xX t h e A F T E R g l o w Xx (Open)

[Sivoncé™]

The clearing was reduced to almost nothing, just piles of cinders and ashes, burnt trees and scorched branches. The ground was smeared with ash and soot, smoke hanging thickly and stiffly in the air around her. All was black and all was dark, it was nearling impossible to see one of the only trees left standing, even with all of its massive grandeur. She stumbled a few times, but she managed to reach the ancient oak without andy major difficulties.
Fireflight sniffed the old wood, the only thing she'd seen yet not marked and cursed with black streaks. She closed her eyes, giving thanks that they still had this place to speak with their ancestors, then looked around for Kiki.

She'll follow me in, Fireflight decided, then padded into the root cave, the place that held her new future.

[Sheera]

Kiki sat quietly within the roots, waiting for Fireflight. She smiled grimly as she entered, telling her silently of the trouble they may run into. Kiki's usual sleek black coat, had dull patches where coal had singed through her fur. She sat, her paws together, her head raised up, and her eyes closed as if the rain was pouring, sent to cleanse the world. After a few minutes, her head lowered, her eyes opened, and she nodded, waiting for Fireflight to walk in front of her. She wasn't nervous, but she knew that any wolf could trot into the roots, and slaughter both of them. When she had looked up to the skies, the invisible rain had cleansed her, clearing her thoughts of the pending danger.

[Sivoncé™]

"Don't worry...the Eternal Tree is safe from demons. Or at least that's what my mentor used to tell me," Fireflight whispered before ducking deeper into the darkness. She found herself in a cavern among damp, clean, undamaged earth and soft clay. Silently, the copper warrior circled and laid down to meet her ancestors. Something that scared her more than she'd let on.
It seemed like forever, and yet it also seemed to be the literal only few moments it was before Fireflight felt her surroundings change. She was among soft, lush grasses, the air was warm, but with a pleasant breeze. Perhaps what really threw her was that the air was clean, untained, the scents of lurking danger and unknown spectors was far behind her, not even lingering in her nostrils.
Slowly, she rose to her paws, blinking in shock and awe as she looked upon an absolutely perfect sky, the aurora alive and dancing in ways she'd never seen before. There were no stars, because the stars were now gliding elegantly towards her.
They were all shimmering, gleaming with blue and silver,pelts vibrant and a young prescence about the starlet crowd. But the one she noticed the most was the one stepping out from the loose circle around Fireflight and stepping right up towards her:
Her dearest, lost sister: Dream.

"Hello, sister. Are you ready to receive your lives?" She smiled widely at Fireflight, eyes teary with happiness.
Fireflight nodded slowly. "Yes. Yes I am."
"Then I give you the life of energy. Use it well to manage your duties, and to bring livelyhood to the pack you lead. Give them the zest for life that you have always managed to keep burning throughout the years, no matter how tough things got." She touched her nose lightly to Fireflight's, an electric, shocking power surge shooting down her spine, travelling through her blood and veins. Fireflight shook slightly with the impact, but remained standing to wish her sister farewell.
Eleven more times? Oh dear...

[Sheera]

Kiki lowered to the ground, and layed in a sphyinx position, she looked to the skies again, then layed her head down on her paws, pausing before closing her eyes. It seemed that as soon as the final inch of the cave had disappeared beneath her eyelid, she was thrust into a dimly-lit clearing, with many silver-colored pools shimmering within the soft grasses. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, her paws side by side, touching eachother. She waited patiently for whom would be sent to speak to her, and she thought not of herself laying in the Eternal Tree, unguarded.

[Sivoncé™]

The next starry figure to appear in front of Fireflight was one that also held the familiar scent and appearence of her family. The tall, lean male nearly skipped to where Fireflight stood, still trembling from the impact of her first life. "Hello, my dearest daughter," Quigly murmured to her, voice full of pride and adoration. "I knew you'd do something all big and happy like this!" He grinned.
"Uh...Dad....forest is kinda burning down," Fireflight reminded him, but she could not force reproach or even bitterness into her voice. Her family was proud. She couldn't help but glow with it, even if it was a dull glow...
"Right right..." he nodded. "With this life, I give you fairness. Use it to judge those placed before you, and to determine the best choice for everyone, not just for one wolf," he touched his nose lightly to hers, sending a thousand static shocks through her bodice. Fireflight gritted her teeth through the second life, though it was not as painful or vigorous as the first one.
All too soon, Quigly faded away. But he was immediately replaced with an amber and red femme, another familiar and beloved face. Priya came at a slow pace, the smile on her maw widening as she did so. "Ah, my lovely Fireflight. I knew you would make it here. I knew you were meant for this..." she whispered more to herself than anyone else. Fireflight was spellbound, unable to speak. "All right then....for you, love, I give you the life of passion. Use it to channel emotion and feeling into more meaningful decisions and acts. No longer shall these feelings blind you, but they will guide and aid you through everything you do," she brushed her nose against Fireflight's before fading, Fireflight nearly stumbling with the pressure and surge of energy flooding her.

