World Return
#1
[html]

private for brutha'Haven!

Where had the world gone?


Bright blue eyes looked to the sky. It was nice out he determined, so maybe they were just… out. He was growing up, getting older he figured and thus there was no more need to watch him as constantly as his mother had been. He had wondered out here all his own, following the scents of Cypress and Oak in the hopes of finding them. But when he had turned the corner of the cracked door and reached the porch and peered out into the open world he hadn’t found anyone. Their scent disappeared into the vastness that laid beyond the Dreamer’s door, lost to him and the trail too long and wide for him to think about following it.


Off on some adventure, he figured as he lay at the edge of the step. He looked down, imagining it like a large cliff that he leaned over. He flinched as he though too heavily and sunk deep into the imagination. But after reminding himself it was merely a single step he calmed and thought about the cliff, the picture returning. He could almost feel the wind running along his fur and he was still too frightened at the mere daydream that when he thought about standing to peer over the edge he figured it was simply best to stay on his belly. But it was all just make believe, appearing as quickly as a shake of his round head could make it disappear.


Back on the step, Alder gave a long whine, water-hued gaze looking upwards now at the tree’s tops. There were few birds, unlike in the morning hours. Maybe they napped, maybe they had found another place to live and had left him like his two brother and mother. Alone to fend for himself. Even though he was the biggest didn’t mean that he could be on his own. Ears flattened, one hanging on each side of his head, and he placed his chin on his paws and waited for them to return home.

<style type="text/css">
.aldertable01 b {font-weight:bold; color:#3c5504; letter-spacing:1px; }
.aldertable01-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#2f2703; text-align:center;}
.aldertable01 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 12px; margin:0px;}
.aldertable01 {margin:0 auto; width:350px; background-color:#9db38e; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... able01.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #dbd9dc; padding: 0px 0px 220px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#2f2703; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldertable01-border1 {width:352px; border:1px solid #2f2703; margin:0 auto;}
.aldertable01-line1 {width:300px; border-bottom:1px dashed #7f9470; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]300+
#2
[html]

Yay! 8D 300+

He woke that day and gone on his usual patrol of the borders, making sure all was in order. The day was beautiful and as he looked at the pure blue sky he found himself thinking of his mother and the three little boys she was now busy raising back in Crimson Dreams. Haven had gone to see them, but they had been very young and not yet able to speak. He wondered if they remembered him and felt guilty for not being able to be in their lives more often. That guilt and curiosity had continued to pull at him and eventually he had turned towards home to let Princess know that he was going to be making a short trip to Crimson Dreams to check in on his mother's new brood. It had been long enough that they would likely be starting to make their way around on their own now, and he didn't want to miss anything more before they continued to grow.


While he hadn't pushed Drogon hard in their ride to the lands he had been born in, he hadn't gone at any leisurely pace. Haven wanted to make good time, to be sure to have as much time to spend there as he was able to spare this day. When night came, he would have to return back to his home and his mate, but he could spare the afternoon. In fact he had no desire to do anything else. They had made the trip enough times that the Knight didn't even need to instruct the mustang as to where to go. He knew perfectly well, and made a straight shot for the landmark figure of the mansion.


As they rode, and the top of the large house came into view he could feel his anticipation skyrocket. It was all he could do to keep from vaulting off Drogon and running the rest of the distance himself. Haven knew better than that though. Doing something like that would risk sprained or broken bones and the stallion would give him a good bite on his backside for being so daft. So he stayed not-so-patiently on the horse's broad back until they were just about at the porch. He slowed Drogon and dismounted, walking with the horse the rest of the way. Quickly a small form was spotted on the porch of the mansion and his jade eyes lit up, a large smile forming on his face. The Knight and steed stopped at the foot of the porch and he called out a friendly greeting. "Hello there. What're you doing out here all by yourself?" Haven thought that it was Alder, but he needed to get a better look at his face to be certain.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#3
[html]

Big Grin, a bit longer... sorry about thats!

The clouds rolled above the trees. How they didn’t snag on the branches and the leaves was a mystery. He could see them graze the tippity tops of thin fingers but still… they passed by each time. The boughs moved with the pushing too (though if he thought to feel the breeze Alder would have known that it was the wind that moved the branches and not the clouds rolling by). Still, it was quiet the feat for the cotton-balled forms. Ears still lay at the sides of his head, chin settled on his paws or shifting to the porch step and then back again, eyes straining to see beyond the roof.

