Run Aground [Alina]

[Rikez]

As the sea closed over his head, he knew he was going to die.

Water churned around his paws as he fought the instinct to paddle. Bubbles spiraled upwards. The darkness was both above and below. There was no surface, only swirls of black and blue and the roar of the waves in his ears. At first, he held his breath. But as his lungs burned and his nose flooded with the salt and sting of seawater, he relented. Rikez sucked in a mouthful of chilled salt water, and he could feel his body convulse at the invasion.

The resolution to end his own life burned fiercely in the large brute’s mind as his sodden fur dragged him deeper. He was ready to end his inevitable loneliness, ready to stop all feeling and thoughts of pain that had taken over his young mind. He was ready to die. He wanted nothing more than everything to end. The bittersweet memories of his past, the gnawing sorrow of being a loner, the constant battles against the wind and snow of nature’s winter, the never-ending hunger in his stomach from the scraps of food and small kills he was able to make on his own; they were all reminders of his sorry existence. And soon, all of that will be gone.

His jaws snapped open and shut in a silent cry and the last meager bubbles of air flitted upwards from his gaping maw, Rikez’s lungs worked to breath against the onslaught of water. As his mind cleared and an absolution settled like a fog over the brute’s mind, his body was fighting for a last chance to survive. His back legs kicked, his body convulsed in uncontrolled spasms, but it was too late. Wide, amber eyes seemed to flicker with emotion for just a moment before his body went still and his lids slid shut. Peace washed over him in the split second before he was gone.

Unconscious, the black brute’s mind floated away from him. His thoughts were mere wisps of emotion, flashes of images and memory. Disengaged from the physical state of his body, Rikez saw a forest of oaks. Trees stretched towards the sky and the green canopy lit up from the ray of sun above. His old home was not always a place of peace, but it was a place he had known. The last thing he remembered seeing was a soft, silver pelt and the warming breath of another wolf, soft against his cheek.

When he opened his eyes, the world was tilted.

Was a shudder and a sharp twist of the spine, Rikez doubled over onto his side and let the wave of nausea wrack his body. As he convulsed against the course sand, his retching cleansed his body of everything it held; the small bones of his last meal, seawater, and burning mucus spewed out onto the beach. When he was done, the brute let his large head fall back onto the damp ground. His limps trembled with fatigue. He waited there, the smell of his bile curling his muzzle and his breath coming in shallow, pained gasps. It was not until his heart returned to a normal rate and he had caught his breath that the brute lifted his head.

Around him, the beach stretched along the coast in both directions. The water was gently lapping against the shore, and the grey sky overhead was a far cry from the storm had had ravaged the sea before, although Rikez could already see the promise of blue sky peeking through. Only a few lopes away from the water’s edge, trees began. The forest was green and dark, with a slight veil of fog swirling around thick trunks. The scene around the black wolf was surreal, the smoky fog giving the land an immediate sense of dread. Rikez sat could do nothing but sit there, the grey water rising and falling against his hindquarters and his bright eyes struggled to see into the strange new forest.

---

Count | 677
Tagged | Alina
Muse | Good!
Notes | I have no plans for this guy. Pity him, attack him, do whatever you please!

[Alina]

This forest had become her favorite place after Kujo had shown her the beauty of the stars. Kujo had become one of her closest friends within the pack and she had come to enjoy his company immensly. She had no delusions about their relationship. He was her best friend, her heart already belonging to another. She had found him so very handsome when she had met him, but so was Thor. Besides Alina wasn't a vain creature who dwelled on looks. Kujo was by far the sweetest wolf she had met in her life and she was lucky to call him her friend. He was always showing her the beauty and majesty that the forest had to offer. She was getting close to the coast, the smell of salt clinging to the air. She had been afraid of the water for the longest time, but she had come to realize that if she didn't wander too far it wasn't dangerous. Her head always throbbed a little when she approached the sandy waters, as if somehow reminding her how she had lost her memories. She had lost them in the dark and perilous waters of the coast. The trees had begun to thin out and she was beginning to feel grass sprouts beneath her feet. The forest was thick with underbrush and leaves on the ground, but this was the soft dirt that would slope down to the sand of the beaches.

Alina scanned the surrounding area looking for signs of others in this area. She loved meeting new people and making new friends, but she also had to be wary of others because of her small size. Compared to most wolves she was tiny and wouldn't stand much of a chance against an aggressive opponent. As her head turned to the side she was greeted with the familiar sight of blue waves crashing against the shore over and over again. Everything looked so pristine and beautiful, everything except some debris on the beach. It was some kind of creature, but Alina was too far to make it out. It wasn't until it moved that she realized exactly what she was looking at. It was a large jet black wolf. Alina couldn't remember if she had come across such a dark creature in all her life. He was a frightening sight to behold, ragged and bedraggled upon the sands. She wondered if he had been swimming intentionally or if it his arrival on this continent had been more than happy accident. From the look of him she assumed the latter.

