One day, one night, one moment

[Saosin]

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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The confines of reality as she knew it were tight and dark having only the smallest of creases where light peered through warily from the world outside. This had become her life for what seemed like eternity. The freedom she had once had in the infinite stretches of her jungle home had been stripped of the pup, and there she lay, in a wooden create bound for places far and away. Her world of darkness rose and fell with the ocean currents, the scent of the salty breeze all that met with her delicate black nose. Yet all at once this desolate existence changed as the sea birds calls drifted away and the silence of a starless night was shattered with the rising of thunder and violent flashes of lightning. The subtle rising and falling of the sea turned to chaotic rocking that caused her crate to slide frantically to and fro until with determined ferocity the wooden parcel collided with what could have been yet another crate prison, and splintered apart leaving a gaping hole in which to escape. As fate would have it though, her means for escape would not be her blessing. For as soon as she stepped towards the possibility of freedom, her worlds tumbled violently as the crate was knocked overboard and into the waiting icy black sea.

Having been thrown, and luckily so, from the confines of her prison, the young red pup was cast into an element to which she was none too familiar. The salty currents send her splashing frantically, treading water ferverently as her life depended on it. Never had she been submerged in water, never had she tasted the bitter salty fathoms of the sea. She paddled with all her strength and after hours of being tossed endlessly by the violent current, all that sustained her was her infinite fear. At some point consciousness was lost as fatigue overtook her. And it was only the buoyancy of her small fragile body that kept her afloat, though her lungs continued to take on saltwater as she was swept away without hope.

Perhaps the gods of old had been watching over the small maned wolf, or perchance fate had some higher purpose the young Inyo had not served, for her near lifeless body washed up upon the shores of an island unknown to her. The brilliance of the morning sun stung her delicate hazel eyes as they struggled to open. She laid half in and half out of the frothing current, its gently lapping waves stirring her frail bodice. Noisily she wheezed, soon followed by throaty coughs as she expelled the water from her lungs and attempted to breathe normally. Strength gradually returned, and she found herself able to pull her aching body up off the sandy beach and into the shade of the waiting trees. It was there she fell into a deep slumber, exhausted from her travels and warily broken of spirit.



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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[Tay]

Scathe

Having awoken from his peaceful nap, Scathe proceeded to explore the little nest the Land of Scars had provided him. He discovered the tunnel, that in the dark and his tired state he had missed. He walked down it, sniffing for any sign of life. Nothing reached his nose but old faded scents. Then, slowly a scent rose. It wafted down the dark tunnel, which was only illuminated by strange glowing fungi.

Scathe's ears pricked forward. He knew the smell of the sea. The salty odor that entered the air mixed with a fishy scent. He snorted to clear his nose, having forgotten how strong a scent the sea possessed. Trotting ahead, a light began to enter the tunnel. He walked out the mouth of his tunnel, wincing in the light. When his eyes adjusted, he noticed that the little cave he had exited from was on a gentle sloping hill. It lay far enough from the beach to never be in danger of flooding.

He let his silver orbs travel up and down the stretch of sand happily. How he'd missed feeling sand against his pads as he ran down the beach. His clan had lived near a beach. What memories he had of that beach. He could almost see the blaze of red blood spilled on the sand. He stared, remembering.

" Mother...I wish I'd been sooner, I tried to get here fast...Oh, Mother... "

He shook his head, not wishing to relive the memory. His mother's life had been taken on a beach like this one, though he tried to forget. He was distracted from his memory by a real red blaze under some trees. His silver orbs stared hard at the spot. Perhaps something was wrong with his orbs.

He trot forward, and as he neared the red blaze he could see fur. He was puzzled at the creatures appearance. It looked almost like a fox kit but it was too big. He stared harder, and thought it resembled a wolf cub. A fox-like wolf cub. He was still a distance away from this strange fox-wolf creature, and he let out a soft bark.

Hello? Little cub? His voice was strong, but not threatening. He waited for the sleeping, he assumed anyway, cub to wake. He noticed the scent of the sea weighed heavily on the cub, and his ears flicked around in uncertainty. This little ball of fur had him puzzled.

