Sunlit Sanguinity

[waltzingshadows]

High in the barren atmosphere, the sun had reached its zenith, hot rays beaming down on the grassland with unmatched fervency. Below, a lone wolf loped slowly, the tall grass swaying about his legs with gentle caresses. Flews open, his splotched tongue lolled in the wind, muscles bunching for each long stride. Beautiful azure orbs fixated on the ivory pillar that was steadily drawing closer.

Rex's pace decreased as he neared the stone, finally stopping right before it. The sunlight shone on his patchwork pelt, causing him to shimmer in the windswept terra like a auburn mirage. Eyes gradually swept up the pallid stone, awe shining unhidden in their cobalt depths. Nares expanded and twitched as the wolf inhaled, sifting through the myriad of smells curiously. Wolves were abundant; in fact, Rex had never smelt so many wolves before.

Looming afore lay a massive forest, stretching across the horizon, the advance of a monolithic emerald army. The wolf tore his gaze from the pillar to the woodlands, noting the incredible height of the trees. One large paw flicked up in the beginning of a walk, yet the wolf stopped himself.

:Know these lands not, do I. A purpose, mayhaps, has this rock?: He pondered thoughtfully, enticed by the shade promised by the trees, yet wary to tread where he was unwelcome. After a long moment, he strode forward several paces.

Mottled muzzle opened wide, Rex let out a long howl, vocal chords vibrating. Firm and low, the call resonated across the plains, reaching the forest still strong enough to be perceived by a nearby wolf. Grinning, the wolf plopped down, lazing in the thin shadow of the pillar. Lids closed, though ears still rotated quickly, alert for the slightest sound.

:Quite mundane, that approach was. Hmm...Pain, I have not. My best choice yet, may this terra prove to be.:

[Felypsa]

Ivory had almost done it. She had almost left the pack behind for good. The pack, her home, it was almost reduced to nothing but memory…bitter memories. She got as far as the borderlands. And then she stopped.

She looked back at the enormous packlands that had been her home for all of her life. Again, mixed feelings warred in her heart. It was her home, she could not deny that. There was still promise here; there was still a scent of hope lingering in the air. Could she in true conscience leave it all behind? She had not had a miserable life…yet still…there was nothing left for her here. It was time to move on. Her parents? The heavens only knew where they had disappeared off to. Her brother? Never to be seen again. Her sister? Off traveling the world with her mate, living life to the fullest, too happy to ever come back. Her friends? Nonexistent.

Even when Ivory tried to do good, she failed. She had only managed to get a paranoid, blubbering idiot named Jenner into deeper trouble. She had really been trying to help him…but he was beyond help, hers or anyone else’s. And so her frustration mounted as her efforts had been for naught. That was how it always seemed to be. She was never good enough.

Ivory got as far as the borderlands when she stopped. She half-closed her bright green eyes, feeling the dry breeze ruffle her fur, which was an off-white color. Not quite white. Not quite pure. Not quite pretty. Ivory’s eyes snapped open again. Her glowing green eyes blazed with resentment. The black sheep of her family, was she? So be it. She snarled once and took a step forward when a noise halted her.

It was the sound of a newcomer, the howl of someone greeting the pack for the first time. Ivory groaned inwardly. The last time she had greeted someone, she had been dragged into a small adventure that consisted of an earthquake and trying to escape a crazy creature that called itself “Earthbound.” But that wasn’t the newcomer’s fault. Ivory stood there, her insides squirming, her entire body frozen with indecision.

One more, she told herself. One more to ease my conscience. And then I can leave for hopefully better things. Or at least, something more than this. So saying, the medium-sized wolf tilted her head back and returned the howl, though she cut it off quickly. She turned her ears towards where she heard the sound and loped over there. Let’s get this over with.

