Bad News on My Shoulders ((All Pack))

[orin]

She saw the amber Dragga as he bounded for the boarders of the pack. The fae watched, slightly flustered at the pace in which Dreag ran. Something had happened.
Amaya’s auds raise higher, trying to pick up any sound of danger. Nostrils quivering, what was going on? Her thoughts told her to go after the Alpha but something else prodded her to follow the trial of blood that she could make out imprecisely on the white snow, away from the direction that the proud Alpha ran to with such determination.

Her paws glided without fault as the ebony drappa made her way along in a swift lope. Her purple optics to make out the paw prints in the icy cover, her mind worked in seeing that who ever this was must have been wounded. There were drag marks, places in which this stranger staggered. Amaya’s first notion was the Balkar, her gate quickened. It did not take long for her answer to reveal itself.
Blood. The scent was strong and vivid in her nose. Her could see familiar faces in the trees, all gathered around, something. She soon found that it was a Varg. Wounds cored her broken body that now was splayed on the ground. Arrow shafts pierced her flanks and blood still weaved its way down through her pelt and into the already stained snow. Amaya glanced up Lydair was there. But why was she not aiding this stranger? She scented the air once more, suddenly her calm features changed. Lips curling back and muscles tensing, “List.” She whispered, she had heard of the pack. It was supposedly in alliance with the Balkar. She noticed the discomforted looks on all the faces that surrounded her, some seemed to almost be on the brink of tears. Something had happened.

[Lydair]

White lids slid shut over cyan orbs as the beta femme stood quietly, her gaze on the ground. The horde of Vargs was quiet, and the hybrid herself was dumbfounded from the words that slid from the golden femme’s tongue. ”Man,” The fae had spoke. “Man found us.” From Lydair’s jowls a low growl rumbled as she continued on with her story, and with each passing moment the words became less clear until a sharp gaze was fixated on hers and she lifted a lip, glaring at the she-Varg. “Don’t you dare try to blame this war on us, femme of List. You ally with the Balkar and thus you know nothing but what they have shown you, but they insist on stoking the flames as much as we. They live to betray and torture, and nothing you can think to say will convince me otherwise.” Outrage swayed to confusion and her azure eyes glowered with a blank stare, her ragged breathing harsh as she processed that Kop had been captured by Man- and for what? A pit to fight lera and putnar alike to his death. Memories flashed horrifically through her mind, pasting a grimace across her visage. Her brother Draug had ventured with her after strange tracks the two had stumbled across as young cubs, and they, too, had been captured by the humans, had had a course rope slipped over their necks and cutting threads bind their blunt muzzles. Lydair whined softly, but her trance was broken by an explosion of anger from her amber Dragga. His words sliced through the taunt air, and the femme wrenched around to face him with a loud cry. “What?” Lydair barked, mortified. “Who will lead us into war beside Cwen?” The visitor that had brought such ill-besot news had been forgotten and ignored in the sudden whirls and thoughts of the cobalt hybrid. As Draeg turned to address her, the wolf-dog lowered her head and stepped forward to nuzzle her father-in-law. “Make sure you come back with that son of yours, Draeg.” Lydair said with a wry smile. “My daughter will have your tail if you don’t, and Ge-Rad won’t be the same without you two around.” At his command, she growled softly but nodded. “As you wish…” A smile flickered briefly across her pearly maw as the proud leader turned heel and lunged into a driving run, following the acrid tang of the blood trail that the Listern she-Varg had left. As he slid to a stop on the horizon, a pair of blue-black ears perked as a booming howl resounded throughout the entirety of the packlands. Lydair watched with admiration as her determined Alpha, her eyes glittering fiercely before, with the disappearance of his form completely, she sighed, turning to the approaching Uskiya, weariness evident in her face. Nodding to her silver companion, her voice was wispy and soft as it used to be. “For now, the simplest and greatest help you can be of is to make sure all resident cubs are safe from harm’s way, sister.” As Firefly’s howl whisked lovingly toward her mate and Cal’s closely followed, the beta fae tossed back her proud cranium and let her own howl billow into the wind, entwining with the others until it formed a hopeful note.

