Stone Circle out there

tags for reference :)

A lot of Nikai's time was spent tending to @Keoni and @Valette — he was there for them, making sure that they were doing well enough and were treating themselves well. In the process though, Nikai was trampling all over his own well-being and he found it difficult to keep up. There was a growing desire to be out there and adventure through the world in his mind, a wanderlust that made his paws itch and willed himself to get going.

But loyalty kept him close to home and so he stayed here, because he thought it was what was expected of him, because he thought it was what his family needed, because of everybody else's feelings but his own. In need if a breather Nikai decided to go for a patrol along Easthollow's borders and he sighed wistfully while he stared off into the fields as he trotted along at a leisurely pace, his heart not fully in the patrol.

she followed her brother at perhaps a distance of half a league, having come across the scent trail as she too, pushed along the borders. when it did not deter from the scent-marked path did she decide to catch up, and broke into a swift lope. the recent events had only deepened her love for her brother if that was even possible; the tragedy and his constant support had brought her ever closer to him. 

as she drew up alongside him now, she noted that something seemed distant, about him. something off. she could not tell immediately what might be, but she knew that something merely seemed different. she nosed his shoulder playfully in greeting, though there was a touch of concern in the gesture. gaze fell on his, curious, asking a silent question.

They were like fire and ice and he loved that about them. Keoni had always said all the things that he wanted to say, but didn't because he was afraid to hurt the feelings of others. Well... And he had been quiet, loyal, present. Now he was not sure wat their dynamic would do, but he hoped Keoni would not give up on her fiery nature despite everything that happened and despite the manners of expression that were taken from her so violently.

To see his sister brought a joyful smile to his face despite his concerns and his tail wagged as she nosed his shoulder. He planted a sloppy, playful lick on her cheek and halted for only a moment before picking up the trot along the borders again, this time with his sister by his side. "Hi, Kee," he murmured, a touch of guilt to his voice because it was evident she knew that something was the matter. That he wanted to leave. There was a moment of hesitation and silence before he shared what was on his mind. "I've been feeling... Restless. Like I gotta go places, see the world, but —" But! "— I can't just leave our mother and you. Oh, Keenie, I just feel so guilty for having these feelings at all..." He trailed off there, ears folding back and eyebrows knit into a frown in silent apology.

a look of feigned distaste was given the sloppy kiss, and a chiding bump of her shoulder was offered in return. the note of guilt in his greeting was not missed, however, and she quieted, wondering just what her brother could be guilty about. his next words had her pause and furrow her brow. restless? she could not quite match the feeling, but could too claim a desire to leave the borders in search of a certain male and his pack. 

her worry melted into a kind of excitement, checked quickly lest it be a false hope, and at the thought that she could not convey what she thought. but nevertheless, her excitement returned, and she nodded, tail lashing at the prospect that had quite suddenly occurred to her. thoughts of Rannoch and the group had plagued her for a while, and if Nikai wanted to leave too, perhaps she could see the group again. excitedly she darted ahead of Nikai, then cast her gaze to the mountains before gesturing to some far off point, the place she last remembered Rannoch's pack being, and thus hoping to convey that she too, felt these things. 

but she paused when thoughts of her mother had her rethink the idea of leaving now. she mouthed, half-consciencly, the reason for her pause - "Mother."

At first Keoni seemed excited, and Nikai didn't really understand why. He had just admitted that he wanted to leave and she seemed happy about it. She took a few steps forward and he looked in the direction she seemed to gesture in. "Is... Do you want to go there?" he asked hesitantly, not sure if he was drawing the right conclusions. "Is there a place or a wolf you know out there?" Nikai followed Keoni's gaze with a tilted head, wondering suddenly what sort of adventures she'd had when she was gone. He had only ever focussed on how she had gotten hurt, and hadn't even considered she might've made friends there or found good places.

Suddenly her enthusiasm sank and he knew what was going on even without looking at her lips. It was the same reason that he felt guilty, too. They couldn't just leave their mother here alone. Maybe if Steady had still been alive things would've been different. But he was gone, and Nikai didn't want to leave their poor mother all alone.

After a moment of rueful silence Nikai formed a plan in his head and he suggested, "What if we ask mother if we can visit your place? Only for a few days, and then we'll return." He didn't like the thought of returning, feeling the itch in his paws and wanting to feel the breeze of adventure in his face. But he had to compromise and he couldn't choose for himself here; he had a family to worry about.

his assumptions rang true, and with a dip of her muzzle, she expressed her agreement. yes, she had a place- but shortly after thoughts of her mother had her excitement turn, so did another; would Rannoch still be there? But chiefly came the issue of leaving in the first place, and as Nikai expressed his idea, she found herself agreeing. It was obvious to her that if they left, Valette would have no family left, and just a few weeks after the death of their father, the notion made her feel guilty. 

she almost considered simply staying home; but her want for adventure, the prospect of seeing Rannoch and Rose and the others, and the fact that they would only really be gone for a few days had her nod, agreeing completely. her gaze found Nikai's expectantly, would they go now? Ask now? Now that events had begun to progress, she wanted them to as quickly as possible; the same kind of impatience had led to her getting injured in the first place, but here it returned.

Keoni's excitement, though silent, was infectuous and Nikai found himself wanting to go as fast as possible. He looked at his sister and then at the far-away mountains again. "I'm sure that mother won't mind if we stay away only for a few days..." he murmured, feeling guilty for wanting to leave even the shortest moment — but there was something within him that screamed at him that he just had to. He didn't understand it, but he knew he should heed it.

Nikai lifted his nose and howled to inform @Valette that he and Keoni were off exploring for a few days and that they would be back soon. Then he looked at Keoni with a smile of contained excitement, one that mirrored his desire to go out there even if it was new and scary. It was as if a weight had fallen off his shoulders now that he had informed mother, and he was so very ready to just go. "Let's go," he said and he nipped at Keoni's shoulder as he started heading out towards her dream, the place she had mentioned.

Just a Cameo post!

Valette lifted her head when she heard her son howl. It was a notification that he and Keoni were leaving for a short while. The mother was instantly worried. Last time Keoni came back with quite a few injuries. She howled back to them that it was alright, but there was also worry in her voice.

Hopefully, by hearing her worry they would be extra careful. She couldn't lose her babies either. The female had already one loss to deal with. The young female hoped the two would stay in the valley and wouldn't stray too far. Alas, she couldn't keep them by her side forever.

Nikai halted a moment, ears perked up attentively, when he heard his mother's call back. With a wag of his tail he looked at Keoni, his enthusiasm spreading now that their mother had approved. He kept telling himself they'd be back soon, which made him give himself the freedom to just be happy and let go for a moment. It was a freeing moment and Nikai bumped his head against Keoni's shoulder, then batted a paw at her and raced off, eager to start this new chapter in his life — exploring with his sister, and seeing at least a part of the world before his duties caught up on him again.