Curiosity spurred her on and she crept closer to the stationary wolf, trying to keep herself out of sight. She wasn't the most skilled at stalking or even spying, but she wasn't ready to be seen yet. If he did decide that she was some kind of enemy his size would be enough to subdue her. A small part of her wished that Thor was by her side to keep her safe, another part wanted to find the confidence within herself to face this dark stranger. she could feel the dirt and the grass change to sand beneath her paws and she opened her mouth to take a deep breath. She could find no trace of his scent, only the salty breeze and smell of the ocean water. Alina wondered where he had come from and why he was all alone out here. That is the way she had entered this world, alone and on the beach with no recollection of what had happened to her. She was getting close enough now that she could make out his face, but still no scent. She could tell that he was a male and that he was quite a bit larger than her at the moment. Figuring it was better to introduce herself than be caught skulking about she stepped out further from her hiding spot amongst the rocks. "Hello. My name is Alina." She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice, but it was a trying task. She should have liked to come across more wary and cautious than she was, but that idea went out the window as soon as she had opened her mouth. Her tail wagged back and forth behind her and she gave the newcomer a smile.

It was part of her nature she supposed, the need to befriend all that she met. "What is your name?" She had kept enough distance between them so that if she needed an escape she would have a head start. They were on her pack's lands and despite his larger size she had only to call out in distress and her pack mates would come to her aid. She could just imagine Kujo tearing through the woods to come to her rescue. What an image indeed. It almost made her chuckle that she had made so many good friends in such a short time. Airila had become like a home to her and she was happy to have found it.

Rikez

[Rikez]

His body was thin and wet from the waves washing up on him all morning. When he stood, his once pitch-black coat hung from his frame in ringlets. The sand and dirt had infiltrated his fur until it was off-color, and it grinded between the pads of his paws painfully. He rocked on his feet like the sea, his stomach still reeling from seasickness. As the femme approached him, his lip curled into a silent snarl. His canines shone white and glistening from his wet maw and his bright eyes widened, taking in the stranger. The first thing he noticed was how small she was. Nearly half his size and a whole head shorter, the she-wolf was dwarfed even by his average frame. Furthermore, her tail was wagging behind her, a wry smile splitting her maw. She was practically quivering with energy as she introduced herself. Although she stood at a safe distance away from him, the brute could tell that she was not afraid of him.

A lightning strike of anger shot through his body, and a sharp snarl involuntarily ripped from his throat. It was absolutely ridiculous that she would not fear him. Without fear, he did not have the upper hand. And without the upper hand, he was weak. His father’s voice practically boomed in his head as he took a step towards the small femme. ”Survival of the fittest doesn’t just happen, Rikez. You must make it happen.”

A whine burst from Rikez’s maw as the voice faded from his mind. He tossed his neck, stumbling slightly in his effort to shake off the echo of his father. When will it end? he thought painfully to himself. When will I be rid of him at last? Even the sea could not wash away the memories.

---

Count | 305
Tagged | Alina
Muse |  Low
Notes | I am so sorry for the wait and the low quality. My muse is suffering tonight.

[Alina]

The male seemed to sway back and forth as the sea did obviously not used to being back on land. Alina remembered her days after landing on these sandy beaches, her head aching from the brutal force of the ocean. It had taken some time for her wounds to heal, but the memories had never returned. It had taken her a few days to realize that she was supposed to have memories, that she wasn't normal. It had really bothered her for the longest time that she couldn't remember anything about her past. She was starting to remember slowly but surely, the memories visiting her at the strangest times. She now accepted that her memories would return when it was time and she was content to see the story that it told. To see what her life had been before her arrival on this continent. He didn't seem pleased with her presence, his lips turning down in a snarl. She was a little confused by the male and his anger. She had approached him on friendly terms yet it didn't seem like he was interested in her friendship. "I am sorry. Have I disturbed you?" Alina hadn't meant to cause any harm. To be fair this was her packs lands and if she was more firm she would assert herself. She wasn't afraid of him because if she needed help she would call for it. She wouldn't even be surprised if Thor magically appeared at her call. She gave him another smile trying to break through to him. There was no need for him to be aggressive with her when she had given him no reason for it. "What is your name?" She was curious about him and how he had ended up on these beaches so close to Airila. "I meant no harm." Her smile grew larger and she wagged her tail more vigorously. She didn't come any closer to him because she was aware that he was not happy to see her. She had no desire to be maimed by this stranger, but she was convinced that she could change his mind.

