SSWM - 679
<3 you

Winter was brewing a storm beyond their walls. The snow fell liberally, thick and fat flakes that sat heavily on the roof above her head. A wind howled beyond the windows, shaking the panes and whistling between the trees beyond the Manor’s fence. It shadowed any light that the moon might shine, and there was little more then a candle’s flame that hovered through the hallway. It was carried and led the Lt. General, who’s blue eyes fought the great darkness. It was cold in the large mansion, without the heat that the human’s might have been able to generate. Fires would be rolling through many of the fireplaces in the rooms that had them, while others would seek the warmth of shared beds or mounds of blankets. It was a lover’s sort of night, the air outside the covers far cooler then that inside. The General’s mind would have like to wander to her own bed, allowing her body to follow. Yet her mind needed to be steadfast, focused. The silver tinted female meandered up a staircase, her candle protesting her speed and flickering wildly. It threatened to extinguish with each small dance, and the heated wax dribbled down to her soft fur.

There was so much that need to be discussed, and so much that Anu felt as if she had been holding back. It wasn’t right, to keep it all to herself, while others might be wandering off the dangerous areas without even knowing. While the things Alexy had told her had run through her mind again and again. After tending to Colibri, as Anu did daily, and then she had gone off in search for her leader. It was only right to express her concerns, and after warning those that didn’t even live among them Anu needed to turn inward and care for those that she lived beside. Part of her wanted to just let go of all that weighed her down, and simply tell her best friend the things that she had kept to herself. Very few understood that she had fallen in love once more, and who else deserved to know more then the tawny female’s best friend? Could Anu be happy at the thought of being in love with the Haki woman? At times she was unsure if she was allowed the joy of the newfound relationship.

Anu jumped backwards when the heat of the wax hit her finger. Quickly she switched hands and shook her injured finger with a high pitched whine. So much for attempting to wander through Haven Manor without making a ruckus, she figured as she walked more quickly down the hallway to the large door that opened to the library. The door was closed but Anu didn’t find it as a deterrent, and opened it slowly instead of knocking or swinging it recklessly. Nose first Anu found that her good friend did indeed sit inside, as she did at times. Thankfully there was a fire roaring in the fireplace and her candle would not be needed. The large window showed the white storm that raged in the outside world, yet inside the walls of their home there was a cozy atmosphere that seemed to follow the Commander. Anu let a smile come to her face, happy to simply see her friend.

As a follower, Anu let her ears fall in response to the alpha presence, yet it was only formality that was necessary. Savina had never asked for the elaborate acknowledgment of her rank, keeping humility and kindness prominent. The second in command simply set the candle in a holder and spoke with a warm tone.
“Good evening.” the blue eyed woman watched the other fey and walked to the table that sat in the middle of the room. She looked at the papers the filled the table top, unsure exactly how to express the concern that she held, and had been holding for so long. She would let the Commander take the floor, and when she gained the courage she would come forth with her issues.

<3 you toooo! SoSuWriMo 646



     It was a loud night as winter howled outside the walls of the mansion that kept the Dreamers safe. At times the Commander had the urge to howl back at it. To let it know that she didn’t like it one bit and she would chase it away from their lands like an intruder if she had the ability to do so. But then she thought of the mythology that she and her son had created concerning the forces of rain, snow, and tides and she couldn’t help but smile. The ice dragon was simply doing her work, though she wished that they would do it a little more quietly. She had tossed and turned in the comfy bed with her mate but sleep would not come to her. Finally Savina had found it to be a lost cause and had wandered down to the library to occupy herself. Better to be doing something than driving herself mad trying to force sleep upon her mind.



     The sable wolfess had taken care to light a fire in the fireplace, the large room needing the warmth that it would provide, not to mention the light. She was becoming better at dealing with fire. She clearly remembered the night that she and Anu had gotten stuck out in the Trenches during a thunderstorm and the tawny female had made a fire for them and she had nearly jumped out of her skin. Part of her traditional upbringing had been to fear fire for all it brought was death and destruction. In the forests such a thing was true, but now she found the phenomenon to be a necessity, especially with the horrible cold that now lay over their lands.



     With the fireplace burning brightly she had begun to inspect books that she had not inspected yet. By accident she had come across a section of geography books and maps and had taken out an armful of them and splayed them across the largest table in the center of the room. Savina had pictures in her head about the layouts of the land, but one of the fascinating human innovations had been maps. Illustrations of the world from above. The first she had unfurled had been a map of the entire world and it had floored her. She had read the small labels and found her birthplace: Italy. Then she had located Nova Scotia and had looked at the immense distance between the two. She had known they had been a long way apart, but not quite the amount that she was faced with now. It was amazing! How had she survived such a journey? Her arrival here seemed all the more miraculous to her now.



     The fey certainly hadn’t expected anyone else to be up, and so when the door opened and another light caught her eye her head spun around to take in the slight form of her dear friend and right hand. A warm smile etched itself on her face as Anu approached, her tail waving lightly. “Good evening to you as well Anu. Couldn’t get to sleep either?” What force was keeping the two leaders awake this night? Could it be fate? Was there something that they needed to discuss? Or had the spirits simply brought her her friend to pass the time? Savina would be happy with any answer, for the Lt. General’s company was always welcome. She was glad she was no longer such a wreck as she had been at their last deep conversation.



     Glancing back down to the map she pointed a finger at the boot shaped peninsula she hailed from. “That is where I came from.” A finger from her other hand pointed out their current location. “And this is where we are. I had no idea it was so far.” Would the older femme be as shocked as she had?

