Downtrodden [Juniper]

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Gifts/Cypress1Mid.png] It made her sick to her heart to trek back into her former home. It was so quiet...so cold, so empty. She hated that the winter had forced her out, she had spent most of her life in this tundra. To have her pack and family fall apart because of an unrelenting winter was something she could not forgive herself for. She had striven to make a strong pack and formidable offspring, yet nature flicked it away like a bothersome fly. The fiery green eyes of the small yagi narrowed in the sunlight. All she could do now was honor the dead and the lost. Perhaps she could live here still, but without a pack and without her youth, it would prove impossible. She put her most to the weeping snow, attempting to find any traces of survivors. It wasn't long before she picked up on the scent of death. Had the melting snow revealed a fallen packmate? She followed the trail to a soft spot in the snow. The yagi paused and observed, it seemed something was discoloring the icy slush from below. Decomposition. Her nose wrinkled, but the steadfast female put her worn paws to the crust and began to dig. She prayed it wasn't a family member. She used her lithe horns to shovel the snow out on occasion as she set to work unearthing the corpse. Once she hit flesh she bit down and pulled back. A leg came out, ending in a hoof. The taste in her mouth left no doubt that it was a reindeer, not a wolf. She set the rancid meat down, not having the appetite to dig up the rest of it. Instead she sat back on her haunches, and allowed her poorly docked tail to come around her hip. Was it really worth digging through the snows to find closure? She knew her mate and youngest son had survived, however she was not sure of the rest of her kin. Arkham seemed mad, and Aspen had joined another pack. She gave a heaving sigh before settling onto her belly. The cool ground was what she considered home. Yet without anyone to share it with, how could she call it even that? Her thoughts wandered back to Xiomara, her loyal companion that seemed to stick with her despite everything that happened. She felt so tired....grief seemed to be taking it's toll on the aging female. She opted to rest her eyes for a bit, despite her pelt standing out against the snows.

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Juniper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Tables/Juniper3Mid.png] Juniper hadn't stayed long at all in the Taiga. Upon her arrival on the territory she had learned from the remaining Empire wolves there that Cypress had already moved off, her path had apparently been back over the mountains that Juniper had been climbing. They must have just missed each other she assumed, had the lyxxus not ran across her path, well Juniper probably would have come across the path of her mother. Staying only a single day, she ate and rested before attempting to follow her mother's path. She'd have to return at some point though. She hadn't even come across Aspen whilst she rested, nor had she found Eolande or Delirium once again, thanking them for their help. She had left sharply, and not stopped at all as she hurried across the mountains, barely thinking about her chosen path as she raced as quickly as safety would allow her. Hopefully Cypress would still be around the Empire lands, if she had of course reached them by now. Juniper assumed that she had, after all she had gotten a head start. The young yagi tried not to remember the fact that she would have had an equal start if she had simply continued. Still had she missed her mother and not followed Nautic she probably would have been even more annoyed, that logic needed to remain in her mind instead. A part of her wanted to slow, even to a complete stop as she reached her former home. It simply wasn't right to be so bare, wolves should have been roaming around, the scents of the Empire strong. Nothing though, aside from one lonely scent. It was only that smell that allowed Juniper to progress with her speed, quicker still now. The scent was still rather fresh, Cypress would hopefully still be lingering. Then suddenly amongst the white snow she caught sight of that familiar brown coat. Juniper's own blended far better the snow, a strange silvery grey that was quite a mystery when looking at both her parents. She had never really thought about it though, and now certainly wasn't the time to come to the realisation either. Instead she simply continued straight towards the fellow yagi, letting out a triumphant call in greeting; "Mother!"

