Crashing waves, Turmoil of the Soul(OPEN)

[shadow]

The waves crashing against the beach, the spray of salt water on her face, the sea breeze ruffling her pelt. This the black loner deemed good, and for that one moment of pleasure, all was right in the world. But for the fae, nothing lasts. She opened her golden eyes and contenued her trek down the beach, looking for her place in the world. The large pack did not accept her, her Rogue gang did not accept her, so where else to go but beyond the reaches of both, looking for her place in this world?

She walked, and as she walked, she took in the senery, commiting it to her good memory. No one ever knew when they may have to escape from a place, run back to the place from which they came. She looked out towards the sea, wishing she could go there and find what is to be found there, though it is not to be. She eventually reached a point where she stood atop a cliff facing out to the sea. She threw her head back and howled, howled at her frustration at having no place in the world.

[~Alethea~]

Alethea wasn't entirely sure why she had left the sanctuary of her home, her lands, but the call of the sea, of the salty breeze had pulled the Fae to follow the shore line. Alethea almost hadn't even noticed she had left the territory of Avalon until her orbs had studied the odd landscape around her. She had never been this way before and her body had frozen for a moment as she realised the importance of this moment.

Alethea had not left the safety of Avalon since her sisters death many years ago. It was with a glistening in her wooden orbs and a determined stride in her gait that she continued forwards. The sunlight, usually weak in the winter months beat down on the ocean and the weak light bounced back from the shimmering body of water. The Fae was almost to hot. The warmth was welcome of course. It was a nice change from the constant chill of the snow.

Alethea shook out her pelt, her long winter coat shining in the sun. Her coat was creamy and light, it's usually strong colors hidden beneath the woolly fur of winter. The Fae glanced up at the blue sky, her eyes studying the clouds. No storm brewed in the distance but it still made her wary. It was close to the afternoon now, the sun had begun it's slow journey towards the opposite horizon and the worst storms always drifted in during the afternoon. Her orbs turned back to her direction when her nose picked up on the faint scent of another wolf.

Alethea hadn't heard the pained cry that the black wolfess had howled out, the salty wind had swallowed the sound and pushed it back in the wrong direction, her cry carrying out across the land. The Deltess was a good tracker and her sensitive nose picked up on the fact that this fae belonged to no pack. Her body moved with a purpose now and her weaving stroll all but gone. Alethea moved in a straight line, her fur bristling in the wind she, herself created.

Alethea howled out, whether it was a greeting or a warning of her presence the Fae wasn't sure. Alethea rounded a ridge and smiled to herself. She could do with a good talk, the Fae hadn't realised it, but she had felt smothered back at the dens. It was winter now and the females of the pack had come into season. Everyone expected Axel to take another mate and despite the younger, more ambitious females who tried to gain his affections the elders of the pack expected him to take her as a mate. Alethea flicked her tail in annoyance. Axel was like a brother to her and you didn't mate with your own blood.

“Greetings,” Alethea called as she loped towards the black wolfess. “What brings you this way wanderer?”

[/color]

[shadow]

At the sound of another, Shadow of the New Moon whipped around, ears flat against her skull and fangs gleaming in contrast to her ebony pelt. Her golden eyes scanned over the newcomer while her body stayed frozen, taking in her company.

It was another female, much lighter, and had a look of arrogance that Shadow could not afford. Her legs where too skinny, he body too hefty for her to be a good runner. Yet at the same time She was not muscular enough to be very strong. Clearly, not a threat to as an experianced wolf such as she.

though still, Shadow picked her words carefully as she strightened out of her defensive pose. "I would ask you the same thing. Who are you to come up against me, without warning of any kind, and still expect a safe recevial?" Shadow spoke in her cool, calm, voice that she rarely used. She did not mean to scare this newcomer, but didn't want to be taken advantage of, either.

[~Alethea~]

Alethea's ears pricked at the cool voice of the fae. The wolfess was skinny, the way wanderers always were. Alethea was almost stocky compared to this fae, her body was strong and long limbed, her stomach suggesting she lived in a pack. Hunger almost never gripped Alethea's body and she wondered for the briefest of moments what true hunger must feel like.

