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Post by Zen on Feb 4, 2015 6:24:26 GMT
Hexasol is dead. The realization fell on her like a crushing weight and left her staggering with shock and confusion. It had been on a whim that she had left her home in the outlands to venture back into the old city, hoping for maybe a glimpse of her former Tempest comrades, and she had arrived to find the place seemingly deserted, an empty wasteland where once was a thriving community. Streets that used to bustle with energy and life were now entirely barren with not even a mouse or bird to be seen, while only the screech of the wind sweeping between buildings offered a reprieve from the haunting silence. This is wrong...there's got to be others out here somewhere, she thought desperately as her single eye took in the grey, desolate landscape. I can't be the only one left! But where were all the animals? The scents that lingered in the still air were ancient and musty. There were no signs of recent activity, not a hint that anyone had passed through or that life even existed here at all.
How long had it been since she had last set foot in Hexasol - two years, at least? She was getting older and had begun to lose her grasp on time, but she hadn't expected the place to change so much, so rapidly. Kai slowly sat back on her haunches and tried to piece together what might have caused her once-beloved city to decay into this gloomy ghost town. Had the war finally consumed them all, feline and canine alike? Did resources dwindle until the only option was to leave or face starvation? She couldn't imagine what else could cause the disappearance of hundreds of animals so suddenly and mysteriously.
There had to be some answers here somewhere. Maybe there were dogs and cats still out there; maybe other parts of the city still thrived yet...
There was only one thing she could think to do. She cleared her throat and let out a howl to anyone who might hear, hoping against all odds that someone would answer the call and let her know she wasn't alone.
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Post by Picasso on Feb 4, 2015 13:22:04 GMT
There was no doubt in Orion's mind that Hexasol had changed in the past few years. He wasn't sure what the catalyst was for so many animals to leave - perhaps a promise of something better? Either way, Orion had been born and bred in Hexasol, and he only left the confines of the city to hunt for prey in the country. In terms of wolf years, Orion was still only young, with many more years ahead of him. He still allied himself with the Tempest Pack, however it had been a long time since he'd seen any other members in the territory. Every once in a while, he would catch fellow pack member's scents, however it seemed there was no longer any family or unity within the Pack, which Orion sorely missed. There were moments when Orion considered starting his own Pack, bringing back the parts of Pack life he longed for, however there seemed to be few members that would be interested. Instead, he wandered alone, alone with his thoughts for much of the day. He would occasionally bump into strangers, and they always seemed as confused as he was for the sudden lack of canines and felines in the once bustling city of Hexasol.
The ebony wolf was busy rummaging for rats down an alley when the howl came to him. His ears flickered in interest, and Orion turned his head in the direction of the noise. His body quivered with excitement at the idea of someone else being here, wanting company. Orion threw back his head and replied with his howl, long and mournful from loneliness. There were many nights Orion would howl to the silent city, desperately hoping someone would hear him. His song would always fall on deaf ears, and he would continue his days alone. However, the sweet song of the howl made Orion jump into action, rats and mice forgotten in the alley. His long legs took him through the streets, excitement thrumming through his veins. He couldn't remember the last time he used his voice, had a conversation, and a part of him was nervous. He had never done well with social communication; he has always been seen as a nuisance amongst his peers. Orion had had many years to look back over his cubhood and adolescence and examine the mistakes he'd made.
Granted, Orion was still not a perfect wolf. He was still a soldier at heart and liked to pick a fight when he could. Without a war, Orion was left flailing in the silence of the city. He ached for the battles he had only partaken in a handful of times. He held no opinion on the cats that still roamed the city. He wasn't bloodthirsty; the easy kill of a cat was not satisfying to him. He enjoyed sparring, he enjoyed calculated battles with cats matching his own strength and expertise. But alas, it was no more.
The wolf came to a halt at the plaza, gazing at his surroundings until his eyes came to rest on the canine that had called him here. Orion recognised her immediately, but it had been many years since he'd last had a conversation with Kai. He had eerily presumed she'd died, unable to catch prey due to her long term injuries. Orion had created quite a friendship with her, after the debacle with her and Valkyrie turned sour. Dipping his head in a greeting, Orion met Kai's gaze for the first time in many years, "It's been a while, Kai."
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Post by Pluton Leader Smiff on Feb 4, 2015 23:29:26 GMT
"Speech."
