These Lonely Plains [CLOSED]

[Ladonna]

Winter was coming, surely. Many a time, Ladonna patrolled this field. To her, it was probably the most familiar land. In the Springtime, these lonely plains were flooded by wildly colored flowers and woke by clear blue skies. Though they made her sneeze, Ladonna absolutely adored the flowers. She remembered their tickles on her legs as she romped about and threw her body to their petals like some love-struck yearling. Only earlier this year this was. Romantically, she closed her eyes and envisioned herself back in that time. The wind dancing with her; the sun embracing her; time chasing her and never able to claim her, for time cannot tame the worry-free. Full of bliss, making her content and feeding her hunger for sweet ignorance. Ladonna smiled, encased in her brief memories. Feeling the sun's warmth leave her as it hid behind a speeding cloud, she opened her eyes, only to see a barren horizon sprinkled with distant trees.
Yes, certainly... Winter was just around the corner if it wasn't already here. She emerged from the thin treeline and stepped onto the dormant soil. Like a child, she thought fondly of nature. She was enchanted by the light wind spinning around her. Poetically, she'd think of the seeds laying asleep, awaiting Spring so they may blossom and enrich the world with their brilliance and beauty. She'd imagine herself a seed, just awaiting her own time to blossom... With the return of the warm sun, a subtle gust blew into the fur on her neck. She laughed to herself and, believing that she was completely alone, spoke endearingly to the open plain, "we meet again."
Nature, in Ladonna's whimsical mind, was her dearest and only friend. It always welcomed her and promised her adventure. Though it also challenged her, she sort of liked it that way. She also liked how it never judged her or spoke badly to or about her. It thought neutrally of Ladonna no matter what, and she thought of nature in the same. From time to time, usually just before she would go to sleep, Ladonna often wondered what real distant eyes thought of her... But did she really wanna find out..?

Word Count: 372
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:

[Hannibal]

The cool air that permeated the land with the coming of winter did not bother the thickly-furred wolf who padded along, but the painted dog walking beside him was a different story. Poor Graham, with his thin coat suited to the harsh sunlight of the south, was woefully under-equipped to handle the imminent cold, and his near-constant shivering even now was the evidence. Though it was beginning to turn, the weather still was not very harsh, and yet the african wild dog seemed to be greatly affected already. "Come now, Graham," Hannibal said softly, nudging the dog with his nose to keep him moving. "The faster we move, the warmer you will be. We will be back in Airila tonight, promise."

Airila was not far from here, and Hannibal had ventured forth with his companion simply to explore. Arche had assured him that now was a time of relative peace, and there seemed no strife in or around the lands he now called home, so the wolf had taken a stroll to see what was nearby. The neutral land was beautiful, covered in lush grasses, but the field of flowers that he approached was steadily dying. Petals and leaves drifted pathetically to the ground, the lifecycle of each plant ending all at once as they drooped toward the earth. It was beautifully depressing, and Hanni felt an odd connection to the field as he strode to it.

The connection was interrupted, however, when he noticed a lupine figure moving through the death, aiding the flowers in the loss of their pieces. Abruptly he stopped where he was, his front paws nestled between several of the flowers while he back end was not quite to them. Graham, too, paused, cocking his head to the side as he looked at the relatively normal-looking female who seemed to be so enjoying her romp. His big brown eyes, constantly aware and often fearful, held much concern, but Hannibal's own yellow ones were simply observing, as they did.

Since he did not know much in the way of social graces, the wolf stood still for only a few moments more before setting his resolve and stepping forward again, making a slow but straight line toward the wolf he had stumbled upon. She was not paying very much attention to her surroundings, but surely she would notice him in the vast openness that was the field. In case she did not, however, he let out a low woof, almost a huff, loud enough that she could easily hear him from the ever-decreasing distance between them.

When he and his friend were much closer, he paused again, just outside of range of an attack--not that she looked particularly fierce, but one could never be too safe. "Hello," he said simply, his voice deep and soothing in its simplicity. "You seem to be enjoying the field here, but I thought I would speak up rather than skirting the edge." A few seconds of silence reigned, in which Graham stood slightly behind the barrel-shaped wolf, pressed against him as he shivered. "This is Graham, and I am Hannibal. We are from Airila, the pack nearby." It was unusual for him to share so much so quickly, but speaking with Calantha and Kujo had softened Hannibal to the idea of conversation, and he found that, though he was still often awkward, he did not so much mind sharing words with others.