There was a lapse in the constant stream of noise and the healer-beta breathed in slowly, steadying herself as she gazed sadly at the Vargs around her before ebony lips parted speak. “Yelae, please come out of there before we have to send someone in after you. And for the rest of us,” her tassel rose proudly, her voice etched with command, “The most important thing to do would be to alert our Drappa and the remainder of the pack that Draeg has left to retrieve his son. It would be priority to spread word of this as quickly and quietly as possible.” Lydair was silent before she rounded on the injured Renn, scrutinizing her. “Well, welcome to Ge-Rad, fae. I am Lydair, beat femme and healer of this pack. Now,” Another huffing sigh, “If word of this somehow leaks to List and then to the Balkar from your own lips, I will personally hunt you down. If you don’t understand it yet, we are in quite a tight spot without the risk of our warrior-in-training’s lover passing word to her Drappa. Draeg obviously trusts you and your leader but I do not either know them nor have I ever set eyes on them. I suppose I should do my job and give you what herbs can heal you quick enough, but it’ll be fair painful and will taste whole-heartedly bitter, and those shafts will have to be pulled from her wounds so that the blood can flow again and I can poultice them without hitting shards of wood.” Quirking a brow the hybrid hesitated before frowning. “And I’ll have a good lot to explain to my daughter too, you know. She’s one of Kop’s biggest fans.” Her smile was bitter as her eyes hardened before softening again. “I’m sorry for the loss you’re going through, but place your trust in Draeg- we’ll get Kop back yet, you’ll see.” She hesitated before stepping forward and licking Renn’s ear, as if to try and bring a small comfort to the younger female. “I’m sorry,” Lydair murmured, before slipping from the group. “I’ll be back soon with herbs; stay as still as you can.”

[Yelæ]

Ears pinned back, the Sikla comes out of her hiding, looking glumly at the others with a pathetic look on her face. The Dragga, leaving...at this dire time of need? But, why? a glum expression was now plastered upon her face. She watches Lydair leave a moment after, her blue green eyes seeming to wander throughout the grim land. It was as though she was looking through different eyes now, and the world was not as enjoyable as one could think it would be.

"Yet another pack I have met..." Yelae murmurs quietly to herself, settling herself down as she looks towards the snow, slouching. "Oh when should with winter end! Death, destruction, chaos..." she hisses through her teeth, eyes looking up to cast a vacant stare at this new she-Varg, Renn. "What will befall us Varg now that this time has come? We shall loose more Varg, and we've made Wolfbane pleased with our childish fighting. One dead shall turn into thousands...shameful. You have sunk low enough for even the Sikla to scorn you. Your blood and his blood shall not be the only ones spilt...oh yes, the war will make sure of that." It ends with a maddening hiss from her jaws before she lowers her gaze to the ground, as if unfaultered by her strange behavior.

"Why can't...there ever be peace..." sighs she as a dove flitted by, seemingly unaware of what was going on. The mere growls of the Vargs below it caused it to stir in its nest, the recalled it was winter and should find someplace warmer. Eyes widening, Yelae suddenly look shameful, rising with her tail hung low and her head bowed. "I'm...sorry."

((...What can I say? B-A-D, BAD! Yelae's going crazy! Don't worry, it's only temporary...o.0))

[Uskiya]

Uskiya nuzzled Cal as he approached her, though there was little comfort in contact now that everything had been stirred wildly. She felt lightened at her mate's greeting, hoping that she would stay feeling that way for a while. As each vargs' head tilted up and let out a howl Uskiya let her own out to follow her Dragga as he left the pack for who knows how long.

"Then that is what I shall do." She nodded to Lydair and turned to leave. As nurse of Ge-rad she had to protect the pups, especially with war close at hand. She looked to Yelae as she appeared and gave the she varg a smile. Se wuickly turned back to Lydair. "Don't exhaust yourself, or you'll need a healer, sister." She gave Lydair a quick nuzzle hoping to give her sister a little reassurance. She knew that Lydair faced alot of hardships as healer and mother.

She walked back to Cal and gave him a lick across his muzzle. "Skep wants to know when you'll be back to play." She gave him a smile before turning to view the pack once more. "Firefly, if you need someone to watch your pups you can always bring them to me."

With one last glance in the direction of where her Dragga had gone she left to check on the pups of Ge-rad.

(((crappy post)))

[Renn]

Insult after accusation flowed from the colbat Hybrid's throat, cursing List, Sarnes and the Balkar, each one another puncture in Renn's already-broken heart. If only this stupid faemme had the faintest idea of the threats used to force List into this War, she would close her trap and get to work with healing. Anger flared up inside the golden faemme's abdomen and she opened her jaws o let Lydair know the true damage her words were doing before she was brushed aside by yet more speech, this time aimed at Draeg. Lydair's daughter, a fan? Suspicion matched the anger in its bright flame as she remembered how she had seen love come after fanship, burning into a slight jealous. That was one of the worst points in Renn, for her jealousy had already damaged her relationships with Drathlic and Silent Hunter. But Renn remained silent, letting the flames die without the oxygen of speaking, preferring to just blot out Lydair's annoying voice.

