Children in the Garden

[Grell]

It was late afternoon and a sleek gray creature trotted fluidly over the moody landscape; his yellow eyes darted curiously over the many shapes and colors of a blooming spring. He was a wolf - a young, proud creature nearing his prime - although one wouldn't think it to look at him. His luscious winter fur was shedding in light of the changing seasons, and his gray pelt was falling away in clumps. In places where his winter coat had almost shed entirely, he appeared thin and malnourished. But, in truth, the wolf was glad to be rid of his heavy coat. Although it served him well all winter, he didn't fare well with such a bulky pelt in the springtime weather.

But while it snagged occasionally on bushes and branches, he paid little heed to his shedding fur. Instead, the wolf was conscious of other things: the prevailing scent of moisture in the air, the smell of budding flowers, and the stench of stagnant pools. His senses were engaged by the tittering of birds, the bubbling of a stream, the rustle of a mouse through the long, dewy grass. But, mostly, the wolf was thoughtful, and although his instincts were employed, his mind was focused elsewhere.

Grell - for that was the wolf's name - had given up finding the large packs of Transylvanian wolves who'd once roamed this wild and bewitching country. His last encounter with another soul had been moons ago, when the snow still blanketed the landscape. Nevertheless, he was a naturally inquisitive and thoughtful creature, and he found himself mulling over the mysterious disappearance of the Varg for amusement.

'What if it was a plague? What if a witch came down and cursed the Free Wolves?' He wondered. 'Then why am I still here? Did she overlook me?' It would be one scenario in which Grell would be grateful being overlooked. 'Or what if there was a great apocalypse, and all worthy Varg were led into the Red Meadow… to… escape the coming of Wolfbane?' He gulped. 'Or what if the humans have come with their hounds and killed every wolf they could find?' He was either overlooked by a witch, overlooked by the gods, or overlooked by human hunters. Grell shook his head, amused, but unbelieving. It would be his luck to be the first one to be killed by plague or humans, and he'd yet to see any signs of a resurrection of the notorious wolf demon. So while amusing, his thoughts resolved nothing, and were nothing more than a way to pass the time...

[Chevak]

it is alive! *said in my best bill murray impression* ugh, sorry for the suckiness..

The afternoon, temperatures slowly dipping and another day fading into the past. A clever time, very thoughtful. He just didn't have a thought in his head. Chevak was inching his way painstakingly slow through the meadow, his small head inclined downward and slightly behind him just staring at the ground as he passed it ever so slowly. He was listening. Listening to the world, to the breath of wind, to the gurgle of a stream so far away. Instead of muddying the clear afternoon with thought he simply listened and felt. Concentrating on the sinking of the earth as he placed his paws slowly down, on the itch of field grass tickling his belly, the breeze fluttering about his nose.

A curious sight he may have been, stalking quietly through the not so high grass with his head never leaving a certain degree. Vulnerable yes, but what roamed these parts anymore? Vargs had become increasingly scarce. It might have worried him except he chose to think nothing of it - this was life now and he was mindlessly determined to continue his study. Perhaps if he had been paying more attention he might have noticed that the Varg had not entirely disappeared. As luck might have it another occupied the very same meadow Chevak found himself in.

Yet the tawny pup eventually did notice. The air was not unsullied from the passage of the other Varg. While he did not slow his inching gait he did raise his head. He scanned the meadow with something akin to interest. His expectations were low - it might always be old. Yet there was another Varg creeping through the meadow. A very small grin found itself onto his muzzle. Chevak slowly began making his way toward the stranger.

He was a sizable distance away. Not so far as to be difficult to notice. "H-hey, you there. Where'd you come from? Don't you know no one is here?" Chevak shouted, his voice hopefully closing the gap and reaching the stranger. He shifted and stiffened, angling himself away from the stranger but keeping his golden gaze on him. The pup had no doubt this older Varg would be able to close whatever distance between them quickly, but Chevak was determined to make a quick getaway if the need arose.

