The Bittersweet Return

Sky Rhiannon · 05-11-2011, 05:19 PM

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FORWARD DATED: May 18th
Sky comes home upon hearing the news. Late into the evening, probably close to midnight. Anyone can post, but I kind of want Skye to have a chance at posting first.

She'd failed. It had been the worst few weeks in the world for the young wolfdog. She'd been all over the province looking for that damned female and her pups. She would've been the closest she'd been thus far, except...

"I'm afraid I've got some bad news, then, Miss Katruk." The loner had said when she'd mentioned her mate and pack to him. She'd ran into the lone wolf, who wasn't a luperci, quite by chance. He'd been passing through the area and she'd asked him about Orin's whereabouts, if maybe he'd seen her and the kids. He'd told her no, but instead he'd recognised both the name Sky and Orin. "Shawchert's left Cercatori D'Arte, I'm afraid. The pack's in bad shape. You should give up and head back if you owe them anything at all."

As soon as he'd told her that, girl had shifted into Secui form, discarded all of her clothing and belongings and in less than two days, she'd made it home from the borders of Crimson Dreams, not bothering to stop and rest. By the time she'd reached the border, she knew right-off that the pack had infact changed. She crossed without much worry, snarling to herself for having let it happen.

The first place she ran to was Skye's house. If Shawchert had infact left, she had to figure out why, when and what was to become of the pack with only a single leader. As the secui-formed girl sprinted through the town, she took bitter notice of how empty it all was. The place had become a ghost town. ...no!

Skye's house came into view quickly and despite how tired, sore and hungry the girl was, she jogged right up to the front steps and stopped, panting a moment or two before looking around. Shawchert's scent was all but gone, despite his former trips to the co-leader's house. Not a good sign at all. No! No, shit... no... Panic gripped Sky's chest for a moment before she let out a frustrated snarl, followed by a bellow. "Skye!"

Skye Collins · 05-12-2011, 01:10 AM

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The days had been quiet but peaceful; the pack was small, yes, but she had loyal members; Bangle. Mars. Krystalle. Slade. Members that, although few, she knew wouldn't leave the pack. She had spent a lot of her time with her pups - they had to eat a lot, and she had to feed them as only she could. She did, however, patrol the borders and do pack work, sometimes leaving them in Bangle's care, sometimes taking one or two of them with her. Right now, she held one of her precious pups in her hands as she sat in her house; it was Erzulie, Erzulie Guffawri.

There had been three, three with three names - Erzulie Guffawri, a female white pup with beautiful golden eyes, Robert Frost Collins, a pale yellow with brown, like herself, and Nathaniel Guffawlins, a seeming clone of Bangle. She loved them all - the males were inside sleeping, so she had Erzulie on her lap. The young puppy didn't have her eyes open yet - she was but a week old - but she was wiggling around in Skye's arms, testing out her new body.

Skye snapped out of her doting phase, however, when she heard a yell from outside - it was clear and full of frustration. She recognized that voice... was it.. no, it couldn't be. Could it?

"Sky?" the white female asked, opening the door to her house and bringing Erzulie the pup with her in her arms. The young puppy didn't struggle, but lay still in her arms. On the steps of her house was Sky - Skye barely recognized her friend, as she was in Secui form, a rare form for her. She looked gaunt and haunted, angered, distressed. "Sky..what happened? Are you okay? Did you find Orin?" she asked, her questions coming out in rapid fire to the poor, exhausted girl. She then snapped out of it and remembered herself. Looking down at Sky, who seemed so hungry and tired, she stepped aside to allow her friend to come into her room.

"Sky, come in," she said, calming herself. "You look hungry and tired."

Sky Rhiannon · 05-12-2011, 02:50 PM

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Oh look, puppy- wait, what?

Sky had taken a moment to let her body stop shaking. She'd planted her ass to the step, refusing to move until Skye came outside, or Bangle did. When the door swung open, Sky's head snapped up, blue eyes locking on her friend. Questions came out of the leader's mouth, eventually turning into an offer of food and rest. The secui-formed wolfdog stood, climbing up the stairs. She stopped though.

In Skye's arms was a bundle of pup. The sight both chilled Sky and warmed her. She hesitated, considering changing the topic from her to the leader's family. She decided not to though, it seemed, as she voiced her concerns. "Skye... Skye, where's Shawchert? I heard news... tell me it's not true." She'd managed to calm her breathing to speak, though her voice was slurred and tired, cracked with effort. "Tell me I haven't lost yet another mate."

Blue eyes locked onto the paler eyes of her friend. Sky feared it, feared the worst; one mate taken by sickness and now a second gone. If Shawchert had indeed left, the poor girl wasn't sure what she'd do to cope. The loss was something she dreaded more than losing her pack or home.

Bangle Guffawri · 05-12-2011, 09:32 PM

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+5. THURR BE PUPS 'ERE.