The time passed so slowly, and no one came home. He wanted them to return, perhaps with lunch or he could even wait for an early supper. But he waited and waited and the entire world was still off somewhere having some sort of adventure. An adventure that scared him and yet intrigued him enough to make him slightly jealous that he wasn’t on one. He could go now, he thought, and maybe catch up with the rest wherever they were and jump into whatever trouble they were getting themselves in to. Maybe he could save the day! But Alder was no hero, and his ears (that had risen at the idea of bounding off like someone much braver then himself) fell once more and he gave a heavy sigh.

A voice, one that he did not recognize fully came to him. Blue eyes looked to the maker, someone that stood tall before the Manor and someone that was not alone. He had brought the world with him. Alder’s fear and his unease were washed away, and he took to his ink smudged paws and it was then that he remembered his manners. I did not leaves the steps. He said, barely looking at the tall pumpkin hued male. Alder knew him, his masked face lifting ever few seconds so that he could look at him again, but he could not remember his name. He had cloud colored fur, and grass colored eyes. And he smelled of far away and of the beast the stood next to him.

It was the horse that brought him a chest bursting feeling. The pup wanted to greet the massive creature and lick the chin of it and touch his leathery nose and feel the warm air of his breath on his puppy snout. Alder remembered Rem well, and remembered his silence and his welcoming eyes. But, the wolf needed his attention first and foremost, and Alder reached a guess and he felt he was brave and bold to question the adult, but he was polite in doing so. His rump fell to the floor, and his vivid cobalt eyes and masked face moved away from that of his elder’s.

Awr you Hafen? There had been stories, like the ones that had been put in books and set in far away lands. They were of his big brother, and Alder didn’t know of a braver wolf in the world. And he was his big brother. Alder had only met him once, or so his sissy had told him, but he had been small and forgot so very easily. His brother also had a horse, just like Rem. Braver then all the other horses, and the only fitting companion for his brother.

<style type="text/css">
.alder09 b {font-weight:bold; color:#1e6dbe; letter-spacing:1px; }
.alder09-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#546449; text-align:center;}
.alder09 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 12px; margin:0px;}
.alder09 {margin:0 auto; width:362px; background-color:#b0c6a7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... lder09.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 0px 0px 200px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#546449; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.alder09-border1 {width:364px; border:1px solid #000000; margin:0 auto;}
.alder09-line1 {width:300px; border-bottom:1px dotted #8fa686; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html] 500+
#4
[html]

no worries! 300+

The pup seemed very much caught up in his own thoughts as Haven approached. The older wolf could not help but smile, thinking of all the times he had let his mind run away with him when he had been small like that. He wondered if his brothers liked playing make believe games with Anu too, as he had. They had been his favorite at that age. He had always played the valiant knight (aside from that one time he had played a dragon with his sister), and somehow almost inexplicably that dream of his had come true. There were still days that the Aatte would wake up and need to pinch himself to make sure that everything that had happened since the formation of Cour des Miracles was real. It was though, and there wasn't a day that went by that he was not thankful.


The multi-hued boy looked up to him and seeing his face, Haven now knew that it was indeed Alder that he had found. The dark mask across his eyes was unmistakable. He hopped to his feet, seemingly surprised, before becoming a bit more bashful and averting his gaze only to look up and catch quick glimpses up. "No you did not, and I'm sure Momma would be very proud of you," he said encouragingly. Alder was certainly a bit more well behaved than he had been, in the fact that Haven had always been running off looking for adventure and the next new and exciting thing. Sitting still in the shadow of the manor had never been something he had been able to do for long. There had been a whole world out there and he hadn't wanted to let it pass him by.


Some silence settled between them and Alder's attention seemed to be drawn to Drogon almost exclusively. It was not a fearful attention though, and he wondered if this wasn't the first horse that he had seen. That seemed a bit odd, for to his knowledge none of the beasts resided in his once home. Little did he know his friend and packmate Anann had become a friend of his mother. The masked pup finally looked back at him, and then sat down, his gaze hiding yet again, but a question came from his shy voice. Haven's smile grew warmly, and he crouched down to be face-to-face with his little brother. "I am Haven, your big brother," he said, chest tingling at the words. "And you're Alder." The boy was too young to have remembered his first visit, but Haven hadn't forgotten at all.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#5
[html]

Of course he didn’t know the difference between day dreaming and true constructive thought. It was all just the images that played and the small voice that he heard in his head. But he was so easily caught in the mist of deep creative ideas that made him question the world around him, just as any knowledge seeking pup would be. A fantasist Alder was for certain, wishes, hopes and dreams filling him more then many reasonable thoughts. It was all reasonable for the small boy. Why couldn’t it all just come true.

