Nono! No problem. ^^

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



Instinctively, her ears quickly flicked with awareness as soon as she heard the crackling of twigs across the bank of the river. Turning her turquoise eyes to the mysterious noise, her hand quickly grabbed for her walking stick, both her defense and what would support her out of the river. Parting her jaws to investigate the scent of the stranger, it took only a heartbeat for her posture to relax slightly, noting her own pack's scent on the wind. All the same, this stranger's scent reminded her of her nieces and nephews, along with Savina, to an extent. However, it wasn't until Kansas' frame came into view that she let her walking stick drop back onto the earth, and her body relaxed. Although she didn't know the male directly, she trusted her sister's choice in men, and had heard good things about the male.


Gaze meeting his as the ivory male's voice echoed through the river, Ghita summoned a smile as she rose, using the wood as support to greet him. "Kansas. What brings you here today?" Not that she resented her brother-in-law's company, far from it, but Ghita's surprise came from the fact that the river was mostly an isolated place, one that she'd wished to remain alone in. But she hadn't known her sister's mate at all, and now felt it was her job to remedy that - especially with the newest additions to the pack. At first, the pair seemed anything but identical - Kansas stood at nearly eight feet, and Ghita barely six. Kansas' fur was ivory, and hers a timber ensemble of browns, greys and silvers, but there were some similarities. Their eyes were similar hues of turquoise, and they both wore earrings - albeit different kinds and in different places. While they stood facing each other, Ghita's own tail wagged in response, but slower - more cautiously. "Would you like to join me for a moment or two?"

OH gosh! I'm so sorry! If you want to keep him in Lupus, that's fine - I'll edit the post!

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



It was nice to be able to simply sit and relax by the river, she had to admit. Of course, she'd been doing a lot of lounging around ever since her injury, but here, she was back in control of her rest. And the river was beautiful, leaping and tumbling over itself in a relay to reach the end of the riverbank, sparkling in the sunlight and consistent no matter what happened in life.


Ghita could easily see the resemblance of the male to all six of his pups. Although the colouring could be vastly different - a phenomenon Ghita was all too familiar with given Sophia's colouring, Kansas was present in eye colour, facial structure, and other tiny ways that some would be unaware of passing on. They were family now - From the three Marino siblings to their subsequent 'mates', and it seemed ridiculous that a year had gone by without Ghita having had a nice talk with her brother in law. So that was the logic behind the fae's actions - the reason why she willingly stepped out of her reverie.



Nodding at his statement, Ghita let out a small sigh - although it's origins were unknown. Perhaps it could've been born of contentment, or resentment - it was a mystery nonetheless. "Me too - it reminds me of the ocean we all crossed to get here." Although the siblings had left for Canada at different times, they had all ended up at the same place, crossing the same waters and, by some miracle, surviving the trip. "You probably already know from Savina, but we're named for the ocean. Marino - it means "of the sea"."


She offered him a light chuckle in return - both parents exchanging the wisdom they hadn't expected to come across. "They've grown up physically, that's for sure, but some days I can't imagine that they're any more than a few months old." Ghita's first litter meant the world - and more - to her, especially after the worry the pregnancy put her through. She wasn't an overprotective parent to be sure - that was Jazper's job - but she still worried about her offspring as any mother should.


"And your newest litter? How are they doing?" She new from encountering Artemis herself that Kansas & Savina's pups were beginning to move around on their own, however, she still held concern for their well-being. Crimson Dreams was a safe haven for most, but it seemed to be the natural skill of puppies to find the worst dangers no matter where they were.

Aw, thanks so much! I like yours too! <3

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



Ghita hadn't known that Kansas was already privy to their family history, but it wouldn't surprise her, even if it wasn't her first instinct. She knew Savina was quite close to her mate, and family in general, and she couldn't think of a happier couple than her sister and Kansas. After all, they had just been blessed with another litter. If that didn't scream 'happy couple' than Ghita couldn't imagine what else could. But that didn't mean that her & Jazper weren't happy - Ghita just simply didn't see that possibility in the future.


