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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 15, 2010 14:24:03 GMT -6
Left, right, left, right, jump!
It had been ages since she last had this many trees to run through, to jump off of. She reached for a high branch on an oak tree, knowing she could never reach it without her other wing. She tilted her head down and rocketed back to the earth, stumbling only a moment before turning around.
She leapt only enough so all four paws clung briefly to the tree's side. She then pushed off, clinging temporarily to the next tree, then the next. ...right, JUMP! She bounded again, pressing her wing close to her, reaching for a different branch this time. After her less-than-graceful landing, she trotted about, adrenaline coursing through her, tongue lolling to the side from the strain of her effort.
Aithne wasn't ready--she could feel it. Frustrated, she splayed her wing quickly, like an enraged eagle, before pulling it back to her, ruffled and puffy. Physical strength wasn't all she needed to protect herself from Yura. She needed cunning--and magic.
She knew from experience that, even as young as Yura was, the heat from the fires she created were enough to burn those around it. Thank the stars that Aithne had always been a step faster than her sister--otherwise, she would have been scorched a while ago.
But how was she to unlock whatever abilities others were suddenly proclaiming she had? Her brother, Imaro, had succeeded to tell her through their quiet language, that she just had to feel it. It was as though, he said, it were a bubbling sensation. Tingling. Although Yura had confided in Imaro it felt like it was destroying her insides some days.
But Aithne felt no bubbling. She felt no burning. Nothing. She bucked at a nearby tree, claws stripping a slab of bark away. Her teeth now slightly bared in irritation, the coyote-like wolf looked at the slab of bark that lay out of place on the ground.
What was she to do? She had never truly been able to see her magic--if she had any at all--at work, and she never remembered how to use her abilities thanks to falling unconscious after a large spell.
Her ears swiveled, but she did not move. Her wing's puffiness smoothed out. Her teeth were no longer bared. Someone had been watching--and she'd failed to notice until now.
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Post by ulrica on Jul 17, 2010 15:01:16 GMT -6
Aiu had been watching the female carefully from her perch, high up in the branches of a giant tree. Her back legs fell down on either side of the branch while her front paws crossed as a pillow for her snowy head, two magnificent wings hanging down on either side of her as her back legs did. It was quite comfortable, and Aiu was able to move away quickly if she wanted.
Jade eyes studied the coyote-like wolf, watching each failed attempt to reach the branches of the giant trees she leaped from again and again. Something like sympathy began to grow in her chest, which was strange, it wasn't often she cared about anyone but herself. Call her self-centered, but she had grown up alone since she was a pup. Taking care of herself was the only thing she knew. But as she watched this wolfess, desperately trying to fly with one wing, Aiu felt the need to help and to heal. If only you could do anything but destroy...
The young female continued to watch the scared female; absentmindedly wondering what terrible accident caused the loss of her right wing. The desperate female must know that there was no way she would be able to fly without her other wing, and yet she tried time after time to leap onto the branches above her. She leaped against one tree so hard that she clawed a slab of bark away, the flesh of the ancient giant falling to the ground like a spoil of battle. The brown of the tree skin looked foreign as it laid on the green grass. It doesn't belong there... Aiu's eyes watched the piece of bark for a while as if waiting for it to miraculously reattach itself to the tree from which had been stripped. Finally her eyes turned back to the female wolf, studying her once again. The way she watched that bark made Aiu wonder if she planned on attacking it. After all, she must be more than frustrated by now, taking out her anger on something might be good for her.
However, the snowy she-wolf didn't have time to figure that out because just at that moment, the female froze. She had realized she wasn't alone. Oh well, guess it's time to say hello... Aiu rolled, her wings tucking in as she moved and her paws landing agilely on the branch below hers. From there she had a clear shot to the ground toward which she leaped, spreading her wings to slow her descent. She flapped once, almost coming to a halt and swing her back legs forward so they hit the ground first then her front paws. Aiu ruffled her wings before pulling them against her sides and standing to her full height, her strikingly jade eyes staring at the scared female with ferocity that was backed up by the lithe muscles that rippled below her white coat. Her eyes showed no emotion as she scanned the female, her face completely apathetic.
