Burn Bright or Cold will Triumph

Anu · 02-04-2011, 02:14 PM

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Big Grin for Cambria, Oak and Amata Smile please reply within 4 days ladies, or your turn will be skipped!

Set on; Feb 7th in the morning

Her strength was still not returning, but the remedies that one of the pack’s healers had given her were helping with the pain and the coughing. That was enough to brighten the second in command’s spirit. She had even awoke with enough energy to shift to her Optime form and leave her bed. Blue eyes had looked out her boarded window to see that winter's fury had only grown more violent rather then subsiding in a normal winter squall fashion. She swallowed heard and grew worried. The world was not as peaceful as her night’s sleep had been.

Anu took to the stairs, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, an old tattered sweater (the first she had ever worn) on her back. The woman moved slowly as her old bones awoke, and when she came to the fireplace she saw that the kindling had been left unattended during the coldest of hours.

The thin timber hued woman moved to the hearth, looking for the flint and arranging the timber. The world’s sky had become alive with snow and wind and ice while she had slept and she could feel winter seeping through the old mansion and filling it with cold. Her fingers fumbled with the wood, shivers hitting her teeth and making them rattle. Anu wrapped the blanket tighter around her body, then returned to pocking at the embers in the hope that they would rise again.

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Cambria Marino · 02-05-2011, 01:26 AM

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Shaw, you can assume that Savi relieved Amata of watching Artemis Smile 300+

Cambria had been sent to get some sleep after she had been watching her little sister and checking her vitals, but sleep had not come to her. She had simply sat huddled on the bed that was far too large for her alone and cried softly into the blanket she had wrapped around herself. Her chest ached with separation and worry and all of the most horrible kinds of thoughts filtered through her head. Mati, her mate, was out there somewhere in the blinding snow and cold. Not only her love, but her other little sister as well, and Cypress too. Fear was embedded so deeply in her that it had sunk its claws into the very marrow of her bones. It was cold in here, in the safety of the mansion, how awful it must be outside. Had they found shelter? Were they okay? Were they even alive? This alone would have easily brought the delicate Marino to her knees, but this was only the culmination of so many other bad things. All she wanted was to know that Mati was okay, and she had no way of finding out, stuck inside the house just as her mate was stuck outside.

She didn't know if she had actually fallen into some kind of delirious sleep, but noises outside her door startled her into alertness. Someone was out there. Could it be Mati? And Parker? Had they made it home? Cambi stood, the blanket still clutched tightly about her slim shoulders, and softly opened the door of the sunroom. Tentative steps brought her out into the main area of the manor and she held her breath, but the only soul there was Anu. The chocolate girl's spirits fell and the chill of the house penetrated her once more and she shivered. The Praetor seemed to be trying to revive the fire. Sea foam eyes looked to where the pile of firewood normally lay against the wall, but nothing was there. "Wha...what do we do?" The fear was evident in her voice. She was no healer working with a patient now (even though she had been caring for Anu in her illness). Right now, she was just a terrified girl.

Amata Sadira · 02-06-2011, 05:54 PM

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WC:250

Amata had been on her watch with Artemis. Nothing was changing and she was feeling the despair in the whole house was giving off. Her mother who rarely left the little girls side told her to stretch out a little. As they were stuck in the house due to the storm she would call after her or Cambria if there was any change. Amata obediently obliged, finding herself in the hall unsure of what to do. That was when she heard the question her sister asked, and she moved into the room where the large fire usually was burning lively, but now it was nothing more than embers, if those could be called Embers… and she understood what the question meant. She bit her lip for a second, looking around.

We need to find wooden things we don’t use, even books if there are any.

It hurt her to mention books, but they were burnable and she’d rather stay warm than freeze. She knew how it was to be cold, she’d spent a lot of time out in the cold finding what she could to keep warm out in the open elements. She looke around and then up. Turning to her sister and Anu.

Maybe there’s some extra chairs upstairs or something that’s old that we don’t use.

She suggested, but she wasn’t going to be the first out of the room to actually grab anything until someone else initiated the find. She was just the one with the suggestion.

