Backdated to June 28. Set at the entrance of the Halifax Public Gardens. (WC:315)

It had taken her four days to get here. It had been a rather pleasant journey not counting the many tumultuous thoughts that tumbled around in her head. She had left Salsola in search of something new, but now that she was finally out, she didn’t know what for she looked. She had joined Salsola for reasons she could not explain, but understood inherently, and now as she stood looking at the wrought iron heading of the garden, she understood that not every decision could be explained through explicit reasoning. There was a sign, which was now positioned more horizontally than vertically, as it might have been when the humans were alive. That same sign was now more held up by vines and assorted plant life than it was the original iron posts.

It was interesting to look at how the garden, which she imagined had once been a prime example of human tending, had grown so large in the years of neglect. Or perhaps, it had simply been allowed to run free and return to its true form. Tayui smiled at the thought, thinking back to her conversation with Sirius. He had suggested she free herself from the chains of monotony, but the only thing that really held her back was him. Or, the idea of packs. Maybe she was deviating too far from instinct, but the entire idea of being bound for eternity to Salsola frightened her: she could not leave lest she be thrown out or killed, and if she did leave, even peacefully, she could never return.

She took one step forward and then another. She walked into the garden, wondering what awaited her in this overgrown Eden. She had lost her way in Halifax, but it had led her to this garden: it wasn't a coincidence and it wasn't ironic; it was just what had happened. She accepted it wholly.

~<3

Tayui took her time as she moved through the shrubs and flowers. There were a few colourful flowers she had never seen before, but for the most part, she was able to identify the plants growing in this garden as native to Nova Scotia. While there were flowers still, it seemed as though most of the garden had been overtaken by weeds, hardier plants and trees. But here and there, she could still see bits of colour flourishing in the chaos. She liked it.

She lowered her head to sniff at one flower, wondering if it would have a particular smell. She inhaled and then sneezed and shook her head, trying to clear herself. What a smell!

As she began to lift her head up, she heard a loud shout from behind her. She pulled her head in tight and wheeled around to face the other wolf. The words didn’t register for a few more seconds, but by then, she already had her head low and a bit of her teeth showing. She did not like being snuck up on, and she felt that any reasonable canine would think the same.

She tried not to let the shock register on her face when she realized what he was wearing. He looked positively ridiculous; he had a faded shirt with foreign flowers and a broken, lopsided hat. She couldn’t laugh, since she didn’t know what he wanted to begin with, but he just looked… ridiculous!

“No, I’m quite alright. I’m just finding something.” She frowned, but did not raise her head. She kept it low and her eyes stayed wary. She didn’t trust him.

Naw, 's all good. (WC: 300)

This time, Tayui couldn’t prevent her shock from showing. She didn’t know how this rather frightful wolfdog knew who she was, but her sense of distrust grew even more. After bursting out of nowhere and scaring the living daylights out of her, it seemed as though he had done it as a way of beginning a chat. With teeth, too. This didn’t bode well with Tayui, so she held her position and kept her head low. She knew as a canine on four legs, she could easily outrun him, but this garden was a maze of plants and broken asphalt. There would be no way of knowing if she could escape, especially if he wasn’t alone.

Tayui flashed her own teeth in reply when he spoke again, and soon replied with a warning growl for him to back off. She didn’t like his tone and she wasn’t so sure if she could even trust him enough to properly reply.

“If she came back to you, she must have loved you very much,” she began carefully. Tayui didn’t know if he believed in ghosts, but if Shaeniire had returned to this canine after she had died, then she must have cared for him in some way. Whoever this mystery puppy was. He certainly wasn’t Thanos and he wasn’t Chael, either. But Tayui thought if Shaeniire had returned to him, then that must have meant she had returned as a ghost. She must have loved her son very much to return like she had for Tayui.

“I don’t know where Shaeniire is,” she added. “I haven’t seen her in years,” she admitted. “I’d thought she’d finally left.” She would be surprised if Shaeniire had returned, again, to the world of the living. She deserved death and peace after everything she’d been through.

We could totally do an AIM thread between the three! And a LASKY thread yes please.

