Can We Talk? (OPEN)

[Loca Jaci]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/locamid.jpg] Loca was fuming. Actually she was beyond fuming. She had just gotten the news that her mother of all mothers had given birth to the new pups. Not only that but they were both girls! She had taken off into flight at hearing the news and once she was there within the skies of early evening she swooped and dove dangerously. Loca out of her siblings was probably the best flier, she like her mother had taken to the skies earlier than she should have but with her father’s teaching, and her mother’s ability to heal Loca had fallen and hurt herself several times. But the little spunky female had never gave up and once she had filled out into her body, and gained a sense of balance she was nearly un-matched within the sky. She was a sight to see, dive bombing near the tops of trees and swerving and turning in the air, her anger fueling her fight to find different drafts and winds and ride them, hoping her anger would subside within the winds so that she didn’t have to deal with it. “How could she do this? How could she possibly have another litter at her age!” Loca knew her mother was only seven, but her father was getting up there in years, and with his recent injuries she could not understand how they could even fathom having more puppies. “I’m sure as hell not babysitting…” It wasn’t as if they didn’t have enough babysitters, between Blaisen who was being utterly helpful to the point of making her sick, but even Halcyon had rushed to the rescue when she had apparently, ‘gone into labor”’…Loca’s tongue fell out of her muzzle in disgust at the very idea of being in labor, let alone having puppies. Deep down Loca felt betrayed, it wasn’t enough that she had Nocht, and Altan and Angel to contend with, all who were here before her, but then she had her own brothers, and Aurora’s two daughters to fight with. NOW on top of ALL that she had two more sisters. She growled and snarled as she flew through the air hissing and moaning the entire time. This just wasn’t fair, Blaisen had proven himself to be a very good hunter, and she was the best flyer, even Halcyon had found sort of a calling with attempting to heal and help others….what if one of these new girls took her place within the sky? She was near the point of being so angry that she had tears in her eyes, and anything obscuring one’s vision while flying was dangerous, but it was right then that she had been passing a tree and heard a voice, “You are wrong little moonbeam..” Curiously tilting her head she banked within her flight and flew straight into the tree, landing on one of the heavier branches. She curiously looked around the tree for another keiyou, even another wolf, as she had known some lyxxus to climb trees. Though she did not pick up the scent of another wolf, though there were several other animals around but still she could not pick up the voice that had called her a moon beam. “Who said that?” Her tail swished lightly in the air beneath the branch as she looked around, throughout her life she had always talked to anything that say still but she never attributed what she heard in response to them actually talking, she simply thought she had a very good imagination, which kept her quite busy and entertained as a pup. But right before her very eyes, an owl slid out from it’s nest onto the same branch as her, and looked at her with those large luminescent eyes owls typically had. “Oh I know this game, now I’ll talk for you..!” The owl simply shook it’s head and spoke to her, “There is no need for that, I can speak on my own and you seem to be gifted enough to hear me..” You could have knocked Loca off the branch with a stick at that point and her eyes became wide and dark, and her tongue fell out of her maw. “I just…this was always a game…I always made the responses for anything I talked to…!” The owl smiled kindly and explained, “This is no game you have played, some wolves are gifted with the ability to speak with the rest of us, and by rest of us I say other predators and prey, because I am no one’s prey..” The owl hooted at it’s own joke of humor while Loca continued to stare at the bird of prey as though she had no sense at all. “Now little Moonbeam, you are indeed wrong about what you said about your mother.” Loca at this point managed to retain her sense and abilities to speak as she huffed and puffed out her chest, “I am not.” The owl looked many years older than Loca in that moment and it spoke lowly, “Your mother is doing what all nature does, all of nature attempts to have as many young as possible in the hopes that the genes they pass on will continue their line of existence..” Loca sat there brooding against the tree branch as though she didn’t hear what the owl had said, “Your mother may indeed have a few litters left within her to have so you may as well get used to it..” Loca opened her mouth immediately, “She can’t have anymore litters, it’s like she is trying to replace me, Halcyon, and Blaisen…not that I’d care about Blaisen..but still.” The owl turned it’s head all the way around and hooted slightly in humor, “ You are quite competitive little moon beam, just as the moon once was with the sun. But in time, the moon realized that the earth needed the sun just as much as it needed the moon, there must be balance, and so it is with you and your mother, you need balance…” Having given it’s wise words it spread it’s wings and flew off to find it’s prey for the evening…and Loca was left once more by herself on the branch in the tree. Her ears fell forward slightly with her head and she whispered softly, “But I don’t want to be replaced or alone…” She sat there for the longest time crying out her hurts and flapping her wings dramatically. She wanted desperately to be hurt, to have to be taken to her mother and to be taken care of..but she knew she hadn’t the slightest chance in hell of getting the comfort she wanted while there were newborns there, even her father would be cooing all over them. Eventually, getting tired of trying to remain on balance she floated down to the bottom of the tree, and curling her wings around her as best she could while remaining comfortable, and tucking her tail up and around to cover her nose she tried to sleep…sniffling the whole time. The emergency of her power, even the explanation was dampened by the fact that she was once more, as she saw it, alone.