"Thank you," she said humbly, unsure of how to take the praise. After all, it was simply her last name - she hadn't had any say in it. "what about Sadira? I'm not sure I know it's origin." In fact, she didn't know much about Kansas at all - she wasn't sure she could pick one detail of his history to mind. For a brief moment, she considered asking him, but the words died on her tongue with the revelation that it could seem rude. With anyone else - most people she knew, she would've plowed forward heedlessly - but this was Savina's mate, someone she wanted to make a good impression with, for her sister's sake. The Marino family didn't need any more conflict within their own family tree.


Her own tail had begun to splinter the air as the long, furred limb moved from side to side, not quite in harmony with the ivory male's. Talking of her children - one of the greatest blessings in her life - never ceased to bring a smile to the mother's face, and wasn't surprised to see Kansas react the same way.


A sharp intake of air sliced the conversation into two - drawing up Ghita's defenses quickly. She struggled to keep a positive, happy outlook on the scenario, but her ears acted of their own accord, flicking dangerously and betraying her discomfort. Her leg was something she hated to talk about, although she'd sustain the injury ten times worse for her niece in a heartbeat. But it had become something that people saw first when they looked at her - something not easily hidden. Making a visible attempt to overcome this discomfort in the name of friendship, she breathed in the calming air of the river, and held it in her lungs, soaking in the energy, before releasing it.


"When Old Red collapsed, I ran in to rescue Cambria, but was trapped under the rubble myself. Jazper pulled me out, but I've been told that I sustained a bad break of my knee, and it's still painful. Although I do not regret going after my niece for an instant." The last words were important to pronounce, especially to Cambria's father - she needed to let them hear her say that, as much as she needed Cambria and Savina to.

^_^ Bonding time, ftw.

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



Ghita wasn't entirely sure how Kansas and Savina's relationship had come about, but it ended up like one of those fairy-tale mate ships. They always seemed happy together, happy to be each other's support, and full of undying admiration and appreciation. All in all, it wasn't too different from Ghita's relationship with her own mate, Jazper. He'd been amazingly patient throughout all of Ghita's many vices and issues, and they had come out all the stronger for it. Although, she was fairly certain that their relationship hadn't come about in the same way.


Kansas seemed almost too cautious to try and risk the relationship he wanted with Savina over a drunken night. On the other hand, Ghita was just as culpable as Jazper was for their unexpected litter - both of them had sipped the liquid that threw them into the hazy consciousness without regret, and in the end, good things had come for it. So maybe, perhaps, Anu wasn't too far off in her faith that everything would work out. Some things ended for the better, anyways.


Unaware of Kansas' true reaction to her question, she remained on the outside, not privy to his memories. When he tossed his head, she thought of it as a response, not an attempt to clear his mind. It seemed to be the more logical choice, if not the correct one. She didn't know the creamy male's history in the slightest - she knew next to nothing about him, really. But he was Savina's mate, and so he was worthy of her trust and respect, at the least. "Perhaps it wouldn't be too hard to find out. Do you have any siblings?" She asked him, unaware she was covering already-trodden ground.


"No, it's not your fault. Age brought Old Red down, not anyone in particular." It had just been bad luck that the two faes had been in there at the time, but lucky that there were pack members around and about to come to their rescue. Her response to Kansas' statement was added quickly after he finished uttering the two words, even though the conversation had taken a dismal turn. This wasn't what she wanted to talk about at all, with anyone - let alone her sister's mate she was really getting to know for the first time. The frustration was evident in her posture and face, although she worked to visibly ease this, all too aware of the way this conversation was going.


Ghita nodded quickly, biting her lip before adding her own response. "I went after her, but I didn't save her. My brother, Ehno did - you have him to thank, not me. But I don't regret going after her. She's a special girl, your daughter, and I love her very much." Everything just came tumbling out of Ghita's mouth, the things she'd meant to say to Cambria and Savina, and the whole world, even, just so they'd know. Ghita hated her injury, but not how it was caused.

Oh, alright! No big deal! ^^

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



It seemed to be the only topic that grown-up could talk about around her - Ghita's accident, her damaged leg, the pain that came with it, etc. She didn't think any less of Kansas for it - she still respected him immensely and thought highly of him, but she wondered if adults were missing some form of maturity puppies had. For around the younger of Crimson Dreams' members, her leg was never raised - it was something normal and natural, almost. Nothing to draw attention to.