Finally, curiosity won and she couldn't help herself anymore. "What exactly are you doing?" Her voice was light and airy, seeming to drift off of her tongue with the weightlessness of a feather. It was as she cocked her head to the side with a look of pure curiosity that her youthfulness shone throughout her facade, and made her ferocity melt away. |
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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 17, 2010 16:13:36 GMT -6
Rustling. Aithne's honeydew eyes scoured the trees as she slowly lifted one foot after the other, backing away from the noise. But, as Aithne had expected, her reaction was too late. She was promptly greeted by a two-winged wolf, her green eyes both captivating and terrifying. Aithne didn't breathe, poised and ready to dodge whatever this female had for he--
"What exactly are you doing?"
Not expecting the question, she turned to get a good look at the female, blinking her eyes in surprise. Nothing but curiosity and a slight tinge of friendliness remained. Where had the frightening-looking wolfess gone? With a deep breath of relief, she shrugged. "Training."
She had neither the time, nor the energy, to go into the gritty details. Aithne's eyes scanned the femme's wings briefly, holding back whatever feelings of nostalgia that they gave her. "What exactly are you doing watching me?" Although the question was meant to be benign, the tone of Aithne's voice was laced in irritation.The irritation was mainly directed at herself. If this female had been Yura, then there would have been no battle. Which meant more tedious days of training on Aithne's part. With a grunt, she sat, bones and joints groaning and creaking as she did so. "Nothing better to do, I assume?"
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Post by ulrica on Jul 17, 2010 18:41:38 GMT -6
The surprise from Aiu's sudden change in attitude showed on the she-wolf's face. She sensed the relief in the deep breath she took, thinking of the shrug as a simple habitual movement. Well maybe the sudden appearance was a bit much... Oh, well too late to turn back now.
Aiu had expected such an answer from the female, the way she had been leaping around and pushing herself toward such an impossible goal the answer had been obvious. But now the question was thrown back at her, albeit re-worded a bit but still the same general idea. She had to actively think about keeping the smirk from her face at the she-wolf's last statement however. Well you know what happens when you assume... While on the inside, she was cheerful and joking, on the outside a wryness had taken over her features. After all, her biggest weapon had always been her unpredictability. So, as femme watched her, Aiu focused half of her mind on concentrating the water in the air around them, drawing it in and forming it into icy figures. As an answer to the previously asked question, Aiu crouched down with her wings flared a bit and her fangs slightly barred, a playful dangerousness sparked in her eyes as four cylindrical ice spikes formed in a half circle over her head. "Training." Her reply was simple, and slightly playful. Her exterior mask was constantly changing, the only constant being the interior puppeteer that was never shown to anyone. |
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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 17, 2010 19:20:59 GMT -6
The fledgeling's countenance changed...although there was something threatening about her, it seemed as though this two-wing was toying with her. Aithne kept her hackles in check. Perhaps it was merely her personality--ever-changing, but benign. Or something along those lines.
Then came the icy figures from nothing. Aithne's hackles rose slowly as she backed away. Her ears were thrown back against her head, snorting in apprehension. The white wolf looked as though she were keeping a smile from her face--possibly enjoying the moment. But Aithne, being as on-edge as she was, found no amusement in this encounter.
"Heavens, save me..." she growled, honeydew eyes burning with distrust. She lifted her wing as a way to make herself appear bigger. However, a faint white light began to outline the length of her wing. Every movement had an otherworldly effect, like her every movement was being painted into existance bit by bit.
"If there's a fight you want, seek it elsewhere," she grunted, "I've no time for fledgelings today."
