The Aftermath...(For Everyone)

[Orion]

A christmas card of a scene now bore over the listern territories, white snowy peaks reaching to the sky as the powder continued to fall all around. Pines and sicamores alike stood half covered in the white down, standing tall and proud in winter's softly bitter grasp. Winter had come to List, in the form of a late snow fall, it's chilling winds gliding effortlessly through the branches and hollows of the land. A lone figure contrasted the new snow to an extent of pure opposite, his massive frame nestled in silence beside what appeared to be a rundown and near ancient den site. His paws lay neatly underneath his thick coat of ebony, the snowfall softly sticking to the outer hairs, desperately trying to cover up the anomaly in their beautiful white world. His ears remained back, flat against his head as he stared off into the distance, at the rest of List, his mind dwelling on the past in his day dreams.

He knew this place, it was where he was born. For a moment, it even seemed to smell like his mother and his sisters, an old and dead smell that brightened up like the lighting of a candle. It was on a day, must like today, when the weather had been it's coldest that he, Denisha and Shatila had been born, his mother and father having bred early into the season and resulting in an early winterly birth. Closing those golden eyes, Orion reminisced upon the faint memories he had longed so dearly to erase. He could almost remember the smell of the dried autumn leaves that padded his first crib, the sweet smell of his mother's milk dried upon his sister's noses, and the kind warm touch of Fiory's tongue as she bathed him and his siblings. As Orion continued to reminisce upon his puppyhood, a thought struck him, as to how he had never met his father. A small conversation echoed in the back of his head, of his mother's soft words, some of the more final ones she spoke to him.

"My darling Orion, why do you look so sad?"
"Because...I have no father, because mine is dead."
"But, that does not mean you should mourn for him. Your father is in a place of joy and peace. You should be happy for him."
"Well I'm not! Why can't he be here with me? Why'd he have to go away!"
"Orion...death, is a natural part of life my son, and though we may miss those who have gone to the Red Meadow, we should not mourn for them, because they've never truly left us..."
"What do you mean mother? I don't understand.."
"As long as you think of your father in your heart, he will never truly be gone...he'll always be with you."
"...You'll never leave me...will you mother? Please promise you won't leave me."
"I will stay with you until my time comes to an end, and then I will always dwell in your heart Orion. As long as you don't forget me, I will never leave you."
"Promise?"
"I promise..."

The conversation had flooded back to Orion like a broken damn in spring, and a small grin came to his muzzle of ebony. His ears, which as he had gotten older began to tinge with gold around the edges, slowly flicked forward, his anger subsiding and a sigh escaping his nostrils in a brilliant cloud. His mother had been right, he knew she would always be in his heart, whenever he needed her. Though he was still bitter about not being able to say his goodbyes, he knew now that she was watching over him like a guardian angel, and a goodbye was not needed.

As the thought of an angel came to mind, an image of the quiet fae Aiyu popped into his head. His thoughts dwelled on her for a moment, perplexed at the sudden urge to think of her. What was it about this fae that intreged him so? Orion hardly knew. Perhaps a part of him knew, but it remained silent to the rest of him, intent on keeping it's little secret. Giving a small shake of his head, sending flurries of snowflakes off of his pelt, Orion stood, looking back at his birth den one last time, before his hues of gold turned toward the sky, his tail high in the breeze. It was a fairly bright day today, and though the lera were scarce, he decided it was best to rejoin his pack, a prince his mother would have been proud of...

((blah..so blah...but yeah, this is open for anyone, if anyone would like to jump on in I guess. Enjoy! ))

[Ayame]

The frigid breeze ruffled the downy ebon pelt as Ayame aimlessly wandered the Listern lands. It was a bright beautiful day in the snow capped peaks, snow and ice covered the rocky terrain, Fenris’ rays shown down on her ebon pelt melting the few snowflakes that had fallen from the tall pine trees. A pleasant sigh escaped her maw; she hadn’t been so relaxed in a long time. With the passing of List’s eldest Stargazer things had seemed to settle among the pack members. Even the snowy Dragga had approached the tri-hued Drappa in a loving manner that day. Maybe it was Fiory’s last gift to the pack, to bring them all back together. That day not only brought everyone together, including the ruddy beta mann that had been MIA for some time, but also an ebon mann claiming to be the lost star gazer, Fiory’s son. Ayame wondered why he had waited till then to return, why he waited until it was too late. She smiled and shook her head, of course just because he missed the passing of his mother, she would always be with him, just like Fiory would always be with everyone she had every touched.

