Into the North
Illyana panting openly long red tongue hanging partly from her muzzle
looks toward her two companions even as she tightens the grip upon her
spear. Paws keeping an even pace over the frozen tundra even as the
heavy ropes of silver and amber beads bring annoyances with the never
ending bouncing against her tooled leather tunic. Eyes narrowing as
ears pan back she can not help but be thankful she is too out of
breath to curse the need for wearing such useless things.
Just silver eye of the mother earlier she had been preparing to learn
the last lessons needed to join the ranks of the blessed den mothers.
As being youngest of the royal litter left her with few choices, not
the most fleet of paw, strong of fang or even much to her shame able
to bring down the big hard paw of the plains. Losing one feat of skill
after another to her sisters and brothers in the end she found herself
showing throat to them all. Till no guild wanted her royal pup or not
among their ranks.
Well she understood the need for the best to take the roles of
leadership. As with the winters both hard and long it was the way of
her kind and how they have survived sense the beginning when the
blessed den mother gave them all life. She can not help wonder if the
old ways are always the best ways. Yet it was the daring to ask why
that got her sent on this mission. With an invading pack to the
southern border and the resulting battles going badly for her clan it
was not long till she found herself with less brothers and sisters.
The scent seekers, the sharp teeth and even most of the grey muzzled
elder killed or captured. Of course the guilds had debated long into
the night what the best course of action was to be. Those either brave
or foolish that left to try making peace with those southern invaders
still not having answered any of the bark relays now for a full
rounding of the mother's silver eye. Have now been given up in at
least spirit for the last barks by those den mother still among the
clan. It was watching the dancing as den mother after den mother first
named those of the fallen then asked for she who whelps all to accept
them back that angered her.
The last of the royal litter and yet no opinions was sniffed of her.
Even with both her sire and dam gone missing having each lead pack of
sharp teeth and scent seekers to the border. The first growls of anger
from her surprising even herself that she was able to stare down what
meager challenger's that remained surprised everyone else. Asking why
none had been sent to the northern border to seek aid it was quickly
agreed that this was the task the den mother had whelped her for. Fear
coming like a pouncing death claw at the idea of leaving the clan
lands she had just only been able to keep from soiling herself. As to
leave the place that smelled of her for a place that did not was
forbidden.
And now feeling more like a netted drink swimmer then clan leader she
begins to wonder if some how she was tricked. As its Iginiy the elder
who's been deciding when the rest times are claiming it's only her who
can sniff out the stalking storms all too common for the northern
lands. The grey muzzle having been in charge of the camp because she
grips her spear with only one hand thanks to raging hard paw many
silver eyes ago. The den mothers having licked the hurt better could
not make it as it was before. Ihilei having been left in camp because
she was still nursing her litter it was decided the young could wait
for the time a run to the northern border and back would take such a
healthy scent seeker.
Having long lost any count of the passing of the silvered eye and the
amber eye or for that matter the exact paw path back to camp Illyana
and even Iginiy have long sense become thankful for having a scent
seeker like Ihilei with them. It was Ihilei who first barked warning
when the death claw charged them. Ihilei who has found food enough for
all during each camp rest. And Ihilei who takes the less rest yet is
quick to take up the run anew each time. Of course both Illyana and
Iginiy have seen the secretive looks cast backwards when the scent
seeker thinks neither companion will notice. Neither is it missed the
many times Ihilei has to remove her tunic to deal with uncomfortable
and noticeably swollen teats. Having offered help only to be refused
Illyana can not help secretly being glad their own twin rows of teats
are just tiny nubs.
"I'm sorry Iginiy but this tunic is just too uncomfortable for me."
"What about..."
"I know...we must not look like savages during the first encounter. You
know I will smell them before they get within sight of us. I will put
it on at first sniff of the northerners."
Illyana annoyed to be ignored during this conversation opens her
muzzle to speak only to close it again at a sharp glance from Iginiy.
And without farther conversation Ihilei carefully rolls her tunic then
stuffs it within the bag tied to her back. Now wearing only bracers of
carved hard paw bone about the ankles and wrists Ihilei seems renewed
in her energy going so far as to wag her plumed tail about. Illyana
can not help feel resentful wishing she too could remove the useless
things she wears. Comforted only that Iginiy also wears tunic and
silver ropes but without any of the pieces of amber that dance with
each touch of paw to ground.
"How much farther?" Illyana ventures as she watches a group of eye
swimmers giving chase to the first of mother's silver eye calling as
it begins replacing that of its gold twin, ears perked and tongue
hanging out thinking what a delight getting her jaws around those
feathered bodies it would be. Woefully thinking of the flat trail meat
cakes they have been eating and just how low supplies have gotten even
with rationing. Ihilei too followers the flock but after a moment of
grip tightening upon her spear decides against trying her luck.
Loud bark of warning from Iginiy causing them both to bring spears
into defensive position. Illyana stumbling and losing her balance just
as something with large fangs dark fur misses scoring a bite. Another
attacker's muzzle managing to grab hold of one of the silver chains
causing her to be jerked forward and almost end up on all fours.
Resisting the instinctive urge to spread out her paw hands in greeting
to the rapidly approaching ground she instead thrusts spear tip
forward at the dark four legged form trying to pull her down. Yelp of
pain somewhere to her right sounding like Ihilei is echoed by a much
deeper yelp from where her spear found flesh. Then her body meets and
ground hard and blackness is the last thing she sees.