Growing up, Addia thought being blind was a curse. A hindrance to her life. Now, she felt it was a blessing. Smelling, hearing, and feeling the decay of Hexasol was enough. Seeing it might have driven her to insanity. Mostly, she stayed away from the old territories, preferring the parts of the outlaying forests where at least the birds chirped in the spring. It'd been a few years now since her mother passed. Addia still regretting not being able to come to terms with Brooke - but she had made it her solemn duty to find her remaining brothers and sisters in Hexasol. The brother from her litter, Diego, had been scarce for a long while before Hexasol began to crumble, but she felt in her heart he must still be alive. He was strong like her father and determined like her mother. Maybe he'd found a life away from the old city.
She had, however, been lucky enough to find two of her younger brothers. Zeevi had been the easiest to pinpoint. After asking around, she'd gotten a good handle on the personalities of the dogs she was looking for, and the quirky, number counting pup had no equal in uniqueness. London was the other. Of the entire younger litter of puppies her mother had birthed, London was the other strange one. He had been described to her by Zeevi as... excitable. It was a pretty accurate description way back when. Of course, living in this worn down area had hardened all of them in order to survive. Well, at least a little bit. London would always be... well... himself.
But even after mending the long severed connection with her family, Addia found that she spent most days alone. Her brothers would check up on her from time to time, but they had their own lives out there. She often wondered what they did. If they stayed together or if they'd started their own families, or even if they were still a part of the Tempest Pack. She had never tried to go back to her birthplace in all these years and check who was left. The memories were too painful.
A faint howl roused her from her daydreams. She sometimes heard the calls of lonely dogs from the city, but this one was unfamiliar to her. Curious, she lifted herself from the dirt and followed the direction she thought it was from. This winter had been a rather gentle one in recent years past. There was still snow on the ground, but the chill wasn't as crippling as she had once remembered it. Maybe she'd steeled herself to the seasons, but she rather enjoyed the cold these days.
Plus, the crunching of snow around her alerted her to the presence of anyone else, which was essential to her survival all these years.
Speaking of.
"Zeevi? Is that you?" she called as she heard the quiet whispers of her number counting brother. Sighing, she stopped and turned to face the mutt as he approached her.
"Addia!" He greeted eagerly. "Addia! That howl was familiar!" Though Zeevi had never met Kai, his memory was sharper than ever. He remembered every pack member from his childhood, even those he had only met in passing.
It didn't take long for the two siblings to arrive at the scene. Addia stopped a couple of feet behind Zeevi and sniffed the air. She didn't know either of the canines by scent that she could recall, but Zeevi's wagging tail was enough to signal that he was comfortable to let his guard down, "Aren't you two Orion and Kai?" he asked, eager to see a familiar face.
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MudBug
Cub
Going on vacation - catch a cold. OTL
Posts: 18 
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Post by MudBug on Feb 8, 2015 20:45:08 GMT
What happened here? What did I leave this place to become?
Course walked along the city streets. A glare on his face, and his head hanging low between his shoulders. Whatever had compelled him to return after all these years, he officially resented it. Such a misplaced feeling of responsibility. Perhaps it wasn't misplaced, but wholly unwelcome. Altogether he refused to let it sink it completely. He distracted himself remembering the horrors that were in power when he fled. Lions, canines with their minds raddled by years of torture driven warfare.
They tore this place apart. And I was too much of a coward to stay and stop them, he thought. Still, what had made it his responsibility? Birth? Timing? No, he would make his own decisions. Let the dead judge him all they'd like, he lived for himself. He would be selfish if that was what it took to survive. Great causes only led to great casualties.
He heard a howl in the distance, though he hadn't caught any scent of canines in the area. He wondered at the odds that he wasn't the only ghost haunting this place on this day. He shifted his demeanor, standing up just a little straighter, holding his head just a tad higher. Why, he was unsure, perhaps he simply didn't want to appear as weak as he knew he'd become.
All the same he made his way into the heart of the city, following the sounds of voices, one after the other. He looked and saw several canines, all just as surprised as he was to find any souls here. He stood an awkward distance away from them, raising his voice to meet theirs.
"How scary it is, to come looking for ghosts, and find the living."