Ayame was drawing close to the dens when a gust of wind brought with it a somewhat familiar scent, one that she had only just met. She smiled once again, now was as good as a time as any to at least formally introduce herself to Fiory’s returning son, it is what Fiory would want. Picking up her pace a little she trotted in the direction Orion’s scent was coming from. She began to think of how she could possibly introduce herself. She herself was technically the newest member of List, she still had much to learn, but she was beginning to fit in. Maybe Orion would just like someone to talk to, and if not at least she tried.

Rounding a slight curve on her path to Fiory’s black star, she about ran into the black star himself. She immediately backed tracked in her steps, and bowed her head slightly to say hello. “I am sorry for just about running into you. I smelt your scent and thought I would come and say hello. I hope that I am not disturbing you.” Ayame sat back on her haunches and began grooming her pelt, her auds perked for any words that may flow from Orion’s maw. Her tail wagged peacefully behind her, she felt no threat, these were her pack lands, and he was just recently returning to List. “So Orion, tell me what has brought you back home after such a long absence?”

[Orion]

The snow had slowly begun to slow to a mere crawl, the wind slowing to match pace with the almost non-existant snowfall that now fell upon List. A sigh issued from the black mann's muzzle in a cloud of silver cloud, erupting from his nostrils and rising into nothingness before his golden hues.

Crunch crunch crunch

His auds perked in silence and before he knew it, there was a smaller ebony shadow beside him, humbly sitting before him as if she had been in some kind of hurry and nearly knocked into him. He let her speak, listening in silence with his ears foreward, those golden hues looking her over piece by piece. She was a bit smaller then him, ebony as he was with what appeared to be crimson colored hues. His gaze faltered for a moment upon her eyes before he blinked and blew air out of his nostrils in a flurry of smoke, as if to get a fuzz ball out of his nose.

"Your not disturbing me...I think I'd rather enjoy the company actually..." His voice was a gentle baritone, rich in color almost regal. His voice reminded him of what his mother used to say about his father Bristol. As Fiory had described him, Bristol had been a strong and gentle varg, regal in his tones, emanating the essence of a Dragga as one should be. He was courageous and kind, strength and nobility as well as love and devotion seeping from the very hairs upon his pelt. Though Orion had never met the mysterious male varg that was his father, he instinctively acted like his father's double, walking very closely to what the old Bristol would have himself. Upon hearing the fae's quiet question, his ears gave a gentle flick of interest.

"Well...I left this pack so that I could prove to my mother that I could be strong like my late sire. You see, my father died before I knew him, and I was determined to become strong and brave as he was...So...I attempted to join the Balkarian ranks." His voice trailed off for a moment, thinking back on his short time in the Balkar. It was true, he hadn't been there long, and to his heart and his heart alone, he was glad for it. The Balkar vargs were evil in the most dastardly ways. They were cruel and devilish, violent and in Orion's eyes, neurotic. He decided early on not to be apart of their insane crew, and ventured on to be a kerl instead.

"Well, I found I didn't fit in with the Balkar, so I wandered alone for many moons, searching for a way to become stronger...as my mother should be proud of...Two moons ago, I felt it in my heart that I should return to List, that my time alone was enough and I had become the strong and noble varg my mother could be proud of...Of course, you know already that I was too late to be here to show her myself, but...I believe she witnessed it herself anyway, from the seat of her beloved stars." His voice held that princely tone, except in that last small part. He almost sounded bitter that his mother loved stargazing as much as she did. He knew the past of his mother, for she had told him and his sisters several stories of her her origin pack lands, and the stories that came from that coastal area, though at the same time, he was bitter still that his mother's stars had finally engulfed her body and spirit. Perhaps he was bitter because he had not received the training that Aiyu had been bestowed, and perhaps felt it was his birth rite to receive such an honor? Perhaps he found it as blasphemy that this other fae, who had no blood relation to his mother or father, or his heritage in general, had been given a gift that perhaps should have been passed on between his sisters and himself instead? Whatever the reason, the few words came from his mouth in a slight bitter tone, but as soon as they had come, they had left again. Although he felt that tinge of jealousy, he also was incredibly intrigued by the new Stargazer of List. Something about her interested him in a way no other she-varg had, and his curiosity thirsted to be shown why.