[Grell]

(lol - whatever, you don't suck - like your avatar btw)

A youthful voice sliced through his daydreaming, grounding him back in the present. The Kerl whipped his head around and cocked his ears forward. His nose twitched, and his eyes scurried across the weed-bitten meadow. There! A shape. A russet, familiarly wolf-like shape stood cautiously amid the tall brown and green grasses, calling out to him in cautious curiosity.

Grell relaxed perceptibly, grateful that he was not approached by one of Wolfbane's scavengers. He turned to face the tawny cub with his tail wagging slowly and his head keeled inquisitively to one side. Of all the unexpected Varg he could have met this day, none was more unexpected than a lone wolf pup.

"Don't you know no one is here?"

He chuckled. "Then what are you doing here?" Grell called back as he padded lightly toward the youth. When he was relatively close he stopped. He didn't want to frighten away the youngster. "Me? I am only passing through; but I live about a day's trek from here… Do you live somewhere nearby?"

[Chevak]

(;

Chevak grew stiff as the other Varg noticed him. Here it was, what would happen? The other wolf padded towards him. There was no display of anger, or rage, or intent to harm. He didn't allow himself to relax. His gray and red flecked little body shivered quietly. Everything seemed to get discernibly sharper. He dug his paws into the dry earth beneath him, the dirt welcoming his small claws and puppy paws into their own little grave.

The other wolf was close now. Close enough where Chevak could close the gap with just a few long leaps. He was content he had little to worry about. Up close the stranger looked little more than a ruffian - fur falling from his coat, wagging tail and pleasant expression. Yes, Chevak was nearly sure he could show the stranger a thing or two if any thing went poorly. This was, in reality, probably not the case.

"Anyone worth meeting is gone...Well, that's not true. But no, haven't you noticed?" Chevak stated, only partially concerned with the way his words sounded. It was true, the packs seemed to have disappeared, Vargs were apparently more skittish. It was as if no one lived here anymore, like they really were taken to their resting place. But that was impossible, Chevak mused. Not all the Vargs in Transylvania could all go to the Red Meadow or anywhere else at the same time. Eventually they would but not immediately. He just wasn't looking hard enough.

His focus returned to the other wandering pup. "You live around here?" He queried. Finally meeting another wolf his curiosity had peeked and now he was interested in knowing as much about him as possible. Why wasn't he skittish? Why wasn't he gone? "Where's your Dragga and Drappa? Or haven't you got one?" Chevak allowed himself the luxury of sampling the stranger's scent. "I don't got them either though, so it's okay if you don't. I live here, but I also live in the mountains and in the woods. I don't live anywhere 'cause I don't need to live anywhere. I can take good care'a myself too..." He paused, a little unsure of how to proceed.

[Grell]

(why you keep cycling through new avatars?! you are making me confused! lol)

Grell noticed the cub's momentary tension, but dismissed it almost immediately. Instead, he nodded agreeably, and took no offense of the pup's words. Grell hardly considered himself important - certainly not in comparison to great warriors and their families who once roamed these lands. "Mm-hm," he grunted. It was hard not to notice how empty the woods and meadows had been of late.

"Yes," Grell answered. "I live near a waterfall to the northwest." As if the pup cared much; but Grell was proud of his home nonetheless. It was a comfortable and convenient sort of place.

"You're full of questions, aren't you?" He asked with a laughing tone. "I don't have a Dragga or a Drappa. I'm just a simple Kerl," he said as the cub took in his scent. Grell took the opportunity to inch closer to the youngster. While the cub seemed a little nervous and intimidated by him, Grell was really quite at ease with the youth. It was adults with sharp teeth and dubious intentions that frightened him.

While the pup explained himself, Grell chuckled under his breath. The youngster seemed like a rough-and-tumble wolf with the makings of a true warrior. Certainly unlike Grell when he was this cub's age. "Somehow I believe you," Grell replied quickly, almost respectively, but with a smile as well. "Although, it is a bit strange to find a cub your age alone in the world," he remarked, hinting that there must be a story to the cub's current circumstances. Although he wouldn't admit it consciously, the Kerl was worried that the cub was allowed to wander off on his own so far from home.

Instead, he thought: 'I wonder if the disappearance of his parents can shed some light on the disappearance of the other Free Wolves?'