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Gifts/Cypress1Mid.png] The brisk breeze was soothing considering where she had spent some of the past few months. She was comfortable in this environment. Maybe she could mingle with the Enclave. The very thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, being a yagi, as well as being a former alpha, the idea of being subordinate to males made her uneasy. She submitted to her mate, that was about it. No other male aside her birth pack and brothers had ever tried to push her to be meek. She was not about to start that again. She wondered if she could just reside on the outskirts of the Taiga....the idea seemed impossible. Her son seemed happy to join that pack, so she would not bad mouth it. Perhaps she could just settle in the Mountains...the Tundra was too painful with the buried memories. A call across the expanse made her lift her head, ears perked and alert. 'Mother!' Only five yagi could call her that....only one of which she had confirmed to be alive. She was on her feet quickly then, searching for her lost child. She turned and her fiery green eyes lit up when she say the bounding white yagi that could only be her Juniper. The runt of her last littler, the only one that had been born with a docked tail. "Juniper?" She shook off the snow and fatigue and moved to meet her, her own poorly docked tail wavering happily. She whined happily, a rarely seen smile crossing her face now as she nuzzled her daughter in greeting, licking her face and coddling as if Juniper were still a suckling babe, "I was worried that you didn't get out in time....I'm sorry I couldn't find you in the storm....I'm so happy that you are safe," She pulled back breifly to look her over to confirm, " and healthy." She knew that her daughter was smaller than she, and probably would never get much larger, the curse of being a runt that Cypress felt she may have passed on. She stepped back, not really allowing Juniper to speak, "Where have you been, is Willow alive too? Cedrus? Have you seen them?" It seemed as if the hope had returned to the small female, she old showed such affections to her children and mate, rarely breaking her stoic demeanor. However she was beside herself that another of her children had weathered the storm that ripped them apart.

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Juniper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Tables/Juniper3Mid.png] Onwards she hurried, straight towards Cypress who no longer sat calmly in the snow, but was up and searching for the pale yagi. Thankfully the distance between mother and daughter was not too far, though both probably would have continued running at that moment until they had reached each other, however long it may have been. Her little tail wagged happily behind her as at last the two females were reunited and Cypress's licks in greeting were returned. For that moment, she was perhaps far happier to play the part of pup than she may have ever been, so glad to be back at her mother's side. "It's ok, I'm fine." The tough little yagi confirmed for her mother, though the worrying female still had to check with her own eyes. Stubborn Juniper probably wouldn't have admitted to any little wound anyway, perhaps Cypress' check was for the best. A little thinner than her days back with the pack, the young yagi was perfectly healthy. With her mother again now, chances were both females would eat a little better, the weight could be gained in time. That there was the problem though, it was only the two of them. Juniper hadn't seen any of her other siblings, though of course had heard Aspen was back at the enclave. "I was with some of the pack for a while, then left to find my way back to the North in hopes of finding you or the others. I'm afraid I've not seen anyone else though." A slight dampener on their meeting, the fact that she had at least found her mother though still kept some of her joy together though. "They have to be fine though and now we can continue to search together. I'm sure they will be looking for us." Such a positive outlook, perhaps Willow had rubbed off on her a little more than she cared to realise, she was too happy to dare think anything else at the moment and in truth, she did believe that her siblings would be searching too. Cedrus, although for a brief period had been the leader of the Empire, and Willow, well she surely would be missing them, Juniper did after all.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Gifts/Cypress1Mid.png] It was a blessing in disguise that she had come back to this bleak place, she had feared she would find the frozen corpses of her children. Now she was overcome with emotions. With the loss of her family, her soothing the passing of her friend and the pregnancy of her traveling companion, her maternal instincts had been kicked into overdrive. She needed to go back to the tundra to fight the evils that kept her babies captive. Yet here she was, with one of her youngest daughters, the runt of her last litter. She licked the top of her head gently and took a deep sigh of relief. "I have traveled with Xiomara. Aspen is in the Enclave. Your father though....he..." It was surprising how hard it was to speak of the deteriorating state of her mate, "He is not well....but has not stayed with me. There is something wrong with him and I fear I cannot reach him to pull him out of that dark place he has trapped himself in." She hated having to dampen the mood as well, but her little one needed to know the truths that were hard to say. She had to smile when her daughter attempted to reassure her. The idea of them being together, a mother daughter team to fight the perils of the world and survival. She hoped that she and Xiomara could from a small roving ban to keep themselves alive. Cypress had no intention of joining another pack, she was too stubborn to submit to anyone besides her mate. So if the three of them stuck together, it would ease the rouge life. Maybe they could raise the litter together as well, the one Xiomara was trying to hard to conceal. "As long as I am with you, Juni, we can take on anything. We will find the rest of the family...." Dead or alive, was the unspoken part of her hopeful sentiment. For every day she saw no sign of the rest of her brood, she feared more and more that they were forever out of her reach.