[Altan]

OOC: Maybe its about time Altan actually had a thread with some of his siblings and the similar mind sets at the moment could be good for them, or perhaps this will go horribly wrong!

[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/Altan3Mid.png] Altan was doing a little better now. The male still hadn't really bonded with any of his family beyond his brother and of course Reynard. He had spoken to Satinka, perhaps that being the real helping point in his healing. The female of course couldn't heal the mind, but taking an interest in the lyxxus had been enough of a help for Altan, now all he needed was for others in the pack to do the same. His ego would slowly be restored and the male would be back to his normal self. Of course one thing that didn't help was the pups. The previous bunch had grown now and would probably be taking various positions within the pack, he wasn't certainly but surely one of them would join the ranks of Little One as he had and train to try become a Guardian. His own plan had failed and Altan still wasn't too pleased about that. They didn't really bother him so much now though. Reynard had more pups now he had heard, he didn't really know the full details, having not seen his father figure for a while now. Reynard had been busy with Satinka and the pups which was logical but not understandable for Altan still. That drive for attention hadn't left the male and he still wasn't getting it. Of course his moping behavior certainly wasn't doing him any favors but he failed to see that issue. Instead, from the outside it appeared his time away from the pack had turned him into a bit of a loner, a little more like Nocht even. Satinka had seen that wasn't the truth, Reynard of course knew it and even Aurora was probably aware of their differences. A few other wolves, Moonrose and the like probably could see the brothers were very different, though right now Altan still wasn't giving anyone favors in guessing that, he almost still simply expected some attention. They were in a pack the least someone could do was speak to their fellow pack mate once in a while. On he wandered, no point in his steps except a walk, urge to patrol he guessed in some ways, he did often assist with those when he could though Altan had never actually been of any use on them. On this walk though it seemed he would actually find someone, keen eyes suddenly catching sight of the wolf curled up at the base of a tree. Closer inspection revealed the scent to be strongly of the Children and he quickly worked out who the keiyou actually was. "Oh, it's you" He couldn't help himself, the words simply leaving his mouth with no thought. Unlike Nocht, Altan had never really spent any time with his brothers and sisters, he had of course been sensible enough to be aware of who each of them were though, this one was Loca he believed, unless he had heard terribly wrong.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image · Image

