Silver Light [Nimue/Joining]

[Muse]

She was following the moon again, ivory paws flashing over the land as they carried her further south. The territory of an unfamiliar pack flanked her to the west, while towering mountains bordered her travels to the east. And above, the bleached face of the moon spurred her on. Its looming mass had become a familiar feature of her sky the past few days, as Muse found herself sleeping most of the day and traveling during the night. The chill in the winter air was enough to create a thin layer of frost over the ground, and she could feel the bend of frozen grass under the callused pads of her paws. She was grateful that it had yet to snow, although the promise of it hung heavily over the young wolf.

If she were being honest with herself, she did not know where she was going. Truly alone for the first time in her life, she realized that she did not belong to anyone. She was pack-less. Purpose-less. Family-less. Her feet were moving in time to the clouds of breath snaking from her maw, but her direction was merely that of coincidence. It didn’t matter to her whether she traveled to the shore or traveled deeper into the heart of the island. There was nothing for her where she was going. Everything that mattered to her was no more.

Muse lifted her head and blinked, her pace slowing to a casual trot. A scent was being carried on a stiff breeze, and as she moved forward, she realized something. She was at the very edge of a new territory. Scent markers were placed only a few yards before her, unavoidable if she continued forward. Wide, dual-colored eyes peered wearily forward as she came to pause before them. This was a crossroad, she knew. What she did now would determine her future, a small part of it at the very least.

What do I have to loose? she thought sadly, head tipping towards the moon—her only friend left in the world. The sound that ruptured from her maw was full of raw emotion and the distinct color of a ripe plum. Purple swirls danced behind her eyelids as she pressed her ears to her skull and sang. Her howl soared into the heavens in a lilting note, ending as she felt: in an inflection reminiscent of a question. As her single call dissipated into the frosty air, it left a hundred things in its wake. It was a wondering. Who lived here? Were they friendly enough to let her pass through? Was this the end of her short journey?

---

Count | 447
Tagged | Nimue
Muse | Excellent
Notes | First post with Muse!

[Nimue]

The howl reached Nimue even where she lay nestled in the sprawling crater, long and searching and almost…sad. Ears tipped forward atop her skull as her head lifted, her breath clouding in the air as her pale gaze flitted in the direction of the plains. For a long moment, the Chieftain did not move; she lay very still, listening as the chords of song stretched and then, eventually, faltered. Only then did Nimue rise, shaking any traces of dirt from her pelt before slipping away from her resting place, weaving around slumbering pack-mates as she went. Ananke’s numbers had grown steadily since the day they’d claimed Aveline, and it seemed as if they would continue to do so; word of them was spreading at last.

Large paws carried her swiftly towards the border that rested along the plains, the cold nipping idly at the shorter fur of her snout, something that Nimue had long ago grown accustomed to as winter had spread through the land. The moon sat nestled high in the sky that night, its rays of ivory light illuminating everything beneath it – including a wolf-shaped figure that was particularly radiant beneath the beams, almost seeming to glow. The stranger stood just over the border, and as Nimue approached with her pace slowed, the scent of the wolf reached her: a she-wolf. Closer and closer the Chieftain grew, until at last she could see the eyes of the femme, one a brilliant azure and the other a vivid, fiery orange. It was fascinating; there had been twins in Kairos who’d sported different colored orbs, but the sight of the phenomenon had never stopped amazing Nimue.

”Hello,” she said gently, her voice carrying in the silence as she stood studying the smaller fae. Her pelt was a soft, lovely cream, the tips seeming to shine almost golden where the moonlight touched them. ”My name is Nimue, Chieftain of Ananke. Welcome to Aveline.” She had no reason to be anything less that cordial to the stranger, who had stopped before she’d trespassed on Ananke territory, and whose haunting howl still seemed to echo in Nimue’s ears.

”What is your name?” She asked, her tone curious but far from demanding. There was something about the she-wolf that intrigued Nimue; she seemed different, though Nimue was unsure of exactly how. ”And is there something that I could help you with?” There was a possibility that the she-wolf just wished for safe passage through Aveline, which Nimue would grant…but perhaps not. Perhaps she’d come in search of sanctuary, of a home, something that resonated in Nimue’s very bones. Ananke had taken in many wolves who’d longed for unity and family; if this fae sought the same, then Nimue knew she would not be disappointed.

