A New Day

[Kaziph]

Carrick laid still for a long while, listening to the others as they murmured to each other. The grass whispered past him, telling him that winter was coming again, and soon. The trees which arched above the outskirts of the clearing were touched by the wind's words, and in response cried some of their leaves to the earth. The large wolf fell asleep as he listened to the world around him speaking, but he didn't dream of anything significant. The hours passed, and he rested.

When he awoke, it was early in the morning. The sky was dark still and the stars were visible in the far-away black. The wolf lifted his head and gazed at them, wondering what they were and what they meant to lowly forest-dwellers such as himself. He blinked, sighed, and glanced around. Kira had left. He took note of that and ignored the fact. The pack was too... still.

Carrick stood quietly, feeling the chill breeze that signaled autumn was in the air. He shivered and twitched his ears, hoping for an extra thick winter coat in the coming months. He glanced at Larka, and at the others, noting who was sleeping and who was awake, wondering if he could ever heal the rift between himself and his alpha.

[Amanda]

As the others slept in the early morning chill, the stiff pain in Larka's limbs awoke her from fitful slumber. Gazing around her breifly, she noted that Carrick was awake. A soft wave of her plume was given as the faintest of rumbles escaped her chest.

Dearest Carrick, wont you come lay by me and keep me warm? You cant stay mad at me forever. I know I was a fool, but I was young and you were so very strong and kind. How can you still hold this against me after all this time? everyone else has come and gone, yet you still remain.

Her golden orbs pleaded with him to understand before she looked away, leaving the descision to join her entirely up to him.

[Kaziph]

The large wolf's brown eyes turned upon his leader's and regarded her silently. The stillness of the morning was almost a balm to him, to his old wounds both physical and emotional. When I came here, I said I'd stay here. I will. He didn't add, for now. Yet as Carrick stood he didn't move toward Larka, but rather away from her. One day perhaps they'd be able to fix the rift between them, but for now, it was easier for the older wolf to keep his distance.

[Amanda]

Larka did not sigh in exasperation, nor did she plead with him to return. She knew that that would be his choice, although her stubborn heart still wished otherwise.

Stretching and relaxing her limbs Larka bit back a loud yelp of pain. Sleeping on the fairly hard ground had not done her sore legs any favors. Gritting her teeth, she continued to flex her limbs, ensuring good blood flow and limiting the extent of the damage by keeping herself limber.

A soft muzzle was poked into Lorkan's side and he automatically shifted to lie near his mother, unknowingly chasing the morning's damp chill from her fur.

Seeing as she wasnt going to be able to even remotely move around until the others arose, Larka closed her golden orbs and willed the sun to rise so that it might warm her bones.