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+--- Thread: Northstar Vale but if you close your eyes (/showthread.php?tid=27017)
but if you close your eyes - Alarian - May 01, 2018
set late at night
Adrenaline had not taken the boy far from the plains; once he was certain Runion had not followed, the pain came rushing back to him. Shards of ice and molten rock shot first through his right shoulder— moments later, his left thigh lit with the same agony. His legs buckled. Suddenly, he was cold. He realized dimly that his fur was soaked in large patches, and shivered to feel the breeze. It chilled the blood clotting in his pelt, bit at the exposed wounds. Alarian sucked in a breath— and immediately regretted it, attention drawn quickly to his sore throat, then to his neck. The puncture wounds of several bites decorated the delicate flesh under his chin, none quite deep enough to truly alarm him; they ached nonetheless.
The Governor halted his assessment. It wouldn't help him in that moment— he needed to move, or he would die there. Ali didn't let himself think about it a moment longer. He shifted to his feet, biting back whimpers. Weakness had brought him here— weakness, to have ever allowed Runion to live to see this day. Weakness, to hesitate when he had the chance to end it. Weakness, to simply collapse and give up here— now. Alarian had always been a weak boy. He swallowed hard. Not anymore.
Reaching the Vale was, predictably, more difficult in his condition. The hours blended together. He trudged silently, without pause or thought beyond his destination. The boy's awkward gait took a toll on him— no matter which way he moved, a torn muscle would pull the wrong way. It made for a strange limp; perhaps the type to inspire a whispered "ouch" from sympathetic strangers. "Ouch" could not begin to describe it.
Alarian only vaguely registered the border markers, just in time to avoid crossing them. Reactive and nervous in this state, he flinched and took several steps back. He was here— he had made it. Irrationally, he wanted to leave— suddenly the idea of his new friend seeing him in this state... ugh, what a thought to have. He lowered himself to the ground, resting his head on his paws. Several minutes passed.
When he finally called for @Delight, it was a low, broken howl— cast into the night with the hopes that he wouldn't be too upset at being woken up.
The Governor halted his assessment. It wouldn't help him in that moment— he needed to move, or he would die there. Ali didn't let himself think about it a moment longer. He shifted to his feet, biting back whimpers. Weakness had brought him here— weakness, to have ever allowed Runion to live to see this day. Weakness, to hesitate when he had the chance to end it. Weakness, to simply collapse and give up here— now. Alarian had always been a weak boy. He swallowed hard. Not anymore.
Reaching the Vale was, predictably, more difficult in his condition. The hours blended together. He trudged silently, without pause or thought beyond his destination. The boy's awkward gait took a toll on him— no matter which way he moved, a torn muscle would pull the wrong way. It made for a strange limp; perhaps the type to inspire a whispered "ouch" from sympathetic strangers. "Ouch" could not begin to describe it.
Alarian only vaguely registered the border markers, just in time to avoid crossing them. Reactive and nervous in this state, he flinched and took several steps back. He was here— he had made it. Irrationally, he wanted to leave— suddenly the idea of his new friend seeing him in this state... ugh, what a thought to have. He lowered himself to the ground, resting his head on his paws. Several minutes passed.
When he finally called for @Delight, it was a low, broken howl— cast into the night with the hopes that he wouldn't be too upset at being woken up.
RE: but if you close your eyes - RIP Stephanie - May 01, 2018
Part of it was instinct, Queenie's need to be near to Delight, but there was also an element of desire tied into it. It wasn't a physical desire, but an emotional one; he had seen her in the most vulnerable state and instead of hurt, he'd only nurtured her. The two of them had formed a (possibly one-sided, definitely undesirable) bond that Queenie planned on keeping for the sake of the y'know, but as time passed, she realized that she might have been doing it for herself, too.
It was late and Queenie was just beginning to rise; when the call rang out for Delight, she was the first to respond. After all, they were kind of a package deal now. There was a wolf who she didn't recognize, but who clearly needed their help. From the way that he'd called, she assumed that he knew someone here, so she didn't hesitate before moving in to investigate.