Rikez

[Rikez]

If it were even possible, the female’s tail began to wag more vigorously as he advanced. His face stayed contorted, his muzzle wrinkled and ghoulish in an attempt to look fierce. His weak limbs shook, and he wondered if the femme noticed. Hours of fighting the sea had left his muscles trembling, but he stood tall, fur bristling in an attempt to make himself look bigger. Inside, Rikez was battling with himself. His muscles twitched and his nose throbbed painfully, encrusted with cried saltwater. All he wanted to do was run, right past the female and into the trees. He didn’t know where he was, and for the first time since waking up on the beach, he realized that although he was no longer under the rein on his father, his siblings were. He had left them behind.

”I am sorry. Have I disturbed you?” the female said, still smiling. Alina. She said her name was Alina. The femme’s russet-colored muzzle looked hopefully at the brute, though she did not get any closer. ”She wouldn’t dare,” Rikez growled to himself, his snout twitching. His eyes widened in surprise as the femme spoke again, asking him his name.

For a moment, he was so surprised that his snarl relaxed until there was only a peek of his sharp teeth behind his dark lips. She wants to know my name, the thought drifted across his mind. A mix of emotions twisted like a cyclone within him. When was the last time someone had asked to know his name? Here he was, snapping in the face of a total stranger, and she still wished to know about him. She could have run at first sight of his poor, waterlogged body. But she didn’t. ”I’m called Rikez.” The brute forced the introduction from his maw, and it came out in an almost-growl. To make up for it, Rikez forced his body language to relax slightly.

---

Count | 329
Tagged | Alina
Muse | Low
Notes | n/a

[Alina]

Alina couldn't tell if the male was talking to her or talking to himself. His ramblings made him almost seem mad. When he finally spoke his name Alina perked up her ears making sure to catch it. Rikez wasn't the kind of name that one heard very often so she would have to make sure that she remembered. Once he finally relaxed letting go of the majority of his aggression Alina felt a little safer. Safe enough to take another step closer. She understood what it was like to wake up on this island not knowing what where you were. Hopefully this male had his memories, unlike Alina. Her own recollections of her past life were for the most part lost to her. A few bits a pieces had been returned, but she still didn't know exactly how she had gotten here. She wondered how he had gotten here, if it was the same method of travel that she had been on when she had ended up here. Alina wanted to help this brute, despite his odd tendency to talk to himself. She knew just how frustrating it was to wake up forced to live this life as if it was a clean slate. "Are you alright?" She was curious to see if he was hurt, knowing that she had sustained injury when in the waters depths. As of right now she could see no damage to the wolf that would be life threatening. He seemed to be able to move and talk normally so Alina hoped that everything turned out alright. "There is nothing to fear. I am not here to hurt you. I was just wandering about when I saw you on the beach." She wanted whatever what causing this wolf's aggression to be cleared up so that she could settle in. Being on edge never agreed with her so relaxing would make things easier for the both of them.

Rikez

[Rikez]

Rikez wasn’t sure why he had given in and introduced himself to the small femme, but it was too late to take it back now. Her ears were perked with excitement as she stepped forward eagerly. Rikez tried to quell the discomfort curling in his stomach as he forced himself not to jump to his defenses. He forced his tail to stay at a safe, relaxed height and his muscles to unwind. He had already caused enough trouble. There was no need to attack to innocent she-wolf.

”Are you alright?”

The question took him by surprise. Stunned, the black brute didn’t answer right away. Was he alright? He was pretty sure he had never been asked that before. It was such a simple question, and yet… his mind swam as a distinct memory came back to him. It had been years ago, but he had been asked that question before. By a different femme. His dear sister, Hika had whispered it to him as they stood facing each other, panting in the center of a copse of trees. Behind him, his father was growling for the two siblings to fight. It was a routine they were used to, a routine they had accepted. But they day, Hika had chosen to speak, breaking their routine. Her wide, yellow eyes had turned to him, wet and searching for him to affirm that he was, in fact, all right. Instead, Rikez had ignored her question and attacked just like his father had wanted him to. That was the day he had left his sister scarred.

He shook his head, clearing the image of Hika from his mind. It doesn’t matter now, he thought to himself. There is no changing what is done. I’ve left them and there is no going back now.

"There is nothing to fear. I am not here to hurt you. I was just wandering about when I saw you on the beach."

