Of Myths and Fairy Tales (Fireflight)

[Ärï]

Small white paws carried the little femmora surely and swiftly as she wove toward the woodlands. Really she had no destination in mind but then again, there wasn't ever anything astounding on Myth's mind. Only the tales and stories her foster mother had taught her when she'd been in her old pack. Now she was with the Destinians and usually scolded for being child like, acting too young even though she was a year old and already a wolven warrior. Oh well. From her persepctive, other warriors were just jealous. Sure she was small and dainty looking but who ever said size was the only thing a wolf could be envious about? Nope. They just wished they were as original as her.

Myth with her slightly spiky, constantly ruffled, ivory fur and tiny build attracted a lot of attention in camp mainly because she was so bright and bubbly. She would play with pups as if she was still a pup and not have to worry about hurting them. She could chase down a rabbit faster then any of the other slow lugs that groaned about her constant chatter or nonsense tales. Who didn't love a story anyway? Apparently most wolves. That stunk but Myth didn't mind. She could always share her stories with herself. Who said she needed an audiance even if one was nice?

The small femme came to a stop at the bank of a little bubbling creek. Sunlight slanted through the canopy of overhead trees with their branches spread out to shelter her. Myth smiled happily as she looked down at the rippling water, catching sight of a few crayfish and even a tiny minnow swimming along the swift shallow current.

Laying down on the bank with the tip of her small white paws in the water, Myth laid her head on her paws and looked at a mouse scurrying out across the creek from her. Her ears swerved forward as she looked at the little thing. "Want to hear a story little mouse?" Myth asked softly. The mouse started at her voice and scurried away. Myth sighed in defeat and laid her head on her paws, staring at the rippling water.

Today she felt lonely. She missed her old pack where all you heard were stories and legends, tales and myths. She missed them all but of course, she couldn't go back now. Particularly harsh words from older warriors had sent her out of camp. That was why she was here. She was lonely. She wanted company but...she didn't want the serious, strict company of other warriors. She wanted someone fun....

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>The wind roared past, ruffling rose-red peltage. She was a blur, weaving between the trees and sprouting shrubbery with practiced ease. The young fae swiped her tongue over her lips with anticipation, closing in on her target ahead. Its white cottontail bobbed on ahead of her; tantalizing to her nostrils. The snow-white rabbit was panickstricken, eyes wide with fear as it fled the wolven fire.

She ran on through the woods, but slowed slightly. Up ahead, the rabbit had reached its hole, and had safely stored itself away under the roots. Giggling softly to herself, she layed down outside of the entrance, and peered in. A pair of wide, black eyes glistened in the dim light, and shrank back as she regarded the rabbit. "It's all right, youngling. You're far too small for a pack wolf like me!" She soothed.

Backing up, Fireflight gave herself a rough shake and studied the area around her. Mostly dense woodland, but a few stray rays of sunshine glided down through the canopy above. A good day for a run....but running with rabbits isn't all its cracked up to be. Euphrates is ill...and everyone else thinks I'm crazy. Just lovely.

Suddenly, the form of a small femme caught her copper gaze. She turned and sniffed the air. Destinian...Myth, I think her name is...maybe she's not too uptight...I don't really know her yet, so why not give it a shot?

Fireflight padded over to her, tail high and hopeful. "Hello!" She called, voice a cheery melody. "I'm Fireflight! You're Myth, right? Pretty name, by the way. How about a run?" She woofed, offering a small smile. And right about now is the time where she laughs and tells me to go chase my own tail like everyone else does...

But there was something about Myth -- something that told Fireflight she would not laugh, no, not at all. Perhaps Myth was a free spirit, as Fireflight was, and as her sister, Dream, had been. Hope flared up inside of her once more, and her paws sparked with the anticipation of the run.</sup>

[Ärï]

Gloomy stories with gloomy endings were chasing themselves around Myth's mind. When this bubbly little fae hit a low, she hit rock bottom. Recent strain on the pack had made other warriors testy and angry. When she tried to share her tales to liven up the sick wolves, she was chased out by a healer or snapped at by a family member that thought they knew better. It was rediculous. They had practically cased her out of camp just because she'd told a story to a pup that his mother hadn't liked. Stupid over protective den mothers.

Myth's unhappy thoughts however, were inturrupted by the scent of another fae. Myth raised her head and looked around curiously. Topaz orbics found the form of a rose-hued femmora making her way toward her. The fae looked somewhat familiar, perhaps Myth had seen her around camp somewhere. She looked pretty enough and stood out well enough for Myth to have seen her before. Was she who they had sent to scold her like a neophyte? To her pleasant surprise, it seemed not. This fae liked her name? Wow, that was a nice change.