[Sheera]

[[Can Crescent give her a life? The gift of Acceptance??]]

Kiki waited patiently for the wolf to arrived, waiting for reassurance that her pack would be alright-- that Silas would be okay. She shouldn't be this patient-- she should really be ansty and anxious, but she was not; for anxiety is a dangerous game to play when in the depth of Hellfire. She heard screams, snarls, and growls coming from... the pools of water? She walked quickly to one of the pools, Hellfirian wolves ripping through the walls of the Sheeran Camp, she switched her eyes to another pool see the same reflection on the Siverian pack. Why not the Yozorans, and Destinians.. she wondered, anxiety beginning to build.

[Sivoncé™]

(( Yes, PLEASE do...if you have anyone else you can think of, too, I would be immensely grateful ))

There were four pools alltogether, one watching over them, and another sitting completely still at a centerpoint between all four. She rose suddenly, her long black pelt swaying slightly as she stood. She sighed softly, sadness, concern, and contemplation clear in her mountain accent as she spoke, "You see carnage with the Sheerans and Siverians, sure, but there is carnage in four, truly. But it cannot be seen -- no, shapes of the sort that are occurring in the Yozoran territory cannot be seen unless one dips in and actually appears there. We nearly missed it ourselves...." She tapped the Yozorans pool, nothing changing but a few ripples in the pool. "You see, ripples...ripples that cause the life nearby to move away....but in reality..." the pool came to be stilled once more, "nothing has changed at all." She frowned sadly, then looking to the Destinians. "You were lucky. There were whispers of a scout sent to Black Fury to launch an attack on Destinians, but they got too preoccuppied with causing their own disasters to organize anything. This will not hold long....but in the meantime, Destinian terra seems like it was hit the hardest, and many wolves will grow sick and hungry. Do not think for a minute you were unaffected," her voice grew near to a snarl at the end. "Don't think because the waters appear calm that there is no tension, and do not think that because there are ripples you must move away." Without another word, Mira stepped away and faded into the mist.

[Sheera]

Her form; elderly, but strong, her eyes sorrowful but determined, her heart grieving but dignified, this was the rabbit-breeder of the Destinian pack, Crescent. She smiled wistfully at the to-be alphess, and took two steps forward to meet her. "Fireflight, my dear, there are times that you must accept something as they are, and at times that is also very hard. Death, tragedy, war, battle, illness, love, passion, heart-break, these are things that you will confront in life. Some you must except, but there are some that you can turn to and defy, refusing to back down from. With those you must accept, you must have the ability to accept. Therefore, Fireflight, future alphess of the Destinian pack, I give you the gift of Acceptance." Her nose touched Fireflight; transferring a strong beam, something like an electric shock, one which may of been the strongest so far.

Kiki watched the pool, eyes intense on the waters, watching, comprehending every word, making sense of them. She nodded slowly, and backed up, expecting to again be faded into reality-- but she did not fade, no, she was thrust forward by an unknown into the pool of water holding the Destinian Terras, landing flat on her stomach, hitting her muzzle hard onto the ground. She grumbled and pushed herself to a stand, spitting dust out of her mouth as she did so. She looked around finding herself in the Oak Forest. She opened her mouth taking in air, fresh, fresh air that she hadn't gotten to taste since the fire, she smile slightly as the strong scent of prey that always hung in the forest rushed into her glands and nose. But she was not sent here to enjoy fresh air, no, that would be utterly pointless for her packs.
Suddenly, the leaves on the oaks began to stir slightly, then more noticeablely, then suddenly it was as if a hurricane was raging through the forest. Leaves were ripped off their homes and thrust forcefully to the ground where they burst into flames. Even more suddenly, the oaks began to burst into flames, one by one, until all the trees were coal-hot 1000-pound Hells. The smoke was whirled and whipped around by the wind, and thrust upward and to the sides; she was not able to see through the trees, or upward to her ancestors. The prey scent had vanished completely replaced by the smell of ash, smoke, smog, singed fur, bubbling blood, burning flesh, and the whipping omen of the wolves from below.
Kiki gasped, whipping around and running as fast as she could, slowed down by the ash that was already thick on the ground, smoke choked her, coals burned her, trees tripped her, smoke blinded her, panic killed her. As she tripped one last time, she gasped for air, smoke floating from her lungs as she breathed out, she writhed, trying to escape, but death was upon her, and after sinking deep into the ash, she was unconscious.

