Long Journey (OPEN)

[Kenai]

His journey has been long and hard. Endless searching and nothing was turning up for any spark of hope. He missed his sister, he couldn't wait to meet up with her again and start heading north.

The hard ground beneath his feet was solid and strangely cold, probably from the crashing waters around him. It was oddly relaxing to hear the waves break over the ragged surface he was treading on. After the dogged journey he has had so far, it was nice to let his mind relax. He has been drained mentally, tense and tired.

Physically, he was still very strong. A little more lean then when he and his sister left their homeland. He has forgotten to hunt on several occasions because of his complete concentration on what he came here to do, whom it was he came to find. That being so, thick muscles still enwrapped his form, his power still quite obvious in his movements.

Burnt orange eyes watched for what was coming next, focused in front with little side-to-side movement. Posture was tall, non-threatening. Big paws padding heavily, one in front of the other, eating up the distance at a comfortable trot.

He wasn't optimistic about this trip, he has met only one wolf since he came to this island, besides his sister. So many scents proved this place was populated by many wolves, but Kenai just seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to meeting anyone for answers.

Deciding to try something new, he stopped and looked up to the sky. A deep, clear howl issued from his throat, calling anyone who bothered to listen. Echoes died into silence, Kenai didn't even know if it was worth the effort. He stared up for a few moments after the silence continued but heard only the sound of the waves. Looking back to the earth, he continued on, looking for signs of any one who may have heard his call.

Word Count: 331

OOC: Anyone welcome.

[Deleted]

The day was beautiful. Sunlight warmed the air and glistened on the water, throwing light in every direction. Tchiya tried to hold back a grin as she padded along, but it wasn't worth the trouble. What harm was there in being optimistic? The young female had only just set out from home. The possibilities that lay ahead of her were infinite. She could do anything now. She could meet anyone. She could go anywhere. 

    Lost in the blissful feeling of freedom, Tchiya tilted her head toward the sky and smiled at the clouds. They were drifting by lazily today. The air was very still, which allowed every sound to travel to her ears. The snowy girl picked her pace up to a trot, giggling lightly as some birds flew overhead. Then she dropped her gaze to the blackened beach at her paws. The volcanic stone was blacker than anything she'd ever seen. She stopped and slipped down onto her haunches, distracted for a moment by the stunning contrast between her paws and the ground beneath them. Ebony and ivory. The colors couldn't be more different, and yet they worked together so beautifully.

    Suddenly, a powerful sound ripped through the silence around her. Tchiya rose to her feet in an instant, with her ears alert and her hackles raised. She hadn't been paying attention. Here she was, frolicking and daydreaming, when a strange wolf was nearby? She couldn't believe she'd let herself be so careless.

    Tchiya could hear her father's voice in her head, telling her that there were wolves in this world that would not always be kind. Some wolves would want to hurt her. But when that happened, she would be prepared. She was more muscular than most wolves already, and her fighting skills only gave her an extra advantage. But this was different.

    Tchiya's hackles relaxed as she listened to the howl. It sounded so beautiful, like it held an entire wordless story in its rises and falls. As it died away and echoed across the water, she realized that the wolf sounded lonely. Her legs began to move of their own accord, carrying her closer to the strange wolf. Soon she could taste a scent in the air. It was distinctly male, and though that would make most females wary, Tchiya was only curious. She had never known a male other than her father. What would this wolf be like?

    Her strong white figure moved into view as she trotted closer to the male. He was stacked with muscle and covered in layers of multicolored fur. She was still about a hundred yards away, but she could faintly make out the array of colors on the male's pelt, from the grays and whites to the dusty browns. He looked tired.

    What would he think of her? Tchiya yelped lightly in greeting, her maw parting to reveal a friendly pink tongue. She leapt into a comfortable jog, closing the distance between them. When she was close enough to see the shade of deep tangerine that was set in his eyes, she stopped. After all, it was smarter to examine the situation and know the wolf before she got too close.