“I did not fool myself into thinking I would be received safely wanderer.” Alethea's body didn't hold the same kind of defensive posture as Shadows. The wolfess did not fear for her safety, she never had and Alethea was not about to start. Axellion had made the fae a deltess for a reason. Females almost never held the position, and Alethea was a rarity. The fae lead the others of her pack into a hunt, she protected their boarders and she fought with ferocity, though she would not injurer greatly if she didn't have to.

“Would you attack me though for merely greeting another wolf?” It had occurred to Alethea that wolves who wandered that lands alone would have many things to tell, to share. Pack life was limiting and one only ever saw the wonders from their own lands. Alethea had been young and adventurous once, her mind occupied with thoughts of the wonders of other territories and the curious and beauty sights they must keep.

“I am Alethea, a deltess of Avalon,” Alethea flicked her tail back towards her home, “I do not seek to harm you wanderer, I come only to hear your story.”

[shadow]

Shadow listened to Alethea, and her eyes softened for a second, showing the kindness the fae truely had. "I would sttack one who was a threat to me, though I wouldn't call greetings a threat," She cooly replied, and streched her forelegs. She was stiff from travveling, and she had come far already. And with every step, she became more weary of traveling the dusty road of a loner.

She laid down, folding her paws daintily, and replied, "Well at least you know your manners. I am Shadow of the New Moon, though most find it more convinient just to call me Shadow. As for hearing my story... There is not much to hear, accept perhaps how I came by my name, which is also the reason I stand here before you today, but I'm afraid it is not a very good tale," Shadow looked to the fae, wondering if she truely ment what she said.

[~Alethea~]

The briefest of smiles flickered across Alethea's maw as the wanderer spoke in her cool voice. The fae was so wary of Alethea and she had every right to be. If the situations were reversed Alethea would have been just as defensive if not more. Shadow of the Moon was asserting her presence, showing she would not roll over and play sub-ordinate. Doing so in her situation could mean death. Wanderers had no rank, no heir achy. They traveled across the plains, the steeps, the prairies and the mountains on their own. One had no need for ranks when one was on their own.

"I would attack one who was a threat to me, though I wouldn't call greetings a threat,"the midnight black wolfess, her fur kissed by the weak sunlight, a white hallow surrounding her fur as it shone through her silky fur replied, sinking on weary limps to the ground. "Well at least you know your manners. I am Shadow of the New Moon, though most find it more convenient just to call me Shadow. As for hearing my story... There is not much to hear, accept perhaps how I came by my name, which is also the reason I stand here before you today, but I'm afraid it is not a very good tale,"

Alethea's whiskers twitched and she bowed her head in greeting, acknowledging the compliment. “Shadow of the moon is indeed a curious name,” the fae told the wanderer, sinking to her own belly, the crashing of the waves deep below them carried on the salty breeze. Alethea could feel her fur growing dirty, the salty air clinging to her fur and drying it. She would need to bath when she got back.

“I would look to hear your tale, no matter how little it may be. Or how little there is to tell. I do not often hear many new tales.” It was a true statement. The stories Alethea heard where always the same. She heard the legends and recountings of the great history of her pack. The wolves of Kardasia had come here, blown across the cruel and unforgiving seas until they came to rest on these shores. The crates the wolves had been locked in had long since rotted and been carried off by the ever changing tides.

“Tell me Shadow, how did a wanderer come by a name as yours?”

[shadow]

Shadow liked this fae. She was.. different, to say the least. Kind of like Ahses, come to think of it. "You were not listening. I said my tale is not much, not little. It is rather long, accually. But if you wish to hear it, I will tell it," Shadow Situated herself, folding her forepaws and resting her head on them, confident this fellow wolf was no threat.