SSWM - 639
rawrrrzzzzzzz...-sleeps-

The female thought of sleep very little and rarely these days. It was such a secondary idea, and even in the depths of the night Anu was alert and bright as she looked at the midnight colored female. It was easy for Anu to slip from the moment and look back at their history. It had been a rocky one, but their friendship had never been in question. Not even when they disagreed (though the was rare) or when the world around the shook and crumbled (which was far more often). They had been able to wage war against those that had threaten to hurt the pack, some even internal, and they had been able to carry each other out of personal turmoil. Anu would not forget the kindness and understanding Savina had shown her, and had and would again show her the same without question. Together they had raise pups beneath the Manor’s roof, and both helped the youths grow into well adjusted adults (or close to it). There was little that the pair couldn’t accomplish and Anu was grateful to have such support close at hand.

They stood at either ends of the table and Anu smiled at the Commander as she greeted her. No, she shook her head, sleep was so very far away. The female that held her bed would own it until she was well, and Anu did not enjoy sleeping with a secret and was ready to unleash the small truth to her leader. It was no doubt nothing Earth shattering for Savina, for she understood Anu and her preference. But it was the news of Haku and the position he had taken for himself that was going to rock the boat. To put it casually.
“Not tonight.” Anu answered, meeting Savina’s smile with her own. Sleep would need to wait for the two, and Anu had glad to have found the mother alone, even if at such an hour and during such a storm. The snow would pile up along the porch and against the doors, and they would need to dig themselves out. But, that was only normal for the northern region.

Blue eyes followed the dark female’s finger to the map before them, looking at the shoe shaped picture and then following it back to where they stood. Anu had never seen such a large map, nor had she cared to examine one till this eve. She leaned in, wondering how small they much be in order to fit on the piece of paper.
“You came all that way?” Anu commented. It was so far, and to think that there might be others that traveled further. It had been on a ship, and yet had she been shipwrecked? The idea that one would travel that far on a ship was mind boggling and then to believe that one had simply ridden the waves in order to arrive along the shores of Canada was too much for Anu to wrap her brain around this late at night, alert or not.
“And to think Ehno and Ghita made it as well.” Anu wondered with a soft smile.

Delicate hands moved the next map out from under the corner of the one Savina examined. The world was something Anu could never understand, something that her mind would not likely be able to comprehend. The map of the country they inhabited unfolded along the edge of the table, though Anu could not read the writing.
“Is this where we are?” She asked with curiosity. She could almost count the paw steps it would take to get to Dahlia and the hours one would need at a run, a trot and a lazy walk. But she wanted to see their borders and know where their own where. She hoped Savina would be able to explain.

SoSuWriMo 628



     A good night’s sleep was a luxury that only recently the Commander was able to enjoy on a regular basis again. In fact tonight had been the first night since Ehno had returned from Phoenix Valley that she had not been able to find it easily. The two months that her brother had been gone and her sister had been pregnant Savina had gotten very little sleep due to the constant worry she had had and the feeling that her world was crumbling away from her. Her body and psyche were so worn down that when the relief of her sister’s normal delivery and brother’s return she had slipped into sleep as if slipping into a warm pool of water: effortless. Her survival of that horribly trying to was thanks in a large part to the woman that shared the room with her now. Without Anu she doubted she could have come out on the other side in as good of shape as she had. The tawny fey had always been there for her no matter how rough things got and it was something she would always be thankful for. The bond the two shared was special and she wouldn’t change it for the world.



     Savina had noticed a new scent around the mansion, but had yet to see who it belonged to. It wasn’t something she was worried about though. She simply chalked it up to there being a new member Anu had accepted that she had yet to meet. It wasn’t an uncommon thing to happen, although the Commander did try to make an effort to at least know the names and faces of all of her members. She was well acquainted with most of the pack, but of course there were always some that she didn’t know as well. As numbers grew that would increasingly be the case. The stronger they were though the less they had to worry about outside threats. “Hopefully it won’t become a trend. The pack will be in poor shape if its leaders can’t get some rest,” she said with a playful wink.



     She hadn’t taken much interest in maps before now either, but being from a different country gave her an interest in seeing the way the world was laid out. She had also searched for other places, such as Russia where Rurik was from. It was much farther north than she had thought. Really all of Europe was much bigger than she had realized. Living in such an isolated pocket of Italy had given her a somewhat skewed view on the size of things. Now those preconceptions were being shattered and her mind was growing. “Yes. Hard to believe, I know. Especially with the ship I was on not making it the whole way.” It must have sunk not too far off the Canadian coast though, else she wouldn’t have made it. “I know. I’m so thankful they were able to. Life wouldn’t be as full without them.” Family had always been incredibly important to her and if she had been separated from them forever there would have always been parts of her missing.



     Anu pulled out another map and Savina’s eyes roamed it curiously. It seemed to be a specific map of Canada. When asked where they were she looked back to the world map and picked out the shape of Nova Scotia on the larger image. “Here’s Nova Scotia…” Emeralds examined the land and the curves of the coast, trying to determine exacted where Crimson Dreams was. It was hard to translate the land level knowledge she had into a bird’s eye view. Looking at the coast she pointed to roughly where she thought the beach was. “I think we start here, though I’m not certain.”

SSWM - 756
old ladies xD

Long ago she belonged to Jaded Shadows, when she was but two years old, then as if light as a leaf she had been swept away and gone from the Bleeding Souls lands. The time away from the mountain had not been for waste, for she had gone to be with her ill and dieing father. Upon her return to the Shadow pack she found life changed and yet not surprisingly or for the worse. It was after a year among the Jaded wolves that Anu parted to travel away before the fires could engulf the lands and destroy everything that she had known.

