Help, I'm Alive. (open)

[Tessa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,513,true][bg=96abbe] As the wolf hybrid padded up to the rocky edge, she was struck by how much this place mirrored her constant predicament. No matter where she went, she always met with another dead end. Looking down at the waves crashing below, she was filled with such a sense of desperation, she didn't even have the heart to turn around and continue her search. The wind howled in her ears, and even her thick fur couldn't keep out the biting frigidity it brought. It felt like the cold was inside her, penetrating even her vital organs, and she couldn't seem to get a full breath. She thought of her sister's face, as she had countless times before. It was like a ritual, memorizing the intricate details of that face. The warm brown eyes, fluffy cheeks, mouth curved upward in a perpetual smile. It had been months since she left home, and she knew she had to keep thinking of Satsu's face. She was terrified she would forget. Her face, her voice. Ariadne could think of her dead mate's face... but that was too painful. Whenever she tried to recall his face, she only saw it as she had last: bloodied and grimacing in agony. It was easier to block it out and think only of Satsu. It was easier to have a goal, to have some form of forward motion in her life. What was left of her life. But even this quest she was on was growing hopeless and stale, and had little power to keep her going. She lifted a paw and slowly held it out over the edge. She envisioned the fall, imagining how it would feel. "It would only hurt for a moment." she spoke outloud, but her voice was swallowed by the wind. This would be an easy escape from her neverending search. Hoping that death was simply blackness, only a cease of feeling, she extended her paw a little farther... But then she again imagined the face. Her only tie to the earth, it pulled her back. She returned her foot to the ground and stared out at the darkening horizon. Her throat ached familiarly, a precursor to tears, and she made no attempt to suppress them. Soon she would turn and continue to explore these unfamiliar lands, but for now she just stood there, feeling cold and drained.

[skye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][bg=f3e795] Silent footsteps led a weary body and an aching heart to trecherous cliffs towering above the sea. The gentle roar threatened to spit seafoam on all around it, but being so hgih up, it's bark was futile. As the cool wind whipped through her fur, steady golden eyes observed the tenative body of another, standing near the tip of the rocky outcrop, absorbedly viewing the sea so far below. A misstep would be disasterious. How long had it been since she had seen another wolf? How many years had gone by? Her gaze shifted to her paws, contemplating the answers, but no memories came. Who was she, where had she been all these years? All she knew was that she was getting old, the statement eminated in her bones. With an identity crisis on-paw, she was determined that whatever fate threw at her, she would not let it get her down. A deep-down feeling made her stomach gurgle as the one thread of information she could grasp rose up from her subconsious. That they were bad memories. Trying not to frighten the wolf who seemed to contemplate suicide, she slowly padded forward, letting her steps echo the sand, salt, and small pebbles underfoot to acknowledge her presence. "Follow me.", her voice rang out in a commanding tone, sounding rather majestic to her with the help of a sudden gust of wind. She turned, every ounce of her body language demanding that the other follow, the wind stirring through various patches of fur. She held her tail high and proudly - or so she thought - as where her tail would have been, unknown to her, rested a pitiful stump. As she turned, the stump, and her rear end in general, came within full view of the other. She paused, one paw lingering in the air, now facing away from the sea, waiting for the other to join her. In her mind, for this wolf to not to follow was not an option. Purpose would be a slow-working panacea for any broken heart, and time the mender of all things.

[Tessa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,513,true][bg=96abbe] ooc; I love your table. o-o ic; Ariadne's body stiffened as slow, deliberate footsteps sounded on the ground behind her. She quickly brought up her forearm to wipe the tears from her face. "Follow me." The voice rang out behind her with a tone so commanding that she actually began to turn away from the cliffside. Normally Ariadne might have been afraid, but right now she felt numb to an emotion such as fear. Hell, she had just seriously considered stepping off of a cliff! She had little to fear but the torturous feelings of loneliness and guilt. What could another wolf do to her? When she laid eyes on the other wolf, it was from behind, and she noticed that this female was completely missing her tail. The dog hybrid frowned, and through the haze of emotions she was feeling, wondered what might have happened. This stranger had a commanding presence, and in Ariadne's state of confusion and despair, she was ready to do anything. What she needed was a distraction, a path, anything to take her mind away from what it currently dwelled on. The stranger was paused, her paw poised above the ground. She seemed completely sure of herself, the opposite of how Ariadne felt. She stood for a moment, weighing her options as she took in the appearance of the other. This wolf seemed older, fur specked with grey. She gave the impression that she had been through much, and had learned much from it. Ariadne's dark grey eyes wandered back to the cliff's edge, the steep drop and tumultuous crashing waves below. For a moment she considered it, her body even leaning toward it. But then she turned back to the stranger. She sighed, and she felt the weight of her sadness ever present. "Where are we going?"