    Hello, sir. Was it your howl I heard? she dipped her head lightly in respect, as her father had taught her. She wanted to show this stranger that she meant no hostility. You sounded like you could use some company. Mind if I were to join you?

    Then, carefully, she smiled at him. From what she could see, he wasn't a danger to her. Maybe this boy would be her first real friend.

- - -

Word count: 615
Notes: First post on Anikira! So excited!!! xD

[Kenai]

At first, he didn't realize the puff of white before him was a fellow wolf. It was so small in the distance, he thought it likely a strange glint off the rock from the bright sun above. But it was growing.

Curious, he kept his eyes riveted on what he now realized to be a living creature. This coupled with the sound of a welcoming little yip, Kenai let himself become excited as well as slightly unsure of himself. It has been so long since he has spoken to someone else, he worried he would forget how to properly communicate with another.

The white speck was taking the form of a fluffy and energetic female. She looked quite sturdy with an obvious strength as she propelled herself towards him. She was a little shorter than him but the difference wasn't drastic. Lastly, he looked at the two bright emerald gems set deep into the pretty snowy face staring back at him.

There it was. Anxiety. Kenai didn't really know what to do with himself, but he was so eager to finally talk to someone.

He shook himself mentally and returned his concentration on the femme as her words reached his ears. "Good day, milady. Yes, that was my voice. Honestly, I didn't think anyone heard me. I thank you for coming and if you would like, you are quite welcome to join me." He returned her bow, his nerves still tight and high but he was trying as best he could.

She smiled at him and that was a good sign. He hoped to keep things on a pleasant level. So far his etiquette still served him well, his earlier fears of being a fumbling idiot were unfounded.

He smiled to himself, his sister would have told him he was being ridiculous for such uncertainty. She had a way of always being optimistic while he did not possess such a gift.

"I am Kenai, a foreigner to Anikira. May I ask your name?" The tip of his tail started to shift from side to side, sign of his good intentions. She didn't seem to have any fear towards him, he just wanted to firmly establish the fact that he meant no harm to her.

Word Count: 374

OOC: YAY!

[Deleted]

Tchiya felt a new warmth in her smile as she heard the male's cordial greeting. Already her nervousness was melting away. Maybe her father was wrong after all. Her expressive green eyes sparked with interest as the wolf introduced himself and asked for her name in return. "Kenai... I like that name. It has something special about it." The girl paused for a moment before continuing. "My name is Tchiya. I was born in these lands."

Now that they had been introduced, Tchiya felt more comfortable. She inched closer to Kenai with silent white paws, watching his expression carefully to make sure she didn't get too close. When she was only a few feet away, she hesitated, smiling shyly at the male. "I hope this isn't too personal, but where are you from if you weren't born here?" She tried to sniff at the air nonchalantly, catching his scent. It was indeed unfamiliar, with a trace of another female lingering on his fur. Tchiya couldn't help but feel her hopes drop, just a little. Most mated males didn't like to stay around other females for long. She had wanted to provide Kenai with some company, but it hadn't crossed her mind that he may not want it.

She considered asking him about that, too, but she didn't want to seem rude. Her head tilted down a bit as she took a step back. She could be overwhelming him. Tchiya blinked and forced a smile onto her face before looking up again. Kenai's rich orange eyes burned into hers, and she tried to make her look of confidence as genuine as possible. Don't worry so much. He said he wanted you to join him. Why would he lie? "I don't know how much of Anikira you've explored, but there's a lot to see. These beaches are a kind of ruined beauty for us. There are some areas that are far prettier than this." 

Snowy ears swung to the side for a second, listening to the sounds of the clapping waves. The breeze was picking up now, but the air was still gentle and mild. The day was still beautiful. Tchiya turned her attention forward and waited - optimistically - for what the boy would say next.

- - -

Word count: 373
Notes: ... I have good feelings about this.

[Kenai]

He felt somewhat bashful as she commented on his name. He never thought anything special about it. Her name on the other hand sounded odd to his ears but it held a wonderful musical quality when spoken.

A native? She might be able to help me.

