wc: 678 // <3 Whoops, I wrote a novel for you!

Colibri was relieved to return to the pack territory from her excursion to the south. Visiting the former lands of Crimson Dreams had been emotionally exhausting, but she had made a new friend and collected what she came for. The saddlebag she borrowed from Saul's supplies was carefully laden with apple seedlings and a few precious flowers, roots intact. It had been a long and harrowing walk back, trying to keep them safe and stay clear of any loners or pack scouts on the way. Seeing the tall pine trees of the Vinátta grove soaring on the horizon filled her with a strange sense of pride, something foreign to the often malcontent wolf.

Once she returned to her small windowless house and stole a quick nap, she had spent the day delicately planting her little garden into the hill surrounding her submerged home. The flowers were a bit bruised and wilted despite her best efforts to travel slowly, so she determined that carrying them some water would be the best way to get them to perk up. They were more than just plants to her; they were a piece of her old life. It might be worth a second journey to Flander's field, to see if any of Dahlia de Mai's flowers could come join her up north as well. The apple seedlings and cuttings could wait a little longer, since she intended to bring them to the old vineyard and see if she could get them to root there. In a few years, they could be producing grape wine and apple cider.

Coli stretched, feeling stiff from all the walking she had done in the past several days. She was not particularly athletic, so the exertion had taken a toll on her. After she watered her flowers, she would probably sleep some more; no one appeared to have missed her when she was gone. The lean Optime stood, brushing the dirt from her knees and elbows, before picking up the wineskin canteen she had borrowed. She used to use a battered old tea kettle to water her plants, but she had lost it years ago when she fled Crimson Dreams. She had considered searching for it during her visit, but it was better off forgotten; a relic of the past she did not need to cling to. Besides... she hoped it already had an owner, one who wouldn't have left it there like she did.

Sunlight was warm on her earth-brown fur, making for a pleasant walk towards the lake. Coli had been too reserved at first to do much exploring by herself -- everything here was still so new to her, but she was getting more comfortable with the lay of the land. She saw the light glimmering off the surface of the water, a sight she always enjoyed. As she drew nearer, though, she saw she was not alone; there was a rather wide and ungainly chestnut horse drinking from the lake, accompanied by a slight female wolf Coli did not recognize. Her scent was faint in the air, masked by the horse's odor. Coli frowned, fingering the wineskin bottle she held in her hands. Was this girl a new member, or just a passerby? In the past, she would have avoided encounters like this, but she was trying to be more responsible now. Besides, if this female was trouble, a quick howl would bring the whole Stormbringer clan running to her aid. Their family was fiercely loyal, and somehow she had been accepted into their fold.

"Hello there," Colibri called calmly as she reached the lakeshore, dipping her bottle into the cool water to let it fill. She tried to remain nonchalant, but her nerves were tensed, ready to react if the stranger bolted or attacked. A cursory glance made her hesitate, though -- there was something very familiar about the warm chocolate hues in the young female's pelt, her long brown mane falling loose and free. If anything, she looked like a younger and happier Coli; prettier than she had ever been, too.

wc: 381 // <3 Awww...!

Horses were strange, unfamiliar beasts that made her uneasy. Alder had introduced her to one, a huge black and white stallion; Saul had led two large steeds burdened with their packs when they moved here. Coli had not liked any of them so far, but this mare seemed the least threatening. Her scent was heavy in the air, rich with the hormones of a late pregnancy. She would surely drop her foal very soon, ending the uncomfortable period of her swollen belly. Coli kept a wary eye on her as she filled her bottle with lake water, making sure the horse was not going to nip at her, but largely deciding to ignore her and focus on her wolf partner.

When the wineskin was full, Coli straightened, letting her loose hair fall back from her shoulders as she faced the other wolf. They were a similar height, she and this visitor, and the unique color of her lovely eyes stirred some half-forgotten recollection. The clear blue mirrored her own, but there were facets of violet, a rare shade she had only seen in one other... "I don't... think we've met before," she replied haltingly, feeling the same sense of déjà vu. She could clearly see the age difference between them, and she had not met many wolves since her return to the northeastern coastline. She listened patiently as the young woman continued, focusing intently on her melodic voice.