TAG: Muse
WORDS: 460
NOTES: So excited <3

[Muse]

Each silver-tipped strand of Muse’s pelt stood on end as she watched a wolf crest the plains before her. She knew her cry would surely attract whoever controlled these lands, but she hadn’t truly had enough time to think this through. Did she want to meet a stranger just yet? She turned in a circle, nose nearly touching the end of her tail as she pivoted in place. Then, she stood tall, facing the stranger quietly as they approached.

Muse did not move as the large femme padded up to her. The newcomer had a brilliantly colored pelt of browns, some shades as dark as mud and others so light they were nearly tan. Her underbelly and muzzle were mixed with lighter colorations, and her eyes were a soft, light blue. They looked kindly at her, and Muse dipped her gaze to the ground between them, both out of respect and fear of being judged for her dual-colored eyes.

What if she sees my cursed past in them? Muse’s fearful thoughts drifted from the recesses of her mind before she was able to stifle them. Luckily, the femme spoke then. She introduced herself formally—Muse had heard other wolves do the same to her parents on their wanderings—and she did so kindly. She was of a new pack, one Muse had not heard of yet. Ananke. The name swirled lazily in Muse’s mind like a river of sunshine, the sound of its vowels and consonants turning yellow as they left Nimue’s mouth. Nimue, who was the Chieftian of her pack. Immediately, Muse could get the sense that this was a word similar to that of the alpha of other packs.

Keeping her voice steady and clear, Muse spoke for the first time in days. ”Hello Nimue.” she said with a respectful dip of her head. ”My name is Muse. I have come to your lands with the intent to pass through. I am traveling…”

Muse’s voice trailed off, and she kicked herself for not thinking before she opened her maw. She did not know where her destination lay. In fact, she was not even aware of what land lay beyond Aveline. ”I’m sorry, she sputtered. ”I’m not sure where I’m going,” With nothing left but her honesty, Muse gazed up at the wolf standing before her. The only thing she could hope for, from this wolf of authority, was kindness.

---

Count | 412
Tagged | Nimue
Muse | Excellent
Notes | Beep boop

[Nimue]

”Hello Nimue. My name is Muse. I have come to your lands with the intent to pass through. I am traveling…”

Nimue dipped her head in response, having expected as much. Aveline rested snugly between three different territories, though one was bordered by mountains. Two of the others was I’queyer and the Occasus, both lands unclaimed, and Nimue had known that eventually loners might seek to cross through Aveline from these areas. While some alphas may have been less lenient, Nimue was not harsh, and she would not restrict passage through her land to those whom had been respectful. And Muse had certainly been nothing less than cordial.

”I’m sorry. I’m not sure where I’m going.”

So lost had Nimue been in her thoughts and scrutiny that she hadn’t taken note of the silence that had stretched between them, but now she was acutely aware of it as Muse’s reluctant yet soft voice stretched across the distance between them. Immediately Nimue’s gaze lowered to meet that of the other femme; there was something that seemed so raw, so open, about the look in Muse’s gaze. Nimue felt her heart stutter and constrict, and her own gaze softened as she gestured towards her lands with her muzzle.

”Kamari, to the east, is claimed by a pack. So it the Oriens, though you would have to pass over or around the mountains to reach that land. Acerbus to the west is also claimed territory; it belongs to Kairos. As long as you avoid those areas, you will be in unclaimed lands, and should be safe…” She trailed off, torn suddenly. Something within Nimue urged her to offer Muse a place in Ananke, though the femme had not indicated that she desired such. But the look in her eyes had not changed, and so Nimue plunged forward with her speech, her voice still soft and kind. ”Alternatively, if it is a home you seek…I would be more than happy to offer you a place here, in Ananke. We are a new pack, but we have grown steadily in the last few months. We are a sanctuary for anyone who seeks one, a place of acceptance. We strive for unity. For family.”

With Morrigan noticeably absent, Nimue had been lost at first. But then as time had worn on, she’d gotten to know her pack mates – their desires, their adorations, and their pasts. She’d known from that moment on that she would lead Ananke to the best of her ability, and that she would always offer those who needed one a home. While Nimue had only just met Muse, something within her whispered to the large alphess that a home might be exactly what it was that Muse was searching for – even in the smaller femme did not realize it yet.