Words || 589
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || I know you noted the barrenness of the land but I thought it'd be nicer to have a little color still! Anyway it's totally not important. (: Let me know if you need me to change or add anything!

[Ladonna]

With curious grace, Ladonna brought her muzzle to the wilted flowers and immediately felt rejuvenated by their tiny bodies. The coming and going of the changes of the seasons made her feel light hearted. Still believing she was completely alone and unseen by watching eyes, Ladonna reared up, lifting her front legs half way into the air and bending her back legs, ready to launch herself into a spinning dance. Primal wolf instinct to play and jump and tumble took complete control. It almost looked like she was trying to chase her tail. Dry petals fell off the dying flowers and took to the chilly wind, joining the ditzy female in her blissful nonsense. Ladonna knew all too well that any bystander would think her an emptyheaded dog, but she couldn't care less right now. This was strange behavior, truly, but that simply did not matter in this moment.
She heard something. The ever so quiet brustling of something approaching. Some canine smell blowing in from upwind. It frightened Ladonna and made her spinning come to a dramatic halt. She almost tumbled over, her stop was so sudden. She looked about, left and right, twitching and tilting her ears this way and that way to quickly identify the stranger. Now she saw him a distance away, standing there in the open, surrounded by wilting wild flowers. Admittedly, she was dizzy and couldn't quite make out his appearance just yet, but with some squinting and blinking, she could stand properly and see that this was not one stranger but two. The one hiding behind the wolf was quite strange looking... Ladonna had no idea what it could've been. A dog, surely, but- maybe some kind of skinny wolf? Eh.
The female heard him greet her, but she didn't quite register it right away. She was rather facsinated by the scene in front of her. This grey and brown and tan male standing curiously in the midst of all of these dying flowers. She would never know it, but she'd share the same fancy, feeling enchanted by this sad but beautiful scenery. The wolf's voice was like a soothing lullaby. In him explaining his presence, Ladonna felt much more at ease. Knowing their names helped as well. On the matter of their belonging to the Airila, the brown and cream colored female wanted to address. "I'm Ladonna." She spoke with unconvincing confidence. "If you'd prefer me gone, I could be on my way. I hadn't known this place to be claimed yet but..." She trailed off, feeling quite uneasy about the wolf's true intentions. Now, she stood proudly and sounded much less nervous. What did a flighty loner female know about territories and which ones were newly claimed? She just wanted to play it safe...

Word Count: 470
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: It's totally okay >w< I actually thought I should imply some slight color and life myself. I like the "depressing beauty" you added, actually Lol. P.S: I rushed this post to hell TT-TT I had to walk out the door immediately after.

[Hannibal]

The wolf in front of him, before she noticed the intrusion, appeared to be doing some sort of odd dance in which she jumped around in circles, giving the male pause. It was strange behavior, to be sure, but as a wolf who was ignorant of much that others did, he felt no judgement toward her. Perhaps it was a ritual for her; Hannibal himself would stretch and practice before going on a hunt as well as to preserve his skill, so how could he say she was not doing the same?

It became obvious, when she noticed him, that she was not fully aware of her surroundings. His words, while they did not fall on deaf ears, were clearly not understood, and the slight fear that was obvious in her posture caused him to frown lightly. Hanni had not meant to surprise or scare her, as he had done nothing in particular to alarm her, but it was possible that she, as a wolf was simply more flighty than most. She certainly was not overtly friendly and confident, and perhaps a bit dizzy from her spinning; if she was simply disoriented, there was nothing he could do to fix it. Having dealt with a severe form of disorientation himself for his whole life, he tried to calm her when she began speaking.

"No no, these lands are free of pack control," he said after she had finished, though she now seemed much less nervous and was beginning to resemble the strong traits that loners were forced to have in order to survive. The wolf offered her a small smile, hoping she would continue to appear normal, now that he was conversing with her. "Airila controls a land not far from here." As he spoke, the male gestured vaguely with his nose, pointing in the direction he had been headed.

While he spoke, Graham ventured forward just a bit, still pressed against Hannibal and shivering but curious. His giant round ears were pointed atop his head, and his long legs carried him slowly, slowly into view of the strange loner. She had piqued his curiosity, though not in the way Calantha had done, and the dog was only slightly more excited to meet another new wolf than he was eager to get moving and find somewhere warm to settle down. His small jaws opened to let out a soft woof, a greeting, and Hannibal's smile widened at the noise.