She paused when she saw the apparent new arrival. A strange-looking wolf. Ivory had never quite seen a wolf with those colors of fur before. He stood not far from the pillar that marked the borderlands. She stopped walking and surveyed him with a level gaze. Her tail swished through the grass methodically. Finally, she spoke.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” She didn’t know why she bothered asking. Obviously he was new here. All newcomers had the same look: surprise, confusion, excitement, hope. Hope, she thought ironically. In this place? Not for me. “This is Shinkou Ookami. You’re welcome to join if you wish; the more the merrier. My name is Ivory.” She resisted the urge to say, And I’m just leaving, so good luck and have fun figuring out things on your own. She had to do this right. One last chance.

Then, she’d be gone for good.

[Deleted]

She hadn't been here for a long time. She had left suddenly in a puff of smoke; in a flash. She hadn't meant to, though. She didn't know she had that power . . . all was so new to her, without her mother . . . She had appeared in a dank, dark forest, more foreboding then the one she had just been in; the one she wished to call her home . . . but now she was here. She was scared and alone, and evil, peering eyes surrounded her . . . she was so frightened . . . ! But all wasn't lost. She had remembered the way she'd used to come to this place moons ago.

She is older now. She has evolved, metamorphosed. She has done what she was destined to do. Everyone of her ancestors had done it, but she didn't know why . . . She has done it.

She was traveling towards the strange forest she had departed so long ago . . . and then, in a trance, she did it. She climbed that tree, that ancient tree that was dusted with a strange silk, and dove . . .

It caught her . . . it held her so near . . . It was strange in there; all she could hear was her heartbeat; all she could see was the dark . . . It was like being in the womb again. Warm, safe, peaceful . . . now she knew why they did it, but she didn't, did she?

After many moons, she had emerged as a full grown Dark Blue Icefly wolf. She had blue butterfly wings and came out knowing how to use them. So she had taken to the skies to finish her journey.

Now she is here . . . She has to breathe . . . She has to run . . . She has to exist . . . for a little while longer . . . She has to find the one called . . . Echo . . . . .


Collapsing from exhaustion, the femme lay under a tree, barely breathing. She had used all of her energy flying all day and all night. Now she had to rest or she would die. She knew it. Pointing her maw to the sky, she howled a howl of great distress, calling for help. Her cranium slid to the hard forest floor as her unfinished cry floated over the treetops . . .


"Ah, sleep . . . peaceful sleep . . . Dream my love, quietly dream . . . I've always dreamed of having a pup . . . . . ."

ooc: I made her fall asleep so I wouldn't be a despie . . . lol! Hope you liked my intro!

[waltzingshadows]

Rex had began drifting off, just in the start of a content dream, when the soft sound of pawsteps reached his ears. His smile broadened, though he didn't get up; the grass was comfortable and the approaching creature a ways off. He inhaled deeply, checking the scents carried by the warm breeze, relaxing when he decided it was that of a wolf's.

When the other wolf halted, Rex finally heaved himslef up to his feet, turning to face the other. It was a female, her off-white pelt just that - not quite ivory. He studied her as she spoke, lids halfway over his azure orbs, giving him a blaise look. Her eyes caught him, their striking, mesmerising emerald depths hinting at a hidden anger.

As her words lingered on the air, the male noted absently the impatience they conveyed, and wondered if it was directed at him. Despite his ponderings, he merely smiled gently at her, bowing his cranium graciously. "Thankee, madam. A pleasure to meet a beautiful fae, anyday, it is. Dubbed Rex, am I." His gaze strayed form her to the woodlands. "Shinkou Ookami, is this? Remarkable is the name; a remarkable land it is for, I am sure."

A desperate howl reached his ears, causing him to whirl to face the forest. Orbs searched wildly for the new wolf, yet his eyes were not keen enough to spot it. Rex didn't immediately run off to help the distressed creature; instead, he glanced at Ivory, wondering what she would do.