As she inched closer, his nervousness became more intense. However, he steeled himself to stay put as he did not want to offend her by backing off. Conversation seemed to help him calm down. "I came from a place, across the ocean, east of this island. On very clear days, you can make out a dim landmass in the distance, when you stand on the eastern-most tip of Anikira. Arrived here by swimming."

"As to exploring, I haven't seen much. We landed on that eastern edge and I have walked straight west. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what names certain land are named. You are the second wolf I've met. The first was a small, seemingly afraid male who was also a stranger. As such, he was unable to enlighten me on Anikira." He paused and looked at the surrounding black rock around them, "I wouldn't call it ruined. Misunderstood. True beauty is not always an obvious trait."

A shy smile threatened to curl around his face, but he didn't allow it to take a firm grip. "May I ask if you have ever heard of a male named Kismet? He is a primarily white wolf with greys and some black patched on his pelt. The most memorable physical trait are piercing blue eyes. The blue of a clear summer sky." He realized he was getting a little lost in memories of his puphood. Kismet was Kenai's absolute idol growing up, the younger male wanted to be just like his adored uncle when he got older.

Coming back to the present, Kenai turned his gaze back to the femme with fur the color of moonlight. He didn't have high hopes that she knew exactly who Kismet was. This was an island of considerable size.

"I'm just searching for him, he is my uncle. In a few days, I'm meeting up with Sydas and we are going to start heading north to look for him." He wasn't sure how much information he should impart to her, she may not care. But he thought it better to clear a few things as soon as he could.

Word Count: 402

[Deleted]

    He came from across the ocean. Tchiya lost herself for a moment, thinking of what it must be like in the land Kenai came from. She wondered if it was as beautiful as Anikira was. She wanted to badly to show him all of the wonderful places with their dipping valleys and soaring mountains. The winter sucked the color from the land, leaving it in a frozen state of beauty. She would rather show him around in the spring, when life was everywhere and the colors were rich.

    Tchiya smiled at the male as he spoke of the misunderstood beaches. She shook her head. “That’s not what I meant,” she assured him. “Everything is beautiful in its own way. These blackened rocks hold more history than most.”

    She watched as a shy smile came and went, and then Kenai was speaking again. Kismet? Tchiya felt a flicker of recognition at the name, but she couldn’t remember where she had heard it before. Maybe her father had mentioned it once... but she didn’t know the wolf personally. “Kismet is a name I know from somewhere. I think some of the native wolves have stories about him. But I’ve never had the privilege of meeting him myself.” Tchiya felt a small frown settle on her face. “I’m sorry. I wish I could be of more help to you.”


    Her cheeks felt heated under Kenai’s gaze. He had mentioned the female - Sydas - most likely the female whose scent lingered about him. Tchiya opened her mouth to speak, the words caught in her throat for a moment. Should she ask? Would it matter? Would the answer change anything at all? “Who is Sydas?” she asked finally. “Is she a... friend of yours?”

    As the words entered the air between them, Tchiya convinced herself that it didn’t matter. He wanted her company, and that was all that she needed to know. But a thought strayed in the back of her mind that this uncle of his was very important to him. Perhaps she could help him search. If she racked her brain enough... but there wasn’t anything of significance there. She was trying too hard.


    The female flipped her tail a bit, trying to clear the thoughts from her mind. “What do you plan to do when you find Kismet? If you are going to stay here in Anikira, I suggest you stay until spring. That’s when the forests and meadows are blooming. I would love to show you-”

    The words tumbled out before she could stop them, and then she was biting her lip. She was being overbearing again. Tchiya needed to give this male his space, but who could blame her for getting excited? This was the first wolf she’d met so far, and she didn’t want to miss her opportunity.



    She wanted someone to trust. She wanted a friend.

- - -

Word count: 488
Notes: My graphic is done so maybe next time I can use it!

[Kenai]

Kenai could only take little comfort in what Tchiya had to say about Kismet. Having only heard his name could mean almost anything. Stories of one exist long after death..... He closed his eyes as he could hear his stubborn little sister scold him for thinking such thoughts, she was convinced that Kismet was still alive and well - practically waiting for them to find him. "It's quite alright, Tchiya. I just thought it was worth a shot."