"Graham says hello," the wolf said happily, and Graham wagged his tail in response. The small creature had been nervous to approach when she did not acknowledge him, but that was why he made his presence obvious. "He's a bit fearful of strangers, but we're working on that. Pack life has done both of us wonders."

After a brief pause, Hannibal tilted his head slightly to the side, wondering where to go from here. Did he say more about himself? Ask her questions? Walk away? It was still so hard for him to spend time with others and understand exactly what the point was, especially if they did not offer him much. So he chose to ask a question, one that would either lead to more questions or his departure. "Do you have a pack, Ladonna? Or are you traveling?"

Words || 562
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || I stole 'beautifully depressing' from a song LOL woops! And the post is fine, doesn't seem rushed at all. (:

[Ladonna]

Being assured that this place did not belong to any wolf pack helped Ladonna immensely in becoming more relaxed. Now, she could ease up her muscles. The fur on her haunches and hackles laid back down against her body and her ears weren't so erect anymore. Her tail hung loose and she curiously tilted her head at Hannibal, her yellow eyes bright with charm and that soft gaze of her's. All of the tension and fear had completely left her demeanor. She glanced in the way the male gestured towards. Indeed, that was the way toward the pack territory. From time to time, Ladonna liked to watch the local pack group together and do whatever it was families do... She was a stranger to such behaviors, and even conversing in such a civil way with such a even-tempered wolf was a rare experience.
She saw the strange dog emerge from behind Hannibal. Just the way he looked with his big ears and peculiar coat made Ladonna smile. Such a funny looking fellow. It was delightful to hear his woof, and Hannibal’s confirmation of Graham’s greeting made Ladonna swish her tail almost in the same time the wild dog did. When the wolf went on to explain their lives within their pack, the female listened attentively and briefly wondered what it was like to be surrounded by the care and security a pack seemed to offer…
For the moment that all were quiet, Ladonna could tell there was something on the male’s mind. In his silence, she admired the happy connection between him and his friend. Hannibal’s smile followed by Graham’s wagging tail warmed Ladonna’s heart. A tiny sparkle might have been seen in her eye as she observed the bond between them.
The words Hannibal chose to use made Ladonna chuckle. He didn’t use “loner,” instead, “traveling.” The she-wolf sat down in the half-dead flower patch and replied, “traveling? I guess you could say that. Only I’ve been traveling for about two years now. Just trying to figure out my place in the world, I guess...” She then glanced over at Graham once again, quickly returning her gaze to Hannibal. In a motherly voice, she said, “allow me to just say that I deeply admire your bond. I wish I could be so lucky as to have such a friend as Graham. He seems very attached to you… Or that could simply be because it’s practically wintertime and he’s freezing to death.” She huffed a laugh, all the while hoping she didn’t just make a dumb mistake in conjuring up a joke.

Word Count:448
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:

[Hannibal]

Hannibal watched the female closely as she began to relax, every part of her seemingly soothed by the simple fact that she was not trespassing. She knew, of course, but his appearance must have shaken her somewhat, and he was glad to see that she could become calm once more. Calm environments were something that most wolves enjoyed and sought out, and Hanni himself was often a soothing wolf to have a conversation with. Even in the midst of battles and fights he was not one to exude stress or fear; indeed, he was not sure he even knew what fear was. Perhaps in his youth, but no longer.

The female sat down finally, crushing flowers as she did, and Hannibal smiled as he followed suit. Graham remained standing, but was pressing himself against the wolf's side still, his body again trembling from the cold. In truth he was being a little dramatic, as was the typical style of the dog, but all the same, he painted a fairly sad picture even with his ears perked atop his head and his tail swishing. "Two years is a long time to go without a true home," Hannibal said in response to her current life, some pity evident in his even tone. "Though lots of wolves seem to share that story from their past. We all must wander to find out what we truly need."

Truth rang in his words, for it had taken him a similarly long time to find where he belonged. Airila was so much unlike his old home, full of caring and kind wolves, that he couldn't believe there were not more creatures calling this land home. The pack was not small, by  any means, but neither was it very impressive. Perhaps it was all the better for its small size. At any rate, it had been exactly what Hanni had needed, likely right when he needed it. When he realized he desired a true home, Airila had practically been placed at his feet.

