Post by Iniya on Sept 17, 2019 4:52:16 GMT
(January 23, evening - closed to Kai for now)
This was exactly what Iniya had hoped for, at least for the time being. A forest, peaceful and cool with no thorns - the kind that had overwhelmed the Outlands, nor the army by such branding - and owned by neither side. A neutral party, a place for the uninvolved to...not get involved. What a relief it had been to hear of such a place. Even if the Enchanted Suns had felt almost like a haven, and she felt this nagging feeling to join their cause...she simply could not. At least, not yet anyway. Maybe some day, with more convincing...but it felt to soon to pick sides in a war she had risked her life to run away from. She was still risking her life, yet there was nothing she could do about it. She was pinned as a traitor now, for she rest of her days. The whole army probably had her name and description filed under KILL! The thought made her shudder. Yet not only was turning back and groveling at their feet something she could never allow herself to do...it would not save her, or the pups. They'd kill her anyway. She would not even be given the chance to make up some convincing lie about changing her mind and wanting to serve as it was. If she was to die anyway, it was better to stay on the run. At least that kept her alive longer, gave her options, the potential to live free and happy one day. At least, she hoped.
Chasing her thoughts aside, the young wolf sighed. She had left the pups in her den - this time they were tired enough that she knew they would stay put, and she would be back well before they could wake up enough to linger - and now she wandered alone. The stars were starting to show in the sky above her, and to soothe her mind, Iniya paused to look up at them. It was hard to spot them through the thick canopy above, but that only made her feel safer. She could still catch enough of a glimpse of them to ground herself. it was the same familiar sky she could see from anywhere, and the sense of reflection she got from seeing them was soothing.
That soothing did not last long, however. Even as she willed herself to relax, reminded herself that this particular land was neutral, free of the warzone that was everywhere else...she was on edge. Her ears were pricked, occasionally twitching, and her tail was held straight out behind her. Each step of her paws were cautiously monitored, kept purposefully silent despite the lack of need. Thus, every crack of a twig or sudden flight of a bird saw her flinch slightly. She was sick of spending the night in strange places, yet anywhere familiar was riskier than everywhere new. If only there was a place out there that truly felt like home.
Again, the wolfess took another breath to calm herself. The thoughts that buzzed in her mind willed her to relax, and she almost wondered if one had taken on her mother's soothing tone. Yet still she felt the itch to dart back to the pups, to disregard any thought of scouting, water or dinner, and return immediately to those under her protection no matter how well hidden she had assured they were. Not only that, but she swore she could feel the burn of eyes pricking her fur. She could not help it. She knew it was foolish, of course, one could not feel eyes, even if she were being watched.
Yet the feeling was what saw her hackles rise and a growl rumble in her throat when another snap sounded. This one was louder, and far closer. Unmistakably, she was no longer alone. Paranoia aside, she could not deny that as the fact it was. Head swinging in the direction of a stranger she was yet to see, she narrowed her eyes warily. Iniya could not bring herself to look aggressive, even in the face of potential danger. However she was still clearly readying herself to either run or defend, whatever the situation may call for. "Who's there?" She hoped her voice sounded braver to them than it did to her own ears.
This was exactly what Iniya had hoped for, at least for the time being. A forest, peaceful and cool with no thorns - the kind that had overwhelmed the Outlands, nor the army by such branding - and owned by neither side. A neutral party, a place for the uninvolved to...not get involved. What a relief it had been to hear of such a place. Even if the Enchanted Suns had felt almost like a haven, and she felt this nagging feeling to join their cause...she simply could not. At least, not yet anyway. Maybe some day, with more convincing...but it felt to soon to pick sides in a war she had risked her life to run away from. She was still risking her life, yet there was nothing she could do about it. She was pinned as a traitor now, for she rest of her days. The whole army probably had her name and description filed under KILL! The thought made her shudder. Yet not only was turning back and groveling at their feet something she could never allow herself to do...it would not save her, or the pups. They'd kill her anyway. She would not even be given the chance to make up some convincing lie about changing her mind and wanting to serve as it was. If she was to die anyway, it was better to stay on the run. At least that kept her alive longer, gave her options, the potential to live free and happy one day. At least, she hoped.
Chasing her thoughts aside, the young wolf sighed. She had left the pups in her den - this time they were tired enough that she knew they would stay put, and she would be back well before they could wake up enough to linger - and now she wandered alone. The stars were starting to show in the sky above her, and to soothe her mind, Iniya paused to look up at them. It was hard to spot them through the thick canopy above, but that only made her feel safer. She could still catch enough of a glimpse of them to ground herself. it was the same familiar sky she could see from anywhere, and the sense of reflection she got from seeing them was soothing.
That soothing did not last long, however. Even as she willed herself to relax, reminded herself that this particular land was neutral, free of the warzone that was everywhere else...she was on edge. Her ears were pricked, occasionally twitching, and her tail was held straight out behind her. Each step of her paws were cautiously monitored, kept purposefully silent despite the lack of need. Thus, every crack of a twig or sudden flight of a bird saw her flinch slightly. She was sick of spending the night in strange places, yet anywhere familiar was riskier than everywhere new. If only there was a place out there that truly felt like home.
Again, the wolfess took another breath to calm herself. The thoughts that buzzed in her mind willed her to relax, and she almost wondered if one had taken on her mother's soothing tone. Yet still she felt the itch to dart back to the pups, to disregard any thought of scouting, water or dinner, and return immediately to those under her protection no matter how well hidden she had assured they were. Not only that, but she swore she could feel the burn of eyes pricking her fur. She could not help it. She knew it was foolish, of course, one could not feel eyes, even if she were being watched.
Yet the feeling was what saw her hackles rise and a growl rumble in her throat when another snap sounded. This one was louder, and far closer. Unmistakably, she was no longer alone. Paranoia aside, she could not deny that as the fact it was. Head swinging in the direction of a stranger she was yet to see, she narrowed her eyes warily. Iniya could not bring herself to look aggressive, even in the face of potential danger. However she was still clearly readying herself to either run or defend, whatever the situation may call for. "Who's there?" She hoped her voice sounded braver to them than it did to her own ears.