He caught the hesitation in her voice, but couldn't imagine what would cause her to speak in such a manner. "No, she isn't just a friend." He paused, still curious why she all of the sudden seemed cautious. "She is my most beloved sister. We have done almost everything together. Before coming here, we didn't spend a day apart." Even though he missed her dreadfully, he had to admit this trip probably did them some good. Giving them the opportunity to become self-reliant to some extent, instead of relying on each other so heavily. But no matter what, Kenai would always be protective and there for Sydas.

Then he was stumped. He never thought what he would do if they find him. He was so intent on why they came here, he gave little thought to after the fact. Does Sydas plan on staying here? There was no way he would leave her here and go back home. If she liked it well enough, he would stay here. In reality, it didn't matter where he was.

Being toured around by the snowy native sounded like it could be fun. Kenai had a curiosity about the island besides whether or not Kismet was present on it.  

"Thank-you for you're kind offer. You make the trip sound like it would be very pleasant to embark on. You never know, I may still not have found what I'm looking for when spring shows her face again. We may very well still be here. If we are, and you still would like to, I would like to see what Anikira has to offer. As to whether we will take up permanent residence here, I honestly don't know how to answer you."

It was nice to meet an energetic wolf like Tchiya. She showed no sign of possessing a dark heart, she was real, purely a happy fea. Sydas always told him he needed to lighten up and not be so serious. But that wasn't an easy goal for Kenai to achieve, he liked being calm and collected. However, his appreciation for the opposite was evident...well in a subtle way.

After answering her questions, Kenai felt he should say something in return. He shifted from side to side in a bashful way. What do I say?? After a moment of thought, he opened his mouth and said whatever came first, "Do you have siblings?"

Word count: 477

OOC: Can't wait to see it!

[Deleted]

Text | Speech | Thought



There it was. Relief. Like a refreshing breeze on a hot day. But why was it there? Tchiya couldn't understand all of the new feelings that were coming over her. Everything in her life was so new, these feelings were just more distractions. Her mind was beginning to spin, but she just smiled. This female - Sydas - was not his mate at all. It was his sibling, which was even better. His own blood! Of course that wouldn't keep Kenai from spending time with her.

Or would it? Tchiya noticed the nostalgia that laced his voice when he spoke of his beloved sister. The same tone had been used when he spoke of his uncle Kismet. He missed them terribly, and she understood where he was coming from. Though the girl tried to act energetic and hopeful about leaving home, she was constantly thinking of her father and wishing he were here with her. Her father had been so wise and had taught her so many things. He must have known that there were things in life that could not be taught, things that one must learn for themselves... but she still felt the overwhelming desire to return home and hear his wise words for herself. There was an empty hole in her heart that had formed when she took her first steps outside her puphood home. An aching emptiness that was spreading its black veins throughout her body. She was trying desperately to stop the pain from growing, and she seemed to think that new friends would be able to fix it for her. Or, at the very least, they could distract her from the pain.

Tchiya flinched for a moment as she came to the present, realizing that her face must look awfully sad by now, caught up in her lonely thoughts. She lifted her gaze and stared at Kenai, feeling a new empathy for him. He missed his family. So did she, but in her case there was nothing she could do about it but return home. And she certainly couldn't do that. She would look like a coward in the eyes of her father, and she had spent her entire puphood making sure that would never happen. Tchiya had to be strong. But she knew Kenai had been strong for long enough. "Do you know what we could do? We could travel together and search for your uncle, and I can give you a tour of Anikira along the way." A tiny voice tormented Tchiya, telling her this was only another distraction... "Then we both get what we're looking for. You'll have your uncle and I'll have a friend. And who knows? Maybe spring will show her face during our little adventure."