Tayui was growing more and more agitated as the wolf spoke. He was very forthright and blunt, but so much so that it made it difficult for her to reply. It was as if he expected some sort of answer, and was already onto his second question before Tayui could respond. Even as he posed his second question, she knew his mind was made up -- about something. That thing, however, eluded Tayui as she could not quite figure out what his angle was. Yes, he was her son: she understood that much; but beyond that, she still struggled. He was angry. Tayui couldn't remember the circumstances of Shaeniire's other litter, but it must not have been pleasant if he was this upset. The fact that Tayui didn't remember it meant that Shaeniire had not spent much time with that family, either. How very sad.

"My boy," she began slowly, not realizing until it was too late the double-meaning, "she died many years ago. She fell down a cliff and died. When you said she came back to you, I thought you meant as a ghost. After she died, she returned as a ghost and stayed with me for a few months until she either lost herself or passed on. I'm sorry to give you this news; she was well-loved, by you -- and I." She didn't want to be the one to bring him such sad tales and she didn't want to be as unfeeling as Aurèle had when she had reported Noir's death, but it was so old and so long ago. Shaeniire had been dead for years, and while Tayui still thought of her, their family had been split up and the only remnant, Ember Phoenix, was gone too. She felt like she had lost everything that connected her to Shaeniire until now.

He could be BFF's with Claudius so duh I say yes. But Shaeniire couldn't be a spirit guide because she died too recently, so it would have to be something/someone else. (WC: 417)

Oh was all he said and Tayui said nothing in response. She didn’t want to say anything, for now was not the time. He had just learned that his long-lost mother was now long-dead. She didn’t want to do anything she would regret that would make this worse for him. She was to become a monster, but there were limits to what she would do. Intentionally hurting the son of her once-mate was not among those things.

He spoke again and Tayui replied this time with a slow nod. Indeed, it would answer some questions, but not all. Depending on how desperately he wanted to know something, she figured he would either question her in a few minutes or in days, months, or years. She might be a tough wolf to find, but it seemed as though she had a way of finding old friends and old acquaintances. She had found him, hadn’t she? And that had to count for something; even if their meeting wasn’t going exactly the way she would have wanted, had she known Shaeniire had a first litter.

And then he introduced himself. Tayui wasn’t sure if he had an incredibly strong character, or if he felt he owed her his name, but soon enough, his name turned into a tale and Tayui found herself listening with rapt attention.

“Oh,” Tayui replied, echoing Helix. “She returned to Varnayamen following the ghost of her dead brother,” she replied instinctively. “She came back to Jaded Shadows for a year or two. We were mates. We adopted two puppies and we were happy for a time. It was hard with her birth children never really being around. She… she was mates with another wolf, my best friend at the time. She and Fatin Kali were very much in love. They found a male to… well, give them the family they couldn’t have. But Shaeniire delivered the litter and just left. When she came back, she was a wreck. Fatin, her old mate, and Salvaged, the male who gave her her puppies were outraged. She abandoned her own children to find her dead brother, so it was… hard on everyone. And then we fell in love. I didn’t think it would be possible with everything that happened and I didn’t really understand everything myself, but I spent a lot of time with her when she returned. It was nice,” she concluded with a smile. “Tayui Aston,” she added, gesturing to herself with a paw, “and Shaeniire Vanim.”

Wrap up, I think? :}

He had too much anger. Tayui had loved Shaeniire so much, but she'd never felt like she had been wronged. Shaeniire had not asked to die, and certainly, maybe Shaeniire had followed her own foolishness and called it a ghost, but she hadn't known the girl very well before then. They had talked a few times and Shae had even tried to heal her burned legs before referring her to Acid, so Tayui didn't think she was in any position to judge. She could judge the real monsters: the ones who left pure destruction in their paths, not just broken hearts and sad smiles.

"My boy," she began gravely, "loving her was wonderful; I never regretted it and never will. You probably have family all over these parts; her blood children went on to have their own families. Shae's four kids had more children of their own and I think there are a very distant great-grandchildren in the different packs. I know for certain that Dierdre Rhiannon was a scion of your mother's and she had a few kids, but I don't know where they went off to. Ophelia Nekane had some children of her own, too, when she was rather young if I remember well, but I don't know their names. Ophelia, Thanos, Satin, and Chael were your mother's children, but farther than that is a mystery to me." She paused and then added: "I do hope you find what you're looking for, Helix."