[skye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][bg=f3e795] OOC: Thankies! From where she stood, with her back to the suicidal wolf, she couldn't help but turn her head just a bit so she could see out of the corners of her eyes, wondering what the holdup was. She watched silently as the other seemed to hesitate and even look back. She sighed herself, this would be harder than she had thought. The possibility of the other not coming at all began to loom in mid-air. At last, the other had said her departing words, and asked about their destination. "Come.", she replied simply, beginning a slow pace forwards. She tried her best to keep her air of confidence about her, as her steady limbs easily shuffled through the uneven terrain. Pausing, she took an opportunity to check if the other wolf was behind her or not. "To solace." Ahead of her, she could spot the beginnings of her destination at the edge of the terrain. Her lips slowly curled into a peaceful, contented smile as the thought of their destination. If only this wolf didn't suddenly dash off head-first into a tree with ill-intentions. She picked up her paws and started towards it again, pondering whether or not chit-chat would be a good idea. Would it have helped her when she had first arrived in these strange lands? No.. She shook the thought from her head. For now, the silent comradery of two souls drawn together by fate, and the synchronous steps and shared sweat would have to do. Just as she was not alone in the world, neither was the other. For now, they were two.

[Tessa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,513,true][bg=96abbe] "Come." said the other, "To solace." Ariadne's frown deepened. What solace could there be that this wolf could somehow lead her to? The sound of the waves loomed behind her, the wind still howled across the barren cliffside. She stared at the stranger for another moment, standing still. She had little faith that the aging one would be able to convince her of anything. But somehow, at the same time, some small fraction of her mind wondered. There was definitely something about them that stood out to her, incited her curiosity, if anything. Though the majority of her mind was focused on one thing alone, she ached to shift her consciousness to something else, to get a small respite. So she followed, picking up her pace until she walked alongside the other. Through her peripheral vision she looked over the wolf yet again, dark eyes coming to rest for a moment on the stub that had once been a tail. She was vaguely curious about what had happened to it, but didn't ask. She felt as if she didn't have the energy to speak right now, and was thankful that the stranger wasn't asking questions. People always interrogated her- Asking her name, what was wrong. Most of the wolves she met were so full of words, so full of questions, but unable to provide her with any kind of help. Ariadne noticed when a small smile spread on the maw of the stranger. As usual, she looked as if she knew something Ari did not. She tried to fix her eyes on whatever the other was seeing, but could only stare at the horizon. She had no idea where she was going, but for now that was okay. She felt ever so slightly that the mood of this stranger was contagious. A feeble mask for the concrete emotions she was already filled with, but something to focus on nonetheless. So she just walked, trying to feel that sense of purpose, attempting to absorb the certainty that seemed to emanate from the older female.

[skye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][bg=f3e795] With a restless mind that began to count steps like sheep for meals, as they neared their destination at last, they were surely very obese, and very, very full wolves. A grove of trees stood out from the landscape, denser than the scattered foliage elsewhere, providing ample protection against prying eyes, it was in this direction that she lead the other. The aged trunks of birch trees towered over them as the two approached. "It's in here. Doesn't look like much from the outside. Very old.", she explained, looking over her shoulder for the smaller frame of the other, half to check that she was still there, and half to check her expression. Ducking her head to clear a low branch, she walked in between the trees ahead, with formed a narrow single-file passage-way into a seemingly dark and musty forest. The first time she had been here, she had to convince herself to continue on, feeling small, alone, and helpless through the land that she was a stranger in. "Can you see it yet? See the light?", she called out, pointing her nose to a lit area ahead. Winding her way around the disordered trees, stepping over rotting logs, and avoiding stepping on massive fallen branches, the lightened area got closer and closer, until it suddenly seemed to envelope her. Taking a few more steps forward and to the side, hoping the other wouldn't crash into her, she stopped, blinking profusely while her eyes adjusted. All around her, a large wall of trees, the distance between one side and the other that a wolf could run in a minute. Beneath them, a lush layer of bright green grass supported their weight, and knit between the grass, moss competed for every square inch of space. Above, a knitted canopy of branches kept most of the weather out while permitting sun to seep through the cracks, lighting up the whole place. In the center was a large pool of water, it's surface almost like a crystal, flawless, unmoving, tantalizing, and large moss-covered boulders sat in the middle of it like large stepping stones. Out of the water flowed a white mist determined to cover the ground in a hazy white, but never quite able to. Taking in her breath, she grinned with pleasure. "Serenity.", she said aloud, while padding towards the lake to take a cautious drink. "The water is heated from below, like a hot spring.", she tried to explain. "Please let me stay with you, I have nowhere else to go, and I don't think that you should be alone, it's no good for you.", she turned around, hoping to see a pleasant expression on the face of her friend, hoping that she had followed all this way, and feeling foolish for not checking more than she had that her new friend was in-tow.

