Reflections (Nolan)

[Akailia Devi]

Neon yellow eyes highlighted the bushes as she walked gently atop the silky blades of grass. Her paws pressed themselves into the dirt with her light weight, leaving prints to let the forest know where she was going. But she was sure it already knew. It seemed to know her better than she did. She was trying to understand why her mate left. Just one day when she woke up, he was gone. And he was one of the best Draggas she could ask for to run Anaria. Anaria was to be respected. It was to be protected. She could run the pack by herself, for it wasn’t a large pack. But it wasn’t weak. She knew this forest better than any wolf could. But she also knew that the time would come when she would have to give up this power to another wolf. She wanted it to be one of her pups. Her pups grew up here, and she tried to raise them to see the Balance. It was impossible to teach them to see, it was just something that they would have to experience.

She kind of knew which wolf she wanted to take over. She wanted Nolan, but she didn’t know if he completely grasped the concept just quite yet. It would be a year or so until he could take over anyways. She wanted to be completely sure that he knew what this forest was really made of. He needed to know the cycle, the creatures, and how the trees moved toward the sun. The Balance was something that he would need to respect and protect for his entire life because Akailia wouldn’t always be here to keep it safe. She wasn’t the first wolf to discover it, but there were only a select few that the Balance would choose to represent it. Akailia was one of the lucky ones, and she prayed to Halasia that they would choose Nolan too.

Her neon colors accented the pitch black night near the creek. They reflected off of the creek as she lapped up some water. She could feel the breeze rustling the trees and whispering through the leaves. She needed to talk to her pup soon. She kept her paws in the water and howled a melodious howl for him to come. The fish nipped at her paws as she did so, her tail began to wag. Patiently she waited, Nolan would be here soon.

[Nolan Skilgannon]

The night sky had blanketed over the land and the stars were shining as bright as they could. They were a beauty that Nolan rather enjoyed looking at, but not before he made his normal rounds. Though the young pup had never really been told to this, he figured he best do it than any other wolf in the pack. He was sure his father did it when he was here, so he wanted to do it. Nolan trotted around the pack land perimeter, making sure everything was in order and nothing smelled out of character, before he went off to bed with his siblings. He knew that if there was any danger that he wouldn't be able to do much, but at least the danger would have been spotted and he could have gotten an... older wolf who can withstand some trouble. Sure, Nolan was two years old and had a larger body as well as some knowledge in fighting, but what is he to do against a full grown male? It would be illogical for him to take them on just yet. He just had to be patient and wait for his body to get full grown.

Nolan stopped for a second, twitching his ears around as he heard a russling noise. He pin pointed where it came from and turned his head to see a mother elkryn and her baby standing a few feet from him. The mother snorted and stomped her feet, doing a threatening dance to let Nolan know she wouldn't tolerate him messing with the babe. Nolan wagged his tail and dipped his head in respect to the family. Then, the pair trotted off heading to their own home. Nolan stood and watched. He was fairly certain they wouldn't be around if there was danger coming, so he could probably head to bed before long.

A soft musical howl made Nolan whip his head around and look back into the pack lands. It was his mother calling him to her. Almost instantly, as if something inside him was guiding him, he picked up a trot and heading towards her. Tingles under his paws seemed to be telling him which way to go and once his red eyes spotted her, his tail started to wag ever so slightly. When he was right there he slowed and dipped his head in greeting, much like he had seen other wolves do so.

"Good evening, mother," He said softly, then approached and gave her a family nuzzle against her neck.

[Cain]

Yellow eyes peered into the forest, searching for the one that they hold dearly. His nose lead him this far, but there was still no sign of his sister and that mongrel that took her. Cain had creeped down the Vilgar Mountains, passed through forests, spent days sniffing and searching for her. The scent that he recognized came from a pack but he was trying hard to single hers out, which made it difficult. He hadn't gotten close enough to her to really pick her scent out, now he wish he had. The one scent he did know lead him here. The Fenrir Luna pack. The hippy-do-da's. The thought of having to be on the same land with them at the very moment bothered him.

Fenrir Luna was a pack that didn't really have an alliance, well they did, it was to "Mother Earth" or whoever they called it. It was like they were a group of religious wolves. Cain wasn't really sure how to take them. They were strong so he couldn't say they were weak like the Valida, but he didn't feel like he could honestly treat them like an equal. How did Ava get mixed up with this group? Well he knew how. She has a strong attitude but sweet inside. She was also brilliant. Anyone would be lucky to have her on their side. But... why did she choose them? There had to be a reason.

A howl cracked in the air and Cain tilted his head to the side. Someone was awake. Though, usually he didn't care if they were sleeping or not, he was planning on taking a break and seeing them in the morning. Cain was a rather large wolf, but that didn't mean he never grew tired and hungry. He heard paws thundering past him and towards the howl. He was rather close. Why not pay a visit now?

The black wolf got up, licked his chops of the blood he had from his kill and then trotted in the direction he heard the paws head off too. Leaving a baby deers corpse behind. Cain heard water flowing, paws running through the water and then voices.

"Good evening, mother,"

Mmmm, a mother and her pup. I could create so much damage right now... Cain watched the pair nuzzle one another from behind a bush. He remembered those loving days. He remembered the softness of his mothers fur. He just chose to forget. Ever since he killed his own sister and his very mother wouldn't look at him as he was banished from the family.

"How touching," Cain growled as he stepped out from the bush, "A mother and her pup exchanging love nuzzles. You know... someday she won't treat you as her very own. Pup."