Like the Mountains, We stand tall [Cassiel; Any]

[Tay]

Artist: entaie.deviantart.com/


The silver fem ran at an easy lope. Night had fallen over the Kameskai and the star speckled clear sky lifted her spirits. She ran merely to stretch her legs out and get her blood pumping. A soft smile was painted upon her lips. Her children were old enough to be left alone at the den. She trusted them. Her two little boys. Yellow orbs glittered in the light of the moon as she pulled herself to a stop. She opened her mouth and allowed her pink tongue to hang out. She wasn't panting hard, but this action helped to calm her racing pulse faster. Auds flicked to and fro atop her skull.

All was still--well, as still as nature got. She could hear the minute rustling of tiny creatures working in the grasses. Far away she heard a rabbit's death scream and thought her eyes detected a dark shape rising into the sky with it's prize clutched tightly in it's talons. Crickets chirped and cicadas sang in the annoying way they have. She drew in a deep breath, happy to be alive and to be here. she raised her silver skull to the sky and called out for her mate and any other pack members near by.

Who is awake tonight? Come and join me. Cassiel, my love, come stand by my side. It was late and dark but she knew some of her pack mates would still be awake. She wondered if Cass slept, but doubted it.

[Kaziph]

The days dragged on, and Cass was hard put to remember a summer more brutal toward him. The heat seemed to take his energy away in waves, and as he rested his dreams were of colder climates and younger days. Ah, the freedom of youth. It's said that it's a shame that youth is wasted on the young, when the old - wise - would better know how to use it. Advantages or not, Cassiel was lying half awake, half asleep when his mate called to him.

His eyes opened blearily, blinked a few times, before they managed to focus on the distance mountains. Home. The brute grunted and forced his body into a sitting position, but it wavered for a moment. He sighed and shook his ruff, letting the fur lay back into place before he tried to stand.

The wind that ran gaily along the ridge-tops spoke of the coming autumn, and he smiled pleasantly at that. He loved the cold months. He didn't consider that he might not make it to see them. Something was still wrong with his back… sometimes his hind legs didn't work at all, now, and the only way to disguise it was to simply lay down and pretend to rest.

He seemed to rest a lot, these days.

But Luma's voice beckoned him, and the white wolf rose after sitting for a moment and began to stagger toward her at first. His path straightened out after a moment, and his eyes sparkled with hidden thoughts. Soon, yes. Soon he would tell them all. But not yet. He would, at least, see autumn again.

When he was within sight of the pretty silver fem, younger than himself by a few good seasons and still able to move unhindered, he issued a soft huff. So there you are, sweet silver fur, rousing me from my sleep. He laughed, but it was low in his throat. I am come, my Luma. How are the young ones?

[Tay]

Artist: entaie.deviantart.com/


Luma's smiled grew as her mate came into view. She ignored how painful his walked seemed to be, not wanting to look pitying upon him. She was very proud of her white angel and how strong he was. She wasn't sure that all in the clan knew of his injury for Cassiel hid it as best he could. As his mate, Luma was aware of the injury and she was aware of the pain that he hid in his eyes at some of the movements. She was younger then him by a season or so, it was true. Love knows no age though, for love knows no limits. She found herself wishing more and more that she could give away some of her years to strengthen her mate. She had only just earned the right to be at his side it seemed and already the pain of loosing him loomed before her eyes and in her heart.

Cassiel's soft huff made Luma chuckle slightly. She shook her head at him a little and walked over to him. She rubbed her face into his mane, closing her lids over yellow orbs to take in the calming familiar smell. Here I am, angel. I'm sorry I woke you. Tonight is so beautiful, though. I wanted to share it with you, my love. She smiled softly and her eyes glittered with mirth. You are far too lazy anyway, Cassiel. You sleep the day away. At least enjoy the night with me. She nuzzled him under his chin, showing she was only joking.

At he question she shrugged and sighed. They're doing fine. Gabe and Briar Rose are together all the time. They look out for each other and play. Thick as thieves, I believe the saying goes. Gabe is actually rather talkative when Briar Rose is around. I don't know what she did, but I hope she keeps it up. Jerrico is a little more troublesome. Perhaps because he's not inclined to join the other two, I'm not sure. He decided to jump from the top of the waterfall the other day.

It's not a long drop and no one was swimming but he gave me a scare. She shook her head, eyes amused. He apologized of course and then asked if he could go chase Aisha down for a game. She shrugged and smiled again. They're growing. They're rotten through and through, but I suppose all children should be. She rubbed her mate again, letting her head rest in his mane. I think we did well. She said, pulling back to gaze at the stars.

[Kaziph]

Cassiel chuckled softly at his mate's chiding, but he knew that of the clan she understood him best. Since Epitaph, anyway. He still had lingering thoughts of the ebony she-wolf, but as the days passed that image faded. It would never vanish entirely, but it remained buried at the back of his mind.

He pressed his muzzle against her when he came to him, inhaling her scent and sighing softly at the bittersweet thoughts that she evoked. I'm glad you woke me, then. How many more nights will we share on this side of the Rivers? The brute's ears flickered about upon his head, and his eyes closed briefly.

When she spoke of the cubs, his heart warmed. His last litter. Young Gabriel and Jerrico. The quiet one, Gabe, had at least found companionship in his… niece, was it? Briar Rose. She was a good cub. He still hated that Jaden had vanished, still ached for his precious daughter when he caught her looking for the horrid brute. Basile had not liked him from the first, and Cass would have done better by listening to his son's instincts instead of being quite so ready to give a stranger a chance.