[Saosin]

Inyo

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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Her dreams were those of the restless, the visions that played out like pantomimes before her eyes were strange and frightening. She slept, perhaps more deeply than she had ever slept. And when she awoke it was like being pulled back into reality as though she had been detached, a lifeless spirit hovering above. Her breathing had stabilized for the most part, still exhibiting a slight wheeze. Her eyes ached from the constant flow of salt water that had penetrated them. But it was not merely her dreams that had awakened the small maned wolf, it was a sound. Perhaps it had been merely the crashing of the ocean waves. But she knew, somewhere deep inside, that it had been a voice. The timber of the tone was unfamiliar, but the tone was encouraging and friendly. So she pulled herself into complete consciousness and lifted her heavy head to gaze in the direction of the mysterious stranger. The creature was not familiar, but appeared like her own kind but… different. She had never seen a beast such as him but his scent… it reminded her of her own only slightly modified. She squinted slightly as though still attempting to gather her fragmented brain and found that the pieces there did not fit together well. When one goes through a terribly traumatic event, sometimes the brain shuts that portion of your memory out, as though to protect it. Perhaps this was so with little Inyo, for the agony that had befallen her was nothing but a misted void. Her voice was small and weak as she stood, wide eyes watching him.

“He...hello. I am Inyo… who are you?”




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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[Tay]

Scathe

As the little fox-wolf rose, Scathe took in her appearance further. She had long legs, longer then he'd thought when she lay asleep. Her scent was female, but he'd known that before too. She spoke in a quivering voice, and his eyes softened a bit. He'd never much cared for his soft heart toward youngsters. It certainly hadn't been the way he was raised. He honored the feelings though, perhaps they were part of his Mother.

Inyo. He repeated. The name sounded foreign, and he glanced over at he sea. Did she swim across the sea? She is not from here, that much is obvious. She somehow was birthed from the sea, rising from the salty water and into these Scared Lands. Poor little cub, that is not a way to start your life. She's lucky the sea chose to give her back. He glared at the sea, knowing the little pup would never again get back to where ever she'd come from.

His thoughts lasted only a second or two, before his silver gaze returned to Inyo. My name is Scathe. He walked a little closer to her, before laying down on his belly before her. He wished to show he meant no harm for he wasn't exactly the prettiest thing. His black and gray mixed fur, coupled with the scar across his orb...he wasn't exactly a lady killer. He offered the pup a smile. Are you okay, Little Inyo? You don't need to fear me, I'm here to help. He crossed his paws and lay his head upon them.

Relax. You seem to have had a hard enough time. You don't need to be stressed even further because of me. His silver orbs were kind, which was something few wolves, fox-wolf or not, had ever seen.

[Saosin]

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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Inyo studied the stranger who now lay before her, head cocked slightly to the side as she squinted at him as if scrutinizing him. In actuality she was rather scared as to her predicament, in a place completely unknown to her, without anything or anyone who was dear to her. Even more troubling was the fact that she could not recall at all, what had become of her past swimming for her life in an endless stormy sea whose currents tossed and shook her like simple driftwood. She could not recall where she had come from, or who her parents were, or why on earth she was not with them. A soft whimper escaped her clenched jaws in anguish at her plight without even meaning to and glanced away from Scathe ashamed. Gathering up the nerve to look back into his patiently waiting eyes she moved to edge closer to him, an affectionate paw lightly teetered upon his nose before her timid body curled up to him.

“I remember my name… but I can’t remember anything else… I …I don’t know what I am to do or where I am to go…. I just don’t know….”




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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[Tay]

Scathe

Scathe watched the little pup seem to puzzle over something. His eyes were curious, and his ear flicked at her whimper. He himself tried to keep that hopelessly weak sympathetic face from staying on his face and failing miserably. He liked to follow the instincts of kindness, but after a second, he seemed to realize himself. He wanted to be able to give into to those gentler emotions, but he'd been taught to abandon them.

Before he knew what was happening, the pup had stretched a long leg to balance a paw on the bridge of his nose. He stared up at the little animal, and was startled when she curled into him so quickly. He listened to her words, allowing her to curl into his thick peppered fur. He felt an urging inside him to reassure the pup and yet he found himself thinking he should leave her. He'd been orphaned as a pup and here he was, alive and mostly well.

He stared down at the bundle of blazing red fur. He thought of his life without his Mother. He'd been too young for Father's death to remember much. He felt the familiar image start to rise to mind, last time he'd seen Mother and heard her voice. He glanced down to the little pup again.

She can escape that. You can help her. The thought entered his mind and can he a certainty to what he would do. He lowered his nose to her soft fur nuzzling her head once as his mother had often done. Why, little Inyo, he spoke softly, his nose buried in her fur, devoting her scent to memory.

You are to do nothing more then stay with me, and go where I go. I will care for you and assure that the ocean never tries to take you back. His words rang true and imprinted themselves on his mind. A promise he would keep to this little fox-wolf for as long as he lived.

