A loving guard (open)

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu smiled at Alastolan's words, leaning against him slightly and sharing her warmth with him. His body was muscled finely into chiseled granite though his thick fur cushioned the rock-like sinew and made his shoulder comfortable as she allowed him to support her weight. Her jade eyes closed almost of their own accord and she eased into a sitting position. For a moment, she seemed almost innocent in nature as she rested against the dark male with her tail absently tapping against the ground. However, that passed quickly as she twisted her head around to nip playfully at his ear, attempting to pull his head down. Letting go, without caring whether she had succeeded or failed in that venture, the adolescent she-wolf spun away and flapped her wings once or twice before easing down onto her front legs but keeping her rump in the air. The femme's white banner, midnight blue half moons crossing her tail swishing and swaying with her wryness.

"Well, I'm not one for such words, but coming from you..." She stood up, cocking her head to the side and smiling slightly. "The weight they carry is almost pleasant." With that she laid down, halfway between Alastolan and the deer though a little to the right so they formed a triangle of sorts, and curled into a small ball with her nose once again encircled by her fluffy tail. However, her wings were splayed to her sides in a casual manner. Giving a yawn that seemed almost bored, she rested her head on her paws making her look away from the winged male behind her. "Feel free to eat whatever you want off of that deer. I'm full for now." Her jade eyes closed as her slender body drifted off into a light, but peaceful, doze.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan had started to thoroughly enjoy Aiu's presence as now she seemed to be more calm and innocent compared to the previous nature she had displayed before him. I'm glad I finally got through to her. He thought to himself. She needed to hear what I had to say. Closed off for so long living a lie... the truth can be hurtful, even sickening, when you've lived like she has for such a long time. Even though it was difficult, she accepted the truth with courage and pride. She really is something else. His thoughts were broken as she playfully nipped at his ear and pulled his head down a bit. He simply turned to her and smiled while laughing silently to himself. She's just like a young pup deep down once you get to know her a bit and she opens up to you a little. A crying shame she's had such a terrible past.

He had begun to move in to a position so he could lay down when she spoke. "Well, I'm not one for such words, but coming from you...". He turned his head to look at her and listened. "The weight they carry is almost pleasant." He smiled once again and finally layed down, as did Aiu. "Feel free to eat whatever you want off of that deer. I'm full for now." Alastolan looked at the deer for a moment then looked back at Aiu to see her dozing off into a slumber. I suppose I'll finish what's left just so her kill doesn't go to waste or something else takes it. He began to dig in and finished what remained of the deer lying there, managing to clear it all down to the bones and becoming full as the fish he ate didn't fill him very much. Alastolan cleaned himself off until there was no more blood around his mouth or chest fur and re-adjusted his position until he was laying beside Aiu and rested his head on her back just below her shoulders closing his weary eyes. Still so tired from last night with hardly any sleep.... A nice nap would do me good right now. Just... a little... while.

[ulrica]

<sup>Orange leaves fell from the gnarled boughs of ancient trees, each waving hand as wrinkled and calloused as the next. But that was of no interest to the small pup bouncing across the autumn ground. Directly behind her, another wolfling crashed through the dry leaves making the crackle and snap as if they were twigs. The scene Aiu watched was one oddly familiar, as if she intimately knew this rambunctious pair. As if they were a part of her. However, they soon bounded out of her view and the snowy femme was forced to chose whether she would follow them or not. Just as she made the move to tail them, another pair came walking through the fiery forest. One was a female, her fur a pale russet which faded to white on her legs and underbelly. Sprouting from her sides was a pair of wings that oddly resembled the coloring of a hawk's. Funny how I would find their coloring the strange thing... Beside the female walked a grand wolf lord, his head held high with dignity and pride while his emerald eyes scanned the area with the calculative gaze of a soldier. His fur was black with midnight blue streaks throughout it; streaks which were almost invisible if just glanced at carelessly. Just as the female, the male too had wings, but his were much grander in color and size. Where the female was small and scraggly, this male was huge and muscular; his wings were no exception. Each massive limb being at least a foot longer than his body when fully extended-or at least that's what she estimated-and colored so beautifully it actually took the adolescent she-wolf's breath away. Navy blue swirled into a lighter and lighter blue across a black abyss of feathers, Aiu fell into a sort of trance as she gazed at their hauntingly familiar design.

Without warning, the pair suddenly stopped, the male having sensed something in the air. Instinctively, the white female did a quick once over of her immediate surrounding...only to find nothing? Turning her eyes back to the strolling couple, she was shocked to see the males gem-like orbs boring into her own. The color she saw there exactly mirrored her own, down to the very last streak of jade. But it was the expression within them that shocked Aiu. Adoration, protectiveness, intimacy... The russet female poked her head around the broad chest of the male and a small smile lit upon her black lips. Golden eyes shone with something like tender mischievousness which was softened by the love and hope that was hinted at behind the female's wry mirth. Then, as if of one entity, they opened their mouths and spoke a single word. With that word, the spell was shattered as the world fell to pieces and into darkness..... The grasping arms of the great nothing, the dark oblivion, embraced the sleeping she-wolf....