TAG: Muse
WORDS: 467
NOTES: <3

[Muse]

Muse’s limbs tensed ever so slightly with nervousness as the Chieftan met her gaze, but she had nothing to fear. As soon as their eyes locked, the ivory femme saw something soften in the other wolf’s sky blue eyes. She blinked once, raising her head slightly, and then the connection was broken and Nimue was gesturing to the lands around her. The larger wolf was telling her what territories lay around then, and as each were pointed out in turn, Muse was able to orient herself.

She had heard of the Oriens before. In fact, she was nearly positive that she and her parents had crossed the northernmost mountains and traveled part of that territory long ago. Acerbus was another name that felt familiar in her ears, and even more so was the mention of Kairos. Everyone on the large island knew of the pack of giants. They claimed territories far and wide, and Muse had smelt their borders more than once in her lifetime. The thought of the sweeping empire chilled her bones just enough for her to speak of it. ”I have heard of Kairos before,” she said with a nod. ”I’ve been told of their fierceness and need to grow, just as their bodies have grown bigger than all other wolves’ on Anikira.”

Nimue nodded, and then she was offering Muse something more than just directions. With the same softness in her gaze as before, the larger femme opened her lands to her, for more than mere safe passage. Some words coming from her mouth stood out to Muse, enough that she noticed their colors. The word sanctuary came to her as a soft, blush pink. The consonants of acceptance were a pastel yellow. Unity. Family. Muse blinked once. Twice. The offer was so unexpected that it couldn’t be anything but genuine… could it?

Her mind began to fret as Nimue went silent, waiting for Muse’s answer. She doesn't know that I could be a danger to this sanctuary, she thought. I'm not like other wolves... I am different, but I don't know why. Is being around other wolves a good idea at all?

Her thoughts were a tiny tornado, tossing around the edges of her mind in a haphazard scribble. Her mind ached with the effort. Her heart ached with loneliness. Her feet ached from running. Before she knew that she had made up her mind, her mouth opened. ”Yes, Nimue. If you shall have me...” She trailed off uncertainly, unable to turn back now that she had started but unsure of what to say. Yes, she didn't want to be alone. But she was all too frightened of this change to voice her agreement to the Chieftan's offer. Pleading with her eyes, Muse met the other femme's gaze once more, hoping the other wolf would understand her and welcome her, even if she were unsure of herself.

---

Count | 493
Tagged | Nimue
Muse | Good
Notes | Beep boop

[Nimue]

”I have heard of Kairos before. I’ve been told of their fierceness and need to grow, just as their bodies have grown bigger than all other wolves’ on Anikira.”

At this Nimue laughed, the sound quiet and gentle as it filled the silence around them. ”You’re correct. Kairos is my birth pack, and their ambition has always been fierce. As for their size, well…” She gestured to herself with a sweep of her muzzle, amusement dancing in her gaze. ”I suppose I’m a testament to that – though I’m small compared to some of the others there.” There was nothing ill or cruel in her voice; she held no grudges against Kairos, and remembered her childhood there with fondness.

As her offer hung in the air between them, Nimue watched Muse, waiting patiently for her response. For a moment she seemed confused, as if she could not quite believe what the Ananke Chieftain had offered her. Nimue wondered in that moment where Muse had come from, and if life had been cruel to her, but it was not yet her place to ask. And so she said nothing, simply waiting, her posture relaxed but regal. And when at last Muse’s response came, soft and gentle, her eyes glistening with fear, uncertainty…and longing. Immediately Nimue dipped her head in acceptance, the kindness never leaving her features. She was certain in that moment that Muse needed it.

”Welcome to Ananke, Muse. Welcome home.” The words hung in the air, and Nimue paused, allowing them to sink in before at last continuing. ”There are many positions we have here, and you may decide upon whichever speaks to you. For our Legion tier we have several options; warrior, sentry, spy, assassin. Not necessarily in such simple terms, but those are the gist of it. And then we have hunters, gatherers – who collect herbs and ingredients for our Maester, who serves as our healer…and guardians, who watch over pups when they are born.”

So many positions, and yet they were needed; Nimue knew that each wolf had their own strengths, their own skills, and she wished for each member of Ananke to be comfortable in their role to excel. ”You may claim a place wherever it is that you will be comfortable. And when you are ready, you may meet your pack mates. I know a new place to call home is a large adjustment.” Her head tilted just slightly as she gazed at Muse, feeling a kind of relation with the femme. ”There is no rush. Above all else, I wish for you to feel like you belong.”

TAG: Muse
WORDS: 433
NOTES: <3