[Felypsa]

This newcomer—“Rex” he called himself—surprised her, that much was certain. She wasn’t sure if she liked the smooth way he talked. He was very flattering, calling her beautiful and whatnot. But she didn’t take to flattery very well. She always believed it was false, a tool used to gain the good will of someone. The words were pretty, but their meanings were empty. On second thought, there was the chance that he was being honest and truthful, in which case, he was a good sort…Ivory wasn’t sure.

“Rex, welcome,” she said. If she noticed his curious word order, she did not remark upon it. She’d met stranger wolves. She smirked at his next words. “‘Remarkable’ you call it. I’d say that’s a very good way to describe this place. But I won’t say anymore; I suspect you’ll find that out for yourself.” She might have said more, but the sound of distress reached her ears at that time.

Ivory’s eyes narrowed once, briefly. A selfish thought crossed her mind: Oh great, what now. But it was gone. “As if on cue,” she muttered. She looked at Rex. “I can’t ignore it, I’ve got to help whoever it is,” she explained. “You can come if you like, but if you’d rather explore…” She let out a light snort, the equivalent of a careless shrug. A moment later, she was off and running.

I had almost made it; if I hadn’t stopped to greet Rex, I would’ve been too far away to hear it. I was almost gone…and yet, something always keeps me back, keeps me here, keeps me from escaping. Ivory was full of bitterness, but she wasn’t so wrapped up in her self-resentment to ignore another’s cry for aid.

Ivory slowed and halted at the place where she heard the howl. She sniffed around, looking for the distressed creature. She wasn’t sure if Rex had followed or not. Suddenly, she stopped. A female wolf lay collapsed under a tree. For a moment Ivory thought she was dead, and a feeling of regret passed through her.

But upon closer inspection, Ivory saw she was alive, if barely. Just asleep. Suddenly Ivory didn’t know what to do. If this wolf was dying, should she attempt to wake her? Or if she was just sick, was it better that she was asleep? I never knew much about healing, Ivory thought crossly. Wasted my time…Ivory decided to leave her be. She was not dead, and if that were the case, then rest was probably the best thing for her. Unless a healer happened to appear.

Ivory pondered running for one, but as she looked around, she saw to her despair it would be a very long run back to the mainlands…and then, who knew if she would find a healer there? They’d been in much demand lately. For an instant, Ivory hesitated, paralyzed by indecision. I’m really not good at this…she thought bitterly. Can’t even help a wolf who cries out for it.

[Deleted]

The femme twitched a paw and she rolled over on her back.
"Echo . . . is that you . . . ." she muttered, falling back into a deep, dreamless slumber . . .

----------------

Alone in the darkness which was her mind, the femme howled frantically. "I have to find a way out if here . . . I must continue my search . . . it's not over yet!" Then suddenly, it came to her. She closed her eyes and thought of a message of distress. Opening her eyes, she watched it whirl around in her mind, then she sent it out into Ivory's.

Please help me, I've major travel-related injuries, and I need to find a femme named Echo. I don't feel well, and I'm trapped in my dreams. I'm scared and I don't know how to get out . . . please help! I don't know what's wrong with me . . . I feel sick . . .

The femme sat down and sighed, hanging her head in a feeble attempt to calm herself. She hoped the other femme was susceptible to telepathy. Her swollen belly ached horribly. Groaning, she lay down and waited.

[waltzingshadows]

The yearning to run, the adrenaline of adventure, rushed through Rex's veins. Indecision and disorientation marred his morals; normally he would have immediately ran off to help the distressed creature. :To relax today, my goal is!: the wolf thought crossly. However, these longings were quickly brushed away in the wake of guilt.

Pain slowly crept over most of his body like the claws of a demon, forcing the wolf forward after Ivory. Only his chest didn't ache; Rex followed not only the female, but the little surges about his mottled bodice, keeping him on course. He ran quickly, though not as fast as most wolves; the sun beat down on his dark pelt, making the travel-weary male a bit dizzy. The shade of the huge trees drawing steadily closer kept him running, though, and he slowed down to a walk at the outskirts of the forest.