[Loca Jaci]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/locamid.jpg] [[OOC: Loca needs someone who she can’t or doesn’t necessarily feel the need to torment like she does Blaise xD let’s see!]] Loca lay there against the tree bark, every once in a while she would brush her backside against it, rather liking the roughness she felt against herself. Sometimes she would even scractch a little hard, cringing and yet smiling at the feeling of pain during this hard time for her. She was perfectly aware of her other siblings, be they adopted or not after all, Nocht and Moonrose had spent a good portion of their time paying attention to her, and her brothers and their half siblings. She had picked up pieces of Nocht’s brother’s being such as his name, and a few tidbits but other than him being gone, Loca’s small mind had been too under developed to really understand anything other than the fact that he was not here then. Now however, Nocht and Moonrose seemed too busy for her, her own brothers were pandering to the new pups and here she was, alone. Even Angel, her only adopted sibling with whom she felt truly close had disappeared. Right now seemed a healthy time to indulge in some self pity and sorrow. “It’s fine if they don’t want me around….I can just go away…” She huffed in an irritated husky whisper as she looked around, she almost wanted to see if she could talk to another animal, but none seemed to be around, with the coming of night she would be limited with whom she could speak and stalking out predators might not be the best solution no matter how fast she could fly. “Everyone in their stupid cliques with their stupid puppies…” She sneered and snorted into the dirt, sending it flying. There would be days when Loca didn’t want any attention, and now that she was older and had found her own den far away from her mother’s, on the outskirts of the woods, and closer to the edges of the territory she could have solitude whenever she wanted. But lately…she had wanted someone to come up to her, talk to her, show a little interest. After all, she had worked hard to become the best flier out of her own litter, even being better than the boys, she could even hunt better from the air, she was the natural athlete and it all came naturally but do you think anyone even noticed or praised her, nope. “It’s not like I’m not approachable! I’m damned likeable! Hell OTHER animals like me more than my own family..!” It hadn’t occurred to her that other wolves might just think she was crazy for talking to herself, but she didn’t care. No one else was going to listen to her, so she might as well take advantage of the ability to hear herself talk since no one else was. Her wings were settled uncomfortably on her back and she finally drooped them low on both sides stretching them out, they looked like large raven’s wings, and Loca’s mood was not far beyond that of the temperamental and territorial bird. Her now long tail, even with it’s fluffy base, thank her mother idly wavered in front of her face as though she were willing herself out of her bad mood, but it just wasn’t working. Loca, being close to two years old now, well she should have aspirations to do something within the pack, but the more resentful side of her, and the moody, selfish side always wanted to keep her kills for herself, with the reasoning that since no one cared for her, well why should she feed them. She had no desire to become a Guardian and protect the very pack that seemed to not believe she existed until she threw an absolute tantrum. Tantrum she would have thrown as well except for the fact that she knew it would not get her what she wanted, if anything so close to her mother’s birthing time it would have gotten her thrown out and away, not that she hadn’t been any way. “Just because I am not delicate and feminine and out for a mate like her…!” Her resentment toward her mother was growing, Loca was more a tomboy than anything else, she was competitive and rough and she and her mother had such completely opposite personalities it did nothing but offer up for many an argument between the two. It would be with the arrival of noise that Loca’s ears perked up and she walking in front of her, even towards her a lyxxus. His coloring was not something that she had seen before, and she couldn’t really compare him to anyone in her mind, but he smelled like her mom, and even a little like Reynard and the pack lands, so she made a long shot guess that this was the missing Altan. Not that she cared much, but all her standards he was probably heading right past her to go praise the new pups arrival. The very idea turned her stomach and she knew her face turned very unpleasant at the idea. When he did talk her nose wrinkled up in insult, “Yeah just me, little raven-winged expendable storm cloud. In case you’re wondering, the den is that way..” She gestured with a flick of her tail, “In case your going to go see the new little upstarts my mother has given birth to.” By the way she said upstart anyone who actually paid close attention would see exactly how much distaste she had for the little newborns. As far as everyone else was concerned they were innocent, but as far as Loca was concerned, they were home wreckers. She snorted and just lay her head down. “No surprise if you are really, here you have returned from your adventures or so I’m told, and they’ll all welcome you back with pride and show off what they have been doing lately…I’m sure you’ll just be so embraced…” Like I should be! Her mind cried out viciously but instead of adding on that little sentence she just moved her wings flippantly and waited to see if he had more to say before heading on his way to see the pups, or that was what she thought anyway….but Loca did have a pension for being wrong.

[Altan]

ooc: Really sorry this took so long to reply to, here it is at last though!

[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/Altan3Mid.png] Loca's irate response that followed certainly wasn't what Altan had anticipated. With a little more thought, perhaps he could have guessed someone would be annoyed by being greeted with 'oh it's you' though being himself, the lyxxus certainly hadn't put that much thought into the sudden sentence. Even Altan could guess that something was bugging her, and even he could sharply work out exactly what it was. She certainly didn't sound all too fond of the new pups. He couldn't exactly blame her, but then she was Reynard and Satinka's real daughter, yes the new pups were too but they were all pretty equal in that sense. He and Nocht, well they had no real relation, if Reynard had wanted to, he could have disowned them at any point, and now they were adults and both helping the pack, what real reason other than as members did he really have to look out for them? He had Angel and all his other actual pups. Reynard may not have really shown any signs of doing that, though Altan couldn't help but build up the picture it was going to happen. He certainly still had respect for the wolf he'd idolised from a very young age, but maybe that was part of the problem. These other wolves had more chance of being successful within the pack than he did now, he had to pay more attention to them. As a pup he'd never questioned who would be high chief once Reynard had gone, even now with the male certainly showing some signs of age Altan couldn't imagine anyone else leading the pack. He'd always simply wanted something fairly important to do, he was still just another hunter. Yes it was important in its own rights, but the thought just kept bugging him, why wasn't he a Guardian? From Loca's mention of his travels, Altan assumed that the female had also successfully guessed who he was. His appearance differed a fair amount from Nocht's, though the young male would always have his colourations and markings to link him to his mother, Aurora. Whether the pup had managed to guess it through that or simply have had Nocht or Reynard mention him he couldn't guess, either way Loca was wrong in some assumptions she had made. "I've been back from traveling for quite a long time now." It really had been, amazing how quickly the time passed. Loca had still been a pup back then, he'd paid her no real attention and chances were these new pups would receive the exact same treatment. "A welcome back now would be very late." Once portion of his mind was tempted to comment that she could still welcome him back now if she wished, though he restrained himself, now was hardly the time for such comments, even if only in jest. "I'm not going to see them though, I'll suppose I'll see them at some point." It had taken a long time but look, here he was at last with Loca, he'd probably see the other two, Blaisen and Halycon at some point, same he would with these new pups and Reynard's other litter with Aurora.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image · Image