[Chevak]

> hehe, they're all the same wolf, i just couldn't find one that really stuck, then i got tired of making them 0.o
*is edited =D

---

Good displays often masked sinful motives. At least so it had been taught to the young gray wolf. Yet one might argue that he had not met any other Vargs to prove his little theory. He pricked his ears, swiveling them a bit. There certainly wouldn't be an ambush catching him by surprise. All was still though, and not another Varg's scent was on the breeze.

Chevak relaxed a small bit, still angled slightly away. His light muddy eyes studied the other with ill-concealed interest. "Kerl? You don't got a pack...[/i] This puzzled him. It wasn't that Kerls were rare, but a single wolf had the possibility of leading him to others. Not that he really needed others, but it might have been nice to see more. But that possibility was ferreted away, his hope spoiled as the older Varg spoke. His disappointment was obvious.

Somehow I believe you. Although, it is a bit strange to find a cub your age alone in the world.

"Are you suggesting I might've been lying? You oughtn't suggest those things, one of these days someone might not like it." He did his best scowl, his eyes bearing into this Varg. "But you're okay." His expression fell immediately back to one of cool curiosity. "Yeah, I might be alone but it's a good thing too. You ever had a sister? They're not worth no one's time..." Chevak thought back to his little sister, a small drappa with an appearance similar to his own. He couldn't say they were closer than normal, but he didn't hate her. It was a brother's duty to feign disinterest.

"Mother isn't here anymore." Chevak paused, looking hard at the Varg opposite him. "You ever met a bear? Dumb things too, a bit better than sisters though...b-but they're dumb. And if us Vargs are disappearing then they gotta be to. So don't worry." He exhaled heavily, dropping his guard and forgetting that he was, in fact, mortal. He slid his bottom onto the cool earth and glanced around the yellow meadow. "Where'd everyone go? Cause if you try living all by yourself all the time you go crazy, that's what they said."

[Grell]

(well, i like them all :D if you ever want me to make you something, i can help jsyk)

The cub looked disappointed when Grell mentioned he was a Kerl. He could understand why. Kerls were, in general, a strangely feared lot. While they rarely posed any threat at all, it was their lonely lifestyle that seemed horrific. Grell shrugged to himself. He liked living alone: there was no one around to pick on him, and there wasn't as much competition for food. But he admitted, too, that he did enjoy good company, and the strange disappearance of the Varg was hard.

The pup's sudden, paranoid outburst caught Grell completely off guard, and all his distressing thoughts dissipated in a second. "Ly - lying?" Grell stuttered out. "I didn't mean it like that…" he said as the pup became cool and aloof once more.

Grell cocked a brow at the youngster then, but remained quiet as the cub spoke about his sister and mother. He mentioned a bear, and Grell suddenly thought he understood why the pup was alone and standoffish. Of course, Grell really had no idea how to act with such a sensitive topic, so he stared dumbly out over the meadow until the cub sat back on his haunches and changed topics.

"I'm not sure," Grell replied. "Crazy? Yes, maybe a little bit." He grinned. "But I've not lost my mind yet. At least, I don't think I have. It could be that Fenris has seen to it that I remain sane for now." Which was, to Grell, quite unusual benevolence from the fiery wolf god. But the Kerl wasn't about to question his seemingly good fortune in the wake of the mass disappearance that plagued the land. 'Although…' he thought with a frown, 'I wouldn't mind a bone tossed my way every now and again.'

If the wolf god could hear him, there was no answer. There was never an answer.

Grell could live with that.

He grinned down at the pup. "Well, how long's it been since you ate anything? Want to go on a bit of a hunt with me? The Lera have gotten lazy and fat without our kind to hunt them."

[Chevak]

*noms* that would be wonderful! oiy, i need a new computer ._. it is dying!

---

Crazy? Yes, maybe a little bit. But I've not lost my mind yet. At least, I don't think I have. It could be that Fenris has seen to it that I remain sane for now.

Chevak turned his attention back to his nameless companion. He squinted at him. If this was crazy he needed to be sure he was able to identify it the next time he came across it. He continued his silent study for a moment, until he was content that he knew what a crazy kerl was like. So long as he was not unstable Chevak had no reservations sharing space with him.

