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Post by nightblood on Jun 17, 2007 16:53:03 GMT -5
A stream of wind blew hard through the black trees. Carried on it were the scents of every member of the pack of Arnlan. One of which triggered an interest in the newly re-accepted NightBlood. It had only been a few days ago that she had been welcomed back by Sofika, the Alpha female. Her own scent was faint and nearly non-existant in the wind.
The scent that had caught her attention was that of a male pup, whos name she had just learned was Ziko. He could not be far now, but did she really need to face him?
'Yes!'
Well, that was that. Her more subborn side had spoken. Dispite the annoyance in the voice, NightBlood looked up at the leaves. There was no way to tell if it was night or day behind them. All the knew was that it was dark. Having no clear idea of where she was, the huge wolf walked forward, redirecting her eyes to whatever was infront of her. With the little light that made it through the leaves, she could see a few yards ahead of her, but no more.
It was with this darkness that more doubts came to mind. How could anyone forgive someone who deserted them when just the previous night, they had promised to take care of them? Why would they trust that someone again?
Where was he?
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Post by ziko on Jun 18, 2007 10:43:10 GMT -5
The harsh wind ruffled Ziko's fur in an unpleasant way that made him growl a little. His coat was a deep red with black; the freckles on his face had disappeared. As the freckles had faded so had part of Ziko. He was no longer the innocent pup that he once was. The young wolf looked a picture of his father minus the strong frame and cunning green eyes.
Dipping his sleek maw into a small pool of water that had accumulated from the snow melt, he took several refreshing gulps and then bucked back his head and sighed a little. Shifting on the muck he pulled his paws out of it and began to slowly walk away leaving behind prints. The wind whislted in his ears and made him cringe a little.
Arnlan. So quiet. So mysterious. So dark. So... lonely. Sighing he lowered his head and sniffed about. No one he recognised had came by this way. All the scents were so new to him that he couldn't put them to anyone. Incidently he did pick up on Nightblood's scent but did not recognise her because it had been far too long.
Lifting his head he slowly came to a stop and tilted his head. A break in the trees revealed a dark overcast sky. Well, that was not uncommon. He was used to the sight. Arnlan, why are you so secretive? he thought and rested on his hind legs to think. He had too much time on his paws that all he ever did was think. Ziko too found it difficult to see and did not realise that he was sitting only several metres away from an old friend...
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Post by nightblood on Jun 18, 2007 20:12:57 GMT -5
Time had savaged NightBlood's mind. Half a year ago she was strong and confident. She wouldn't have taken any crap from anyone. Now, she was trying desperatly to turn around and walk away unnoticed by the pup, afraid of what he might say, what he might think. Doubts attacked her from all sides. He would probably accuse her of neglect, betrayal, and who knew what else.
Each question was a thorn from a pricker bush, entangling her in one of it's branches until she was caught inside with no escape. Each movement, each step, painful. She had jumped back at the first sight of Ziko. He had not noticed her yet. Behind the trees and bushes, he seemed to be caught up in something that was on his mind.
NightBlood folded her ears back and sank a little, her tail tucked up under her stomach. She looked around desperatly for an exit, any way to get out of the area without being noticed, almost whimpering in her frantic search.She didn't want to face him. She was too afraid!
*SNAP*
NightBlood gasped and looked behind her. In her panic, she had steped on a large twig with her back paw. She looked up, knowing that the noise was too loud not to be noticed.
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Post by ziko on Jun 19, 2007 10:23:29 GMT -5
Swimming in a shrouded sea of unconcentrated thoughts he was drifting in and out of conciousness. He realised he was staring boldy into the darkness, pictures of his imagination dancing in the shadows. He had not picked up on Nightblood amidst his presence as she carefully observed any quick escapes from the impending confronation. When the snap caused by the female emitted into his ears he arose with a muffled yelp, fur on end tail raised and teeth bared.
Even in Arnlan one could never be too careful. To him it didn't seem as safe as many had come to the illusion that it was a haven. Growling warningly he advanced swiftly towards the location of the sound and raised his head up to look at the tall female before him. Immediantly he did not recognise her but inhaled that she had been in Arnlan for at least a few days. Concluding she was a recently accepted member he backed up a little.
Nightblood was taller and blatantly stronger in build and mind, Ziko was smaller in height, weaker in build and certainly in mind. Looking at her through those same chocolate brown eyes he had done such a long time ago he realised he would be no match for her and bowed his head apologetically though he did not speak the words. Instead he remained in silence, nothing familiar about her clicking in his mind. Perhaps his memory had erased all traces of Nightblood...
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Post by nightblood on Jun 19, 2007 14:51:01 GMT -5
NightBlood stood like a statue as Ziko looked over her. It was only when he bowed an appology for growling that she realized that he did not recognise her. She had not changed that much... had she? The only thing different about her was that she wore a necklace, had a tatoo on her left shoulder and a new scar on her back leg. Surely he would have remembered her blind eye?
Ziko himself hadn't changed much at all. Besides being taller and his freckles being inexistant. However, he still looked like a pup to Night. Perhaps it was because of her size or maybe the lack of light, but he was still the same pup she had met on that winter night months ago.