[Loca Jaci]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/locamid.jpg] Very little about Loca was ever expected, although to Loca this was never really an issue. But to those around her who had to deal with her mood swings, and sudden anger, or sadness it was like being on a rollercoaster. She seemed incapable of being stable if only for a few hours, and with her ability to speak to other animals, well now that just truly complimented her already growing list of unstable qualities. Even as she sat there staring at the lyxxus male in front of her, her mind and heart raged within her body, raging about the injustice to her, how they could hurt her, and neglect her like this. The owl’s wise words had done nothing to calm her bad mood, and she could not put herself in a position to understand what he had said. Even at the oncoming of two years of age she had not mated, nor fallen in love or even had the desire to have pups, so there was no way she could have understood the innate desire of her mother and father to procreate even more. There was no way to know that her mother had sensed the impending death of her father and was trying her hardest to have as many memories of him as possible, nor did her at the current moment selfish heart care. It was not as though Loca was a hard case to figure out, because of her mood swings her face had never gained the “poker face” quality other wolves had perfected. No, as she thought about it, she and both her siblings wore their emotions on their sleeves, and you could see it all over their faces. Albeit she was much more moody and vocal about her moods than her brothers, but often when it came to arguing she would just take flight and fly away from them…the disadvantage being they had wings as well and could fly through the clouds as she did. Which from an early age Loca perfected the art of flying, how to dive, how to change speed, and in her own mind she ruled the skies over most wolves her age. She was a born athlete and while she may have taken after her mother and sister Angel in the looks department she had none of their tact or kindness. She swore she would never be like her mother, doting on the rest of the pack, when she should be looking after her father..instead of bring another brood of pups into the word to usurp her. Her nose wrinkled and her eyes narrowed into a glare, even as she thought of the little beings, surely into existence and grappling for her mother’s attention. Loca had thought about running away recently, and perhaps the male in front of her was the best one to ask about where to go. She did not share many of his feelings, those of wondering where her place in the world was. Even though she had been overshadowed by the arrival of other pups she knew that she could do anything, go anywhere and staying within the pack to be a productive member was not exactly high on her list, but seeing as the pack didn’t have much in the way of females anyway she intended to be gone as much as possible. She damn sure she was not going to be a pup sitter, not if she could help it. She listened, even if it was petulantly to him saying that he had been back a good portion of her puphood, but he had not made an appearance to see her, or as she wracked her brain, her brothers. “Well…since this is my first time meeting you face to face…welcome back.” She tried to put a smile behind the words but couldn’t….and so instead she said, “Did you leave because people ignored you?” In that moment she looked all the part of a neglected pup, one who so desperately wanted someone to pay attention to her. The picture before them was odd, she was slender, but still rather tall for a keiyou, and she knew if she stood she would tower over him, but in that moment she felt as small as the smallest lyxxus. He seemed rather…indifferent to meeting her, or any other of Reynard’s pups, whether they be with Satinka or Aurora…a question popped into her head and she couldn’t help but say, “Did you go see your mother’s pups, seeing as Reynard is there father too?” She bit off the words as though he should care of be affronted or offended…but she couldn’t help it, she didn’t like them either. Granted she and her brother received a substantially larger amount of their father’s time, the other female pups seemed to hate her from the get go and any attempts at friendship had been met with indifference to downright hostility. She learned very quickly that though they may be half siblings, the other females cared nothing for her, or Blaise, or Hal. It would seem, in Loca’s mind that nobody really liked her, she knew Hal got a lot of attention because he was a small, spitting image of Reynard, and Blaisen was the perfect mixture of his parents, and although she was their first little girl, the image of her mother, it seemed Loca had gotten lost in the perpetual middle pup syndrome and could not figure a way out. She huffed and scratched into the dirt, making small claw marks as her tail swished, hitting the tree behind her lightly, the thumping sound the only constant she could hear. “Well…I’m sure their den is just over crowded with all the members wanting to see the new mewling wonders.” She snorted slightly, and then looked up at Altan…”Say…you’ve been traveling….say you wanted to…’get away…’ Where would you recommend going?” Loca was never a cautious wolf and so anything he said would most likely be taken into the most literal of terms. She didn’t know much about the surrounding areas, but she did know that she had to get away from here, if she had to stay here much longer hearing everyone talk about pups, and love, and mating, and completely ignoring her she was just going to lose it. The very meaning of her name meant crazy and the older she got, the more unstable she looked to everyone around her but to Loca it seemed like she was on the inside of a tornado, where it was seemingly calm while everyone else had to deal with the raging emotions they were met with each encounter…one would suppose that a wolf would have to have a strong constitution and the patience of a saint to deal with loca on a long term basis.