Physically, Aiu's dreams were less than noticeable. She did not move, her breathing showed no change, and there was no fitful fluttering of her wings. However, the fact that something was wrong would have been clearly noticed on the spiritual plane. And maybe, if one took the time to listen, the lurching pace of her heart would have been noticed and questioned. Turmoil and angst consumed the slender female as she slept. And still, her instinct and lifelong habit are what concealed almost all traces of said emotion. Of course, had she been awake, these feelings would have played across her visage and perhaps even been voiced aloud, but while asleep and without control of her physical body, such things as emotion were little more than a memory to the mind of Aiu. That mind, which had become hardened and calloused by many years of hardship and solitude, was slowly changing. Oh yes, something was different about the young she-wolf. But if its outcome would be for better or worse, only the future would tell. And unfortunately, the future was one thing the lithely built wolfess couldn't see in her dreams. No matter how vividly she saw her night visions, the past was all her subconscious wanted to show....</sup>

[Xenoxice]

(( OOC: Hope you enjoy the twist I threw in to snap it into a more "fun" scenario instead of the calmer way it's been ))

Alastolan's ears flicked around as his nap started to fill with dreams. Most were vague but one was quite vivid. An open plain with tall grass and the wind blowing gently. He could hear playful growls not to far away. He ran as fast as he could in the direction the growls were coming from to find an opening in the field with a pond in the middle. On the other side He could see 2 wolves playing with each other and another sitting down all alone over to the side. One of the ones playing was a grown male. His fur was pure jet black without a single variation of color with crystalline, icy blue eyes that sparkled as brilliantly as the ocean on the sunniest of days. The other was a pup. Not even a year of age. It looked just like Alastolan. Father....? He watched the pure black male playing with his son having a great time. But he looked over to the other wolf. A female and the mate of the black one. She was dominantly light gray with streaks of red and sky blue running down her back and sides with patches of blue on each of her paws. Mother...?

He sat and watched as the father and son tired themselves out from playing and the pup trotted over to the female. He sat in front of her and barked a few times to get her attention but she just sat there unmoving. A blank stare in her glowing emerald green eyes as if she was lost and couldn't find her way back. His ears folded back and down as he began to whimper at the reaction of the female. As if she had no idea he was even there, not even a foot in front of her. The large black male walked over to the femme and nudged her under her chin with his head to break her trance. She looked around for a few moments almost like she was confused before laying her gaze upon her mate. He motioned towards their son with his eyes as he let out another whimper. She turned and looked at him and a smile came across her face. She layed down and curled herself around the small pup before speaking. "I'm sorry Alastolan.... I was just.... lost for a few moments that's all...." The pup had a look of sadness on his face as he curled himself up and layed against his mother. As much as she tried to hide it he knew what was wrong.

His heart ached a bit watching from afar. Remembering and finding out this dream was actually a memory from his childhood he had almost forgotten. He began to remember all the times his mother had become lost... drifting in the past of the day her other 2 children died at birth. Alastolan's brother and sister, they didn't even survive 5 minutes before passing away. He started to cry as the dream had brought to surface so many thoughts he kept suppressed and memories he would much rather forget. His dream began to swirl and blur, fading in to darkness and suddenly interrupted as he heard a small snap come from a small distance behind him. His eyes flew wide open and his head bolted in the direction it had come from. A wolf with blood on it's maw was growling and starting to pace around him and Aiu. Something's not right.... that growl doesn't sound like it's coming from just one direction... He turned his head and looked around him and began to count to himself silently. 2....3... More wolves kept coming in to view prowling around trees. 4.. 5... His face was starting to contort with an expression that showed he wasn't enjoying the situation in the least. ......6. This.... is bad. VERY bad. He stood up and spoke out loud to Aiu. Loud enough to wake her up for sure. "Ummmm.... Aiu...... you REALLY might want to get up right about now." They all started to close in a little. 4 of them appeared to be quite large and muscular. 2 of them slightly weaker looking but definitely the more vicious of the 6 there as they had blood on them and were snarling with hatred in the eyes. "I hope you're in the mood for a nice challenge. Looks like these guys are out for blood and won't give up easily."

[ulrica]

<sup>Great claws ravaged the young pups body, red staining snowy fur. "No! Stop!" She screamed, her high pitched yelps going unheeded by the cruel talons that slashed and cut her flesh. Aiu was suddenly young again, little more than a pup. And she was falling. She flapped her wings hopelessly, each beat sending more and more of her feathers into the air until finally her wings themselves had disappeared into nothingness. "Noooo!!" The denling howled as she plummeted farther and faster into darkness. Any second the ground would appear to crush her bones and spread what was left of her blood across the ground. And there it was. Fur whipping in the wind she fell closer and closer to her doom until finally she met with the ground and died... But she wasn't dead, in fact she hadn't even touched the earth yet. At the last second something had wrapped her into an invisible net and lowered her the last few feet to set gently onto the ground.