When she spoke of his bond with Graham, the wolf flashed a bright and genuine grin, pleased by her observation. "We have been friends a long time. I rely on him as much as he relies on me, truth be told," he laughed, tapping the dog lightly on the top of the head with the bottom of his jaw, a familiar and affectionate gesture. "I found him by chance, and we have not been apart since. I'm incredibly lucky to have him." The words caused Graham to lower his head as though in embarrassment, and he pressed the top of his skull into Hannibal's shoulder to emphasize the feeling, which elicited another laugh from the hefty wolf.

Turning back to the female, Hannibal raised his eyebrows at her, suddenly curious. "Have you given any thought to settling down? Or are you satisfying your wanderlust until something catches your eye?" Though he was no ambassador, Hanni felt obligated to mention to this loner that pack life in Airila was good and fair, especially if she was searching for a home. She was kind and unique, and Arche would no doubt welcome her to his home with as much hospitality as he had Hannibal and Graham. "Airila is growing still, and my alpha is as good a leader as any I have encountered."

Words || 573
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || Aww look at Hannibal trying to be nice.

[Ladonna]

When Hannibal sat down as Ladonna did, it gave her this pleasant feeling… Like time was slowed and there was no need to challenge herself or race against time or else she might starve or be defeated or something. She thought of this life as a loner, being so alone for so long and always feeling like there is something to be done. “I have to get to the hunting ground before dark.” “I have to find a way to pass this territory without being noticed.” And other such thoughts. It wasn’t an easy life, this Ladonna knew since a very young age. Over time, it’s just become a little less unbearable. Could just be because she’s grown used to the routine. Honestly, she probably couldn’t describe the difference between this life and her only time with packlife. That difference was rather thin...
Hannibal’s sympathizing comforted Ladonna that much more. Oh it was so nice to hold such simple, delightful conversation… The female relished it genuinely. She nodded to his way of explaining a lone wolf’s journey. A thought to the side rambled on about Ladonna’s dreams of someday knowing real packlife and having a family. She wondered if this was the thing she needed, but she really didn’t know. It could be that she was too young to understand what it means to need versus want something. In this lonely life and the last abusive one, Ladonna only knew survival. If there was one thing the clueless female actually knew, it was that she did not want either of those things: the need to struggle and the need to bully.
She wanted to contribute to Hannibal’s saying that he was lucky to have Graham, but she felt it best not to say anything. It very well could be that he already knew his luck and appreciated his time with his wild dog friend. Silently, she continued to gush about their bond and even laughed in sync with the male when Graham made this adorable, affectionate gesture.
Momentarily, Ladonna decided that she liked these two. She liked how kind they were. Hannibal was the first friendly wolf-face she’d met in quite a while, and it made the female very happy to have such enjoyable company. She wished that this would last, and that was when the male asked about her thoughts on possibly joining Airila. A tiny part of her that was still a pup leaped out of its seat and rejoiced. Ladonna’s tail gave a wag, her ears twitched, her head tilted slightly, and her eyes lit up; an immediate change in physical manner. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say. “Well,” she began. “I’ve been wandering in search of some kind of better life. Honestly, I guess I’ve really been looking for a pack to take me in.” This was very true, as she pretty much cut out that whole “find a mate and live happily ever after” thing. Her parents demonstrated how well that tends to turn out… Ladonna continued with a smile. “I wouldn’t mind a bit seeing if I can fit into your pack.”
She really wanted to jump up and down and hug Hannibal, thanking him a million times. Quickly, a negative doubt crept into her mind. Ladonna knew that this pack may not actually take liking to her, and she may be casted out in the first few days, but she wanted to try. She wanted to know her purpose in this world. She wanted to contribute to the greater of a collective society. In her heart, she felt that her place lied within the ranking of a pack. Most of all, Ladonna just wanted someplace to call home.

Word Count: 646
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: Hanni is a darlin' :3 And now I need to research up on what it takes to get into a pack XD I would absolutely love to see lil' ol' Ladonna join Airila

[Hannibal]

The wolf before him was very expressive with her body language, more so than most, and Hannibal valued that open honesty in her. Most wolves would at least attempt to hide their feelings behind a mask of tense muscles and careful faces, but Ladonna did no such thing. Her fear, her peace, and her excitement were all plain as day as he gazed at her, and he had no trouble deciphering how she was reacting to his words and presence. While he did not mind and was very adept at figuring out what it was wolves were trying to hide from him, it was nice to not need to expend any mental energy for a time.

