Happy Days?

[Felypsa]

Istariel smiled weakly at Hawk, and whispered, “I love you too…more than anything.” But at that moment, her mother’s enchantments took her and she fell into a dreamless, painless sleep while the birthing took place…

It seemed to drag on and on, and even despite Valkyrie’s spells, it was very messy, as births are wont to be. But finally, first one, then two, then three half-demonic pups were born, furless but not mute. They squeaked, and the queen had tears of joy in her eyes. “My grandchildren,” she whispered. Suddenly, as Valkyrie turned back to her daughter, her eyes went wide and she gasped. “Oh gods above, no, no…” She began to pour energy into her daughter, frantically using all her midwifery skills. “No, no, no,” she kept murmuring under her breath. But it was too late. For all her enchantments, she could not bring life to the dead. Her daughter, the princess, the heiress, Hawk’s beloved mate, and the mother of the three nameless pups before them, was dead. She had given all her life—and, incidentally, the life of Phoebus—to her children. It was not enough to sustain herself. Once Queen Valkyrie realized this, she began to sob, the tears rushing down and dropping onto the lifeless body of her daughter. The tears of happiness she once had for the success of the births now became tears of despair as Istariel was lost. Valkyrie was incoherent, and it was a pathetic, tragic sight: a queen reduced to a blubbering mess of devastation. Yes, she had grandchildren…but at the cost of her dear daughter’s life.



=( is very sad. sorry, though, i don't think i did poor Istariel any justice with this post...you'll just have to pretend i wrote a dramatic, tragic eulogy x.x;

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk grew elated with the birth of each child. He was a father! A
father to three beautiful pups. They were so wonderful looking,
so amazing to gaze at. He had helped in the bringing of life,
even though his part had been rather small. Plans on how to
raise these children and how to teach them the lessons of life
formed in the mascu's mind. His lips seemed glued into the smile
that they had formed. Their family was complete. He had his
beautiful princess of a mate. He had a father and mother in law.
And he had children. It was at that point this wolf was the
happiest he had ever been in his life. He felt so complete, so
excited. Quickly he turned around to face his lover, to share with
her this experience of being parents.

However what he saw broke his heart. There was his mate,
dead, with her mother crying over her figure. No. This couldn't be
right! Why did this always happen to him!? Just when things
started to look good they went bad, very bad! The golden furred
mascu shook his head in disbelief. It wasn't supposed to be like
this! Slowly he backed up from his lover, his eyes streaming with
his salty tears of sorrow. She had just been so full of life not
moments ago! Istariel couldn't die, not now. The people needed
her, their children needed her. He needed her! Hawk couldn't
take the sight. It was too much, making him feel as if his heart
had been snapped in two. He had to get out of these caves. In
a flash, the mascu had turned and ran from the ward. He
couldn't bare to be around his mate's body. The mascu needed
something to do, something to distract his mind to keep himself
from joining his lover in the after-life. He headed after Azarak
and Fiendark. The monarchs would know he would be back and
not to bury Istariel before he did such. Hawk hated to leave, but
as was mentioned before he needed to get away. If he died as
well, who would raise the children? Tears trailed after the mascu
as he ran from the caves a broken soul.

[Felypsa]

Queen Valkyrie hardly noticed as Hawk ran out, so transfixed was she on her dead daughter’s body. A few moments later, Melkior materialized beside her, but in a moment his heart, too, was shattered as he saw his daughter’s corpse. Like Hawk, the king was in too much shock to shed tears, but he stood there, his heart and his soul grieving. All at once, he let out a mighty roar of grief, which echoed through the caves, letting everyone know that their princess was deceased. It was a day of utmost tragedy for the cave-demons to lose such a winsome heiress. Meanwhile, the newborn pups, ignored due to their mother’s death, mewed pitifully, their tiny cries drowned out by the sound of a father’s greatest sorrow.