" I was born into a small rogue gang that wall alway moving, always traveling to some new place in the distance. I had two brothers, Day of Snow and Rain of Ashes, and then I was called Silent Watcher. We grew up together, and though I stayed to myself, life was good, a calm ruotine," I paused to let my words sink in, befre contenuing on, "But one day my gang came up to a big, strong pack that wished to take over us. We fought, but our gang was too small. I was foolish enough to challange the pack's alpha to batttle, the agreement was that if I won, he would leave my gang alone, and if he won, my gang would be his. I was terrified, obviously, but We still squared off, and I still attacked. But then something strange happened. As I ran, I covered the ground behind me in shadow, and with the alpha distracted by this, I tore out his throat. But the biggest surprize came when I looked up to the sun. The moon had followed me to cover thae sun, a faint ring of light surrounding it was all that was left of the radiant sun. My gang chased off the pack that day, but when the battle ended, my gang feared me. They thought I brought the moon to cover the sun. So our leader sent me away after giving me my earned name, Shadow of the New Moon,"I looked up, wondering if I was believed.

[~Alethea~]

Alethea sat, watching the fae before her with a thoughtful stare. She had been quick to dismiss the Fae as any kind of threat but to have brought the moon itself across the sun was strange. Could one wolfess have such a power? She wondered. Was it possible, and if so, should she fear the wolfess? Alethea's orbs probed the fae before her, appearing to see right through to her soul. Shadow of the New Moon was a good hearted fae, Alethea had known that right from the very first moment she had seen her.

“I do not fear you.” she said in a strong voice, deciding this Fae should not be condemn for something, no matter how strange or fantastical. After all, light deprived of it's shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light. Alethea nodded her maw once and rose from the ground, loping towards the edge of the cliff and gazing down at the sea crashing against the rocks below in misty white blows. Shadow's tale was one of great proportions and held the kind of wonders Alethea had once dreamed of discovering. The Deltess pitted Shadow of the New Moon. The fae's own pack, her own brothers had turned away from her. A tear glistened in Alethea's wooden orbs. Something about the fae's reserved nature and saddening tale reminded Alethea of her sisters vulnerability. Who would Alexis be today if her life hadn't been so un-justly cut short by the jaws of a vicious and unforgiving Vittorio.

“You must be weary,” Alethea said, her voice cracking slightly though she cared not if the other fae heard. It was no secret in the Avalon pack that the guilt of her sisters death weighed heavily on the Deltess' mind. “Do you seek a pack a wanderer? This life was not a choice you made, you should not have to live it unless it is what you want.”

[shadow]

Shadow stared at the ground, thinking. Did she really want to be apart of a pack again? Yes, she did. But she cannot sit in a pack like the one that attacked her gang, or one like her gang, either... she will try Alethea's pack, then. "If I may stay with the pack temerally, And then choose, yes, I would like to caome see your pack," she stood and shook out my fur, sending prisitne sand flying.

Turning toward Alethea, Shadow noticed that she wasn't feeling well. her body language told me this, her drooping tail and head. she wondered what had happened to her to make her sad. She had a pack, was well fed, and never had to worry for her life. Shadow walked to her side, and nudged her cheek. "What's wrong?" Shadow wispered, still puzzling over it.

[~Alethea~]

The sudden though gentle touch startled Alethea and she jumped away, a growl on her lips. Realizing her mistake however, she quickly relaxed her posture and stood tall, well aware that the tears on her muzzle still shimmered in the golden light.

“Sorry,” she apologized, her eyes studying Shadow of the New Moon. Alethea had only ever had Axel to confide in and it puzzled her that another wolf would ask her it she was ok. Was it not Alethea's job, her role with in the pack to mediate, to care for everyone. She was the packs shoulder to cry on and she gladly added the weight of their problems to her back. In a lot of ways the Deltess threw her body and soul into looking after the well beings of others and she had done it for so long that not a single wolf had ever stopped to wonder if Alethea might need a shoulder herself.