With a slight nod, he finally brought himself to answer the petite femme. ”No.” The simple, let loaded word burst from his maw like a bark. He had not meant it to sound so harsh, and so he continued to speak. ”I am not alright, but I cannot tell you why that it. Just take it to be true and do not ask me to explain myself to you,” he growled, looking down at his paws and speaking to Alina with his head bowed.

---

Count | 412
Tagged | Alina
Muse | Decent
Notes | n/a

[Alina]

Alina had no ides how she was supposed to reach this wolf. Physically he seemed fine, but he claimed not to be and she wondered what had happened to him. He seemed unwilling to tell her anything more than his name, much to Alina's frustration. A part of her was set upon getting answers out of him while another was becoming a little more wary of him. If he wasn't warming up by now than the possibility that he would was slim. Perhaps it would be best if she just left him to himself and forgot about this whole encounter. There were plenty of other wolves that she could meet in these lands. What was the loss of one when there were so many more friends to be made. Her tail began to slow until it wasn't wagging anymore and she stood up again. This encounter was turning to the unpredictable and she didn't want to be around if this wolf decided to snap. Taking a few steps back she felt like turning and running as fast and as far as she could. Surely this wolf would not chase after her. If he did he would find himself in the middle of her pack lands. "I think I will be going now then. Sorry to have been such a bother." Every now and again there was a wolf that she came across that she just couldn't reach, maybe he was one of those. It was a possibility that the reason he was so cut off was because he had no interest in meeting anyone. Perhaps he was trapped in his own mind and his memories to have any time to entertain her. She couldn't suppress the whine that escaped her lips and she trembled a little as she backed away. She was usually so naive and oblivious that she cared not about what others thought of her, but when she fell she fell hard and watching him now had her toppling. She was afraid and she was uncomfortable and she didn't want to be here anymore.

Rikez

[Rikez]

The petite wolf in front of him slowly stopped wagging her tail as they stared at each other across the sand. The cool ocean breeze had cleared the fog, and the sun was warming the black brute's damp pelt as the femme stood and stared to back away from him. "I think I will be going now then. Sorry to have been such a bother." Her unease and nervousness was radiating off her scent, like a slight odor, and Rikez's snout twitched as Alina stepped backwards into the trees. Her bright blue eyes were flicking from side to side, as if she were contemplating running away from him. He even heard a distinct whine blossom from the femme's throat. He was a rough, unpredictable rogue, washed up like sodden driftwood on the outskirts of her pack's territory. She should fear me, he thought as the small wolf glanced at him nervously. I am a beast. I have been raised as a fighter, not to be friendly with strange, friendly wolves.

He took a step forward, towards Alina as she made to leave. The femme's eyes were startlingly blue as they followed the black brute's movements. Rikez had really never seen such eyes. They were wide with fright, a look he was all too familiar with, but their color made him pause. Suddenly, he realized he didn't want her to leave. There was a tightness in his heart that made his chest ache. What is this feeling? Could it be... loneliness? Rikez had wandered the borders of his family's pack for weeks while a severe injury to his leg heeled, hunting in solitude and brooding over his own dark thoughts and memories. Was he really about to scare off the only wolf that had spoken to him since he was banished from his former pack?

"Wait! His voice exploded in a sharp bark as he attempted to make the small femme stay. He winced slightly at the roughness of his sudden bark. Surely him snapping at her wasn't going to keep her here with him. He would have to force himself to play nice if he wanted any company at all. He wasn't even sure if that is what he wanted. Well, there's no going back now.

---

Count | 386
Tagged | Alina
Muse | Low
Notes | I started writing this post with the intent to wrap it up, but that clearly didn't happen.

[Alina]

Alina winced at his rough tone and she wasn't sure if she should remain. His words made her freeze and she turned to look back at him. All of her instincts were telling her to leave and not look back. To run as fast and as far as she could manage. Yet as she looked back she could see something within him that called to a similar emotion in her. He was lonely, as she stared into his amber eyes she could see that although his manner was rough she could tell that he didn't want to be alone. She was afraid of him, afraid of his intentions and what he could potentially do to her. While she knew that it was best if she left him to his own a part of her broke. She had known a similar loneliness that had festered in herself when she had been shipwrecked, but looking back she had joined the pack to fill that hole. He had no pack and no one around him to help him and Alina knew in her heart that she couldn't turn away from him.