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Post by Moon_Song on Jul 17, 2010 21:10:56 GMT -6
Ea was walking through the forest with her sister. They had been walking along on their journey searching for nothing and something in particular. They had found themselves in a lush forest, laden with trees any random wild life. Ea looked around with a wide-eyes, child-like wonder. They were far from their snowy home in the north.
As Daklight walked beside her sister, she kept her ears erect. She did not like not being able to see certain areas. She knew not what creatures could be lurking in this forest, friendly or foe.
Ea giggled playfully at her sisters seriousness. Her amusement was cut short though. A little distance away, she smelled something knew. Two wolves, and one was familiar. Aithne! Ea turned to her sister. "Aithne is here! lets go see her, and meet the other person."
Aithnem huh? Hadn't seen her since they were held up in that snowstorm. She smirked at the idea of seeming the one-winged female again, and, although it was a bit out of character, she wanted to see who this other person was.
Ea smiled at her sister. "Lets go then!" She picked up the pace and ran toward the scents, her sister close behind her.
After a few minutes, she could hear talking. She slowed to a trot, Darklight beside her. She pricked her ears. There were two voices: Aithne and another female. Ea walked out from behind a tree and saw Aithne and the other female in aggressive stances.
"Now ladies, what is this all about?" Upon seeing Aithnes other-worldly glow-her spell-Ea's smiled widened. She was glad to see she still had a hold on it.
Darklight came out just after Ea. She could feel a bit of tension in the air. Was there a fight about to begin? Perhaps thats why she was feeling a bit tense. She smirked as she saw Aithne. "Good to see you again."
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Post by ulrica on Jul 17, 2010 22:21:51 GMT -6
By the look on the coyote-like wolfess's face, she was growing confused by Aiu's constant changing of attitude. The snowy she-wolf was beginning to like this game, the single-winged wolf's hackles even raised when Aiu created her ice spikes. It was her prayer that caught her off guard: "Heavens help me." Her spike fell toward the ground, shattering into nothingness before they met the earth. No, the heavens won't help you, you see they don't care. If they had cared they would have saved my family, they would have saved me... No, the heavens won't save you... The heavens don't care.... The adolescent she-wolf didn't know why but she couldn't make the words come. Her vocal chords just wouldn't obey her, it was as if they had gone on strike for a moment. She was in a trance for a moment, the pain filled cries of a family she had forgotten echoing in Aiu's mind, her thoughts consumed for a moment by a memory she didn't she had.
The she-wolf's words broke her trance, bringing her back to the present. "Figh-" Just as she began speaking, two new wolves stepped into the clearing. Aiu quickly took a few steps back, her own hackles raising as she realized she was hopelessly outnumbered. There was a gray and a snowy wolf, much like herself, except she lacked wings and the midnight blue markings across her tail. However, she had strange black markings that ran across her chest and down her leg, they were quite beautiful in a strange mysterious kind of way.
Aiu's ears were on swivel as her eyes switched from the coyote-like she-wolf to the pair of she-wolves and then back to the first. Her face was apathetic, maybe even a little threatening as she still held her fighting stance and her eyes still flashed with a dangerous ferocity she had mastered. However, internally was a war of whether she should stand and fight or run. Her pride wouldn't let her run, but her head wouldn't let her stay. Finally, the young Aiu decided to stay and see how things played out.
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leap before I thought.... The young winged wolf was solely relying on her apparently constant mood swings, hoping that would throw of the three wolves long enough for her to get out of this with her life and body intact. ((Ooc: I was thinking about bringing Gann into the RP later, when things calm down a bit since he's going to be in the pack. What do you guys suggest?)) |
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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 18, 2010 0:57:15 GMT -6
((OOC: I'm all for it, to be honest. :3 ))
Her ears twitched at the sound of the ice shattering. Aithne raised her head a tad to get a good eye-full of the moody young wolf. Her wing lowered slightly as she began to wonder just what this female was thinking of. Surely her words alone hadn't swayed the wolfess to back down...
