A little wishing star [Aiyu]

[Gryffin]

The morning was young, the faint sun barely peeping over the horizon. The sky shown cloudless, and pale blue. The snow, now transforming from a fine powder seemed to morph into crystaline gems from the warmer weather. Icicles hung from the lower branches of evergreens and frosty puddles were skattered here and there. Though spring was clearly on it's way, winter would always linger in List by the mountain's breath. Oh how wonderful the intake of breath would be in the mountainous air.

The ice crackled, sending a flock of cawing crows airborn into the morning sky. Their ebon feather's highlighting a radient purple under the suns yawning gaze. Emerald pools blinked, bright and aware. Her paws grazed the land as she climbed a ridge. It was a new find to her, a part of the territory that the pack had usually never ventured, partly because of the dense vegetation that surrounded this area. But to Gryffin's surprise from this ridge she could see beyond the mountain foothills and beyond. She could even make out the snaking river that divided List and Gerad, and the murky waterbeds that distinctly screamed Sarnes. In a way it was a breathtaking sight.

Tassel blowing in the wind behind her she looked out across the vast mountainous space, below near the foothills she searched for the first bleats of the returning migration herds. And everymorning she would search but alas, they had not come yet. Gryffin squinted, the winter had been a long one, and even though List had not suffered as much as the years before, the deer would be an open welcome, for other prey had begun to sink into low numbers.

Gryffin left the ridge, her pace directing her toward the densite. The tri hued Drappa let out a deep sigh as she carried on. Though an idea had come to her head. She had not yet informed anyone of the ridge she had found. Not only that but just beyong the conifers that decorated the peak, lay one in particular, where if you had paid close enough attention you would be able to see the insides of a birds nest. A large songbirds to be exact. Inside it the eggs had just hatched, the chicks rosy pink as they huddled and hassled their parents for food.

Gryffin grinned, she knew the one varg that would enjoy this the most.

Her paws tip toed as she neared the densite. A clutter of burrows and makeshift hollows were scattered around a clearing. Gryffin made a beeline for the den, its opening small and low.

The tri hued femme slipped herself below the entrence roof and squirmed in, the snow licking her fur sides. Gryffin looked about the den, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the changing light. Slowly she moved towards the corner of the den, her eyes lowering down to see a still sleeping form. Gryffin blinked, as she ran her tongue over her muzzle and behind her ears. "Wake up Aiyu, it's morning" Gryffin spoke, a soft tone singing from her maw, a tone the headstrong femme would have never used otherwise.
With a smile she looked down at her little wishing star.

[Aiyu]

Tucked away in her own little corner Aiyu slept soundly amidst the dwindling company of her packmates. Up until recently the tinted sheila had taken to sleeping away from the rest of the pack, mostly to avoid becoming an outlet for any aggressive urges or impulses her packmates might develop towards her. The title of sikla had placed the timid youth solely at the bottom of the Listern hierarchy making her a convenient outlet for everyone else to vent their frustration, a custom her siblings had saw fit to enforce at every given opportunity. However with her siblings gone and List dwindling down to a mere handful of varg such occurrences had become a rarity amongst the remaining members, not that there was really any real contact between them.

In the passing moons List had once again found itself on the verge of fading into obscurity, mostly due to the unexpected dispersal of several prominent members. Amongst the lost was Sora, Aiyu’s elder sister and chief tormentor, the golden fae Renn, and even the recently appointed beta female Silent. No one was quite sure why they had left or what had happened to them and what tidbits of gossip managed to reach the remaining members provided little to no information as to the whereabouts of the missing trio, exactly what had happened to them was anybodies guess.
Not that any of this affected Aiyu, having never been particularly close to anyone outside of her mentor and former Drappa Aiyu hadn’t been overly concern as to the whereabouts of her missing packmates. She had never really gotten to know either Silent or Renn and as such had never developed any sort of attachment to either femme, simply put they were strangers to her whereas Sora had made it her sole purpose in life to torment the young Stargazer. Needless to say Aiyu had little reason to miss any of them, shameful as it might be.

