Of Hunting and Howling

[Ärï]

Coldfire limped on, with no real destination in mind. He'd never decided where he was going before getting there, it just didn't work like that. Coldfire would simply pick a direction and go with it. If it led him somewhere then that was that. If not, he kept walking. Coldfire's head raised as he padded into a small clearing. Another wolf was laying there. A familiar wolf. Coldfire froze, like a statue carved of silver and onyx.

[daina]

As soon as the scent of another wolf came to her nostrils, Luin lifted her head and stood up slowly. The scent was very clear to her, but the reality of it was unsure. She turned around and immediately froze just as much as he had. There stood Coldfire, resurrected from the dead. His fur and leg were not entirely healed, but looked treated.

The fae couldn't tell if it was a dream or not. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her snout, unable to speak.

[Ärï]

Coldfire stared at Luin for a long moment, an internal war raging like mad. He should run. The sensible thing would be to run, to leave Luin to find a safer mate, one that wouldn't give her this kind of fear. She looked scared, as if she didn't dare hope he had lived. Let her think he was just a dream and died. That was what he should have done in the first palce. Coldfire turned and started running though his run was slow and lopsided because of his wounded hind leg. Distance. That was what was safest for Luin. Distance between himself and her. Keep her alive. Keep her safe. That was all he thought about now.

[daina]

Just as soon as he had appeared, Coldfire ran off. Luin was sure that he existed now, but why did he run? This kindled a fire in her, and she followed him off into the wood. No. Luin would not run from him now like he told her to, never taking a chance. She had to tell him.

[Ärï]

A fallen log loomed ahead of Coldfire. He prepared to jump but there was no power in it, at least, not enough power. His paw caught and Coldfire was sent tumbling into some dead ferns, landing with a grunt, pain burning through his injuries as they protested loudly to the rough treatment. Coldfire pushed himself up and shook snow off his coat, his hind leg paining more then ever now.

[daina]

The sound of Coldfire's fall shook the air as well as Luin's heart. She raced even harder in his direction and lept over the log which he had failed, finding the brute as he got up from a patch of brush. Luin got straight to the point and said, "You can't keep running away like that. It won't do anything but get you into even more trouble."

[Ärï]

Without thinking, Coldfire let out another low growl. "Not so much trouble as I merely chose the wrong path" Coldfire growled coolly. Turning, Coldfire looked around. Many directions to go. The brute breathed in deeply, savoring the scents of what was around him. He would avoid the rouge pack until his leg was healed at least. Then he could take care of them with ease but for now it was merely a job for another day. Coldfire started walking, or limping, once more with no destination in mind. Just distance. Distance between her and him, distance to protect her. The further from her, he was, the safer she was in the end, even if she didn't see it now.

[daina]

"It isn't only running away physically that I speak of," Luin said, standing still as Coldfire began to walk away. It was clear now that he was avoiding her, but piecing together the reason was harder.

[Ärï]

Coldfire sighed softly. "I know" he murmured softly, "But what I speak of is much deeper then that." Coldfire didn't look nearly as impressive nor intimidating as he had at one point. His fur was no longer sleek, instead ruffled and still patched with cobwebs and sometimes dried blood. His hind leg looked almost twisted and he was fairly sure he would never really get over the limp though at this point it was hard to tell. Coldfire's eyes were no longer bright and fire-like but more like the eyes of an wolf wolf that had been beaten down by the world.

[daina]

"What do you speak of?" Luin was beginning to understand now.

(that has to be THE SHORTEST post I have ever written!

[Ärï]

"Nothing you need to hear nor would care about" Coldfire lied, continuing along his path. He hoped Luin wouldn't follow him. He wanted her to be safe but if she stayed close to him like she did, she would meet more danger. The rouge pack wasn't the only pack Coldfire had tussled with, nor were they the only loners that held a grudge toward him. They were simply one of the larger groups Coldfire had to face. There were others just as strong that would come for Coldfire eventually because of those he had killed.

[daina]

Luin, knowing that she could not turn him, said quietly, "When you wish to tell me, you know where to find me." Then the fae made her way in the other direction, into the deep brush of the woodlands.

A decision had been made within herself: It wouldn't matter if he knew or not; as long as Coldfire was alive, Luin would wait for him. His survival this time meant that he could live to see her again after he had brushed aside everything that held him back.

Eyes set on the oncoming morning-lit trees, the fae went back to her usual strides through the Loner Territories, her heart heavy but hopeful.

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shadow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...

[Ärï]

Coldfire sighed and sped up a bit. There was one more battle he had to fight before he could say it was safe for Luin to be with him. He had to find her and face her, kill her before he had any hope at a future. He had to find the leader of the pack that had killed his family all those years ago. She had led them. She had killed them. For years he had tracked her and now he had found her and soon she would die.