The tall wolf spoke in return to his sheepish assurance. He hadn’t indeed left the porch, and he had done just as his mother had told him to and stayed close to the house. It was important, he remembered, so that he could call upon the other members of the pack incase there was something bad that happened. Nothing would, mother had assured, but the large clumsy pawed male wasn’t about to push the envelope and test her theory. He spoke of his mother, and yes he thought that Momma would be proud of him for being so diligent in following her rule. Blue eyes looked to him a bit more brightly, brows rising slightly as the words and he felt a small warm feeling wrap around the small ticker in his chest. Really? He wanted to ask, pupils big and round as they looked up at the white accented male.

His tail waved slightly, and he nodded as his only response.

The horse was looking at him, or so the pup wished to believe, and his dark gaze sunk so deeply into him that he thought that he could touch his insides. Alder wished to make a long whinny sound, sort of like the one that Rem had told him days before. He had practiced again and again but was far too shy to see if he had mastered it while in front of the other wolf. Green eyes made him turn to face who he believed to be Haven, his deep voice was soft just as it had been before and at the words his tail thumped on the porch. He had guessed right, and he knew who Alder was!

The pup felt the urge to shake all over, to wiggle with excitement. But he contained himself and just lifted one from paw off the porch and then the other. Dancing ever so slightly. I is. He responded, looking to the horse and wondering what his name was too. Momma tolds us abouts joo. Voice was still soft, like he was trying to contain his excitement from sputtering out of his mouth.

<style type="text/css">
.aldertable05 b {font-weight:bold; color:#9fbad9; letter-spacing:1px; }
.aldertable05-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#505050; text-align:right;}
.aldertable05 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 12px; margin:0px;}
.aldertable05 {margin:0 auto; width:317px; background-color:#eaeaea; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... able05.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #fefefe; padding: 180px 0px 5px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#505050; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldertable05-border1 {width:319px; border:1px solid #000000; margin:0 auto;}
.aldertable05-line1 {width:290px; border-bottom:1px dashed #505050; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
300+
#6
[html]

300+

It was a little odd, to be faced with a pup that was so different than what he had been. If he had spent any time around pups he surely would have encountered another shy one before, but the only other he had met was his little half-sister Rio and she had been quite bubbly and friendly. Alder was quiet though. Shy, and seemingly unsure of both himself and the wide world around him. At the reassurance that their mother would be proud of him for not leaving the porch he saw the boy light up though, his bright blue eyes clearly searching for the approval of his good behavior. That was one thing they very much had in common. Haven had always wanted to make Anu proud, even to this day. Nothing fulfilled him in the same way his mother's approval did.


Drogon, being even more inexperienced around wolf pups, was quite curious about the small creature that Haven was speaking to. His long, thick neck craned down and forward, great nostrils huffing to take in the scent of the small thing. The round little pup seemed to be just as interested in him and this delighted the stallion. He enjoyed being looked at with awe and he found himself wanting to prance around to draw more attention from the tiny little wolf. He settled for shaking his head though, his dark mane being thrown all about. Haven gave the mustang a sideways glance, intrigued at the way he was reacting to the presence of his little brother.


When the Knight confirmed his identity the thumping of Alder's tail against the boards of the steps almost made him let out a deep, good natured laugh. Haven contained it though, letting his own tail sweep across the ground behind him. When the little boys paws lifted up and he dance awkwardly around the older male couldn't help but let his smile turn into a wide toothy grin. Drogon made a soft whinny, amused by the small wolf's antics. "She did, did she? All good things I hope," he said teasingly. Haven knew that Anu wouldn't have ever spoken ill of him though, especially not to the three boys.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#7
[html]

assuming Haven is in his normal attire. please direct me otherwise ;D


He should remember Haven more. Or so he told himself. Momma had told him so much about the big brother, but now as he was faced with the tall sibling they all fluttered out his mind like a bird whirling out a window. For a few moments he could only look up at his green grass eyes, they were bright as well and spoke of interest and friendliness. It made his little whip of a tail wave back and forth even more. This was his brother, his big one. Which made him older and the more obvious of facts; bigger. He could change just as his mother and sissy could, growing tall and with the long hair that seemed to be captured by something behind his head. He had clothes too, like some he had seen from afar. It was something magical and mysterious and overwhelming. But the grandest of all was the horse.