[Altan]

[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/Altan3Mid.png] The truth was Loca wasn't alone in her lack of thought to the future, as a pup Altan had never been able to imagine the day without Reynard there and leading the pack, strange really that he put so much faith into the Keiyou considering the fact that even his own mother had left him. All the same though even now he didn't dare think about the possibility that Reynard wouldn't always be there, yes the male was aging and certainly getting a little battered by life, but as childlike as the thought was, Altan shared Loca's mindset, refusing to acknowledge that one day he would die. Strange really that there were several similarities between these two wolves who weren't actually related. Whilst Altan had a calmer head on his shoulders, never really having quickly dived into full blown anger, the pair both of course appreciated attention and even shared the joy of being athletes. The lyxxus of course lacked the wings to grant him the sky for a playground, though he had certainly made use of the ground and trees, running, climbing anything he could possibly do. It had given him attention back then, though the skill hardly seemed interesting to others these days. On top of those traits there was of course that shared thought, the one of running away. Altan had already achieved it and after a suitable amount of time chose to come running back hoping for a big welcome and attention to continue beyond that. Everyone had been busy with their own lives though, pups and duties all that stuff and after the welcome from Nocht and Reynard, the two he of course cared about the most, things had gone back to the way they'd been before. The trip had been pointless in some ways, sure exploring had been fun but the overall plan had never quite been met. Another welcome back had been given a little later by Satinka, and the Queen had even listened to some of his tales and now Loca too was welcoming him too, even though they had never met prior to him leaving. He couldn't help but smile, pleased for the gesture though it soon shifted, fading at the next question. Had he left as people ignored him? He couldn't admit that, no one was supposed to know his great plan. "I left as I wanted to explore." He explained, the drop of his smile could have easily been seen as simply shock at her question, which was partially the case. Did he go and see Aurora's pups? No, he had continued to try avoid his mother, and as sad as it was, he only really felt any link to them from Reynard. His mother had left him, it was something he still had never really forgiven her for and surprisingly Nocht, who had grown very angry by her return, was the one who had forgiven. Reynard however had always been there for him, whilst he may not have been blood related, he was certainly more of a parent to him than his own had been. He probably should have seen Reynard's pups sooner, he had nothing against Angel after all, she was a real daughter to the keiyou. "No, I didn't" He answered her question simply. There was nothing more really to say on the matter. He didn't know if she knew the full situation of things, though it seemed she was at least aware that Aurora was technically his mother, whether he considered her to be one or not. He was tempted to inform Loca of that fact, though decided against it for now. With her previous question and the one following now, Altan could only assume that a similar plan to his own was forming in Loca's mind. As much as he longed for the days when it was simply he, Nocht, Reynard and even Angel was allowed, he wouldn't want to see her suddenly leave the pack. He had been missed by two wolves, Loca had a whole family that would miss her and surely it would be nice for the new pups to have a big sister? Odd that he had such thoughts at the moment but had never once considered being the big brother to any of his siblings, the closest he had come to such a role was right at this moment. "Sometimes I go to the prairie still to take a walk." He admitted to her. It was close to the pack but you could still be alone, you'd still have technically gotten away from it all for a while. His favourite place was still the Valley though, he couldn't really recommend anywhere in particular, more tell her the places to stay away from.

