but did it really? Only Mirage and the wolf would know...

[Ärï]

Mirage stared down at her paws, navy eyes fogging over. The ebony healer gazed down at the ground below her delicatly shaped paws. "It was....very different" Mirage murmured. "I felt it when your mother died but it scared me and I ran. It's pain at first, intense, like your burning. I remember after the fire came cold, intense cold, like I'd been encased in ice and would never thaw. After that it was....undescribable. I guess it was peace but only for a brief second before it was cold again." A shiver ran down Mirage's spine and her sapphire eyes remained upon the ground as she contemplated the comlicated feelings of a dying wolf. It wasn't something others would ever feel, so unusual, unearthly. Mirage knew she would never be able to understand or explain it. "The burning was probably the sickness but the rest of it..."

[Sivoncé™]

"Perhaps the cold....perhaps it has something to do with how wolves journey to the realms of the departed? I mean...most wolves think that when they die...they'll autmoatically be among their ancestors. I do not think this. There has to be some passing point...some sort of crossing over. Nothing is instantaneous," Liv mused, studying the frozen earth between her paws.

[Ärï]

Mirage shrugged and looked up at Liviana. She eyed her pregnant friend carefully. "Do you...have someone to take care of you?" she asked carefully. "Lone faes with pups...its not safe. If you want, you can come to my den anytime." Mirage didn't want to make it seem like Liviana was weak. She knew her friend was far from it but if Liv needed help, Mirage would be there to help. The healing knowledge passed from Snowstorm to her was enough to help Liv through her pregnancy should he friend need the help.

[Sivoncé™]

"Mmm," Liv hesitated. "I appreciate it, Mirage. I think I'll be fine, though. My parents taught me the basics of healing...I know what to do when the time comes. If there's any trouble, I'll come to you. And...you know, when they get old enough...we'll come and see you sometime," Liv offered her old friend a half-smile. "I....I couldn't stay with him. It was what it was...brief affection, the result of lust....nothing more. I couldn't stay with the pack, either." She knew, despite her fragmented words, Mirage would understand.

[Ärï]

Mirage nodded. "You're a strong wolf Liv, but even the strong need to know when they must rest." The young healer rose to her paws, meeting her friend's eyes. "There is nothing wrong with love, I hope you know that. The problem is finding the difference between lust and love. I wouldn't understand that difference but, I'm not allowed to be with others so I'll never know." Mirage shrugged and started to walked downhill toward the forest. She paused about halfway down and turned to look over her shoulder. A small smile curled on her maw. "Liv, just remember to keep up on eating borage after you have the pups. If you need some, you know where I am." The onyx femmora turned once more and started off, a silent shadow brought to life and returning to her dark and lonely home.

[Sivoncé™]

Liv nodded, then rose. She headed up the slopes, glancing back as Mirage padded away. "Thank you, Mirage," she called after her friend. She continued up the winding path, wolf-scent greeting her. She stopped dead as she reached her small, cozy cave. Five wolves turned and looked at her. One was a beautiful, tired looking femme. She was older than the other four by a long shot. Three were males, probably older neophytes or younger warriors if they were in packs. The last was a young female, same age as the males. Liviana studied them through slitted eyes, recognizing the eldest fae. "Tangerine?"
"Yes. You are the one called Liviana, correct?" She rasped.
"Yes...yes I am. Besides Mirage...you're the first loners from the other forest I've seen."
After some talking, and much discussion, the six agreed to stay together for the time being. Tangerine was still training up the other four, and Liviana could use a little help, she guessed. The five looked so terribly thin, and she remembered that Mirage had said about pregnant, lone faes. Of course, Mirage would've been her preferred help, but she'd have to remain emotionless....during a birthing, that might not be possible.

(m'kay. I think I'll take these six to a different thread)