Cobalt orbs took a moment to gaze up at the nearest tree, a sigh escaping his deep chest. He basked in the welcoming shade a second longer, then plodded off again after Ivory. He could see the creature now; it was a wolf who seemed to be in great pain. Her eyes had an odd look to them, dazed, as though the female couldn't see them. A blindness...but an anguished, scared one.

The female didn't talk, but laid down instead, sighing. Glancing at Ivory, Rex's orbs were now wide open, their depths clearly conveying confusion. "Say anything, did she, to you?" he questioned, gaze fixed on the new wolf.

[Felypsa]

Before Ivory could completely make up her mind, the female wolf before her tossed and turned, muttering something indistinguishable. Ivory began to worry that she was under a fever, or worse, suffering from delirium and hallucinations. I had better find someone soon—but I cannot leave her here alone! And then, still hesitant, Ivory’s mind received such an urgent cry for help that she nearly cried out herself.

I need to find a femme named Echo…I’m trapped in my dreams…Other mutterings, that the distressed wolf did not feel well, that she was sick…Ivory feared for her wellbeing. Echo, Echo…didn’t I know someone by that name before? As Ivory ransacked her memory, she did not hear Rex approach until he spoke to her in that curious way of hers.

“Ah!” Startled, Ivory whirled around, but when she saw it was Rex, she relaxed. “She did,” she replied grimly. “But not out loud. In my mind.” Ivory had been capable of mental communication since before she even learned how to talk the conventional way. It had once been her sole way of communicating with others. Ivory frowned. “She says she is ‘trapped in her dreams,’ suffering from wounds from travel. She is looking for someone named Echo, a wolf who belongs to this pack.”

She suddenly came out of her trance and looked at Rex. “Sorry about this,” she said gruffly. “I bet this isn’t the way you wanted to be greeted by a pack.” Ivory scowled at the wolfess, but she was not really angry at her; she was just worried. “Rex,” she said suddenly. “I have a favor to ask of you…I must go search for this Echo, for, if my memory serves me, she is a healer who could help this wolf. But I am unwilling to leave her alone. Will you…will you watch over her?” Ivory looked at Rex, not pleading, not commanding, just looking. “You don’t have to; I have no power of you. I’m sure you’re just as tired, and if you’d like to rest somewhere in the pack, no one will hold it against you.

“Either way…I am going to have to find Echo. I cannot stay here and do nothing.” Ivory let out an almost exasperated sigh, as if to say Here we go again, why do I always have to do these things? But she did not really feel this way. It was just her usual impatient self manifesting. Ivory looked at Rex. “Do what you will. I will certainly be back before the sun sets, and most likely well before that. If you do choose to stay,” she added, more softly than normal, “I and this wolf here would be very grateful.” She dipped her head out of courtesy. But before Rex would answer, she turned and bolted back into those lands.

I never expected to be heading back this way. I never expected to set foot or eyes on these lands ever again. It seems the fates have something else in store for me. She closed her eyes and continued her easy run.

[Deleted]

The femme, who could hear the entire conversation, calmed considerably.
"She's going to find my Echo!" she exclaimed. She began to run as fast as she could in an effort to find the exit to her mind. As she ran, the dark walls of her mind slowly closed in on her. She began to pant, and a desperate whimper escaped her maw.

----------

The femme's slender pillars twitched as Ivory ran off. The slight whimper floated through the air and filled Rex's auds. Her breathing quickened as she began to panic.

ooc: sorry, writer's block.

[waltzingshadows]

A reply had barely formed on the tip of the wolf's splotched tongue, when Ivory dashed off. Rex's cobalt orbs blinked in confusion several times before he huffed in joking indignation after the receding wolf.

"To die, you leave us?" he muttered quietly, a smile on his flews. "Be it so, then." Plopping down on his mottled haunches, Rex stretched out comfortably beneath the shade of a massive oak, lying next to the injured female.