Before another tantalizing thought could enter her mind, the female skipped forward and walked ahead of her friend, bumping his shoulder in the process. "And since you asked, yes. I do have siblings. Two brothers." She smiled at Kenai over her shoulder as she continued to walk onto the land bridge that connected the islands of Anikira to the mainland. "But we were never close. I don't think I could speak of them like you speak of your sister."

She struggled to keep her voice casual, choking a bit on the last words. Tchiya bit her tongue. Who cared if this was only a distraction? As long as it kept her from missing home...

 - - -

Word count: 592
Notes: Oh... I loved this post. I really felt it this time. ((Do you like my pretty table?))

[Kenai]

Her face spoke volumes. She knew the feeling of missing someone. But who? Kenai pondered the question for a few moments before she interrupted his thoughts with her idea. It sounded like a good option. He could do two things he wanted at the same time.

Bowing his head, he answered, "I would be grateful to accept your offer." His deep voice was laced with the sound of an unseen smile. She called him a friend, that was a pleasant surprise. He didn't know why, he was just being cordial. He wasn't trying to make her like him, but the fact she accepted him so quickly was intriguing.

He considered what he thought of her. He didn't really know. She was spunky and sweet, after getting to know her a little more (and being able to relax) during their journey, he could see them become good friends.

The unexpected physical contact made Kenai freeze for a moment. Ok, no big deal. He turned his sunset colored orbs and watched her bounce a couple of paces away from him as she gave him a vague description of her relationship with her brothers.

The rest of his body followed the direction his eyes led to. Huge paws padded after her. He was happy to have someone who wanted to hang around and talk with. His tiredness seemed to disappear like a morning mist and replaced with a wave of energy that renewed the bounce in his step.

The normally serious wolf was beginning to see things in a little lighter manner. He knew it was most likely temporary, just because he made a good acquaintance, did not mean this trip would end with Kismet in tow. For now, he was content to let the brighter outlook take its hold.

"So, what's your favorite thing about the island?" Might as well start on a high note, right? The dark and light colors of their pelts made an eye-catching contrast as they traveled together. He walked with measured steps that would keep himself at her side, keeping a respectable amount of distance between the two. Far enough for him to feel comfortable, but hopefully not too far that she would be offended.

Word Count: 368

OOC: Yes it is very pretty! Love it!

[Deleted]

Text | Speech | Thought



    Tchiya felt relief again as Kenai accepted her offer and began to walk alongside her. She noted the friendly distance he kept between them and adjusted accordingly, not wanting to make him uncomfortable in any way. She padded along with a false happiness in her mind, doing everything in her power to keep thoughts of her father away. Far away.

    She was grateful when her newfound companion asked her a question. Another distraction. Her snowy head tipped lightly to the side as she pondered his question. Her bright green eyes skirted the water around them as she spoke. “I’m not sure. These beaches are always nice and quiet, but I like the more exciting places too. I’ve always wanted to see the mountains up close, and there are some large grasslands in the southern territories that are really fun to explore. Those are the lands I know best, the ones near my home-”

    Tchiya stopped and grumbled quietly to herself, feeling frustrated that she’d brought it up again. Why couldn’t she just forget about it? It wasn’t like she was one of those wolves with a terrible childhood who suffered every day just trying to get by. She’d had a wonderful childhood. But was it really so wonderful that she couldn’t let it go?
She sighed in defeat and looked at the male. “I’m sorry about that. I can’t stop thinking about home. Sometimes I just wish I could go back, but my father told me I needed to find my own life, and if I return he might think I’ve failed. I just... I don’t know what to do anymore.”

    Tchiya gazed past Kenai into the distance, where the coast of an island broke through the horizon. Then she refocused and looked into his eyes again. “I know it’s selfish of me to distract myself with your company. But I really do want to travel with you. Where would you like to go first?”

    And so the female continued to walk across the land bridge, calmly keeping pace with her new friend as the thoughts continued to battle inside her head. She knew that missing home was natural, and she knew that it would fade with time. She wouldn’t let it last forever, of course. There was so much to do and see and feel, soon she wouldn’t even have room in her mind - or her heart - for missing home.