Because of her passive nature and submissive tendencies she was often overlooked, being neither strong nor fleet of foot she was often passed off as pitiful and weak by those that knew her save for a select few. Having never raised a paw toward anyone, even in her defense, it was easy to believe Aiyu as incapable of being anything other then subservient. After all she was too meek and timid to amount to anything, she seemed fit to play the role of sikla.

But for all their assumptions no one was ever aware of the bitter resentment hidden away in her heart, carefully concealed beneath an intricate combination of discipline and sorrow. But then how could they be when they were all so dead set on trying to change her into something she wasn’t? Only Fiory and, to a lesser extent, Drathlic had ever seen to accept her for who she was rather than what she was, no one else had really ever taken Aiyu’s feelings or what she might have wanted into account.

It was one such that had chosen at this moment to disturb her from her revitalizing torpor. Soft tongue caressing her ears and muzzle Aiyu stirred, ivory lids flickering for a moment before settling to reveal a pair of stunning emerald jewels. Perturbed by the disruption of her slumber she gave a slight growl, cursing softly beneath her breath as her ears were greeted by the lyrical tones of her disruptor. Still given the brutal methods Sora had used on her growing up Aiyu supposed she preferred waking up this, all the same she still rather be asleep.
She yawned, gaze rising to greet packmate only to find herself staring up at the smiling visage of her mother. Panic enveloping her she immediately scrambled away from the tri-hued femme, rump colliding with the wall behind her causing her to yelp in surprise and pain. Recovering quickly she lifted her head submissively, exposing her throat to the Listern drappa and crouching down in a submissive posture. “Morning Drappa.”

[Gryffin]

Deep in the heart of the tri hued drappa she still yearned to be the Balkar that her brothers had become. She rememebred how her father wuld tell them all about the balkar. How he weaved a magnificent tapestry of it all. It was her mother that had informed her of the circumstance. 'gryffin femme cannot be of the balkar' Gryffin's heart had sank. It would just be another reason her brothers could take one step ahead of her. Still she had wanted to follow her mother's footsteps, for she could have verywell been granted as the first femme ever allowed upon Balkar terrain freely, and known as a femme with the rights of a night hunter. Never the less. they were both gone now.

She had learnt to accept the path that the gods had chosen for her little aiyu. Gryffin had watched many proceedings of Fiory's startale teachings. Though of course hiding the fact that she had even watched. She had admired the way Fiory had worked with Aiyu and somewhere inside, Gryffn felt a pang of jealousy, and despair of how the two would perhaps never set foot in the same realms as a mother and her daughter would...

Returning to reality Gryffin stepped back as Aiyu awoke from her sleep. She watched as the youngster jolted awake and scuffled over to the corner, though in the most clumsiest of ways. Gryffin smiled lightly, as she winced slightly at the hurt aiyu achieved from the bump. "Morning Aiyu, a little unsteady on the feet are we?" Gryffin chuckled softly.

She advanced, perhaps not in the best of ways as in Aiyu's point of view she must have been vulnerable. Instead of aiming to harm Gryffin cleansed the youngster's backside, as it was showered with the dirt and crumpled leaves that had clung while she had seeemingly bounced off the walls when she awoke. "Come Aiyu, there is something I would like to show you...

[Aiyu]

Addled but fully awake the light furred femme gaze nervously up at the imposing figure standing before her that was her mother. Emerald specks flickering quickly across the cavern she quietly assessed her surroundings, anxiously searching for any opening she might be able to exploit should she need to bypass the tri hue drappa and exit the small enclosure. Gryffin approached, tri-hued drappa looking rather menacing in half light of the den. To her credit, Aiyu managed not to flinch. The chances that she would actually have to plow through the older fae were marginally slim, however in Aiyu’s experience she had learned that it was better for her to tread on the side of caution and prepare for the worst possible outcome then to simply sit back and hope for the best.

Despite having just awaken Aiyu was totally alert, her senses enhanced by the sudden surge of adrenaline rushing through her veins. She could feel her body switching to autopilot, muscles tensing, ready to spring to life at a moment’s notice and carry her to safety. Gryffin’s comforting tones did little to calm Aiyu’s frayed nerves, serving to make her more wary of her drappa’s intentions if anything. Whatever Gryffin’s sudden interest in her Aiyu wasn’t sure though part of her was curious as to how she had managed to catch her mother’s eye, bitterly aware of Gryffin’s blatant disappointment with how Aiyu had turned out and the stiff competition she faced with her siblings whom her parents seem to favor.

