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Post by sparta on Sept 8, 2010 22:13:27 GMT -5
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Sparta was triumphant when he managed to pin the female- Annushka. The light of battle shone in his eyes and the blood roared in his ears. Oh, how he loved a good fight. Though this was hardly a good one; She was blind and had barely countered. Still, it would probably be the closest thing he got to around here for awhile.
He watched, amused, as she struggled vainly, her legs kicking out hard. His amusement faded, however, when he heard something... very distant...
No more pain. Gotta get free.
The Yagi's ears twitched, and he let go of her, taking a step back in surprise. It hadn't sounded like he'd thought it up himself... Sparta was genuinely confused. What was that? He looked around the clearing suspiciously before turning a gaze back at her.
"No more pain...?" He said lightly, wondering at it. It was a question as much as it was a statement. His blue eyes were quizzical as his mind raced to figure out what, exactly, that was.
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 9, 2010 20:49:35 GMT -5
you say it best WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL А н у ш к а *** & ***
Annushka couldn’t tell if it was true pain or simply memories of the pain of that day that had forced her into such a crippling mindset. Sparta had held her for what seemed like decades to her and when he finally let go, she made an odd wheezing sound, the only sound she could make to communicate her distress.
Anya raised her eyes toward the Yagi male. Though blind, she was once sighted and meeting eyes was something ingrained in her very nature. She was a rebel, through and through. Respect was something that had to be forced into her vocabulary—and forced it was.
She was disgusted with the wolf she had become. Had she met Sparta years before, perhaps he would have considered her lovely, maybe even a worthy opponent, friend… or even mate. She thought that all of those things were out of reach, never to be for her again. And perhaps, that was yet another thing she wanted freed from. Her master had made her own body her prison. What punishment was worse than that?
Annushka then averted her eyes, dusted herself off, and padded a small distance from the Yagi. She could feel his warmth and his mouth still around her neck like a collar of fire. Her long forelegs were gracefully stretched in front of her, as they propped her forward-leaning body up in the sitting position.
“Every scar has a story, Sparta.”
Somehow, her mind’s voice had a reverent tone to it that reverberated powerfully and she felt it resonate both inside of her and Sparta. There was no way he didn’t hear her; her heart was too heavy.
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Post by sparta on Sept 9, 2010 21:16:57 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] | [atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/x5w65i.jpg]Sparta watched carefully as she got up and sat a little ways off. He couldn't put his paw on it, but somehow she just looked... defeated. As she should. He reminded himself. After all, hadn't she just been? But part of him wanted her to be more... cheerful. He tiled his head at her, wondering at what she was thinking.
Every scar has a story, Sparta.
He blinked, very surprised, as that thought was clearly projected into his mind. That voice... it sounded female. What was it? Who was it? He shook his head to look around the clearing again. His pelt prickled as he took a step closer to Annushka, before walking up to stand beside her.
The Yagi didn't know what to expect, truth be told. He tilted his head at her, genuinely puzzled. "That... was you, wasn't it!" He stated as realization dawned. Sudden understanding for the few earlier instances when it'd happened, if only faintly.
Looking closely at her, he scrutinized her face. She really was covered in scars... Every scar has a story... He remembered. Well, of course he knew that. It was obvious. How you got the scar and the aftermath thereof. However... he sensed she meant something deeper. He felt very uncomfortable now. What to say to that? It wasn't like he was a deep wolf or anything... Should he try to make her feel better? If so, how? Finally, he settled on a thought.
"...Scars are forever..." He stated bluntly, obviously. But then continued. "...But the pain can fade." | |
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 9, 2010 23:42:34 GMT -5
you say it best WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL А н у ш к а *** & ***
Annushka nodded solemnly when he figured out that she could communicate telepathically. It was a small relief, but the good feeling was amplified when he took her thought-words and considered them true conversation. His words were true as well. Her pain had long faded, but it still echoed from time to time, especially in her delicate throat area, which she assumed hadn’t healed up properly because of how extensive the injury was. She wondered briefly if that throat injury was meant to be an execution.
Her heart, still heavy with feeling, shifted for a brighter emotion. Her own eyes, foggy and dull, seemed to unnervingly be right on Sparta’s. It made it look like perhaps, just maybe she could see. However, she merely blindly looked in his direction. She swung up onto her four paws and padded toward Sparta. She was silent, as she always was, but the quietude in that moment seemed to be deafening.
It meant so much for her to finally be able to reach out, communicate with another wolf. To have him speak to her as if she was something more than a broken idiot. And she leaned forward until her thick, powerful muzzle, scarred as it was, touched his fur. She rubbed her head into his shoulder in the only way she knew how to say thank you.
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Post by sparta on Sept 10, 2010 20:48:58 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] | [atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/x5w65i.jpg]He watched her carefully. How would Annushka respond to that? Sparta figured he was just about as liable to get bitten in ass as get laughed at. The Yagi watched, mildly startled, as the female walked up to him and pressed her face into his shoulder.
