{: A Sinner's Fall :}

[Kaziph]

{: G A V R I L :}

The shores of the lake held his crisscrossed paw prints all along it's northwestern edges. He wandered aimlessly, not bent on any particular path, and without a final mission in mind. Since he had left Avergren, he had lost track of time, and as the days drew into longer nights and then once more into shorter days... he found himself alone.

So he took his time, moving back and forth between things of interest to him. He studied the strange rocks he found along the lake's bank. He looked for new or different plants and animals, fellow creatures on the Maker's earth. He mentally documented at least three new, pretty rocks he'd found - and left behind. It was strange to him, that he should be able to have so much more knowledge because of a mistake...

But he tried to forget the past. He was certain the others had already forgotten him, his better deeds, if not the sin that blackened his heart and sent him many miles away from his home.

[Amanda]

Faelyn had followed the scent of her only friend for days until it had gone into the ocean. Conflicted, she had paced the beach during the day and slept by his paw prints at night for two days. then her mind had been made up. she would follow him wherever he had gone, and learn the real truth of what had happened last season. She couldn't stand the accusing looks of her clan mates, and even worse were the conspiring whispers that rang within her ears in a cacophony of sound.

She had followed his paw prints and where they met the ocean she plunged into the frigid waters and prayed to the moon that he had taken a straight path. After several days of exhaustive swimming and nearly fainting from thirst she washed up onto the shore of a seemingly freshwater lake that bordered the sea. collapsing wearily on the beach her delicate frame did not have the strength to rise from the sand.

Avergren was too far behind her now. All doubts that she may have had about coming here were erased behind the inky blackness of her closed eyelids.

[Kaziph]

{: G A V R I L :}

He wandered along the lakeside for many more days still, keeping to himself and occasionally muttering aloud as he found something new or interesting. He hunted only when necessary as as result grew thinner and more lank than he had ever been while he hunted with the pack. His eyes, already a distinguished feature, turned almost haunted, and thoughts of the past kept replaying in his mind over and over until it drove him to the brink. He tried to keep the images at bay, but snarling fangs and accusing faces floated around him day in and out.

So it was one morning when he was still walking along in the open lands that he saw the body of his one-time friend - from a distant memory now - laying upon the shore. He assumed it was another allusion, but this one he didn't mind seeing. He couldn't recall ever seeing her stretched out so miserably before, though, and he went to investigate. He didn't even consider that she might be real. When he bent down to stick his nose against her still damp fur he leapt back again in shock. How can this be? Every time he'd tried to touch the faces before, to defend himself, he'd only passed through them and staggered into a hole or underbrush.

It took several long moments for him to find his voice, so ill-used it had become, before he could speak. ...Faelyn? was all he could manage to say, but his tenor voice was the same as it had been before, if a touch more squeaky in his surprise.

[Amanda]

Faelyn's silver eyelashes fluttered like the wings of an injured butterfly as she tried to regain consciousness. Someone or something had called her name...in a voice she recognized. How long had she lain here, prone upon the cold sands of the beach? A low growl escaped her chest as she faltered in putting her limbs correctly beneath her bodice. Blearily, she looked around for the source of her name and was taken aback to see her friend...gone so long and now so thin...

Her gentle eyes who had compassion for only one creature.

Gavril.

Collecting herself she managed to rise to a sitting position, but her head swam with the dizyying effects of dehydration. Her voice was hoarse and it cracked as she spoke.

Is this real? Are you real? where are we?

Her crania lolled downwards as she threatened to black out again, but sheer will kept her conscious.

What is this place? How far have I come?

[Kaziph]

{: G A V R I L :}

He stepped back further from her as she rose, but when she began to speak and he recognized her voice, the young brute again moved closer. Hush now, Fae, I don't know. He pressed his shoulder against hers, offering his support. I don't know what's real anymore, not since... He shuddered, his shivers probably passing into her frame beside his.

He couldn't remember some of what had happened, but there were several stark details that prodded him. It was best, though, to not mention them, especially if she was already confused. It wouldn't do to have her accusing eyes on him when he thought he had left them all, in actuality, behind.

I don't where we are or how far we've come from home, but I know this is not Avergren. There are too many things different. His voice was soothing, calming, as it had been before. Now his tone grew more serious, although there was still a hint of disbelief within it. How did you come here, Fae? Did they... ? he didn't finish his question, hoping against hope that their clan hadn't chased her off, too, for another crime similar to the one he had committed.

[Amanda]

Things were different...?

Leaning against him she rose and moved to the edge of the lake, dipping her muzzle to drink greedily of the fresh waters she found there. Her thirst slaked for now she sat daintily next to Gavril, and told her tale.

I couldn't take the way they looked at me, as if i had murdered an alpha's pup. they whispered about you constantly...it...it drove me nearly insane! Finally I just couldn't stand it any more-the gentle wolves I once new had turned against you...and me. I followed your faint scent, and found your faint pawprints indented upon the sands near the ocean. I lay near them indecisively, but then the nagging realization that I had not heard your defense drove me to plunge into the frigid waters after you. You do not have to tell me now, but someday I would like to learn the truth.

