The Wanderer's Melody

[Hafalong Rambling]

Mama told me every good wanderer has a song, one that reminds them of promises, of hopes, of friends and goals and things about life worth remembering. Mama never sang her song around me, but I know she used it to remember where she was and where she was going. She told me when I was alone, I'd use a song too, but I don't know how to get one. Mama is gone now, so how will I find my song?

Tiatsu Keeper flew around the Ryell Canyon in lazy circles, black and white coat rippling in the wind, blue eyes slitted. For someone so young, he seemed rather impressive as he flew about. Everything about him seemed cool and collected, although really it was just him unconsciously wiping his emotions from his face.

"What is my song..?" he asked himself quietly. His voice, musical and gravelly at the same time echoed hollowly through the sun-warmed stone.

Tiatsu gave a few experimental "Tralalas" in hopes of finding a tune, but the notes came out slightly off-key and nothing came to him.

The young one sighed and drifted closer to the ground trying to remember the lyrics to one of the songs his mother had taught him, thinking maybe that was the way to find his song. Still off-key, his voice rebounded throughout the canyon.

Sun and sky, moon and water
Father, mother, son and daughter
Harmony of earth and air
Someday I shall return there
How far must I travel, friend,
To see your smile once again?

The echoes returned to Tiatsu as he drifted about, making him feel as though he was the only one around for miles.

How far must I travel friend,
To see your smile once again?

The words repeated themselves over and over, and Tiatsu, his paws touching the earth, sighed.

"Only as far as the nearest wall to echo off of," he replied, laying his head on his paws.

What is my song? What is it? What is it..?

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet walked steadily along the canyon wall, making a game out of finding sturdy ledges to walk on as a way of entertaining himself. “Mmmph. What a great game-you lose you die,” he murmured sarcastically to himself, painfully conscious of the way his words bounced off the red rock. No matter, Kiet. You’re going home. And you’re going to get there. Keep going. It was true. Kiet was doing his seemingly impossible but mind-bogglingly simple task. Get home. Back to the North, where his had played in the snow with his brother. It hurt him to realize that he could have stayed with his mother and father and brother and sister had he used more patience. Enough of this suffering! Kiet growled at himself, leaping onto another ledge and landing heavily. Pieces of the edge crumbled from his weight. “Damn!” he yelled, quickly stepping to another ledge. Kiet’s ears flattened as he heard his voice being repeated into the far reaches of the canyon. Then he became aware that another voice floating around, rather faint under his loud exclamation, but there. It sounded like a song, a song sung in a horrible pitch, but Kiet was no music expert. Perhaps if he had heard a Cael sing, he would have spat in disgust, but he had never heard a Cael so he simply tilted his head and wondered why it sounded off. Oh, well. Let’s not be judgmental, he told himself. Kiet listened closely to the fading echoes, and the words struck him like a physical blow. How far would he have to travel to see his family? Would they even be there? Even if they weren’t, he would still find his way back. The song called to him, and he replied. His brown and green head lifted and a powerful, wailing howl slipped out of his mouth. Kiet’s song had no words, but it silently told a story of what the song meant to him, and it asked permission to seek the singer. After his howl faded away from his lips, Kiet started to pick his way to the bottom of the canyon, where he thought the mystery song had come from. Kiet’s ears stayed pricked for an answer, longing to understand why he was allowing himself to do this, but he was powerless to stop himself from straying from his journey.

[Hafalong Rambling]

Tiatsu sat bolt upright as a howl sounded through the canyons. His ears pricked towards the sound, a mournful cry that tugged at Tiatsu's heart. He stood up, listening to the howl rebounding through the canyon.

The young one peered over the edge of the cliff, hoping to sight the howler. With a clack, clack several pebbles bounced down the side of the canyon and rolled to a stop beside Tiatsu's paws. He turned to look upward, and saw what appeared to be a Yagi picking his way down the canyon.

Tiatsu spread his wings and leaped into the air, swirling upward to the Yagi's precarious perch. He landed a few feet ahead of the wolf, folding his wings and sitting, suddenly aware of how small he really was.

