My Past Washed Away - Zenzi

[Deleted]

Nadi dog paddled her way in the ocean after her ship sunk, not even sure if she was going to survive. As a matter of fact she was quite positive that she would not live to see another day. She was to young to meet her demise already, having a full life ahead of her but now likely having to go on alone and away from her family. But right now she was just struggling to stay afloat. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. Nadi has lost hope. It was now dark and the last thing that she could recall was giving up. Her limbs were too exhausted to move and so they slowly but surely stopped and Nadi began to sink. She was giving into the ocean. Really there was no use in pushing on since there wasn't land in sight, or so she thought. At any rate she was swallowed up by the sea.

The now unconscious female grey wolf's body slowly found the sandy shore but of course she's not aware of it. Slowly the ocean spit her out until she was safely laying on the smooth part of the sand. She was there for a while, for how long she did not know but eventually her golden eyes began to part open as she groaned loudly. Was fate playing a cruel joke on her? Could she really be alive? She would only know the answers to such questions as her recollection of what happened began to become even clearer in her mind. She was taken and put on a ship and then it sunk. And now she's here, where ever that is. It certainly was not home.

The sun had settled upon the horizon long ago and the stars now dot the sky, Nadi knew this because she rolled over and for a little while starred up at them, trying her best to regain her strength. She hadn't heard anything around her so she assumed that she was safe enough. Her ears still remained perked and alert. Again she let out a groan. It was time to try and get to her feet. Nadi clenched her nubby claws into the sand, trying to get a grip so that she could thrust herself upward. Her limbs felt like noodles but she managed to stand. Now she afforded a look around. Part of her wanted to hear something or see someone while the other part did not since she probably couldn't fight anything off right now in her weakened condition. And so she plopped back down on her rump. That's enough energy exertion for now. It would take a while for her vigor to return.

Her thoughts now turned toward her family…. her family. She hoped that they were all safe. Tears began to run down her face. She's lost and she misses them so badly. Never has she been away from them for this long. Surely they must be looking for her. Nadi knew that her father would never give up until she was back and safe with him. But that would mean the union of her with a male, that she has not chosen herself, would happen. Little did she know but this would be a new found freedom for her. There was nothing left to do but to go on. The first thing that she needed to do was to figure out where she was but for now she needed rest. Nadi lay down with her chin lying gently on her front paws, never leaving her guard down but she couldn't stay awake forever. She's so tired.

[Deleted]

It was quite possible that this was the calmest the ebony female had been in at least a month. She didn't have to worry if her love would return to her, as he already has. She didn't have to fear where they would end up after being captured, seeing as she was standing there now. There were only two things left pressing on her mind: her children back in Wintersun, and how she would survive here without her pack. She knew Wildheart would protect her. He always has, and she knows he always will. Its just a matter or making a claim, be it as loners, as new members of a pack, or, who knows, maybe they will start their own Wintersun on this new place. In her time of peace, Zenzi wandered away from her sleeping mate, back towards the beach where they had first washed up a few nights ago.

The stars above her were bright and brilliant, and that was probably her saving grace right now. Even the presence of her scarred mate was hardly enough to hold her together. Something about the stars, though, changed something in her. She stepped off of the grass at the edge of the plains and onto the sandy beach, the soft crashes of the waves coming to her ears. She sighed, sitting down a few paces closer to the waters. She would have continued thinking she was alone and safe had it not been for the sounds of shifting sand not far from her. Zenzi twitched her ears in the direction the sound came from, turning her head a moment after. Merely ten yards or so away from her was another wolf, struggling to sit up and completely soaked through her fur.

She stood and padded quickly towards the wolf. Though she was fearful, she knew a wolf this weak could not attack her and would want help more than a fight. She slowed her steps as she approached, keeping her posture neutral. "Are you okay? Do you need any help?" Her voice echoed the worried expression on her face. Her yellow eyes showed that she merely wanted to help the smaller female and no more. "I promise I won't hurt you. I just want to help. My name is Zenzi Itzal." She introduced herself, hoping the knowledge of her name would relax the stranger enough to allow her to help.

[Deleted]

Nadi certainly did not expect anyone else to be here on this beach, stupidly assuming that this was a deserted island. What other type of land would be in the middle of the wide open ocean? At any rate she was almost sleeping when she heard the ever so soft footsteps of what she knew for a certainty was a wolf, she'd heard this sound plenty times before. She recalls being half asleep when she heard her father come padding up into their den. He was always the last to go to sleep in the pack because of his responsibilities as Alpha, which he took extremely serious. The sound usually brought her comfort but not on this night. Nadi had no idea if the approaching beast was friend or foe.