- - -

Word count: 401
Notes: I know it's a little short. I hope it's enough for you to work with. :3

[Kenai]

The way she listed off aspects of the island made Kenai realize how much he missed while he was here. Anikira was so diverse and he hadn't given it much attention.

But the verbal tour ended abruptly, causing Kenai to turn and look at his female companion. There is was again, something along the line of heartbreak written on her ivory features. A rambling apology quickly followed and Kenai continued his watchful gaze until she finished speaking. He could imagine the struggle she held within herself up to now, but then again it was probably more than he thought.

"No need to apologize. By no means should you believe I judge you for having your heart set on your home. If my being here somehow eases your discomfort, I am glad to be of service." He tried to fortify his words with a rare grin, but he wasn't sure how effective it would be. "This is still fresh for you. If I am understanding correctly, your father did not banish your return but wanted you to experience life that way it should be. You will always be his daughter and, as such, where you come from will always be part of you. After a little time, maybe you can return and your father will see how well you can handle what life threw at you."

He paused for a moment, "I hope you don't see this as a lecture. I just wanted to help."

He remembered when Sydas and himself first set out on their journey. Who knew it would take them this far? Yes, it was difficult and they missed their parents and younger siblings. But they had a goal: Find Kismet. In his mind, Tchiya would overcome part of her sadness once she realized how much there is to do and see. Keeping in mind her goal of finding her own way of life would serve as a motivation to keep going when things got tough.

As to her last question, he scanned the area, looking for anything that peaked his interest. "That way." His face looked to the mainland with interest. There was so much there he hadn't touched and now that there were two, it most likely meant more territory seen and searched. "Is that alright with you?" He wanted to be sure she felt satisfied with the choice, no need for her to be more uncomfortable.

Word Count: 401

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Text | Speech | Thought



His kind words helped a great deal. Already she felt happier. There was nothing wrong with keeping her family in mind. Like Kenai had said, they were a part of her. So there was really nothing for her to be ashamed of. The sooner she embraced that, the better. Then she could live her life the way she was meant to. It was true, she didn't know where the journey would end, but she knew where to start. Or rather, he did.

The female's joyful pink tongue resurfaced as he expressed his interest for exploring. He pointed toward the western coast of Anikira, where arid deserts and lively forests awaited them. "Great choice. That is Acerbus. There are some pretty interesting sites in that territory. Forests ravaged by fires, bottomless lakes... But I think we should visit Ryn-Eldbel first. It's a flourishing ridge with clear blue skies and plenty of grazing herd animals... Maybe we could catch some lunch while we're there!" The girl grinned eagerly at the thought, feeling the slight pull of hunger deep in her core.

They walked together in silence for a moment before Tchiya spoke again. "What is your home like? Do you have lands like we have here?" She knew that even though she was hesitant to speak of home, it would comfort her to hear about his. "I don't want to pry, though it probably isn't as tender of a subject for you as it is for me."

There were so many things left for the two wolves to learn about each other. She knew already that Kenai was kind, and a bit shy, which she found endearing. He loved his sister more than he let on, as she could tell. And while Tchiya was consumed by a desire to return home, Kenai was consumed by a desire to find his uncle. So she would help him do it. 

Neither of the two knew what lay ahead for them. But each step brought them closer.

"I also wondered," she mumbled. "What were your parents like?"

- - -

Word count: 349
Notes: Sorry for the awfully short posts. I'm doing what I can during class. 

[Kenai]

He noted that she took his words in the way they were meant and he felt a sensation of relief in her reaction. The despair seemed to vanish and his reply was a quick wag of his tail as she already launched into an explanation of where they were going. The names were foreign to his ears, he didn't know how well he would remember how to say them properly. He was comforted by the fact that he had Tchiya to help him along.

"Lunch would be brilliant!" An enthusiastic reply burst out of the calm male. He hasn't eaten in.....well, quite a while.