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Post by Kezz on Feb 17, 2015 19:54:53 GMT
"Speech"
Time seemed to have melted into oblivion. Days, weeks, months, years... it meant nothing anymore, it was irrelevant. There was nobody left to count the hours ticking by, nobody left who cared. He knew he was no longer living but existing, wasting away what was left of it by haunting the empty halls of the Asylum and recalling all the bittersweet memories he had made here with his family. They were gone now; those who weren't dead or missing had simply moved onto to find greener pastures, and sometimes Tempest's deputy wondered why he hadn't done the same. Maybe it was hopelessness that asked him: what was the point? Perhaps it was nostalgia; Bear knew he was gripping desperately onto the past and no matter how hard he tried still it slipped like water through his paws. This was his home. It was where he had watched his father before him take the place of General and where his big sister had brought her first litter into the world. It was where happiness had lived and now it's place lurked despair and loneliness. A deep ache in the chasm of his heart that sung to him a quiet lullaby of loss and anguish.
The large dog had allowed himself a slice of peace by heading into town. He had hoped it would take his mind off everything, but seeing Hexasol so utterly deserted only seemed drum into his head just how bad it had become. And it was then that he heard the howl. Bear froze, a breeze running over his head and carrying with it the scent of someone he recognised immediately: Kai! An old face from the past! Someone had stayed. The brindle male bounded into action; Bear had remained in good shape - excessive hunting had been the greatest weapon against the sinking depression that had clawed at his heels. And using his keen nose to guide him it did not take the general long to track down where Kai was. To his even greater surprise, as he rounded the street corner, she was not alone. There was an entire party of dogs - not to mention a goddamn lion! A long time ago Bear might have snarled and hurled hate at the cat, but the years of peace had weakened his resolve. There had been so much death, so much pain, so much had passed that had forced Bear to grow up a great deal. He was no longer a foolish pup but a mature adult who had seen many battles, who had lost many of those he'd loved.He knew there was a time, a place, for the disgust he might have felt for the lion standing but a few feet away, and he knew with every fiber of his being that such a time was long gone.
Instead he turned to the other four dogs who had once made up part of his pack. Familiar faces, all of them. Bear could barely believe it. "How scary it is, to come looking for ghosts, and find the living." He found that he could not help but agree. "Well aren't we a tragic bunch." Bear broke into something close to a smile, recalling his old humour and finding comfort in the rising lump of elation in his throat. At last he was not alone.
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Mactíre
Cub
Derping around pretending to be an adult.
Posts: 1
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Post by Mactíre on Feb 19, 2015 6:52:15 GMT
Valkyrie had few regrets about leaving Hexasol when she had. The Tempest pack had been a strong, thriving group; Iris had still been around, though in what state she could not remember - and where the Lexis tribe had been, there had risen a new group who called themselves Neo-Lexis - though she had left before they had reached any real level of prominence.
She had thought about the city many times during her years spent wandering the lands beyond Hexasol, countryside and city; in many ways, though of course the city had largely shaped her, she had been glad to be away from it. Outside its confines, she found she was able to breathe, to live more peacefully at her own pace. She found purpose in helping others - both canines and felines - staving off danger, protecting them from attack. She had made friends all over the place, staying in some places for months on end; others for a few days or weeks - but in the end, always moving around, never settling completely. The she-wolf had always enjoyed a good fight, and staying fighting-fit had remained important to her - she was not perfect, far from it, and occasionally her lust for a fight had taken over, her enemy left in a bloody, lifeless heap. In the end, it was usually something she regretted, though her body told her it was natural. Yes, there were those who would only continue hurting others if they were allowed to live, but who was she to choose? Oh, even after all these years, she was a mess.
Sometimes, no, often, she was lonely: though she had friends everywhere, now, she had no best friend, no lover or mate - no-one she could confide in or rely on completely. Sometimes, often, this made it far more difficult to be genuine, to share her feelings; other times, when she was alone, she felt like pouring out all her woes to someone, anyone, if only they would lend an empathetic ear. But no - she was a soldier, a warrior, a loner: stoic, mentally damaged, drifting but never properly settling; and yet she felt no real pull to return to Hexasol, to return to the Tempest Pack. She wondered, sometimes, how her old packmates were faring - Ryu; Gusto; her brother, Orion, and Kai. She lamented, often, how thing had ended - how she and Kai had gone from best friends to enemies, it seemed, and how she and Orion had never managed to get along. How she had never been able to see the city at peace at all. . .
