Haunted by Memories

[Riley]

Cold and wet the liquid was. The current pulling downward, left and right. Body soaked, turning about, going anywhere but up. Rocks scattered the sandy bottom. It was confusion, total chaos. Paws clawed desperately at the water, lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. Any second a breath would have to be taken, any second would decide if she lived or died. A break at the surface, maw parted, sputtering, inhaling the much needed air. Fire danced dangerously above in the trees, sparks fell into the air, one last glimpse of her mum, one last glance at a family she’d perhaps never see again. The water crashed down over her head once more, the rive tugging, pulling her down.
Eyes flashed open fearfully, Riley yelped in a scared manner and was on her paws almost instantly. Gaze scanned the terrain suspiciously, it spread out in all directions, horizon to horizon. She relaxed after a minuet and hung her head shamefully. There was just grass land, to one side a forest and further ahead of her some mountains. No fire, no river…no family. Sigh was emitted. Smoky frame was give a bit of a shake, some remaining soot from her canvas dusted the air around her. She was keeping herself alive but it was just luck she thought. Just luck.
Tender paws padded over the crumbling earth, the crusty blades and unfriendly stones which jagged edges pricked skyward. There was a lack of enthusiasm in her gait. Her chocolate brown optics were sullen though they gazed dutifully at her surroundings. The instinct to survive was far too strong to go about ignoring it. She lacked the skills of a seasoned hunter, the age and wisdom of an adult, she could not stay in one place for long. She was restless, tiered, desperate. It seemed like her limbs worked to move her forward with out her knowledge. After the sun had hauled itself far into the sky the lil she-wolf’s mug, of smoky gray and snowy white, was given a sharp jerk, nasal passages quivered anxiously. Lobes which spun atop her crown cupped forward and Riley’s whole frame went still. Wolves. They were close too.
For the first time in 7 long days her eyes glittered. There was some hope for her survival after all, or so she hoped. She’d never in the past come across another pack before. She was too young, too inexperienced. Riley knew not the risks involved, that there was indeed a chance that the pack could kill her. She knew submission though, it was like a genetic link, passed down. Maw parted to emit a whine, tail strong out behind her like a banner and was tossed to an fro in eagerness. Well it was now or never.
Limbs churned beneath her, there was ease and fluidness to each movement. Her frame streaked across the grassland, silver and white against the tall grass. It didn’t take long for soreness to win over and pace slackened dramatically. Pads burned and she flinched with every step. Soon she’d stopped as well, laying down to rest. Pink fleshy tongue flashing over her front paws, tenderly caring for them. In minuets the pain had dulled but sleep took the weary pup. She knew not the land she was in, nor that wolves were closer then she’d thought. Riley just wanted sleep for now, even if she dreaded her dreams. Soon she thought, soon she’d have a home again and then the sun beat down like a warm blanket and the grass concealed her frame. She saw the fire, felt the water surround her once more.

[Siris]

His large frame shifted on his paws, unwilling to carry him much farther. Siris lowered his paws, kicking away the dust from a decently smooth rock. He was far from his own domain. He had to be careful where he was seen. Some loners were dangerous to Alphas they believed to be intruding on their land. Of course, it wasn't their territory but some believed it to be.

His maw opened in a small yawn. It had been a long day of traveling. He was still on his way to the claiming grounds. Perhaps he would find a mate, or maybe just find someone to come back with him to the pack. It had been lonely in his territory alone. None had come to his territory. The Alpha had finally taken it on himself to go out and find others.

Eyes moved around the land, scanning the tall grass. Ears leapt up on his skull, hearing the brush rustle behind him. His body shot off the rock, spinning to face the intruder. His eyes moved through the grass, picking out the small grey form. A light smile crossed his muzzle, looking at the pup. His smile dropped as she collapsed on the ground in sleep. He had to help the young wolfess.

Siris's frame moved cautiously to the ground, stepping lightly over the fragile twigs and loose stones. His cold nose pushed up against the female's body, lingering over her soft pelt. He lay down at the pup's side, close enough for his heat to seep to her small frame. His pink tongue brushed over her head, pushing back her ears as he warmed her head.

[Riley]

Dreams. They say that dreaming is a way of working out your problems. Why though most we then relive memories, no matter how long since past that they are? Riley’s memory, the one most vivid in her mind which taunted her endlessly were more painful then she could stand. She’d never see what she’d known for her short life again. She’d come to terms with this, but why then would the memories not fade? Some things were better laid to rest.

