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Post by Hunter on Jul 13, 2013 11:39:27 GMT
Kai is back.
The fact echoed in his mind as he padded through the corridors of the Mental Asylum, only vaguely noticing and acknowledging the canines who greeted him on his way through Tempest’ beating heart. Fluffy balls of puppies ran around his legs and the adults gave barks and cheers, while the elders dipped their heads. But he knew that not all of them were satisfied. Many were wary due to the coming winter, doubting if the former klutz could bring them all safe through the stormy nights. He wasn’t sure how many doubted in his skills as a leader, but as late as yesterday he’d had to fight a soldier older than himself – needing to give a reminder that Brooke had played her cards right. He wasn’t a stuttering coward anymore. Brooke had deemed him capable of leading the pack which had been hers, and though he at first had been overwhelmed at the sudden responsibility, he now knew that he could do it. And he had Bear by his side, a fact which was an important one since the younger dog held a fine deal of authority to him despite his age. He was, after all, Hueso’s son and many saw that the old General’s abilities shone through in his son. Ryu knew that as long as Bear and he stood close, and as long as the old Mistress and Warden approved of them, the pack would be just fine knitted together. Because even though they had retired, Brooke and Bane were still important figures in the pack. It was as if the four of them were an important core in the Tempest Pack, and as long as they stood together, everything would hold.
The pack was wary, but Ryu remained calm. At least on the outside if not feeling it on the inside. He knew uncertainty would always pop up in the times of a shift in the upper ranks. What he needed to do was staying calm and show the pack that he knew what he was doing – and then fight those who needed to be shown their place.
But what was he going to do about Kai? He couldn’t let her become a soldier again. Her leg was crippled, perhaps for the rest of her life – sending her to battle would be the end of her. He couldn’t waste her life like that. Kai was a big dog and her identity well-known in the Iris Pride, meaning there was no way she could be a shadow in the Brotherhood of Senka either. As for hunting… even though her leg had been crippled, she’d still managed to survive for a fine amount of time. Perhaps he could find a hunting group she could fit into, but he didn’t know if doing so would hurt her too much. She hadn’t spoken it out loud, but he could see on her face that fighting had been what she was meant for. Still, fighting was out of the question. Hunting could be a way for her to go, at least that might be better for her than just sitting back as an old, retired dog. Ryu didn’t know Kai well, but he assumed she’d want to do more for the pack than consulting with the elders and babysitting puppies. With a hunting group, she could help provide the pack with food needed for winter. He would need to talk to her, see what she thought about his decision.
Then there was Valkyrie.
He ascended the stairs which led to the roof as he thought about the she-wolf. He didn’t know how his words had affected her the last time they’d met – the time when they’d realized Kai was alive. If his words had affected her at all. What he had said to her however was true. He needed everyone these days, and he wanted to help her. He felt sorry that she’d lost so many around her, especially since it seemed like no one new came into her life. Her life would be empty, if not so already. Kai was back, but the friendship they’d once shared had clearly faded. The she-wolf was thereby without mother, without brothers and without any friends worth mentioning as far as he knew. What was her drive? Her motivation? Was there something he could do for her to fire up and learn that the life she’d been given was a gift?
He shouldered open the door that led to the roof, and a chilly autumn air soon ruffled in his short fur. The black and white dog inhaled deeply, embracing the fresh feeling of the outside world. He knew where he belonged, he knew who he was. Did Valkyrie? Slowly, Ryu stepped out toward the edge of the roof, scanning the area beneath with his brown eyes. He could see the Juveniles and Soldiers training, parents looking after their young, hunters retrieving with their kill, and elders enjoying the warm rays of the sun. The pack looked like it should. It was preparing, readying itself. For battle. For winter. Bear and he were making sure of that. The pack should be nothing less than a lurking beast, ready to strike the enemy, ready to defy the elements. It wouldn’t be long before the sun’s light would stop being warm, not long before winter closed in. Would the pack be ready? Yes, it will, he thought, sure in his case as he sat down. He cared for the pack as a father for his puppies, and he had the most capable dogs he could wish for to consult with. What more could he wish for? He knew they would be there to support his decisions, his actions. What more could he wish for? Winter would be hard, it always would, but as long as Iris was slumbering, he knew he couldn’t get any luckier. His goal for now was to get his pack through winter, make sure they had a sure fundament to stand on. Then, and only then, would they be strong enough to attack their enemy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 10:31:25 GMT
“Next time, pick on someone your own size!”