And now, here she was, a fair bit older (but still fairly young), a lot wiser; her wanderings had led her back to the city, and she had headed for it, nostalgia and dread mingling within her, welling up, threatening to choke her. She didn't know what she expected to find - but it hadn't been the largely deserted streets, with barely a soul in sight. From a quick inspection of Iris' former territory, they were no more; she could only assume that Tempest was the same - a sadness she didn't know she could feel weighed down on her then, as she realised the place was practically deserted, a ghost down.
It was trotting towards through the centre of town, limping on one hind paw that had been badly injured and never properly healed in a fight several years ago, the streets eerily quiet, that she heard it - a howl, a desperate cry for company that stirred something in her memory - Kai. Breaking into a jog, the she-wolf moved towards the source of the sound, another howl sounding then, this one clearly that of a fellow wolf, and again, hauntingly familiar; it could only belong to one canine.
By the time she reached the square, a small group had already gathered - there were Orion and Kai - sights for sore eyes; it seemed almost unreal that she should set eyes on them. Another two, children of Brooke if she remembered correctly, had approached the first two. And a lion, strangely familiar though she knew she'd never met him before, standing a little way from the rest of the group. Bear, who had been Ryu's General, she remembered, had also joined the growing throng.
Valkyrie didn't know whether to laugh or cry then; standing a little way off from the main group, nearest to the lion, almost between him and the other canines, she was able to hear Bear's comment, shaking her head in almost disbelieving agreement. "Oh, without a doubt." She tried for a smile, a smile that almost instantly turned into a wry chuckle, cracking the façade of apathy that ran right down into the very core of her being. Friends, enemies, or strangers, they were all members, children, of the old Hexasol, from when it had teemed with life, with emotion - and that struck a chord deep within the she-wolf. Her pointed, triangular ears pricked up, the point of her left one ragged and torn. Countless scars littered her thick pelt; here and there, there were dips where chunks of flesh had been ripped from her body and had been too big to be replaced. She certainly looked the hardened warrior, with her somewhat badly-healed injuries and her considerable, muscular mass; there was nothing beautiful about her, no soft edges, nothing but the spark in her eye that suggested she was someone with more than a hint of morality within. |
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Post by Zen on Feb 24, 2015 4:44:22 GMT
A cold breeze swept through the plaza and carried with it the sound of heavy paws hitting pavement. Kai stared in amazement as a familiar face stepped forward and greeted her, none other than Orion, an old friend with whom she'd lost contact with years ago. From what she could see, he looked more or less the same as she remembered – lean and fit, with the muscular build of a warrior, though age was obviously just starting to set in on him.
She was overcome with nostalgia as she looked at him. The small scars that ran along his flanks brought back memories of their battle together in the slaughterhouse, the botched rescue mission that had ended in Kai losing an eye and the ability to walk on her front leg. How ironic that she was a cripple who'd had the warrior's life taken from her by force, and now, with the long war at an end, it had been taken from him, too. She couldn't help but pity him a little. What had he been doing with himself all this time? “I...I didn't think you were...” Still alive. She choked on those last words, sighed, and allowed them to die on her breath, unspoken. A somewhat forced smile pulled at the corner of her mouth as she tried to change the tone of the conversation. “You look good. The city life been treating you well?”
It startled her to see a small throng of animals begin to trickle in to the square. She had been sure her pitiful howl would have gone unheard or ignored. Her eye fell on the pretty black female and the smaller male who approached them. Tempest dogs, without a doubt, though she couldn't be sure if she had ever spoken to either of them before today. Their faces held only faint, hazy memories for her. She gave the male a quick nod. “Sure am. You two were born in Tempest, right?” Kai's gaze lingered on the other female, whose eyes clouded with blindness fascinated her for some reason, and she tried without luck to place the names of the two dogs.
She hesitated then, glancing from the pair back to Orion, fear suddenly clenching its fingers around her heart. “So...what ever became of the pack?” It had been years since she had severed ties with the warrior canines, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite let go of her attachment to them. They were the pack that raised her, a pack bonded by a fierce sense of loyalty and friendship in a lawless city that valued only cutthroat survival. The thought of their legacy dying out gave her no satisfaction.
She turned her attention to the other Tempest male, and the...dear god, was that a lion? Her hackles bristled and a snarl instinctively formed on her mouth, though the rational part of Kai's brain told her she was obviously no match for this guy if he decided to attack. She would have to rely on the others to defend her if it came to that. But the cat seemed nonchalant, in fact he looked just as bewildered as the rest of them. There was no smell of hostility on him, so she allowed herself to relax somewhat, though her guard was still up.