[Tessa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,513,true][bg=96abbe] As they walked Ariadne began to notice a grove of trees in the distance that stood out against the sparse underbrush that populated the rest of the surrounding landscape. She looked up at the tall birch trees that loomed above them with slightly vacant eyes. The other spoke, twisting her head to look over her shoulder. "It's in here. Doesn't look like much from the outside. Very old." And then she ducked under a low hanging branch and walked in through the trees, obviously expecting Ariadne to follow. The wolf hybrid paused as a vague thought crossed her mind- What if this wolf was luring her into this dark thicket to try and harm her somehow, away from prying eyes? But this fear was only a weak shadow at the very back of her mind, and she let it pass without giving it much thought, ducking her head as well and moving into the small, dark passage behind the stranger. "Can you see it yet? See the light?" asked the tail-less female, and Ari squinted. She could see it up ahead, at the end of what felt like a dark tunnel. Walking through the darkness was slightly unsettling for some reason, in this eerie place that was silent but for the sounds of their paws on the dead leaves, the rustle of branches as they brushed past. Ariadne stumbled a few times on fallen branches and logs that were soft with rot; She was watching the light ahead rather than her feet. She didn't answer the question, but kept following in silence. Ariadne blinked several times as the light grew, seeming to swell until it engulfed them both. As they stepped into the large clearing, she forgot her predicament for just a moment and stood breathless, taking in the scenery. Everything had a soft glow to it, the edges smoothed out by the mist that rose from a clear pool at the center. The grass and moss was soft underneath Ariadne's sore pawpads. The beauty of this place seemed to cut through the fog of all-encompassing despair she had been submerged in. She let out an involuntary sigh of relief, relaxing muscles she didn't even know had been tense. "Serenity." said her companion as she stepped forward to drink from the crystal pool. "The water is heated from below, like a hot spring." Ariadne tilted her head, having never heard of such a thing before. She padded up to the edge of the pool cautiously, lowered her head to drink. And sure enough, the water was warm. It thawed her insides. The pool even seemed to warm the surrounding air. She still had not spoken, but her eyes were a little clearer now, and she found herself really focusing on the other wolf now, when before she had only seen her through a haze of distracting emotions. "Please let me stay with you, I have nowhere else to go, and I don't think that you should be alone, it's no good for you." Ariadne suddenly felt guilty, becoming aware of the antisocial behavior she had been exhibiting since she met this unusual wolfess. She forced a small smile, letting her tail sway back and forth good naturedly, and stepped toward the stranger. "I'm sorry." she said. She paused, slowly lowering herself until she was lying down on the soft green. She felt exhausted, but in a different way than she had before. A more peaceful way. She looked back up at the other. "Thank you for bringing me here..." Her words came soft and slow as she slipped further into a state of relaxation. "Did you tell me your name?" She honestly couldn't remember if they had exchanged names or not. She felt like she had just emerged from a daze. She let out another deep breath, lowering her head to rest on her paws, watching the other fem through half-lidded eyes. "...We could just stay here a while, if you want."

[skye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][bg=f3e795] OOC: Not sure what you'd like to do here but there's ample opportunity to either leave off here or continue at the start of the next morning. If a wolf hurt Ari, there's an opportunity for Anput to seek out vengeance for her Anput smiled as her nameless companion spoke at last, and slowly layed down, as if perhaps even older and more tired than she. Feeling as though she had done a little good in this world, her spirit felt warm with the successful cheering up of this stranger. Her heartbeat quickly sped to a rapid pace at the realization that she remembered nothing about herself, not even her name, and those few occasions that she had tried had only produced a massive, brain-numbing headache. She decided to make one up; after all, a name was only a name, something to be called by. "Anput.", she blurted out the first thing that came to mind, not knowing what it was, or even that it made any sense. She breathed a small sigh of relief that something as embarrassing as 'feces' had not left her tongue. Her only worry was that perhaps there was more than met the eye to this stranger, and perhaps if she fell asleep, the stranger would ensure she would never wake up at all. Pondering about it further, she tried her best to keep her features stoic as her golden orbs peered into the aesthetically soothing crystalline surface of the lake. It was true that she had not been with this one for very long, but as hard as she had tried to observe the female, all that she could gather was that her companion was rather sad. At last, she settled it in her mind that this one could be trusted, to a certain extent, and that no harm would come of this encounter. "Tomorrow, we'll talk. You can tell me your name. And anything else, if you like. Talking helps. But for now, sleep.", she cooed in the smoothest tone she could manage, padding towards the stranger and laying a tail's length away. She wrapped her body around and rested her head on her own back paws contentedly.

[/blockquote][/size][/color][/td][/tr][/table][/center]