Sparta did his level best to contain his reaction. He was shocked. What the hell should he do now? Part of him was screaming it's full head off that he bite her and end this now... But he didn't want to. For some reason, he just couldn't. Besides, that might not be a good career move, given the position he was in.
But then what should he do? Sparta had never been the affectionate type, even when his brother was still alive. And after all these years of refusing to let anyone touch him... What now? Going out on a limb, Sparta decided it was his best bet. He inclined his head so that his nose touched her ear.
The Yagi was surprised by how... nice her scent was up close like this. He blinked before closing his eyes, enjoying the moment. | |
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 11, 2010 1:50:19 GMT -5
you say it best WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL А н у ш к а *** & ***
She twitched her ear as he touched it. It was merely a soft touch, but without sight she couldn’t anticipate it and reacted to it rightly with shock. She sort of shrank at his nose which touched her ear, but then she regained her composure as she realized what the cold, wet feeling was and what it meant. Annushka turned her head so that she faced him. Again, those sightless eyes so easily stared straight into his. It was somewhat disconcerting that she could find a face and seem to look into it as if she were a sighted wolf.
Her quiet form almost wanted to resist the fact that in order for him to hear her, she had to have let him into her mind. It was an odd thought, one that passed as quickly as a new spring stream ran, and then, she accepted the mental contract between them. For him to hear her, she would have to hear her. She hadn’t expected to behave in such a manner to the prospect of communication—true communication. She had suspicions that his mind was opening itself to her and her own mind to his as well.
Anya then withdrew from him, stood straight. She lowered her head, wondering what, if anything would be the consequence for such a sudden, unasked for display of affection. Her ears were held in neutral position, to give him no cue to attack. The fact that no hostile reaction had come from it thus far was a good sign. She gave that sad smirking smile of hers. Her thoughts were shy.
“I’m sorry. It’s just been so long since one who would listen…”
She pricked her ears, anticipating his reactions to her thought-words. She hoped that he could understand now that he knew and understood her means of communication.
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Post by sparta on Sept 11, 2010 23:56:51 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] | [atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/x5w65i.jpg]Sparta's spirits fell when she shrank away from his touch, moving away. Uh-oh... He thought. Idiot. I'm such an idiot. Why had he done that? It was so hard... And she obviously had not liked it. She had also stared at him, in a creepy way. He knew now that she couldn't see, so why...
But now what should he do? It was an awkward moment for him. His thoughts crashed around inside of his head. There were a hundred things he could've said or done, but none of them quite formed properly. He was the saved the trouble of speaking as she spoke with her mind again.
I’m sorry. It’s just been so long since one who would listen…
Sparta frowned, then tilted his head at her. "Then everyone else is a moron." He stated, as if it were a simple fact. Hell, he already thought that about most of the other wolves he'd met. "No need to apologize." He sniffed, then said more quietly. "Besides... hearing is different from listening..." He knew this for a fact, especially now. He could still listen, yet he didn't 'hear' her.
"I can listen." He nodded to himself. Yes, he could... Couldn't he? He seemed like he was trying to convince himself. | |
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 12, 2010 17:35:51 GMT -5
you say it best WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL А н у ш к а *** & ***
Annushka breathed softly; she felt peaceful, but also troubled. The only problem really with this moment was that she couldn’t make more out of it. She could only listen and so could he. She couldn’t see him and didn’t feel worthy to even touch him. They were miles apart, and to befriend him almost felt taboo.
Silence always alienated her, so it was a relief that Sparta seemed talkative enough. His words were blunt, but comforting. It made a believer out of her. Perhaps… they could be friends. The last thing that Sparta said rang true for himself, but also for every other wolf. Every wolf could listen. It was just a matter of whether they did or not.
The strangest part of how Annushka spoke was that her voice seemed to come from nowhere. It felt impossible that there was a connection between the silent female and the voice in the head to most wolves. Sparta had faith in this impossibility. Her disembodied voice was getting stronger in his mind; the words were becoming more and more clear as he had become aware of where they had come from.
“It’s not normal for us to communicate in this way. I wonder if it is a gift given by the Great Spirit or if I’m doing it against the Great Spirit.
"Still life has been quite cruel to me. Blinded me, took my voice. I used to be a slave; my mother dropped me off as soon as she could. I can’t remember. I wasn’t meant to be a slave… but now look at me. I barely feel worthy even for slavery. I suppose I share this because it’s important to me that you can listen.
"I wonder how did you see me before? Nothing but a dumb wolf, correct? A pet of the pack, perhaps? It doesn’t matter. First impressions are everything until the truth reveals itself. The truth is this: I was once fire and defiance.”
Annushka’s soft form sat isolated almost; she left a space between herself and Sparta. Her sadness and dark past had been revealed. Her scars had been mostly explained. She had been a casualty of slavery. One wolf against an unfair system. She did eventually free herself as well as many others from such a fate, but Annushka never took glory as a gift and did not share her heroics—for they were merely a side-effect of cold-hearted revenge finally realized.