"Since you know my name, I shall have to ask for yours...So, you are?" He had never met the ebon fae before as it was, and since she was here, and she seemed to be keen on conversation, not like he minded of course, it was only polite to ask for her name so he knew what to call her. His tail gave a slight flick, and his ebony coat softly gleamed in the sunlight. Ah, that's where Fiory's genes would kick in; in the light of the sun, the soft golden hairs about his ears gently sparkled, a near invisible marker of this same gold falling down his spine in a neat line from his withers down to the tip of his tail. In the darkness, he was as dark as night itself, but as soon as some form of light hit his coat, the gentle golden gleam, a trait passed down from his mother and her trademark golden ears, brightly shone to the world.

[Ayame]

The ebon fae sat there waiting for the ebon mann to speak, it was unusual for her to be so calm and relaxed around someone she hardly knew, but she had no fear or worry about Orion. Maybe it was because she knew Fiory, and if he was the son of the late stargazer Ayame had nothing to worry about. She shrugged it off as it was nothing and listened to his deep voice penetrating her large auds. She smiled at the ebon mann, “I am glad that I ran into you then.” She chuckled slightly and her tail began to sway back and forth a little faster causing the snow to pile up on either side where her tail came to a stop.

Listening to the black star Ayame could tell that he had been through so much in his life. To lose a father at such a young age, to try to be as brave and strong like a mann he never knew, to find out that he wasn’t meant to be part of the most feared pack in all Transylvania, and worst of all to better himself for his mother and return just a few moments too late. A sight escaped her maw; sending a white cloud around her muzzle from the frigid air. She bowed her head to the ebon mann in front of her, “Orion, I never got a chance to talk to you after the passing of your mother, our Stargazer, I am sorry for your loss and that she was not able to see you before she passed. I know she would be proud of the mann you have become, if that helps at all.” She smiled again at Orion, trying to lighten the spirit of the conversation a little, “Well let me say, welcome back to List. I am glad you have returned, List could use a strong mann like yourself around.” She said winking at him.

“Oh!” she yelped, she couldn’t believe she had forgotten to introduce herself, “I apologize, it hadn’t even crossed my mind, my name is Ayame. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She giggled once more. “I suppose since I know a little about your past, that it would be polite to give you a brief history on myself.” Ayame had no intention on discussing such things when she decided to visit, but she figured it would be something to continue the conversation and get to know the lost stargazer. “Sudak found me when I was about six moons old; he taught me everything I know. He shared the history of List with me, talked about his family often and kindly. When he taught me all he could, he left but he also told me if I needed him, to come to List for he would be waiting.” Ayame’s fiery hues began to sparkle and she looked down at the ground shaking her head back and forth, she had come so far. “I decided that in order to repay Sudak for his kindness I would join List and forever be loyal to him and his family…joining was not easy, our lovely Drappa did not take kindly to me and still does not, but I was accepted nonetheless and put on watch. So far so good, I’m still her, and have remained loyal to List.” Finishing her story she rose to her paws and shook off the few snowflakes that had fluttered and attached themselves to her downy pelt, “I hope my story did not bore you, it’s not nearly as entertaining as yours.”

Ayame looked at the ebon mann, he reminded her so much of the late stargazer that at times it made her miss Fiory. She looked up to the sky, “I know you’re up their Fiory, looking down on us and watching over us, but I still miss you.” She thought to herself. Bringing her attention back to the ebon mann, her fiery hues looking into his golden orbs, “Orion, have you had the pleasure of meeting any of the rest of the pack? I’m not sure who you knew before you left. Maybe we shall see more pack mates today, it’s a gorgeous day and everyone should be out and about.” Her thick ebon tail flicked back and forth in contentment. She took in a deep breath and thought, “Yes, soon others will join us, I just know it….”

[Orion]

(Oh my goodness, I'm soooo sorry this is late...x.x''' life stinks sometimes...yay for being INSANELY BUSY! X.X" *dies a little inside*)

His ebony hued auds remained still in the light of the day, his shimmering golden flecked coat billowing in light breezes that passed between the two vargs. Through most of what the she-varg had said, he had remained in silence. It almost appeared that he was hardly listening to what she was saying. A few words caught his attention momentarily, before those eyes of purest gold melded back into their own little world. The cry of a raven in the distance brought his attention back to her once more, his head turning to meet her gaze at last in quite a while.