The small creature that was Aiu slowly got to her feet, any wound that had once turned her white fur into a satin red now completely gone as if never having had existed. Once the small female's paws were squarely placed beneath her slender frame, she took the opportunity to examine the world she had so frighteningly fallen into. The ground was was black as if poison and famine had attacked this land, leaving only a few sickly patches of grass to be seen. Some half rotted tree stumps jutted out of the charred earth as if they were gravestones there to tell of the beauty that once graced this small meadow. Turning around, two pairs of glowing orange orbs revealed themselves before a blood red sky, shadowed by black. The dark figures soon revealed themselves as beastly creatures, horns growing from the sides of their heads with scales covering their tails like that of a snakes. Though for the most part, they appeared lupine, it was easily seen these things were little more than daemons. Aiu heard herself growl, a tiny and unconvincing sound when matched with that of these beasts. Their bloodthirsty snarls were enough to curl the fur on her long tail, and make the young pup pin back her small ears over her neck. She was scared and instinctively spread her wings, except when she flapped hard nothing happened.... Desperately looking around to her side, the realization slammed against the young wolf's mind that she no longer possessed the gift of flight. Just as quickly, she was hit with the jagged fangs of a monstrous beast. Funny how it said her name first. And as if that word had broken the spell binding her in that world, the nightmare shattered around her as had the one before...


"You REALLY might want to get up right about now..." A familiar voice was suggesting, something like worry hinting in the urgency of his voice. Aiu didn't make it wait. Jade eyes opened to the world, and instantly the she-wolf wished she could have woken up to something less resembling of her dreams. Really? You're going to worry about that right now when you're getting surrounded by wolves who obviously are out for blood? Gods, get your priorities straight whelpling! A voice scolded silently. The snowy she-wolf couldn't say she didn't agree. Pushing herself onto all fours-and ruffling her wings a bit just to make sure they were there-the femme snarled angrily at a wolf who dared to come within a yard of her. His coat was matted with blood, some of it probably his own but most of it probably another's. I dare you.... Test me... The challenge was stated not through words but with her body. Aiu's angular eyes narrowed into glowing slits as she swished her tail angrily around her heels and took a small step forward with her right paw. The wolf in question didn't stick around, he barked then lunged into the brush and back to his brothers. The grumpy she-wolf gave a disgusted snort at the wolf's cowardly behavior. "Dog..." She hissed angrily under her breath before moving to stand shoulder-to-flank with Al.

It didn't take long for another wolf to brave her wrath. This one was much larger, the blood smeared through his coat fresher and obviously not his own. Aiu made the same advance as she had with the first, however, this wolf refused to give his ground under the female's icy stare. This brought a smirk to her face, giving the she-wolf an almost daemon-like appearance herself. But she didn't have time to think about that, the wolf was charging. Muscles were easily discerned beneath the male's thick fur, but his size was out of proportion to his speed for the distance he was trying to cover. He would be handled easily. Trotting forward to meet him as the wolf ran toward her so recklessly, Aiu slid to the side at the last second and ducked under his forepaws so that she could stand beneath him. They both went rolling, but he was on the ground a second longer than she. That was all she needed to gather herself. The ice would have been first noticeable as the male had begun his charge in the form of small crystalline shards, now they were full fledged daggers. Lunging for him, the angelic femme seemed almost to float above the ground. The grace of a predator showed in every calculated movement as well as the ruthless hate of a killer. As her iron-like jaws closed around the throat of the male, and a yelp came from his dark muzzle while the razor sharp ice knives sliced into his rib cage easily; there was no hesitation Aiu's movements. In that instant, she was a cold blooded killer. Death was her gift that she gave without restraint. There was no personal involvement, that no longer mattered, it was just that this unfortunate wolf had angered her; had enticed her unforgiving fury. Within a second, the childish she-wolf had been shoved into the mindset of a murderer. Who did not matter. Why did not matter. To kill was simply her duty, and for now she reveled in it.

As she raised her head from the now dead wolf's neck, it was obvious there was no hope for him. The jugular had been severed raggedly, the lungs had been pierced multiple times, and more than one of his ribs were broken. No, this wolf would never stand again, he was over. A cruel smile lit upon Aiu's lips as her frenzied eyes fell upon two wolves approaching her with heads lowered threateningly. Savagery and blood lust consumed what was once such a sweet expression on her young visage. The femme watched the wolves approaching her and sneered with something resembling disdain. "So who will die first?" The words drifted from her tongue on lilting tones almost seductive in their quality. The change had been so sudden, once a slumbering pup and now a lusty angel of death. Still, a single thought ran through her mind repeatedly, surprisingly nothing like her outward appearance was saying. Protect him.... Protect him... Until Alastolan was safe, she would kill anything and anyone that came near. That much was clear in the dangerous glare through which she watched the two wolves advancing toward her. You will die... You will die and the world will be better for it... A voice was cooing softly in her ear, but the 'you' to whom it referred went unmentioned and remained so. However, life was of no meaning to her at that moment, the kill was what she lived for then anyway. Already, the idea of tasting these wolves' blood fresh on her tongue made the femme feel almost giddy in a way as the fight willingly and oh so foolishly approached her.</sup>


((OOC: Ugh I couldn't stop... *dies from a typing o.d.* X.X))