“If you can call this living...” she muttered, looking around at the decrepit plaza and the gang of lost misfits that had gathered here together. Tragic indeed. She chuckled at the dog's comment, and as she focused on his face the name of the Tempest soldier came to her – Bear, that was it. Like Orion, he seemed to have kept himself in good shape even after the fall of the city. “Hey, good to see you again, Bear. I shouldn't have doubted Tempest. We dogs can survive anything, eh?”
Another straggler padded into the group, and Kai's good spirits dropped. Her body tensed with suspicion, for there was something not right about this female, some kind of vibe she gave off that set Kai's teeth on edge. It took a few moments, but the wolf's aged and battered body couldn't completely disguise who she was, and Kai recognized her identity with a sudden growl. “Oh my god. You.” A dozen emotions battled for dominance inside her head. Anger won out, leaving Kai with an irrepressible desire to hurt Valkyrie. But how? There wasn't much she could do to attack, other than flinging her mangled shell of a body at Valkyrie and maybe at most knocking the wolf over. She was actually thinking about doing just that, but first she cocked her head and gaped at Orion, waiting in stunned silence for his reaction. She knew how he felt about his sister, and unless the years had softened him, Valkyrie could be in trouble. |
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Post by Picasso on Mar 3, 2015 16:51:22 GMT
Orion cocked his head, curious. The unspoken utterance rang clear; Kai hadn't expected Orion to still be alive. He wondered what had led her to jump to those conclusions. He had always been a reckless wolf, jumping into danger at the first chance he could, and to be frank, Orion was surprised he was still as fit and healthy as he was. Scars littered his body, but they had not beaten him. With less of a threat from felines, it was hard to find a battle in the city, and Orion's memories of fighting faded into a blur. It had been far too long. Smiling at her compliment, Orion shrugged slightly, "As well as it can be. I was thinking of moving on soon, finding a new city which is more populated. There's not much for me here..." He trailed off, gazing at her. "Where did you go?" Perhaps he could go with her, find a new life with a more thriving population. He was still astounded that Kai had managed to fend for herself through her debilities.
Before they could continue talking between the two of them, two more canines entered the plaza. A flash of recognition passed through Orion's mind. It felt good for the Tempest Pack to reunite after so long of nothing. He gazed at the two newcomers; and it struck Orion that these were Brooke and Bane's offspring. Staggered, he looked first at the blind one. He knew very little about Addia; she had not been part of the pack since as long as Orion could remember. He wasn't even sure if they had met, or whether he'd just heard hushed rumours of her existence. The other, Orion recognised immediately, however he had changed since he'd last cast his eyes upon him. He had grown out of his awkward puppy body into a handsome canine. "You have a good memory," He commented with a nod, "Where have you two been in the past few years? I haven't seen much of Tempest within the city."
A pungent scent made Orion's hackles raise suddenly. He whipped his head around to greet the unwelcome newcomer. His instinct kicked in, and the black wolf snarled threateningly at the lion who had heard Kai's call. Orion had been brought up to loathe felines, and even after the many years of peace, he couldn't kick the habit. Backing up a little, Orion took in a shaky breath. He was no match to the lion, and there was no use in fighting. Orion noted that Kai was having a similar instinctive reaction to the presence of the lion, which settled Orion slightly. It occurred to Orion that Kai had asked him of the pack, and he swallowed thickly, before replying, "I'm not entirely sure. I sometimes see a few Tempests here and there, but it's not the thriving pack you would remember. We appear to have lost unity." He said sadly, lowering his head. He then directed his attention back to the lion, "Once upon a time, Hexasol was overrun with lions. Where's the rest of you?" He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Orion was surprised at the arrival of yet another pack member. He recognised the scent immediately, and he turned his head in the newcomer's direction. He couldn't place the canine's name, but he vaguely recalled the dog being part of a litter around a year after Orion's own birth. "Couldn't agree more," He replied dryly to the canine's remark, letting Kai and the other dog greet each other warmly.
The final arrival made Orion freeze in horror. It had been a long time since Orion had thought of his long lost sister, and yet here she was, striding into the plaza. How many years must it have been? With narrowed eyes, he glared at his sister. It felt like an eternity that the rescue party had infiltrated the slaughterhouse and he had assisted in rescuing his sister and another canine. Since Kai had risked everything for her. Since Valk betrayed the Tempest and became a cat-lover. His eyes flashed angrily, fury bubbling to the surface. Logically, there was nothing Orion should be angry with. It had been many, many years since he'd last laid eyes on his sister. They had not parted on good terms, and it always left Orion with a bad taste in his mouth whenever he thought of her. They had been young, naive, and Orion wasn't even sure what he was angry about anymore.