The excitement that she expressed upon hearing about the pack was as uplifting to Hannibal as it seemed to be to Ladonna, causing the smile on his muzzle to widen. It had not been hard for him to tell that she was not the type who could wander forever--not only because very few wolves really could, but because of the way she had willingly accepted his presence and immediately adapted herself to the conversation. It was clear the wolf was looking for something, even if she didn't truly know it herself. These were the things that Hanni was adept at reading in others, and he had lived his life keeping those skills sharp.

"It can take a long time to figure out what you're running toward, but your heart always knows," Hannibal said in response to her words, while Graham turned his face toward her and woofed again, as though to encourage her. "If you'd like to take a look at Airila and what it has to offer, I would be happy to lead you to the edge of the territory. Or, if you'd rather, I can point you in the right direction. Either way, you will need to meet with Arche first. He ultimately will decide whether you fit with the pack or not--but rest assured he is kind and accepting."

He paused a moment, lifting himself from the ground and shaking out his pelt in a smooth, practiced motion. When he was finished, he stretched slightly, readying his muscles as, regardless of what she chose, he knew he should be on his way back as well. "What would you like to do, Ladonna? If you need more time to decide, I can direct you and be on my way, and you can take as long as you need to figure out what you're interested in." His yellow eyes met her slightly lighter ones, urging her to make a decision while trying not to be imposing. Hannibal did not want to force her into a decision if she was not ready.

Words || 571
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || If you want to join, send Rita a PM on the account Arche and let her know! We could continue this thread near Airila land and have her pop in or Hanni can direct her to the pack lands and you can do a joining thread with just Ladonna and Arche. It's simple, you just have to play it out IC. (:

[Ladonna]

Hannibal’s words of wisdom really made Ladonna stop and think about what he was saying. He pretty much summarized and answered all the internal conflict going on in her. Not knowing where her wants and needs were taking her but somehow knowing it was the right way… For once in a very long time, she felt sincerely enlightened, even if it was just a little bit. She smiled and nodded, trying to show agreement while remaining in deep thought. She only felt it respectful to show her continuing engagement in the conversation. Graham’s encouraging woof seemed to seal her positive mindfulness. When the male mentioned Airila again, her full attention was caught. Confronting an alpha sounded so intimidating… Besides her vicious father, she had never spoken to or even looked an alpha in the eyes. Still, she was determined to go through with this and at least receive some kind of response. Though a rejection would probably sting to hell and back, the thought of being accepted would be all that much more rewarding.
Ladonna watched Hannibal shake his pelt. He had this strange grace as he did so, and it gave Ladonna a subtle chill in her spine. She had an assorted appreciation for natural movement and motions patterning to the primitive. The female could pretend to be as sophisticated and reserved as she wanted, but her poetic heart spoke above all other manners… Even when Ladonna preferred it’d pipe down and keep quiet.
When Hannibal stood, ready to be on his way, Ladonna rose to standing up on four feet in an instant. She couldn’t see herself walking into the territory by herself, subject to whatever Arche had to dish out to stranger lone wolves. That, and Ladonna simply wished to remain beside the canine duo. Their presences comforted her like a blanket might comfort a small child. Ladonna knew very well what she wanted to do, but she was doubtlessly nervous to speak on it. She mutualized his gaze on her. “I know what I want to do,” she said with a soft yet confident voice. “I, uh,” she tried to summon some artificial courage. “I’ll head to edge of the territory, but I’d feel more comfortable and safer if I had someone to guide me there. I mean, I know where it is, but I’m...” Ladonna had no idea it would be this difficult to admit to her fear of facing a stranger alpha. For her, admitting to any sort of fear of her’s was a challenge. “I have a suspicion that your alpha may try to attack me if I just wonder in on my own.” A silence was exchanged before she furthered her explanation. “I think it may be safer for me if you could bring me to the territory. If you don’t mind.” She felt like she was rambling unnecessarily. This strange fear of rejection, not only from Arche but also from Hannibal, made her fumble her sentences. She wasn’t normally this skittish. She hated it.
In saying all of this, she knew she’d have to confront the alpha on her own, but she wished to stay by Hannibal and Graham just a little while longer. Friendly faces were of value to Ladonna, so just turning around, saying goodbye, and not thinking twice about it was a bit of an impossibility for her. Another emotional anchor of her’s that she did not admire about herself.