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image · Image

[Loca Jaci]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/locamid.jpg] Loca was living for the moment ever since she found out her mother would be having another litter. She had avoided the den like the plague, and had even found herself a small place to stay near the rocky place where pack meetings were essentially held. The place was perfect because she had a cave which would only house herself…even if she did stretch out unnecessarily to make it so, but because of all the scents of others, her own scent was muddled. She knew that at some point either Halcyon, or Blaisen would come and berate her for not being there during her mother’s birth or pregnancy and she just couldn’t stand the idea that they would find her. It was also more incentive to learn to climb trees and be athletic enough to get around on the ground faster, because her siblings could fly the sky was a dangerous place, especially during those cloudless days where she had nothing to help hide herself against. So she had changed tactics and had begun to do more things on the ground, this had also forced her to change up how and where she hunted but as far as the flippant keiyou thought of things, she was doing rather fine, probably better than he brothers. True, or false in nature it didn’t matter, since she was avoiding anyone who could compare to her, essentially there was no comparison and that made her childish heart feel better. She had tried to seek out Angel time and time again, feeling as though her sister would understand where she was coming from, but the other white keiyou was nowhere to be found. There was something about Altan she liked, he was quiet….perhaps more quiet than she was used to, but Blaisen was loud and all they did was fight, and Halcyon was quiet and soft spoken and they had gotten along fine, up until recently. She sighed for a moment, feeling completely cut off from her family, refusing to believe that it was actually her fault, her mind wrapped around the comforting idea that THEY had abandoned HER, and not the other way around. She liked the way Altan was going to see the puppies, and he didn’t seem to make fun of her like her own siblings did, but she remembered playing with Nocht as a puppy, and he had enjoyed her, but she had also felt as though he had left her, having not seen her since her reach to adulthood. Moonrose, Nocht, her parents, Angel, it was beyond her scope of understanding that once a pup reached adulthood, though communication was still typical the coddling and constant attention wore off. Her head went back down on her paws as she looked up at Altan, her wings flapping idly, as though she would take flight any moment, her feet itched into the ground and she rolled to her side exasperated with her inability to find a position that was comfortable. Standing was not an option, her emotions had worn her out and she didn’t necessarily want to appear as though she were trying to intimidate him. When he told her he had left because he wanted to explore, her seven track mind thought about that for a moment. What would it be like to just get away from here? To see the snow capped mountains, or the sea and the beaches. She had heard that there was even a jungle! Oh the stories of the nurses and sitters had filled Loca’s imagination with wondrous places and she could only imagine, flying over the deserts, the sun warming her wings, or tumbling through the north winds chasing snowflakes. Or even flying over the ocean letting her wings barely skim the waves with her paws….Her mouth nearly salivated with the sheer thought of seeing all those places. “I think you are very brave for exploring like that, you didn’t need anyone! You just went out there, and saw all those places! I mean some people may not have considered it brave but if you aren’t a bigger breed, it’s dangerous…there are scary things out there…but you did it. It must be boring to be back in one place huh?” Even though he said he went to the prairie, from everything she heard that was just a drier version of the valley. Soon was standing, and flapping enthusiastically in front of him, the ideas having taken hold. “ “I am going to go away! I am going to explore the world, run through the jungles, fly over the oceans, dip my wings in waterfalls! I am going to chase snowflake in the north, and I am going to sunbathe in the desert! That will show them all, even if they don’t miss me, which they WILL! I will come back, IF I come back smarter, wiser and well traveled, like you! Even if they don’t miss me or love me anymore, I will have my memories, and if nothing else I will have my experiences to call back on. Heck when I come back I could just leave again any time I wanted, they can’t stop me! They have their new pups now, they don’t need me hanging around here.” She flapped her ebony wings a few times for dramatic effect as she stared at the lyxxus in front of her. She wasn’t sure exactly what reaction she wanted him to have but she was full of excitement for the journey ahead, she wasn’t even going to go around and say goodbye, in her mind it was not necessary since everyone would just try to stop her anyway. Her sky blue eyes were glimmering as they reflected the light of the moon that was rising in the sky as she looked at him, they were two different wolves, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t relate to each other, he had just given her a brilliant idea, and she would never forget him for it. “Are you happy being back here? Because…not like I need it or anything but I could go to the prairie with you? Take off on my journey from there?” Okay so at heart she was still young and immature, regardless of having reached adulthood physically…Loca still wanted companionship and though she would find plenty of beings to talk to on her journey with her power to talk to other animals, it might be nice to have a short journey with someone who knew the way. But should he not want to go anywhere with her, she would just find the tallest tree to sleep in through the night, and then leave in the morning when she could see the dangerous around her. After all, she could fly and he couldn’t, it would make traveling faster and evading predators even better. Yes her mind had already left the valley in it’s dust as she imagined the bright colors and different places she would see as she left. Her glazed eyes found him before her once more as she waited for his input on her plan.

[Altan]

OOC: Really sorry, other people had posted in the Valley and I didn't notice your reply!