Then she seemed to divert her attention from her home to his, perhaps to calm her mind on the presently sensitive subject. "Ah, my home. It shares some similarities to this but its beauty isn't as diverse. It doesn't feel this cool, however the weather is still mild. Rocks are everywhere which makes it a rugged environment. But its hard face is softened by these tall plants with white flowers and grassy areas." He spoke softly as he let his mind go back to the time he spent there, trying to give her as accurate of a description as he could. "It doesn't rain a lot but when it does the ground seemed to explode with flowers of all colors for a while. There is prey of all sizes: mice, antelope, deer, otters, all kinds of birds. Don't mess with the baboons though, they can be vicious so its best to stay away from them."

He was glad she felt comfortable asking him questions. Even if it was just a distraction for her. "I don't mind at all. I will answer anything you ask as best I can."

A pause was taken after she asked about his parents. He never thought about them in a descriptive way, they were.....his parents. "One thing that I always think about when I remember my parents is they love each other tremendously. You can feel it when you're around them. They also devoted themselves to their children." He dug into his heart to find the words to fit his thoughts. "Mother, her name is Eclipse, has bad health. When the weather became cold, it only worsened her condition. But she has a heart of a fighter and raised us as best she could. But when she got mad......My, did she have a temper! Uncle Kismet would rescue us all the time." A small smile crept on his face as thought came forward about his mother. Sweet as could be with a fire like no other. "You wouldn't know it to look at us, because neither Sydas nor myself look like her, but she has fur the color of a raven's feather and bright gold eyes that could make you forget every ache and pain you ever had." Or put any tempest to shame when she got mad...He choked down a chuckle that threatened to escape at the thought.

"Father was the picture of strength and wisdom. He gave me his eyes and some of his color, his pelt is primarily brown while I only have patches. He cared for Mother tirelessly, taught us compassion and some medicinal tricks to ease physical ills. I don't think I ever saw him angry, maybe irritated - but who isn't once in a while with energetic terrors for pups?" It wasn't that long ago, really. Kenai and Sydas tearing through the den, chasing, pouncing, wrestling and causing trouble. Time flew by. Here he stood, grown up, big and strong. "I do believe he loved Sydas best. I don't mind it though, she deserves it." He said that with honesty, Sydas really did deserve it. She was a lovely creature inside and out, a pretty face with a heart of gold.

"We left them with their paws full. Mother gave birth to our younger siblings and we stayed for a while to help out. But they were by no means full grown, so plenty of excitement is still in store for our parents." He thought about his future for a moment, he never thought about whether he wanted pups of his own. Sydas had mentioned her desire for little ones a couple of times. He supposed he had time to think about it, no hurry, right?

Word Count: 725

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Ah, my home. Tchiya found herself under a serene spell as Kenai described his childhood home. It sounded beautiful. Rugged terrain, tall plants, beautifully colored flowers that sprung up when it rained... "It sounds beautiful. I almost wish I could see it for myself."But she knew that she couldn't, of course. She didn't even know where this exotic land was, much less how to get there. Her thoughts were brought back for a moment as he spoke of the different kinds of animals they hunted. She could practically taste the meat as he spoke about each one. The part about the baboons made her laugh.

Tchiya loved hearing about his home. It opened her mind to a whole other side of him. She thought of how he and his family must have grown up, being raised in such a different environment from hers. How must he feel here? Everything is so diverse, it must be overwhelming. "Do you like the weather here? The winters can be a bit cold at times, but you seem to be dealing with it well." The snowy female knew that dropping temperatures were never an issue for her. She was practically designed for winter. But when things began to heat up, that was a different story.

The girl couldn't keep the smile off her face as he answered her questions. She loved to hear him talk - you could sense the emotions and the stories behind each word. She could envision his mother, with her golden eyes and her raven fur, and she could feel the love that his parents shared. Even more than that, she could hear how much Kenai loved them. It wasn't a secret. She could hear the messages behind his voice. Every rise and fall of his tone spoke volumes, just as his howl had done. She'd felt wary when she'd first heard it, but as soon as she felt his story she felt compelled to come and say hello. And look at where that had gotten her. Now Tchiya had a friend to keep her company.