Before her own thoughts could get the best of her, a familiar voice broke the tension. Aithne turned to Ea and Darklight, surprise lining her face. It felt like ages since they had last met. A faint smile became visible as she spoke. "My, my, my. Look who it is."
After the slight greeting, Aithne turned her attention back to Aiu, her honeydew eyes glinting with distrust. "I was training earlier while this fledgeling was watching me. Hopped down, asked my business, then sported those icicles of hers."
The whole encounter had been, Aithne refused to admit, unnerving. It was the exact same way Yura stalked her. From where Aithne could never reach, always watching, sometimes asking her what she was doing from the cover of darkness or thick brush. Perhaps this was the reason she was so irritated?
Her hackles lowered as she spoke to Ea and Darklight, but refused to take her eyes off of Aiu. "So what brings you two all the way out here?"
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Post by Moon_Song on Jul 18, 2010 20:52:38 GMT -6
((OCC: I have no problem with it))
"Just traveling." Ea looked around, noting the stances of both wolves. "What exactly were you two doing out here?"
Darklight had been wondering the same thing, but she could guess. The two had probably met under unfavorable circumstance, and proceeded to egressive stances and words. Had the two come any later, they probably would have walked into a full on fight. Darklight stayed where she was and waited for what they would say.
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Post by ulrica on Jul 18, 2010 21:26:40 GMT -6
The three wolves obviously knew each other, and while it made her slightly nervous to have three wolves facing her, the snowy female couldn't help but lower her hackles. When the white she-wolf asked what they had been doing, Aiu smirked playfully. Falling back on her haunches, she lifted a wing to curl back and scratch at her right ear. "Training."
Once again, another attitude change as she replaced her hind leg on the ground. Her jade eyes scanned the three wolves, constantly switching to each wolf in turn. While they were still naturally fierce, there was a kind playfulness to them that hid the fear she felt inside. Three wolves! Shouldn't I just turn and run now?! Still, her stubborn pride held her in place. ((Ooc: Alrighty then! ^_^ )) |
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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 19, 2010 7:01:53 GMT -6
She nodded once to Ea's explanation. Such a wide world they lived in, yet they still ended up crossing paths once more. Perhaps there was something to being with them that she wasn't understanding...
Aithne snorted at Aiu's answer, her wing glowing brighter, an ethereal steam rising from it. "Like hell you are! It's more like harassment--that's what you're doing." Aithne's wing puffed as her chest began to swell, she placed her ears back on her head and her honeydew eyes seemed to burn golden with irritation. "I suggest you make it clear whether you are friend or foe. Quickly."
Although she felt no change, she had the strangest feeling that, whenever a blessing or prayer came to mind, she allowed more serenity to flow through her. How this was possible, she didn't know. Her actions after a blessing or prayer seemed to enable the heavens to sway her any way they wished. Almost like they were her puppet masters, moving her towards the greater good of all.
Such a thought worried her--being overpowered by a greater being (or several of them) caused her to feel a little more panicked than serene. She wondered if allowing herself to be controlled in such an all-encompassing manner was...healthy in the long-run.
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Post by Moon_Song on Jul 19, 2010 20:15:19 GMT -6
Such hostilities between these two. It reminded Ea a bit of the time Darklight used her abilities in the cave. Aithne and the other female seemed not to like each other much. "Training, huh?" Aithne didn't like the other females answer much. Ea turned to the white, fully-winged female. "And what is your name?" Her voice calm and inviting.
Darklight continued to eye the are. Claw mars on the trees, about the size of Aithne's paws. So, she had been trying to work on gaining hight. Darklight looked over to Aithne while Ea asked questions of the other female. Aithne seemed to be deeply worried about something. Her other-worldly glow, similar to the one in the cave, was strong...and gaining. The glowing shape of a wing became more defined. Darklight mused for a moment if light grew strong enough, could the wing regenerate? Or possibly, could the light replace the missing wing?