[Sivoncé™]

Fireflight felt the lightning charge of this life, tasting the agony of going on when all was lost, even her love, scenting the sorrow when the odds turned against them, but also feeling the thrill of a victory and remembering the glorious joy when she looked upon Euphrates or her friends. She took this without trembling, though this life's pain was not anywhere near duller than the others. She simply just accepted the pain now as something that was necessary. =D

Mira did not approach Kiki again, but whispered, "All is not what it seems, and what seems to be is not always true," and she was gone.

[Sheera]

[[That was good 'She simply just accepted the pain' x3]]

Kiki was gone, dead, but she heard the wolf. Abruptly she felt a cold ground under her, and her nose wriggled, taking in the scents around her, her eyes still seeing darkness, they were closed. She scented the familiar smell of the dark, spiritual place of the Eternal Tree. She slowly opened her eyes to find that she was laying in her sphynx position, the same position that she had drifted off in, in the Eternal Tree; she was very alive in deed.

The form of Morn took the place of her mother, and she sighed deeply, smiling slightly. She looked the wolf in the eyes and spoke in a soft voice, "There are times when dignity overcomes our true senses, but there are also times in which all dignity fails and we find ourselves kissing the paws of the devil. Ignominy is an awfully sad way to die, kneeled at the front of the devil," sadness of her recalled death reflected in her eyes, "But when dignity gets the best of us, do not stand up and cost another's life trying to say your dignity, no, dignity is not the gift I am here to give today, she paused, but continued soon after, "Fireflight, I give you the gift of Nobility." With that, she touched her nose to Fireflight's, her death before the paws of Black Fury flowing through her touch. Her brother's nobility when he tried to rescue her, how Fury made her sit like a pup in front of him and watch her brother's death, how she did nothing but plead for her eyes to be spared, and how she cried at the paws of Fury begging for mercy, then the pain of her slow death, how she was ripped slowly apart, and left to die in the pile of rotting corpses of the others.

[Ärï]

Striding from the darkness of the lands of the fallen, Sirius strode forward proud with his head held high like he had in life. Steely grey eyes shimmered with starlight, blue-black pelt tinged with silver in the night. His gaze fell upon Firelight, one of his former warriors and the fatherly alpha felt a swell of pride that she had risen up to the expectations of the pack. Sirius had always seen potential in her, as he did in every one. His pack had been his family and in the end his undoing, slain until not one of his lives remained. He had left his sons and daughters, his beloved mate and the pack Destiny had entrusted to him. For a while Sirius had felt shame but now the alpha strode with pride and purpose as he made his way to Firelight.

Coming to a stop before her, he turned a softened gaze to the vibrant she-wolf. "With this life" Sirius declared, "I give you compassion. Use it to see the wolves within your pack and outside of it without hate and fear and lead with a heart of kindness." Bowing his head, Sirius rested his nose against Firelight's brow for a heartbeat before withdrawing. Fog coiled up around his hind paws as he retreated, skimming over his black bodice until he like the others, vanished.

[Sivoncé™]

Fireflight's eyes widened and shone with a mingle of sadness, closure, and gratitude as Sirius appeared to give his life. The pack had not heard much from him via the healers, so she'd assumed his rest in this realm was a troubled one....but now it seemed that Sirius was at home in the heavens over the Destinians, perhaps awaiting to meet with Aliya. Maybe he already had met with her.
Whatever the case was, Fireflight was honored by this gesture, and made the mistake of leaning forward to meet the life.
She was engulfed in a fiery ball of feeling, but this was not a painful as some of her past lives. She felt the anger and defiance as wolves picked on the weaker, she felt the surge of pleasure and satisfaction as the packwolves healed the wolf who'd been unfairly beaten, she watched with amazement as this wolf spread word of their goodness, a feeling of happiness washing over her until she felt almost dizzy with it, probably an effect from the exhaustion the other lives had dawned on her. As the life ebbed, she understood its vitality.

[Destiny]

The alphess of the past danced towards Fireflight, a spring in her step to say the least. Those icy aqua eyes glimmering with youthful delight, and covered with the sheen of madness. Insanity. Self-inflicted destruction of the mind. Mental suicide. This is what happened when you lost everything, and had nothing but your daughter to watch. To hope for. Destiny had big plans for Akaira, but it was Akaira who would have to carry them out. So of course, Destiny would have to find a way to reach the daughter she hoped would one day become a Destinian alphess. The daughter her successor Sirius had exiled, and the past alphess Aliya had not even thought to welcome back. But Fireflight, what if she could get Fireflight to let her beloved Akaira return? The thoughts wove through her head like a spider spinning its web.