Memories of her journey to these lands were hazy, blurred at best. Of course she remembered joining the Valley pack, though the ties she created there were few and loose. She had left with only a small amount of sadness in her heart, and mainly guilt. But before then, those years were so very unclear. She didn’t even know if she had traveled north or south. If it was south, it was not by much since her one crystal clear memory of those times were of a freezing cold winter. Snow that could drown, and ice that would swallow a wolf whole. She hadn’t thought she would survive, and she believed it was the next summer that she had sought the comfort of ‘Souls and of a pack.

And now, she was here. Standing beside the raven woman in the cozy library. Books lined the walls, rarely touched by the Lt. General’s hands. There were times where she had grown curious to know what she could find between the leather bindings, but in the end Anu let her curiosity grow fat and happy beyond the Manor walls. The outside world was a greater adventure then any book could provide, or so Anu assumed. Fantasies could be blossomed from her imagination, and from stories told with words and songs. But there were weak moments where she wished to know what she might just be missing, and if she ever came to truly understand what could be learned the gardener would begin her studies of the written word.

Anu smiled at Savina’s playful words. Of course, the pack would certainly been in poor shape if the two females took to being constantly drowsy and continuously taking naps throughout the day. It would be a sad sight, the two wolfesses asleep in armchairs like old ladies. If that began to happen the two would have to take up knitting and get a few fat cats. Instead, they would need to sleep the next night, and as Anu looked at the comfy chair in the corner she found the place she would sleep once Savina retreated to her room.

Eyes looked down at the map, her worries reigniting. The world was so large, and there were so many that had come from the other side of it. The flat map made her eyes moved from one end to the other and Anu looked at the large countries outlined in black with the names scripted inside. It was a coincidence or an accident that she had made it here, but for Savina and the other Marinos and those that had sailed here, it was a miracle.

Nova Scotia, Anu thought as she looked to the smaller map. She followed the Commander’s finger, looking at the coast and following it northward through the lands that they had claimed. A small misshapen dot sat on the map with a word printed beside it, Anu pointed to it, “The lake.” She commented, as the splatter of ink was blue in shade. Looking eastward, the female saw a line snake down paper. Dahlia had a river, a large one that Anu had encountered time and time again. She became serious, her features hardening and the normally calm soul found that her heart was beating rapidly. It was close as she looked at the small paper. The world had looked big, but this map seemed so much smaller. She didn’t want it to be that close.

Anu took a deep breath, and her eyes lifted to the face of her friend.
“Savina,” she spoke in case the woman was engrossed in the old papers.
“Haku has taken over Dahlia.” The phrase was said, and now perhaps she would be able to sleep knowing that she no longer held the news herself. Savina knew that the Dahlia male was a monster, and Anu waited in silence for the Commanders thoughts on the matter.

SoSuWriMo 466



     Maps changed one’s perspective on the world in multiple respects. The most obvious was the above view of the world that no creature save for a bird could gain, and even those gifted with wings could not fly so high as to see things the way these human remnants displayed them. The other was how much smaller the world was on these sheets of paper. Of course they would have to be else the map would be as big as the world itself. On the world map Italy was the same width as her finger and clearly that was not the case. It was interesting to see how three sides of that country were surrounded by the sea. That was a fact that she had been unaware of. The sea had never been far, she had known that, but never to the extent that was clearly shown on the paper. Nova Scotia was not much different in that respect and perhaps that was something that had made the transition between the two a bit smoother. With the ocean surrounding the land she lived on the Marino could never be far from the peace that it bestowed upon her.



     Her eyes scanned over the map of the country that they lived on, trying to decipher where their borders would fall but it was an incredibly difficult task. Almost all the landmarks she knew were not depicted for they were too small to be shown. Thankfully though Anu picked out one of them that was able to be seen from the sky. “Ah yes, the lake. Well that maps it out fairly clearly, at least from top to bottom.” Savina was detecting the undercurrent of worry from her friend, but being engrossed in the maps as she was her brain was not paying close enough attention to it. The Commander wasn’t even thinking about where the other packs lay in relation to theirs for she was not worried about any direct threats. True, her last meeting with Anselm had turned up some disturbing information regarding one of Dahlia de Mai’s subleaders but with Cercelee in charge there she was not too worried about it. The pale alpha would do nothing to cause severe problems between the two packs.



     It was with these comforting thoughts in her head that she looked up to Anu when her name was spoken. In the next second those ideas were shattered and fell about her on the floor. Her jaw hung open and her face became ashen. A million questions battered against her head but her voice had been lost in the shock. Looking back at the maps she took a deep breath. “How? When?” The “when” probably didn’t much matter, but it was one of the only things she could choke out.

SSWM - 623

She wandered if she had ever ventured south, into the country that had been once split into various states. Or so it looked like on the map. Lines crossed in various places, dividing the land into different areas that reminded her of pack lands. The woman did not understand human politics, or how such things had been divided into small fragments of a larger whole. Her lands were Crimson Dreams, the borders divided and marked with no fence and no signs. There were only the scents that lingered and spoke to intruders. Though they had taken on many of the human’s attributed with their infection, Anu still clung to those simple and primal ways. Of course others had their way of marking their territory, but she was beginning to slowly understand their reasoning’s.

The map would take a backseat to the topic at hand. Anu no longer searched for the borders of lands or seek the shapes of countries. She scoured for the thoughts of her Commander through the green orbs that she held. The bomb had been dropped, and Anu needed to know what it was that Savina was thinking. There was silence, and the woman did not look at her. There was a shock that ran through the other’s system and Anu wondered what it was that ran though her brain, the unknowing was driving the normally calm and cautious fey mad. She placed a hand on the maps, and then as the dark furred female spoke there were only a few questions that came forth.