A smile appeared on Myth's white velvet maw, banner waggging lightly as she looked up at the older wolf. "Hi Fireflight" Myth barked, her little body rising easily. Even when standing Fireflight was bigger then Myth. Of course, they didn't mean much. A lot of wolves were bigger then Myth. "Sure, I'll race with you" she offered, her spiky white fur shimmering in the sunlight as she shifted a bit. Fireflight seemed nice. At least she hadn't taken to scolding Myth yet.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>A small smile broke out on her maw, copper eyes lighting up with energy that seemed tireless. "All right! How about we go from here to where the river drains out to the lake?" She suggested. The itching in her paws increased intensely, trembling with the urge to take off on the spur of the moment.

Well, so far she seems pretty awesome for a warrior, she noted, optimistic. It would be amazing if she'd finally found someone like her! Sure, she had Euphrates...she loved him dearly, but....she didn't exactly have girlfriends. She'd been lacking a feminine bond ever since Dream had passed away, and it was high time she started acting semi-normal again....or as normal as she could be without losing her fire.

She wondered briefly about Myth's speed. Perhaps she was a runner like Fireflight? Perhaps not? Either way, the answer would be racing along with her within the next few moments. Though Fireflight enjoyed being a speedy character, she wouldn't mind a bit of friendly competition.</sup>

[Ärï]

Myth wagged her tail when she saw Fireflight's delight at her acceptance of a race. That was the soft-spot in Myth. She liked making others happy, whether it was with her stories or simply being a friend. Of course, Myth knew she had somewhat of an advantage. She was small and thus light. It probably took effort for her to run fast then it did for Fireflight, even if the other femmora had longer legs and probably bigger lungs. Either way, Myth figured it would be something close to a fair fight. Anyway, Myth had too much energy. If she went back to camp now she would be shooed out again because she was being a pest to the warriors. Might as well burn some energy in a friendly race with a packmate.

The last thing Myth wanted was to get in trouble and be alone again. She was a fae that nearly always had to be around another wolf simply because she was a social little thing. Even if the others didn't like her very much, Myth didn't mind as long as she wasn't alone. Maybe it was a remain of her old pack hanging with her. Then she had never been alone. At least in a pack she wasn't alone. When she had to wonder off and let the other warriors simmer down however, she was lonely. She didn't want to chase Fireflight off and be left alone again.

"Say when" Myth barked, nodding in agreement with Fireflight's race course.

Being a mainly pack wolf, Myth didn't know the path too well but that was ok. She would improvise and find her way sooner or later if she got lost. Myth braced herself, ready to take off running when Fireflight gave the word to go.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Nodded slightly, Fireflight crouched. Her crimson tail, hinted with orange, flicked back and forth as she made her final preparations. Legs bents, long strides, firm pawsteps, tail low, run tall...all right, let's see what she can do!

Fireflight was a bit suprised when Myth allowed her to start the race, but nodded again. Very nice of her. She briefly lingered on memories of her neophyte training. She'd challenged every denmate to a race, and had been the target of many unkind pranks in the duration of these runs. Luckily, Fireflight had had enough sense not to trust them fully. She'd learned to expect dirtywork.

However, she decided it would be all right to be at least a little less gaurded with Myth. After all, she had no reason yet not to trust this wolf. Innoccent until proven guilty, right?

She inhaled deeply, then gave the call, "Go!" And she was off in a blazing sprint, trees whipping by and a warm wind blowing loudly in her ears.</sup>

[Ärï]

In a streak of red, Fireflight was gone, the words to begin the race trailing behind her. Just as fast, Myth was on the move. Her lithe little body wove between towering oak trees and ferns slapped at her sides as she sped past, chasing Fireflight's scarlet tail. The wind whistled in her ears, ruffling through her fur and making her already ruffled pelt windswept. Myth loved the sensation of running. She could barely feel her small paws hit the ground as she glided along through the forest. Everything felt almost surreal, bright and colorful as it whirled past like a maelstorm.

Myth's usually staticy mind focused blade sharp on Fireflight's running form up ahead. Topaz orbics remained locked on the older femmora as the two chased each other through the woodland. She was gaining, slowly but surely on the other Destinian. Myth kept her pace, brisk yet smooth as she glided over the moss coated forest floor. Sunlight spattered her pelt as she ran under the canopy of leaves as their trunks created a tunnel-like path for the racing wolfesses. It didn't take long for Myth to feel Fireflight's tail tip brush her nose, running just behind the scarlet-hued she-wolf.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Fireflight felt the light brush of Myth behind her, and speed up so she was only just ahead of the other fae. It wasn't often that Fireflight raced;; usually, she simply chased around the sunlight, thus earning taunts from her peers. She didn't care much anymore, she supposed. After a while, her skin had grown thicker, and less affected by verbal claws.