Word Count: 572
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: I PM’d her :3 I think we should carry out this roleplay up to the edge of the territory. I’ll have Ladonna sort of “take off” after thanking Hanni. Then I can start a thread in Airila claimed land with Arche tagged. Thank ye, btw >w<

[Hannibal]

Though she said that she knew, Hannibal worried for a moment that Ladonna was not, in fact, sure about her future needs. But her confidence returned a second later, and she boldly spoke that she would like to at least get to the edge of the territory and go from there, which was a step in the right direction. When she mentioned potentially being attacked, however, the large wolf's lip turned down and his ears dropped slightly, everything about his own demeanor expressing displeasure at the thought. "Arche would never, unless you posed a threat to him or his own," he said softly, concerned that she would immediately think something like that.

He returned his face to neutral and nodded at her a few seconds later, though he did not smile again. "I would be happy, still, to walk you to the edge of the territory. But you must summon Arche yourself." With that he stepped forward, brushing past her as he began in the direction of Airila lands. Graham followed closely, but turned as they passed the female and yipped at her, as though to encourage her until she followed. The trio made a funny picture, two wolves and an african wild dog, but it was a comfortable walk for Hannibal at least.

"Can I ask why it is that you would assume an alpha to attack you for no reason?" Hanni asked bluntly, turning briefly to look over at Ladonna as they moved through the dead, decaying field and toward the forest. As he was not terribly adept at knowing what was a polite question and what was a rude one, it did not occur to him that the question would potentially upset or offend her. When her reaction came, perhaps, he would understand, but as it was, he simply was curious about why she was so nervous to meet an alpha.

Typically, most packs were fairly accepting of other wolves asking to speaking with them so long as they did not trespass, and Hannibal was intending to bring her to the edge of the lands and leave her there, not to bring her all the way inside. "He really is a kind wolf, I cannot imagine him attacking you for asking to join the pack," he added after a beat, and again Graham piped up with a small agreeable bark. The alpha had not even batted an eye at the pair; the only question he had asked was if Hannibal's seizures would ever endanger the rest of the pack, and he had asked it kindly. Arche did not likely have an unkind bone in his body when it came to wolves who treated him with respect.

Words || 459
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || Okay! I hope this is alright, I would have responded poorly if I couldn't have gotten Hannibal going and I ghosted her going with him. (:

[Ladonna]

Seeing Hannibal’s facial expression shift from a smile to a bit of a frown caused Ladonna’s chest to tighten. Perhaps she offended him in speaking of his alpha in the way she saw her father… Dummy, not all alphas are like your piece of crap father! She internally scolded herself, perhaps unnecessarily. Either way, she felt that it was the appropriate way to go about making such a mistake. It was the only way she knew how to get over anything…
In the male’s instruction that he would lead Ladonna to the territory but let her on her own to confront Arche alone, she nodded, trying to display her respect and attentiveness. In this moment, she felt more submissive and vulnerable than usual. Could’ve been from her own inner self-punishment. Ladonna would defend feeling this way with something along the lines of “I deserve to feel scolded” or “making myself feel this way teaches me a lesson.” She was all about character building, but her methods were always a bit misguided. She couldn’t help it, really. She knew no other way.
Ladonna turned about and sided Hannibal, keeping a respectful distance. Quickly, she attempted to resume feeling “confident.” Her physical expression became more relaxed and her eyes returned to their “constantly tired” look. That was probably her most signature feature - her eyes. She always looked like she was a million miles away in her head. Her mother used to ask if she was okay because there was almost never a time Ladonna wasn’t spacing out, staring off into the distance, or looking excessively tired. Of course, Ladonna responded the same way every time. With a slightly angsty, “yes, I’m fine.” Graham’s little bark brought her back from her memories.
The hefty male caught her off guard with a question, but she was quick to switch her attention. Approaching the forest, Ladonna summoned some understandable reasons for why she would think harshly of alphas. She knew exactly why, but it was a touchy subject… Remembering her family and everything they put each other through was like having your teeth pulled one by one. You can’t not pay attention to it, but you don’t want to. She wasn’t ashamed of her family, but she was ashamed of the way she came out to be thanks to them. She really did care for her brother and her mother and her father and-- the little white pup named Sassa. Stop. Don’t think about that. Don’t think about that…
Hannibal told her about Arche’s behavior towards others wanting to join Airila, and thank god he starting talking when he did, because Ladonna needed something to distract herself with. But again, she could not escape the question. She needed to answer Hannibal somehow.
“I apologize for thinking of your leader as violent though I haven’t even met him yet.” She began. “My experience with alphas has been rough. My father, who just happened to be the wolf most in charge of my family, was quite abusive… Which is why I left.” Yes. Good, Ladonna. That was good. Don’t think too much about it… These were the words she told herself. These encouragements kept her sane. Now was not the time to have an episode - not in front of the only wolf who has shown her any sort of kindness in ages. She’d ruin her chances for a real home for sure. After her response, she seemed to sort of shut down. Ladonna reached for some kind of mental distraction to squash her memories to prevent an involuntary outburst or something...

