by Hopeflower » Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:42 pm
"Here," Silver growled, stopping by a stream, pleased with her find. The stream was wide enough that she could rest comfortably in the shallows, and fed a small, deep pool that looked just about right for teaching her little ones to swim and fish, just as Darkness had once taught her. Long grasses and ferns drooped over the banks of the stream and lined the sides of the pool, providing places to hide if worse came to worse. The murmur of the stream nearly drowned the crashing of waves, but she could still hear the hiss and roar of the ocean on a sandy shore. Was she that close? Putting the thought out of her mind for now, she approached an old, gnarled tree. One of its roots arched all the way from one bank to the other, almost touching the water, and looked strong and thick. And the stream, probably during a flood, had washed the dirt away from the rest of the roots, making a nice cave that anything bigger than a raptor would find it difficult to get into. Carus lifted his head and looked around. "I like it," Steelclaw growled. "We can live here, right?" Thistle asked, rousing herself a little. The rest had done wonders for her; her eyes were bright again and she looked eager to get to exploring. "Yes, little one," Silver growled, glad that her offspring approved. She'd never try to force them to live in a place they didn't like. "We can live here." Leading Steelclaw into the cave, she set Thistle down on the soft dirt. Carus leaped from his perch, still looking around. "Now, I'll see what I can do about food," the adult growled, turning to investigate the stream. She'd seen some flashes of silver; there were definitely fish here. A minute later, she was back, carrying two fish in her jaws and a bigger one in her claws. She put one fish in front of Steelclaw and Carus and the other in front of Thistle, and took the last for herself. As she began to eat, she found herself getting lost in memories of learning how to swim, and watching Darkness fish, and the day Steeltalon's and his hatchlings were born. She missed both of her foster parents with such intensity it was almost a constant dull ache in her heart. She missed the old days...she missed her foster mother...she missed Switchblade...she missed everyone who used to be part of their group. But that was the past. As painful as it was to admit, those days were over. Her children needed her now. They need their father too, she thought, and closed her eyes. Rawclaw...my love...I don't know where you are...but I know you would be proud of your children. Steelclaw is turning out to have a leader's personality, and Thistle learns so quickly...and Carus is turning into a fine fighter. And wherever Rose is now, I'm sure she's surrounded by raptors who will help and encourage her to be the best she can be.
Selena was glad to be back. Really, she was. But her head was spinning, her knees were shaking, and now she had a blind raptor tagging along with her. She let out a bark, calling for her mate, or Hazel, or anyone that she'd been with before the humans had showed up.
Alira shifted a little, muttering in her sleep. Her eyes roamed restlessly beneath her eyelids and her upper lip curled back as if she was going to snarl. Her dreams were confused and chaotic; at one point she thought she saw Cirrus, staring at her with the concerned gaze of the older brother he could've been. Then his image blurred; turned into her own form, gazing at her with eyes full of sorrow and confusion. The scene changed again, turned into Boulder's mangled corpse and Cirrus rallying the pack against her; Cirrus pinning the murder on her; the pack's angry, accusing stares - they believed him. Why did they believe him? Then she was being chased out, for a crime she didn't commit. Then Cirrus was staring at her again...he looked so lost, so guilt-stricken, so pleading. His voice came to her in a bare whisper: I'm so sorry, sister. Then he was gone, and Alira was left in darkness. A murmur of "brother" escaped her, before she slipped into a deeper, dreamless sleep.
"Gotta have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come."
"Talent is a pursued interest. In other words, anything that you're willing to practice, you can do." ~ Bob Ross
"The future is always uncertain and painful but it must be lived." ~ Unknown