And yet Orion couldn't help but revert to old ways when he turned on her, "So what brings you back here, sis?" He questioned scathingly. |
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Post by Picasso on Mar 3, 2015 21:22:59 GMT
Four chocolate paws raced across the tarmac, a tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth as he raced down the streets. The howl came and went, and London was intrigued. He had been dwelling on the other side of the city when it came, and he'd not stopped running since. His legs ached and his body was hot, but he was desperate for some company. The nearer he came, the more scents he breathed in. The Tempest smell was faded, but definitely there, and nostalgia rose up in the canine. He hoped he would recognise some familiar faces at this bizarre impromptu meeting. London still kept close to the pack, and sometimes travelled with a few rogue Tempests that were equally as lonely as himself. However, there were still many Tempest dogs that he hadn't seen in years - his siblings especially. His heart ached for his family.
Skidding to a halt, London came into view of the plaza. His heart nearly stopped at the sight of the lion towering over the group of dogs, and a snarl ripped from his throat without warning. His dreams were often plagued by the fateful day he had come into contact with a lioness as a puppy, who had ripped his friend to shreds, and he'd made it out within an inch of his life. He was wary of trusting anyone these days, all because of a stupid incident that had happened many years ago. Taking in a shaky breath, he slowly padded towards the group, eyeing the lion suspiciously. It appeared he had no ill intent, but London was the last dog to trust a lion. He was not a malicious canine, but he knew what those powerful jaws could do to his fragile bones.
As he walked closer, he spotted someone he thought he would never see again. "Zeevi!" He cries, tail wagging frantically as he ran towards his brother. He almost barrelled into him from the force of his run, but stopped himself before the collision. Instead, London brushed against his brother's torso, breathing in his familiar scent and grinning widely. "I've missed you, Zeev." He whispered, ignoring the other members as he relished in the time spent with his brother. There had been many days London would pace the streets, searching for a scent of his family members, but he always returned with nothing. With a wagging tail, he gazed at the others, and recognised his elder sister, Addia, someone he had never had much contact with. He also spotted other Tempest members, and smiled brightly at the strange reunion they were having.
ooc; can't remember if addia and london ever met, but oh well x3
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Post by Pluton Leader Smiff on Mar 9, 2015 1:39:09 GMT
"Speech."
As Zeevi wagged his tail and chatted among his old packmates, Addia picked up the scent of others coming in the breeze. She sat calmly, blind eyes turning towards the near silent pawsteps of a feline, who was met with animosity from most everyone present. Even she used to be wary of lions when she first left the Tempest Pack, but at this point in her life, she was too tired to care if there were still any cats of Iris ready to tear her to pieces. In any case, Addia was not about to let the lion, who let out a clever, almost poetic one-liner, go completely ignored. She rose from her spot and padded over to him, her clouded gaze settling only where she could feel his presence and not at his eyes, "Perhaps, but it seems we are all only shells of our former selves, living or not."
Born blind, Addia had always been more in tune with her other senses. Over the years, she had developed a sort of... sixth sense of sorts. She could feel the energy around her despite not being able to see the wreckage of Hexasol. It was like a coffin long since buried. The smell of death was stale, but the cold feeling of it was fresh as ever.
Zeevi, who had stopped wagging at all the morbid comments, let out a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, "You guys are depressing. Shouldn't this gathering be a testament to our strength? We survived hell." He nodded respectively at each new arrival, going as far as dipping his head low at Bear whom he still respected as a leader. Then there was the elephant in the room, so to speak. What had actually happened to Tempest in the end? Orion spoke before Zeevi, but he felt a tad bit angered with the black wolf's response. Where was his pride? "We are here!" Zeevi announced decisively. Perhaps it was because he was a son of Brooke, but he still considered himself a member of Tempest. And though they were not thriving per say, he would never admit they were... broken... or scattered... or anything like that. They were here... they were... still here.