Word Count: 622
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: Totally alright >w< Poor Ladonna is losin’ it ;-;

[Hannibal]

After he asked his question and explained, Hannibal waited for a moment for a response from the wolf next to him. She seemed lost in thought, and Hanni guessed it was not good thoughts she was running back through. The male had his own bad memories himself, though his detachment from emotion meant that, even if he chose to relive those times from his past, they would not have the same effect that Ladonna's memories seemed to be having on her.

Finally the female came back to herself, and Hannibal felt a bit of pity for her as she explained her reservations about meeting another alpha. She even apologized, which was unnecessary, but which solidified in his mind that he needed to continue to reassure her. "Arche is fair and kind to all. As you are respectful yourself, he will be respectful to you," he said with complete confidence, turning to look at her as he spoke in order to drive the point home. "You have nothing to fear, Ladonna. But if you would like, I can hover nearby and oversee the meeting. If having someone else as witness would make you feel better, that is."

Hopefully that would placate her, ease her fears, as the two seemed to be developing a friendship not unlike his friendship with Calantha. The coyote was different, it was true, but she and Ladonna were similarly kind and Hannibal liked the conversation offered by both. As such, the wolf felt the need to share with Ladonna as well. "I was abused by family when I was a pup, too," he said in an even tone, turning back forward to watch where he was going as they hit the tree line. "My mother didn't care for the way I couldn't control my physical health, and so she spoke down to me and berated me. I left after she attacked me the first time with her teeth."

It did not cost him anything to reveal such things, even to a stranger; Hannibal did not feel any remorse or sadness for his past tragedies, not did he mind telling others about them so long as it were relevant. If, upon hearing about his own past, she could feel better about her own--not because his was worse, since it surely was not, but because she was not alone--Hannibal would freely tell her anything she might need to hear, and especially anything she asked him.

Words || 419
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || Oh Lordy I feel like my replies are so SHORT I'm sorry!

[Ladonna]

Ladonna tried to imagine Arche. A tall, strong, noble male, she thought of. Years of experience with a share of woes. Regal demeanor… This was the character she placed in her mind; of course, in reality, this wasn’t really the truth. But from the way Hannibal explained this alpha, he seemed to be everything Maarku was not. No, Ladonna’s father was jaded, short-tempered, narrow-minded, selfish… Hanni’s attempt to raise her spirits was working. If Arche really was the way that the male described, Ladonna was pretty sure she had nothing to fear. She gave a huff, exhaling some stress. She replied to Hannibal’s offer to accompany her while she met with the alpha. “Thank you, but I feel like this is something I need to do on my own. From the way you describe Arche, I have faith that I will be just fine.” She felt genuinely sure of herself in saying this.
Ladonna felt somewhat privileged to be hearing Hannibal explain his own past though she never asked. She knew very well that he was trying to sympathize with her in a way that would allow her to feel less alone, being left with such unpleasant memories… His tone and blunt manner in speaking about his abusive mother sort of revealed to Ladonna that he was not affected by the past. She deeply admired this trait: letting the past be the past. She could only pray to someday be as internally balanced as Hannibal was. Seeing that such a strong and stable wolf could move on from the hardships of life gave Ladonna some sort of hope that she too would move on someday… Maybe when she is happier. Maybe when she has friends. Maybe when life isn’t so difficult… Maybe then, those damned memories would mind their own business.
Hannibal made her smile. In this moment, she felt like some strange form of friendship had been made. This encouraged a thought. If Arche accepted her- No. When Arche would accept her, at least she had one wolf she could confide in… Granted that Ladonna was reading this conversation correctly.
“I have no idea why any parent would punish her child for something like that…” Said the female in an empathized voice. “I never received any beatings from my father, but he loved to fight my mother and scold me for defending myself against my bully of a brother. I just couldn’t put up with it anymore.” Ladonna quickly realized something… This was the first time she ever vocalized her memories. It felt good. It was like all of the prolonged pressing stress was released from her chest and shoulders at once. “My brother and I… We fought over everything. Food. Sleeping space. Parental attention. Anything and everything. But when we fought, we shed blood. I tore his ear. It was… A brutal life.” Ladonna’s voice trembled in the end, but she wanted to conclude her thought. “I realize now how wrong I was in sinking to his level. In Airila, I hope to find some sort of purpose. I want to better myself and better those around me. I feel like I can.”
Ladonna hoped that Hannibal didn’t receive her thoughts and ambitions as pointless or childish, but even if he did, she wanted to hang onto it. Purpose. That’s what she wanted. Now she knew for sure.