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Juniper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Tables/Juniper3Mid.png] Juniper, as surprising as it may have been, hadn't given up hope quite so quickly. Perhaps her realism had given way to that strong image she had always had of her parents, they had led the Empire after all and she would admit it, had done a good job raising herself and her siblings. Cedrus after all had temporarily led the pack himself, the departure of it was nothing to do with him, it couldn't have been helped no matter how hard he may have tried, the only thing that could be done now was to try and find everyone, or at least the rest of the family. The entire pack may have been a tricky task, but her father, Cedrus and Willow were still out there somewhere. The answer to her father was about to be answered it seemed as Cypress explained the members of the Empire she had seen. Concern spread across Juniper's features as her mother paused. Something was clearly wrong with him, but what? Without any prompting however the older yagi soon delivered the bad news to her daughter, leaving Juniper quite unsure on what to say on the matter. "Will he get better?" Simply being blunt was often Juniper's way and to ask such a question outright was all she could think of to say on the matter. The answer was needed for her to either join her mother in sadness for the once strong male or have hope that soon she would see him back to his normal self. "I briefly visited the Enclave. I was told you had left again however and set off to catch up before I could see Aspen or Xiomara. Shall we return for them or did they wish to stay longer?" She wasn't aware of Xiomara's pregnancy, therefore had no idea that the large female wasn't quite in the state for traveling nor was she aware of the fact that Aspen had actually joined the Enclave and wouldn't be joining the females on the search that both mother and daughter were already planning. Juniper gave a silent nod to her mother's comment, her tough and stubborn nature was a trait that she shared with her mother. Together the pair weren't likely to give into anything and a search for Cedrus and Willow, no matter how lengthy would certainly begin.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Gifts/Cypress1Mid.png] The bluntness of the question did not alarm her. She liked things being short and to the point, such a virtue was passed on to a few of her children at least. It was the answer to the question that hurt the most, Cypress really had no idea what was happening to her mate...or where he was. He looked half crazed last she spoke with him. She herself had to keep moving to get enough food and survive, she hoped he was alright. Her mouth was dry for lack of a response, however she picked up a mouthful of snow to help clear her head. Once moistened she looked back at her daughter, "I really don't know. I hope so." She sat down in the snow, the thin crust cracking under her weight. She gave a slight smile at the new questions, glad that her eagerness was not lost in the snows. " Well, Xiomara is pregnant. Though I'm not sure she wants that news spread to many, if any." She gave her a look that said not to repeat that, "And Aspen joined the Enclave. I suspect for some of the young females that live there." She tried to hide the bitterness of losing her son to that pack. She had no real grudges against Ahote and his followers, past a few basic beliefs. She was a strong female that did not need males to hunt for her, she would go mad with boredom is she joined his pack. However Aspen was strong and male...so he had a better chance to succeed in a pack like that. For that she was happy, even if it was overshadowed by her being separated from him. She moved the conversation on, wanting her daughter to be informed, but also not wanting to dwell on things too long. "I think we can find Willow and Cedrus if we work at it. Though I cannot come to the tundra very often, Xiomara has trouble hunting the further along she is. Even if she will not admit to it." Despite no longer having her pack, she still wanted to look out for those she cared about.