"Lera are always lazy. All they ever do is eat, eat, eat." He huffed. Of coarse this was not true, Chevak had not really ever seen any sort of Lera. If the truth would be out, and he most certainly would not allow it, this would be his first hunt. He had yet to hit twelve weeks, the usual period when pups accompany adults. His survival was very, very circumstantial, and it was pleasant that he found a potential friend, be that friend crazy or not.

"Yeah, well, I'm not too hungry cause I just ate a really big herla. He was fat and dumb too. But I'm a little hungry so I'll come with you, everyone's gotta eat." The lie floated easily off his tongue. Of coarse he was hungry, there might not be a time when he wasn't. If herla were easier to catch and if he weren't so small he might never cease eating.

"What're we catching today?" Chevak pulled himself onto his paws once again. His eyes scanned the grassy plain. The place seemed dead, but lera didn't roam where predators were, even he knew that. The Varg was still unsure of how one hunted, though he did his best to hide that fact. "You can choose where to hunt. I don't mind." Finally, responsibility for the hunt had slid from his shoulders.

[Grell]

(aw, sorry to hear bout your comp!)
(you should send me a link to pics you want and i'll make you an av/sig :D)

The youth's pensive study of him was ill-concealed, and Grell shifted his weight a little awkwardly under such serious scrutiny. Fortunately, the cub was quick and finished with a huff. "Yes, for the most part I would agree with you." Grell chuckled. "But not all Lera are lazy. Like the Putnar. We can't just go around eating all the time; we must catch our kills first."

He started ambling away through he dewy grass, glancing back only momentarily at the cub to make sure he was following. Of course, the cub's tale was obvious for what it was, but Grell smiled despite himself and nodded as if he believed it. "Well, then, I don't think you'd mind if I ate the most of whatever we catch today. But I doubt it will be Herla." He gave the pup a sidelong glance.

"Who knows? Perhaps a hare. Perhaps a pheasant. When hunting, adaptation is key. Unless you know precisely what you will kill and where it is, the best you can do is take whatever Lera is stupid enough to cross paths with you." That hunting lesson aside, Grell knew exactly where he was going and exactly what he was hunting. But he kept the knowledge to himself as a surprise. He doubted the cub had ever tasted mutton before. And with the disappearance of the wolves, shepherds had been growing lazy with their flocks.

"Oh, I think I know of a good place to begin our hunt," Grell replied innocently. His slow amble turned into a decidedly determined trot - although he kept his pace slow to compensate for the cub's shorter legs. It was not yet time to test the cub's stamina, as the pup was still quite young. 'Perhaps too young for his first hunt?' wondered Grell. But the thought of their intended quarry was enough to allay his concern for the pup's well-being. Sheep were among the easiest Lera to kill; and this particular flock Grell was leading them to was guarded by an incredibly lazy shepherd. "So, tell me, my lad, what is your name?" He glanced at the cub curiously. "I'm Grell."

[Chevak]

[ i sent you a PM via RoT for the stream i used for the pictures, sorry for the slight crappy-ness 0-o ]

His darkening blue eyes shifted back towards his company. Hunting. Chevak's stomach flipped and he swallowed a nervous lump. It was a natural thing and something he'd been meaning to learn from his parents, not that it was his call. He frowned a bit as the Varg wandered off. Chevak blinked then turned and followed in slightly uncoordinated bounds.

"Well, you see, I got to eat still though because I'm still growing into a big Dragga. You're done growing, see?" He explained factually. It was simple, it really was. "You get it though? So, maybe I better eat most of it, too." Chevak stole a glance at his hunting partner; the matter had been explained as simple as he knew how and he was slightly curious to see if it had been comprehended.

"Grell? G-rr-ell." He rolled the name around in his mouth. "I'm Chevak, and I suppose it's nice to meet you. Now where is this place you know of? I know almost everywhere around here, because father would always tell me." His lie was well-masked, or it seemed to be to him. Perhaps this kerl was bit more perceptive than previously guessed. For the moment Chevak was completely at ease allowing the older Varg to take the lead, he was perhaps a couple steps ahead and the pup was happy to let it stay that way.