Word Count: 583
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: No worries XD It actually makes things easier to follow, if that makes sense lol

[Hannibal]

At the reassurance that she would face Arche alone with confidence, Hannibal nodded, hoping she would have the nerve to follow through. While she had seemed flighty at first, Ladonna was gaining confidence and the male was becoming sure that she would be just fine. Perhaps all it took was a little urging from outside sources to get her feeling better about unknown situations. "As you wish, Ladonna," he said with a small smile, turning back to look forward again as they weaved through the trees along deer paths carved into the grass.

Shortly after he turned away from her, the female began to reveal her own past, and his face fell back into his regular expression of concentration and thought. Graham, steady at his side but opposite Ladonna, seemed too preoccupied with keeping close to his companion to listen, but his ears perked slightly as he, too, took in the harshness that had been her past. The words flowed from her easily, it seemed, but perhaps there was more feeling behind it than there had been when Hannibal had spoken of his own. Nonetheless, it was a pivotal sort of moment for the trio, and the burly wolf tucked the information away as he did with everything for future reference.

"It is a hard life, to fight for everything," he responded simply, nodding his head. While he had been close to everyone except his mother, she had made all of their lives hell, and had forced Hannibal to close himself off and the rest to lament out loud. It was a blessing, that his mental deficits had allowed him an escape, but it had made soothing his siblings and father much harder--in fact, he had never mastered it. Trying to calm someone who was upset was incredibly hard for someone who did not understand what being upset was like. But that did not mean he could not try.

"Airila is not a place where fighting is necessary. We live in a land of peace for now, food is plentiful, and everyone I have met thus far has been incredibly kind and helpful. I cannot imagine a situation in which pack mates would fight over anything," he added once she had finished, glad to cling to a different topic. Facts he could speak about just fine; it was feelings that Hannibal was ignorant of. "We are almost there. Is there anything else you would like before I leave you here?" he asked, pausing near a large tree and turning to look at the wolf beside him, wondering where she would make herself at home.

Words || 443
Tags || Ladonna
Notes || I hope you don't mind if we wrap this up soon? It seemed appropriate. (:

[Ladonna]

She followed Hannibal through the forest, keeping good pace at his side. She was impressed by his intuitiveness on how to get to Shyia in such a short amount of time. Ladonna had patrolled the territory before and seen the sizeable pack, but she never dared to get any closer than 50 feet. Further and further they went into the chilly forest. Any day now, it would begin to snow for the first time this year. Ladonna loved the cold weather. She anticipated the snowy days spent with the pack.
She nodded in agreement to Hannibal’s statement about life being difficult when you have to fight for everything. She felt that any loner would agree on that. Hannibal’s describing Airila furthered Ladonna’s comfortability with attempting to join the pack. No fighting or bickering or brawling… No drama among pack members. It sounded like an answered prayer.
The trio furthered through the forest for quite a stretch of time. She could smell the increasing scent of territory markers lingering in the air. In the break in the trees branches above, she observed the sky becoming grey. Butterflies writhed around in Ladonna’s stomach momentarily in realizing that the time to separate from her new friends was fast approaching. The jitters were very present, but she was far too determined to take up this opportunity to turn back. She took a deep breath.
They paused at the base of a massive tree. In the distance lied the Airila territory. Ladonna looked over to the male at the same time he began to speak to her again. She knew this would likely be the moment they parted ways. She smiled at Hannibal and his african friend. “I’d like to thank you both for shedding some light on my life. I feel very good about this confrontation. Thank you, Hannibal, for giving me the confidence I needed to get this far.” Ladonna spoke politely and sincerely. She stepped forward, looking out to Shyia and standing beside the great tree. “I think I can take it from here.”

Word Count: 351
Tag(s): Hannibal
Muse:
Notes: My thoughts exactly >w< Perhaps this will be my second before last post. Hanni could respond, and then Ladonna will finish this thread off? :3