"You know, many a wolf makes a mistake, or two, or three in their life. Some are so horrible in the eyes of everyone else but the one inflicted that, the wolf who committed the deed.. she.. or he.. seems unworthy of any type of forgiveness. But that is not so. Because sometimes, the deed was a subconscious favor, and only the wolf affected knows this." Pelt was pristine it would seem. Thick, long, flowing snowy canvas glittered with stars caught there. Oddly long, fluffy snow colored tail swayed jollily behind the wolf's figure. That eye, that blinded eye, seemed to be healed, yet it was not. It carried color, yet she was blind. Destiny saw nothing through it, even if it did not look as horrible now as it once had. "Fireflight, young, capable Fireflight, I give you the gift of forgiveness. With it learn when it is time to forgive those who seemed to be beyond forgiveness, know when one is deserving, and know when one is not." There was something in Destiny's eyes when she touched her coal colored nose to Fireflight's. Some message there/ But could the future alphess de-code it? Bring her back... Then, Destiny pulled away, laughed a melodic, chiming laugh, and danced away into the darkness.

[Sivoncé™]

Fireflight withheld a shocked gasp as Destiny appeared, another they had heard little from. What surprised her even more was the utter madness behind her overly-happy nature. She was absolutely jubilant. Too much so for her own good.
This life was much like the lives of fairness and compassion, stinging and rougher than one would think, but in the end of the static waves and pain, it ebbed again into a feeling of calm and reassurence. She scarcely caught Destiny's parting message, and was puzzled by it.
Bring her back....
Aliya? Bring Aliya back? But she's dead, no.....bring Aliya's spirit back, then? No....Destiny would've said something else if it was Aliya....and this is Destiny....it had to be someone closer to her.....
And then she had her answer.
Fireflight remembered the day Akaira was banished with painful clarity, but she also knew who had spoken the words that had shunned the she-wolf from the pack. Compassion was the life Sirius had given her....and now Destiny's message.....surely Sirius was not aware of Destiny's state? Coincidence, maybe. Or maybe she was supposed to do more with the lives she was given....
We'll start with the Destinians. If I hear word of Akaira...I'll try and find out more. Mist said she left the Sheerans quite long ago....so I'm not exactly sure how much I'll be able to find -- the Destinians are my priority right now.

[Destiny]

Canvas glistened with the light of stars which were sprinkled throughout, it would seem. Well built fae carefully placed those ebony washed paws as figure was pulled across the expanse of blackness which she blended into so well, and towards Fireflight. The creature turned for a moment, and some sort of breeze seemed to hit her figure, ruffling the ebony fur so that it's snowy undercoat was revealed. It was Destiny, but it wasn't. For a split second it was as if the half-sister was her kin, but then creature turned again, and made her way towards Fireflight. Body engulfed into the darkness of her night colored outer canvas. Those eyes that glimmered as the light caught them had settled upon Fireflight. They held hints of confusion, hurt, misunderstanding, love. As if her entire story was in them, and these few things were all that would be revealed to another wolf. "Dearest Fireflight, perhaps you remember me. I do not know whether or not you were with the pack back when it was still Gray Mist. I am New Moon. Half-sister of Destiny, runaway of White Mist, traitor to Blood Mist, mate of Regulus, past Beta of Gray Mist. Misunderstood wolf who could not find herself in life do to everything that had happened to her." A long introduction perhaps, but the wolf with the electrifying ice blue eyes dipped her crown slightly, and it was clear that much wisdom of certain things was with her. "With this life, I bestow upon you the gift of cunning. It may not seem quite so important to you know young one, but in the moons to come, you will realize how helpful this gift is." New Moon leaned forward, gently touching tip of her coal colored, soft nose to Fireflights, and sending the shocking pain of this life into the other wolf. It was much different from Destiny's gift of forgiveness, and was like being electrocuted, without facing any of the effects other then the pain. With a little, weak smile, and another nod, the ebony washed wolf turned and darted off into the blackness.

Following dearest sister, and not so dearest half-sister, came a night colored, large, muscular brute. Pelt was covered in hues of midnight blue, and in the right lightning almost seemed the color of water. Eyes were a similar color to that of sister and half-sister, a slightly deeper blue, darker colored rims around the edges. They held an eternal sadness, and it was clear that brute would always carry this with him. One large paw was brought upwards and gently touched Fireflight's shoulder for a moment, an odd gesture. "Greetings, Fireflight. I have my doubts that you would recognize me. I died before my sister, Destiny, even became alphess of Gray Mist. My calling is Nuka, perhaps that is a familiar name to you, is there not a terra belonging to the Destinian Pack, named after my honorable sister, called the Nuka River? Not named after myself, but simply a coincidence of course." No smile, no hint of happiness. Nothing but the essence of an eternal loneliness, one that he had clearly felt since before his death. Left ear was flicked slightly, and the little nick there, hole even, might be noticed. From a bullet, perhaps? Hard to tell, really, without clarification from the scar's owner. "I have come here to give you the gift of tolerance. Believe me, young wolf, you will need it in the moons to come." Paw was only now removed from shoulder, nose touching hers to send the pain like that of fire from one wolf to the other. Brute gave a little nod as he retreated, backing away into the shadows.