Yet another insult was tossed at Renn and a threat was straight after. Emerald orbs flashing with anger, the Listern youth flicked her head up to stare around her, at each distrusting pair of orbs. Of course, they were only to believe that, for many of them probably had Mates in Ge-Rad or possibly Deor, an allied Pack. None of them had experienced being in love with a Varg on the enemy side, and naturally, Renn would be judged as scum to these Vargs for being allied to the Balkar. The thought hadnot crossed Renn's mind that these wolves would suspect her of reporting to her Pack, and it stung like a wasp. "I LOVED KOP!" Renn screamed at Lydair, her blood trickling from her wounds. In her shell-schocked mind, it was the price she paid for loving the other side. Taking a deep breath, Renn continued, her voice still hostile. "Dammit, I still do. To your adult minds that would seem strange for ones so young, but our love was deep. If I love Kop that much, why would I betray his beloved Packmates? This may seem like treachery to my Pack, but Draeg has friends within List, good friends, Gryffin and Sudak, the Betas. Besides, your secret will be out sooner or later, mere scents may tell others what you do not wish them to hear." This said, Renn kept still and waited for Lydair to return.

[Yelæ]

The sudden screaming of the young Varg caused the Sikla's ears to turn, and listening she caused herself to become more ashamed with herself. The quiet Yelae looks towards Renn with large, green blue eyes, her orange chest dimly litted due to the lightening of pelt that occurs in the winter.

"What do you mean, loved?" she inquires, emphasizing that it was used in a past tense. "Do you not, still--love him?" Her eyes cast away from Renn, almost in a shameful way, "You fled the scene, didn't you? Perhaps there is still--hope. If there is not, find it, for it is shameful for a Varg to loose something as powerful as that."

Taking a large draft of ice-cold air, she shudders as the bitter cold drenches to her very bone. The snow hung loosely upon her white pelt, and she continues in a quiet whisper of a voice that longed to be heard, "Even if he is--gone, is he truly gone from your memory?" Rising, she warilly aproaches Renn, her legs trembling.

"I am sorry for my sudden outburst, little one...my mind isn't as strong as it used to be. Perhaps it did crack..." she lets out a hoarse laugh before turning her head away. "If Kop is gone, I would not blame you for his death. However, I will not forgive you if you ever forget about him. We each mourn in our own ways, that perhaps, is Lydair's way."

((Bunch of...well, y'know...))

[Lydair]

Silky ears twitched in annoyance as Renn's irking screams split the air; twice the Ge-Rad fae sighed but as the cub continued on -no manners, it seemed, for those around her- Lydair entertained herself by craning her muzzle around and nibbling on the fleas that pestered her thick pelt. The hybrid's ears comically drooped as she grew bored; she sat back, her tail slipping over her lithe hind paws. "Now you sit back, femme," Lydair barked, thoroughly amused, "And no more rants, please. Whether you loved Kop or not was your own business, but it'd be entirely foolish to dare forget we, this entire pack, loved him too." A ghost of a smile flitted past her tapered maw and the healer stood, her plumed tassel raising, but to her surprise Yelae stepped nervously from the clustered bracken. The fae's eyes were dull, even for a sickla, and lydair could tell that winter had been no help in the matter. Peace, peace. It was all the red-breasted sickla wanted, but it was a wish that would never come. "We will have times of peace, Yelae, but the Varg race is not perfect and so we bicker and launch ourselves into frays. This warring period will be over soon." the hybrid beta's lips brushed an eased sigh as she looked longingly to the horizon. She knew every mated fae would be awaiting the return of her mate, but Lydair missed Koan and she whined softly before nuzzling Yelae. "He will return, you'll see." She whispered. "Shako is too strong a Varg to fail at something this simple. He fought with us, with Cal and Amaya and Cwen and Draeg and me, and in the end we forced them from this terra. The untied peace you long for is one that will never be fully achieved, but who's to say we can't command peace for the generations to come?" Stepping back, her sparkling gaze again found Renn. "Do not act so hostile in lands not you're own; it could see you well into trouble one day."