"Er, uh..." he stammered, eying the large, pointy horns with caution, "Was that... was that you.... you who howled?" This wolf was big, bigger than Tiatsu, at least, who felt rather frail in comparison to the great Yagi. He hated how frightened he sounded, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

It struck the young one that the wolf could've been howling in protest to his singing. Tiatsu blushed as he thought of his off-key voice echoing through the canyon.

"I... I didn't hurt your ears, did I?" he asked as politely as he could manage. He really didn't fancy the idea of finding out how sharp those horns were.

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet jumped slightly when the Keiyou—wait, was it a Keiyou?—flew up and landed in front of him. Before he replied to the wolf’s stammering question, he studied the creature. It was small. Smaller than he’d expect a Keiyou to be. Something else tugged at his mind, something that said “It’s not a full-blooded Kieyou…” Kiet let his gaze wander over the stranger’s body, not directing his eyes in order to see what was so different. Finally he got it. “What the hell! You have a full tail!” he burst out. “Damn,” Kiet whispered to himself, dropping his head in shame. His horns scraped the wall of the canyon with an eerie rubbing sound. “Sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean to say that,” he apologized. Kiet frowned at himself. Just say what you need to. “No, you didn’t hurt my ears. Where did you learn that song? Will you sing it again, please?” Kiet said, his voice muffled from the position of his head. His voice was not sarcastic, nor was it demanding. It was soft and sincere, hopeful and sad. He wished he could have a few words to say to himself, to keep him going.

[Hafalong Rambling]

Tiatsu blushed as the Yagi mentioned his tail. It and the yin-yang mark on his chest were the only signs he wasn't full-blooded.

"Er... yes... I'm... I'm part Lupus..." he murmured. Most people didn't notice that about him, all the little things that said "Lookie, I'm a mutt!" He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. The Yagi apologized to him, and said that no, he hadn't hurt his ears. The young one relaxed.

That's good, he thought, I wouldn't want to upset this guy. The Yagi's next words surprised him, though.

"Where did you learn that song? Will you sing it again, please?"

Again, Tiatsu blushed, the white side of his face turning slightly pink.

"M-my mother taught it to me..." he said quietly, embarrassed, "A-and I suppose I could sing it again..."

He looked at the ground, face turning redder and redder by the second. Slowly, he raised his head, eyes half closed, and sang:

"Sun and sky, moon and water
Father, mother, son and daughter
Harmony of earth and air
Someday I shall return there
How far must I travel, friend,
To see your smile once again?"

He halted, lowered his head again, blushed even deeper. His voice was still off key, and it sounded horrible, but he was glad the Yagi had asked him to sing. He felt as though it was taking him a bit closer to finding his true song.

"I-is that good..?" He asked quietly.

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet fumbled with his words, trying to tell the young mutt all the things he wanted to say. “Well, I-I’m probably… Prob’ly giving them more meaning than-than intended… Curse this, I can’t word it!” he exclaimed in frustration. Hoping his motions could replace his words, Kiet leaned against the wall of the canyon, scraping it with the broken tip of his first spike. “Dimitri,” he murmured. Flexing his still sore green foreleg, he said softly, “Mora and Memphis.” Then he twisted his leg and licked the scar on the pad, saying “The Sennyo.” “All those who were almost friends left me with a physical mark, those who were my true friends left with a scar on my heart,” Kiet tried to explain. “I left my family, I want them back. I want the snow back. I want a friend,” he said brokenly. Unable to continue, Kiet reached forward to lick the little wolf’s head. “Thank you.” Man, you’re sentimental.

[Hafalong Rambling]

Tiatsu looked up at the large Yagi, listened to his voice breaking as he spoke of his friends, his family. Tiatsu thought of his own family, his mother and his brother who had gone missing, all the random wolves he'd met on his wanders. He'd never really thought about them, only his mother, when he was flying, or sleeping, sometimes, but he'd never really thought

"I want a friend"

The words echoed in Tiatsu's head. The Yagi licked his forehead, thanking him. Tiatsu mumbled a quiet "You're welcome" although he wasn't sure what he was being thanked for.

"I want a friend"

Tiatsu looked up at the wolf. How much bigger he was! But seeing him so sentimental and sad... suddenly he didn't seem so scary. An idea formed in the young one's head.