Without thinking her hackles raised in her defense, not having the strength to jump to her feet. She resisted showing her teeth because, in truth, she didn't want to goad the other wolf into attacking her either. Even though Nadi was desperate she was still not stupid and careless. The she-wolf knew that she was in no position to take on a well rested wolf since she herself was weakened from the hours of swimming and now lack of food and water. In the back ground of the femme's voice she could hear and feel her stomach growling and the pangs of hunger made her want to vomit. But her father taught her well. She remained calm and collected even if she looked like a train wreck.

Slowly her golden eyes squinted as she focused on the figure coming toward her. ‘Never take your eyes off the enemy.’ This was one of many things that her father drilled into her brain. Being raised in a military family had its advantages, at times, and right now Nadi would tap into that knowledge that she was given. The grey wolf softly pinned her hears back and raised her nose to the air to get a good sniff of her scent as the femme spoke to her. Immediately Nadi could feel the sincerity in her voice as she asked her if she was okay. But that could be a cunning trap to be able to find the opportune time to pounce when her defenses were down.

The first two questions went unanswered until Nadi was given a name to put with the face. For a moment the smaller grey wolf just thought, apparent by the expression in her eyes as she was bidding back the tears. She had just been through a heck of a horrific tragedy. What else could she do? She just about died in the ocean. How bad could things play out from here? Nadi tipped her head up and to the side as she spoke, her voice cracking from the strained emotion that she was feeling and trying her best to hold back. “Nadi… My name is Nadi… and I don’t think I’m hurt, just hungry and thirsty.”

[Deleted]

Zenzi could see before she even started to speak that the weak wolf was not going to accept her help immediately. She noticed the hackles raised and the stiffness of the stranger's body, but it didn't stop her. Although she was not a healer, having children had brought out that part of her. She always had to help Jace when he overate, or Vienna when she ate some bad meat, or even when they went a few days without an appetite. Other than problems with food, she's dealt with small bumps and bruises and scrapes from the careless accidents pups will get in to. Be it from play fighting to actual fighting or even just a misstep in the woods. No, she was not a well learned healer, but she could manage.

"It's nice to meet you, Nadi." She gave a smile and a slight tail wag. She was doing so more to comfort the grey female than to make light of the situation. Zenzi knew very well this was not a time for that, she could see the weakness of this female from hours in the ocean. I've only been here a few days myself, so I don't know how the prey is here, but I can try to catch you something. In terms of water, I think I passed a stream on my way here that didn't smell salty. If I help you, do you think you could make it there?" As she spoke, she turned her eyes, looking for signs of prey she could get for Nadi. It was night, so surely some small creatures would be out, right?

She turned her attention back to the female. "Please, don't mind me doing this. I just want to be sure you aren't hurt. You are soaked and I'd imagine cold, your pain might be numbed." She took a step or two closer, close enough that she could gently run her muzzle along the female's body, checking for any injuries. All she found were limbs stiff from cold and work, maybe a few small bruises and cuts along with a splinter or two. She must have been in a wooden crate like Wildheart and I had been... she thought to herself as she moved away. "Sorry if it seemed like I didn't trust your judgment, Nadi. I just wanted to be completely sure before I caused you more injury. I only found a few minor bruises, and those should be fine in a couple days." She smiled a little shyly at the female, a bit embarrassed by her sudden motherly approach to this.

[Deleted]

The smile that Zenzi gave to Nadi was a warm one, one that was welcomed since she hasn't seen nor spoken to a friendly beast in a little while.  Her smile was soft and it was a sight for sore eyes.  It wasn't easy thinking that she was going to die out there in the ocean and really it didn't make her feel any more brave, maybe later it would, but for right now, in this position, Nadi felt completely and utterly defeated.  The anger toward those poachers and idea of letting stumbling blocks become stepping stones in her life would come later.  At this moment she was broken.  So naturally the grey wolf smiled back.  She almost wanted to apologize for looking such a mess, with soaked and matted fur and all, because usually she's a stunning female.  Nadi has the softest coat and her build was slender but not to frail.  Right now she just felt like a drowned rat.

"It's nice to meet you to."  Immediately following Nadi's short response Zenzi spoke again and Nadi hung on every word, especially so since she just stated that 'she' only had been their for a few days.  This caused the grey wolfs ears to perk and her golden orbs to look at her curiously.  Nadi failed to realize that she curiously cocked her head a little.  The questions began to floor her mind.  Things like...  'How did you get here?  Is this an Island?'  So badly she wanted to ask but as Zenzi spoke of knowing where there was water and that she would try to scare some small game up for her Nadi saw something sad in her eyes.  And so since she was a discerning sort of beast she didn't say anything, at least not for now.  Nadi simply nodded in response to her question of being able to walk to the fresh water source.