Far away, but not too far away so Hawk could catch up, a tiny lizard bowed his head in reverence. “Farewell, dear princess,” he murmured solemnly. “Your life was well lived…you were well loved…you will be missed.” He tugged on Fiendark’s ear. The cave-demon stopped and, when he saw Azarak’s look of chagrin, he too bowed his head. “I cannot believe it had to end this way,” he whispered. “Such a dear, beautiful princess…” he shook his head sadly. Azarak nodded. “Hawk will be here soon,” the lizard remarked. “And I would suggest we do not mention it. He is probably already torn apart in grief. But let us wait for him, at least.” The lizard sighed. Such tragedy. But they could not wallow in sorrow for too long. They had to hurry, lest another life tragically be lost. Istariel was dead, there was nothing that could have stopped that. But now…Ammolite must be saved.

[Monkey Monk]

Foliage slapped at the mascu's
face, brambles cutting at his flesh. However the pain was
nothing but a breeze compared to what he felt inside. His tears
had stopped for the moment. Not that anyone would be around
to notice it just yet, but he had become distant. The grief was
too much for him to handle. Quite suddenly Hawk was mere feet
from Azarak and Fiendark. They had their heads bowed and
were waiting for him. So they knew. Anger rose up in his chest.
What right did they have to mourn?! They had barely known
her! The mascu's chest heaved as dark thoughts coursed
through his mind. But the truth quickly calmed him and only
furthered his depression. He was the one who had hardly
known Istariel. His own mate, and he had spent too little time
with her.

Slowly the golden mascu walked past the other two. His nose
hovered over the ground as he tried to find the scent of
Ammolite. He picked up on it, and snorted an exhale. No doubt
Azarak and Fiendark knew Ammolite's exact position at the
moment. They could probably find her with their eyes closed.
However Hawk wanted to do the tracking his own way right
now. He had enough of magic and spiritual energy. That was
what had killed his family, that was the whole reason he had
suffered the first few years of his life, that was the reason
Phoebus was dead, and that was the reason his dear Istariel
had died as well. From what he saw at the moment, magics
could only bring pain and death. Following the scent he had
found, he began to run at a slower pace through the forest.

[Felypsa]

Before long, Azarak saw Hawk approach, and it was as he feared: Hawk was devastated. Would his shattered heart ever be mended? Azarak did not know. He could not know. Surely Hawk had suffered enough—much more than enough—in his dual lifetimes. Was he brought back only to suffer more? So many questions, Azarak was sure Hawk was asking them at that very moment. But they had no time for questions, not now. The lizard watched, unsurprised, as Hawk took over the search. However, Azarak and Fiendark did not know where Ammolite was now. Only she knew. And that was why it was so dangerous…

Fiendark followed in Hawk’s wake, feeling the other’s pain. Hawk was not the only one who had ever felt the loss of a beloved mate. Fiendark was separated from his dear ’Verna shortly after Ammolite was born…and when he finally returned, he found that she had died not too long ago. He terribly missed her and mourned her still. He knew to leave Hawk alone, but he felt more sorry for Hawk’s children. Imagine growing up without a mother! Imagine having your father wrecking himself over his loss! Hopefully Hawk would recover in time to remember his children, and to see the joy in their existence. For now, however, he let Hawk lead the way, trying to find out Ammolite’s scent, saying nothing. There were no words for this situation anyway.

[Monkey Monk]

The golden mascu kept his snout to the ground, following the
scent that had been secreted by glands within the underside of
her footpaws. It was something all canine creatures had. The
trick was being able to recognize the smell among all the others.
Every so often he would stop to examine a clump of moss or a
fern. Things like that seemed to give the mascu an inkling as to
where Ammolite had gone. Hawk had reverted to a mindset he
had not used in years. It was the same thought-wave he had
used when he had been an Elite. To him, he was the hunter
tracking down the prey, the prey being Ammolite. Of course he
had no intention of killing her. However the way he dashed
through the brush and tracked her trail could hint otherwise.