[Saosin]

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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“I will care for you and assure that the ocean never tries to take you back.”

Those words, while a simple promise that could be seen eventually as a mere lie, somehow comforted her fragile world and made everything seem ok again. Perhaps if she had been a bit older, or if she had not endured the traumatic events that she had, she would have questioned such words. But for now, she put the whole of her heart into them, entrusting herself and her future to a complete stranger. But fate has a funny way of weaving the webs of life’s intricate workings, and perhaps after her travels this, of all places, was where she was supposed to be.

Her dainty head rose then, from out of the envelopes of his warm fur, and her gaze strayed to the ocean, regarding it with a childish hatred as it invoked only a deep inner bitterness that some day she would need to reconcile with. Shaking herself a bit, she stood. Her stomach churned with lack of nourishment and it spoke so with loud rumbles nearly as big as her. Lightly she pawed at Scathe, looking at him with widened eyes.

“ I am so very hungry… can we find some food?”



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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[Tay]

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Scathe

Scathe smiled as Inyo seemed to accept his answer. He watched her raise her head from his fur and then chuckled when she pawed at him. Of course little one. He rose to his feet too, and planted a lick atop her head. Come little Inyo. We will search for food. Tell me, what do you know, or remember, of hunting?

He scented the air, and kept flicking his ear back at the sound of the pup's stomach growling. He could sent nothing of big game, and this made him growl to himself. He knew there was a lake somewhere, and it would be wise to head in that direction. We will travel away from the sea and to a lake. There should be bigger game there, Little One. Come. Maybe we will find a clan to house ourselves in soon, too.

He wondered how the pack wolves would react to Inyo, and was irratated to hear how quickly thoughts of protecting her rose to his mind. A wolf must learn to fight. She doesn't need my protection. That is not the way to raise a cub. He thought bitterly, the thoughts feeling weak in conviction even to himself.

[Tay]

Minaria

Honey orbs scanned the dead lands of the Akeldama. The large fem pad slowly over the dry ground. Her fur rustled in the breeze and she sighed. She hadn't minded being alone recently, but now she felt her voice hanging in her mouth, unused and discarded. She inhaled the dusty air, and a faint scent caught her attention. A male, with a young pup. Her orbs nearly closed as she was flood with memories.

Oh, little Riko. She thought with a whine. What happened to you my darling? She was already headed in their direction, and as she struggled to find the scent again, she realized it was only because of the opposing breeze she hadn't scented them before. She was actually quite close now, and she decided it may have been fate intervening on her, for she could now see the shape of a male beginning to appear in the distance.

Scathe, who'd kept an ear turned to the pup the whole while let his head shoot up. He'd been aware of the growing scent of the fem for a while now. He stared as the large male approached, confused as his nose told him it was female. When the animal grew a safe distance, it slowed and paused.

It called to him and Inyo, who he had placed himself in front of, with a high and melodic voice. One that a male could never possess. He stared at her critically, studied her large form. She was about his size, but it unsettled him to have female so large. May we help you? He asked, his gray eyes steady on her.

Minaria, feeling the male's eyes on her avoided looking to his pup. She instead took in his appearance, and she found his rather threatening. A nice scar ran over his eye, and she almost winced thinking of the fight he earned that from. She heard his question and walked forward a bit, closing the distance so that she didn't have to shout.

She saw his body tense and she let her honey orbs fall on him skeptically. She still did not look to the pup, not wanting to provoke him. I came only in the hopes of company. She responded, her form large and proud. She was a beautiful creature, though her size difference made her feel nothing of the kind.

She now risked a glance to the pup, and felt her breath catch in her throat. The little pup was a blaze of orange, and it looked very nearly like a fox. It's legs showed promise of greater lengths though. She stared at the little pup for a moment longer, and found herself smiling. She'd always loved wolves who stuck out, being one herself. She found the little pup, and by it's smell she knew it was a fem, beautiful. She glanced back to the male, she was now sure he was not the father, but could not bear to tear her eyes from the lovely pup. I'm Minaria.

Scathe found he wasn't sure he liked the way she gazed at Little Inyo. There was no threat, he just found the...awe a bit off setting. He didn't ponder over, merely leaned down to Inyo and gave her rump a tap with his muzzle. We're not interested in company, thanks. Come, Inyo.

