08-18-2009, 04:16 AM
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| http://digital-bonsai.com/katew/rp/kae/kae_jaws.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:221px; padding-left:25px; padding-right:25px; padding-bottom:10px;"> The silvery canine was highly amused at the child's excitement; it filled her with a strangely intense sense of protection and adoration for the child. He was one of their own now, and in a way, that made him Kaena's, too. He seemed to like her, anyway—after leaping forward in a quick burst he expressed a desire to learn from her. She grinned, the smile twisting her scarred features. "Hm, I could teach you a bit," Kaena said, finding his exuberance and eagerness completely endearing. His age really did not matter so much; the tawny young coyote was quite happy to have found a home and it seemed he'd already selected a mentor. It filled a hole in the woman's heart, and she looked to Gabriel with a strangely warm light in her eye, truly delighted at this turn of events. Kaena Lykoi had known motherhood four times in her life, more if one counted the stillborn things her half-brother had given her motherhood. She did not; only her breathing children truly mattered to Kaena, not to say she did not feel the ache of loss where her dead children were concerned. But they did not fill her consciousness; they occupied space in that vast, painful memory in the Lykoi woman. But the last time she had given birth to children, she had abandoned them in their youth to chase the devil and her lost child, one who should not have truly existed, but one Kaena loved nevertheless. In the end, that decision, to run halfway across the world in chasing this child of Salvaged Eternity—that had cost her her other children, in some form or another. Andre was dead, and she did not know where Rachias and Arkham were. The hybrid woman's ears turned at the sound of Gabriel's jewelry and his voice, and she nodded in agreement with him. Mason would prove useful in the clan, certainly, but for the moment he need only worry about resting up and growing strong. "I can try fishing in the morning," the hybrid said. It was late, and the flooded, swampy mess much of Inferni's territory had become had driven most of the prey from their land. Rabbits' burrows had flooded, and hoofed animals, which were not particularly keen on crossing their territory to begin with, now avoided it entirely, opting to remain mostly in the woods to the south. She did not wish to spoil the uplifted mood of the moment by mentioning this drop in viable prey, so she had simply offered her alternative suggestion. The silver canine was quite used to living on the beach and fishing, and the stiller, shallower waters of the bay were ideal for her uses. |