Fire in the Valley (Open)

[blazingtear]

BlazingTear,
A fiery name in all itself. Her small body rested on one of the few hills that adored the valley around her. Ears perked forward, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of a new territory she would hope to soon call a permanent home. Her past had been bleak, the scars on her face showing the struggle. Alone since she was a pup, she enjoyed the solace once and a while though always yearned for company whether she truly welcomed it or not.

Her feathery wings rested lazily at her sides. The orangey red of her dominant fur color mixing along with the strange yellows that adored her elsewhere as well, made it seem as if her wings were made of fire though they were truly soft and full of power as they carried her in the winds of the skies above. All four paws, which were also colored in the strange yellows were out in front of her, one bent beneath her chest slightly. It was a lazy day, which is how she spent most of her time when she wasn’t in the mood to hunt. The sapphire of her eyes shone lightly in the soft sunlight that was still hanging on over the horizon. Her eyes making her appearance that much stranger.

She sighed, wishing she had more friends that would come and visit her, making her loneliness subside greatly. She was always lonely, ever since she was a young pup and her father always leaving her behind. She had barely known her mother, brother and sister. They were dead before she could speak her full name. Her father never had the time to properly care for her but did teach her how to hunt and fend for herself, which she was grateful for in the end.

Her head lowered, resting on the one paw that was fully visible. In the slight sunlight, the vertical and horizontal scar that adorned her right eye. The crisscross of both scars shining in the light as it hit her face just right. This wasn’t something she was extremely proud to carry but with being ambushed in the past, there was nothing she could do to fully heal it without it being visible. The wind blew softly, making the new scents swirl around her nose like a tiny tornado. Suppose it’s worth a try.. She thought to herself. Her position never moved, her thoughts did not disturb her. She was at peace for once in her life.

[Hermes]

Ah, such a calm day...

The warm breeze to ruffle silky black fur, the sun to warm the body and the heart. Certainly it was a good day to be alive!

Hermes sprinted across the valley, the little wings on his paws fluttering to give him extra speed. His slight wisp of a tail waved in the air, his green eyes shone brightly. It was like being a puppy again, the thrill of running unhindered, the light sound of his paws glancing off the earth. That he could run this way forever, that would be something worth wishing for!

The Lyxxus/Sennyo skidded to a halt, breathing hard. As much as he loved to run, he could only run for so long before he ran out of energy. Hermes laughed, a slightly breathy sound that only made him happier. Laughter was the most sure-fire way to make him smile, even if there was nothing to laugh about.

After stopping to catch his breath, the hybrid took a look around him. The valley was just one of the many places he'd explored, and was the most beautiful one he'd come across yet so far. All around was this unmarred beauty.

And then there, off in the distance, there seemed to be a small fire blazing.

Ah, thought Hermes, I suppose all beauty is marred in some way... He pawed absently at the scar on his forehead and thought of all his own unfortunate blemishes, then stood, But at the very least, I can find a way to heal this one, so that it isn't ruined forever...

He set off towards the blaze, sprinting once more, paws virtually dancing across the ground as he sped towards the fire. However, when he arrived, it turned out not to be a fire, but a wolf.

"What's this?" he said in a voice as smooth and fine as black silk, "A wolf, blazing like a fire, nay, the sun, laying here? To call attention to herself, no doubt! Or perhaps it's just an unfortunate quirk of nature that says 'Here! Toss water upon this wolf! She is fire so you must put her out!'" He circled around to peer at the wolf's face, "And here, as I thought before, all beauty, even the beauty of a delicate flame, is marred in some way. I see you too carry a scar." Here he placed a paw on the other wolf's scar, "Would you care to tell me it's story, flaming beauty of the valley?"

Having identified the wolf as a female, Hermes instantly became lyrical and smooth. He believed that he had all the features females adored, and spoke as though he expected them to swoon at his feet. This, unfortunately, got him into trouble, and he hadn't stopped to wonder if perhaps the female gained the scar fighting away a male such as himself. Then again, he considered wondering to be below him.