[Grell]

(lol so many places to keep track of xD ok, i'll send you something in a little while)

Grell chuckled to himself as he watched the puppyish gait of the youngster behind him. He couldn't recall being so uncoordinated himself, but Grell knew he must have been. Nevertheless, it was a silly thing to witness now.

"That so?" Grell asked mirthfully, bushy ears twitching with each word of the cub's explanation. Grell knew he was done growing, of course, but some days he wondered if it would be so hard for Fenris to bless him with a couple more inches of height and length; perhaps don him with a musculature befitting the mighty warriors of legends past. 'Would it kill you if I was strong enough to defend myself, even?' he thought, with a swift glance into the hazy sky. The pup, oblivious to Grell's internal - and always one-sided - conversation, continued speaking, deciding aloud that it was best if he ate most of their kill. Grell sighed, glancing down at the cub; but he knew it was best for future generations to eat heartily, and he wouldn't deny him the extra food. "Oh all right," Grell muttered, pretending to give in grudgingly. In reality, he was smiling to himself.

"Well, Chevak. Nice to meet you too." Grell wagged his tail. "And whoever said I had a specific hunting ground I was taking you too?" He glanced down at the cub, his brows raised in curious amusement. The comment of Chevak's father made Grell hesitant for a moment - he didn't quite believe the cub - but he wondered just how much Chevak really knew about these lands. Had he been born of one of the mighty packs that once roamed the land beyond the forest? "Your father must be very familiar with these forests and valleys," Grell spoke casually. "Did your pack live nearby?"

'As if he will know,' Grell thought. Chevak was so young, it was hard to believe he'd remember anything with any certainty, much less specific locations. But it was worth a shot.

Together, the young russet cub and his grayling companion traveled through the lush meadow, traveling around a bend of trees. The plains spread open again into gently rolling hills, and in the far distance, a small brownish-white flock of Lera grazed peacefully. Perhaps a half a mile or a mile, and the wolves would be upon the poorly tended creatures.

[Chevak]

ooc; sorry for the wait :[

His first real hunt, and it was with a stranger. He guided his almost jade colored eyes away from Grell's face and back to the land that rolled out before him. It was an exciting thing really, and a necessary one. Chevak's stomach was nearly empty and he yearned for the meat of a fresh kill.

Upon hearing that Grell would oblige and allow him first pick of the meat his open-mouthed grin widened, bearing small puppy teeth. His tail waved amicably. It was just the pup's luck to run into such a generous Varg. "I'm glad you cam to your senses, 'cause if you hadn't I would not grow into the most fearsome Dragga ever. Don't worry though, we'll still be friends even when I have a pack." His eyes might have clouded were it possible, and his mind wandered down the grievous path he hoped to one day travel. There was hardly a doubt in his mind that he would be a Dragga, one of the great leaders of the Putnar.

Chevak's hopeful imaginings were interrupted as his companion spoke, and he turned his young eyes to Grell's matured face. Maybe one day he'd grow into such a dragga as this. "Oh, well, I don't know. You just kinda seem to know where you're going." He paused, pondering this matter. The pup had never previously been hunting - did Putnar have their own grounds to hunt? The idea seemed a bit far-fetched; what if the Lera left their "grounds", were the predators supposed to starve? Chevak exhaled and flicked his ears, he gave up. How wolves, or any other Putnar, hunted was beyond his little mind.

"Oh, well, we lived in a nice place and it had a den and birds. But it was very nice. Have you seen it?" Chevak inquired seriously, his head leaning a bit to one side but still focusing on the uneven ground before him. Though not yet tired and certainly not bored he had the desire to pause and explore, to unearth that little hole he'd seen a little back and to recognize the smells that littered this clearing. But the pace was too quick to allow him that luxury, and his reluctance to ignore everything might have been noticed in the way he lagged imperceptibly behind his friend. "But I moved, I moved all by myself. And I took care of myself too! Then I found you all by myself, too." he quipped - though irrelevant he was eager to say something, to shatter the silence before it fell.

"So, how much longer until we eat, Grell?"