Oak · 02-07-2011, 09:34 AM

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Oak tapped the side of the jar, watching the creature inside lifelessly bounce against the glass at the soft flick of his claw. Freddy the summertime grasshopper had succumbed to the cold at last and now rested still and stiff on the bottom of the jar. A deep frown creased the boy's lips as he slumped against the wall, crossing his arms. Hot, frustrated tears threatened to break the surface, but he struggled to keep them at bay. Freddy's death had been the final blow — so much had been going wrong in Crimson Dreams that the boy often didn't even know how to feel. Artemis was sick, a storm had come, his brother was trapped outside with the others — and now Freddy.

The brick hued wolf almost sank against the wall down to the floor and sobbed while he could do so privately, but noises from downstairs deterred him. Instead he righted his posture and peered down the railing to the floor below. There, Mama, Cambi and Amata were gathered around the fireplace, speaking in hushed voices whose words he had to strain to understand. They were talking of building a fire. Oak's frown grew shallow — he could help them! At last he smiled, all dark thoughts of the weather and his deceased pet drifting away. Amata spoke of firewood, and Oak leaned over the railing and called down to them. I'll get some chairs. He entered the next room, where two worn-out dining chairs rested forlornly against the wall. It would be difficult to get them downstairs by himself, but he could do it. He wove a burly arm under each of the chairs backs and lifted them off the floor. Awkwardly, he blundered with them down the hall, down the stairs, making an obscene amount of noise.

Once he'd reached the front room, Oak set the chairs down before the women with a huff and grinned. There you go, ladies... want me to pull them apart?

#300+

Anu · 02-07-2011, 10:26 AM

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great work replying so quickly friends!!! Big Grin

She poked at the fire, yearning for it to grow with her efforts. Anu knew that she could not get it to burn once more without more fuel for it to feed on. Still the wolfess worked, blowing on the glowing bits of wood and breathing life into the dying fire. There was a determination in the weakened female, and it wasn't until there was a voice behind her that Anu woke from her slight daze and realized that she would need more then just the small sticks that were left for timber. The silver tinted wolf turned to see the figure of Cambria. Worry filled Anu as she remember that Mati was still missing, the story was written on the lines of Cambria's face. Yes, the Church female was lost in the storm and there was so way to know where she and the hunting party was or if they were alive. Cypress was there too, and Parker. But she knew better then to give up hope, to believe that they were weak enough to succumb to the elements no matter how harsh they might be.

Amata appeared, giving the answer before Anu could even think of one. They all seemed so tired, and she knew that Artemis' illness was taking a serious toll on the healers and sisters. Just as it did their mother. Anu tried to keep the feeling at bay, steal her heart for a moment and be strong. Oak came forward, and the sight of her red tinted son scared the cold away from her heart and let her feel the warmth. We'll need some paper, to light first. And if we get the fire started again we'll need to take turns adding timber. Anu thought aloud, watching as the others worked to find something burnable.

Her blue eyes went to the dark brown female, and Anu lifted a hand to invite her to join her close to the fireplace. Mati was missing, and if she had been here she would be the one to comfort the Marino girl. Cambi would be cold, with worry filling her to the brim. Sit by me Anu spoke to the healer.

Oak reappeared, with chairs that would have to be sacrificed. It was a one Anu was willing to make. Yes, into as many pieces as you can. The mother smiled softly at the young male, encouraging his hard work.

300+

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Cambria Marino · 02-07-2011, 03:40 PM

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Agreed! Big Grin 300+

Anu turned to her as she spoke haltingly and she felt so small and fragile under the other woman's gaze. Cambria was crumbling quickly, being eroded away like a beach against the constant waves of the ocean. Each thing that happened and each moment that passed with her sister still asleep and her mate still missing ate a little bit more of her. Whatever rejuvenation that she had gained from helping Princess deliver her pups into the world was long gone by now. Before the healing leader could answer her question the voice of her sister piped up and the Marino nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise. Her slim limbs shook as she looked at Amata. Burn books? The thought seemed almost sacrilegious to her and she nearly spoke against it, but she knew that they would have to if they could find nothing else. The books were not as important as their own well being.

Just as quickly and unexpectedly as her sibling had appeared and spoken, Oak's voice drifted down to them from the second floor. Tired and strained eyes looked up at the boy before he disappeared to go find them fuel for the fire. Anu spoke then, saying they would need paper to help start the flames again as well as to make sure that they kept the fire stoked so that it would not go out again. Everything seemed to buzz around her and Cambria could find no strength to do anything to help. She felt lost in a haze and she felt she would fall if even a soft breeze brushed her slender body. A lifeline was thrown to her though as the leader's hand rose and she asked Cambi to come and sit next to her. She felt guilty for not helping at the moment, but she needed that kindness and comfort more than anything right now.