"Soulstorm? As in the Soul and Stormbringer families?" she quickly asked, taking a pace forward. The only Soulstorm in existence was her half-sister Lilin, or so she had thought -- Lilin had no full siblings, and had not mentioned anyone else using the unique surname. But here before her stood a relative of Saul's, who must also be a relative of Colibri... Haku's genes so strongly resonated in the warm brown fur they both shared, in the blue of their eyes. But this sweet-sounding female, Eclipse, was too young to be a sibling of hers... "M-my name is Colibri Haki, I'm... part of the Soul family," she explained after a moment's hesitation, offering a weak smile to try and ease the tension between them. Was it possible she had found another dear family member, one untouched by the darkness in their legacy?

wc: 491 // Aww! She's so cute and innocent~ 8)

If Eclipse knew Lilin personally, then perhaps it would soften the mention of Haku; though his ghost was fading from this land, there were still many whom he had wronged, striking fear into their hearts from beyond his shallow grave. She herself had suffered much at his hands -- losing her tail, her confidence, even her maidenhood -- and she still hated saying his name aloud, as though he would wreak some posthumous revenge if she invoked it. "I'm Haku Soul's daughter, which makes me Lilin's half-sister," she elaborated, setting her ears back anxiously. It was not with any semblance of honor that she mentioned the Soul patriarch's name, but simply for the sake of recognition. And when Eclipse mentioned her parents by name, suddenly it all fell together.

This must have been what Mew Sadira had felt, meeting her niece for the first time in Dahlia de Mai. Coli found herself openly staring, suddenly recognizing the familiar hues in Eclipse's pelt, the purple tint to her lovely irises, the softness in her voice. There was no doubt in her mind, this had to be Conor's daughter. She had no idea that he had taken a mate, started a family... In every way, he had been better than her, and she could not have been more proud of him. "Conor Soul is... was... my little brother," she said haltingly, a mixture of pride and sadness in her expression. They had different mothers, but she preferred to see him as her closest relative. She had only learned recently of her brother's death at the hands of someone named Itachi Lykoi, and it deeply disturbed her to know that his life had been cut short in such a brutal and undeserving way. She wished she could have spent more time with him, gotten to know him as an adult and a leader, but most of her memories were him as a young and frightened child. She just wanted to protect him. And now, there was some vestige of his soul remaining on this earth, reincarnated into his lovely young daughter.

"Eclipse, you're my niece, I'm your aunt!" she exclaimed with uncharacteristic excitement, touching her fingers to her lips to hide the broadening smile. "How long will you be staying here? How far south are you traveling?" With so much family here, Eclipse must be considering joining their pack, why else would she want to see their beautiful fledgeling Vinátta? They could spend so much time together, and Coli could right the wrong she had unwittingly committed by being absent from so much of Conor's life -- she could forge a bond with Eclipse, and protect her dear brother's family. She had never met Bris Stormbringer, but if Conor had loved her, surely Coli would have as well. Her tail stub flicked in a happy rhythm, and she would have hugged the girl if she did not have her own aversions to contact.

wc: 518 // Ahh, she got shot down... ;n; Poor dear!

Colibri's happy excitement caused her to miss the subtle way Eclipse grew still, the wariness in her gaze. She just felt the heavy weight on her shoulders lighten a bit; Conor was not erased from this world, part of him could still be with her. Saul had mentioned that Itachi was also Conor's child, but Coli refused to believe that it was possible. Even she did not possess the rancor necessary to want to kill her own sire, and he had been a monster. How could anyone wish to harm dear sweet Conor Soul, especially if he was their father?

Her blind affection faltered for a moment as Eclipse spoke next, revealing that not all had been perfect in their family. Coli was unsure how to respond to that -- he must have had a good reason, he was not the type to abandon responsibility. He had become an alpha at such a young age, because he had good judgment and was easy to trust. And again, she was reminded of an echo of Mew Sadira -- her aunt had been blind to Haku's flaws, refusing to even listen to the truth about her brother. Was that what she had become, too? "He... he was someone I loved very much, too... I'm... sorry for what happened, I truly am." She wanted to defend his actions aloud, but found that she could not; she did not know who he was as a grown man, and it wasn't fair to claim that she knew him better than his own daughter.