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan had watched closely as Aiu had already made one kill out of the pack that was surrounding them while still keeping his own guard up against the others around him. He looked on as the wolf she had taken down was struggling to stay alive but he knew it was a futile attempt. A nice kill Aiu.... seems I'll have to kill as well. These wolves aren't ones to run away. He thought to himself looking at the expression in their eyes. He was separated from Aiu now as they were basically fighting 1 on 3 each. His eyes started to fill with a bloodthirsty rage as he closely observed the ones stalking around him. Two of them in front of him kept stepping closer and closer all the while one in the back inched closer as well. I see what you're doing... push me back through intimidation so the one behind me can catch me off-guard in my blind spot. This WOULD have worked.... if I wasn't an excellent tactician at fighting. With a horrible smile on his face no one has seen before he charged head first at the two wolves in front of him before stopping a few feet in front of them and with a powerful thrust of his wings sent a wall of dirt and leaves flying into the faces and eyes of the two, incapacitating them temporarily as they couldn't see. He immediately turned around and with every muscle in his finely proportioned and toned body sprinted full speed at the one in the back.

It was almost like a blur. His speed when he was after something with blood on his mind was incredible. It only took a few seconds to cover the now twenty foot gap between him and the other wolf. It tried to lunge at him but Alastolan used his wings to boost his own lunge higher than the other wolfs. Turning himself midair he landed right on his target, clamping his jaw down at the base of the skull and using the momentum of his lunge, still carrying his body backwards until his feet landed. The force of the pull snapped the other wolfs head back and lifted it off the ground. Adrenaline rushing through every vein in his body from the thrill of a fight to the death with other creatures made Alastolan's mind react with unfathomable speed. To him it almost appeared like everything happened in slow motion. His eyes looked down to the right and saw a thick branch that had been splintered, probably from a lightning strike, and resembled a spear, lying on the ground next to him. That's convenient... With the other wolf still in midair from his maneuver, Alastolan wedged his wing under it and flipped it straight up for just a moment. And a moment is all it took for him to bring the full weight of the wolf down on to the branch. It pierced clean through its chest and out its back. The wolf let out a horrific sounding yelp, laden with agony. It gasped for air only once before letting out its last breath and lay there motionless with blood running from its mouth and puddling quickly beneath its head. Alastolan looked back at the wolf lying there now for a second. Seems it pierced straight through the stomach. Only way for that much blood to come out from the mouth. At least it was quick. Even in the midst of combat he still tried his best to bestow merciful deaths upon his enemies unless they gave him reasons not to. Much like the second wolf was about to.

In the brief second he looked back at the wolf he had slain one of the other wolves tried to take advantage of this opportunity and managed a clean bite at his left wing. The instant he felt the fangs of the wolf sink into his wing a visage of pure hatred and anger befell his face and his pupils narrowed to slits almost like a demon had possessed him and rather than yelping with pain he let out a bloodthirsty snarl lifting his wing with indescribable force and slammed it into the ground with the wolf still hanging on. YOU MANGY DOG!!! He thought to himself in anger as a loud crack filled the air as one of the wolf's legs had been crushed on impact. As the wolf's grip let go of his wing Alastolan turned to face it and with a clear shot, clamped as hard as he could on to the wolfs throat and pulled away with all this strength. He didn't just sever the wolfs jugular and pierce its throat, he ripped massive chunks of both clean out, sending blood flying through the air, all the way over so it landed beside and even a little bit in front of Aiu. He spit out the chunks the had ripped out towards the other wolf who had hung back waiting. His pupils still narrowed and his visage still that of a savage animal out to kill everything in site. One would hardly believe such gentle eyes could shelter such rage and ferocity. He didn't even look back at the other wolf now. It was lying there squirming around on the ground trying to gasp for air and not even able to let out a yelp, lying in its own blood rapidly puddling beneath its entire figure. All it could manage was a few gurgling sounds coming from the blood filling its lungs. The wolf let out what would have been coughs trying to clear its lungs and even more blood came out from the grotesque wound. NOBODY BITES MY WINGS TRYING TO HARM ME AND LIVES... He was in a ruthless killing mode with his eyes now set on the last wolf, who was petrified in terror. Alastolan, inching closer and closer in an almost psychotic rage, was snarling viciously and he was ready to finish the fight. "I DARE you to try anything.", He taunted, "COME ON!!! I DARE YOU!!" He shouted at the other wolf. Alastolan's body still flowing with adrenaline couldn't even feel the pain in his wing as it was bleeding. The only indication of blood on the jet black fur and feathers of his wing being the glimmer in the sunlight and the drops slowly coming off the tips of the feathers.

[ulrica]

<sup>Round and round the wolves went, circling Aiu as if she was some defenseless rabbit. Oh, you will both learn... You will both be sorry... She promised them silently, snarling angrily at them if they dared to step too close to her. Finally one made a move, another big one as it turned out. However, this one was more aware of Aiu's abilities than the other one had been and so he was more cautious and gaging of his actions. He wouldn't underestimate the snowy female. Unfortunately, just trying to land a blow had been a bad decision for him. A great snarl came from the male's throat...followed directly by a bloodcurdling howl of agony. The snowy wolfess never moved once as the male staggered around, shaking his head and biting himself in an attempt to get at some unseen aggressor. However, it was all to no avail and finally he fell to the ground with a solid thud, steaming, bloody spikes of ice protruding from his lifeless body as the only evidence as to what had happened. But using such gifts took their toll on the female and she felt her head go light and saw the world spin around her. Gods help me. She prayed silently, trying to turn when a ferocious snarl came from behind her.