The Medicus walked over to Anu's side and hunkered down beside her, pulling her blanket even tighter about her shoulders. Already she could feel fresh tears stinging at her reddened eyes. She only managed to spare Oak a semi-thankful glance before fixing her gaze on an undefined spot in front of the hearth, trying not to break down once again.

Amata Sadira · 02-07-2011, 06:09 PM

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WC:228 OOC: It’s ok if you pp Amata a litte! <3

She was slightly oblivious to what her sister was feeling at the moment. It was possibly a bad thing as she was so attune to her feelings, right now the first thing that was on her mind was keeping everyone warm, especially Anu who was just starting to recover herself. She found a book, it was random, but she couldn’t help but flip through it to make sure it was something that no one wanted… it was something on some kind of public thing or another, an old volume of something that the humans had thought important but wasn’t helpful to the wolves. She started tearing out the pages, wincing in the process… any human knowledge was very resourceful and she felt horrible for doing something so horrible, she had to close her eyes as she put the papers over the red embers. Turning to Oak who’d brought down a few chairs she nodded and headed over to help him. She was not trying to ignore anyone, she could see the pain in her sister’s face, though she did not know why. She didn’t know about the hunting party though she had noticed a few missing bodies, but she didn’t think anything of it, nor did she put either together. She started helping Oak with breaking apart the chairs, which were sturdy even in their old age.

Oak · 02-13-2011, 05:59 AM

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The tension was tangible, hanging over the room like a dark fog. As he began to pull at the legs of one of the chairs, the boy stole a glance at Cambria and felt overwhelmed by her sadness. He couldn't imagine what it was like for her right now, with a sick sister and a mate out in the cold. It had been stupid to pity himself over a dead insect, his pain nothing compared to hers. When Anu invited her closer to the fire, Oak wanted to drop what he was doing and cuddle up next to the pretty healer, to chase the sorrow from her eyes.

He reluctantly looked away from Cambria and returned to his work, smiling at Amata as she joined him. The chairs were well made and difficult to dismantle, but his strong arms succeeded in tearing one leg after the other, forming a pile of wood at his feet. His hands smarted from friction of grasping wood and his breath was shallow with exertion as he finished, gathering the pieces in his hands and setting the pile beside the fire that his mother was so carefully tending. What else, Mama? he asked, looking into the fireplace. He knew nothing about fire building, much as he wished to help his mother bring warmth into the room, but he would help in any way that he could. Perhaps once the flames ascended and the room was comfortable, everyone, especially Cambria, would feel a little better.

#000+

Anu · 02-15-2011, 10:43 AM

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keep up the great work! this is fun Smile )) slight PP with Oak, please let me know if i should change Wink

The pack was suffering in the months of hibernation and ice. They all faced some sort of hardship. May it be individual or collective, they all felt the pain of the cold hand of winter against their hearts. Anu could not help but think of her sons that were not with her now, and the angst and worry was something that tightened her stomach and bitterness that ached in her bones. But she needed to be strong despite the illness she was still battling and the inner heartache (which was always worse). As the eldest, she felt the responsibility to bring comfort to those that surrounded her.

Anu took the pieces of destroyed book, and knelt in front of the fireplace and slowly fed the weakened embers with the thin fragile paper. It smoked, and she laid it down and then gathered another. No voices were heard until the chairs were all broken and Oak spoke up. Blue eyes looked to meet their match, her heart warming at the sight of her son. She was happy he was here, at least one was safe and with her. She could see that he wished to work and gave a few last requests. Bring me three pieces. She asked, and when he did she staked then in the fire place over the paper. She gave it room to breath and fed it another thin slice of aged paper. It ate it hungrily, and Anu turned to the three wolves and settled on her tail. Come, lets sit close and enjoy the warmth. They all needed a moment to take in the heat, to let it soften their bodies and ease their minds.

Who wants to hear a story? She asked, wondering if anyone had a good one or if they wished to hear one she had.