She inhaled sharply and fell silent, realizing that that was perhaps the longest string of words she had ever spoken in one bout of conversation. Her pretty orbs studied his thinning frame with great dismay.

You have lost much weight over this past winter...and I have used all of my reserves coming here to find you. We should find something to eat.

She shook out her silvery grey pelt and leaned into him, still disbelieving that she had managed to find him. The odds were surely against her.

[Kaziph]

G A V R I L

Indeed, the odds were certain against them both, but there they sat on the edge of Moon Island, about to begin a new life. Gavril listened to her explanation but found only sorrow in it. She shouldn't have left them. She most certainly shouldn't have come after him, black hearted devil that he was by brand and deed.

Then she mentioned food, and with a sweep his tail and tightening of muscles he straightened up and pointed his thin muzzle off into the distance. I found something over there that's edible. Berries, not tasty, but adequate. He frowned, a thick line appearing upon his brow, and shook his head. They are fresh, at least, and will lend strength until we can find something better. He'd already incorporated her into his personal crisis, thinking of them as "we".

The dark toned wolf started off, his pawsteps light on the sandy earth beneath them. They left more tracks, though, more signs of his progress from fallen to normal. He knew he'd not achieve such a status, but it was a way of going about the incident. Gavril pushed through the new spring fronds and into the thick grasses, turning emerald once more as the season progressed and winter was chased away by the warming sun and longer nights.

He paused once deep into the meadow-like topography, pointing with his tassel at the small reddish-green growths. They don't taste well upon the tongue, but like I said, they are more filling than nothing.

[Amanda]

Fae acknowledged his words and rose to follow him without question. He was all she had now. studying the round berries that he gestured towards she wrinkled her nose in acute distaste at the strange sweet scent.

The wolves of Avergren had lived so well that they had never known the tang of berries eaten out of starved deprivation.

Her rumbling stomach chased away what delicate pickiness that she had left. daintily she plucked the berries free from stem and leaf, certain that they would taste even more foul. after a few mouthfuls the taste sort of...grew on her and she munched almost contentedly until her stomach no longer pained her. Licking her muzzle she looked around at the gentle topography and nodded approvingly.

certainly this place is not harsh. Have you met any others of our kind?

She raised her silver muzzle into the air, scenting but not seeming to smell any of her kind over the scent of stripped berry bushes and fresh water.

[Kaziph]

G A V R I L

The skinny brute copied his companion, gingerly plucking the fruit from the stem with his fangs, lips of course drawn back. They certainly didn't taste good, but his stomach too was full after a while. He felt oddly less like a wolf.

He flicked his ears at her when she spoke again, but he seemed hesitant to answer. Gavril looked away, gazing off into the distance, back over the lake. I've... been in something of a funk since I came to be here. I don't know. Aloud, he said, I haven't really met anyone. Or scented others.

He stood, for he had since sat down, and shook the debris from his pelt. Well, maybe now... maybe now he could move on, never forget, but start anew. He had only ever lived in a clan until the end of the previous autumn, and he had grown considerably smaller in his time alone. He would look like a different wolf when he filled back out.

Perhaps, he grumbled, looking his friend. We should find others. And never, never tell them. His eyes traced Faelyn's form, and he found himself glad that she had indeed followed. They had been the closest of friends as cubs, even though they had grown apart as they aged and grouped with their own genders.

How I have missed you, he thought to himself.

[Amanda]

Fae nodded her crania as she listened to him, her teeth absent mindedly removing a few twigs and leaves from his coat.

Dont you find it strange that there are no wolves here? It really is quite a lovely spot...Perhaps the game has been driven away...

She pondered this anomaly, her dark auds twitching this way and that way.

Let's go find some others, then, shall we? I would at least like to know what this place is called...

She started to skirt around the edge of the lake, her body easily resuming its traveling lope that was both efficient and fast. She headed towards what appeared to be a large forest, but upon closer inspection she could see sunlight on the far side. Chuffing softly she moved easily across the open ground, her body language relaxed and content.

We are together now...You are safe. That is all that matters dearest Gavril...

Her gentle orbs swept the area in front of her, but she saw nothing moving except for a few territorial spring birds.

What an interesting place this is...surely it cannot ALL be this deserted...

[Kaziph]

G A V R I L

Gavril ignored the fact that she was picking the debris off his coat, and instead he sat there looking off still into the distance over the lake. Now that she had raise the question, it did seem strange that he had not encountered any other wolves since coming to this place. Odder still because he had already been wandering alone the lake's shore for almost a season.

Yes, let's go and find the others. Surely we are not alone. He stood and followed after the fem, his pace slower than her's as he looked around curiously, still trying to gain knowledge of the new terrain around him.

(OOC: Post in another loner land?)

[Amanda]

atyka?