He had been running around, messing up the landscape, and barking madly as she had been sleeping. The barking is what had awakened her. She distinctly remembered running him over and pinning him under her. She remembered his first word. Then an idea came to her. NightBlood had named Ziko after his first word!
"Snow..."
NightBlood said the word so softly it might've been considered a miracle if Ziko could understand it, but she couldn't bring herself to talk louder.
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Post by ziko on Jun 19, 2007 15:06:10 GMT -5
Ziko sort of just... stared at the female. Surprisingly he was unmesmorised by the fanged necklace and uninterested in the scars that were slashed over her eye and hind leg. Once before had a female with a necklace been met with him when he was a pup. Perhaps because it dangled and shimmered brightly it had drawn his attention.
Snow. Yes, there was lots of it around here, well, slush at the very least. Glancing from side to side he noted a few patches here and there, undisturbed, no imprints held on it. Giving Nightblood a peculiar look he moved back a few steps wondering why her voice sounded so gentle. Ears folded back on his head and his glimmering eyes shone brightly no signs of recognition.
" What you looking at? " said Ziko. The same old attitude he had when he was younger. Already his initial intentions not to provoke anything out of this female had been dismissed. Immediantly he realised the tone in which he spoke and silently scolded himself for not being more polite. It had just... slipped out and he looked to the side feeling flushed.
" You smell new here. " Nodding a little as he inhaled slow casual breaths he allowed the smell to linger in his nostrils before exhaling and nodding once more to confirm to himself. " Yes, a few days new. " Now he felt a little more confident over the wolf. He knew the lands better than her. He ran them everyday and he assumed she was still adjusting to the surroundings.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 19, 2007 16:39:55 GMT -5
Still nothing? He had forgotten her! What would it take to jogg his memory? Perhaps pinning him again? Acting angry? Yes, either should do it, but pinning him might be over doing it a bit. However, in her current state of mind, it would be difficult to draw anger out. But then, she had no reason to be angry with him... What to do, what to do...
NightBlood cleared her throat with a short growl. If she could get herself to speak normally, maybe her voice would remind him.
"I've been here before, pup... and I regret leaving these lands."
She had spoken loud enough now. Perhaps she was gaining a bit more confidence... or maybe it was an illusion. Either way, at least she had sounded confident and yes, a little angry. But then, she used to always sound angry.
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Post by ziko on Jun 20, 2007 10:26:32 GMT -5
For months he had held onto the hope that Nightblood would return. With this in mind he had not left the cave for a few days and had begun to grow hungry. As soon as he had taken his first step out of there her memory had began to leave him no matter how hard he tried to hold onto it. Eventually it had fallen from his grasp and he moved on like he had when his parents died.
Huh? Pup? Ziko growled in a low tone and narrowed his eyes. He was not a pup anymore. Could she not see that he was nearly twice the height of an average sized pup? But wait, she had been here before? Well how did she get back into the pack alive? Had she tricked the Alphas? That was impossible... Regret for leaving? Ziko sighed and turned away.
" Do I look like I care if you have lived here once before? Or even if you regret leaving? No, I don't. " he snorted leaving no time for her to answer. Holding his head up high he dared lift his tail slightly higher and he held a glare upon the female. He clearly did not recognise her and not a feeling of having ever knowing her was felt.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 20, 2007 17:43:47 GMT -5
For the first time since NightBlood had left the ranch, she laughed. A small cuckle, but it was something. She stepped forward, lowering her head in responce to his attempt at a more dominant posture. She stopped before her head completely passed his and raised her right paw in case he desided to attack for some reason.
"Not even if I were an old friend of yours, Ziko?"
By this time she didn't care if he cared or not. She was determined to dig out his memories of her. Her right eyes rested on his face as she shielded the left side of her face from him. Indeed, he was no longer a pup, but a young adult. Still, she was much larger than him, and he may always be the size of a pup to her.
Why had he not recognised her? Perhaps he was too young when she first met him to remember her? Too young to retain any memory of that time? NightBlood couldn't remember much from her time as a young pup either...
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Post by ziko on Jun 21, 2007 10:13:57 GMT -5
Backing up a little as she moved closer to him, his hind paw snapped a small puddle of water that had been covered by snow and a sheet of ice. Drawing his ears back he held position and stared at the blind eye of the female. He craned his neck to look up at her. He noted the rising of her left paw and abandoned his inital thought to shoulder tackle her and run.
"My name... How do you know it! " he snarled and stepped back some more lowering himself a little in a defensive stance. This wolf was playing with his mind! How dare she! Spying on him perhaps? Or had she heard others speak of him? Whatever it was, he was not pleased to know she could put a name to his face and scent. Narrowing his eyes that once looked up to her with admiration, a disliking flashed immediantly over them.
" No. Just leave me alone! I do not know you, and you not me! " Shaking his head in confusion he continued backing up until he felt himself come back to back with a tree. Only about a stride lengths away from the female was the distance away. Not much but it felt alot to him because he was losing concentration. " You... " he growled and shut his eyes. " Don't look at me! " Ziko had a very unstable mind.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 21, 2007 10:41:38 GMT -5
"Sofika told me."