A rare grin graced Valkyrie’s furry features as she stepped away from a Juvenile she’d just beaten in a mock fight. He was a cocky young thing, a large husky who had intended to show his friends off his prowess by winning a fight against a bigger, more experienced opponent. Fur ruffled, he picked himself up and stalked back to his four peers, body drooping, his eyes flashing with anger and embarrassment at being beaten.
Watching him go, she reflected that he was really only a year younger than her – if that – his main problem was that he hadn’t been wary enough, hadn’t taken into account that one should never underestimate one’s enemy. Indeed, the group’s mentor, a five-year-old German shepherd named Jango, was saying something of the sort to them. When he’d finished, he dismissed them and turned to the she-wolf, a smile on his face also. “Thanks for helping out today, Valkyrie.”
Her expression had morphed back into her usual frown, but she offered him a slight smile in return, inclining her head slightly. “Only doing my duty, sir. Good day to you.”
With that, she turned and headed towards the asylum, blinking as the autumn sun shone in her eyes. The female was looking forward to some time alone, after spending a lot of the time lately with others, patrolling, training Juveniles, or attending compulsory training sessions with other Soldiers. She hadn’t been out to Hexasol in at least a week, and it was getting to her. It was difficult to keep her temper with others, but she couldn’t afford to lose it in front of those she was supposed to be a role-model for. Besides, training the younger members of the pack meant she got to fight, even if it wasn’t tearing into an enemy.
Valkyrie’s relatively good mood dissipated as the noise of other canines, wandering around the asylum, playing, sleeping, and eating, reached her ears. By chance her gaze fell on an elderly Jack Russell, a dog with only one eye and a limp; a mixture of anger and sorrow filled her as she was reminded of another seriously maimed member of the Pack.
She was extremely confused about her relationship with Kai; once the closest of friends, she and the mutt seemed more like enemies than anything else. Her miraculous reappearance and return to Tempest should have given the timber wolf-cross reason to celebrate, but any excitement, any joy she had felt had been quickly extinguished by her one-time friend’s reaction to her presence.
I'm just too good at messing up when things are going well, she thought savagely, cursing the stupid puppy she'd been. If only she'd stayed with Rikki that dreary morning - then her mother would have probably been alive, and Adrian and Lyall wouldn't have disappeared.
In that moment she wanted to howl all her sorrows out, but she didn't dare do it with so many others around. As she pushed past them, keeping her emotionless facade in place, the she-wolf wished that she was one of them. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons; all with their immediate family happy, united and loving within the bigger "family" that was the Tempest Pack.
Valkyrie had felt the pull of that "family" before - before she had been captured. But now she looked around and wondered - what was it, the primary reason for which all these canines had come together? Love, and a desire for their species to continue? Or unconditional hatred of another, and a desire to see them destroyed? She realised now that she probably would have had more chance at becoming Lexis leader than Tempest Mistress - her views were too different from the majority of the pack. That, and she didn't think she'd make a very good politician. She was just too blunt, too truthful, and too not patient enough. Not to mention how inexperienced she was.
She recalled with a sudden sharpness the battle that had been the end of Lexis. She had killed, doing what she thought was her duty to her pack: protecting them - and herself - from enemies who sought to destroy them.
But if she'd simply been doing her duty, why did it haunt her - all those she'd killed?
Why did she feel as if she didn't belong here - as if she didn't want to be a part of Tempest?
As her head cleared of the enveloping thoughts, the tri-coloured canine realised her paws were taking her uf the flight of stairs that led to the upper floor of the asylum, and over those of others, she could smell the scent of none other than Ryu - the Warden.
It felt strange to call him that, even in her head. The last Warden had been Gravity - the father she had never known, and after the long era that had seen Brooke as the pack's leader, it still felt foreign to have a relatively young, male leader.
She knew him but barely, the few, clear memories of their encounters all fairly recent ones: firstly, her (and Ares') rescue from Iris; and then the battle - he'd come to stand with her between the Iris leader and felines who were desperate enough to join the Pride. And then, not long ago at all - when Kai had returned.
A thought suddenly seized Valkyrie: if he was alone, what better time - and who better - to talk about such issues? She'd already as good as said she was considering leaving the Pack for good in his presence, so it wouldn't be a total shock.