In comparison with her, Orion was a large brute, muscular and well built even sitting there in the snow. He had obviously retained a lot of his mass from his father's liniage. Yet that inquisitive curiousity that sparkled within the depths of those molten pools clearly was a trait passed on from his mother. His thoughts dwelled up on her a time, thinking of how much pain she must have been in, to live for so long before passing. He only hoped that she had lived a good life, and that he had not ruined any part of it.

"Well, I know Uncle Sudak and Aunt Gryffin...As far as the rest, other then yourself, they seem more foreign to me. My mother's pack has changed a great deal since I've left and I have yet to meet every new face and scent that has now called List it's home." His voice was quiet, and a half hearted smile rose upon those lips. He had been out of touch. So many had joined now it seemed, and all but few had seemed so foreign to him, unknown to the ebon mann. A thought struck him, almost as if the snow from the trees nearby had dropped their icy marshmallows upon his exposed backside. That face had appeared once more in his mind's eye of that young fae who had said not a word to him upon first meeting him at his mother's passing. What was her name, this elegant fae that had enraptured his mind and clouded his heart?

"Perhaps Ayame...Tell me, what is the name of our newest Stargazer? Now that my mother has since retired..."

(Ugh, you deserve so much better for waiting so long...x.x''' I'm so sorry it suxors so much...x.x''''')

[Ayame]

//No worries Orion. And to everyone else, get your butts in gear and welcome the black star back to List //

Her rambling had done what she hoped it had not, she was attempting to be polite but in turn had only bored the ebon mann. A sigh escaped her maw and she shook her head, “ I do apologize, it seems that I gave you more information than you wished. I will try to keep to myself more, unless there is something that you wish to know.” Ayame looked down at her ebon paws, and began to paw at the snow as a way to pass time. It seemed like an eternity had passed since someone last spoke, and she yearned for something to break the awkward silence. Maybe Orion didn’t want company after all; maybe once again, she had irritated another pack member and worn out her welcome. It wouldn’t be the first, at times she didn’t even feel like a member of the pack, but more like a roaming kerl that was allowed shelter in these mountainous lands. She folded her ears and the swaying of her tail behind he came to a halt, it seemed like no one would accept her as a member except for her ivory mentor, and Dragga of the pack.

Luckily for the large ebon fae, not too much more time was allotted for her to sulk, the ebon manns voice once again flowed to her now perked auds and her fiery hues once again laid upon the late stargazer’s son. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I myself have not yet been formally introduced to all the members. I’ve seen some in passing, but they have no clue who I am or what I am doing here. At least you have a reason to be here, at least you know this is your family, and that is something to be grateful for.” She smiled at the ebon brute, hoping maybe his mood would lighten a little bit and maybe relax around her, hopefully welcome the company.

Ayame looked to the sky, she missed Fiory, and was still always asking for advice. She didn’t know what to do with Orion, or how to treat him. She was attempting to be friendly, but he just seemed to put up with her company. Just then snowflakes began to fall, just as they had done with the stargazer’s passing. She smiled as she remember what Fiory had told Aiyu that night, something about a dark star, looking back at Orion, she couldn’t help but believe that he was that black star that she was referring to that night. With a new determination she looked at the ebon mann and smiled, she wouldn’t give up on him that easy, if nothing else she would try her hardest for Fiory, she deserved that much.

Finally the silence was broken once more, as he brought questions about List’s new stargazer. Ayame smiled, “Ah yes, Fiory’s shining star, or one of her shining stars I should say. The snowy fae you speak goes by the name of Aiyu. She is one of Gryffin and Sudak’s daughters, the sikla of the three if you will. Though I believe she has a heart of gold, your mother saw something in Aiyu that no one else saw, there is something special about that fae, but my guess is time will tell. Actually I’ve never been formally introduced to her, all I know about her, is what I’ve heard. Sudak spoke of his family often when I was a cub, and seeing how Fiory loved her so, it’s like I already know her. Maybe one day soon we will both meet her.” Ayame wondered why of all people Orion asked about Aiyu, was there something there, or was it just because she took his mother’s place as stargazer of List. The ebon fae shrugged it off like it was nothing, “Come, lets go deeper into the lands of List, maybe there we will find who you are looking for, or at least some other pack members, they must be around somewhere.” The ebon fae rose to her paws, her tail swaying slightly from side to side in contentment and took a few steps forward before looking back and nodding to the black star to join her.