Now this was getting out of paw. What had caused him to loose memory of her? It was as if he had never met NightBlood in his life and now they were really starting off on the wrong paw!
'No, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen! Better just tell him!'
Setting her paw down, NightBlood raised her head and looked directly at the young male. Did he refuse to remember or was he playing games? He wouldn't joke about this... not unless he had a very sick mind.
"I taught you to speak and named you after your first word. I took you in, Ziko! Why don't you remember?"
As she sat down, NightBlood remembered the night before her capture. If she could remember one blasted night with this pup, why couldn't he? It was all so confusing! She pulled her ears back and layed down, resting her chin between her front legs, trying to sort all this out.
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Post by ziko on Jun 22, 2007 10:09:31 GMT -5
Sofika told her. Why was Sofika speaking to this female about him? He growled a little at the thought of being discussed with a total stranger. Perhaps the alpha had sent this female to assess him or something? To see if he was truly ready to accept full subordinate responsibilities? Well, he was. Two months ago he was ready and yet he had not been given any errands or jobs to do yet. Why was that? Was he seen as too immature to do anything? Too weak and frail?
" I don't care who to- what? " he stuttered listening as she spoke of taking him in and teaching him his first word. First word... Closing his eyes and clenching his teeth as his head began to hurt, he thought back to his first word. Snow the word she had addressed him by when she confronted him today. Why... why was there a familiarity about that inside of him? Re-opening his eyes he looked to the larger female and softed his growl but not his glare.
" Who are you? " he inquired moving forward a little so that he wasn't so far backed up against the bark of the tree. Having glanced at the ground his eye caught sight of his tiny paw print infront of the paw Nightblood had raised to him in defence for herself. His head cocked to the side some, ears flopping over and brows perking. Slowly he shut his eyes again and sighed. What a strange feeling... but he shook it off and continued to stare the ground, not wanting to meet her gaze.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 22, 2007 10:25:55 GMT -5
"I am NightBlood."
The words echoed not only through the area around them, but in her own mind as well. She had not needed to speak her name in ages. Either the one she was speaking to already knew it, did not diserve to hear it, or did not care about it. But names were important. Pride in the history of her own name compelled her to go on.
"Ex-Heir of Draviria, daughter of BrokeBone and BayRun. I am a year and six months your senior and a fellow Arnlanian like yourself."
She was guessing on his age, but everything else was completly true. Weither he cared about her pedigree and past were of no consern of her, but he had asked who she was, so she gave him the whole story.
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Post by ziko on Jun 22, 2007 11:11:33 GMT -5
Nightblood.... it sounded familiar. Sort of... Ziko looked to the female as she then went onto to speak of her parents, former pack and her age. Well, that small introduction was a bit forward for his liking. Why would anyone want to speak of such personal things to someone they did not know? She claims to know of him, to have taught him, but anyone could do that couldn't they?
Most likely. However not everyone could stir such a feeling inside of him by claiming such things. Pondering for a moment he went over what she had just said about her parents. Ex-heir? What like, alpha-to-be- or, to-have-been he thought. Why was she no longer a heir to Draviria? Furrowing his brow he continued to think, but the word snow kept popping into his head and this, really frustrated him.
" Ok, Nightblood. I don't know who you are but it seems your claims are a bit extreme not to be considered. " Flicking his nose with his tongue to moisten it he rose to his feet and diverted his gaze from the paw print up to her face. A blind eye. A scarred face. Tattoos and a fang necklace. She didn't look familiar. But image is the first memory to be lost.
" You are no longer an heir to... what you were heir to. Why is that? " Ziko's interest had been sparked and he wanted to know more about this Daviria... if she would share. Unless she was too persistant to make him 'remember her'. Snorting some, he gave her his gaze and perked ears to show he wanted to listen. Former feelings of bitterness were slipping from the pup now as he stood.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 22, 2007 15:31:21 GMT -5
Raising her head up, the giant wolf listened intently to Ziko's words. He had learned so much in her absence. She wandered who had continued his training. She would have to thank them, for without them, this pup might have gone on simply saying 'snow' for the rest of his life or having trouble sounding out words unknown to him.
NightBlood looked at the pup and tilted her head to the side. Now it seemed that he wanted some questions answered. This wasn't a surprise. NightBlood would be batting off questions by the second if she had found someone who knew her name, perhaps she'd even resort to attacking them. Thinking that senario through, she inwardly thanked Ziko for not resorting to violence... yet.
Night licked the side of her upper lip in consentraition. She would need to choose her words carefully, or risk being questioned further into details that were not important. Pups were curious little things, even the older ones.
"I was to be the heir of my father, the Alpha. When he died, an older pup thought he'd make a better leader. I couldn't ignore a challenge; my father had taught me not to. I nearly killed him. The elders found us and stopped me. They figured that visiousness and cruelty were genetic, so they through me out."
A mouthful... and it tasted different. She had never talked about, nor cared to discuss the past. However, she was not going to risk upsetting Ziko again. She felt compelled to rebuild what was left of what little bond they had. She was like a pup needing her favorite chew toy with her at every moment of every day. Her mind was broken without it.
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