"I think..." he spoke slowly, quietly, trying to foresee where his plan would lead. Somewhere warm and friendly, he thought, "I think... I could.... I could be your friend?" He said it as a question, unsure. "My name is Tiatsu, and it'd be nice to have a friend, I've never had a real friend before, I don't think." He paused for a moment, "I've had a brother, but I don't think that counts..."

He looked up at the Yagi, tail wagging, blue eyes alight.

"Please, sir, I haven't got anyone else.... can I be your friend?"

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet’s multicolored face broke into a grin. “Of course you can, if you really want to. Or well, you can stay with me and see if I’m the kind of wolf you want to be with,” he said cheerily. Then he looked up quickly, his expression filled with worry. “I-I haven’t worried you, have I? Y’see, I’m not always happy, and it takes a while to- Damn, I’m just scaring you more, aren’t I? Just… No promises, OK? Almost everyone I know I’ve left or has left me.” The corner of his mouth twisted upward and he gave Tiatsu a lopsided smile. His tail stub waggled. “I’ve completely forgotten to tell you my name, haven’t I? I’m Kiet,” he said. Kiet squinted at the sun, his pink tongue lolling out. “Shall we get a drink? Maybe we can find someplace where the river is calmer.” Standing, Kiet started picking his way down to the bottom of the canyon, murmuring “I don’t like it on this ledge, either. My game isn’t so great now that I think about it.” ooc:

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background, i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af301/InFatesHands/tiatsutablebackground.png] "Of course you can, if you really want to." Tiatsu practically passed out, his utter joy nearly overwhelming him. The Yagi seemed to think he was scaring Tiatsu, but the young one was to ecstatic to be afraid. "Thank you, sir! Thank you very, very much!" he said, wagging furiously. The Yagi introduced himself as Kiet, and Tiatsu grinned all the wider. "Kiet! That's a cool name! My name's Tiatsu, it isn't as cool as yours!" The little hybrid pranced around, glad he wasn't going to be alone anymore, "I have a friend! A real friend!" "Shall we get a drink?" Tiatsu heard Kiet ask. He nodded cheerily, following the Yagi off the ledge, chattering with his new friend. "Ya know, since we're friends now and all, we should think up code names! T-man and the Kietmonster! Or... or... I dunno, something cool like that!" He babbled on as he followed Kiet down the ledge, then paused. "I'm not... annoying you, am I?" he asked, "I mean, I'm just really happy. I've been alone for awhile, you see, so it's nice to have someone to talk to. You can just tell me if I get too annoying, okay?" Tiatsu beamed up at Kiet. A friend! A real friend!

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet smiled at Tiatsu, rumbling a little laugh at the young wolf’s excitement. He himself would be bouncing off the walls of the canyon with happiness if his thoughts would stop prodding him with unhappy ideas. He’ll leave you. They always do. one part of his mind muttered. It occurred to Kiet that perhaps he was crazy to argue with himself, but that was another stupid thought. The Yagi pushed it away. He had a friend. He should be happy. He should be bouncing about. Kiet shook himself and smiled, feeling better now that his small mind battle was over. The idea that he was crazy and his thoughts should not be there had overwhelmingly won. Kiet turned and reached out a long green foreleg to pat the little wolf on the head. “Fine with me, Fuzzsters,” Kiet laughed. It felt good to laugh. "I'm not... annoying you, am I?" Kiet had turned back toward the river, making his way steadily upstream. “Annoy me? If my tongue wasn’t so dry I’d talk your ears off!” The Yagi suddenly giggled, struck by a childish idea. Swiftly, he spun about and smacked the water, sending droplets flying in Tiastsu’s direction. “Race you!” Kiet wasn’t sure where they were racing to, or why he had yelled that. It felt good though. He sprinted away from the scene of his little crime, snickering as he went.