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Juniper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Tables/Juniper3Mid.png] The full details of Arkham's state were spared and Juniper wasn't sure whether she wanted them or not. Clearly he was not well, with only a possibility of getting better again, things weren't sounding too good. If even her mother wasn't seeing the male though, it was doubtful that Juniper would see him, did the details really matter? A happier subject would be better for the time being, and fortunately it was arriving. Xiomara was pregnant? The news was rather shocking to Juniper, as close as the female was to her family, Juniper had never seen her really take an interest to any of the males. Not that it was something the young yagi had ever actually paid much attention too anyway. It just was a shocking detail, not something she had expected, especially not so soon after the dispersal of the pack. She read her mother's look though and opted not to question anything else on the matter and knew better than to share the news. Not that she really had anyone else to tell, surely if she was back at the Enclave others would have noticed anyway. Again though, Juniper remained silent, letting Cypress move onto the next topic of her brother. Not fully aware of the pack's belief system, Juniper had yet to really share her mother's distaste of the Enclave. It was shocking in some ways to hear that he had officially joined them rather than potentially continue a search for the rest of the family. One benefit did arise though, at least she would know where to find her brother should she need to whereas Cedrus and Willow could have been anywhere. Cypress was quick to move onto the topic of finding Cedrus and Willow however and with all the facts that had been given to her, Juniper assumed that it was unlikely they would be leaving the taiga for a while. Xiomara obviously wouldn't be able to travel and she herself wished to return to see her brother, inform him that she too was well. Even if he had joined another pack, she was certain that Aspen still worried about the rest of the family. "I shall stay with you, there is no use in everyone separating again." Juniper decided, it was completely logical to her that even if they had to wait for a little while before leaving to search for the others it was better that they stayed together. Cedrus and Willow were adults too, they had the sense to look after themselves and were likely conducting their own searches. It would take time but Cypress still believed they could find them and Juniper shared the thought.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image

[Arkham]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h329/Whosie/arksiesbackground.png] The hike back to the Tundra was a familiar one. Large paws lifted and fell easily upon the snow covered terrain. They knew just where to place themselves, just were to apply pressure and where to not. Years of living in such a place let you know your surroundings, and how to move within them. His movement was fast, his breathing deep. The scents on the wind had caused the beast to move just that little bit quicker, excitement heightening his drive to reach the desired pace. After all the commotion, the death and destruction of his once proud pack, Arkham had finally returned from his dark and dangerous trip on revenge. It had been suitably satisfied, the older male beating that bulky piece of shit within an inch of his life. He was not left without battle wounds however, scars littered his backside and hindquarters, with one starting from the tip of his chin to rest at his ribcage on his underside. He had lingered from home afterward, regaining his strength, and his sanity. His mate, Cypress, was the only thing on his mind as he rested, worked and gained the much needed mental and physical health he desired. Now, albeit the frightful layer of scars, Arkahm stood proudly once more. His coat was thick and silky to touch. Ruby orbs burned brightly, and if one should look closely, a tiny grin could be seen softening his usual frowning features. As he neared the scents, Arkham stopped to groom himself lightly. He couldn't remember the last time he had tried this hard to impress his loved ones, but today was a good day as any. If memory served him right, and it always did, up over the hill should be his beloved, and his youngest daughter Juniper. My, my, he had not seen that precious little tyke in god knows how long. He longed to go back to the days when he would cradle them as they slept, and play with them each and every morning despite the slight tired protests of Mom. But that's what Dad's were for right? Rowdy up the kids and then leave them to Mom to calm them down. Of course this isn't what he truly believed, but it did always lead to a giggle between the parents and a soft embrace before he left to organize the day's hunts and the first patrol of the perimeter. He had always been a loner. But the more he thought about how safe, how comfortable his pack life had been, he openly cursed the Great Spirit's for taking it all away from him. This is why he never fell in love, why he never had children (that he knew about) before he met that stubborn little lady way back when in that muddy cave. Oh what a brilliant little spitfire she had been, and she still was. Even now he would cop a box behind the ears if he wasn't careful. A loud laugh tumbled from his maw as tears stung at his eyes. Oh how he missed his family. He couldn't even speak as he broke over the hill, the two females coming into plain view. All he could do was wag his stocky docked tail and try to keep his legs from buckling beneath him. They were so beautiful.