[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/Altan3Mid.png] Quiet wasn't exactly a word frequently used to describe Altan. Lately it did fit him a little really, still feeling a little hurt by the lack of enthusiasm his return had brought. Sure Nocht and Reynard had been happy at first, but things had soon fallen back into the standard mundane routine. It was one that Altan was learning to cope with, though not one he truly enjoyed. His ego still craved a little more attention than he got, still longing for those easier days when he and Nocht had been pups. Similarly to Loca's state of mind really, he certainly did enjoy the constant attention he had received back then, not that he had received quite so much as he imagined Reynard's and Satinka's litter had. They'd had two parents that had stayed there for them, not two that walked out leaving an unrelated wolf to step up. As for this moment in time, the quiet was fitting purely because he still wasn't exactly sure how to act around Loca. Well not Loca specifically, the majority of his siblings, Loca was just the only one he actually had to deal with at this moment. Still not sure how he really felt about them, he had certainly taken a slightly more quiet approach really, almost more alike to Nocht's isolated personality than the standard lively one of Altan. Perhaps soon it would come back. Still he'd accept quiet as a description if it meant that Loca liked him. It hadn't ever occurred to him that if he'd been there helping from the start, he could live up to that big brother image and at least be appreciated by his family even if the rest of the pack didn't care. Perhaps more time with Loca would help him to realise that but with her plan to follow down the same path he had, how much time would they actually have to bond? Long enough it seemed when the female opened her mouth again, commenting on his bravery for going off like that. He certainly liked that compliment and more of those would certainly bring back the typical nature of Altan rather than the one that only seemed to make him more likely to be compared to his brother, not that it was a particularly bad thing. "Well not really." He responded, answering her question as opposed to commenting on the bravery in some modest manner. If she thought he was brave, well that was good he wouldn't deny it. "The valley is home, it's nice to be home." He had of course missed Nocht and Reynard too though he wasn't about to admit that to Loca though he had admitted it to Nocht. Then suddenly the keiyou declared that she was going to leave and her entire plan to make them miss her. Altan was rather shocked, not just at the fact that she was suddenly stating all of this to a wolf who might as well have been a complete stranger, but because well her plan was pretty damn similar to his own. She wanted to be missed, she wanted some attention just as he had, the Lyxxus really didn't know how to react to that. In his stunned silence, Altan was actually a little speechless, the young female still looked on triumphantly, clearly looking forwards to this amazing journey she had built up in her mind. Well what was he supposed to do now? Then a little calmer, she spoke again another couple of questions. Was he happy? He had been thrilled to set foot on the valley lands again, but right now? He still loved the lands, still cared for his pack but he did want more back, he couldn't say he was entirely happy. "Yes, there's no place like home. It gets lonely doing all that traveling on your own." But then that brought another thought to his mind, could he really leave her to set off on her journey alone. He didn't want to leave the valley again but surely knowing her plan he couldn't just let her go alone? "I tell you what, I won't just go to the prairie, I could come along with you if you wanted?" How very rare, a selfless deed. He hadn't thought about the worry he might have caused Reynard but he couldn't help but get the feeling that Reynard and Satinka would worry about their daughter. Surely they'd worry a little less if someone was with her? Providing of course she accepted. Besides, this way he could tell Reynard first, it didn't seem like Loca wanted to stop her plan even to say goodbye. Altan on the other hand couldn't leave without saying goodbye."We could rest tonight and set off tomorrow morning, I have to say goodbye to my brother first too." And Reynard of course, though he wasn't going to admit that to Loca. "What do you say?"

Table by Eldarwen · Image · Image · Image

[Loca Jaci]

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[atrb=background,http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/lilDiablo_/locamid.jpg] Loca, being the selfish little sprite that she was had no realization that she would eventually have to cope with the idea that her life would change and the attention that she received would be minimal. However, her immature mind was also not aware that the attention merely changed. First it was the attention of parents and siblings, and then as one grew older they attracted attention from a soon to be mate, and then the cycle changed when they had their own puppies. But the moon beam colored female could just not fathom that and she had never been close enough to her own mother to have these kind of talks. For a moment a small light bulb came on in her head and she eyed Altan from the ground, looking up at him. He looked different than his brother in their entirety and because she had never met their mother she had no one to compare him to but another lyxxus. Unfortunately for Loca, the lyxxus she had run into were all differently colored, though they were all colored red…or shades of red. But he seemed uneasy and off kilter. The thought was not long lived within her quirky little brain. She could see the small indication that he had liked being called brave and she supposed everyone liked someone else saying something nice about them. It was one thing she missed being around her mother, her mother had always said she was beautiful, or talented when it came to flying and ever since she was on her own no one had said anything nice to her. Well, besides the squirrel who had told her that she was beautiful and swift when she had decided not to eat her but that didn’t count. “Well it may be home to others.” She sniffed in the evening air with an air of stubborn pride, Loca didn’t need the Valley she could make her home wherever the wind took her. She could use temporary dens, and hunt prey in all different areas, view new sights and enjoy her life all the while the pack members, her parents and her siblings would be worried about her. A victorious lash of her tail showed her temperament. She could not have possibly known that Altan’s own journey had been sparked by the same feeling of discontent, the same desire to be missed and return the wandering warrior who would be exulted and raised up upon their return. This adopted family member was probably a lot more like Loca than she would ever know, or more like she could get to know over time. She regarded him with a rather silly smile, to let him know she did feel relaxed around him, otherwise she would not have told him how she felt and what her plan was. To her he might as well have been family, but not an annoying nuisance like her own brothers, and not someone who would regard her as breakable and something to keep sheltered like her mother. Yes Altan was a male who she could see traveling with, sharing meals, and adventures with, and her eyes sparkled with the future romp they would have to the prairie. If nothing else he could tell her where in the prairie to find waters, and possible places to sleep and enjoy the drier lands they would venture to. She listened when he said it would get lonely traveling on one’s own….to this she made a small sound. “Pffft, I am never alone….I haven’t told many people…I believe my brother Blaisen may have guessed but I can talk to other creatures! Before you came along I was just talking to an owl! So I don’t have to be worried about being alone…although….no other animal communicates quite like a wolf…so I suppose in that respect I might be very lonely…” For a moment her ears dropped and one might have thought that that thought in it’s entirety may have deterred her from the trip, but she simply puffed out her chest and shook her head. “No, I cannot let a little thing like loneliness stop me. They need to be taught a lesson and I need my space. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet a handsome male and never come home!!” Her high pitched laugh rang out from her muzzle as she threw her head back and cackled for a moment at the very thought. Loca had not given males much thought but if she could find one who would adore her more than her family…well why would she come back anyway? Soon though he was offering to come with her, and as she stood she looked at him..would traveling with him be fun? Of course he had traveled around himself so he could tell her all the best places to see, and save her from the worst….although it would limit her flying time…but that could make the journey longer…more fun and more torturous for her family. Oh yes the pros outweighed the cons by a lot. “I think having you along would be great! After all, who better to tell me where all the best and worst places are but someone as smart as you! The seasoned adventurer! Yes I think it would be in my best interest to have you along!” She didn’t know his reasoning but she assumed it might as well be similar to hers if he wanted to come along. Which just tickled her pelt pink. “Well….” She wanted to leave tonight…but it would probably be better to leave in the morning….”I guess that would be okay..I’ll spend the night in my den, it’s near the meeting rocks..the big white ones…and I’ll grab something to eat while you’re saying goodbye….but promise you won’t say anything about me going..it will ruin everything!!” She sounded like a sneaky co-conspirator now but she nodded with a happy grin and began to slink over to her den…she was sure she had something to snack on there…but before she left she said quietly…”Thanks Altan…you’re like a traveling hero or something!” With a chuckle she bounded off to eat and sleep.