Crestfallen, Coli's ears drooped, expressive blue eyes registering confusion and hurt. Eclipse had already made up her mind to leave...? The desire to find one's own path away from family that made life too easy -- that need was completely foreign to Colibri, whose family had mostly served to make her life miserable. Her emotional growth was stunted by the abuse her father had rained down on her, making it very difficult for her to want to leave anyone who actually wanted to take care of her. She could already see that Eclipse was more independent than she could ever be, which was something she must have learned or inherited from brave little Conor. Even if she could not understand the decision, she would have to respect her niece's willpower.

"I... I can walk with you, of course," she said after a moment, trying to force a weak smile. She didn't want Eclipse to never return, of course; maybe her journey would lead her back here, and they would still have a chance to bond. "Just... don't take your family for granted. You and I both know they won't be around forever." It was a sad reminder of poor Conor's fate; had Coli known her brother was fated to die young, she would have returned to his side instead of breaking ties with everyone and vanishing. She did not want Eclipse to make the same mistakes she had, and be forced to carry the same regrets. She deserved better than her predecessors -- she was the new generation, the future.

wc: 570

Coli glanced dolefully at her niece, surprised to see the apologetic look on her face. Did she actually feel guilty? That was such a sweet sentiment. She should know that Coli struggled with depression, and almost anything could spiral her into the melancholy state she found herself in now. But the gentle atonement she was offered was enough to get her to perk up again, if only a little. "Sweetheart, there's no reason to apologize for how you feel... I can relate to that, my mother died giving birth to me, and my father was abusive in many ways. At least you can cherish the happy memories you have of parents who loved you." They had both endured much heartache, and again Coli felt the impulse to hug the girl, though she refrained from doing so.

Eclipse spoke from her heart, strong words that showed an independent and willful spirit. Coli openly stared, amazed at how mature this young adult was. Despite whatever abandonment she had suffered as a child, Eclipse had grown into an amazing woman, one who did not need anyone to hold her hand or protect her. Coli felt foolish for having assumed she would be able to teach Eclipse anything -- her niece was a third of her age, and had already learned more about how to live for herself than Coli could ever comprehend. In that moment, she was reminded not just of Conor, but of Conor's dam, Eclipse's grandmother. Coli had no love lost for Firefly Sadira, but that woman had more spitfire in her than any other wolf she knew. A rueful smile twisted on her muzzle, and she shook her head in wry amusement. "Of course you can visit, please do. And share your accomplishments with us! You seem like the type that can do anything you set your mind to. I can't wait to see."

They began walking side by side, Coli carrying her bottle of water for the garden, Eclipse leading her horse. Coli eyed the horse again with mistrust, making sure she was not within range of a nip or a kick. She still did not like the beasts of burden, despite the establishment of Vinátta's stable. Her niece offered her an easy question, and she gazed up at the clear skies as she formulated a response. "Yes, I suppose you could say that... I lived on my own for close to two years before coming here and finding Lilin. Before that I tried living in several packs... I was a part of Dahlia de Mai when Conor and Emwe were born, and stayed there until Haku drove us to war. That pushed me to Crimson Dreams, but I had a... a falling out, and ended up leaving there too." It was a weak history, one that showed her many failings. She was a timid creature, one prone to cowardice, and ran away whenever there was conflict. She wanted Eclipse to have some sort of favorable opinion of her, though, and glossed over the exact details. "And you, you sound as though you've been traveling too? Found anything interesting?" She smiled, finding Eclipse's gaze again. She desperately wanted the girl to stay, but there was nothing she could say to sway such a mindset. The best she could do would be to learn as much as she could for now, and hope her brother's daughter would visit soon.

wc: 517

"You garden...?" Coli breathed incredulously, clutching her water bottle with growing excitement. "Th-that's what I do, my talent! I've only been able to start up again recently, since I have a home now, but I've been raising plants on and off again for years..." What an amazing coincidence - or possibly even a hereditary trait of some sort - that both females shared a green thumb. Coli always felt an immediate connection to those who loved the soil and sunlight the way she did, and it made her heart soar to know that she had something so profound in common with her niece. She also knew what it felt like to leave her garden behind after all the effort and time spent helping it flourish, and she offered a sympathetic smile at Eclipse's words. "I would love to try your cooking, that would mean a lot to me. Next time you visit, it could be like a party, food and drinks and stories to share!" Coli's docked tail flicked behind her, waving a happy rhythm. For now, at least, Eclipse's presence had uplifted her from the gloom of depression. She really liked the girl, not just because of her lineage, and hoped fervently that her niece felt something similar.