300+

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Cambria Marino · 02-17-2011, 10:05 PM

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Poor sad Cambi, she are useless :<

The Marino sat silently as her sister and Oak worked off to the side. She could hear the ripping paper and it nearly made her flinch. A strong respect for books had been instilled in the Sadira-Marino children and to have to defile one was awful, even if it were necessary as it was now. She was thankful when the ripping noise stopped and she listened as the chairs were broken, her face taking on a mask-like appearance. Cambi didn't notice how Amata did not seem to know the reason for her pain, or the red hued boys concerned looks. She had retreated into herself, the only way she could keep from falling to pieces in front of the three other Dreamers. If anyone had asked her what the matter was, she likely would have starting sobbing before she could make the words of the situation pass her lips. She tried not to think of Mati, it was impossible not to though.

There was a sudden blooming of warmth, and the Praetor's voice made the slight healer come back to herself a little. Sea green eyes blinked owlishly, looking first at the growing fire and then back to Anu. The elder fey suggested a story, and Cambria nodded her head mutely. There were no stories for her to tell and her voice seemed to be buried somewhere. Maybe someone else would have a story though, and maybe it would help ease the pain, even if only for a moment.

Amata Sadira · 02-20-2011, 12:07 PM

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WC: 255 OOC: sorry for the wait! <3

As Amata was not able to put the papers in the hearth to actually burn… she was having a hard enough time ripping the pages out… she couldn’t watch as Anu did so. She could feel it though. The warmth that was beginning to spread throughout the area. It was nice, and she then looked at her sister who was wrought with worry. She let the rest of the fire tending go to the boy and his mother and moved to her sister. Now that the warmth was washing through her body she was thinking about what made her sister so sad, and the thought of the missing bodies, and then Mati being one of them… it clicked, where had they gone? Are they out in the storm? Her questions didn’t cease there, as she wrapped one arm around her sisters shoulder, hoping to give a little comfort. At the mention of a story Amata looked at Anu.

I would love to hear a story

She said kindly, knowing a distraction from the storm was what they needed at the moment, and it seemed that’s what Cambria needed as well, to get her mind off the possibilities of what was happening out there. Amata was praying for the missing member’s safe return. She would have offered up a story, but she thought it was best to hear one right now. There were a few things she could have told to lighten the mood… but yes it was best for someone else to start the story.

Oak · 02-25-2011, 09:15 AM

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Oak handed the chair legs to the ashen woman and chose a spot nearest to her, where he sat with his tail wrapped around his ankle. He curiously watched his mother feed the growing flames with the ripped pages and wood, listening to the soft crackle of the hungry fire. The pungent smell of smoke dominated the room as the flames rose to life. Warmth swelled into the room, touching his spine with pleasant tingles. Without the biting cold to hamper his mood, the brick-hued boy was beginning to feel very comfortable.

Oak grinned when his mother proposed a story, and although for a moment she left the telling open to them all, he hoped to hear one of hers. She had a way of storytelling that had always soothed him, and he remembered the many times that he and his brothers were lulled to sleep by the soft sound of her voice. When neither of Cambria nor Amata offered, he tuned his attention to his mother, wondering what story she would choose to share today. They all needed to be taken away from reality for a while.

#000+

Anu · 02-26-2011, 10:04 AM

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Moments like these needed a hero, they needed a story of deep loss and greater regain. Anu would tell them a story of awakening and of love.

Blue eyes looked at the two females, and they rested on her son for a long moment. When there was nothing they could do but wait there was no reason not to leave this world for a moment, and she could see in their eyes that they all wanted to go.

She nodded, settling deeper into her seat and closed her eyes to gather the tale for a brief moment. It was old, and the details had changed through the generations but Anu remembered it just as it had been told to her for it was one of her favorites.

The grey and silver wolf took a deep breath, and then began…

"This story is an old one, and tells of the time of when gods and goddess’ walked the world with all those creatures of blood and flesh. A time when Luperci lived in the veins of wolves that honored the deities with great respect and faith.

There lived a wolfess, her fur was silver and she was loved by all. The pack would speak her name in a gentle tone, her beauty as fragile as the delicate bone and the slim muscle that made her. They saw only that beauty as her rank, her worth. She wore her mane in braids, long and knotless it was a light as feathers and soft as silk.

In these times there was a goddess who walked the earth as many forms, and she was in love with the wolfess’ bright silvery white pelt. The power of her love was so strong that one day the goddess appeared to the wolf-woman as a night black crow and cried: ‘Alas, alas. I have nothing to build my nest with and my eggs will surely freeze.’ The wolfess, being as kind of heart as she was beautiful, was moved and so she cut off a braid of her silver fur.