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background, i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af301/InFatesHands/tiatsutablebackground.png] Tiatsu wiggled as Kiet put a paw on his head and called him "Fuzzters." "Nice!" he cried, "Fuzzters and the Amazing Kietmonster! Dynamic duo of doom!" He would have said more had Kiet not splashed him with water and run off. Grinning widely, Tiatsu gave chase, leaping into the air and flying after him. As he attempted to surpass his new friend, he found a sudden tune rolling through his head. It was the sort of thing Mama always used to sing, and he would have wiggled even more if he could figure out how to in mid-air. Maybe he had just found his song! However, he didn't have very much time to dwell on it, for there was a ledge in his way, and he had to drop to the ground, rolling and tumbling, to avoid crashing into it. Instantly he leaped to his paws, wagging and resuming his chase. "Did you see that?" he called to Kiet, "Did you see what I just did? Pretty cool, huh? I bet you can't roll like that!!!" OOC: My muse is running low, so sorry if this sucks a little bit ^_^;;

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] Kiet laughed as he glanced back at his friend. He felt a little bad that he had missed Tiatsu’s roll, then shrugged. You can’t go back in time. Quickly, he looked back forward so that he wouldn’t snack into a ledge. "I may not be able to tumble, but I’ll show you what I can do!" The Yagi increased his speed around a bend in the canyon, and smiled as he saw a ledge loom ahead. It stuck out into the path and came up to his shoulder, so there was no going under for Kiet. He gathered his stride and leaped over the ledge, his howling laughter filling the canyon. Kiet landed well on his brown foreleg, and would have continued racing on if not for his other leg. When he put his weight on it, the leg gave out, breaking his rhythmic run. "Darn it! Darn this stupid leg!" Kiet yelled, crashing into the side of the canyon. Kiet pushed himself back onto four legs, frustrated that his bad leg had ended the beautiful run. Worse than that, he had lost. He had so wanted to show Tiatsu, to prove to himself that he could do as well as anyone. Then he felt bad that he wanted to be better than Tiatsu. "Vicious circles," Kiet muttered. Suddenly seized by an idea, Kiet looked at his hurt side. It was bleeding and starting to bruise, but still the Yagi’s face lit up. "Tiatsu! Fuzzsters! Tiuzzsuers!" Kiet exclaimed, "It’s only a scratch and a bruise, both will heal! It will not be a scar, oh thank goodness friend!" Forgetting his pain, Kiet yipped in excitement and did a little dance. Oh thank you thank you thank you thankyou thankyou thankyouthankyou! the words went faster and faster in his mind until they fused together.

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background, i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af301/InFatesHands/tiatsutablebackground.png] Tiatsu watched as Kiet leaped over the ledge and scraped his side, then grinned as the Yagi stood back up. He skidded to a halt before him, spinning a bit as he dug his stumpy claws into the earth. "That was awesome!" cried Tiatsu, panting with excitement, a cheesy smile pasted on his face. The smile dropped as he noticed the bloody scrape on his friend's side, "Are you okay?" he added with concern. However, as Kiet danced around and laughed, Tiatsu knew he'd be fine, and attempted his own little shuffling dance, and laughed as well. Oh, how good it was to have the company of another! Halting his dance, Tiatsu tilted his head at Kiet. "Kietmonster?" he asked, "Where are we gonna go after this? North? South? Somewhere interesting and fun..?"

[kiet]

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[atrb=background,http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7813/66839034.png] "That was awesome!" Kiet beamed at Tiatsu’s comment. It hadn’t been great, really, but he appreciated his enthusiasm. "Where we're going? North, of course. You’ll love it, Fuzzsters! There's snow and pine trees and everything! Maybe we can even meet more friends." Kiet twisted to lick his shoulder. "Everything will be just great!" The Yagi sighed and licked his oversized fangs. "I'm hungry. What do you say we catch some food? Maybe there’s something on the plains. And a little tip? I'm not happy when I'm hungry. Just so you know." Squinting his bright orange eyes, Kiet scanned the canyon for a good way to get out. Heh, nice job. You've got yourself deep in here, doncha? Finally, Kiet spotted a good exit route and started toward it. "You coming?" he asked. ((OOC: Shall we end this thread or keep going? We could join this thread to start the building of the Band.))

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background, i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af301/InFatesHands/tiatsutablebackground.png] "North?" Tiatsu had been north once before. It was where he and his mother had become separated. He instantly perked up, "Alright then! North it is!" he cried, "And food does sound good," he added cheerily. He leaped into the air, spreading his wings wide and fluttering about Kiet's head. "To the north then!!!" he cried, flying towards the exit Kiet was headed towards, "And all sorts of new friends!!!" OOC: We can start the band in a new thread, that would make it a little less confusing. Sorry my post is so short, running out of muse T-T Tiatsu is like a little bouncy ball, eh?