You okay?she whispered as she approached, hoping Delight was following suit,
You don't look good.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Alarian - May 01, 2018
Ali is just being quick to react rn, anyone is still welcomeeee
The stranger's approach went unnoticed until her whisper startled him; belatedly, Alarian realized he had started to doze off. Alarm gripped him for a beat as he lifted his head to look at the she-wolf— then, he registered her words. She wasn't here to hurt him, then. It occurred to him that this would have to be one of Delight's packmates. She certainly smelled heavily of him, now that he was paying attention.
I'm—He paused. There was no use whining about it, was there?
Can you help me, please? I need cobwebs— so I can stop the bleeding.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Ariel - May 06, 2018
reckoning with the aftermath of his and queenie's affair is... complicated. if nothing else their decision and the... consequences of that decision offer him a way to look beyond his feelings for mato, a sort of shuttering of that particular window, if only for now. he hasn't really started to process what the, uh, arrival is going to mean for him - for them -- for now he decides to do his best to keep it all together.
it works about half the time. alarian's call sounds frantic -- alarmed, the morwinyon hastily makes his way toward the borders. queenie's beat him there (a dependable merc as always), and he nudges her as he comes close, eyes going right to oh wow that's a lot of blood.
"what happened?" he asks, eyes wide as saucers. he caught the tail-end of alarian's words -- cobwebs? right -- and glances at queenie, mouthing cobwebs sort of helplessly. outloud he says, "can you -- find some, queenie?" trying to keep his voice level. he's really had quite enough of injured wolves near death on his border thanks!!!
RE: but if you close your eyes - RIP Stephanie - May 09, 2018
Y'all can skip me here :D Feel free to PP her coming back with the cobwebs.
Being the curious girl that she was, Queenie would have much rather stayed with Delight and the strange bleeding boy at the border, but when a command was given, she knew to follow. Things were...weird, to say the least, and she didn't need any unnecessary conflicts or emotions getting thrown into the mix. With a nod to the Morwinyon, Queenie set off, tail high and nose low.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Alarian - May 09, 2018
sorry this is bad, I've been feeling ew :^(
Delight's arrival should have been welcome, but Alarian stiffened slightly when the other boy appeared. He didn't miss the closeness between his friend and the girl who had arrived, but didn't give it much thought; suddenly, he was rather self-conscious. Ali swallowed hard at Delight's question. The answer caught in his throat, heavy and unforgiving as if he had swallowed a stone. But then he was addressing the girl, Queenie, and the Governor was spared having to answer for the moment.
Thoughts of Runion had already bubbled to the surface— of his mother. He stifled the urge to cry as he watched Queenie leave. Part of him wanted to doubt his brother's ranting, but he knew it was the truth. It was twisted enough to be true, his brother wasn't cunning enough to lie— and he had seen Runion's face when he said it. The Keil siblings were an eclectic bunch— often to extremes, but they had all loved their mother. Alarian swallowed hard, nauseous again as he remembered Runion's particular brand of love; he didn't let himself think about them. He just hoped they were taken care of.
Ali realized he had left Delight waiting just a few beats too long.
He didn't know what else to say, couldn't bring himself to tell his friend everything now (if ever). After a few beats, words came to him again, unbidden and choked out this time:
To him, it was true— it had to be; he knew his mother, knew she would never have agreed to carrying her son's litter. He knew that would drive her to suicide. The nausea intensified. Alarian turned his face away from Delight, unwilling to allow the other to see the rawness in his gaze. This moment should have been shared with Lanawyn, he thought bitterly, and for the barest moment resented the other boy. It was gone quickly; he was too exhausted now to hold onto irrational emotions. They all melted back into grief, in the end, and tears stung his eyes now.