Lowering herself further to the ground Aiyu tried to back away from her mother’s somewhat menacing approach, body tensing visibly beneath the gentle contact that collided with her back. Unable to escape Aiyu remain perfectly still as she allow Gryffin to clear away the small collection of debris that had gathered on her glistening ivory pelt. “It’s nothing new.” Aiyu mumbled, looking down at her paws.

She didn’t bother questioning Gryffin’s intentions, abandoning her previous posture immediately upon hearing her mother’s verbal command and snapping to attention at once. Aiyu wondered what the Listern Drappa could possibly want to show her that was so important that she had come to rouse timid sikla from her slumber, whatever it was appeared to have affected her in some strange way which could account for her odd behavior. No doubt Aiyu would find out what Gryffin wanted with her soon, but in the mean time the ivory femora would have to put up with her mother’s secrecy for a while longer.

[Gryffin]

[sorry Aiyu for the late reply, i almost forgot bout this thread lol my bad.

Gryffin gave a grin before backing out of the den slowly. She lifted herself back to her full size and height, giving a shake to rid herself of the clumps of dirt that clung to her fur.

Emerald eyes caught sight of the spring scene, the snow was almost completely gone. The scent of rotting vegetation and wet mud came to her senses, though the mountain air as always stayed fresh and welcoming.

"Follow me Aiyu" she spoke softly as she began to pad through the undergrowth toward the cliff edge she had stumbled upon.

She looked over her shoulder to view Aiyu. She had grown over the winter, even with the little food they could find. She was over half the size Gryffin was now, and it seemed that unlike her other siblings she would stay beautifully sleek and slender. The tri hued drappa admired her youngest daughter's beauty before turning away to continue her walk.

Not too long after did she reach the ridge. Gryffin steadied herself, her back legs propelling herself sshe climbed the slight incline. Once she reached the top she looked out beyond the ridge she could see the horizon, the lake below and the mountains beyond in the distance. It was simply breathtaking. Here it seemed to the varg that stood where Gryffin's paws perched, that they were on top of the world.

Gryffin smiled as she watched small black dots beyond prancing and cantering across the open fields. The herla had returned.

"Aiyu come up here" Gryffin spoke looking over her shoulder to call upon the young star. She had yet to show her the small family of bluebirds that decorated the pines below.

[its gonna be like early spring and ending of winter still]

[Aiyu]

Aiyu followed hesitantly, tucking her tail between her legs submissively. She made sure to remain a few steps behind Gryffin, keeping a safe distance from the Listern Drappa. Emerging from the den she snapped her eyes shut as she was blinded by the sun’s golden rays, blinking her emerald orbs rapidly to accommodate for the sudden brightness. Before her the last remnants of snow could be seen melting beneath the brilliant glow of Fenris mighty rays leaving behind a sea of mud and rotting vegetation in its wake.

At her mother’s bidding Aiyu reluctantly followed her, slipping silently through the snow and undergrowth at Gryffin’s insistence. She spotted the tri hued fae glancing back over her shoulder to stare at her several times, causing her to shift nervously beneath her penetrating stare.

“What?” she asked, lowering her head meekly. Unnerved Aiyu slowed, further widening the gap between them as she did her best to ignore her mother’s sudden scrutiny.

Things continued this way for a while, the pair gradually making their way further up the mountain. Finally they reached at their destination, arriving at a small ridge. Eyes falling upon Gryffin the ivory fae watched as the tri colored drappa took stock of her position, taking a moment to steady herself before launching herself over the steep inclination and settling herself comfortably atop the ridge.

Trailing reluctantly behind Aiyu let out a small whine as she looked up the steep incline before her, ears sagging at the prospect of scaling the ridge. “Great.” she muttered as her mother called, bending down into a low crouch. Hind legs springing forward she propelled herself forward, claws scrabbling against the cool stone as she scale the rock face with a little more trouble then her predecessor.

Upon reaching the top she breathed out a sigh of relief, crawling over to where Gryffin had perched herself to see what was so important.

Staring out beyond the ridge she gasped.

[[tis fine, not a problem.]]