Alder’s own black nose reached out to sniff him as he saw the horse search as well. His whole body leaned back as the beast’s large head turned this way and that, his mane a fan of hair that moved through the air. Blue eyes closed as if they feared being hit by the wild mane and he let loose an excited giggle that started in his belly and crept up his throat as it turned to a laugh. He looked to the other male, wondering is he had just seen the antics of the horse. He smiled, so he must have seen and heard the horse's call. Alder took a deep breath, recovering from surprise and nodding sheepishly at Haven’s question.

She calls you a Knight. He spoke with a brighter excitement, his true well-natured personality shining through for a brief moment. I donts wreally know what that is, buts He trailed, looking off and trying to find what would encompass how he felt about it. I likes it. tone softer and shrugging bashfully in his unknowing. He was amazing, and heroic and truly something for Alder to look up to and strive to become. He wanted to be as wonderful and brave as his brother, he just didn’t know how to get there yet.

<style type="text/css">
.aldertable01 b {font-weight:bold; color:#3c5504; letter-spacing:1px; }
.aldertable01-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#2f2703; text-align:center;}
.aldertable01 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 12px; margin:0px;}
.aldertable01 {margin:0 auto; width:350px; background-color:#9db38e; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... able01.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #dbd9dc; padding: 0px 0px 220px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#2f2703; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldertable01-border1 {width:352px; border:1px solid #2f2703; margin:0 auto;}
.aldertable01-line1 {width:300px; border-bottom:1px dashed #7f9470; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]300+
#8
[html]

nope, you got it right! Big Grin 300+

Haven was glad to see Alder opening up more and more as their conversation moved on. The boy had seemed almost painfully shy at first, but now those little bashful walls were coming down. He was happy that he could so easily make things more comfortable for his little brother. There had been fears that this meeting again could be a little awkward, as his first encounter with Rio had been, but it was nothing of the sort. It was all the good of his first time with his little half-sister with none of the bad. The large pup's tail continued to wag ever more enthusiastically and Haven found himself wanting to shift back down to his rarely used quadraped form to frolic and play. Perhaps he would later on, but right now he was more keen in talking and learning about his brother.


As Drogon leaned forward to sniff the pup, Alder did as well and the Knight was once again surprised how bold the shy boy was with the much larger animal around. He wouldn't expect someone like Alder to be so openly curious about the mustang but that expectation was clearly mistaken. The boy's sudden giggle fit made it impossible for Haven not to emit his own amused sound at the horse and pup's antics towards one another. Drogon enjoyability of the situation was increasing with everything that Alder did and his front hooves pranced against the ground, his sable black tail swishing to and fro. "You're making Drogon behave much like a youngling himself," he said with good humor. Haven had never seen the stallion act so, and he had to admit it was endearing.


The man couldn't help but let his chest puff a little at the knowledge that his mother had described him with the title he had striven for and gained beyond all odds. Haven was proud of being a knight, and it filled him with more pride to know that his mother talked of him in such a way. "She's right, I am a Knight in my pack." It didn't surprise him that Alder didn't really know what a knight was. He was still very young, and Haven had no problems delving into an explanation of his position. "Well, knights are people who are charged with the protection of the kingdom. They stand for truth and honor and valor. They defend the helpless and vanquish the wicked people who would do others harm." Without even thinking, he found himself using the descriptions that he had heard in his childhood stories. He was more describing the knightly ideal than himself in particular.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#9
[html]

His brother, his big big brother, had always been something like a fairy tale to him and the other boys. When others listened to stories of ghosts, fairies and heroes and villains that had never truly been alive or so a lonnnnng time ago, Alder listened to stories about his brother. His big big brother. Someone who was alive and actually did all the great things that heroes did. Him and his horse. There was no such thing as adoption or s half brother or partial relation. They were as connected as Alder was with Oak and Cypress and Sissy and Momma. Blood or no blood. This was his brother.