“You just remind me of someone I knew once...” It was a blithe response and Alethea let it blow away in the wind as if it was as insignificant as a flowers seed. It was however a flower's seed, that, if it happened to land in the right soil, would grow into a beautiful blossoming plant as result of a chance encounter of fate that provided that one seed with the chance of life. Oh yes, Alethea could see herself becoming friends with this fae.

“...My sister actually,” Alethea added, not entirely sure why she felt so compelled to continue with her story. The fae glanced up at the sun as it peeked out from behind a bank of clouds. The fae sighed, she couldn't be out so far for long. Alethea had a pack to protect and a boarder to patrol.

“I have to turn back soon, I understand that the life of a pack is not for every wanderer Shadow of the New Moon.”

[shadow]

Shadow studied Alethea for a bit longer, and then said, "Pack life is the life every wanderer wants. IT is not a question of that. The question is, will we find the pack in which we belong?" she turned back towards the forest, and looked back at my new deltess. "So what happened to your sister?" she asked. She was clearly nop longer here, with the was Alethea spoke of her. What might have happened to her?

Shadow shook my pelt, sending grains of ocean sand cascading down. with a filck of her tail, she invitedAlethea to speak. She was not a streetwise wanderer, but she could see her being the friend that she never had. If this pack worked out, Shadow had a feeling she will be very happy.

[~Alethea~]

Alethea turned back to the ocean, the glittering body of water always seemed to stretch forever. “She was killed.” The fae said the words softly, her voice once again cracking. Why was she so willing to share her story with this wanderer? Why was there some compelling force driving her to trust another wolf with her problems? Alethea turned back to Shadow, not ashamed of the water filling her orbs. She was proud of her tears, she would not feel guilty or embarrassed. It was her punishment, to feel guilt that ate away at one's soul, she bore it with readiness, acceptance.

“I was foolish once. Sheltered, naive, I was all of that and more. I wanted to wander the lands like you have, I was stupid and ignorant and I begged and pleaded with my sister to join me while I explored the lands beyond our boarders. Alexis always was more reserved than me...” Alethea's voice trailed off for a moment as a forlorn smile hugged her lips at the distant memory of her sister, “...we didn't realize when we crossed onto the Vittorio lands. Anyone knows the punishment is death for intruders. The brute who found us was cruel and twisted. He didn't spare a seconds thought on murdering us. He was going to kill me first, but Alexis got in the way....she died so I could live Shadow and I haven't stopped feeling guilty ever since.” The fae's words were strong and bold, though water streamed from her wooden orbs. Shaking her head Alethea sighed.

“I'm the one who dragged her out there. It should have been me. Alexis should be the one standing here, telling you the saddening story of my death. I think you two would have liked each other.” Oh yes, Alethea could see the two growing fond of each other quickly. A sharp pang or guilt racked the Detless' body when she realized Alexis had never known more than her sister as a friend. There were so many things that her sister had missed out. She had been robbed of a full life. Alexis would never fall in love, she would never find a mate, she would never have pups and she would never see the day Alethea herself found all of those things.

With the death of her sister Alethea had been robbed of a friend, of a female confidant to share thoughts of strong brutes and potential mates. Alethea of course considered none of the brutes from Avalon as potential mates. The fae had yet to meet a wolf who made her feel as alive as Axellion did. It was a curious fact that had bugged the fae. Alethea had often thought of finding a mate, but she always felt as if another brute would never known her as well as Axellion did.

[shadow]

Shadow turned back to Alethea, her hard features, carved from days of war and the fight of survival, softening. She never had much of a relationship with her brothers to be sad that they are gone from her life now, and had never thought that anyone else did. She padded back over to the Deltess, and licked the tears from her cheek. "When those who we love hurt, we cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it," Shadow murmered. Then she relised that her words where unsensitive, so added to the end of that, "What I mean to say is, your sister wouldn't want you to blame yourself for her death. She made the choice to save you at the price of her own life, and I don't think she would want you suffering for it."

(Sorry for the short post, not enough time to make any more!)