Aiu spun, her wings tucked tightly against her body, but she was already too late. Ivory jaws clamped down on the top part of her neck and shook viciously. She yelped and clawed at the head of the wolf who had attacked her, but still he wouldn't release his victim. Blood streamed down her neck and stained her fur, forcing her to desperate measures. Placing a thin layer of ice around the large joint in her wing, she buffeted her attacker mercilessly; landing blows on his ears and snout as well as his neck and shoulders. After what seemed like hours he released her and leaped away. The ice fell away from Aiu's wings which now drooped to the ground with exhaustion. A wicked grin came to the male's maw and he gave an evil chuckle. "Seems like you're all out girly... Don't worry, I'll kill you quickly." He promised, his words deep, and rumbling painfully within the wounded female's aching skull. With a lunge almost too quick for her blurring eyes to see, the wolf's giant front paws connected with her chest and took her to the ground. His fangs grappled with hers, fighting to close around her throat while she fought to protect the spark deep within.

Flashes of the past crossed behind Aiu's eyes then. Her mother pinned as she was now and her father struggling to save his beloved before it was too late. A wolf that must have been her brother tackling her during their play and feigning murderous intent. Her father nuzzling her after she had fallen painfully on her wing. Aiu, get up. A deep voice commanded in her head. Somehow, strength flooded through the winged she-wolf's muscles at that moment and she shoved the wolf off of her with a huge kick of her hind legs to his belly. He gave a loud 'oof!' and stumbled away, his breath knocked from his lungs. Taking the brief opportunity, the snowy wolfess rolled onto her feet and turned to face the wolf with vengeful determinedness in her jade eyes. Good. Now finish him! The voice ordered with a sort of triumphant undertone. Aiu didn't hesitate to obey.

With a ferocious snarl, she launched herself at the throat of the male...and found her mark. He fell over with her added weight suddenly thrust upon him and desperately clawed at her to make her release him. But nothing he did would detach her fangs from his throat. Eventually, a gurgling noise replaced his growling and his figure went limp, it was only then that Aiu released her hold on his throat. It was then that the exhaustion from what she had done crashed down upon her. Looking up to see Alastolan snarling a threat at the last wolf who stared at him with horror. His pack brothers were dead and without them what did he have to live for? Aiu knew this feeling, knew it as the ghost that haunted her every step. While she watched them, time seemed to slow and then stop completely as if the world had simply been pressed into pause. It was then her father appeared to her, his mountain-like form surprisingly comforting despite his stern appearance. His wings were held firmly against his sides as he approached her, seeming to walk from the sky on a path of sunlight. Finally, his nose nuzzled tenderly against the top of her head and the she-wolf found herself frozen in joy at seeing her father again. 'You are not a weapon, and yet you treat yourself as one. You kill without hesitation... This is not how we meant for you to become.' He said softly, his head still rubbing over her own even though the disappointment in his voice was plainly heard. 'You have been alone for far too long Aiu, such a life is not our nature. You need a pack to protect and comfort you, to chase away your phantoms of the past.' Aiu whimper slightly, the weight of her father's displeasure a heavy burden on her slender shoulders. 'To kill is evil my daughter, and you are not the monster you pretend to be. Take what you need from the world for she is our mother and will provide for us, but what you have no necessity for you must leave to another. These wolves are not food, their lives should have been spared. It is understandable to defend yourself, but you have wings youngling, wings that could have carried you far away from here faster than they ever could have hoped to run.' He stepped away and licked the top of her muzzle before turning and beginning to stride back the way he came. It was then that Aiu found her voice. 'No! Father don't go! I need you! Father stay!' She begged, her whole body shaking with agony and loss. However, the winged male only paused and turned back to smile. 'My heart, you have all you need right before your eyes... You need only look to find what you seek. And remember my precious Aiu, I will always love you... I will always be with you......' And with his final whispered words, the world shattered into darkness around her...

