Sometimes you just have to ask; Open (continued)

[revan]

Revan grinned at Sapphire's comment on her name. "I've never really thought about it," she said, turning her paws towards the Niall Caverns. "It's always just been my name, I've never associated it with anything else." Revan carefully matched her pace with Sapphire's, although she could move much faster without even having to consciously watch her steps. She kept a watch on the Arctic female's steps, ready to help if it was needed. Luckily, the path to the caves was relatively flat and straight. Revan placed her paws confidently, even though visibility was near zero. A glance at Sapphire made Revan grin again. While Revan could tell that the Arctic wolf still walked beside her, she could hardly see Sapphire through the rain. "Wow," she said, her eyes glittering. "With that coat, in this weather, someone could mistake you for a ghost." Revan was joking, but the sentiment was there. Many white wolves had a supernatural air about them. Revan's own views on the idea that spirits of the deceased could and would hang around were pretty much non-existent. She had no opinion one way or the other. Until a spirit showed itself to her, Revan would remain unconcerned.

Revan thought about the various white wolves she'd met over her travels. She didn't envy them when hunting at night. That's where having a dark coat was advantage. But then, Revan had never tried hunting in thick snow. There, she would probably stand out.

Revan's ears twitched as she caught a change in the sound of the wind. That's not good.... "Sapphire, we're going to have to pick up the pace. The temperature's dropping and the wind is picking up."

[sapphire]

Sapphire’s eyes could barely break through the rain that flowed unchanging through the air around them. It was without sense, or care, its only mission was to fall – and fall it did. Spiralling about them until she felt she was walking on water itself, each step was forced through its strength, and her already tired body cried out for the punishment she dealt to it with each step. She knew she her pace was probably swaying, but with what felt like her timeless experience in the water she didn’t want to push on much longer. Her promise to never give up could not be forgotten with the way in played over in her mind – it was the tune she walked to.

The wolf she followed commented on Sapphire’s remark to her name – Revan – it was such a familiarity to herself that she never thought to question it. Fair enough – why the white wolf was named for the colour blue she was not sure. Something about the way she was the last light in her mothers light before she died... she guessed she was lucky she wasn’t called gold. A somewhat emotionless response to the thought about her dead mother – but the young wolf was yet to forgive the one that bore her, for all the wrongs she committed to the unborn pup, and her unwillingness to live through the pain of her mate’s death.

Revan spoke then of ghosts, and a shiver that had entirely nothing to do with the rain crept through her spin. Imagining the ghost of Sea – her arctic mother – coming through the icy rain towards her was enough to cause that. She shook it free of her as the other spoke of the heavy rain and icy wind. To Sapphire it all felt the same, she was numb to it’s cold touch now – and she knew this was not a good thing. Wordlessly – she hadn’t the breath to talk – she moved faster, and faster through the rain until there was the threat of slippy on the icy cold ground.

[revan]

The icy rain was coming down in sheets and showed no signs of letting up. Revan's heart sank as the sun dropped below the horizon. Revan kept a concerned eye on Sapphire, noting that the Arctic female's breathe was ragged. That's not good, she thought, emerald eyes narrowing in concern. If we don't get out of this rain soon, Sapphire will end up with pneumonia, and, even if I get her back home, chances are she'll die. Revan had no idea what was pushing her to care so much for this wolf who she barely knew. Maybe it was the look in her eyes that was so familiar to the one Revan herself had warn on occasion: Don't give up, don't give him/them/anyone the satisfaction. Revan's 'him' was her father, the one who abandoned her just because she was small. A part of her mind wondered who Sapphire's ghost was, who she was fighting against. But Revan wouldn't ask. That was just too personal.

Finally, finally, their destination came into view. "There!" Revan called, her voice loud to be heard through the noise of the pounding rain. She gestured with a paw to the opening in the hillside that was a few feet in front of them. When Revan stumbled inside, the absence of the heavy pounding rain made her feel strangely light, as if she was going to float off the ground. Shaking the strange thought away, Revan gave herself a vigorous shake, removing much of the water from her outer coat. Turning to Sapphire, she spoke. "Shake the water off here, then we'll go deeper." She moved out of the way so as not to be soaked again when Sapphire shed the water from her own fur.