How? Anu now looked away herself. She didn’t know how. The details were lacking, since she had been in her own form of shock when the news had been given. It was so wrong that Anu had been unable to hear clearly for many moments after taking in those few critical words. Anu was the one who allowed the silence now. The thin tawny female drew her hand close again, feeling the calm fill her form once more. She didn’t know why the sudden rage had come over her, but it seemed to pass and her voice returned,
“I don’t know how.” Anu paused, and the next that came were grave,
“The horrors of it are likely to be great.” She announced with a soft tone. She had not known the alpha that allowed him to continue as a sub-leader in the flower pack, or had allowed him to live at all. The situation in its entirety was beyond her thought process, and she had never been able to understand it.

When? She might be able to shed some light on the question, though it was a rough estimate.
“The past month, I think.” She felt incapable with the lack of information she had to give her Commander. Anu had been so unable to gather anything of use, since her immediate concern was not for her pack but for the girl who shared her bed. She had left the Dahlian informant and traveled strait to see if the brown and cream woman was well.
“I have just heard, but the details of it are jumbled.” She admitted, being honest with her fault. Savina would not accuse her of being incompetent, though Anu felt as if she had some how faltered in her position.

Though Haku had bigger problems with coyotes knocking at his door, Anu knew none of the war and only of the Dreamers relation with him. “I’m worried.” She spoke, letting the wall of courage disappear before her alpha. Worried that Haku would find Colibri, worried that she would bring a war to the Dreamers feet and that there would destruction in the wake of her decision to bring Coli to Crimson Dreams.

SoSuWriMo 559



     Her mind was lost in a torrent of fears and thoughts at the horrific news. She was not exaggerating in the least in calling it horrific. What had happened in Dahlia to have such a turn of events be allowed? What had happened to Cercelee. Surely the pale woman would not have given the reigns of power over to the mad beast willingly. What would happen now that he had total control over a pack? How many members of the pack were truly loyal to him? She couldn't imagine that her friend Alexey would be and now she was very worried about the tan woman's well being. About her nephew's well being. What would happen now? Would there be more war? Anselm had said that tensions were still high between Inferni and Dahlia de Mai. Now that whatever had leashed Haku Soul in was gone would it all boil over and strife be spilled upon the lands. Upon her dear friends? There were too many possibilities and too many unknowns and it made her heart quiver.



     Savina looked to her friend and subleader for the answers to what she had asked, but it seemed that the Lt. General's knowledge was not all that much better than her own. The words struck at her heart and her head hung low between her shoulders. "I can think of few things worse that could happen. War and fear could consume the lands with him at Dahlia's helm." No one would be safe. Inferni might have the most cause for worry, but they were not the only ones who had cause to fear the chocolate colored male. His depravity knew no bounds and she knew that he would just as easily strike at a member of any other pack. She wished that their lands lay farther away from Dahlia de Mai's now, but she knew not even distance would ensure security. Danger could now lurk behind every bend and every tree.



     It didn't much surprise her that this was a fairly recent event. Otherwise news of it would have surely reached her sooner. It also didn't surprise her that the details of such a happening were unclear. "I'm sure that's how he wants it. The more uncertainty and chaos the easier it is for him to work in his twisted and dark ways." It was all so unsettling that it took a great effort for the Commander to keep her body from shaking. There would be no peace anywhere while Haku was an alpha, but how could he be deposed now? He would need to be killed, but that was an equally daunting task. "How did you find out?" It would be beneficial to know where their information was coming from.



     Finally with Anu's admission of fear Savina looked back up towards her friend. The worry was radiating from her though it seemed as if something more personal was behind it than just knowledge of the madman's deeds and what depths he would sink to. "I am as well. For us and for my friends who live in Dahlia and Inferni." Anu was not alone in her fear. "Is there a greater reason for your worry though?" It seemed as though there was and it made the Italian suspicious if some ill had befallen her friend at the hands of the crazed wolf.

I'm sorry, just remember i love you...
SSWM - 1032

These were unsettled times. Times that made Anu think of Crimson Dreams shift in power. They were blessed to always know peace with in their borders, even if there had been internal disputes. Anu had not thought she could manage such an upset, but now that she looked back on those times they did not seem to compare with the idea of having Haku at their door. Anu thought of Conor, the young male who was her lover’s brother. He was too young to take on the powers of Haku, and even if the pack revolted against their leader there was little chance that anyone survive. In Haku’s mind there was no one superior to the brown and cream monster, and there was nothing scarier then a beast that thought himself beyond death and beyond god.

The thought that he would even step into their lands made her tremble. But it was indeed Inferni that would be targeted. The words of Alexey resonated in her mind, and Anu remembered that both lands were not safe. They would soon be at each others throats if Anu knew anything about Haku and the volatility of Inferni. She had many that she called friends between the two packs, and it was Haku solely that she hated. Her hatred was not spread thickly throughout those that she had met, rare to be seen and after many stories and incidents Anu had centered it on the male. Savina’s words were all too true, her blue eyes scanning her face as she spoke them. Never did Anu wish to bring her unpleasant news, but this was something that was necessary to share and as always Savina would never be alone in her decision of what to do with the challenges ahead.
“It will be Inferni’s war.” Anu did not know of the first war that had raged between the two groups, nor did she fully understand that it was Gabriel that would need to face Haku and with a rage and vendetta that could move mountains and empty oceans. Though, what would be expected of the leader of the targeted clan?

The story of how this came to be might never be said the same twice. A tale traveled by word of mouth would easily distort the news, and she agreed with Savina in that it was likely to be Haku’s hope. The more she thought of it, the more she worried for those that were peace loving and lived inside Dahlia.
“Alexey. I’ve only just met her. She spoke of the tension between Dahlia and Inferni. Who started all of it…” Anu trailed off, looking down at the maps for a thoughtful moment and then back to Savina,
“I believe it to be Haku.” It couldn’t’ have been Gabriel, Anu wouldn’t believe it even if Savina thought it so.

