Lost, but not unfounded

[Felypsa]

She appeared ordinary, a full-blooded wolf who knew her way around. She was none of the above.

A first glance would reveal a gray-furred female wolf, wingless, gaunt, and subdued. The only physical abnormalcy was her eyes, which were a constant swirl of colors. Currently they were an odd mixture of light purple and deep emerald, an indication of her confusion and loneliness. She padded hesitantly around the Shinkou Forest, wondering if she would meet anybody today. The few wolves she had met on occasion were nowhere to be found. She hoped to find someone today who would be a friend. She could use a true friend now.

Hidden in the gray fur of her chest was a miniscule amulet. Its jewel flashed and glittered with various colors, showing a strong similarity to the wolf’s eyes. This gem, which was rarely seen, was known as ammolite, and it was for this stone that the wolf was named. Ammolite’s mother had called her thus because of her strange, intriguing eyes. Her mother had also given Ammolite with this pendant of her namesake, just before she died of a mysterious disease. But Ammolite would not think about her mother now.

Ammolite, who had lived all her life save for the past few weeks in the caves beneath the Surface, had not quite yet adjusted to life above the Surface. Her eyes had finally managed to take in the bright lights which had almost blinded her when she first emerged, but otherwise, she was still a stranger. At first she approached this new world with the eagerness of learning, but she realized now she was, for lack of a better world, rather lonely. It was a new feeling for her, and not one she particularly enjoyed.

[Aveilthé]

From the foliage, perhaps not too far from where Ammolite tredded, was a small creature, more so that of a wolf.

To put it simply, she was a rustic, apricot-reddish colour, that went by the name of Sansai. Ere before a large swamp, did she mope, gazing irritably at her reflection. Why she looked irritable, only she knew, but her round, wolfish face was glaring at the murky waters. The trees above her were thick, and blocked out the sun, thus she was consumed in darkness, and in doubt.

But if all were in vain, the little wolf, who was already reaching adulthood, would simply gaze upwards, clicking her jaws together. A scent was wafted in her direction, and such excited her. She was just a simple wolf herself, it seemed; quite small for her size, yet slender all the same, with large wolfish paws. About her own neck, however, was an accumulation of small shells, each the colour of the sunset: goldenrod yellow, bloodred, or simply red, with hues of apricot, like her fur.

Slowly rising to her paws, she excitedly escaped the swamp to investigate the source, with such curiousity that the very air around her envied her.

Perhaps the other may hear such a racket that Sansai carried with her, because the shells clanged together like glass.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite perked her ears up, hearing an almost crashing form come careening towards her in the forest. Some startled birds nearby took flight, while Ammolite shook her head in bewilderment; she still could not quite get used to birds. They were so strange-looking…

She waited for this new wolf to come to her, feeling slightly apprehensive as her eyes turned a complementary light gold. But they shifted to a pleasant yellow-green when she saw it was only a young wolfess, so much like and unlike herself.

“Hello there,” greeted Ammolite in a friendly way. Though lonely, she was still willing to meet new people, and did not know enough yet not to trust strangers. “My name is Ammolite. Who’re you?”

[Aveilthé]

"Hullo, Ammolite," replied Sansai, stepping forth from the shadowed realm, her full physical features now seen clearly. "Just call me Sansai. Or San. Whichever you really prefer. I don't care. So, uhm..." she paused, her shells ceasing it's clanging noise, "whatchya doing out here in Shinkou Forest? I heard there was this big pack hunt going on, but I didn't really want to go." Rustic eyes studied Ammolite's features, and what she found most bizarre was the way Ammolite's eyes seem to change. For the moment, Sansai decided that it was best not to comment. After all, there were many wolves like this. Perhaps it was because Sansai looked un-natural... more so like just a regular wolf.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite’s eyes shifted again when she heard this, to a mixture of rose pink and light green, showing her nervous discomfort. “Oh,” she said quietly. “Are they? Well…” She lapsed into silence for just a few moments, then smiled again, though her eyes remained the same. “Heyla, Sansai. That’s a pretty name. You’re pretty too,” she added in that blunt way of hers. “And those…oh, the word…” She frowned slightly, searching for the right vocabulary, then visibly brightened, “shells, that’s what they’re called! They’re absolutely marvelous. Where did you find them?” Ammolite, who had never gone close enough to water’s edge, had never seen shells before ascending to the Surface. They were truly beautiful artifacts, like her beloved cave-gems, only…different.