Tracing him to the asylum's roof, the young she-wolf peered out through the door frame, the wind whipping her fur around. Composing herself, she padded over to the older male so that she was beside him, about a tail's length between them. Eyeing his sturdy, compact and smaller frame with almost wary amber eyes, she spoke softly, matter-of-factly. There was respect in her voice, but a certain measure of urgency, too.
"Ryu, we need to talk."
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Post by Hunter on Jul 14, 2013 11:29:27 GMT
His sharp senses caught the clattering sound of nails against the staircase. A scent didn’t reach him just yet, so for now he couldn’t recognize the canine coming towards him. At first he thought it was one from the Brotherhood since these appeared at the most peculiar of times, especially when he was alone. But it soon became clear to him that it wasn’t the case. Another wind blew in the air and with it came the scent of the she-wolf who had just appeared in his thoughts.
Valkyrie.
He didn’t turn to acknowledge her, knowing that she would already know he was here. Knowing that she on purpose had come to him. After all, his scent was more than evident on the way up here for any canine having a sense of smell. He turned his ears as he heard the sound of her coming closer, wondering what had brought her here. But whatever the case, he was sure he soon would find out without the need to ask. The she-wolf was younger than he was, but she was still bigger than him. He’d never been big of posture, especially not as a puppy, whereas Valkyrie was a wolf - and a big one of the kind. Their differences stood clear as she sat beside him. With her 35 inches, Valkyrie could literately tower above his 21 if she wanted, and her beastly power could definitely crash him if they locked together in a wrestling match. It wasn’t a secret that the young wolf had longed for the position as Mistress of the pack. Yet still he wondered if she dared attacking him? Wondered if she would be as easily victorious as her mere size gave away? Valkyrie was big and strong, a great soldier, a terrifying enemy… but Ryu didn’t fear her.
Why?
Was it because he’d seen the lone kid she was after her rescue? Her vulnerable state despite her size when Kai had returned? Not to mention when he and the rest of the rescue team had gotten her out of captivity. He wasn’t sure. Valkyrie spoke, saying they needed to talk, and he turned his black and white masked head to look at her with his brown eyes. ”Greetings Valkyrie, I’m glad you came,” he said, the formal tone coming naturally to him after weeks of speaking to wise elders and other important members of the pack. But a rogue smile then appeared on his lips after his words, confirming that his words were genuine. ”What’s on your mind? I hope you understand that you can tell me anything.” His rogue expression changed to a more serious one. Was he worried for her? Perhaps. He couldn’t read her features so far, but her tone told him it was something she thought urgent. That she perhaps was going to tell him something she’d wanted to say for a very long time.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2013 10:11:40 GMT
The only sign that Ryu gave to show that he noticed her presence was the swivelling of his ears as she approached. Her own features were carefully neutral, tail down, not quite horizontal, ears pricked but not moving independently of the rest of her body.
She respected the Canaan Dog as one should respect a leader - but like her mother, she'd always been a free thinker, someone who was not afraid to challenge the opinion of those higher ranked than her.
And she certainly wasn't afraid of him, either. Though Valkyrie knew first-hand that he was a formidable enemy, he was certainly approachable, calm, and friendly, respectful of others, too. She remembered that he - and Bear - had chosen her as one of the two participants from Tempest in the contest for Lexis' former territory. Not for the first time, she wondered why. Maybe, knowing that she would be sore after not being promoted to Mistress or even General, he and Bear had agreed that it would be a good chance for her to prove herself in some way, or to realise that she was valued within the pack? The most straightforward explanation was that they knew she was a decent fighter, with a good head on her shoulders, and it was probably that. You're no more important than any other member of this pack, remember? She told herself reprovingly. She didn't want to be seen as a self-centred or arrogant canine - and she certainly didn't want to be one either.
Ryu's voice broke through the curtain of the young wolf's thoughts, formal and and courteous as any true leader. He was a natural leader himself, she realised with a twinge of jealously, even, guarded amber gaze fixed on his black-and-white face. The smile that followed his words was unexpected, and she regretted her envy of a moment ago; this was his place - he definitely had been the right choice for Warden, and he would be well within his rights to be nothing more than courteous, even slightly cold, toward her. But the smile brought a small, hesitant one to her face, though she remained silent, waiting for him to speak again.
The Warden's question reminded her of the gravity of what she had to tell him, his new expression - an almost concerned from - appropriate for the situation. The smile was instantly gone from her face, too, to be replaced by a set mouth and eyes where regret and determination mingled.