[blazingtear]

The scents of others danced around her, though they were far off in the distance. The wind brought the smell of trees and flowers and shrubs that encased the valley around her though her scent marred that to others who may have roamed near by. Her head lifted from her single paw that lay out before her, auds lifting upon her head to listen more carefully to the wind and what voices could be heard. All she heard fully was the sound of running paws.

Her nose lifted to the wind, taking in the forward coming scent of another that seemed to manifest out of nowhere all in itself. The laugh triggered her to stand; her fiery looking wings folding lightly upon her back. Eyes of sapphire scanned the terrain before her, auds swiveling atop her head to find the source of the sound. At the sound of the male’s voice behind her, she jumped with a soft growl. She hated surprises.

Her body turned, facing the male head on, studying his strange features and could only laugh a little to herself.

“BlazingTear is the name I was given. The colors of my pelt and wings mimicking that of a burning flame.” She spoke, her voice soft like the wind that whipped around her, “I call no attention to myself. Call it an omen that seems to get me into trouble at times.” She said in all honestly.

Thanks to the color of her pelt and wings, many shied away from her, fearing that she could call upon herself the element of fire to set them ablaze or worst yet, set the forest ablaze in heat.

She sighed softly as the male touched the scar that marred her face. The vertical and horizontal scars that crisscrossed at the very side of her right eye.

“Ambush” She spoke lightly, “I was crossing through a pack’s territory, and my kill must have brought them to me.” She had caused no one harm nor felt she had any reason to bare the scar.

She took in the male’s scent before her, noting the strangeness of where his wings were placed though she had heard of an ancient story speaking of a strange animal that served the gods with wings attached to his feet. Perhaps the story was now true and that being was standing right in front of her.

[Hermes]

Hermes listened to the she-wolf's name, nodding his approval, then listened to her story as well. An ambush! What scum would dare ambush a lady? How horrible, how barbaric!

"Ah," said he, sighing, "Must the world be so cruel on two such as us? My scar I earned for my true love, who was actually the love of another!" he touched the tear in his ear and strutted about to show the limp in his right forepaw, "You see, Lady Blazing, I too, am a victim of fate." he touched a paw to his chest, "I am Hermes, Hermes Ashwood. It is a pleasure speaking with you," he tilted his head ever so slightly, "Lady Blazingtear... such a wonderful name... it fits you well. A wonderful flame that lights the valley with it's glow!"

Hermes stood close to Blazingtear, then leaped back as though burned.

"Ah! I'm afraid I can't stand to close to you! You seem to be alight with some sort of fierce warmth! I rather think I've grown a fear of you!" he rolled about on the valley floor as though trying to put out a fire, all the while grinning up at Blazingtear. A smile was worth the humiliation, he supposed. A single smile was all that Hermes required of every girl he met, and he was certain this one would have a warming smile somewhere within her blazing muzzle. He only needed to roll and grin until it emerged.

[blazingtear]

She hated the story of where her scars came from. It was unfair when she was just passing through and managed to catch her dinner in another’s territory. Males, some you just couldn’t help but hate.

“Some look down upon those like you and I. I am feared a lot and shied away from thanks to my appearance. Many believe I will set forth a fire that will engulf their entire territory when I have no such a power.” She spoke, watching him with amusement playing upon her face.

“True Love you say? I see that is not how it ended dear Hermes.” She watched as he showed her the tear in his ear as well as the limp, “What happened might I ask?” She questioned, curious to how one such as a True Love would give him such injuries.

“Hermes. Seems your name fits you just as well. I was once told of a story of a messenger to the gods who bore wings upon his ankles much like yourself.” She motioned towards his wings upon his feet, “It suites you.” She smiled, sitting back on her haunches, her bushy tail wrapping around her and blending in with the rest of her strange colored fur.

She watched as he toyed with her, throwing around what she considered the Curse of what her colors represented. She shook her head, sighing almost in embarrassment and rolling her eyes. A smile did grace her muzzle, laughing softly into the wind that blew around them.