It was the beginning of a new life. Not only for the three newborn pups, but for Bangle as well. It seemed as if everything about him had changed the instant they were brought into the world.

But as dedicated a mother Skye seemed to be, she still balanced leadership on top of it. Bangle had insisted he do the patrolling and minor things himself, but the red-headed female insisted on carrying the burden alone. Which left him, a new father whom had little interaction with pups so young, in charge. Yet, as he laid there upon Skye's bed, curled around her and the three bundles, the male watched them. He had no idea what to do now. Though he was glad his mate had made a swift recovery after her giving birth, the coywolf felt a tremendous sense of.. fear.. overcome him.

What kind of father would he be like? How well would his children learn from him and Skye, to grow up with a heavy situation such as theirs? What would ever happen if they lost one to a predator?

His bright orange-yellow eyes shut immediately, subconsciously clutching his family closer to him. All those years ago, the merchant had done something terrible, and though it cost him a few marks upon his skin.. it affected others on a much deeper level. Bangle now felt what it was like to be at that level, and he fought back tears at the mere thought of losing one of his pups forever.

A howl outside snapped him out of his miserable reverie, and though he made to get up to answer it, Skye was already up with their daughter in hand. "I can get tha--" But his words were cut off as she exited the room. He wanted to follow her, to insist that she get some rest though it had been a week since the birth, but stayed at the whining of the males that felt a cold emptiness beside them. He lay back down with an elbow propped up, his decorated arm pulling his sons to his side. They nuzzled in comfortably, and for a moment he glanced down at them.

"Lil' Frost" and "'Thaniel", as the new father affectionately called them. 'Thaniel was a spitting image of the traveling merchant himself, and though he didn't see how he could love one child more than another, there was a different connection with a pup that looked exactly like him. Bangle wondered, for a moment, if Skye felt the same about Lil' Frost, or even 'Zulie, who looked more like their mother. Bat-like ears strained to hear the conversation in the other room, and thought he caught the sound of Sky.

His conundrum of needing to stay at the pups' side kept him there on the bed instead of getting up to greet Sky. She had been gone for some time, and it seemed as if she had just returned on her hunt for Orin. Bangle, too, had intended on traveling the lands to search for her, but now he had other obligations, of which presently nuzzled closer to his chest. "Let's hope yeh all don' go runnin' to th' wrong mother, now," he whispered to his sons, commenting on the similarities of Sky's name and that of his mate's. In response, 'Thaniel made a certain sound that nearly sounded like a laugh, high-pitched and squeaking. Bangle's eyes widened for a moment, now seeing he and 'Thaniel's difference next to none. The coywolf's muzzle split wide into his own trademark cackle, certainly loud enough for the other two in the household to hear, coupled with the sudden wailing of the pups at the loud noise.

Well, maybe not everything about him had changed.

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Skye Collins · 05-14-2011, 08:03 AM

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Sky almost took Skye's offer for rest inside the home - almost. But before she did, she saw the pang of pain and hurt in her friend's eyes when she saw the pup in Skye's hands. She then asked a question - about Shawchert. Skye felt her own pain and unhappiness lance through her; the leader had indeed left. She wasn't sure what had happened to him - he had left, she thought, on a journey of sorts. He had seem more and more upset and unhappy throughout the months, and she supposed that a journey may be good for him.. but what of Sky?

"Sky..." she said, unsure of how to word it. "I... I'm sorry. Shawchert has left." She looked at the secui-formed wolfdog, trying to convey through her eyes that she would be there to help her, if she needed a place to stay or a friend to talk to.

Everything was suddenly interrupted, however, by a high-pitch and wild laughter; Bangle. Following that was the unhappy wails of three pups, including the Erzulie in her arms. The little white pup had woken, now wriggling around in Skye's hands. "Oh, no," she groaned. "Hush, Erzulie, hush, it's okay, baby," she whispered to the white pup. Her head then turned sharply to the inside and she eyed Bangle.

"Bangle!" she said, exasperated. "They were sleeping!" She then remembered herself and turned back to Sky, a line of frustration, worry, and weariness furrowing her brow. When Shawchert had left, she had been left the title of the Capitana of Cercatori d'Arte; coupling that job with the recently born pups, Skye had little time left to rest or do anything anymore. True, the garden was flourishing and the stables were healthy and clean - all the things that Skye was doing seemed to be going well, at least for the moment, but Cercatori d'Arte's numbers were still diminishing, and Skye was worried for the pack.

wc: 323

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Sky Rhiannon · 05-14-2011, 02:22 PM

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Distractions.

Skye confirmed Sky's worries. Shawchert had left. Fan-fucking-tastic. Rather than becoming sad or worried at this outcome, Sky's eyes flashed with frustration and anger; what the hell had he been thinking, leaving without awaiting her return first!? Abandoning his pack when they needed any help they could get? Leaving a pregnant, now nursing, mother in charge? Idiot!