The water consumed her once more. Open eyes stung from the blue liquid, red flames danced just above the surface of with she just could seem to reach. Her ear’s thundered with the roar of the waves and the faint crunching of grass and earth. It brought her slightly out of sleep, into the darkness, away from the water. Everything still seemed distant. The little pup knew someone or something had found her, the details were rather vague. Something cold, wet, it pressed against her flesh. She emitted a low whine of protest as she slowly came to.

It was warm. Her body no longer felt so weary though it seemed like she had only just closed her eyes. They fluttered open to revel their chocolate hue. She paused for a moment, an attempt to remember her whereabouts. A tall grassland, somewhere. Only a second later she caught the image of the larger wolf laying beside her. Out of instinct, fear, she yelped and was instantly on her paws. She would not run from him, she was still weak and even if she wasn’t there was no way to outrun an older wolf. She faced him, gaze taking in all his features. He seemed friendly enough, if he wanted to harm her wouldn’t he had done such already?

A sigh was emitted in a manner of relief and smoky gray and white tail was given a few noticeable jerks in a wagging motion. Ears lay flat in submission. She gave a small whine before emitting some speech. “um… I’m Riley.” She hardly recognized her own voice. It was cracked and unfamiliar. Riley hadn’t spoken really for a week it seemed, I mean it wasn’t as if she had had anyone to speak with. Now thinking about this Riley was rather excited, she had someone to talk to…hopefully.

[Siris]

He wasn't interested in how the pup got out to this land alone. It was probably very simple. She had gotten lost from her family and she was trying to find her way back. But what did interest the Alpha was how long she had been alone. Her frail body told him she hadn't been alone long but long enough to be getting very hungry.

As her eyes moved open and she began to wake, he lifted his tongue from her body and lay back his ears. They weren't plastered against his head but were almost floating behind his head horizontally. Her body moved, shifting quickly away from him. His paws twitched, instinctivly wanting to leap up and go after her but she stopped a few paces away, staring at him. He relaxed and smiled at her. She was frightened so it would be best to just lay still and wait for her to approach him. Siris looked at the pup, examining her for any injury. Her body looked lean, and her legs appeared to be trembling slightly from exhaustion but other than that she looked to be in good health.

“um… I’m Riley.” The wolf lowered his muzzle to his forepaws, looking up at her kindly with his soft brown eyes.

"And it is a definate pleasure to meet you, Riley. Call me Siris." The brown wolf lifted his ears and watched the pup carefully. Now that he had found her, he would make her his responsibility. He needed to protect her. He needed to feed her.

[Riley]

The spring sun was warm, and like a layer of gold it spread across the landscape. The thick long blades danced fruitfully to and fro. A zephyr brushed against them. The soil’s surface was becoming quiet warm, but underneath it the earth was cool and welcoming. The heavens were blue and clear say for a few clouds that clustered about the sun. Today was the end and today was the beginning, it was just on how you looked at things.
The smoky gray young whelp watched him curiously, managing to relax for he looked even friendlier then before. Burgundy tinged gray lobe cupped forward as he spoke. He’s voice was calm, masculine, there was a hint of authority in it, it was like her father’s almost, younger though. It was the voice of a leader. That didn’t scare her though, it was more of a comfort then anything else.
Siris she thought as he introduced himself. His name reminded her of the wolf in the stars, there was a story but she’d forgotten it. Her tail gave another wag in excitement and she took a few steps closer thoughtfully. She spoke up again, her voice a bit more smooth then before. “Pleeased to meet you Siris.” She made a bit of an over effort to emphasize on saying pleased but hey, she wasn’t perfect. Her tummy growled hungrily, a reminder of her past week. She wasn’t really sure how to go about asking to follow him about, join his pack and such. “um, I dunno about you but I’m hungry”. She hoped that wouldn’t mean that he’d leave her, she didn’t have to eat just yet. She could wait until they went to his pack, if she was so lucky as if to join him. A small wolfish grin tugged at her maw and she gazed at him with puppish brown optics.
Perspective is an odd thing. A view of someone’s life, through there eyes. For Riley today she’d be taking her first steps forward into a new life. She new that change was always inevitable, but in most cases it was for the better. Riley had left behind her old life, her family, her pack, but now she would have that again. There was at last hope on the horizon, after of course one of the most painful weeks of her life.

