ooc...

The bright colors of fall shone throughout the Crimson Dreams pack lands, catching the eye of the young Sadira girl as she searched the southeastern side of Cottontail Valley. Why did the leaves change colors? Why weren't they such pretty colors during the rest of the year? Parker loved to look at healthy, green plants, but these colors were just so pretty. If tree leaves were capable of looking like this, why not all year round? The more Parker thought about it the more she understood a possible reason for nature keeping the colors reserved to Fall. If the trees looked this way all the time, then the colors would not look so special. By reserving them for one part of the year, they stayed special, something worth waiting for. That seemed like at least one possible reason for the leaves to change color only once a year. Parker did not pretend to know the real answer, for there was much she still had to learn. Fortunately she had her mother, father and all of the other adults in the pack to learn from. Why, just earlier this morning she had walked with her mother into Cottontail Valley. She always enjoyed spending time with her mother. They were not together at the moment, for Parker had wanted to go explore and mama also had her own reasons for entering the valley. So a short while ago they had parted ways for the day. Parker had gone to find the stream and explore there while her mother had gone to do whatever it was that she needed.

Unlike most of her trips outdoors, the young, adolescent female carried her plush lamb with her. Normally she left the toy at home, safe and sound in the bedroom where the dirt and moisture from the outdoors could not get it. For some reason, Parker had chosen to bring it with her. Even she did not know why she had done so. However, as she neared the stream, she made sure to clench her jaws extra tight around the lamb's fluffy leg, making sure to have a good grip on it. Then, satisfied that her favorite toy was secure, Parker started travelling along the small stream. The swift-flowing water was always something that fascinated Parker, ever since she had first seen it. Last time she had been out in the valley she had thought she had seen a fish in the current, but it had been too late in the day to get a good look. Now, however, it was mid-day, the sun was right overhead. If she was going to see any fish, today would be the day.

The sunshine girl travelled downstream for several minutes, golden gaze fixed on the water as she meandered over the rocky, riverbank. They were still a fair distance from Rabbit lake, but Parker noticed that the nearer she got, the wider the stream became. It also seemed to get a little deeper in certain places. It was in one of those places, Parker saw what she was looking for. Fish and a fair amount of them at that. She couldn't get a good look at them, but their silhouettes against the stony bottom of the creek were unmistakable to Parker's golden gaze. Luckily, the river bank jutted out into the stream at a point near the fish, and what happened to be there but a stump, just high enough that Parker could get up onto it and get a better view of the fish. Without hesitation, the petite Sadira pup clambered up onto the stump, lamb still firmly gripped in her mouth, to get a birds-eye view of the fascinating fish that lurked beneath the water's surface. Fortunately for Parker, the sunlight was hitting the water just right that she could see the fish perfectly. And there they were, small brook trout swimming against the current. Their scaly bodies glistened in the sun so beautifully. It took her breathe away at how amazing they looked from this angle. Absentmindedly, Parker let her jaws loosen in a contented sigh. She loved nature, it was so fun to learn about.

Some soft ripples and the startled fish told her immediately that something was amiss, and the knowledge of precisely what hit the quiet pup like a ton of bricks. Her lamb!! She had let go! Shocked, her golden orbs searched the stream for any sign of her white, fluffy toy only to find that indeed her favorite toy, her near constant companion for these few months of her young life, was floating downstream with the swift current. Without thinking, Parker leapt down from the stump and dashed down the riverbank as swiftly as her spindly legs could carry her. When she was neck and neck with the lamb she dashed into the water, only to find that the moment she turned the lamb was already past her. She was too slow! What was she going to do?! In only a few short miles the stream would open up into Rabbit Lake. There was no way she could swim out into the deeper waters of the lack to save her lamb. And who was to say that her lamb would not sink to the bottom if it got soaked! What to do?! She needed help.

Mama! Mama was nearby! Without so much as a thought Parker turned and dashed back upstream, her petite body frantically pushing itself to the limit, knowing that each passing second sent her lamb further downstream. She had to find her mother, but she did not know where precisely in the area she was! How would she let her mom know if she needed help!? She could call, couldn't she? She didn't know. Was she ready? Her mind was sending mixed messages. However, this was no time for her lack of self-confidence in her proper speaking ability to come into play. Lifting her head skyward, Parker let out a short, frantic howl practically screaming for her mother's aid! As she got closer to the last place she had seen her mother, Parker let out another similar howl, this time with some words, the very first she had ever spoken to back it up. Mamma! Dove lei è!? Devo aiutare! Per favore! She had not consciously chosen to speak in Italian, it had just been the first to come out. Perhaps it was because her mother spoke it so often that her mind had just picked it instead of English at the moment. As her frantic cries echoed on the wind, all Parker could do was wait, twirling around in every direction hoping to catch a glimpse of her mother coming to her aid. She wasn't hurt...not physically, but she'd made a mistake and she couldn't fix it herself. If there had been an appointed time for Parker to start talking, fate sure had picked a strange one.