It was all too much for the pup, overwhelming and the excitement making his tail wave and not stop even when he was unsure. The horse so easily gained his attention and Alder had the urge to get closer, but of course the command to stay on the porch was still so very solid in his mind. He wanted to prance around with the horse, to pretend like he did when he was alone and go to a place where he was something else. He looked back at Haven when he spoke, then back at the horse that was now named Drogon and laughed at his joke. The horse wasn’t young! He wasn’t a baby like Alder, he was too big!

His giggles lasted a moment or two, for he needed to pay deep attention to Haven as he spoke. Cobalt blue eyes became big, pupils round and large as they looked up at the orange male. Every little thing that Momma said were true, Alder believed everything that she told him. Always. But it always felt so fantastical and now that he said the words it made the truth so solid and real that he was more apt to believe that he had a Knight for a brother more then if someone told him the sky was blue.

Haven’s words were like a cool breeze passing over him, sending a chill down his spine and the fur on his back prickling and standing on edge. Still his tail waved and thumped against the porch. Alder took a moment to take it all in. After a minute or to the chill grew warm, his fur smoothing and eyes less wide in wonderment. He took a breath and with the exhale he released a Wowwwwww His eyes looking at the older male. He couldn’t think of much else, what was there to say any how?

<style type="text/css">
.aldertable02 b {font-weight:bold; color:#dbd7c5; letter-spacing:1px; }
.aldertable02-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#494637; text-align:center;}
.aldertable02 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 12px; margin:0px;}
.aldertable02 {margin:0 auto; width:337px; background-color:#b6ae8a; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... able02.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #e8e1d2; padding: 0px 0px 200px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#494637; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldertable02-border1 {width:339px; border:1px solid #494637; margin:0 auto;}
.aldertable02-line1 {width:200px; border-bottom:1px dotted #dbd7c5; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
300+

[/html]
#10
[html]

300+

Haven was thankful that despite his lack of fear of the large mustang stallion, that Alder didn't leave the steps of the manor to try and get closer to Drogon. From the way his companion was acting he doubted that his little brother would be in any danger if he ventured closer, but he didn't want to take such chances so soon into Drogon's first time around a pup. If he got overly excited he could easily trample the boy with his hard hooves without even meaning to. Just the thought of such a horrible accident sent Haven's stomach tying itself into knots. No, getting closer should wait until Drogon had been around pups more and until Alder was bigger and more coordinated. The Knight liked to think that he would be able to snatch the boy away in case of any such event, but he wasn't going to put that theory to the test. Better to play it safe in this situation.


Alder's giggling soon ceased as Haven dove into his explanation of what a knight was and did. As he talked the little masked boy's eyes grew wide and he could tell that he had completely captured his attention. It was a little strange, to have someone hanging on his every word in that manner. If it had been anyone but his little brother he likely would have felt a little uncomfortable at the attention, but since it was Alder the result was entirely different. It made him feel important and he liked having him look at him that way. He wanted to be someone that boy could look up to. Just as he had wanted to be with Mati, he wanted to be a hero for his little siblings. There were times that he had failed to be able to protect his sisters. Both Mati and now Rio had gone through trauma that he hadn't been around to stop. Haven hoped that he would always be able to be there for Alder, to drive the monsters of the world away.


As his explanation went on Alder's fur puffed out and for a few moments he had the look of someone that was going to burst. When Haven finished though his eyes gradually reduced from their dinner plate circumference and his mottled coat smoothed back out. The drawn out exclamation of amazement was not exactly what he had expected to get in response, but he couldn't help but let his grin turn toothy and his chest puffed out just a little. "Next time I come visit I'll have to bring my sword to show you. Would you like that?" It was hard to gauge what Alder would think of the weapon. He would either be fascinated or frightened by it, Haven thought, hoping it would be the former and not the latter.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#11
[html]

Drogon was not as large as Rem, who had a hand or two over most horses, but to the small pup there wasn’t much difference. Large was large. But despite his hesitations around other wolves the only thing that kept him on the porch was his mother commanding word. He wanted to prance between his hooves, to show the horse his best mimic of his species and play pretend. Black dipped paws would strut high in the air, his head held back and swaggering back and forth with an imaginary mane swaying right along with it. He could see himself dancing around the large horse, his little whinnies and neighs calling loudly to the skies. But here he needed to stay, planted on the porch steps. Alder wished that he a the very least had hands like his big brother, to touch the long nose and feel the short soft fur.