[~Alethea~]

Alethea smiled gratefully at the fae and truly for the first time in a long time allowed herself to fully give in to her grief. She allowed someone else to take care of her problems and the fae who had so often ignored her own well-being slumped into the wanderer, giving herself completely to this stranger. In a lot of ways this was exactly what the fae had needed. Alethea could never act this way around Axellion, or Dear Eliza, or any of her pack mates for that matter. The deltess would have worried to much about hurting them, about burdening them with her life, her sadness, her grief. It was the resemblance to her lost sister that caused Alethea to let go. Shadow could, in more ways than one mend the gaping hole in Alethea's heart.

“I'm sorry,” she mumbled, smiling mournfully at the black fae, “You don't even know me that well and here I am pouring my heart out to you, a complete stranger.” With a nod of her head the deltess turned back towards Avalon, the sun was going to set in the next few hours and the deltess still had the other half of the southern boarder to patrol.

“I really must go back, if you want to come, come. If you don't feel that Avalon is the pack for you, Shadow, you can always leave at the end of the moons cycle.”

[/b]Alethea nodded her head, and started loping towards the boarder - ten days should be enough for the wanderer to decide...should it not?[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

Ha ha, it's kind of short....meh. If you do decide to put Shadow in Avalon...I totally have a plot I'd love to include her in! XD

[shadow]

((Aeeeh! Sorry I have not posted in FOREVER! Lots to do. But I post now, even though its suckish... PM me the plot Okks?))

"It is always good to pour your heart out to someone, loner or not. And I do think I will come with you, and see what it is like in your pack," Shadow said as she strode to follow the deltess. She rather liked Alethea, and could become great friends with her. Perhaps it was time to settle into a new pack, after years of wandering. And if they where in need of new stories, they certainly wouldn't be dissappointed! She chuckled to herself. Before she dissappeared in to the darkening forest, she turned and looked at the sea, inhaling the salty breeze one last time, for she had a feeling this would be the last time she would be here for awhile.

[~Alethea~]

It was with a slight and proper nod of her head that the Deltess decide to not restrain her true emotions and Alethea instead, turned to the fae, a smile etched onto her maw.

“Good,” she told the wanderer, “I'm glad you have made this choice.”

The Deltess turned back towards Avalon with a flick of her tail. The fae was well aware that she still had part of the southern boarder to check out, but Alethea was sure Shadow wouldn't mind all that much, for surely she wouldn't mind a breif interruption to her introduction to the pack. It occurred to the creamy furred fae that her pack mates might eye their Deltess with curious and almost scornful eyes. This was the second newcomer the fae had brought back to the dens in but two days. Surely that had never been done before.

It did not take the pair of faes long to reach the boarder line of Avalon, or rather it did not feel all that long with another pair of paws following hers. For a fae so used to being on her own, the company was a welcome oddity, a welcome change. Oh yes, Alethea was already imagining the friend she could gain in this fae. Of course, this was assuming she didn't see the opportunity in gaining her Alpha's attentions. Would this wanderer turn into the horrible, ambitious fae's who had turned her out long ago?

As the pair walked further into the forest on the outskirts the Deltess glanced backwards at the fae. For some reason Alethea could tell this fae would not betray her so completely, she was different some how and this fact alone brought another smile to her blackened lips.

“I still have most of the southern boarder to patrol. I'm apologize Shadow, I know you must be anxious to rest your paws, but I can not ignore my duty. Would you mind accompanying me? I would send you to the den's on your own, but I fear with the recent events that I can not.”

Oh yes, to send the fae into the forests of Avalon would be a bad move on all parts. Alethea's pack mates would sooner rip the black fae's throat out than listen to who had allowed her to pass. That, and the Deltess would surely encourage the wrath of her Alpha. Axellion had never been one to scold her, but when it came to leaving a pure stranger to roam their lands, would almost demand a punishment.

OOC: Don't worry about it. I took awhile to reply as well. I don't really remember many of the plots I had cooking. I think mainly I was hoping for Shadow to become Alethea's confidant and pretty much, the two faes would bring out the best in each other. I just reakon they are so close...personality wise and emotionally. You know...lost family members.