"Thanks, Ryu." The female dipped her head before answering his question, using the moment the action took to complete to gather her thoughts. She took a deep breath before meeting her leader's brown eyes, forcing herself to speak firmly, but not too fast. "I've been seriously thinking about leaving the pack, ever since the battle. I know I have much to be grateful to the pack for - and I think I'm a useful member when I put my mind to it - but I've been feeling more and more, lately, that there's not much for me here. I disagree with some of the Pack's. . . Policies, call it what you will, and I - I just feel lost so much of the time, constricted. I don't feel as if I'm being true to myself."
There was more she wanted to say, but she didn't quite know how to put it into words right at that moment. Besides, that was probably quite enough for Ryu to process at the moment. She watched him expectantly, ears twitching slightly, bushy tail held still as she waited, eyes guarded, wondering how he would react.
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Post by Hunter on Jul 18, 2013 18:02:36 GMT
He looked at her without interfering as she spoke, telling him that she thought about leaving the pack. When finished, Ryu looked ahead of him once more, and for a moment nothing but the distant sounds of the pack beneath them could be heard. “No one here is my slave - everyone can leave if so they wish,” he said calmly in a low tone, but a hint of sadness lingered around its edges. ”As long as no obstacles have been made, those who leave won’t get the rank of a Banished and are thereby welcome to come back… But why Valkyrie?” his voice was low and his question barely more than a whisper as he looked upon her again. He wasn’t sure he understood her.
”You said you’ve thought about this since after the battle against Lexis… You talk about our politics…” he sighed. ”Valkyrie, I liked killing the members of Lexis just as much as I enjoyed spending time in that cell in Iris. There was nothing great or glorious about what we did. But we did what we had to do. As for you feeling lost,” he hesitated as he thought about being careful what to say. After all, he wouldn’t want to insult the she-wolf sitting beside him due to respect. ”You do every duty given to you – you participate in training sessions, you do your patrols, you help training the young…” he paused shortly as he gathered his thoughts, trying to say what he wanted the right way. ”Yet still it feels like you aren’t trying to mingle. You will soon turn two years old - you should run around and have fun with your peers, not feel lost and constricted.” A little smile appeared on his lips as he imagined what she would look like if she was happy. Those six months in that stinky cell had really corrupted her, hadn’t they? And now she wanted to run away from it all. The thought of her running away from everything, from her problems and difficulties, it rose something in him. It made him angry. But he couldn’t blame her. Running away would always be much easier than dealing with your problems… but you might not get much out of it. He wouldn’t blame her for her thoughts and actions. Valkyrie was a young canine after all, great warrior or no, and she had still much to learn about life and the things she’d encounter in it.
”If you run away from your troubles now… he smiled desolately, not liking the thought. ”For how long will you keep running?” There was curiosity in his eyes as he spoke, looking at Valkyrie with his dark eyes. Maybe he just didn’t quite understand where she was going which was why he wanted her to explain further. She wanted to leave, he knew that much, but what did she hope to accomplice out there in the outlands which she couldn’t accomplice here?
((OOC: Bad post is bad, whatever! But I wanted to get something up before I’m leaving ^^ Might get to writing while away, but no promises.))
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2013 11:19:55 GMT
Ryu heard her out, a silence following her last few words, filled by the sound of the busy pack. That was when Valkyrie realised that she wouldn't miss it -the busyness of it all got on her nerves - no-one could ever enjoy life for what it was, appreciate that there was more to it than getting rid of the cats, hunting, or training. Everything, including love, had to revolve around it - she knew it was frowned upon to have a mate who wasn't a member of the pack.
Ryu's voice jerked her from her thoughts, the tinge of sadness in his voice causing an unexpected twinge from somewhere inside her. She pushed it away, lest it weaken her resolve to leave - though by this time, she wasn't going to let anything stop her.
His question wasn't unexpected; she spoke quickly, before she was interrupting him.
"I just don't feel as if this is where I belong, Ryu, as silly as it sounds. I don't enjoy it any more." Her voice, though edged with regret, was firm, as was her gaze as she looked at him.
The young she-wolf listened as her leader went on, her attentive face growing slowly grimmer. She didn't want to mingle, she just wanted to have some time where she could think, where she could figure out what she was meant to be doing with her life. He was right, she did her duty, but there was not joy or pride taken in it. She did it becaause that was what was expected of her.
And maybe it was time she stopped doing what others expected her - wanted her - to do.