Thoughts of Runion had already bubbled to the surface— of his mother. He stifled the urge to cry as he watched Queenie leave. Part of him wanted to doubt his brother's ranting, but he knew it was the truth. It was twisted enough to be true, his brother wasn't cunning enough to lie— and he had seen Runion's face when he said it. The Keil siblings were an eclectic bunch— often to extremes, but they had all loved their mother. Alarian swallowed hard, nauseous again as he remembered Runion's particular brand of love; he didn't let himself think about them. He just hoped they were taken care of.
Ali realized he had left Delight waiting just a few beats too long.
I ran into someone—He stopped and swallowed again, voice barely above a whisper.
Someone who wants me dead.
He didn't know what else to say, couldn't bring himself to tell his friend everything now (if ever). After a few beats, words came to him again, unbidden and choked out this time:
He killed my mother.
To him, it was true— it had to be; he knew his mother, knew she would never have agreed to carrying her son's litter. He knew that would drive her to suicide. The nausea intensified. Alarian turned his face away from Delight, unwilling to allow the other to see the rawness in his gaze. This moment should have been shared with Lanawyn, he thought bitterly, and for the barest moment resented the other boy. It was gone quickly; he was too exhausted now to hold onto irrational emotions. They all melted back into grief, in the end, and tears stung his eyes now.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Ariel - May 11, 2018
queenie goes; his gaze trails her a second longer than necessary, before alarian's words pull his attention back. and boy, his words. delight freezes, an instinctive panic in him (does this dude who wants you dead know you're here, are we in danger) but thankfully has the grace to not say anything.
the morwinyon is, ironically, not good with words when it comes to these sorts of things -- emotions, comfort, reassurance. he barely knows how to tend to physical wounds, let alone fumble to offer help to emotional. he does not press for detail -- he doesn't say anything at all for a long moment, unwilling to intrude on what feels like a private moment.
at length he says, "i'm sorry, alarian," and lapses back into silence as queenie returns with the cobwebs. he moves in to help apply them and says on an impulse, "stay here for a little. to rest -- you're not in any condition to walk back home alone." delight sounds more sure than he feels, and he punctuates the sentence by glancing at queenie, a brief uncertainty in his eyes. but he's right -- especially if there's someone out there actively trying to kill him.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Alarian - May 25, 2018
It was impossible to miss the way Delight tensed in the moment before Alarian turned his face, and gaze, away. He was confused for several beats— but he understood quickly, and at once felt inconsiderate for neglecting the obvious. If someone showed up at his borders claiming a murderer was after them, he would certainly want to know if said murderer was headed their way.
Queenie's return was welcome— he didn't think the present conversation was going to go anywhere good— but the subsequent help was... not. The Governor masked it well, managing to avoid tensing or flinching; of course, he felt like an ungrateful brat for hating it, but having someone he didn't know well near his wounds... it gave him the heebie-jeebies. Even if Delight was really, really cute.
He didn't follow me,He assured his friend after a moment of hesitance, fairly certain it was true; last he had seen, Runion was busy wailing over his missing chunk of face. It was several long moments before he spoke again, words coming almost too quietly:
I— sorry I brought it up, it just— it doesn't feel real, yet.Alarian shook his head slightly, muttering almost to himself now.
You never get used to losing family.
Queenie's return was welcome— he didn't think the present conversation was going to go anywhere good— but the subsequent help was... not. The Governor masked it well, managing to avoid tensing or flinching; of course, he felt like an ungrateful brat for hating it, but having someone he didn't know well near his wounds... it gave him the heebie-jeebies. Even if Delight was really, really cute.
Thank you,He managed, genuine but weary, at the offer. He would let himself fawn an unnecessary amount over the other boy's kindness later, when he had energy. When he could feel something other than grief.
RE: but if you close your eyes - Ariel - May 31, 2018
slapping an ending on this one!
delight is as delicate as he can be in his work but he draws back with a slightly apologetic frown, sure he's not done the best job of it. "yeah," he says, and then adds quietly, "you're right -- though it becomes easier over time, i've found."
glancing at queenie, he thanks her, and then steps back to help lead alarian into the territory, to a den where he can rest and recuperate.