[Hermes]

Hermes stopped rolling as Blazingtear asked him how is True Love had caused him such injury. He lay on his side, eyes blank, wispy tail rolling along without him, as though it had grown its own mind. He dimly heard her speak of hearing the tale of his namesake.

Memories... such dark, dark memories!

The hybrid stood back up, shaking his head. His eyes shone again, and he grinned once more.

"All past, Lady Blazing," he said with forced joy, "All but the past! And as for my name, yes, that was what I suppose my mother had in mind when she named me Hermes. However, being from litter of four males, I wonder why I became Hermes, and not my elder brother. A mystery, yes?" He struggled to change the subject, to turn it away. Oh, it was fine to mention that he had been hurt by his love, but the actual story... no, he couldn't tell her all that!

He noted with glee that Blazingtear had smiled. So Hermes grinned all the wider, then twirled in a little circle before sitting down.

"So, Lady Blazing, what is it that brings you to an area such as this?" he asked.

[blazingtear]

She noted the change in his stance as she questioned him of his scars of love as she seen it. Sometimes love wasn’t always pretty and she fully understood that from the change in subject as well.

“I do apologize if I was barging into your past.” She said, a bit ashamed at doing so. She listened to the story of his namesake, though questioned the same as to why his elder brother didn’t receive the name instead.

“Is your brother much like you?” She asked, wondering if the strange placement of wings carried on his family. She wondered much of his past since he seemed to shy away from any story of where the scars had came from and the question of why his brother had not been named Hermes instead. Ah well, life was a mystery sometimes.

Her wings unfolded slightly, resting lazily at her sides and upon the ground beneath her. It always felt better when they could relax and she didn’t have to focus so hard on keeping them folded upon her back. The mixture of strange yellows and oranges danced in the dim light of the setting sun, making it look like a wild fire was burning. She sighed softly, the feeling bringing back the memories of her strange past.

Her ears perked lightly as he wondered what brought her here to a place so strange and new.

“Traveling takes it’s toll once and a while. It was time to settle and find a home. I’ve been driven from so many other places due to my strangeness, but this place seems to accept that.” She nodded towards him, “You aren’t exactly the normal looking wolf either.” She laughed.

[Hermes]

Hermes laughed lightly as Blazingtear apologized.

"It isn't a bother at all, Lady Blazing," he said, "And as for my brother being anything like me.... no, he isn't anything like me. In fact, there is no wolf so unlike me. We are almost exactly alike in appearance, aside from he being a more midnight blue than I and more purple around the paws and wings, however, personality wise, we are polar opposites." he chuckled, "Yes, Granth and I were nothing alike in personality, and we got in quite a few little fights..."

Hermes sighed, a half-awake smile upon his face, then shook his head clear and smiled all the wider.

"Yes, the toll of the traveler! It wears down even the most stubborn of souls to match it's fearsome will and destroys the strongest of hearts to its pleasure. Ah, but the soul that is constantly renewed by others, the heart that is open and willing, yes, they shall persevere! You agree Lady Blazing?"

[blazingtear]

“Sibling rivalry. Always happens.” She spoke lightly at the explanation of his brother’s differences, "I never met my siblings, well, at least I didn’t know them long enough to get to know any of them personally.” She said sadly. Her mother, brother and sister had all died when she was very young.

“You are lucky to have known your siblings as long as you had. Sometimes nothing is stronger than a family bond whether it is good or bad.” She added simply, returning the smile that had been erased from her muzzle at the thought of her past tragedies.

She nodded simply to his last statement. She lay down upon her belly, finally resting fully in the company of yet another. She yawned lightly, revealing rows of chalky white teeth that had yet to show wear or tear in her young 3 years of life. She was still young and healthy as can be. That at least she was grateful for.

The smile that had been erased from her façade at the memories of her past tragedies returned. No use in returning the past when you could not change it.

“Yes, traveling does take it’s toll once and a while. Of course, it does depend on the traveler.” She laughed, “Life is never dull, that is definite!”