She didn't have time to voice her complaints and concerns, though, as Bangle's tell-tale laugh suddenly came from inside, startling the pup in Skye's arms and effectively doing the same to whatever children were inside. Sky couldn't help but let a tiny, tired smile show through; it was a heart-warming and rather amusing sight. Some things would never change.

"Erzulie, huh?" She'd decided to change the topic. If Shawchert was gone, than she'd have to deal with it. Searching for him would be pointless, considering how long it had taken her to come this far in finding Orin; not even close to doing so. "She's quite the bundle. Has anyone given them their checks yet?" By checks, Sky meant testing their senses and weight gain, making sure they were healthy. If she focused on stepping back into her medical job, perhapes it would be easier to move on?

Sky moved to ease her way into the house, limping because of her tired legs. As she passed by Skye, though, she offered her talents. "Since they're awake now... perhapes I could take a look at them? Make sure they're healthy and comfortable." She knew Skye would make a good mother, suspected Bangle of having some sort of fatherly bone in his body, but the risk of natural mistakes were still there, simply because they were new parents. Skye was her friend, which made Sky a bit protective of her and her family. They were the last ones left, it seemed.

Bangle Guffawri · 05-14-2011, 02:58 PM

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+3. Your posts made me guffaw (THAT'S RIGHT I SAID IT). XD

The former gypsy nearly didn't hear the harsh reprimands of his mate in the other room, as his own laughter and the wailing of the three pups were dominant throughout the house. As Bangle's own laughter subsided, he had forgotten that loud noises had a tendency to scare newborn pups, and so he attempted to quiet down his sons while Skye did the same for their daughter in the other room. There was a lot for the new father to learn about pups, whether he was ready or not. Bangle cleared his throat and cooed gently to the pups beside him as best he could, bringing their wailing down to whimpering. It was a good step in the right direction.

He looked up in time to see Skye glaring at him, and he gave a wide, toothy grin back at her as if to apologize. Scooping the small males up into his arm, the craftsman moved to get up from the bed to greet the friend they haven't seen in some time. However, he struggled as the pups wriggled, searching for the comforting touch of their mother, and it became apparent that Bangle hardly knew how to hold them. "Sit still, lil' ones," he muttered through his teeth as he walked into the main room, looking up at Sky and offering a quick grin in greeting. His attention was redirected, however, as one of the pups nearly fell from his arms. "Woah there!" He said, quickly repositioning himself and the flailing pups. He was experienced in a myriad of things, but being a father was not turning out to be one of them.

Hoping that the pair of women before him did not see the near slip-up, Bangle looked towards Skye. "I'm thinkin' they're lookin' fer yeh," came his response, looking to pass the other two pups over to the red-headed female. Bat-like ears moved forward as he heard Sky mentioning of the checkups for the litter. "They're lively lil' rascals.. they remind meh of.. me!" Bangle piped up in a goofy manner, still unaware of the conversation the women had earlier of Shawchert's leaving. Keeping one eye on the pups in his arms, he observed the tired, Secui form of Sky. "How've yeh been? Yeh needin' anythin'?"

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Skye Collins · 05-21-2011, 08:32 PM

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haha! 'fatherly bone in his body' xD

Skye smiled as Sky echoed her daughter's name; Erzulie immediately stopped wailing and peered at Skye's brown and golden friend, letting out a grin that was almost eerily like her father's. Skye pondered Sky's question - checks?

"Checks? Um.." She looked at her white daughter, who was still looking at Sky. She seemed healthy enough, but she did want to make sure, and was delighted when Sky offered to check them up. "Of course! Now that they're awake - " she shot a look at the coywolf, who was grinning at her in his usual fashion - "it'll be easy to calm them down and bring them to you. Thanks, Sky," she said, the relief in her voice quite audible.

She turned to get the pups, but it seemed that Bangle had them - sort of. The pups squirmed in his hands, and -- "BANGLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU ALMOST DROPPED HIM!" she shrieked in distress as Nathaniel Guffawlins nearly fell from his father's arms to the ground below. Without another word, she snatched Nathaniel and Robert from their father's arms, now holding three content pups against her chest. She gave Bangle an extremely exasperated look, and closed her eyes briefly, listening to the whines of her children.

Eventually, she opened her eyes again and looked at Sky, her face smoothing out from the avoided disaster. "The white one is Erzulie Guffawri, you met her," she said, "The one that looks like Bangle is Nathaniel Guffawlins," she said, smiling at her son, who grinned back at her with what looked like Bangle's very own maw. "And this one," she said, nodding to the quiet, small pup that looked like her and Bangle both, "Is Robert Frost Collins." Robert remained silent, observing Sky shyly from his mother's arms. She then nodded at Bangle's question to Sky - she seemed weary, and she was sure that she needed food after the journey home.

wc:

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