[Altan]

[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/Altan3Mid.png] Whilst there had been a fair few similarities between the lyxxus and keiyou showing up throughout their small conversation and their identical planning, Loca's next words were certainly opposing to Altan's own view. Whilst exploring and seeing other places was indeed interesting, the valley was still home to him. The saying home is where the heart is perhaps had some links to that, what with his close bond to his brother and the respect that he held for their father, Reynard of course, not the real one he had never met. That thrill of emotions rising when he first laid eyes upon the valley again proved he was not lying though, he had been glad to be back and couldn't see why Loca, born here too and with a pair of loving parents, didn't share his view on the Children's lands. Yes you could learn to survive anywhere, but this was where he wanted to be. It seemed in some ways, Loca's ego rivaled Altan's own. The triumphant retort that she wouldn't be alone had Altan a little shocked, even more so as she continued to explain her reason. Talking to the other animals, really? How strange, though not entirely unbelievable, the Great Spirits did gift certain wolves after all, for instance he knew that Aurora had the gift of healing. A slight pang of jealousy at the fact he had no powers himself was kept at bay though as Loca continued to ramble on about her gift and then loneliness once more. He didn't consider the possibility that he may have been successful instantly, had she kept the saddened expression up for a little longer though, perhaps the thought would have crossed Altan's mind. Before it had the chance to appear though, the cheer was back as she exclaimed she had to continue, loneliness wouldn't stop her. Well it hadn't exactly stopped him now had it, not that anyone had warned him about such things before he left though. Perhaps his mind may have changed if they had, or would he have continued anyway like Loca, proudly declaring that he would be fine? There was no way to tell. There was a slight pause between his offer and Loca's answer. He wasn't really used to being in tense situations, though this moment seemed to drag on a little longer as he waited to hear what she would say. She had called him brave, certainly didn't seem to have anything against him and in their weird family of adopted wolves, they were technically brother and sister. The fact remained though that Altan hadn't paid her any attention really until this day, she didn't really have to accept at all. The positive answer was soon revealed however, she wanted him to tag along, and with it came more compliments. Altan's face broke into another smile at that, she was certainly growing on him, maybe being a big brother wasn't bad at all if his little brother's and sister's looked up at him with such respect, even after a simple little conversation. Actually scrap that, it was hardly a simple conversation. "I'll come find you in the morning then." He responded as she began to move, happy with his take over in the plotting. She herself didn't want to say a thing, but could he really keep it a secret? She was already heading away though before he even had to make the promise, another compliment leaving her lips. This one didn't bring quite the same proud feeling to the lyxxus though, not when he had a plan of his own in his mind. Silently he turned away, a slower pace than his keiyou sister.

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