The Canaan Dog's last question sparked something in her - anger; determination. She sighed, glanced down at her packmates, and returned her gaze to his face, schooling herself to calm, willing herself to explain, to express her feelings.
"The truth is, I've been running up until now. Thinking that this is what I'm supposed to do, because I was raised her, because I was rescued, because I have every reason to despise Iris and wish for their demise - and I do. But I can't keep on being a part of this, Ryu. I feel as if I've lost myself, I don't know who I am any more, and I know, now, that I won't find it here. I once thought I could make a difference as a part of this pack, but somehow, I found, I can't."
The young Soldier smiled fore a moment, happy in her certainty, eyes shining; then it faded, to be replaced by complete solemnity. "Ryu, you've been a good friend, and an even better leader; I thank you for that, and for all you've done for me. I won't stay and be a burden to you, to your conscience, any longer."
Bending down slightly, she touched her nose to his cheek in a gesture of respect and affection, before straightening once more, waiting for anything he had to say before she left the Pack for good.
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Post by Hunter on Aug 18, 2013 13:31:14 GMT
”It’s not silly,” he mumbled. “We all need a purpose. A reason to live.” He sighed while looking down at the pack beneath them, listening to what she more had to say. Then he looked back at Valkyrie. “I hope you will be finding yours. That you will find a reason to stop running… And that your path someday will lead you back to us,” he smiled shortly to her, suddenly feeling a bit tired. He didn’t like to see her go like this. It somehow hurt him to know that she didn’t feel like she belonged here, he’d hoped he could help her. But of course, it was all her choice, and he knew that he wouldn’t be able to change her mind. “It’s no secret that I’d like to have you on my side, Valkyrie. You’re not only a great warrior, you also have a sense of conscience. That’s a good thing to have,” he concluded.
He flickered his ears a bit as the young she-wolf flattered him, telling him he’d been a good friend and that she thought he’d be a good leader. He hoped she was right. The pack was everything to him, and though he would let her fulfill her wish and thereby let her leave the pack, the Canaan Dog still didn’t truly understand why the pack didn’t mean as much to her as it did to him. “I’m happy you think so, my friend,” he said, feeling his voice grow hoarse for a reason he couldn’t explain himself. Ryu let Valkyrie touch his cheek with her wet nose, embracing the respectful gesture, before she turned to leave. He rose up to stand as well when she was halfway toward the door which led down to the floors below them, looking after her. “It’s a big place out there, the world,” he started solemnly. “No matter where you go, always remember where you came from, and what happened in your past. I do. I always do… But don’t let your past hold you down. You have to grow despite what you’ve gone through…. Don’t forget us Valkyrie.” With that he turned around again, looking out on the Pack once more.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 4:57:19 GMT
OOC; I know this thread is wrapped up pretty much, but I wanted to post a proper exit with Valk, so!
Ryu did seem to understand, and for that she was grateful. In this war, fewer and fewer of her packmates did - but Brooke had chosen well when she had picked Ryu to be the next Warden. Understanding, she had come to realise, was an important trait in a leader.
Onc finished what she had to say, Valkyrie pricked her ears once more as the Canaan Dog turned back to her. She smiled, eyes afire with a steady, unquenchable passion. Oh yes, she knew exactly what she would be doing once she left. "I will, Ryu, don't worry," she assured him, the edges of her mouth quirking bitterly as he used that phrase again. However he put it, in his eyes, she was something of a coward - a sentiment she was sure the majority of Tempest - to say nothing of her brother - would agree with. But if she believed she was doing the right thing - and she did - she would not let the opinions of others stop her from doing it. "I doubt I will come back - but thank you for your kind words. If that same conscience hadn't gotten the better of me, I might not be leaving - but as it is, it has and I am." She smiled wryly at him as she spoke.
Pausing before she reached the doorway, she turned her head to hear his final words to her before she left pack life forever. "Don't worry, Ryu, I have no chance of forgetting anything that's happened to me," she told him seriously, bitterness flooding her mind like bile in her mouth, "And I intend to grow, to become more than who I am now. I wish you well, Ryu. If we meet again, though, it may not be as friends; though I hope it never comes to that."
Nodding to him one last time, a wide smile lighting up her face, she turned and trotted into the asylum, down the stairs, and out into the cemetry and the places beyond. And she neared the pack's borders, the young she-wolf broke into a run, exhilarated by the feeling of the wind ruffling her fur and utter freedom as she raced over Tempest's borders for the last time, out into a new, unknown, undiscovered life.
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