His drifting gaze snapped to the other as her low whimper reached his ears. Auburn brow furrowed in worry, the male leaned over to gently lick the wolf's muzzle. "Alright, everything will be. Come soon, aid will." Rex didn't voice his apprehension of a quick return by Ivory, and he didn't know if this tormented female could even hear him, but still he hoped to soothe her.

Curled up alongside the feverish wolf, Rex sunk into ruminations, mostly over Ivory. Somehow, the female reminded him of a fae he once knew - white, she had been, the color of new snow, with a voice as beautiful as the sound of a tuned harp. How he missed her; she was the closest he had ever had to a mate. Heaving a great sigh, the male eyed the sun, which was pugnaciously high in the sky. 'Many hours, nightfall still is...make it till then, whilst this femme?'

((Sorry for the delay...I too have a bad writer's block. XD))

[Felypsa]

oOc| No problemo, guys. I totally understand x.x; I'm just hoping this thread doesn't die, like so many others have of late. Oh, and a warning: this is a LOOOOOONG post. Sorry. I guess I got inspired or something.

Ivory loped back into the mainland, but once there, she cast her gaze around despairingly. How could she possibly find a wolf named Echo, whom she hadn’t seen since they were both pups? Didn’t she have turquoise fur? I’d always envied that…and a voice! A voice to die for. Ivory thought this a little crossly. She was blessed, as I recall. A very nice wolf, too, so I couldn’t just write her off. But she had no lack of friends…she had five siblings, for stars’ sake. Ivory shook her head, clearing it of fogged memories, and continued her search.

She kept one eye on the sun’s position in the sky. She knew she had to hurry, for the fallen wolf was dying and might not last much longer. And she’d promised Rex she’d be back well before nightfall. Rex. She felt a pang of guilt for dragging him into this. If I hadn’t responded to his call, he would’ve just kept going until he found a home in Shinkou Ookami. Instead, he’s stuck back there guarding a hallucinating wolf all alone. She sighed. I really am rotten. The sooner I leave, the better.

Ivory stopped in the center of the mainland. She hesitated, then sent her mindcall out. I haven’t done this in a long time…but it’s more reliable than just howling my head off. The mindcall could only be received by certain creatures, and Ivory was sure Echo was one of them. Tentatively, Ivory called out, ~Echo? Echo…if you can hear me, my name is Ivory, and I have found a young wolfess who is looking for you. I know not her name, but she is dying, and she wants you, she needs you…please come, I am standing by the lake in the center of the mainland. Echo, please come!~

So Ivory waited. As Rex was waiting, as the young femme was waiting, Ivory also waited. For this Echo. And suddenly…Ivory heard something in her mind. ~I am coming,~ said a beautiful voice, faint but firm, and at that point Ivory heard a gorgeous song burst forth from the forest, unlike any she’d ever heard before.

The song could be heard not only by erect ears but also by the attentive mind. It wove a distinct melody of hope in sorrow, erasing the worries from Ivory’s heart and easing her mind. Momentarily. Ivory quickly bristled and resisted the song’s influence, but it was so sweet and light that it nevertheless lifted her spirits. She was still determined to leave, no healing song could delete that, but she no longer felt resentful of the pack that had been her home. At least for now.

Eventually Ivory matched a face to the flawless voice. The wolfess Echo was about her age, her fur shining blue-green in the afternoon sunlight, her golden eyes glowing with warmth. Normally Ivory would have taken a disliking to her, for she seemed so lovely and perfect, representative of everything Ivory did not have. But the song was still fresh in her mind, easing Ivory’s ever-present bitterness.

Echo ended her song, but its echoes still rang beautifully in the air. She looked at Ivory, who looked vaguely familiar, from a lifetime long ago. Echo had sensed so much bitterness in this particular wolf that she took it upon herself to sing Ivory’s inner pain away—yet she could not touch the other wolf’s stubbornness. Even so, Echo’s heart was heavy with the anger she had just removed from Ivory. But Echo still smiled, still showed a face that revealed nothing of her own agony.