She nodded her head; those that lived and sought peace within those packs would be in the middle of the chaos. Each had those that were made to fight, and looked for the opportunity. But with the fighter came many more that were weak and only wanted to live without fear and among the safety and comfort of their families.
“They might need refuge.” Anu commented, though she was not ready to offer their lands without sensing how Savi felt about it. The woman had a good feeling that the raven colored Commander would not object at the least. Their pack had always been open to any seeking sanctuary.

The question made Anu nod in silence. She had not come here this night for only one reason. Gathering her emotions and reeling them in, Anu spoke with the same soft voice that carried her words to one’s ears on any normal circumstance.
“I do.” She began slowly. There was a sudden and misplaced fear that Savina would be disappointed, that she would react in a way Anu had not wanted, but still she gathered herself and continued.
“A Dahlian and I recently fled from Haku.” The older wolfess lightly cleared her throat before explaining further.
“I have wanted for her to join us for some time, seasons, and when she attempted to leave he attacked her. Her own father.” Blue eyes focused on the green eyes she poured her story into instead of thinking back on that day. “We escaped, her injuries were not life threatening but she has been recovering for a few weeks. Her name is Colibri Haki.” Anu wondered how Colibri felt this moment, did she know that Anu was speaking of her? So suddenly the silver tinted female missed her with an intensity that she had not felt in some time.

Before she could wonder if it was the truth that was being told, and the weight that was being lifted from her chest she added,
“I just wanted us to be together.” There was sadness laced in the sentence. It had not been her only hope, she had wished to be allow Coli to experience a place where she could simply be herself and not fear her father. Anu had hoped that she would finally know true love, unconditionally. She felt a pang in her chest, she hadn’t shown her anything since their return. Her tone drew a darker form, as did her face
“I don’t think he will come here.” If he did, Anu would certainly die. Her small body would be nothing more then a pebble throw against the rapids of a ragging river. But she would not allow him to enter her home to touch upon the perfection that they had created and fought to retain. Anu hoped desperately that Haku had grown bored of Coli and the Dreaming woman that had come to claim her. The tail that he had recovered from their fight was a grand enough souvenir,
“He has taken enough from her. But…” Anu felt helpless in her ability to predict what the mad wolf would do, she no longer looked at the fellow female but down at the maps. There were blurred in her unfocused vision. Her mind played the face of the young brown and cream female that looked so much of her father.

*brain melts* SoSuWriMo 826



     Yes, it would be Inferni's war, but the Commander was not confident that it could not spread. War was like a flame and while it could start out with a directed path and purpose it could grow and spread to unintended areas in the blink of an eye. They would have to put up their guards as well if they were to keep their home safe. Dahlia de Mai was too close for comfort now and she would make any trips outside of their lands brief and hoped that her members would do the same. It would be far too dangerous to wander about now. "Yes, but that doesn't mean we, or any other pack, is safe though. We need to be just as vigilant as if we were the target." What if, god forbid, Inferni fell under Haku's madness? She doubted that the demon would be sated and return to his home peacefully. No, he would look for his next victim and it could very well be them. They were the next closest and if he wished to expand Dahlia's territory then they would be the most probably pack to strike out at. She would not be at ease until the man was no longer in power



     When the name of her Koios friend was spoken her eyes flashed back up to Anu's face. At least Alexey was safe and in one piece for now anyway. She wished it were safe enough to travel up north and implore her gentle friend and her nephews to flee Dahlia and come to Crimson Dreams. Alexey was not meant for such a hostile environment and the Italian worried greatly for her safety. "Alexey is a good friend of mine, I'm glad to hear that at least so far no ill has come to her personally." Savina took a deep breath, trying to keep her thoughts together and her composure intact. "I'm sure it is. For all the negative feelings for the clan I do not believe that they strike without reason or cause. Some of their members are mad, but my friend trusts his leader and says that he has a good head on his shoulders." After finding out about how the last war started she was certain of these things and she trusted Anselm's judgment without question.



     Her head nodded at Anu's words. Wherever there was war there were people who got displaced. Twilight Vale had offered refuge to Cercelee the last time and she was willing to continue in such a strain. "Refuge will be open here, to anyone. Soon I will call the pack together to discuss these matters, but first I want to see if I can learn more. My friend in Inferni often frequents the city, perhaps I can find him there and find out more." It could be a risky venture, but she would go with her eyes and ears open and she would let Anu know when she left. That way they could be prepared in case she didn't make it back in a timely manner. She prayed that no such thing would happen, she had too much to lose, but she felt this needed to be done.



     As the reasons for her friend's concerns came to light Savina was deathly still and silent, her ears pressed forward to receive the information and her face grew even grimmer than it had been before. To know that Anu had already been endangered struck at her heart. She had not expected this nor guessed at it. How long ago had this happened? Part of her feared the fact that someone Haku clearly had it out for had been brought within their home, but how could she ever turn the girl away in good conscience? Especially since it seemed that there was more than friendship between the two women. Still, it did increase their risk and they would need to increase their security even more than she had thought. Sighing she looked back down to the table, sorting through her mind for what to say. "I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you." Savina couldn't do this on her own. Anu had been her anchor and if she were to lose her everything could come undone. "Please do not put yourself at such risk again. Crimson Dreams can't afford to lose you. I cannot afford to lose you." She looked back to Anu, her eyes bleeding with emotion.