Happy to hear that thanks had been given where it was due, she gave a solemn nod to her brother-in-law, before speaking up again. "I wish I had been able to help more, though." Her meeting with Kansas wasn't going as planned - at all. She had been hoping to impress her brother-in-law, to make Kansas think as highly of her as he seemed to for the rest of her family. But for now, all that Ghita was showing to her sister's mate was an emotional, sullen fae who couldn't get over her injury.


Without intending to, both wolves had tried to make this meeting the best they could - and both had taken a wrong turn, and were now suffering for it. If Ghita could only be given a way to salvage the meeting, she'd take it - but the opportunity would have to present itself.


For now, though, the conversation was only going one direction - downhill. At the mention of Kansas' family, it only took a few moments for her to realize that this wasn't something he willingly brought up all the time, due to it's more tragic tone. Sympathizing with Kansas' dead brother, she nodded, meaning to speak up. "I'm sorry. That must be... hard for you." Her mother had died some time ago, and she could relate to dead family in that sense, but when Ghita had been wandering with the nomads, after being abandoned by Carlos and plagued by her miscarriage, she felt as if she were truly alone. However, all was not lost, and Ghita's reaction quickly turned to pleasant surprise. "Your sister is in charge of Aniwaya?" This was powerful blood that ran in their children's veins - relations to two powerful leaders of two packs.


Unsure of what to say next, the fae nodded once more, certain that whatever Kansas could or couldn't figure out, he'd be better off for it. Smiling softly at his next statement, the fae let out a hushed chuckle, leaning back on her forearms and extending her gaze back to another time - back to when she'd first arrived. She remained silent in thought for a moment, catching in the silence the sigh of a faraway song that sang tales of a fae, new to the land.


"Do I like it here? Yeah, I do. I have a family here, and packmates that are closer to me than the nomads ever were. There's enough prey for everyone, and we rarely have to worry about dangerous neighbors." Trailing off, she bit her tongue, cutting off her next statement that was less that chipper about her new home. But being tied down to one place wouldn't be my favorite part of the deal.

No problem at all! It's my pleasure! *hugs* And sorry this post sucks... muse dried up. ><

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



With those simple words, Ghita learned more about Kansas than she'd had before their conversation had begun. Religion itself was a complicated thing for Ghita, and her family. She didn't know what Ehno's beliefs were, and hadn't cared too much to ask, but she knew that Savina held a belief in various nature spirits that were said to keep the world as it was. Ghita herself had never really spent enough time to bother with the whole spiritual side of things - she was a huntress, a fae of action, and, if she had to pick a side, held little faith in anything the senses couldn't register.



But Kansas believed in an afterlife, which was something Ghita hadn't deeply considered before. There was no reason to believe in one... but also no reason not to. Puzzled by her own introverted ramblings, she placed that thought close to her heart, under the surface, to explore later on, when she was alone and her thoughts could be freely explored.


Grinning as the tension lifted, she gave a slight nod, showing that she had heard the ivory male's invitation, and took it as such. Where to start? Her life in Italy had been jangled so much, a mixture of happiness and woe... but still, she couldn't help calling it her true home. "Italy is beautiful - a different beauty than here. The pack we lived in was much more traditional, so I didn't know how to shift until Jazper taught me. But here, the pack boundaries are a lot more strict, whereas over there, the rules were more so."



In her speech, she had revealed her main vice about Crimson Dreams - her wanderlust. Among her family, it was no secret, but she had been suppressing this part of herself for the sake of her family, and could almost just pretend that she was completely content, if she tried hard enough. "Still, I have to say I like being here more - although Italy will always be dear to me." Briefly, she wondered if Kansas had always been in Canada, and felt like voicing this question, simply for curiosity's sake and to fill the rapidly emptying air. "How long have you been in Crimson Dreams?"