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Post by ulrica on Jul 19, 2010 22:16:31 GMT -6
The coyote-like she-wolf's glow was becoming brighter and brighter, and when she gave her warning Aiu wasn't keen on sticking around to find out what it was. However, her curiosity won out and she only succeeded in taking a single step backward before the white wolfess's words reached her.
Aiu's attention turned, well more like it split. One half of her mind was focused on the the first femme while the other was turned toward the white she-wolf and her...sister?friend? Aiu wasn't sure, but she could sense the strong bond they shared and something told her they had been through a lot together. "Aiu." The adolescent wolf was slightly puzzled by why this stranger would ask her name, but if it kept her out of a fight then it any conversation was more than welcome. Her voice was strong and sure, any confusion or fear she felt on the inside successfully hidden behind an even voice and emerald eyes that flashed with the fierceness possessed by one of the skies. |
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Post by satumitsumi on Jul 19, 2010 22:59:17 GMT -6
"Tch." The two-wing had only taken one step back--enough to show she wasn't frightened of Aithne at all. That, and that she had no intention of declaring her standpoint.
Fluffing her glowing wing, she snorted, moving past Aiu. "I've no time for this..." Her mumbled words were true. Aithne had no clue how long it would take Yura to find her, and she didn't wish to be caught under-trained and vulnerable.
Moving to the tree whose bark lay strewn at its roots, she crouched down and positioned herself, ready to jump again. With a fluid leap, she pressed herself into the side of the tree, then leapt to the side of a nearby tree, over and over again, in an attempt to strengthen her legs and quicken her reflexes.
But something made her stop. More like lose her balance and stumble off of the side of a tree. A song she'd never heard before, one with words she didn't understand. It was sung by a solemn chorus, almost like a chant. Aithne stood to her feet, mouthing along with the words, her eyes narrowed in confusion. Just what was this song? So foreign, but comforting. Remembering how much Imaro loved to listen to her sing, she'd remember the song just for him in case they ever crossed paths again.
Shaking herself back to reality, she growled deeply, upset that her concentration on training was so easily broken. Her feathers fluffed to their maximum volume, but she wiped every trace of anger and irritation from her face as she made her way back to Ea and the others. Lowering herself to the ground, she lay her head on her front paws, the song still echoing in her mind.
Aithne's eyes kept a close watch on Aiu, her ears swiveling everywhere, taking in the rest of the woods. She'd thought she heard footsteps not too long ago, but she didn't wish to alarm the others just yet.
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Post by Moon_Song on Jul 20, 2010 15:34:17 GMT -6
Ea smiled gently at the female. "Aiu, huh? It's a beautiful name." The female seemed a bit confused at her question. "I am Ea." She gestured. "This is my elder sister, Darklight. It is a please to meet you." Her tone as calm and soothing. She could feel how tense it was, and she was unwilling to contribute to it.
Darklight only vaguely noticed the introduction. She nodded at the mention of her name, but continued to study Aithne. The one-winged she-wolf snorted and, with a mixture of annoyance and determination on her face, made her way to a tree that had recently been damaged. She positioned herslef, then attempted to get up the tree by jumoing between its trunk andd the one next to it. Wrong way. The way she was going about it was incorrect. She needed a running start.
Aithne had moved to the trees, saying something about not enough time. As she jumped from tree to tree, the blue pendant around Ea's neck, which had been glowing slightly since they got here, now was releasing its song. It was louder than usual. Most of the time, Ea was the only one who could hear it. Not even Darklight, who had been around it just as long as she had, never once heard the song it hummed when magic was present. Aiu didn't seem to show signs of hearing it, and she kind of hoped she didn't, but as Aithne reached higher, something broke her concentration and she came back to the earth. She mouthed the unspoken words, an Ea's eyes widened as she watched.
The display was strange. Her sister and Aithne seemed to be caught up in something, distracting them both.
Suddenly, Darklight noticed something, perhaps heard it. There was another presence approaching. She adjusted her stance, facing whatever was to come out of the trees.
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