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Gifts/Cypress1Mid.png] Her daughter was an adult now, she could understand unspoken warnings and implications. For that she was glad, being able to read a conversation was critical at times, just like reading body language. Her lithe horns cast a shadow as the sun peeked from the thin clouds. She took a moment to enjoy the warmth and listen to the wind of the tundra. Her poorly docked tail wavered as some of the grief that had been hounding her was lifted. Her daughter had agreed to stay with her. Their chances of survival were looking better and better. "She's in the plains right now, Xiomara. I want to stay with her for the first few weeks, but after that we can venture out more often to search for the others. We will find them..." A change in the wind brought a scent briefly to her nose. She stopped, her eyes widening slightly in disbelief. She stood and brushed past her daughter to gaze over near a hill. The wind had shifted again so she lost the scent, but her heart's pace quickened. Arkahm? She had not seen him in a season, perhaps longer. Was he better? Part of her was worried that he was still in a poor state of mind, so spoke to Juniper, "Juniper. Did you just smell your father?" She wanted her to be aware in case he was still deranged. Whatever her hesitations, she still started walking toward the hill. He crested the mound and stood in magnificence. She could see the gleam of his coat, the new scars that littered his body. She couldn't help herself, her worn paws carried her swiftly up the grade. She could see his face, it looked back to normal, save for the glistening around his piercing red eyes. "Arkham!" Her own fiery green eyes were alight with happiness. Her daughter and her mate both returned to her on the grounds she expected to find corpses. She lowered her body for the only wolf she would submit too as she ducked into his chest. She whined urgently in greeting, her poorly docked tail wavering rapidly and her soft maw nuzzling and licking under his chin. "I thought you were lost to me...." she spoke lowly and moved slightly to allow Juniper to greet her father as well.

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Juniper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][atrb=background,http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq254/Eldarwen5/Wonder%20Why/Tables/Juniper3Mid.png] Another silent nod from Juniper as her mother explained the situation. That was fair enough, Xiomara was close to the family and Cypress probably wished to be there to help her, having raised two litters, Juniper knew that her mother would likely be plenty of help for the new mother, as for herself, well aside from perhaps helping hunt, Juniper doubted she would be useful. The only time she had spent around pups had been when she was one herself and certainly had no knowledge about pregnancies. There was nothing else really said on the matter, nor really the time as a shift in the wind brought a scent across. From her mother's earlier words, Juniper would have believed it to be old had she not known any better. Although only a brief moment to work it out, she knew that was a fresh scent, Cypress had shared those doubts perhaps it seemed, though looked onwards at the hill all the same. "Yes." A simple confirmation, they had both smelt it, they both still had their sanity. As for her father's state, her mother hadn't explained fully what was wrong with Arkham, though it had sounded rather serious. She stuck close to her mother's side for the moment, red eyes following her gaze to the hill and then simply watching as the older female took a few steps closer. Before Juniper moved to follow her mother, or Cypress reached that hill, another figure came towards them. Just as there had been no doubting that smell, the male before them was certainly Arkham and although her mother had been concerned, Juniper thought that her father certainly looked rather well at that moment and was completely sure that her mind wasn't simply tricking her, so pleased to see him that it veiled the truth. Cypress moved quickly now, and Juniper found herself following, slowing just before she reached them to allow her parents to greet each other first. She certainly wasn't forgotten though, as her mother shifted slightly, allowing her to move forwards and join the greeting. Her stubby tail wagged happily as she stepped closer, joining her mother in nuzzling the male in greeting. The whole family may not have been together, but her parents were once more, Aspen with the Enclave and only Cedrus and Willow left to find.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image