[Felypsa]

Fiendark followed Hawk closely, trying not to notice Hawk’s coarse, quick, efficient way of tracking his daughter. It reminded him uneasily of a predator hunting down his prey. And who knows? Hawk might be so bitter as to blame Ammolite for his suffering. When something terrible happens to you, the instinct is to blame somebody else and to take vengeance on them. Not that Fiendark truly believed Hawk was capable of such a thing…but it still made him nervous…he made a promise to himself that, even if Hawk did find Ammolite first, Fiendark would be there to protect her from him. In his overly-driven state of mind, Hawk was unstable…and not necessarily trustworthy.

Though Azarak was consumed with sorrow, he was alert and ready. He alone of the three knew exactly what kind of danger Ammolite was in. If these were better times, if Hawk were not so broken with grief and Fiendark not so confused with fear, Azarak would take the time to explain the situation to them. But neither of them seemed to care for details; they just wanted to find Ammolite, and quick, so they could return home and attempt to piece back the fragments of their lives. Azarak’s gaze fell on the amulet that Fiendark bore in his teeth. Its colors pulsed and swirled in a seemingly random pattern…but Azarak knew better. It was much more violet than normal…

[Monkey Monk]

Rapidly did Hawk continue his search. That feeling of a hunter
tracking down the prey would only strengthen. No, he did not
feel the need to blame anyone for Istariel's death. He was
happy that she had lived as long as she had, that he had lived
as well. All that had been thanks to Phoebus. Had the bird
known that Istariel's life was going to end in an untimely death?
Had that guardian simply wished to have the children live? Hawk
could not know. He was brought from his pool of thought when
the scent trail ended at a stream. The golden wolf cursed under
his breath as he leaped across the small brook. His snout fell to
the ground as he began to slowly move down the embankment.
Every so often he would stop to examine the brush before
continuing his search for where the trail began once again.

[Felypsa]

When they came to a stream, Azarak spoke out. It was the first sound since Hawk had caught up with them. “Hawk, perhaps we should—” But the lizard fell silent as Hawk crossed and resumed his search. And maybe that was for the best. There was no more reliable way to hunt for someone than to use the old-fashioned way…and, surely, though Azarak could easily find Ammolite’s current location by using her amulet, something might go wrong. Especially since the amulet could not necessarily be trusted, given that the last time it was used, it turned Ammolite into a fearsome, whirling, nearly-unstoppable monster…

As Fiendark continued along, pausing only at the brook to hear Azarak speak, he thought he could sense something familiar. There was a feeling in the air…it was very faint, but persistent. It was not quite the aura of Ammolite, which he knew quite well in the time he’d spend getting to know his daughter of late. It was something…from long ago…Fiendark shook his head. It cannot be. He tried to ignore the sensation, following Hawk sedately. But the feeling—a combination of the smell of freshly crushed roses, the touch of honey-scented water on his tongue, the cool touch of liquid softness—did not go away. He thought of raising the issue to Azarak and Hawk, but both seemed lost in their individual thoughts. So Fiendark kept his mouth shut.

[Monkey Monk]

After a while of searching, Hawk at last found the spot where the
trail resumed. He sniffed at the air for a moment before dashing
off into the underbrush. In a small, mossy clearing, he stopped
and motioned for the others to do so. Tentatively he went
toward a clump of the green plant. There was a single paw print
pressed into the surface. Ammolite's scent was heavily on it and
there was still small traces of body heat. They were growing
closer. The golden wolf once more continued his tracking, but at
a slower pace. It would not do to go on a wrong path when
there were so close. His senses could detect something odd in
the air, but he did not think much of it. These lands were
dangerous, especially for Hawk with Taggerung and Shanto
loose. However at this moment in time he didn't truly care.