As Kenai mentioned again just how much his parents cared for one another, she couldn't help but speak up. The words came out of their own volition, "I understand what you mean. There's nothing more beautiful than two wolves that truly love each other." Immediately after the words left her mouth, she felt her face heat up and she looked away. Why was she blushing? She couldn't tell, but a shy smile slipped onto her face and stayed there, long after the blush had faded away.

Hearing Kenai as he spoke so fondly about his family and home made Tchiya feel incredibly comfortable. She felt more words bubbling, rising in her chest. She wanted very badly to thank him for sharing so many details with her. She wanted to share her own details too. In the back of her head, a voice seemed to ask if this was such a good idea, what with the fragile state she seemed to be in. But if she finally wanted to talk about home, what would be the point in ruining that opportunity?

"I was born here, like I've told you before. My family was independent. We lived alone in an area of the southern territories called I'queyer. It is a very beautiful, abundant land with large prey and countless miles of grasslands. My brothers and I used to play in the prairies a lot, chasing each other like we were the predators. Except I was usually the predator." She laughed a light, tinkling laugh as she finally opened up about her siblings. "I've never told anyone this, but I always looked up to them somehow. They were the males of the litter and they should have been picking on me and showing their dominance, but would you believe that they never said a cruel word to me? I was my father's favorite, I was the largest and the strongest, I thought they'd be jealous, but they weren't. They acted proud of me, like no one deserved it more. Maybe they deserved it more, I don't know."

Tchiya paused for a moment to gather her thoughts, and she glanced at Kenai again. She wanted to tell him now. She trusted him, and she couldn't keep the words from spilling out. "I love my parents more than anything. I always thought, back then, that my mother was too soft and coddling for my taste. I wanted someone who would challenge me, and my father did. But whenever I was tired or frustrated, I knew I could talk to her. I can't believe I'm realizing that now, when I'm so far away-"She sighed sadly. "But I can't say I regret anything. Not really. Spending all of that time with my father made me understand who I am. He trained me to fight and defend the ones I love. He taught me just about everything I know, and I know that I can never thank him enough for it."

Tears blurred her vision as her story died away. She laughed, a sort of forced, strangled laugh. "I'm sorry, Kenai, she chuckled, sniffing and blinking the tears from her eyes. "You probably didn't need to see that. I just wanted to... to tell someone. I wanted someone to understand. I'm sorry, Tchiya repeated, drawing in a shaky breath as she regained her composure and smiled.

She knew she should feel humiliated, but she was so glad that she could finally tell another wolf her feelings. It felt wonderful to have a friend.

"Thank you for listening."

- - -

Word count: 993
Notes: Whoa. Emotional breakdown.

Note from Staff: Remember to italicize thoughts ^^

[Kenai]

"The climate so far suits me just fine. The cold doesn't bother me, not when it gets really hot that is when I don't tolerate things well. Will it get very cold? I only ask because Sydas is sensitive to cold, just like Mother." If so, he wanted to meet up with her that much more to be close to her when the temperatures started to drop. The yin and yang of Sydas and Kenai may not always be obvious but it touched so many aspects of their lives.

As she launched into her life at home, he was all ears, listening to everything she had to say. She was close to her family, maybe not in the same way he was to his, but it was absolutely there. For some reason sharing their family histories helped him relax. He saw the smile play along her face when she spoke of the love two wolves can share with each other. A curious glint sparked within his eyes. Does she know what that's like? Has she met someone she feels that way towards? He shrugged, None of my business.

He was touched that she felt comfortable to share details like that with him. The time she spent with her father, talking to her mother, role model to her brothers, all of it sounded like a happy upbringing.

But as he glanced over to her, he saw tears threatening to spill over and down her normally sparkling face. "It's alright, Tchiya. I'm honored you chose me to reveal your history to in such vibrant way. Tears are nothing to be ashamed of. As you've said, we're friends. I'm here for whatever you need. I know you miss them."

There was nothing else he could think of to say. He didn't want to make anything worse.

Word Count: 303

OOC: Sorry it is incredibly short...