“Take me to this young female, if you please,” Echo said softly. She spoke strangely; she did not open her maw, but you could hear it as clearly as if she had spoken into your ear. Echo had a unique way of speech; she took all the words she had heard before, and echoed them in an order that made sense. “I have a feeling she is in great need. I do not know her, but I will help anyone who needs me.” Truth be told, Echo was completely bewildered. What young femme would know her name to ask for her? But as she said, she would help. How could she not?

Ivory grunted. Well, obviously she’s in great need, she’s dying, isn’t she? she thought dryly. But she kept the sarcastic comment to herself. Still, Echo’s sanctimonious, holier-than-thou act was grating on her nerves. True, she had somehow managed to calm Ivory’s inner struggles, but that didn’t necessarily give her the right to flaunt her superiority. “Follow me,” Ivory said tersely, and began to run.

Now that she had found Echo, she wanted to make great haste. Who knew how much time the unknown wolf had left? Echo followed, not far behind, easily matching Ivory’s fast pace. When the sun was halfway between its high noon position and the horizon, the two female wolves reached the place where Ivory had left Rex to watch over the “patient.”

“Sorry we took so long,” Ivory gasped to Rex. “And I’m very sorry to have left you here.” Even though Echo had cleared her guilt earlier with her song, Ivory still felt the effects. “But pretty Echo here took her time in showing herself,” she went on under her breath, with her characteristic wryness. If Echo heard, she showed no sign of Ivory’s rudeness. “Oh, and thanks,” Ivory added briskly to Rex, as if an afterthought. Despite her tone, she really was grateful for his help.

Echo glanced at Rex and wondered if he were new; she had never seen him before. Then again, there are many wolves I have never seen before. Like this one…? She stood over the collapsed and sleeping female, trying to place the face. Like a distant memory…but I cannot fully recall…

Echo began to sing again. It was a different song from before, though, as all of Echo’s songs, it had that underlying feeling of hope. This one sounded like it would fit in at both a birthing and a funeral. Echo sang first of grief and anguish of losing a loved one. But midway through the song, its melody changed. It became lighter, happier, bolder. She sang of new life, of new dreams, of new beginnings. In doing this, she hoped to lure this dying wolfess back from the brink of death and into the warmth of life. The song was wordless, yet if it had had words, it would seem to be calling this:

“A new start—
That’s the thing I need,
To give me new heart—
Half a chance in life
To find a new part,
Just a simple role
That I can play.

A new hope—
Something to convince me
To renew hope!
A new day,
Bright enough
To help me find my way!”

Come back! Echo thought as she sang. Do not die! I don’t know who you are, but you cannot, you will not die now!

[Deleted]

The walls were nearly touching now. They pressed against her, wedging her into place. She called out pitifully for help, panicking in her dire position. She knew she was dieing and she was scared.

Suddenly, the form of a lovely femme who looked so . . . so very familiar penetrated the walls of her mind. Her golden eyes shone brightly as she sang. The walls stopped closing in, and began to move back, releasing the femme from her prison. She shook herself and moved towards the femme, reaching out to touch her nose with her own.

In a flash, it was over.

-----------------

"ECHO!"

The femme writhed and lept to her feet, darting towards the form that had freed her.

"Oh . . . Echo . . . I missed you!"

She sat by her feet, and closed her wings. She was sure that Echo wouldn't be able to recognize her with her newly found wings.

ooc: Fely, you ROCK. That post was cool . . . and long . . . I like cool long posts . . .

[waltzingshadows]

For several hours, Rex let his mind reminisce, constantly murmuring random things to the injured femme, though if it was to keep the wolf company or ease his own tension, he wasn't sure. As the shadows slowly stretched out before him, the mascu began to wonder just when Ivory would come back.