Sunlight streamed upon Aiu's head and her eyes flew open as she sat up, instantly searching for her father. Oh...Guess I passed ou--! A searing pain at the back of her neck and from numerous cuts across her muzzle interrupted her thoughts. She whimpered quietly, trying to soothe them with her swollen tongue. Unfortunately, with her mouth being as dry as it was, the contact only served to cause more pain. She gave another whimper before her mind could flash to thoughts of Al. The world was silent, but that could have just been because her ears hadn't completely caught up with her newly awakened state. Either way, her eyes cast about anxiously for the familiar form of her friend. "Al?" She called, her voice raspy and weaker than she had expected.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan stood his ground, still eying the wolf terrified in front of him. Without turning his head he averted his eyes to look over at Aiu making sure she didn't need help and ready to jump in at any time. Watching Aiu's fight intently Alastolan stood there, still keeping an eye on the one before him making sure he didn't get the courage to try anything. As soon as he saw that she had taken care of both her opponents, his heart skipped a beat as he saw her feint before figuring she just collapsed from exhaustion rather than from being hurt. She seemed to be stirring in her unconscious state but he quickly turned his attention back to the last wolf who still just stood there with horror in his eyes. Even with his evil visage and eyes Alastolan still extended an offer of kindness. His voice was stern with a kind underlying tone. "Leave now. You don't have to die here. Just go and leave unharmed." The wolf blinked a few times. "Y...y-y-you'll j-just let me g-go?" Alastolan shook his head in reply. "Yes. I swear to you I'll give your friends a proper burial as well. Just go now." "T-thank you!" The wolf sprinted off as fast as he could away from the battlefield and vanished into the trees.

With a deep and slightly regretful sigh Alastolan looked at the dead wolves and began to dig with his front paws graves for each one. I'll go ahead and do this now while Aiu's unconscious. She's been through enough. At a rather quick pace he had dug the five graves all side by side and respectfully carried each of the wolves over to them and with reverence placed them in their graves and covered them up. Looking back at the unconscious Aiu he decided to look for rocks to place at the head of each grave and managed to succeed. A small ring of rocks were layed at the head of each one. A slight snap from a twig came from over the direction the other wolf had run off in and it appeared that he had come back to see if Alastolan would keep his word. Upon gazing at the graves he bowed his head in thanks and slowly walked away. As he placed the last stone, He heard Aiu move and saw her looking around. "Al?"

Alastolan walked over to the femme in response to her calling. "I'm here Aiu." He layed down beside her and began to speak again. "You sounded troubled. Is something wrong?" He once again wrapped his wings around her and layed her against him. "Just relax and let me help you with that." he motioned at the bite on the back of her neck. He began to clean it gently for her, being careful not to use too much pressure and bring pain, while he waited for her response.

[ulrica]

<sup>"I just... There was so much I wanted to ask him and..." Aiu stammered, her eyes scanning over the freshly formed mounds a few yards away. The scent of a lone wolf still lingered in the air, but that was quickly blown away by a gentle wind. He wrapped his wings around her and she nuzzled into his side, thankful for his sympathy in that moment. Sympathy? Or pity? A voice sneered venomously in her mind. The snowy femme silenced it instantly however and quickly squeezed her eyes shut. "Just relax and let me help you with that." He offered, soon after the warm wetness of his tongue rolled over the bite wound on her neck. There was a slight sting and she tensed with the pain, but that was quickly soothed away by the messaging effect of Al's tongue. She turned her head to rest it on his paws, and try to forget about the slight twinges that came every once in a while.

"Al.... He was here... He was so close and now he's just gone... I don't know what to do now... I know they're gone and now I no longer serve a purpose here... There's no one to find anymore, no one to go back to..." She whimpered quietly, her voice little more than a whisper. You're such a weakling. This is nothing more than what your used to. So what you're alone! You've always been alone! Nothing has changed so stop acting like the world is falling apart!! An angry voice snarled in her mind, scolding her for such a childish melt down. "I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't be throwing this all on you..." She fell silent and opened her eyes, once more her gaze fell on the mounds and realization hit her. Yes, those are their bodies. The bodies that you destroyed. Those are the lives that you ended. The voice stated simply, the same disdain remaining in its words. I know... I know...</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan had finished cleaning the wound on the back of her neck when he let out a sympathetic sigh after having listened to what she had said. "It's alright Aiu.There's nothing to apologize for. You're just letting out your feelings and that's good. Sometimes you need someone who will just sit and listen and someone who will give you advice. I've listened and now there's something I think you should hear from my own experience. What I'm about to say is the reason I'm such a calm and kind person, and even though I'm alone almost all the time, I've never changed. Here look at this." He used his other wing that was free to draw a symbol in the dirt in front of him. "Do you know what a Yin-yang symbolizes? It tells us a truth about this world that most people can never see and few ever truly do. There's a black side and a white side. Light and darkness. Good and Evil. But why do you think there's a white spot on the black side and a black spot on the white side?" He paused for a moment before continuing. "Those spots are the truth. It tells us that NOTHING in this world is purely good nor purely evil. Everywhere there is darkness, there is light. The night is an example of this. No matter how dark it is, the moon and stars shine brightly. Everywhere there is evil, there is also good. Take for example hunting. It might be deemed evil by the creatures being hunted to have one of their own killed, but the good that balances it is the supply of food it gives to the hunters. The opposite to both is also true." He looked down at Aiu and smiled. "Everywhere there is light, there is darkness. Think of the shadows that form from the sun and the dark caves that the light cannot enter. And everywhere there is good there is evil. An example would be a kind creature that provides for their friends and family and the ones that wish him harm in jealousy or hatred. Now apply this to what you just said."