     "She can stay, of course, but we must be even more cautious now. Any reason for him to come here will be enough. We need to be prepared to fight him off if we must." Even if that greater risk had been brought here by Anu she would not sacrifice either of them to protect the rest of the pack. The tawny woman was as close as blood to her and she would never give her up to the madman.

scoops erin-brains into plastic cup. <3333
SSWM - 813

She had been warned, told to stick to home and stay away from Inferni and Dahlia de Mai. Anu had already been avoiding the flower pack, jumpy at the scent of a pack member lingering in the air. Alexey had even startled her, though her nature was as calm and soft as her own. They weren’t safe, far from it. Haku could swallow up Inferni if such a thing was fate, and then he would not stop. How the Dahlian alpha had kept him reigned in before was unknown to Anu, or perhaps the madness had now just come to a head and in the past he had been under some sort of control. If she came to realize that it was silence that kept his murderous ways unchecked then Anu would have come forth long ago. Tales untold, hidden behind lies. She had been frightened, ashamed even that she had fought Haku and hardly won her life and the life of Colibri. Her silence had led to this, even in its small insignificant way she was part of all of it. “Everyone needs know.” Anu concluded in a soft whisper, not looking at the Commander. The pack would need to be called, though it was an obvious thought that she was certain Savina had come to. Everyone would need to know, though did they need to know Colibri’s secret?

Anu nodded at the sound of Alexey’s name in Savina’s voice. She was glad as well, for it made clear that perhaps the entire pack had neither been smothered by the monster’s wrath. As the black furred woman spoke of Inferni Anu looked to her again. Yes, some were just as hostile as Haku was, but she could not believe that they were as monstrous in their intensions for domination. Savina spoke of Gabriel, though it seemed as if she knew one of his followers.
“He does. I know Gabriel,” She spoke. It would be a lie to say that she knew him well but,
“I trust him.” was as honest as Anu was gray. If he broke that trust, went against her core belief that he was more then what he even thought of himself, with memories of past blood shed hounding his conscious, she would not know how she could face Savina. But thoughts did not weigh on her mind, moving right to the idea that the war might bring wolves and coyotes seeking refuge.

She could do nothing but agree. Both packs held creatures that wanted nothing more then to live without the casualties of war. It warmed her heart to know that Savina wanted to bring anyone, no matter their alliance, into their home. It would be hard to turn any beast away, knowing that what they sought could be found among their members and under their roof. And Anu was sure that she couldn’t. But it was when Savina turned her gaze from her face that made Anu the most insecure. Guilt seeped into her heart, bleeding uncontrollably with the pain that Haku had brought her, the anger that he sparked inside her chest, the sadness that she delivered to her good friend and most horribly the anguish that Colibri had faced.

Where Savina could not look to her, Anu watched her face painfully. Her words made the silver tinted female’s ears fall to her head. Knowing whether or not she was needed among her pack mates was not a constant concern for the female. She understood that she was needed, she knew that Savina looked to her for support. The older woman hated feeling that she had disappointed her, and in a way she had been reckless in her emotions. Should she have come to her for help? But then everything would have been exposed and Anu could not be sure that she would have been able to make it in time to pull Coli out of the jaws of her father. All had happened the way it did, they could only be thankful that each were alive.

“I’m sorry.” She spoke with a sincerity that Anu could not fake. Green eyes returned to her face, far too intense with her feelings so close to their surface that Anu could barely keep her gaze on Savina’s face. In a way the Lt. General had weakened their defenses. In the fire that war could become Anu had turned their pack into tinder, dry as a bone and simply asking to be light flame. She had done that, and what was she to say in her own defense? Instead she nodded, thankful that Colibri could stay and that they both would not be kicked from the pack’s lands because of the risk that they brought. A lesser leader would have taken the loss and felt it in the best interest of the rest, but Savina’s heart was too large.

Thankies, I shall need those XD <3 SoSuWriMo 719



     Yes, everyone did need to know. They could not protect themselves if they were ignorant of the dangers that beset them. They would need to inform the pack of the perils and the reasons for them. She nodded her head, the idea of a meeting already brewing in her mind. Still, though, she wanted to wait a short while to see if she could discover anything more of these events. No words of war had reached her ears yet, but with the tension between Dahlia and Inferni and the ascension of Haku to power she knew that such a thing could not be far away. No matter how hard she might hope for such a disaster to be averted she knew that the chances of it not happened were slim at the very best. Inferni had every reason to want the Rosen's head on a stake and she could not begrudge them for it. If she were in their position she might want the very same thing herself.



     She was a little surprised to hear that Anu knew the leader of Inferni, yet it was good that at least one of them did. At one time Anselm had held a position of leadership within the clan, but that had been before his departure and this was not the case any longer. It made her think of the other leaders that she were unaware of. She had never met the leader of AniWaya and that was quite shameful considering the tribe were their closest neighbors. The Commander also did not know who led the pack that Haven now called home. Silently she scolded herself for not making more of an effort to make connections with the other pack's leaders. Sometime soon that would need to be remedied. "I'm glad to hear that. I've always trusted Anselm's judgment, but to hear the same from you only strengthens that image. I have never met the man, but I'm glad that you know him." At least Anu was picking up some of her slack, even if it weren't intentional.



     The woman couldn't deny safety to any who sought it, it was not in her heart to be so cruel. The protection of her own pack was of course first and foremost, but that did not mean that her protection could not spread further than her own members. Still, they would need to be cautious of those they took in. Most would be honest and truly only be looking for sanctuary, but with Haku in the equation she couldn't rule out treachery. "We will need to be careful though, with taking others in. We'll need to tell the others to call us whenever someone is looking for refuge. I wouldn't put it past Haku to try and plant spies in our midst." They would need to question any and all seeking safety within Crimson Dreams to make sure tha they were being honest and would bring down no harm upon the pack. All allegiances would need to be forfeited while within these borders.