[Siris]

Siris looked up at the grey female again, his eyes holding a special glint that they hadn't held for awhile. He smiled. This young wolfess was special. She was gentle, kind, and yet very brave and strong to be out alone. His ears flicked back in admiration and he licked his lips as a yawn overtook him. When he opened his silver eyes again, her round, surely empty, belly was growling at the pair.

“um, I dunno about you but I’m hungry." He chuckled. She did have a way with words.

"I'll bet that is a problem I can solve." He gave her a light wink and slowly moved his weight around to balance on his four delicate paws. He leaned down on his front limbs to stretch out his back and let out another yawn. Before he let himself rise again to full height, he nipped at a sensative spot on his left foreleg.

A rabbit caught his attention to the left and his ears revolved around to listen but his head remained down on his paw. He slowly moved up, walking around behind the young fae. He dipped his maw and scooted her closer to the prey.

"Alright," he whispered, tone clearly betraying he was planning, "I want you to crept up as close to that rabbit as you can. Right behind that dirt mound if you can stay silent. If you don't catch him, I'll get us one." He smiled down at her, his eyes soft and warm. "If you're going to be part of the family, you're going to have to learn this sooner or later."

[Riley]

Reminiscences. Supposedly a way for your subconscious to work out your troubles, the ones that you may or may not me aware of. Some even say that one could find the path to there future, embedded deep in there own minds of that they could open their minds to the stars which could tell them events of ancient past or distant future. The true of the matter, or how the little tyke saw things was that her dreams…no, night terrors, they were just reminders of what she’d lost in life. A daily taunt that if she hadn’t shown fear perhaps her father would have been carrying her, or perhaps they would have made it across before the fire had spread as fast. Always though she would be reminded of how fragile life truly was, and how easily it could almost be taken away.
Auburn and silver lobes cupped forward excitedly, eating up his words hungrily. Her stomach seemed to settle at the prospect of food and it rumbled only slightly and quietly every few minuets. She allowed a small wolfish grin to spread across her maw as the large brute gave her a carefree wink before rising to his paws. Her plume wiggled to and from behind her as she used what patience she had to stay still as he stretched. Gaze watched him curiously as he nipped a paw and yet attention was somewhere else. Her gaze followed the direction of a hardly noticeable sound in her opinion and watched attentively.
Siris, he had moved behind her unnoticeably and Riley’s paws elevated off the ground as he nudged her closer. Eyes peered forward, untrained as they were she could just distinguish the rabbit’s shape within the tall grass near a rather large mound in the earth. She heard his instructions and gulped. No pressure but still… she really wanted to prove she could do this even if her hunting hadn’t been used on anything larger then a mouse. Her heart gave a bit of an excited leap at the prospect of being part of his pack. She could do this…
Paws crept as silently as possible towards the mass of earth, pausing only a few moments when the rabbit had sat up to gaze around. Riley wasn’t sure if it had seen her but if it had then it hadn’t regarded her as a threat. ‘that would be a mistake on your part bunny man.’ she thought. All too soon she had crept to the mound, secure and hidden from view. She krept around the side, feeling she’d be less noticeable then if she’d climbed it. Limbs paused. They tensed, ready from the attack. She lowered herself slightly, ready to spring. Deep breath. She charged forward though she wasn’t nearly as fast as she’d thought she’d be. Maw parted and snapped. She heard rather then saw, she’d unintentionally closed her dark brown eyes, the rabbit muffle a scream and felt something soft in her maw but eyes opened to find only a bit of tail fluff. Maw opened to release it and she stared at it feeling quite perplexed. She hadn’t been fast enough and now the rabbit was gone, her loss was his gain. She emitted a sigh not feeling quiet up to looking back to see the large male wolf, but we all had to start somewhere in hunting, right?

[Siris]

Siris was calmly observing his protege as she silently moved her body through the grass and toward the rabbit. He was smiling. She would be perfect for his pack. Almost like a daughter, really. If she would have him that is. His tail brushed against his hocks with the thought of a family. That's what he wanted. No one in control of him and him with a loving group of wolves. His attention turned back to the young female in time to see her squat down and shift to rush forward. She had good potential for hunting even if she didn't catch much. Her body lunged forward and he stepped forward to look over the grass. The rabbit just missed her snapping jaws and lost a bit of its tail as it leapt into its burrow.