The race went on, and they soon departed the woods and hit the open, flat plains. The lake was in sight on the skyline, a blue ripple in the ocean of swaying grasses. Fireflight kicked up her speed once more, ready to sprint the last stretch of their run.

However, Myth was an absolutely brilliant runner. This both dazzled and elated her. Finally, someone who knows how to live! The race would most likely tie, but she'd never cared much about winning. It was the thrill that fueled her passion, not the glory.</sup>

[Ärï]

As the woods thinned, Myth caught sight of a stretch of open plains up ahead. Ah a real last stretch. The femme sped up, the little fae bounding along at Fireflight's side, only slightly behind. She didn't really care much about speed or winning. Who would? It was the fun and the feel of running that fueled her. She loved the freedom. The wild singing of rushing wind in her ears and the adrenaline rush fed by that last rush or running an unknown coarse. It was absolutely addicting. Not that Myth ran much. Not many bothered to race with her. She was small, there for a looser, a whimp, unable to keep up with "the big wolves". It was rediculous but Myth had grown used to it and raced with the wind. Of course, she never won.

The sunlight glimmered and danced over the surface of the lake. Myth's jaws parted in a goofy little grin that lit up her small face, looking like a pup getting her first taste of meat. Speeding up, Myth actually passed Fireflight but only by a whisker. She poured on the speed and without breaking stride, leapt.

Cold water rushed up around Myth, lapping at her fur as she leapt into the lake. Ah it felt good after a long run getting her blood going. Myth bobbed up to the surface, letting her head break to look around for Fireflight. She hadn't beat the fae by much, if at all. Myth hadn't been paying attention. One thing Myth did hope for was that she got Fireflight a little wet.

[Sivoncé™]

<sup>Fireflight smiled widely as Myth began to pass her, but Fireflight began to match her, step by step. Every move they seemed to make as one streamlined, and highly attuned form. The sun was hot on her fiery peltage, but she pressed on regardless.

For one absurd moment, she imagined that all the pack were around them, as if this was a widely favored event. Only, in her private imagery, she saw Sirius and Svel, running the same course her paws were flying across. And of course, Svel being the amazing torpedo she was, was beating their highly skilled alpha by some miraculous twist in fate. Unwillingly, Fireflight snickered aloud at her random daydreams.

She'd slowed a bit, but not much. The water was inches away, and Fireflight managed to run even with Myth at the last possible moment. Darn you, random daydreams! They hit the water together, with an earsplitting splash.

Fireflight did not come up immediately, as she was not at all finished with her fun. She caught the blurry form of Myth bobbing to the surface from her place under the blue. Silently as possible, Fireflight pressed on until she was only inches in front of Myth. She pushed off the bottom of the shallows with her hindlegs, popping up suddenly to face Myth. She giggled and splashed the other femme while she caught her breath. "I must say, you're a pretty darn good runner! I didn't think anybody but Svel actually enjoyed stuff like that!" She laughed, referring to the well-known, swift femmora.</sup>

[Ärï]

"Ahhh!" Myth yelped as out of no where, Fireflight's vibrant red head popped out of the water. A wave of cold water struck her muzzle and Myth drifted a little bit back from Fireflight. Topaz orbs were bright and wide, her spiky fur seemed to have spiked up in fright. Shock subsiding, Myth frowned playfully at Fireflight. Striking the water with her paws she sent a wave of water back at the older warrior. She was glad she'd found such a playful wolf. Any other would have yelled at her by now, scolding her for getting them wet or something silly like that. Fireflight however, was practically asking for it.

Before Myth sent her own watery attack at the fae however, she had caught Fireflight's words. Her praise made Myth blush a little. It wasn't often the oddball of the pack got praise from a fellow warrior. Fireflight's words of another got Myth's attention. Little white ears pricked up and her head cocked to one side curiously. "Who's Svel?" she asked curiously. Even if she'd been practically raised as a Destinian, Myth hadn't ever bothered learning many names. She knew the important wolves but the others were just an audiance, usually an unwilling audiance to listen to her tales as she rambled on at dusk in a corner of the camp entertaining pups and sometimes even joined by the Alpha when he stopped by to listen.