Part of Nadi did give thought to that maybe this femme was going to lead her into a trap, an ambush, but when she did what she did next all such notions were done away with.  Surely a wolf that does something like that would not be about to harm her.  Right?  It didn't seem like a logical thing for her to do if she planned on having her killed.  And so instinctively Nadi leaned to the side a little while she was being thoroughly, even laying her head down in the sand until Zenzi was finished.  Nadi closed her eyes, she could imagine that this would be what her own mother would do.  A sadness filled her heart as she sat up.  "I understand.  Thank you for being so kind and I think that I can make it to the water."  Zenzi acted like she had been motherly before and even that she's had similar experience with the cold autumn water.  This was a curious situation and this female intrigued Nadi.

Nadi waited for the other female to back up a bit and then she tried to get back to her feet.  Softly she let out a small growl of pain.  This was not going to be easy, not by any means.  Nadi looked over at Zen and smiled at her reassuringly.  "I have never been in such pain before...  But I will be fine.  I'll make it to the water.  Please lead the way?"  She was thinking that maybe they could rest for the night there once they got there, well at least she could.  Nadi had no idea where this wolf came from.  Maybe she had a mate or pups someplace.  But she did say that she was only here for three days.  The curiosity was building within the grey wolf but she pinched her tongue with her front teeth, bidding herself to not speak of these things just yet.  Instead she concentrated on put one paw in front of the other, smiling with her accomplishment.

[Deleted]

ooc: I'm afraid I can't read Nadi's speech without highlighting it. Yellow doesn't play well with my eyes. Could you do me a favor and darken her speech for me?
-------
ic:

Zenzi was pleased with Nadi's lack of injuries and willingness to cooperate. She smiled to herself, glad she had finally found something to do here other than mope. Although she still felt worry, if was not for her family as it had been for the past few days. Now it was for a friend. Or at least, I hope she will become a friend... She thought to herself, almost missing what the female said. You don't have to thank me for being kind. Its just how I am, and I treat every wolf that way unless they prove too far gone for kindness to reach them, and I have yet to meet a wolf like that." She gave Nadi another small smile before she continued. "The stream shouldn't be too difficult to reach. It's a short walk from here, and even at a slow pace it should only take a few minutes to reach it."

Zenzi had turned her head again to see if any other wolves were approaching, and seeing none, turned back to the weak female. Though she was still in the corner of Zenzi's field of vision, it was clear that Nadi was having trouble sitting up. The ebony wolf moved next to her again, using her own flank to support Nadi as she stood. "I had a feeling you hadn't experienced something like this yet in life. My mate is a warrior and riddled with scars, but your pelt is flawless. You must have lived a peaceful life up until this point. And here, feel free to lean on me. I don't mind it." She hoped she hadn't offended the younger female by suggesting her life had been easy. It was not at all what she intended to do, she simply wanted to reassure the female, though that might not have been the best way to do so.

[Deleted]

Nadi had met many wolves that were not kind and so in regards to this she always kept her guard up, not to mention the fact that she was in a strange land and had no idea what to expect.  So the grey wolf kept a keen watch upon the other female, wondering why she seemed so calm and unguarded.  Was that just her demeanor?  Usually Nadi's personality had such qualities but since she's now without her family she found this whole situation as a shock to her system.  Every sense that Nadi had was tingling, even if she seemed very weak at the moment.  It was beginning to give her a headache on top of all the other aches and pains that she was experiencing. 

Naturally Nadi noticed that Zenzi was looking around periodically.  She began to wonder if there were more wolves here.  Questions were building in her mind and causing it to race.  This situation could either end up good or very bad, Nadi hoped it was the latter of the choices.  But she would continue to follow the femme since she really didn't have much of a choice.  Nadi refrained from saying anything further about Zenzi's kindness and just concentrated on her goal of standing and then slowly walking as she then got assistance.  Indeed Zen seemed very thoughtful.  Surely there was much more to her then meets the eye.  Nadi knew that she likely had an interesting story to tell, as most canines did.  Her own story seemed father boring in comparison to most.

The pair continued to walk and hopefully after a few feet Zen would see that Nadi would do well on her own.  But Nadi was grateful for all that was being done for her and so she left the judgement up to Zen as she continued to make conversation.  After the comment about Nadi's pelt being flawless and the fact that she sensed that she had never endured such a hardship as this Nadi laughed, stopping for a moment because the contraction of her muscles caused her to flinch.  "Hahahaha!  No...  I've never been shipwrecked before... only to end up on an island."  Nadi would not tell the femme anything further about her past.  She felt that it wasn't necessary for her to know that she was an Alpha's and a Beta's daughter.  Part of her didn't want to seem soft to anyone so Nadi's a closed book right now.

After the laugh Nadi then continued to stride forward.  Her muscles were getting more loose with each step, though she was sure that tomorrow she would feel much worse then today.  That's they way it usually went but right now she gave little thought to that.  The thing that interested her the most right now was the island and this female that was walking next to her.  "So you have a mate?"  She wondered if he was close by and if she'd be meeting him anytime soon.  That kind of scared her because a warrior may be a little more harsh then one that wasn't, at least that's the way they needed to be in order to protect their pack.