And gave it to the goddess, who created her nest of pure soft silver.

The next day the goddess appeared to the fey wolf as a small crying pup and spoke: ‘Alas, alas I have nothing with which to weave the hair for my doll’ And again the wolfess was moved and cut off the second braid of her silver hair.

And gave it to the goddess, who added it to her nest of pure soft silver.

The third day the clever goddess appeared to the wolfess a handsome warrior and cried: ‘Alas, alas. I have nothing to wrap ‘round the hilt of my sword, and I will have no luck in battle.’ And the wolfess was moved and so she cut off the last braid of her silvery mane.

And gave it to the goddess, who completed her nest of pure soft silver.

But that evening when the goddess tried to fall asleep on her prize, she couldn’t. ‘Was it not softer before?’ she questioned. ‘And brighter? Was it not brighter?’ And the goddess could not sleep, but wept.

That night the goddess appeared to the wolfess as herself; a creature that mimicked the flesh of those that worshiped her with coat as black as the feather of a crow and with dark eyes that peered through a mask as frightening as the power that she held. She came to the wolfess but when she found her, she was weeping. ‘Alas, alas… Why do you weep? Is it the loss of you beautiful braids?’ she asked.

‘I weep out of loneliness’ she said, ‘My pack does not see my worth, without my hair who will see? Who will stay?’

And the goddess was moved, and took the mask from her face to reveal eyes no longer dark but kind. ‘Come look at the sky with me’ she said, and took the wolfess to looked up into the black night. And in the sky the she-wolf saw a silver wheel, spun of her own silver fur.

Then the goddess took the other’s hand and having found that her love was deeper then a single beautiful note, she stayed. A black night, honored only by the light of the silver wolfess’ kind heart.”

The elder’s voice slowed and ceased.

Story adapted from here | 700+

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Cambria Marino · 02-26-2011, 11:42 PM

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300+

After the fire had been rekindled and all the work done, she felt Amata come to sit next to her. When her littermate's arm wrapped around her, Cambi leaned against her and breathed a soft sigh into the warming air. She was thankful for the support and comfort, and for the heat of the flames, but it was hard to be too happy about it. Mati likely didn't have any fire to fight off the chill, not to mention any blankets. At least she wasn't alone though, or shouldn't be alone. Parker, Cypress, and Tony were with her as well. Perhaps that was why the Marino wasn't so worried for the younger wolves, care for them as much as she did. Mati would do everything to keep them safe. The problem was, there was no one to keep the Church fey herself safe. No one to look after her.

Still, when Anu started her tale, her sea green eyes focused solely on the elder woman and she tried to drain her mind of everything and to let the story fill all that space up. Most of the stories she knew were from books, and she had never heard this one before, she was sure of it. She had never heard anything quite like it either. Cambria didn't think that anything would truly be able to distract her from the worries that weighed down her heart and soul, but she found herself swept up in the tale. Mati was still there, in the back of her mind, but she listened with rapt attention to the femme's words and the narrative warmed her heart.

After it was over, there was silence for a moment while she waited to see if there was more. There was not though, and softly she said, "Thank you Anu. That was a nice story." She wondered if Anu had told the same tale to Mati. If she had, maybe she would remember it in these dark times and it would help stave off the cold.

Amata Sadira · 03-01-2011, 05:36 AM

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WC: 211 OOC:

Amata listened to the tale with apt attention, it was a beautiful tale of love, and greed… but mostly of love. She wagged her tail as the story came to a close. It was lovely how such stories came to be. She’d heard many from her mom back when she was young.

Thank you Anu; It was a beautiful, and enlightening tale.

It was all she could say as the story made her think. How could anyone be so apt about beauty? What was the point in such things. Yes something nice to look on was always good, but wasn’t what was inside, the thoughts, the actions, the person more important? The goddess had seen that, though she saw the woman’s beauty first. Amata looked into the flames, still deep in thought, unsure of what to say now. She was not going to voice what she thought entirely, though she did not like as it truly was a beautiful story. She wished she had a story of something that beautiful, though she had nothing that grand to say, and she was no story teller. She was always going to be a healer at heart and little more than that, but that never bothered Amata before, and it did not now.

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