He felt the other wolf's heartbeat race, and he glanced at her, increasingly worried. Whimpering ever so softly, the male rose to his feet, swinging his tassel anxiously. He paced about the wolf, his large, dark paws flattening a circle in the tall grass around her.

As the sound of approaching paws once again reached his ears, Rex swirled around quickly, a tight grin displayed on his maw. Ivory and another female reached him; his azure orbs immediately focused on the turquoise wolf, even as he silently dipped his cranium at Ivory's thanks.

When the female started to sing, Rex was instantly frozen in awe. Her beauty, though great, touched him not nearly so much as the eerie music that floated from her closed flews. She sang no words, but the emotion embedded in the song was enough to keep the male smitten even as the music faded.

To his great surprise, the injured fae seemed to recover quite soon, and was on her paws in a flash. He listened to her excited greeting, gazing dumbfounded as she dashed to the turquoise female's side. 'Echo,' he repeated mentally, his head cocking at her. Oddly, he felt no want to give his name, and even as he began to introduce himself, his broad chest flared with pain. The male quickly shut his maw, content to wait for the others to greet him. His cobalt eyes shifted to Ivory. There was an odd bitterness that she seemed to emit, and the male desperately wanted to question the pretty female as to why she was angered.

[Felypsa]

Echo ceased singing only when her name was shouted by the very wolf she had been trying to heal. She let her voice fade away, though remnants of the beautiful song still lingered in the air. She gazed at the young female who claimed to have missed her so passionately. Again, Echo felt a nagging sensation in the back of her mind. Have we met before? If we have, why don’t I remember? I surely would have recognized those wings. For they were very unique wings, not easily forgettable.

Echo felt she had to tell the truth, though it was awkward. “I am glad to see you have recovered,” she said, her voice ringing like gorgeous chimes. “And I wish I could say the same to you. But, sadly, if we have met before, I cannot seem to recall…who, exactly, are you? I am sorry that my memory has failed me.”

Echo’s pleasant tone and expression were only a façade. Inside, she was writhing in agony, her heart burning and tearing her apart. Oh gods, what pain this female must have endured! she thought, struggling to hide her inner pain. It is destroying me from the inside out…the hole in my heart is getting bigger, this agony, it’s filling me, killing me!

At one point, it grew too much for her. She glanced away briefly, so that no one would see how her golden eyes were filled with pain. She let out a very small gasp, but was able to regain control of herself. Slowly—oh, so slowly—the intense pain inside began to ebb. I must be careful, Echo thought. She now bore the incredible anguish that this female had been suffering only moments before. It hurt like nothing else. But Echo had to bear it. I am, after all, the Keeper of Sorrows.

Of course Ivory was affected by Echo’s music. But the bitterness within her ran so deep, practically from the day she had been born, that it could not be erased by a single song. So naturally Ivory noticed that Rex seemed to be attracted to Echo, if only because of the lovely song that she had conjured. Typical, Ivory thought in her usual cynical way. He was bound to like her when he heard her sing. Everyone else does. The perfect Echo has everything! Ivory was ignorant of the agony that Echo suffered each time she sang someone’s pain away—pain that she herself bore in that person’s stead. If Ivory had known, perhaps she might have been less critical.

“I think,” Ivory said slowly, addressing the newly healed wolf, “it would benefit us all if we knew, exactly, who you are.” There was just the barest hint of dryness to her tone. “Might as well just introduce everybody, as a matter of fact. Everyone, this is Echo, but you all know that. I’m Ivory, for those who don’t already know. And this is Rex, a newcomer to Shinkou Ookami. Now, it’s your turn.” She looked pointedly at the mysterious female.

[Deleted]

The femme gazed at Echo with worry in her eyes, a sligh whimper escaping her lips. She was snapped back to reality and looked at Ivory.
"I am . . . Andraste," she said, standing up and sitting by a tree so her wings were hidden, a slight wind begining to blow.

ooc: wri-ter's blooooock . . .