But it was done, that deed, and Aisha had her beautiful Rose to raise alone, now. I am glad that none were hurt, he said softly, referring to Jerrico's daredevil dive. He might have tried something like that himself, in his younger days. I know we did well, Luma. His voice was quiet, but it held a certain amount of finality about it.

[Tay]

Artist: entaie.deviantart.com/


Luma sensed the slight dip in mood, the way all her words seemed like double edged blades no matter how she meant them. She nuzzled her mate, knowing he too wondered how much longer they had together. She knew how talk of their children, talk of any of his children really, brightened his spirits. She smiled in an exasperated way and shook her head. I was happy for that too. He got an earful from me once I'd checked him over and calmed myself down. She laughed a little, quieting herself as Cassiel began to speak again.

She felt a sadness enter her yellow orbs at the tone of his words. She sighed and snuggled her head into his mane again. I didn't expect anything less, Cassiel. You are an amazing father and your children show that. You've turned these mountains into something wonderful. Before you they were next to barren. Your leadership turned them into a family place again. The Kameskia is strong and proud because of you, my mate. You have done so much so well and our litter is not an exception. She smiled, banner sweeping over the ground.

I am so proud to be your mate. Her orbs were aglow with love and pride. Let's not be so melancholy. We should enjoy tonight. She cast him a sly look, eyes twinkling. Grouchy old brute.

[Kaziph]

He hurrumphed. Grouchy old brute, indeed. The white wolf released a growl, lowering his head and flickering his ears about a'top his head. Yet humor sparkled in his dark eyes, and his stance quivered - whether from excitement or weakness, one couldn't be sure. He meant to let them think it was the former. Cassiel half leapt toward his mate, staggered, fell against her, and laughed as he struggled to regain his footing. All in the space of a moment, he was moving away from her. Not darting, certainly no longer that speed… but moving none-the-less with the intention of play written all over him like ink on a parchment.

He broke into a slow trot and crested the ridge nearest them, with his head lifted up and muzzle in the air. His white coat shone in the evening light, the dying sun was gone but the moon was up, and full. The stars sparkled off in the distance, small pinpricks of light. He couldn't make out individual ones anymore, just dull glimmerings that hardly registered. But the moon! The moon he could still see, and appreciate.

See, my love, I am not so grouchy as to not enjoy the gifts of this world. He spoke quietly, but sincerely. Tell me, if you will… what thing would you change, if you could? He glanced back toward her, the hair around his face bushier than ever and sticking up oddly in some places.

[Tay]

Artist: entaie.deviantart.com/


Luma felt her smile widen as he harrumphed at her. Her eyes watched as he lowered himself slightly, growling at her. Her auds focused on him, their twitching momentarily stopped. She knew that he was playing, that he wasn't truly upset or anything of the kind. She just watched in anticipation. She knew her mate, knew her Cassiel, and because of that she knew something was about to happen. She grinned as he leapt toward her, bowing to himself slightly as he came toward her. He staggered into her, laughing, and she used her shoulder to help him catch his footing again. She laughed too, now. Smiling at him lovingly.

He began away from her and she crouched for a moment and watched his direction. It was true that he was not as fast as he used to be. Her white guardian that had once chased her down under the soft fall of snow. She knew that even if he did survive to the winter, and she hoped he did, that mating would be out of the question. She had known, really that the litter she bore him in spring would be his last. She had known, deep in her heart that Cassiel and her would never get to mate again. As she watched his slow decline until now, she had been well aware of it. The reason for the chase is to prove the father is healthy enough to father pups. Cassiel was more then capable of being a father but it was frighteningly unlikely he would survive the up coming winter. She tried not to dwell on thoughts such as this, and she closed her eyes to rid herself of the thoughts.

She could easily out pace her mate, but she hung back. His pride was far more important then the actual game. The fun was chasing him, not catching. She smiled at his words and nodded with a small laugh. Very true, Cassiel. She said as she trot after him. She crested the rise too and watched the glorious moon. She smiled, basking in the pale light. Her words caused her to look to him, her own living moon. She tilted her head in thought and trot to him, picking up her pace so that she could be beside him. She licked at the fur framing his face, trying to groom the odd pieces back into place. She thought as she did so, thinking everything over.

Hmmm. That's a hard question. At first I thought to say that I wished you and could have...found each other sooner. She was slightly ashamed to say these words, for she knew that he had loved Epitaph. She knew too that Epi had been a good mother and leader before she vanished. It was selfish of her, really, to wish for that. As she had considered it though, she had changed her mind. Then, I thought deeper into it and I knew that if we had "been" sooner, Riyo... She paused, shaking her head. His birth and the heartbreak of losing both him and Duskai would not have happened. That lead me to think more, though. Of better things. I realized that had that happened we would not have Aisha or Beryl or Basile. While they are not children from my womb I have always loved them as my own. Even Beryl, who I've probably never said more then a few words to. I was there for her birth, for all their births. I would not like to have not had the chance to know them. So that is not what I wish. She paused, thinking again.

I wish that we had more time together, I suppose. Or that, somehow, I could... She looked at him, her eyes serious and a gentle grin on her muzzle. I could give you some of my time here. So that we could be more even, and we would have more time to be together and less time where...we...are separated. She turned her gaze to the moon, eyes soulful and full of hope for the impossible. That is the only thing I would change. Everything else happened for a reason, I believe. But...I wish...this could be different. Golden drops pooled in her eyes and she looked to the ground to shake them away. She glanced back up and sighed.

I'm sorry, love. I said that we shouldn't be melancholy...but here I am. She nuzzled him gently, smiling crookedly in apology. What would you change, my love?