Sorry this took so long! D:

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



Whereas the young, adolescent Kansas had struggled with his lack of religion, Ghita was simply fine without it. When things had gotten rough for her, she didn't turn towards an abstract form of comfort in an almighty source, one that could potentially cause all sorts of miracles to fix her life. No, Ghita turned to something she knew would work, to make her own way in the world. And at her worst, the drugs had entered, but had also swiftly exited.


And that was more or less who Ghita was. She didn't leave her life to the hands - or paws - of others. She didn't leave circumstance to fate, if she could help it - she made her own way, her own choices. Fiercely independent until the end, that was Ghita. Perhaps if the fae really thought about it, she might believe in another being, supreme to them all, who could be pulling the strings from miles away. But at this point in time, she had no desire for any enlightenment of that kind - and likely wouldn't want some for some time. She had her mate, her pups, her family... nothing else mattered.


And, for better or for worse, Kansas was part of that family. However, he came without the obligatory affection that blood relatives have - Kansas didn't need to like Ghita at all, there were no conditions, no bargains or petitions. Except for one ebony fae who meant the world to the ivory male - Savina, Ghita's sister. The Marino family had been through enough drama as of late, what with Naniko's actions and Ehno's responses - the family simply couldn't be pulled through civil war any longer.


Smiling at her sister's mate, Ghita nodded, the silver in her lips and ears flashing in the sunlight. "I am too - it's even better to have your family back after all this time." The timber fae was sure that Kansas had been informed, via Savina, of the family's history, where all three siblings had separated, and all had eventually made it back to Crimson Dreams. It could be seen as nothing short of miraculous, but for Ghita, it was an astounding coincidence - nothing more.


Listening to Kansas speak about Crimson Dreams' early days, the fae was fascinated to learn that Crimson Dreams hadn't always been a pack here. To Ghita, it was one of the recurring themes in her life, this pack, and to realize that the stable foundation wasn't as old as she'd thought it was... well, that was a little startling. "I didn't realize Crimson Dreams was so young." She said, looking into the forest almost as if she could see the history of this land unfolding before her very eyes.


Of course, what she was really looking at was the sun behind the trees, which had begun it's descent behind the horizon, tossing shadows that took on a life of their own, growing, grabbing, ensnaring the world in a little more darkness every minute. After a few moments, she spoke up, her mind almost somewhere else entirely once more. "I hadn't realized it's so late... we've been talking for quite some time, then." Ending her statement in a laugh, she turned to her companion, almost to seek his opinion on the matter.

Thanks for a great thread! <3

"Etiam sit amet lacus sem, vitae dignissim massa."



Even before Ghita had claimed Jazper as her mate (or accepted him, if you really wanted to get into details), she knew that her ebony mate had remained in the pack for a long time, although details eluded her. Certainly longer than she had, and perhaps almost as long as Savina and Kansas themselves. Had Savina and Kansas been mates when Savina founded Crimson Dreams? Had Jazper been there at the time? Those questions swirled around the agouti fae's mind as she listened to Kansas' tale, a faint smile painting her ebony lips.


She had grown to like Kansas in the short time they'd talked. He didn't have the same adventurous spirit that some of his children had, or so it seemed, but he catered to the more mature side of Ghita, the one that enjoyed simply sitting and enjoying the outdoors on a fine day. As well, there was that slight amount of pressure she placed upon herself to like the bookish male, simply because their relationship was crucial to Savina's happiness, a woman that both of them cherished.


Even as she became terrified at the thought, Ghita was making more and more roots in Crimson Dreams, drawing her relationships into deeper roots that could strangle and restrain her to the very land she stood on. But did she want to leave? Did it have to seem that way, that she was being held against her will? Didn't Ghita want to reside with her children and mate, and bring happiness to her family?

There's no easy answer.


Her thoughts darkened like the sky as Kansas mentioned the long trek back to the Manor. To the physically healthy Kansas, a brisk walk at dusk could seem pleasurable, something to enjoy and look forward to. But Ghita's injury, despite her desires, created long journeys out of short ones, even in her more able Lupus and Secui forms. Slowly rising to her paws, her hand scrabbled quickly for her walking stick, standing up in a practiced motion that, although slow, was filled with grace. "Sure - Jazper and the kids are probably waiting for me."