[Felypsa]

When Azarak observed the paw print, he decided that they were close enough. “We are near,” he said, his voice low but serious. “I warn you, what we find might not be what you expect…so be careful. Trust no one but yourselves; everyone else may be in covered by deceit.” And those were the only words of warning that the lizard felt were necessary. As they approached Ammolite’s scent, the air became thicker, hotter, and a disturbed wind began to pick up. Azarak tensed.

Fiendark heard his small companion’s words, and knew their wisdom. But he could not ignore the feeling in the air now. Though Azarak felt that the atmosphere was thick, heated, and frazzled, Fiendark felt a pure breeze blow, filling his soul with a sensation he had not experienced in many, many years. His pace began to quicken instinctively. He strode alongside Hawk, not behind him, and whispered, “We are so close!” Fiendark’s blood began to race and his heart thudded. So close…

[Monkey Monk]

Indeed they were close. Hawk could sense it. Ammolite, or
whatever it was they were tracking, was nearby. The golden
mascu continued to follow the trail silently. The closer they came
to their goal, the quieter he became. Silently he crept up to a
thick cluster of foliage. His golden eyes tried to see through the
thick, profuse leaves. Pupils narrowed as he moved closer to
see, but to no avail. Soon it became clear that they could not
see through the brush before them. Why would they need such
stealth though? Ammolite was their friend, even family. The
golden mascu tried to clear his grief stricken mind, the pain of his
shattered heart still throbbing in his chest. After closing his eyes
for a moment to calm down, he broke through the brush to gaze
upon whatever it was they had arrived at.

[Felypsa]

Fiendark was hurrying too, Azarak’s words all but forgotten as he breathed in the heady air. It was almost as if he were drunk on the sensation. As he and Hawk burst through the brush, Fiendark was grinning like a fool, ready for…her. Not her, them. In the middle of the clearing stood Ammolite, but she was not alone. The being next to her was a spirit, a beautiful spirit, and the two were conversing. Fiendark hurried over to his daughter to confront the spirit, and as his eyes fell on the other, his suspicions were happily confirmed. “Kah’verna,” he whispered, tasting the delicious name of his deceased mate.

Ammolite’s eyes were partly glazed, but they were completely golden in ecstasy. She turned to see first her father, then her friend Hawk, and smiled. “Daddy! Hawk! Come see…” So saying, she turned back to the spirit who was her mother, ’Verna. All of a sudden, Ammolite saw someone else emerge from behind her mother. Her eyes widened, but not with fear—with joy. “Istariel!” she cried. “You have come too! Oh, this is blissful!”

The spirit of Istariel did appear, stepping through what seemed to be a portal in the air. She smiled at Ammolite, Fiendark, and the ghostlike ’Verna, but then she turned her eyes onto her still-living, still-breathing mate. “Hawk,” she said, her voice echoing, as insubstantial as the rest of her. “Hawk, come to me.” The princess was just as lovely as ever, as she beckoned to her lover.

It was as Azarak feared—and, when Istariel appeared, even worse. He closed his eyes, half-expecting a Phoebus to come through the portal next. This connection with the spirit world…it was ephemeral at best, and false at worst. He looked at the ’Verna—she was perfectly intact, if intangible, and her reunion with Fiendark was joyous. Who was Azarak to be the thunderstorm on the sunny day? One minute, he vowed. One minute, then we will see…He kept a careful watch over Fiendark, Ammolite, and Hawk, however. The moment something went awry, the lizard would protect them. They still had something to lose, after all.

[Monkey Monk]

Joy surged through the golden mascu's chest as he stepped
toward Istariel. She was alive! She was healthy! Now their
children would have a mother and he could be with his lover
forever. For a moment his whole world was back in one
piece...and then the cold hard truth smashed his heart into
smaller pieces and temporarily took a bit of his insanity. He knew
of only one way to come back from the dead, and that had been
through the aid of Zales. However he knew The Old One was
too weakened from bringing back four Defenders. There could be
only one way that he was seeing Istariel before him. Only one
thing could bring forth such an illusion. Hawk's eyes narrowed as
he took a few steps back.