     Savina hadn't meant to sound scolding, but she couldn't stress enough how important Anu was to her. The older fey was closer to blood than anything else and her lose would be one that the Italian woman wasn't sure she could withstand. They were a team and she could not lead Crimson Dreams without her. Nor could she live happily if she lost her to such a beast. "I do not ask for an apology. I would do the same for one I loved. I only ask that you not make me face your loss. I don't know if I could." If Kansas or any of her pups had been in the same situation she too would have thrown caution for her own well being to the wind and do whatever necessary to save them. Still, she needed Anu to know how important she was to her and how much she meant. Savina had faced enough trials lately without having to endure such a horrendous loss. "If anything like this happens again, please tell me. You know I would do anything I could to help you." It did sting a little that it was only now she was learning of these things, but she would not let that get between them.

yay, shorter posts!
500+

From the beginning Anu could not comprehend fully why she trusted Grabriel as she did. It was a full and unmoving trust, though she could tell that he only just begun to trust in her in such a way. There were miles of barriers that had been built between the doggish hybrid’s heart and the world. It wasn’t her desire to break them down and watch them crumble until his was uncomfortably vulnerable. But, Anu wanted him to know that she was nothing to fear, that she would never try to hurt him. That need was a mystery as well, but Anu had never been one to simply give up hope, and they connected in such a way that Anu would be lost if she did not know he was well. Savina spoke, and it seemed that they had two allies of Inferni. It was much better then knowing Gabe alone, since Anu wasn’t likely going to see the Inferni alpha any time soon. Nodding slowly Anu wondered if it was smart to seek the leader out, but there was nothing smart about going to Inferni if there was such a tension between it and Dahlia.

Anu agreed,
“It would be wise to know any that come, and keep tabs on the ones we do not.” Anu understood fully the sort of dishonesty that Haku was capable of. He had fooled her the first time they had ever met, giving her a nasty bruised eye in the process. To think that he might send wolves to infiltrate their pack was not far fetched, but Anu was sure that they would be able to tell who was sincere or not.

The older wolfess became meek once more, standing in confession before the alpha, and more importantly profession before her greatest friend. There was no other way for Anu to feel, and yet she felt the rise of a multitude of emotions. All seemed to play with her features, all rocked through her chest like a rolling train and each had a different way of touching her heart. She had wished to put herself in that position, and had not even asked to meet Colibri and fall for the young wolfess before the once-Dahlian had been ready for it. Savina only cared, only wished that Anu stay safe and whole. Anu feared the same for the woman when she had walked into the ocean, mind and heart crumbling into the sea. Anu could not live without her, and it had never been her intention to risk her own life.

The gray and tan femme smiled, softly with the knowledge that it was not just Coli that needed her. At times Anu needed to be reminded of that.
“I will.” Anu began, promising that she would no longer keep secrets from her friend. Her tone was soft and her words more personal then the talk of borders and war and refuges.
“I didn’t expect it, didn’t think that he would hurt her again. I went to see her, ask again that she leave Dahlia, and I found them.” The picture was painted with blood and terror, but Anu tried to keep it from her voice. “
I haven’t known this since meeting Naniko, but it’s so different.” And it was, it was slower, tentative and more innocent. It was better.
“And if I lost her, I would be lost too.” she would have walked to the beach, and Savina would have had to pull her from the undertow.

Huzzah! 500+



     True, weeding out the false souls from the true ones would be no easy task. No doubt the madman had skilled actors and liars under his command. Still, Savina thought herself a good judge of others and it was easy to judge sincerity she believed. True, real sincerity was hard to fake even for the most skilled deceivers. If necessary they would make everyone who came to their lands for sanctuary swear an oath, not upon their honor, but upon something else that they would not dare break. The Commander wanted to extend help to those who sought it, but she could not risk endangering the lives she was in charge of protecting. "Yes. We will have to interview them thoroughly, perhaps even moreso than we do prospective members." In times of peace there was no reason to fear people coming to their pack for the wrong reasons, but now they couldn't trust anyone outright unless they already knew them well. Vigilance and caution would keep them alive and safe during these harrowing times.



     Savina hadn't thought for a moment that Anu had purposefully and knowingly put herself in a dangerous situation. Her friend was wise and was not a reckless wolf. She was as stable and careful as the trees that she so dearly cared for and that was why the younger woman was able to depend on her so fully. Still, love could and did make people act out of character, though she didn't think that Anu truly had understood at first how dangerous things were. If only the woman she had been pursuing had left earlier neither of them would have been put in such risk. These thoughts were only "what ifs" though, and really served no purpose. What had come to pass had come to pass and all they could do now was to learn from this and work to keep one another and all the rest that they loved safe and protected.



     It reassured the Italian fey to have her Lt. General agree to come to her again in any other situations of need. It did not matter if it were pack business for the two were first and foremost friends, nearly sisters in bond. She had never thought of her as a subordinate, only and equal and even a superior when it came to the tawny woman's age and experience in life. Savina would be there for her no matter what her need. "I am glad that you did not lose her, and also that you have found someone to once again share your heart with." She couldn't imagine what it must be like to have a relationship with a mate and lover crumble away and she wondered if it happened to her if she would ever be able to love again. Thankfully Anu had gotten to the point where she could. "I will have to meet her sometime, when circumstances permit." A smile returned to her features, momentarily putting the worries of the world behind her.

e.e anu = tired, alli = tired

It needed to be a dream. It needed to be something other then what it was. How could it be something from within the ‘Souls region? She was a fool to think that they had all been peace loving flower pickers. Yes, Anu loved the simple things in live but she hoped that others would remember what it was to just be without all the horror and strives towards glory and retribution. She wanted them to sit beneath apple trees, to smell flowers and to respect the tallest oaks for their age and all the things that they had seen in their hundreds of years. No, it was not the way of the world. There would be war, bloodshed and all they could do was hope that the tidal wave of violence that would likely ensue did not each their door. Those that came, they would be welcomed but not without trust. Friends would live beneath their roof as well as the strangers, and all would be watched and questioned. A Dreamer’s safety would always be paramount. Anu simply nodded at the Commanders idea, knowing that they would both be vigilant in these tasks, and calling upon one another for help. Anu was not about to let her promise go untested; she said she would call upon the raven furred woman in any troubled time. How could Anu expect to be showed the same respect if she tied to do it all herself?