The withered stalks that hung so limply from her jaws cracked with the hoarfrost that smothered them. the flowers of the marigold, once a vivid sienna, had faded to a dry brown before listlessly sinking to the earth. Amid the flower lay another healing herb, or seeds of one, crunchy and black and entirely bitter- poppy, to staunch the pain. Yarrow was needed, but the plant had faded with the decline of fall- like the spreading leaves of the elm that she would have gladly used the place of the spider webs that clung wetly to her front paws, their pink pads kissing the earth as she pranced gracefully, approaching Yelae and Renn. Speaking incoherently through the plants, something that was either a grim smile or a bitter frown graced her visage before she spat the ill-tasting seeds from her burdened jaws and tossing the herbs closer to the golden cub. Eying the arrow shaft that protruded boldly from the jagged wound on the Listern cub she grasped it firmly in her jaws before growling and tugging sharply up and backward, sending herself flying with a surprised yelp and the blood-tipped barb into the air. Her snout wrinkled as she shook the snow from her and sides,and her loud cry was insistent. "Look out!" The arrow landed several yards from the sheepish fae and the collection of wolves as she hurried to Renn's side; her flank again oozed blood and a clear liquid that beaded and rolled down the length of her body. Hobbling on three paws she nosed the webs from first her left paw and then her right and pressed them gingerly on the wound with her slender muzzle, her nostrils flaring. "Eat the seeds- I'm afraid they'll send you straight to sleep, so you'd best stay here a while longer- and the herbs. If you're too hungry we brought down a hind several days ago; there's not much left but considering Draeg's rapid command to tend you I don't think he'll care if we feed you, and Cwen is probably too busy with other pack matters to worry about the fate of our extra meat."

[Renn]

The golden she-wolf upper body convulsed in an awkward rear as the arrow shaft was yanked from her leg. Clenching her strongs jaw, Renn bore the pain as much as she could, squeezing her emeralds shut. The sound of something swooshing alerted the youth to duck down as the shaft went clean over her head, ruffling her the fur between her auds. The shaft went on to pass over the white faemme, apparently called Yelae, and the newest arrival, a large midnight stained faemme, and finally found its resting place a short distance away from the gathered Varg. Renn's nerve-endings were on fire as she literally felt the blood trickle down to the snow beneath, oozing between the punctured skin. One down, Renn mildly pulled together as she chewed on the herbs Lydair had placed before her, "Two more to go. At that, a deep slumber befell the golden youth as she slumped sideways in an artificial sleep.

[Koan]

And without so much as a word for him, he was gone. He felt it in the pit in his stomach ,that void that had formed oh so long ago, that longing hole that cried out for something fufilling. It cried for the nourishment and love that he had recieved from his family, his father, his pack. Now a part of that seemed to be cut off, be absent. Without it, the silver male felt quite unreal. As if he were merely a golem, running on little more then machinary.

He took a step foward, staring at the place at which his father had gone... and another step. He paused, and felt that familar darkness slip out from wherever he had trapped it and engulf him. No kind words for he, upon his leaving. Not even awknowledgement of his exsistance. No, it was off to save his precious blood son he went, off to defend what he loved. Would he do the same for Koan? Did Draeg even care for the silver male now? Did he merely assume that because he was older that he no longer needed a father? Koan tossed those thoughts away, and let the howl cross out from his maw, calling out to the wolf that was already gone. Now, he thought I've lost my other link to my past.

He paused, and watched his mate work. He raised his head a little, and sighed. "Lydair.. I'm going after him." he growled.

[orin]

Amaya’s hackles stirred, eyes widening at the words that touched her ears. Striking a sudden dreadful feeling in the pit of her belly. Dreag, gone? They became a jumble in her head. Gone. But why? She recalled how he had run so determainly towards the boundaries. Her eyes traveled away from the group and to where she had last seen him, in the distance the she-wolf caught the shadow of a running Varg. Then the silhouette vanished over the hill. Gone.
After a moment of staring into the snow laden risings Amaya turned her black snout over to the young stranger. Her pelt was a golden tinted gray and eyes pools of deep evergreen. She could see her pain, but the the fae of ebon did not feel any sympathy for her. The List ran with the Balkar, and the Balkar were her enemies. All of them. A scowl covered her face as she got to her paws once more. Inspecting how Lydair swiftly worked, a memory of long ago came to her. When she was wounded a while back it was the Drappa’s knowledge of healing that saved her. Irritably Amaya shook it from her head. It was time to think of the present. Dreag was gone, this would weaken the Ge-Rad, especially with the war that now was creeping closer and closer as the days dragged by.
She gazed at the hybrid, this would out a lot of wait upon her shoulders now, being the Beta and taking up Dreags absence with Cwen. Stepping forward Amaya looked over the foreign femme.
"Will you be putting cobwebs on the wounds to stop the bleeding? Like you did with me? I can go get some if you want." Not wanting to be completely useless at the moment she spoke up finally. She knew her friend would need all the help she could get now. Standing there, a question suddenly wedged itself into her thoughts. Raising her muzzle Amaya spoke again.
"What will we do with her Lydair?"
Her word were cut off as a Dragga stepped forth. Koa, Lydairs mate. She shifted to the side so the fae may see him better. "Greetings." She whispered. He was Dreags son, what would he think about the sudden parting of the amber Dragga. Her answer came soon.
"I'm going after him." Amaya's auds came up, he was going to leave too?
"If I may be so bold to say, I think you should stay. Lydair will need you." femme looked over her shoulder. "Wont she?"