He paused and let her think for a moment before he resumed his speaking. "You said that he was here and now he's just gone. The evil or darkness says that he's gone. But the light, good and truth, the white spot on the black side, is that he isn't gone. He's ALWAYS with you in heart and in spirit watching over you. Seeing him was proof of this. If he was truly gone, you would have never saw him. But since he remains with you, you could." Alastolan let what he was saying sink in a bit and went on. "You said there's no one to find anymore and no one to go back to. The dark and evil stated that but the truth and good is, that there are ALWAYS people to find and you will always have someone to go back to. You just have to find that light in the darkness. And if you think about recent events, you've already found that light and it's me. You ALWAYS have me to come back to. All the times I was alone and felt down I looked at the truth of the situation and realized that there was someone I could find for company. I just had to look. And for all the times I was having so much fun I also had to keep in mind the inverse. The evil of that was that it would come to an end eventually. Everything in this world is balanced and NOTHING happens without reason. Thinking in that way, do you believe meeting me was just an accident? Or do you think it was the light of the darkness showing itself to you hoping you'd notice that you're never truly alone and can rely on others sometimes?" Alastolan looked over at the mounds she stared at. "Don't let their deaths weigh too heavy in your heart. Yes, you killed a few of them. Yes, you could have just flown away. But their deaths WEREN'T meaningless. You defended yourself and it's as simple as that. If it wasn't us who took care of them then the odds are they would have found an even weaker wolf or group of wolves and slaughtered them for fun. THAT'S the meaning behind their deaths. And I believe it was fate that made us fight instead of running away. It was their fate to die cruelly in the same ways that they killed others. Five were evil, and the one that was let go was the good. He learned of his errors and moved on. It was his fate to see his 'friends' die to learn the truth. They attacked, unprovoked and for fun. We were the good to balance the evil." He looked in her eyes knowing that she would understand this in light of recent events and hoped it offered her exactly what she was looking for.

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu thumped her tail softly against the ground at Al's praise, to make him happy brought her joy. Look at how far I've come. She thought with some awe. Normally, if someone praised me I would have seen it as a trap and ran. Now, it makes my heart race. She snuggled closer to the male who now embraced her affectionately, his deep voice spinning a web of truth and light versus the lies and darkness which penetrated everything. "...nothing in this world is purely good or purely evil..." He was saying, continuing on in his speech. However, that line stuck with the slender she-wolf. Nothing in this world is purely good, and nothing is purely evil... She thought to herself, something like relief hiding in the back of her mind.

Don't start day-dreaming. There's an exception to everything girly don't forget that, and if there's going to be one to the evilness then it would be you. A voice sneered disgustedly in the back of the femme's mind as Al continued on. Soon after, he paused and Aiu was given some time to think. He's right, although right now I may see it as something terrible and heartbreaking, maybe someday I'll see the visions of my family as a gift. A gift that I will be able to cherish and hold with me so that when the darkness begins to close in again, then I can use the light of their memory to chase away the shadows that threaten me so relentlessly... "Huh..." She muttered, her eyes starring unfocused at the ground as her ear flicked toward the large male when he once again to speak.

"If he was truly gone you wouldn't have saw him..." Al was saying, but Aiu was gone. Lost to her memories, lost to her father's final words. "I will always love you..... I will always be with you.... Yes, yes he will always be with me, because I will hold him and my mother and my brother in my heart forever. Together...for-forever. Her thoughts hitched with emotion and she clenched her teeth together to keep from sobbing audibly. Even so, she turned her head back to the mounds and forced a glare to freeze her emerald gaze. That's your fault. A voice sneered with glee. They died because of you. If you had just gone away then-- "Don't let their deaths weigh too heavy in your heart..." Al was saying, his voice gentle and understanding as he reassured her. "Their deaths weren't meaningless..."

His eyes found hers soon after that sentence and she nuzzle her head under his jaw, wincing slightly with the stretch of her neck created a painful twinge in her wound. Pulling back into a more comfortable position, Aiu allowed a small smile to pull upward on the corners of her black lips. "You're absolutely right Al... My family will always be in my heart as you will always be by my side." She snuggled still closer to his side. The warmth of the male's dark fur and equally dark wing around her heating the ice that had formed around the snowy she-wolf's heart. "And thank you, for trying to clear my conscience." Her voice was light, but there was still pain that lingered in her airy tones. There was some hurt that took longer to heal than others... Time heals all wounds... Don't worry. She silently tried to reassure herself halfheartedly.

Liar. A cruel voice argued so calmly - so rationally - in her mind...</sup>

[Xenoxice]

((OOC: XD I think once again, you made the mistake of calling Al, Gann. You need to work on that a bit lol. And sorry for the VERY short reply. Apparently my muse was stolen by a troll ))

Alastolan nuzzled against Aiu as she thanked him and he simply smiled. "I'm glad I could be of some comfort to you. If you ever need guidance, advice, or just someone to talk to or lay beside.... I'll ALWAYS be here." Letting out a massive yawn, Alastolan's eyes seemed to get heavy. "Now that I think about it I haven't slept for more than a few hours over the last week. It seems it's finally catching up to me." He began laughing slightly closing his eyes half way. "I'm going to go to sleep. I know I can rely on you to take care of us while I get some rest. If anything else were to happen I don't think I'd have the energy to carry on." With that last sentence Alastolan layed his head down on his paws and slowly drifted off into a deep and dreamless sleep.