And so Operation: Rescue Parker's lamb commences. Sorry for the delay

Every second seemed like an hour as Parker searched the horizon for her mother. Where was she?! Could she not hear her? Had she already left the valley for the day? Parker didn't know, but she needed to find out soon in order to get help faster. Fortunately, Parker's frantic worrying was eased slightly by the nearby call of her mother, and as she turned her golden gaze saw the slender figure of her mother kneeling down beside her to check on her. She immediately asked about the situation, which Parker was more than ready to answer about, her body pushing her lack of confidence aside and letting her vocalize her problem. "Nessuna mamma, non sono doluto ma--my l'agnello! Il mio agnello è caduto nell'acqua! Era un incidente che non ho significato a ma la corrente è troppo veloce! Non posso prenderlo!" They needed to hurry too. Every second they stood here talking was a second that her precious toy was rushing downstream, its fluffy, fabric exterior likely getting soaked with water. It might sink and be unable to be recovered if they didn't hurry. Surely they would be able to save it! After all, Mama would know what to do! She always knew what to do!

Now that she had told her mother what was wrong, the Sadira girl was eager to get back to the stream. They would have to race down the bank to try and find it. She even found herself preparing to lead her mom to precisely where she had been as fast as she could, taking a few steps in the proper direction, ready to bolt off as soon as her mother told her to lead the way.

Gosh I'm slow. I need to get some more recent Parker threads. She should be shifting by now. I hate how school keeps me too busy to reply everyday. Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest.

Her whole body shook from the adrenaline pumping through her veins, her petite body ready to dart off in the direction of the stream as soon as her mother was ready to follow. What would mama do? Oh how she hoped they would get there in time. She just had to save her toy! It was her fault, but she needed help to fix it. Her mother seemed far calmer after Parker had explained what was wrong. As the Marino woman stood up, the delicate Sadira girl turned to lead the way, awaiting only her mother's instructions. Mama's words were calm and firm, calming Parker down considerably. Mama had told her what to do, and Parker needed to be calm enough to think.

A few brief seconds passed as Parker thought about the exact place on the river where she had last seen her toy and plotted in her mind where she thought it would be when they got there. Even though she was young, she knew the entire layout of this valley. All those days of exploring had been well spent. Settled on her destination the Sadira girl darted off, as fast as her smaller legs could go without tripping over themselves. She knew Mama would be able to keep up. All she had to do was lead her to the spot. Mama knew what to do, she'd be okay. No matter what happened, Mama would be there to help. She'd make it better.

The slender pup weaved her way through the scattered bushes and trees as they neared the river. It would be faster to follow the river bank. Once to the river, Parker dashed onward, further downstream. Oh how she hoped they would find it. It could be dirty and soaked, but she didn't care. If they found it, they could fix it. But they had to find it first.

Yay for short posts! -_-

No matter how fast she ran, the water always was outrunning her. The water was carrying her lamb away and she would be unable to get there fast enough. She just knew it. However, just before she thought all hope was lost, her mother rushed ahead instructing her as she did. The cinnamon and sugar girl was unsure why her mother was rushing ahead, but amazed by how fast she was. Even as fast as Parker was running her mother was putting distance between them with ease. When about 100 yards was between the two of them, Parker watched her mama leap into the water. Her heart leapt into her chest and she held her breathe, hoping she would come out safe. Deep down, she knew her mama would be fine but her worried state of mind couldn't help it. Golden orbs stared ahead, her legs racing forward on autopilot. She soon saw the waterlogged form of her mother walking out of the chilled water. The words that the Marino woman spoke to her made her so happy she almost squealed. " Oh Mamma la ringrazia! Ringraziarla!Tears of joy streamed down her face as she finally reached her mother. She almost tackled her mother out of gratitude, her entire body shaking with excitement. Her mama had saved her lamb and there was no way she could express her gratitude and love other than just yipping and licking her. Her first day speaking, and she could not contain her feelings. Her mama was her hero!

Gosh, I've been so inactive! It's depressing. Oh well, nothing to do but try to be better ^_^

The excitement of the moment was almost too much for the young girl as she wiggled in her mother's arms, her happiness finding release in her constant movement. Of course, she continued to nuzzle and lick her mother for several seconds after her mother responded. Soon enough, though, she was calm enough to speak again and she whispered, Farei niente per lei anche, Mamma." With that, Parker leaned into the wet fur of her mother's chest in as much of a hug as she could give in her quadrupedal form. She couldn't wait until she was old enough to shift forms! Then she would be able to give her mama a proper hug.

For a moment, the pair sat on the riverbank in silence. The cinnamon and sugar Sadira girl merely enjoyed being in the presence of her hero. It was her mother who broke the silence with an excited revelation that Parker had long since forgotten about. She had talked! Today was the first day she had ever spoken! That really was amazing, for Parker did not really remember having the desire to do so. However, the quiet girl chalked it up to her mind knowing what to do in her time of need. Now it seemed to come easily. She was talking, and speaking as confidently as any of her siblings, or even most adults. Why had she ever been worried? An excited tail wag expressed recognition of her achievement as she spoke, Si! Ho fatto! Lo faccio ristabile? Penso che io sia avuto paura sempre che non potrei dire le cose giuste. Inoltre, tutti sembrano sapere sempre che penso ed imparo molto quando sono tranquillo. It hadn't been difficult for Parker to go through life silently. She had not gone without or been deprived of any of the normal childhood experiences that her siblings had gone through. Mama and Daddy had loved her and treated her like she was just as normal as the rest of the world, and she hoped that that would stay the same, even if she could talk now. She still was unsure as to why she had been so afraid to speak in the first place, but that did not really matter now.