Her friend’s next words made the older female feel tears threaten her eyes. It was not often that she was reassured in her choices. She had felt better after speaking with Haven, but love between two females had been his upbringing and opened his mind up to all the possibilities life might bring. He also wished to please her, even if he was grown and beyond her reach, care and judgment. Savina would be honest with her, and such a thing would always be appreciated in the blue-eyed woman. Anu had always been supportive and she and Kansas, even speaking to the male with the hopes and ideas that might draw the couple together. Knowing that Savina wished to know Colibri, even with the history that might have brought trouble to their threshold, brought a smile to the other fey’s face.
“I know she wants to get to know everyone, though she is always shy.” Anu thought of the little female, and her smile became weary. There was so much that they two had left unsaid, and Anu had not done all she needed to make her feel as welcomed as she should.

“Its late,” It had been late when she had first come upon the Commander. She felt the tire sink deeply into her figure, and Anu could think no more of Haku and of war. Her bed was all that she wished to think of and Savi should not be kept from hers any longer. Anu paused; the silence filled with little more then the wind beyond the window’s pane.
“Thank you Savi.” She spoke with another small smile. Their conversation had been draining, and Anu knew that her friend would understand, and no doubt felt the passing of the late hours in her own body.

Erin = slowbutt 500+



     Savina had not been exposed to same sex relationships before she had come to these lands. Such a thing would have been highly improper back in Monti Sabini, just as so many things there were. Still, such a thing had not come as a great shock to her as it might to some. The Italian fey was a creature of love and she did not judge how others expressed themselves in those ventures. Anu had provided love and support to a woman who had been greatly wronged and at that time had been her closest friend. She had helped raise the pups, being just as much of a mother to them as their own biological one had been. Things hadn't worked out in the end, but she had not taken that as any sort of indication that it hadn't worked out because they were both women. Many reltionships did not last, it had nothing to do with the combination of physical sexes in them. Savina understood that it could be easier to entrust your heart to another woman rather than a man, she had just been lucky to find such a wonderful male as Kansas. He was her treasure and she cherished him with all her heart, just as she was certain that Anu must cherish her new found love. If anyone had ever ridiculed Anu for her choice of lover in front of the sable fey, Savina would have been quick to defend her friend and deride the attacker for being so ignorant and close minded. The tawny wolf was one of the best that she knew and the decisions she made were from the heart. That was one of the many ways in which the two were similar.



     It didn't surprise the Commander to hear that Colibri was of the shy sort. It could only be expected with such a horrid and cruel father as she had had. Savina was confident in her ability to make her feel comfortable in her presence though. Her own daughter was quite shy and she had grown accustomed to handling others with delicate mentalities. "I will do all I can to make her feel safe and welcomed here." It could take some time, especially with the thread of Haku looming over them, but hopefully soon the other would find herself safe within these borders. As her second hand, she too was feeling the weight of their conversation weighing upon her strength and will to stay awake. Right now the comfort of her bed and mate sounded like the best remedy to this evening's talk. Her head nodded at Anu's pronouncement and smiled once again tiredly up at her friend. Savina's hands rose up from the table and stretched out in front of her as she walked over to where Anu stood, quickly embracing her. She had no words to say in response to the thanks, only the reassurance that she would always be there for the other. Stepping back she moved towards the door of the library. "Let's both get some much needed rest."

closing....

The elder Dreamer would never be able to express her gratitude to her ebony leader. Savina had done so much, held her together in moments where she was certain that she would fall to pieces, and never held her weaknesses against her. Even if one of them had indirectly placed the pack in danger. Savina was the epitome of friendship, housed in a form that greeted all with a sense of security, of warmth. Anu shouldn’t have second-guessed her understanding, but it was the grey wolf’s own insecurities that drove to her question their relationship. Savina had only proven that they had yet to face anything that might drive them apart. Anu was sure they would never find the obstacle, climbing every peak that might threaten to cast a shadow on them.

Savina’s words brought a smile to her face, and the words of gratitude could not be formed but lay on the tip of her tongue. Watery eyes spoke of the emotion, watching the face of her friend and knowing that the words were said in pure honesty. Her eyes remained as the wolfess rose to hug her, and Anu lay her hands gently on the other’s back. She felt the tire lift form her for that moment, and her small smile did not falter as Anu gave a nod in response. There was nothing else that she could say, words lost in the fatigue that was back and running through her veins like cold blood. She wanted her bed, she wanted sleep but Anu desired the presence of Colibri more then anything. Anu needed to tell her that everything would be okay, speak the words that she had been avoided in fear of breaking the silence and shattering their fragile existence.

It was not weak, as Anu had once thought, with the support of Savina behind them both. They had survived so much, and for so long. She began to wonder why she had been so scared. But then Haku lingered in her thoughts, reminding her of the danger. Yet now even with his face hovering in her mind, the blue-eyed woman knew that she was not alone but among those that loved her and would protect her as she would them. It was time to truly extend the same sense to the woman that she had brought her and that lay in her bed. The weight had been lifted, and Anu walked through the doorway and down to the hall with a lighter step.