It could not be Fiendark, for he too was seeing his own deceased
lover. It could not be Azarak, for the one who not act so calm
and quiet. That left only one possibility. Slowly the mascu's
glowing golden gaze fell on Ammolite. His crazed mind fit
together pieces of a puzzle that did not exist. The torment from
seeing Istariel's image had robbed him of his straight thinking
for a moment. His muscles tensed as he crouched, tears leaking
from his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was dripping in malice
and hate. "How long have you been under his control? How long
have you been infected? You brought us out here on purpose.
You did something to Istariel to quicken her birth and kill her.
You knew that if you amulet was left in the open we would come
look for you. You knew I would seek out your father and Azarak,
and you also knew that by then Istariel would enter the birth
that would kill her. Then all you had to do was make the trail a
little bit of a task, lay the trap, and wait. Being infected gives
one amazing abilities of illusion. You thought that
seeing our lovers would incapacitate me and Fiendark and you
thought that you could easily handle Azarak. Well you thought
wrong! So tell me Ammolite! How long have you been under
Shanto's control!?" A wild accusation, the ending being in a
rather loud and sorrowful yell. He looked ready to pounce on the
one who he thought to be tormenting him.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite was happy. Her eyes never lied; they were golden bright with joy. It was by sheer chance that she had stumbled into this grove, where her mother’s spirit was waiting. By what chance, what luck! She had tried to embrace her mother, but she passed right through her. That had sobered her, but not enough to erase any part of the bliss. And then, moments later, her father and Hawk had come in, and for a perfect instant…she had a family again. Like it should have been, but never was. The revelation nearly brought tears to her eyes.

But then, Istariel appeared, and everything began to get much worse. At first, Ammolite was overjoyed, because she thought Istariel had come with Hawk to confront her. But a moment later, she realized that Istariel was a mere spirit—just like ’Verna. Shock and sadness pummeled Ammolite as she understood her friend was now dead. All this hit her only a moment before Hawk attacked her with verbal, wrongful accusations. For a minute her eyes went navy blue and dark green with sorrow and compassion, but as the horrible accusations went on, her eyes began to gain a kind of red fear and purple passion. When Hawk finally ended with that last terrible thought, she gasped aloud, and the tears flowed freely. She could not find the words to respond at first.

Choking, Ammolite spoke to the one she loved, who now hated her. “I did not even know our dear friend Istariel had died. Oh, Hawk. If I had known she was about to give birth, I would have surely stayed. You don’t understand…I left to make you happy. I left so that the two of you could live in blissful solitude. I left for you. How was I to know that this would happen? I—” she broke off and addressed the spirit of Istariel. “Istariel, my friend, my dear, I did not know…I only left to secure your happiness. I would not have left if I had only known…” She could not finish. She began to sob gently.

At length, she spoke again. “There is no way I can prove my innocence, if you think Shanto is controlling me. There was a time, Hawk, when you would believe me when I say I’m completely on your side. No evil being controls me, I act of my own volition…and I only wanted to help you. That’s all I ever wanted…to help you. And if you think I am your enemy…I…” She inhaled shakily. “I can only let you do with me what you will.”

“Very dramatic,” said a wry voice, “but completely unnecessary. Hang on a moment.” Azarak hopped over to Hawk’s head and bit his ear. Hard. It was something Phoebus would have done had the guardian been here. In his stead, the lizard inflicted some pain on the wolf in order to get him to think clearly. Releasing the ear, Azarak said harshly, “Get a hold of yourself, Hawk. I’m disappointed in you. You’ve become paranoid, seeing your greatest enemy in the person who has always been your greatest friend. What would Phoebus say, eh? I hardly think he would be amused.” The lizard shook his head but did not jump down from Hawk, in case he should need to get control again.

The spirit of Istariel hesitated during all these dramatic happenings, then approached Hawk one more time. “Hawk, dear,” she said softly. “Never fear. I am here. I am here.”