[sapphire]

Sapphire was surprised to realised she could hear the sound of her husky breath over the storm. Or maybe it was because of it that it became so loud. Like the sound of one’s blood rushing through there ears, the more enclosed the storm made her feel, the more dominate her breath became. Each painstaking huff was a hum through her body, a beat to the words of encouragement she walked by. As they made there way onwards her thoughts could only fall to there surroundings, how the range one can see in the thick, pouring rain is by design limited. When the sun begins to drop below the horizon however, even the sharp sight of a wolf can have trouble simply seeing the ground they walked on and the one that lead the way before them. This was the conclusion Sapphire found herself reached as the sun did indeed begin to fall. Revan became a blur, the ghost that they had spoken of before.

The shadow before her, the ghost of Raven opened her mouth, she could see the shadow’s of this movement through the rain, the dark shape about her mussel that widened and knew the other to be speaking, but the words where taken from her. The rain was a torrent about her now. It raged against her, and her paws struggled to take even one more step. Her vision blurred against the rain – for surely it couldn’t be tears against her eyes – and she felt that rain, gravity... Life was hammering at her now. Pushing her down, ‘you are not worthy’ was the crystal clear message the wind was screaming in her ears. Revan was pointing now, pointing at something in the distance. Or rather, it seemed distance – like a thousand more steps wouldn’t even bring her close. The truth of course was far less traumatising then the illusion of the mind. Pushing herself those last few steps she felt as through the world was spinning. Did the thousand drops of rain even fall down, or was it towards the sky they spiralled?

Walking into the cave was the eeriest experience she had even known in her young life. The thick and heavy drops of rain seemed to fall away behind her as she staggered into the clear cave. One moment, there was nothing but water, and the next it had brushed away and all she was left with was a coat that weighed enough to sink a boat. Revan had made the passage before her and already she was shaking her coat free, flickers of water where barely felt as they touched her coat, soaked to the skin already as she was.

Now that the journey was over, and she had won – she had won! she felt strangely empty. The adrenaline melted away and she sagged, and would have fallen against the cold stone floor if it hadn’t been for a shaky movement of one paw to catch herself. She attempted to shake free the water, but there was so little energy in the movement that only a small, and pitiful amount fell free. Not even enough to full a leaf. The wolf encouraged her to move further into the cave – screw that. Sapphire gave up the attempt to keep herself afloat. She sagged fully this time, and the cave floor came rushing up to greet her.
After that, there was only darkness...

[revan]

Revan cursed sharply as Sapphire collapsed, leaping forwards and grabbing the other's scruff to stop her from slamming her head on the hard stone of the cave floor. With a silent sigh, Revan gently dragged Sapphire deeper into the cave and began the task of getting the water out of the Arctic's fur. Sapphire's coat was even thicker than hers, so the task would be a long one. Of course, seeing as they couldn't go anywhere until the storm cleared, they had the time. As Revan's rough tongue combed the water out of Sapphire's fur, the black female thought about the last time she had been groomed by another.

Awkward paws stumbled and thin legs folded as young Revan collapsed to the cave floor. The Grey elder looked down at the adolescent's attempts to rise and snorted. "Stay down, young one," he told her with a sigh. "We shall go no further tonight." Revan dropped back down to the floor in relief.

This old Grey loner had offered to let her travel with him for a time, as they were going in the same direction. Half-asleep with exhaustion, Revan nearly jumped out of her fur when she felt the old Grey's tongue comb across her back. He gave her a look and she meekly submitted to his ministrations. The gentleness of the grooming lulled her towards sleep once more, but before she completely slipped from the waking world, she thought she heard the Grey's voice, speaking softly, as if to himself. "Oh little one. You shouldn't be here like this; you should be playing with your packmates, not struggling to survive on your own. Well, I can't give you that, but at least I can give you this much. Let it be enough." Revan tried to speak, but the pull of sleep was too strong and she slipped into the comforting darkness of dreams.

Pulling her thoughts out of the past, Revan continued to groom Sapphire. Practice for what's to come, I suppose, she thought wryly. Idly, she wondered what had happened to the kind old Grey. They had separated a few days later, she turning east, he continuing north. Had he found what he was looking for? Revan would never know. For now, she would be content to think of him with thanks for what he had done for her.