Alder exhaled as he spoke, baffled by all of this and still that this was indeed his brother and not some figment of his vivid imagination. Haven smiled, and so Alder grinned as well, though his was more sheepish. At the idea of the Knight, his big brother, handling a sword the puppy ear fell to his head. He didn’t know how to feel about this new knowledge. In his short life he had been raised to be passive, and because his nature was easy to accept this notion Alder had already taken it to heart. It was easy for him to forget that a Knight’s job was surrounded by violence. He focused on the bravery and the courage and riding around on a horse and saving others. But there needed to be something bad to save them from, and bad things didn’t just go away without a bit of pushing.

He knew what a sword was from the stories, and though it did scare him to think that there were creatures in the world that were scary enough that a weapon like that would be needed Alder still wanted to see it. He nodded his head, scraping together every bit of courage that he owned. The blue-eyed boy looked away for a moment, then when he felt comfortable with the question that he wanted to ask. Have yous safed mahny peoples? His speech was slaughtered by his puppy voice, but he looked up at his brother with wonderment.

<style type="text/css">
.aldersept02 b {font-weight:bold; color:#af9f89; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em #f3f3f1; }
.aldersept02-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#525252; text-align:right;}
.aldersept02 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.aldersept02 {margin:0 auto; width:470px; background-color:#dddedd; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... ept02a.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 180px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#525252; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldersept02-border1 {width:472px; border:1px solid #525252; margin:0 auto;}
.aldersept02-line1 {width:440px; border-bottom:1px solid #b2b3b3; margin:0 auto 3px auto;}
</style>
300+

[/html]
#12
[html]

300+

Haven had really hoped that the mention of his sword wouldn't put his little brother off any, but when Alder's ears pulled back against his head the older male's smile faltered. It didn't disappear completely, but it ceased to be as wide and proud as it had been moments before. His hopes had gotten bigger than his intellect and he had sullied this nice moment between them. Alder was clearly a mild boy and not like Haven had been himself as a pup. Swords had never scared him, in fact he'd always wanted one so he could be the dashing hero, but it was clear that no such notions lived in the blue-eyed boy's head. Alder probably wanted to focus on all the good things about being a knight and not the violence and the price that such a position came at. The Aatte silently scolded himself and vowed not to make such a mistake again. Still, after a few moments the pup nodded his head and Haven felt a bit better about things.


The question that came next was to be expected. Honestly there weren't many harrowing tales to tell Alder about those he had rescued, at least not any that he would repeat to the boy at his age. "Not as many as some. I saved a boy from Dahlia from getting bite by a snake once. I also rescued my mate once, and my aunt." He had saved Firefly, but not her unborn pups. What had happened that day still haunted him a bit, and he had not forgotten the promise he had made that day. He would make those two Dahlians pay for the heinous crime they had committed. Unbeknownst to him, one was already dead and the other had left the lands. Smiling back at Alder he banished those thoughts for the moment. "I haven't been a Knight for all that long though. I hope to rescue more people, and more importantly to keep people safe so they don't need to be rescued." That was his daily mission in Cour des Miracles, to keep the pack safe so no one got in a situation they needed to be saved from.

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#13
[html]

He couldn’t help but feel a mixture of extreme awe and a small lingering fear. It was just the ideas that he had always tried to ignore in his small life that frightened him. His mother had shielded the boy from fighting and blood and gore and though his brothers would no doubt find it all so very fascinating, Alder saw it only as frightening. He wasn’t scared with his big brother around, and as he spoke of all those he had saved Alder was beginning to feel even safer in the Knight’s presence if such a thing was possible. He wanted Haven to be here always, wanted to have him by his side all the time. Oak and Cypress wouldn’t dare try to tease or scare him if Haven was around.

The idea of prevention was not one that the pup could comprehend completely. So far in his life there was an action reaction understanding. He put his paw on the ground and it was either going to hold him up or not, there had little to do with how it happened or what he could do to make sure that he didn't fall. Keeping people safe was something that Alder could understand vaguely though, to stop the bad guys before they hurt someone. Like keepings the badg guys outs? He asked softly. He didn’t want to question his brother too too much. It was rude to ask more questions then necessary and Alder had already asked quiet a few. But he felt okay asking, since this was family.

Blue eyes looked up at the orange and white male, his focus now completely his and no longer wavering to and fro from wolf to horse. Though the horse was something of great interest for the pup he wanted to know about the Knight’s life a bit more.