"Don't worry about it Riley. We'll get you something and you'll get the hang of catching prey. I won't let you keep failing." He smiled and trotted up behind her as she spit out the tuft of white fur. He lowered his neck to push his nose against her back. His tongue flicked out and he moved it over her back. He would have to find another rabbit now to feed the pup. He had promised her food and now was time to deliver. When he pulled his head back up, his eyes roved around the area, searching for any sign of movement. He caught one minutes later as he looked back behind them. His nose quivered and he stepped away from the pup, lifting his maw to sniff at the wind. It was another rabbit.

He was lucky the thing hadn't heard their rustling as Riley had made after the other prey. Siris lowered himself closer to the ground and moved his paws up and down to carry him over to the rabbit. He crouched still lower when the animal was in sight. His eyes focused on it without taking in anything else. When he was sure the rabbit didn't notice him and wouldn't get to its hole quick enough, he rushed forward and snapped its back leg in his jaws. It twisted and screamed and it was all he could do to keep a hold on it. It reached a peak of moving around and then he shook it back and forth, rattling its brain. It stopped moving suddenly and he dropped it, sniffing. The rabbit moved again and made an attempt at getting away but he snatched it back up and shook again, pushing up onto his back legs as the rabbit swung around his head.

When Siris was sure it was dead, he carried it over to the pup and dropped the brown creature on the dirt, panting slightly.

[Riley]

It’s really a wonder why life never seems to go as planned. Perhaps one day you gave the time to decide what would become of you in future years. I mean perhaps when you where older you’d venture to a new pack. Maybe you’d stay with your old, maybe take a mate, maybe fight for position which never really mattered at there age. Life sure has a funny way of surprising you, heading you in a direction that you’d never imagine.

Siris’s calm voice met her lobes. He didn’t sound at all disappointed in her effort. She felt better as she felt his nose press against her, his tongue caressing her pelt. Riley’s gaze looked up at him thoughtfully. He was too kind. It didn’t seem to take him even seconds before he located another piece of meat, of course it was still alive but not for long. She watched his cunningness and skill, almost desperate to learn from it.

Riley’s frame tensed. She sat as still as possible but she longed to hunt a he did. She quivered excitedly at the prospect of a meal. Wasn’t he close enough she wondered, but of course he was the seasoned hunter. Chocolate optics strained in her staring, she tried not to blink. Then he made for the kill, it took all her skill not to yelp with excitement.

He caught the creature, it managed a scream which broke the silence but all to quickly it lay still in the lupin’s jowls. She stood up and whined her thanks as he approached. The creature being dropped before her. She wagged her plume furiously in thank before tiny fangs sank into the warm flesh, the sweet taste of blood; tearing away the skin she was eager to feast on the interior. Her maw was stained quiet soon and her belly warm and full. Riley hadn’t needed too much, her belly still small but she felt far happier now then she’d felt the entire week. Her belly was now full, and she was no longer alone. She licked her paws.

She gazed up at him and smiled in thanks. She figured he might want the rest and stepped back and sat on her rear, plume curling around her paws. After a moment she thought about asking what we were going to do next but decided to remain silent instead, she figured he’s say or do something sooner or later that would decide what their next course of action was.

[Siris]

Siris watched the small wolfess sink into the little bit of meat he had provided. He watched, quite content, while she filled her little belly and licked her small paws and looked up at him with a warm smile. He returned it without hesitation and looked down to see about half of the rabbit still laying in front of him, looking up with one desperate eye. Not wanting to stare at his dead prey, he pounced on it. His paw met the staring eye and he reduced it blood and some other gooey substance with his claws. He then proceeded to lick and bite at the remaining meat on the small animal's bones.

Riley was across from him and he had the distinct impression that she was watching him. She had a curious look like she wanted to know more but about what he couldn't decide. Possibly his pack? He had no others and she was a little too young to care about the other adults, he thought. Maybe what was to happen to her? But she appeared too happy. Maybe that was only her full belly plastering that smile on. He wagged his tail as his rump sank down onto the soft ground to make him lay instead of stand. It was much easier on the neck to stretch forward than to stretch down and forward. He looked up at her, flipping his tail lazily as he knawed at the red meat.

When he had finished the rabbit, leaving the tufts of fur on his muzzle and the dirt, he stepped over to the pup.

"Shall we go to my territory now, little Reily?" He pushed his cold nose against her ribs and backed away with a playful smile. He turned and started off with a slow trot so Reily could keep up.

[[Siris has left the thread.]]