Eclipse proved her maturity again, revealing through her observations that she was wise beyond her years. It struck a chord, her descriptions of seeing everything change too quickly, of all the places and faces that passed her by. "When you live on your own, it's hard to see the world as anything but dark," Coli replied somberly, rubbing the thin scars that encircled her wrists. It was a dangerous way of life for a lone female, and no matter how defensive or cautious she was, she still fell victim to the cruelty of others. She could never truly feel safe anywhere, but within the confines of a pack was the best safety net she could hope for, and this one had the potential to last her a long time. "I know it can be hard to trust others, but... pack life is still safer than living as a loner. I'm really trying to make it work this time around," she added with a wry smile, knowing that her past failures at being a part of the community were largely her own fault. The inability to open up and trust others had created a rift between her and her packmates, making her feel unwelcome and driving her to desert them. It was a cycle she needed to break.

"Are you looking to join a different pack from this one, or will you continue on your own?" She asked carefully, hoping she could steer the girl towards the safer option. Eclipse seemed so headstrong and independent, she could easily choose to continue traveling endlessly, but it filled her with anxiety to imagine the pretty young wolf wandering without any way to protect herself. It was a bleak existence, one fraught with danger and instability, and not one she would wish upon her niece. She just wanted Eclipse to find happiness.

You can post again if you want, or just close this after you've read it~ and poke me when you want the next thread! Coli will so be that relative who always asks "when will you have kids?" xD

wc: 524

Coli listened happily as her niece spoke of getting her hands dirty, a sentiment the two of them shared. It had been such a weight off her shoulders to be able to cultivate plants again, after so many seasons of living homeless. "Once you settle down, and come back here to visit... I can give you some flowers to start a new garden, in exchange for your cooking. I collect them from the woods and fields, and plant them around my house - I would love to share some with you," she offered, pleased she had a way to reciprocate. Gardening brought her peace, a meditative state in which her many anxieties melted away from her. She would share that with everyone who wanted it, the gentle patience required of those who tended the earth. She was only just starting out here in the new pack, but eventually the land would bear her mark, shaped by her diligent care.

"Cercatori... I'm afraid I don't know anything about them, but I could always try to visit you there, if that's where you choose to stay. You'll have to let me know," she added with a little smile, hoping they really were a nice place to stay, like Dahlia de Mai used to be, like Vinátta was trying to become. They needed these bastions of peace, bulwarks against the lawlessness and depravity that lurked in neutral territory. It was a dark world, to be sure, but they could protect and preserve the goodness in those like Eclipse if she could be sheltered within a community. Colibri had waited far too long to learn that lesson for herself, but if she could impart it to another with her same problem, perhaps she could serve a useful purpose after all.

In what felt like no time at all, their gentle stroll led them close to Vinátta's border, the tall pine trees perfuming the air with their aromatic scent. Coli could not help but feel lucky for having met Eclipse, a wandering soul that did not seem to stay in any one place for long -- it was chance they had encountered each other like this. Her feelings about Conor, so tumultuous and twisted since she learned of his murder, were finally unraveling into something she could understand and accept. His death was a terrible blow, but knowing he lived on through his daughter made it less painful, gave her something positive to focus on. It was bittersweet to know that Eclipse would never reside in the same pack as her, but it was enough to know she was out there. Her niece was such an incredible wolf, so brave and admirable and lovely. The Soulstorm name was truly something special, elevating both Eclipse and Lilin above the muddied waters of their heritage, bestowing pride and dignity upon those two young women so dear to Coli. She was lucky to have met them both.

"Thanks for taking the time to talk with me," she murmured softly, genuinely touched. "If you ever need anything at all, I'll be there for you... Eclipse. Good luck finding your new home."