<style type="text/css">
.alderbunny b {font-weight:bold; color:#38AF48; letter-spacing:.0px; }
.alderbunny-ooc { font-style:italic; padding:15px; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right; }
.alderbunny p {text-indent:10px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.alderbunny {margin:0 auto; width:377px; background-color:#19471B; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/ ... rbunny.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #000B01; padding: 230px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#217827; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.0px; text-align:justify;}
</style>
a gift from Erin ♥
♥♥

300+

[/html]
#14
[html]

300+

Each moment he spend with Alder he felt he got to know his little brother a little better and he could well understand that Anu would have shielded him from some facts. All pups needed that shield that naivety and a parent provided, some just needed a bigger shield than others. There had been many things about the world that Haven hadn't known about until he was out in it, and growing up and learning those things you had been protected from was not a fun process. His had been rougher than most, but it was never easy when the way you viewed the world was suddenly no longer true. He would make sure that he didn't expose any truths to the boy that he wasn't ready for again, and would move at whatever pace he was comfortable with.


Since Haven hadn't spent much time around pups, his knowledge on what they could understand and what they couldn't was very sparse. It was hard to remember back to how your own brain worked at that age too, the knowledge that one had gained since that time blocking a true understanding of a child's mindset. Alder seemed to puzzle over what he had said for a minute, but ultimately came to the right conclusion. "Yes, exactly like keeping the bad guys out," he said, tail wagging. Talking about preventative measures would be much more enjoyable to Alder. There was nothing frightening about riding around the borders and making sure they hadn't been breached. Since it involved horses, he thought it would be all the more interesting to him. "Every day Drogon and I ride around the borders of the pack to make sure everything is as it should be." It was the easiest and to an extent, most enjoyable part of his station. Taking a ride was always relaxing, even if it were "work".

<style type="text/css">
.havengift01a b {font-weight:bold; color:#9c9771; letter-spacing:1px; }
.havengift01a-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; text-align:left;}
.havengift01a p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.havengift01a {margin:0 auto; width:414px; background-color:#dfcaa7; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... aven01.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #f7f2e8; padding: 190px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#484232; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.havengift01a-border1 {width:416px; border:1px solid #2d2921; margin:0 auto;}
.havengift01a-line1 {width:384px; border-bottom:1px dotted #9c9771; margin:0 auto 5px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#15
[html]

we can close here if you want...?

Alder’s round brown and gray rump remained on the wooden step of the manor’s porch. The thin still featherless tail behind him waved as always, the excitement of this visitor still lingering in each of his thoughts. He wasn’t to move, as his mother had asked him some time ago, and now that he was fully engaged in this conversation the little wolf found it easier to do so. Rather then looking at the horse, you only made Alder want to prance around and pretend to be a horse himself, Haven held his attention in such a way that he was spellbound.

His question did not go unanswered for long, and the orange Knight confirmed that it was indeed his hope. Keeping bad guys out of the pack lands made sense! His brown ears swiveled to and fro with each new idea that he came up with, and when Haven spoke further on the subject that small puppy laid them flat against his head and his blue eyes looked up again with the same awe and fascination that he had poured forth just moments before.

The idea that he went out everyday with Drogon the horse made him want to be a Knight as well. That mere fact made the other less appealing things like fighting and being brave disappear for a moment. Everyday he saw the horse, spoke to him, touched him and rode him around. Everyday. Alder had only met a horse once well now twice, and he had only been able to spend a little time with them. To think that his big brother could do that everyday, it was like he was living in a dream. Alder didn’t say anything for some time, his little voice stolen from his little tongue. Deep pools of vivid water hue looked up at the orange and white Knight, his brother, and wondered why and how and how he could be like that.

Wowwwwwww. It was all he could say. He felt like this was the most enlightening day of his life.

<style type="text/css">
.aldersept06 b {font-weight:bold; color:#f8f6e5; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em #383d31; }
.aldersept06-ooc {font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#383d31; text-align:right;}
.aldersept06 p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.aldersept06 {margin:0 auto; width:506px; background-color:#938454; background-image:url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/ ... sept06.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 130px 0px 10px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#383d31; letter-spacing:.3px; word-spacing:.8px; line-height:12px; text-align:justify;}
.aldersept06-border1 {width:508px; border:1px solid #525252; margin:0 auto;}
.aldersept06-line1 {width:476px; border-bottom:1px dotted #b1a36d; margin:0 auto 3px auto;}
</style>
300+

[/html]


Forum Jump: