A New Life

[Mist]

Coming home is always a joy for Deor's new Drappa, and this time it is no different. It is a beautiful spring day - not yet too warm for comfort - and small lera of all kinds are out and about, just out of reach. Songbirds sing cheerfully in the trees above and squirrels jump from branch to branch, occasionally chattering in annoyance, feeling that the vargs are too close. All these things are relatively normal for the silver-grey fae, and there is nothing exceptional about this day - except the company.

When she was temporarily absent from the packlands she came across a young cub, who, coincidentally enough, was looking for her. This cub is Raido - her brother's son. Everything in her hopes he will stay in Deor and decide to let her be his mother. The first words the two exchanged showed Mist how much love and care the red and black furred cub has not had in his short life. Since then he has become much more cub-like, but a life cannot change in a single day, and it is nurture he needs now.

Looking at the cub romping beside her the fae smiles, thinking of all she will show him here. "Raido." She speaks softly, pausing at the very border. "This is Deor. It is my home, and I hope will be yours as well. You are welcome here." She is sure there will be no trouble getting Chalos's permission to get him accepted into the pack if Raido wishes to stay, but a faintly gnawing worry nudges the Drappa. For this time in the spring there should be abundant herds of herla roaming readily through Transylvania, but, apart from small bunches or single strays, they have not yet been seen.

The varg depend on herla as one crucial food-source, especially at this time of year, with new cubs and the hunger of winter still fresh in memories. If there is something to this worry, it will be more than faint. As the new Drappa of her pack, it is not Mist's place to put aside such worries, but to face and try to resolve them. Thoughts of what the consequences could be if every varg in Transylvania goes hungry are not pleasant, but for now, she has another duty. One day of delay will not make a difference, and today she is going to spend time with her nephew, and show him the possibility for a new life. With this thought lifting her spirits she crosses into Deor, heading towards the heart of the packlands.

[-Raido-]

Home. A word that this young wolf, the Traveler knew, but had no meaning associated to it. He had always been wandering; the closest thing he had to a home was a cave one day, a clearing the next. Home was a bizzare concept; a safe place, a place to stay when all else failed, when they had no other options, and it was safe. To him, this land, this pack territory, looks and feels the same as any other.

The beautiful day isn't lost upon the younger varg. The chattering and twittering set a very positive tone to the already positive, brilliant day. He sniffed and snuffled about, like any cub in a new place. He breathed deep of the soft, sweet breeze and felt he could even smell the grass growing with new life.

"Deor, eh? The place that Dias wanted me to come to. " He tucked his ears, fighting off waves of angry pride that he wasn't the Sikla's whelp. The little ball of tense fur stepped across the border, his head swiveling, his moonshine eyes soaking in the scent of the Deor pack.

"Welcome, eh? Truely...I have to wonder." The young male looked down at the dirt, sighing. "Bah."

[Mist]

It is enthralling to Mist to see Raido's reaction to Deor. It seems as if he feels the same thrill she does each time she comes home. He shows his curiosity by smelling everything within reach of his keen puppy nose. Smiling the Drappa thinks of the other cubs she's seen in Deor - but then, they have all been born here. Both her litter and Cagalli's - and now Lucivar's daughter. Everything is new and interesting to them as well, but they work from the inside out, and Raido has come from outside into the pack.

The cub's words make her nod, and then narrow her eyes slightly in a faint frown. She does hope he will see it as his home - and that to everyone he will be welcome. She has, in just the past few days, come to completely view him as her responsibility. If anyone does not welcome him, they will have her to deal with. Her thoughts turn again to him, and to his words, and she realizes the possibility of him being the one who does not... welcome himself. If he does not feel welcome - as his skepticism hints - there is only so much she will be able to do to change that.

Stopping a short way within the border she looks back at him, his eyes on the dirt beneath his paws. Smiling gently she pads over to him and lowers her head gracefully to nuzzle him and bring his eyes up to meet hers. Moonlight seems to meet sunlight as they do so, and she licks his forehead softly. "Perhaps you do not feel as if you should be welcome, Raido? For there are none here who would not welcome you. Truly, if you wish it, Deor can be your home - forever. Tell me... what is wrong, little one?"

[-Raido-]

"Whats wrong? Thats a funny question." The wolf shrugs, a strange motion; perhaps this young cub is more adolescent then pup; and winces a little at her lick. Despite her kindness, he finds it difficult to accept affection; the gestures and motions are so odd to him.

Instead of answering, he sings another song, remembered from his father's muzzle.

"And I want but have not
Bad dreams, lust thoughts
In here with no pain, you hurt me again
And I want but have none
But here I'm no one, a cosmic castaway...

And I want
but have none, I shouldn't be the alien
but here, I'm nothing
a cosmic castaway, yeah..." He sang softly, curious as to why it seemed to fit so well.

Carefully, he shakes his coat, and twitches his ears about as he crosses into the packlands.

[Mist]

Perhaps it is a funny question, but he still does not answer it. Sighing silently and tilting her head Mist does not miss Raido's wince at her motherly lick. It saddens her more than surprises her as she realizes how little affection he must have had in his life. His father is dead and his mother either is as well - or might as well be. As one who shows affection easily, she wishes he felt more comfortable with it and would accept it. The cub starts to sing - an empty song. It is not one she would have wished him to know - and it brings to mind Dias - that he must have sung it for Raido and, intentionally or not, taught it to him.

A castaway... hurt and alone. Shaking her head Mist touches his cheek softly with her nose, and smiles, a sad smile. After a short few moments she begins to sing softly in reply, her voice a warm alto, if heard in a dream it would be like Earth herself singing to her children.

"Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I, I will lift it for you

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I, I'll be there to find you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Everyone needs to be heard
You are loved."

Smiling gently as the last notes fall softly from her maw Mist pads on softly further into Deor with Raido by her side. Every word of the song is true in her heart. She doesn't remember the first time she heard it, but it has always been one of her favorites - one that she sings when either she, or one of her loved ones is struggling.

[-Raido-]

As the fae sang, the younger male listened. Much like the Sikla, she had an impressive voice. He couldn't help it now; his tail wagged a little bit at the words of the song. As the last strains of it began to fade, he yipped a short reply.

"That was beautiful, Lady Mist. You really are his sister; if there's anything I can complement him on, it was his voice. He was an amazing singer, had quite an impressive howl, and he told me..." he frowned at the memory. "That he had made the songs he was teaching..."

(I didn't really make them up, duh. )

[Mist]

Even if Raido didn't feel she was singing to him personally, he seemed to like her song anyway. Smiling gently at the cub Mist nods. "I have always loved to sing. It is just such a... unique way of expressing things." She lowers her eyes for a moment, thinking, and again wondering where Dias went after he left Deor, and what happened to him - why he died and left a son to her care. They had sung together as cubs - both for comfort on dark days as well as in exultation - often in the spring time. Smiling at the memories she nods again. "He did indeed. We sang together when we were growing up. It was always fun to find harmonies and make up songs."

Even though she will never be able to give Raido her memories of his father, he is to the point where he at least does not speak every word about him bitterly. This thought puts a small, faintly sad smile on her lovely face. "You sing well also, Raido. I am glad he passed both his voice and his love of singing to you. Perhaps I can teach you more songs. Ones that you can sing when you are joyous as well as some like those you know already."

(Eh, I'm not sure what else to do... d'you think you can find enough inspiration for a reply?)

[-Raido-]

( i think so....though it would be nice if other people would post.
Feel free to post with me in Struck as well.)

Raido listened, his ears pricking up a little as she spoke of finding harmonies. He nodded, his tail wagging slowly as she praised his singing voice, even if it was just a passing compliment.

"I think I'd like that, Lady Mist."

[Mist]

Smiling at the thought of the two of them singing Mist's golden eyes sparkle. Like father, like son. Raido reminds her of her brother - not in many ways, but a few - quite subtle - like his voice and evident love of singing. "It is a good way to express emotion." She says again, softly, thinking of the future, and the cub's life as he grows into a strong mann. She wonders if it is his future to stay in Deor. If he will be the Traveler in name, but still have a place to call home.

She has always had the urge to wander - to explore and see new things - but most of all just to be free and to be herself. Glancing over at her nephew she asks him of this, knowing he very possibly does not yet have an answer. "Raido, do you think you'll be staying in Deor? I know it is early to be asking, but I want you to know that, truly, it can be your home if you so wish. And if it is in your blood to wander, you can do so, but still have a place to return to when you want it." It is, in a way, strange to be speaking to him like this. At this point in their lives she would not ask one of her cubs what they were thinking of doing with the rest of their lives, but they have never had the independence and the duty to take care of themselves he has.

[-Raido-]

"I'm not sure." It was the most straightforward answer that the young male had given this female in the entire time she had known him. "I would like to have a home...I know I haven't ever had one before....but to be honest, theres something missing for me. ...It feels like I've found parts of it...just recently...but theres this spot...I just can't figure out what it is that I want. "

Ears pinning back, he grumbles. "Hopefully you can understand, milady."

[Mist]

Nodding at Raido's answer Mist is not surprised. This is the answer she had been expecting. The fact that the cub is called the Traveler and has been doing that for most of his life hinted this uncertainty to her when she first met him. "I do understand, Raido. I hope that you will find what it is you are... missing, and know that you will always have a home here if you wish it." Smiling encouragingly to show the already strong faith she has in him the grey Drappa lowers her head to nuzzle the mann cub gently.

"For now, since the future is uncertain, let us look to the present. Deor can be your home for as long as you like - which of course includes now - and you do not have to decide the rest of your life yet." Even now in her position she does not know what she will do for the rest of her life, she does not expect one so much younger to. "Come, I'll show you my favorite places in Deor. There are quite a few things to see. One thing I must say about it is how beautiful Deor's forest is. Would you like to see?"

((bleh, sorry))

[-Raido-]

The male's mind is troubled, but that passes quickly as she mentions beauty. As a traveler, it is his goal to see as much as he can, whenever he's given a chance.

"Certainly; even if this is only my home for a time, I should see it."

(LAAAME. D:)

[Mist]

Smiling at Raido's answer - for two reasons - Mist nods. The fact that he appreciates beauty, and she can see this in his eyes at the mention; as well as that he has decided to stay at least for a while. That he will call Deor home for a time, even if it is not permanently, fills her heart with satisfaction. He will have something of the kind of cubhood he should have always had, and will surely learn a great many things from his time in a real family.

"Alright. First I'll just tell you a bit about my life in Deor, shall I? And as we walk I can point out things as we pass them." It is her hope that he will understand her more and her past, as well as Dias's. "Well... to start at the beginning, I was adopted by Aztec and Graht, who were Deor's original Drappa and Dragga, and at the same time they adopted two manns - Dias, and Falter." Though this narration has the possibility to be seen as tedious to the cub, she hopes he will not see it as such and will at least find some of it interesting. "We grew up, played together, drove Mother crazy..." She laughs softly at this thought before continuing. "And then... things changed..."

Pausing for a moment, she frowns slightly. "I cannot remember for sure if Graht or Falter left first, but... both were hard for us... and then Aztec eventually did as well, and... we drifted apart. That was went I left for a year, and Dias... never came back." Looking down at the cub by her side she smiles, but a smile that is slightly marred by the sadness in her eyes. "That is a very short version, but it will give you some idea perhaps of how things were. It saddens me even now. You would think that with a family of my own I would just be able to remember the happy times, but I still miss them..."

((Eh, I know this is sorta a random/unhelpful post, but I was thinking it might help give you things to expand on. *shrug*))