But his attention to the topic at hand ceased to be at the arrival of his brother, London. Eyes growing bright and tail going back to its full wagging speed, he nuzzled into the chocolate fur of his kin and breathed in his scent, "It's been ages London! Where have you been?" Addia, who had been listening - silent as usual - smiled briefly at the reunion of some of her family members. At least there was some semblance of a bond left between brothers, if anything.
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MudBug
Cub
Going on vacation - catch a cold. OTL
Posts: 18
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Post by MudBug on Mar 20, 2015 0:38:54 GMT
The only lion. The only feline period - course stood twice the size of even the largest canine in the gathering. After they all took turns glaring, growling, and prodding him with questions he simply laughed. A horrible sound, harsh and bitter. He startled himself; it had been so long since he'd heard it.
"Where are the rest of us?" He dropped his head between his shoulders to look at the dog, suddenly realizing she was blind. He instead swept his gaze across the group."Do I really look like the one who would know?" He continued chuckling at his own patheticness. Course came closer to the group to sit on his haunches. He felt content that none of the canines here wanted to try and start a fight. What would be the point?
"I suppose I'll say it, if you're all gonna beat it out of me with your stares." He sighed. His tone was as if he talked about the dreary weather. "I'm Course, long lost should-have-been leader of Lexis tribe. Of course, I'm also the greatest coward that ever lived and ran away from my inheritance and heritage long ago. So, now I'm just Course, the bitter lion." He couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain as the canines continued to recognize one another, some even seeming overcome with joy. "And, yes, I'm alone. As far as I know." He added this last statement feeling as if it was aimed at himself. Still it likely served to calm the nerves of a few of the others, hopefully. He couldn't imagine why they would think there'd be a band of homeless lions waiting to ambush them, but he also remembered the Tempest canines most for their shared paranoia.
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Post by ~Jay~ on May 21, 2015 1:14:37 GMT
Atlas knew he shouldn't have been so excited at the sound of a howl. It had been ages since he'd seen another being that wasn't dead or prey. Canines, felines, exotic and domestic, they'd all left the city years ago. Thankfully the decline of population had left what prey stayed in the area to the few who had remained. Atlas had been among those few. Where else could he have gone? A small cat, alone, with no allies and no friends, he'd have died a lot sooner in the wilds around the city than among the alleyways and streets. He quickly found himself too eager to sate his curiosity and started to run through the streets, following scents that for once weren't so old he felt as if he were following ghosts. The single scent that he started following had a distinct canine tinge to it, and soon he started catching others on the wind, more canines, a few wolves were distinguishable, finally another feline scent reached him, that of a lion. There was a possibility, however slight, that he could have the first conversation with something other than his food in years. He finally reached the impromptu gathering point not long after he completed that thought, and found himself hesitating. He'd been so excited at the possibility of seeing another living creature that wasn't either about to be eaten or trying to eat him that he hadn't thought about the risk to his own life. After a moment, though, he decided to say to hell with it and slunk out of the shadows, bright orange fur making him easily distinguishable from the surroundings.
"Well aren't we all alone now?" He spoke up in response to the lion. "I mean I know I haven't met another feline or canine that wasn't outright trying to eat me in a long time." He looked around at the gathering. "Please tell me no one's going to try to eat me."
Hexasol had deteriorated beyond anything June would have ever believed. It hadn't exactly been thriving when she'd left, but she hadn't expected, when the urge to return to the city of her birth had arisen, that it would be so empty. She had remained as long as was possible, not wanting to abandon her pack or her home. Finally it was only a small number left of Tempest, and she had made the decision to strike out on her own, in search of an area with more plentiful prey. Padding slowly along the streets, she flicked her ears to attention at the sound of a faint howl. She paused for a moment, indecisive. Did she want to risk running into a pack of hostiles or some crazed loner? She couldn't explain it, but the same feeling that had driven her to return to the city soon drove her into a brisk run, aimed towards the howl. Soon she was catching scents, the smell of dog and lion. As she got near enough to start hearing voices she slowed to a trot and then a walk as she arrived at the edge of the city plaza. She hung back, cautious. She'd never been particularly close with these canines, members of the pack that had been her entire reason for living for the first five years of her life, but the pull of the familiarity of the scents, even the pull for companionship that dimmed her instinctual caution at the lion that had joined the group, had her slowly waking up to the small gathering.
"It's almost as if fate wanted us to be here." She spoke up as she get near enough, looking around the group. "It seems as if the city wanted us to return, if only for a short time." She stopped not far from the others, sitting and observing the group.
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