[ulrica]

<sup>"I'll always be here." Those words echoed in Aiu's mind, ricocheting back and forth across the world of her conscience. He caught her off guard so completely, she didn't realize he had said anything until his head was lowering to rest on giant black paws. Always..... She thought to herself, a sort of surreal aura settling around her as Al relaxed and fell deeper into his slumber. His eyes were still, as his sleep was dreamless, and his breathing almost instantly slowed to a rhythmic sigh. In this calm and vulnerable state, the adolescent she-wolf could almost imagine him as a pup slumbering between the paws of his mother. She licked the crown of his head affectionately, her tongue running across his fur so lightly the fur had hardly even been bothered to move. A small smile curled one side of Aiu's dark lips and she gently nuzzled Al's neck before resting her head beside his, placing the end of her muzzle beneath the warm feathery fur that covered the underside of the male's throat. Always... She thought again, allowing her gemstone eyes to slide shut. Always? Why I'm surprised at you. We of all people should know that 'always' is merely a word used to convey the bliss in a moment. An annoyingly familiar voice scoffed at the back of her mind. More than anything it only shows the ignorance of the speaker. It drawled on in a know-it-all tone. Oh shut up. Aiu snarled silently, shoving the voice farther into the depths of her subconsciousness.

Almost instantly, the snowy female's attention returned to the slumbering wolf at her side. The smile crept back upon her face and she gently removed her head to look down at him. "Look at you.." She mumbled gently, watching him with something akin to adoration. "You give so much Al... I hope someday I can repay you.." Dipping her head again, her tongue pushed through her pearly jaws to softly slide over the male's crown. She repeated this across his head while the sun slid lower and lower in the sky. Time, however, no longer held any meaning to the wolfess as she laid with her dear friend, the warmth his brawny figure offered comforting and reassuring. "I promise I'll keep you safe Al. I promise I'll always be with you too..." She breathed, closing her eyes as she moved down to directly behind his right ear. A wicked laugh sounded from her mind, and she mentally cringed as her voice once again spoke. Liar...! It hissed venomously; the all-knowing tone with which it tended to speak gave Aiu a sudden sense of dread as she worked on Al's dark fur. The truth was, she was making promises she might not be able to keep someday...</sup>


((OOC: Those stupid trolls!! They steal your socks! But only the left ones....what's with that? O.o lol xD Don't worry I'll pay better attention from now on ;P haha))

[Xenoxice]

((OOC: Love the reference there XD. Now I gotta watch it again!!))

Alastolan layed there with his head on his paws unmoving in the deep slumber he was in. A few times he thought he heard something and barely cracked his eyes open to see that time was slipping by and it was getting darker and darker as the sun descended below the horizon. Still, his clear conscious kept him from having any dreams in during his sleep. It seemed like hours had passed by before he finally lifted his head and let out a massive yawn and opened his eyes. The moon was now lighting the sky where the sun had once been earlier before. With a quick glance to his left he noticed that Aiu was still with him. A smile spread across his face seeing that the femme hadn't abandoned him during his nap. Alastolan continued laying there just looking at her.

I pray I can keep my promise to her to always be by her side and be here for her. Aiu is a good girl deep down and I hate disappointing others. ESPECIALLY those that come to like and trust me. His mind was now running wild with thoughts. His hunger went unnoticed as his attention was turned to gaze at the moon in the sky. Memories of looking at the space above them on clear nights with his family came to mind. He looked back down at Aiu. I know one day you'll find the guy right for you.... and hopefully I'll find the girl right for me....

[ulrica]

<sup>The time passed slowly for Aiu, but even so, she refused to leave her friend's side. Especially after the fight they had just been through. As if her thoughts of the small skirmish had summoned it, pain flared anew in her neck and she winced as it twinged with her position. Looking down to make sure the sudden movement hadn't awoken Al, she rested her head on his neck in a less hurtful position. She nuzzled into his fur and was simply content to breathe in his scent, his company comforting to the lonesome female. Finally, he began to show signs of waking up. As Al lifted his head, Aiu pulled her head off of his neck so he could do so without her hindrance. He let out a huge yawn, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. The snowy she-wolf felt a small smile come across her maw as a trill of fear jumped in her chest, but these she shoved away and forgot.

Mouth closed, Al's oceanic eyes opened slowly. He glanced at the adolescent femme beside him and a smile spread across his muzzle. That gaze lingered on her and Aiu was forced to look away, her cheeks feeling hot with a blush, if a wolf may blush. Eventually his eyes turned to the moonlit sky and the fledgling felt herself relax. Funny... I hadn't even felt myself tense... She mused silently to herself, her watchful stare following that of Al's to study the starry sky. They remained in that pose for a few minutes until all-too-quickly, he returned to watching her. She frowned slightly, suddenly self conscious. "What is it...?" The she-wolf asked quietly, turning her eyes up to meet his with a curious look of shyness about her.</sup>

(OOC: Yes! Watch it again and again and again!! And then send it to meee lol))