Her paws were reluctant as she turned around to face him. She kept her distance, but made no moves to get closer to the dark male. He seemed torn between his past memories and his need for company. Alina so badly wanted to reach this wolf and make a friend of him, but she didn't know how. She had no idea who this wolf was or what he had been through in his life. Even now she had no idea if her own memories would reflect any similarity to his. He wanted her to stay, but she didn't know why. "I will stay, but why?" She was curious as to why he wanted her to stay. There were many other wolves on the continent that could offer him company so why stop her. It wasn't as if he was enjoying her company, in fact she was pretty sure he hated her.

Rikez

[Rikez]

A throbbing was flowing and ebbing behind his eyes, a headache blossoming at the forefront of his skull as his mind bounced from one thought to the next. The tiny femme turned at his barking comment, and his ears flattened against his head with embarrassment. He silently kicked himself for letting out the small vulnerability. Because that’s what it was. His desire to be with another, living, breathing thing was pulling at his being, making him lash out. Even if he had snapped at her in a way that was authoritative, his need for her to turn one last time and stay was pup-like. Sometimes you can’t get what you want.

Suddenly, with fear emanating from her small frame and her tail flicking between her legs submissively, she was exactly where Rikez had wanted her all along. She was lower than him in this moment, and he had not gained it by his wits or strength or by impressing her. He had gained rule over her only by being a bully. Their eyes met—burning amber on bright azure—and he could see her fear reflecting back at him. She feared staying and enduring her wrath, but was also too afraid to disobey him outright and flee. Tearing his gaze away from her, Rikez looked out over the water.

I am becoming my father.

The thought hit him like a stone across his muzzle. He did not wish to control her in this way, like Rikez’s father had controlled him and his siblings. He was not a monster like his father wished him to be. He just didn’t know any other way to live. "I will stay, but why?" Her voice cut through his thoughts like a thorn across soft flesh, and he tore his eyes away from the sea. Her reluctance was clear in the way she stood at a distance from him, head down and eyes pleading silently. But still, she promised to stay.

Her kindness was too much for the black brute. ”I am sorry. In those three short words, the black wolf put as much emotion as he could muster. His voice trembled with both regret and relief as he realized how true the statement was. He was sorry. Sorry for leaving his siblings behind with his father. Sorry for leaping from the cliff as the storm raged above and the sea threatened to take him below. But above all, he was sorry for the way he had greeted this kind, petite wolf. She had done nothing at all to deserve his lashing words and overt hostility. She had simply stumbled upon him on the sands and given him a chance. A chance he was not deserving of. In those three simple words, ’I am sorry’, the brlack brute could only hope that she could someday come to forgive him.

Pain ran through him from the tip of his nose to the very last strands of fur in his tail as he turned away from her. In two bounds, he had entered the trees, leaving her standing on the sands behind him. His paws pounded beneath him in a steady, thumping rhythm for the first time since he had been driven from his family pack, his muscles truly stretching in a loping run. He ran with absolute wild abandon until the sand had all fallen from his coat and the salt tang of the sea was replaces with the cool fresh scent of the forest wind. Then, he threw his head back and let loose a howl that shook the very canopy above him. He sang one single note, a farewell to the femme he was leaving behind, and a hope that she would forgive him for his madness. They had simply met in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

And so he left her behind just like he had his pride, and his family.

---

Count | 655
Tagged | Alina
Muse | Decent
Notes | Here ya go! This thread is pretty much wrapped up for me. Feel free to post one more time if you want to. 

[Alina]

Alina watched almost ashamed as the male ran into the woods. She had allowed her fear and intimidation get in teh way of her reaching Rikez. Her stomach felt a little disturbed and she almost wanted to be sick. He had been hurting and had needed a friend, but she had been too selfish to allow herself to offer him comfort. Growling at herself she flung her small body to the ground almost wailing in her grief. She hated when her fear got the better of her and prevented her from making a new friend. She hoped that one day she would see the ebony male again perhaps to make amends or even apologize for her gruff behavior. She hadn't been so rude since her first days here on the island and she vowed now that she would never allow her behavior to reflect so poorly on herself again. She shook her head trying to banish the awful thoughts and feelings that flooded her.

Getting up she began to pace a little trying to get her body to settle so that she wouldn't be sick all over the forest floor. These were the times when she wished that Thor was still here with her. He had a knack for making her feel better, for reminding her that she was a good person. In this moment she didn't feel all that good at all. Her shoulder and tail drooped a bit as she started off for home. In the back part of her mind she hope that the male would be able to find a place were he belonged. A place that would accept him and heal the hurt that was still lingering. Hoped that there was a family out there for him that was willing to stick with him despite everything that would happen. That there was someone out there far braver than her.

Rikez