[Saosin]

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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As the salty squalls blew across the spinney permanent hackles of onyx across the reddish brown wolf’s back, Inyo tried hard to recall the hunting techniques of her former life. Unfortunately the whole of her past seemed but a coagulated misty blur with no recognizable context within it. But the art of the hunt, the desire for the kill… all this would come to her by natural instinct in time, as was gifted to all wolves. Perhaps she only needed to be placed in such a situation to allow nature to collect her senses and direct the energy needed for her task.

Something seemed different about Scathe, and though Inyo could not describe what had changed about this large male who she knew so very little about but placed her whole world into his hands, she puzzled about it for several passing minutes. OF course her wandering thoughts and uncollected energy had not honed in on the approaching large female until she was nearly atop them causing Scathe ready his body for whatever may come. It seemed to call to them, and when Scathe returned the call it held none of the welcoming softness that had greeted her own tender ears.

Nothing about the large female seemed threatening to Inyo in the slightest, and when she allowed her eyes to drift to the small bundle of fiery fur, Inyo found herself beaming happily. Perhaps she merely enjoyed the presence of another female, or perhaps there was kindness found in her gaze. Either way Inyo’s tail wavered and her voice, slightly pitchy in her excitement leapt forth.

“Hi! I’m Inyo!”

But seconds later came the firm nudge to her hind quarter as Scathe gave a clear signal for their exit. Without thinking she gave a small whimper of question up at him, eyes swimming to find his own before lowering her head a bit and moving closer to his own. Perhaps if he thought it was best, then she shouldn’t question his judgment….




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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[Tay]

Minaria and Scathe

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Minaria's banner drooped at the male's dismissive nature. She saw the pup beaming at her though and felt her banner begin to wave. The pup called out to her, identifying herself as Inyo. Minaria glanced to the male, hoping the pup hadn't gotten herself in trouble. She did, however see the pitifully sad eyes the little one gave him when he nudged her. She grinned, having a feeling the fight was won.

Scathe was shocked that Inyo had shouted her name out so willingly. He first thought to be angry at her, but found it was a good sign. She was confident. He glanced down to her, for when he'd nudged her she hadn't moved. He saw her glance up at him, with the most heart tugging gaze he'd ever seen. He felt his insides go soft, and a voice in his head grumbled at his weakness to this little pup. Inyo had won this round. Fine. He grumped to her with a sigh. I'm Scathe. He said to the fem, still tense. He watched Inyo and Minaria, watching the little pup and hoping she had good sense on the true nature of wolves.

Minaria watched as the male gave in to Inyo and resisted the urge to laugh out loud. What a big softy. She thought, walking forward to be closer to them. Hello Inyo. You're about the prettiest little fem I've ever seen. Minaria smiled, glancing back to Scathe. Can't say you're the prettiest brute I've met, however. She smiled to him, seeing he was still tense. I'm not going to hurt your pup. You have my word. She considered Scathe for a second and decided that he seemed far too nice to the pup to have evil on his mind. She lay her brown born down to the ground to see eye level with the pup. Her honey orbs glittered with happiness as she gazed at the young pup.

[Saosin]

I N Y O

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One day, one night, one moment
my dreams could be tomorrow
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Little Inyo was unaware of the small battle she had just won, and perhaps ignorant of the softened place in Scathe’s heart that she had managed to claim as her own. All that she knew was that in the short time they had come to know each other, she had handed her livelihood over to him, and called him friend, comrade, mother and father…. Everything she had. And though she knew nothing of this strangely large female, she felt a kindness about her, and felt no looming miasma of ill intentions. Perhaps that was Inyo’s gift to the world, for empathy within her was strong and reached out in great lengths to those around. Perhaps this female needed them as much as Inyo needed Scathe when she washed up along the sandy shore.

Looking from one wolf to another, Inyo’s tail began to wag, contented for the moment with the addition to their gathering before a sharp pang within her abdomen reminded her of her acute hunger. How many days had it been since last she had tasted sweet nourishment? She could hardly fathom the phantom taste of meat upon her tongue. A soft pitiful whimper is given towards the adults around. “My belly is very... very empty…”




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One step, one fall, one falter
East or West, over earth or by ocean
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[/center]

[Tay]

Scathe glanced down to the pup, and the fem. He'd heard her silent promise and he didn't have the heart to prolong her search for food any longer. He looked to the brown fem and gave a nod of surrender. Come then, we will all three find food together. It will be easier to catch something with another wolf present. He turned, rather quickly as if irratated for letting Inyo so easily have her way.

Minaria couldn't help but smile to herself, knowing the brute had a soft spot for the little pup. She nudged Inyo along with her snout. Come on little one. Wouldn't want him to get grumpier, would we? She whispered.


(Now...to Nuri's thread)