Since Sparta now knew what she was and the origin of her condition--namely, a shameful past, would he still accept her?
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Post by sparta on Sept 13, 2010 0:40:15 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] | [atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/x5w65i.jpg]He listened in silence to her story, never once interrupting the tale of how she was a slave. It sounded vaguely familiar, especially to himself. He'd been hurt that way when he was a puppy, too. He was so young, that he didn't think it'd left scars. Unknown to himself, it had. Though he'd never really had time to develop a personality before that, it didn't directly effect him. The only thing he missed of his before-time was Dag. Though he never even acknowledged that fact to himself.
Sparta took a step closer to her, closing the space between them. "I didn't look at you differently." He confessed. Actually, he hadn't. "You looked the same to me as so many others before you had; Just another wolf." Truthfully, he'd always thought of other wolves as beneath him. He'd thought the same with her, until he'd gotten to know her a little better. Knowing she was blind was a minor fact to him. He couldn't care less. Actually, it might have been nice to spar with her a little more vividly. But he didn't really care about that right now.
The Yagi hesitated before going on. He didn't know if he should share this. "I... Was too. A slave." He said quietly, looking at her. "My siblings and eye were used as punching-bags for the pups of another pack. I escaped... after they were killed." He was so young then, Sparta struggled to remember the facts straightly. Fleeting images met him. A roaring ring of wolves, his brother's body laying limp on the ground, covered in blood. His sister's startled cry as she fell into the river, not even seen by him.
Anger welled up inside him for a second, before he let go of it. There was nothing he could do to those wolves now to get revenge, nor anything he could do to get his siblings back. That pack long ago had probably already disbanded. He decided he didn't need to waste his time thinking about it either, and simply moved his face closer to hers. He whispered conspiratorially.
"I... have a secret, too." He wondered if he should tell her. He decided he could, so went on. Finding the right words to phrase it was difficult for him. "I... disappear when shadows hit me." He wondered idly how she'd react to that little bit of info. | |
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 13, 2010 9:27:35 GMT -5
you say it best WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL А н у ш к а *** & ***
Annushka didn’t know what to think. She didn’t dare let any words into her mind for fear that Sparta would hear her judgment. She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Who was he to complain really? Who was he to dwell in the past? Here he was; a healthy male, with strength, and all of his body able. Nothing he said affected her heart; moved her soul. But, then again, possibly nothing will. The only thing to mourn was the fact that what he lived through was oddly similar to what she did, except without the rape and forced labor. She had been executioner in those days. She knew that her judgment did not matter, nor will it ever, except when she held a wolf’s skull in her powerful jaws.
She gave a dark murmuring sound; words she wanted to say but couldn’t. Her mind was on fire, but she held a cool, collected exterior. Annushka then sighed, finally calm enough to insert words into Sparta’s mind without them sounding angry or disgusted.
“Then you ought to disappear now. Though blind, I still see the play of shadows and light.”
The jungle was a dark place, for the sun barely penetrated the thick canopy. It was always dim, even when dapples scattered on the floor. And the sun's meager light was fading.
She started toward her den, hanging her head low. Perhaps she was too harsh a judge on the issue. Everyone takes things differently. Still, she hadn’t been asking for pity—only sharing the origin of her scars, her blindness, her inability to speak. She thought that if Sparta knew what she used to be, he’d respect her more. But all she got was trust instead. She didn’t know what to do with trust. It has been a long time since she had it.
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Post by sparta on Sept 15, 2010 22:29:01 GMT -5
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Sparta suddenly noticed that yes, shadows were all around them. He shrugged a bit, wondering at why his finicky powers were doing this himself.
"I can control it, somewhat. And it's a little off and on- I just recently started happening."
The Yagi frowned as she headed off towards one of the dens- her's, he assumed. What had he said wrong? Did... What... Argh! Females were so confusing! What was he supposed to say? Had he made her feel bad? Angry? Confused? What then?
"Wait...!" He hurried forward a bit, then stopped, trying his best to keep his eyes level. "...I'm sorry if I... said something to offend you..." He mentally balked at himself. Seriously? You just apologized? For what? You don't even know!
Oi vey, it was going to be a long day.
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Post by Annushka Аня on Sept 17, 2010 14:57:04 GMT -5
Annushka stopped mid-step, turned around, and flashed a quick smile. “There’s hope for you yet, Sparta.”
With happy heart, she disappeared into her den. But the flirting echo of her mind’s voice lingered for a few minutes longer. It was a promise that she and he would be good friends. Best friends. Maybe even more than that, one day. When she said there was hope for him, she also meant that there was hope for her. It put a song in her actions, a spring in her step, and a dance to her soul. All in all, life had potential again.
((Exit Thread. We must start a new one ^_^))
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