[Aveilthé]

Sansai tilted her head to the side some, as if calculating such words spoken: <i>"You're pretty too"</i>.

"No. Not that pretty..." she muttered, but wasn't sure if Ammolite have heard. Nonetheless, she issued out a loud, polite "Thank you" to Ammolite, though embarassed all the same.

"These shells?" she replied, indicating with her paw, then chuckled some. "Found them just off the shore when my Papa took me out there, to the sea," she began, "I was just a pup, and that was all I loved to do... hunt for shells. But these shells," she motioned her paw to her neck again, "hold some kind of power, or so Papa thinks they do, because they always glow in the dark some time. He thinks it may be a key to my power." She paused for a moment, her eyes aglow with excitement. It was obvious that she did not possess any kind of power, but the though for lacking any power did not hinder her feelings.

"So, uhm..." Sansai rolled her shoulders a bit, as if buying some thinking time. "Err... why do your eyes change all the time?"

[Felypsa]

Ammolite’s eyes widened and transformed to orange-yellow. “They glow?” she asked, her voice ringing with both increduilty and delight, which matched her eye color. “That’s fantastic! I’ve seen some rocks in the caves that glowed in the dark, and they were absolutely beautiful.” She beamed at Sansai. “I’m sure your Papa’s right, too. Your power is bound to be fascinating and wonderful.” Clearly, Ammolite could be a very positive person, even if her optimism is subconcious and natural rather than planned. When she said such bright things, it was obvious that she meant them, instead of forcing polite pleasantries.

At Sansai’s question she laughed melodiously. “That’s just the way I was born,” she explained, not at all perturbed by Sansai’s bluntness. “My mother told me they change on account of my mood or emotions. I’m not sure what color they are now” (they were that pleasant yellow-green again), “or what that color would mean, exactly. You’re not the first to inquire, either. I don’t know if it would qualify as my ‘power,’ but it’s something my mother said is unique about me.” Her eyes turned a shade of blue for a moment, reminded of her mother, then reverted back to yellow-green.

[Aveilthé]

"Yeah... they look sort of yellowish right now," replied Sansai, obviously fascinated by the whole concept of one's eyes changing colour, because Sansai wouldn't take her eyes off of Ammolite's features. Sansai must've realized what she was doing, for it was rude, thus she turned her head away, looking up at the darkening sky. Shaking her body somewhat to rid herself of the sudden chill in the air, she'd speak again. "So... I'll ask you more questions, just 'cause I'm curious, but for now... want to go explore? It's better than just sitting around," said she, getting up onto her paws. "But I wouldn't go too far west. I hear there's a battle there... maybe we aren't safe out here anyway, but as long as there's two of us..." she paused, as if uncertain.

[Felypsa]

“Oh, I’d love to explore, with you,” Ammolite responded agreeably, eyes turning more subtly gold. “And let’s avoid what danger we can, yes? I’m sure the Alphas have got it settled out.” She said this with complete confidence. She had never met either of the Alphas, or indeed, any of the higher Guardians of the pack, but she was good at observing things from a distance, and she could tell that the Alphas were wonderful leaders, of such a large pack! “Please, lead the way,” she encouraged Sansai, and then also looked up at the darkening heavens. But her orange-yellow eyes reflected her fascination of the sky, rather than tingeing with crimson fear. She found the way the weather changed above the Surface truly captivating. Soon, however, she shook herself out of her reverie and smiled at Sansai, eager to follow the younger wolf.