[sapphire]

Dreams where always weary, where the world could stand with everything hanging downwards and it would make perfect sense in the moment. The mind was a strange, strange thing when impossibilities felt the norm. To Sapphire the moment was a fall, an endless drop where she felt she may never even meet the ground. The rain around her was like a river, pushing her down, down, harder and harder. Her paws scrambled against the air, but with nothing to hold against, with up being down and down being up, her attempts here futile. Her movements became jerkier, more frantic. She could barely catch a breath through the heave of water. It was a nightmare, a never ending nightmare that drove her down. The sense of falling was eerily realising, she could hear the wind rushing against her ears like a continuous jagged intake of breath. She could feel the movement of the water petering away at her side like the rough touch of a tongue against her fur. Little did she know that all the way back in realty these things where in the moment, they where real. Her new found friend, her saviour, drew her tongue against Sapphire’s fur, taking away the water, and it was her breath that Sapphire felt rushing about her.

The truth was twisted past recognition in a dream however, and Sapphire’s mussel fell open as the ground became so suddenly visible beneath her, a looming mass of death she couldn’t escape from. Her lungs heaved with the effort to cry out, but no sound was forthcoming. Closer, and closer, the shape continued to grow. Moments passed, and then time was upon her...
She fell

Sapphire woke with a rough jerk, a soft, drunken cry emitting from her vocals. She breathed in, sharp, once and once more. Watery eyes took in her surroundings, to see the dreary dark of the cave, the putter of distant water, the feel of a presence close to her. She was safe, someone, the dream had driven her to a reality worth living for. She began to struggle to her paws, but felt a weight pressing down upon her and realised it was Reven, her friend, the one that sat there calmly grooming her. It seemed this wolf was destined to always save her, had pulled her into the warm safety available in the deeper part of the cave. This wolf had watched over her, cared for her, well she slept. She swallowed, over calm with emotion for a moment. This was strange; Sapphire was unaccustomed to another caring for her, to wake to the comfort of a friend and knowing she was being cared for. She wasn’t use to weakness either, to the idea that she needed the aid being supplied to her.
How could she thank her? This guardian angel. she wanted to say so much, but could think of nothing that would truly portray her thoughts. Instead she said nothing, remained in silence as she gathered the strength to stand.

[revan]

Revan raised her eyebrows when Sapphire struggled out of sleep. "Easy, easy. You were dreaming," she soothed."Stay down," she suggested, shaking her head when Sapphire attempted to stand. A glance toward the cave entrance and a shift in the sound of the wind told Revan that the storm had reached it's peak. "Ah. The storm has reached it's peak. It should clear by morning." Emerald eyes glittered and Revan's white teeth showed as the black female yawned hugely. "I'm going to get some sleep. You might want to do the same and get some more. I'll be here if you need anything - I'm a light sleeper." Curling up, Revan closed her eyes, slipping into a light yet restful sleep almost immediately.

---

Revan woke to the glitter of sunlight. True to her prediction, the storm had cleared itself out sometime during the night. Casting her gaze around, Revan smiled at the sight of Sapphire's white form. The Arctic female was sleeping soundly. Revan frowned for a moment. She didn't really want to wake the other, but she wasn't one to just disappear, either. Finally, she sighed. She really did have to get back to Haishin's territory. Padding over, she gently prodded Sapphire until the other wolf opened her grey eyes blearily. "I'm heading out. I have to get back to my territory. Stay here until you're ready to get back on your paws. This place is unclaimed, so you won't have to worry about trespassing. For food, I suggest you seek the dens of small creatures. Many rabbits and others hibernate around here, and their dens are relatively easy to find." Revan walked out into the sunlight. She paused for a moment at the cave's entrance, tossing a somewhat lopsided smile over her shoulder at Sapphire. "See you around, Sapphire. Try not to fall into more rivers. It seriously ruins one's day."

With that parting comment, Revan loped into the rocky expanse, heading for home.

Exit Revan

{Sorry if I'm power-playing Sapphire a bit here, Sea. I had to get Revan out of there, and this was the only way I could think of.}