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+--- Thread: Arrow Lake shine on (/showthread.php?tid=32599)
shine on - Ruenna - January 31, 2019
The waterfall was particularly stunning this afternoon, Rue observed as she drifted up the sandy shoreline. She lifted her honey-brown gaze to study the overhead peaks, squinting against the dazzling glare of the sun's rays upon ice and snow.
The sunshine and warmer temperatures had snowmelt cascading down from the mountain range-- the mountain range Rue and her packmates now claimed all for themselves. It was a bold claim, and yet, it felt right to the ex-Plateau beta. She had been living and scouting in these mountains for three seasons now... they already felt like home. It would not be a difficult adjustment period for Ruenna Redfern.
RE: shine on - Mahler - January 31, 2019
it was a high rank that the woman from the creek had been given, with thorn himself taking up residence at the bottom of the hierarchy. and yet mahler was intrigued, for he knew the sable creature to be ambitious. what had he seen in the slight she-wolf that had garnered such respect?
the gargoyle was only vaguely aware of the connection between ruenna and stigmata. his kill-brother had ranged far and near, moreso than mahler. it could not be surprising, then, that he knew their new tessarius.
her slender frame glided along the lakeshore, and mahler stepped to meet her, approaching from a ridge farther up. when he had come near, he let his stony lavender gaze meet her own briefly. "how are you faring in diaspora?"
the gargoyle was only vaguely aware of the connection between ruenna and stigmata. his kill-brother had ranged far and near, moreso than mahler. it could not be surprising, then, that he knew their new tessarius.
her slender frame glided along the lakeshore, and mahler stepped to meet her, approaching from a ridge farther up. when he had come near, he let his stony lavender gaze meet her own briefly. "how are you faring in diaspora?"
RE: shine on - Ruenna - January 31, 2019
Movement along one of the mountain ridges drew Rue's eye. Her gaze lifted to settle upon Mahler, who was looking even more statuesque than usual upon such a lofty perch. Rue was not a woman who smiled easily, but there was a certain warmth in her expression as she regarded the Kapitän. Her tail waved invitingly as she watched the man descend.
Once the gargoyle climbed down from his spire, he spoke. Rue's capacious ears swiveled forward to capture and covet every word. She had not been in Diaspora long, but she had observed enough to know that Mahler's speech was a rarity.
"Well, thank you," she answered, her quiet tones almost overwhelmed by the distant crash of the waterfall. "It's peaceful here, and that's.. refreshing. Healing, even." Truly, it was the fresh start she had been desperately craving since the tragic events surrounding the Plateau's disbandment.
"But I do think it's missing something," Rue led, sweeping her gaze across the still, glassy surface of the lake.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 02, 2019
the waterfall was a profoundly beautiful mark of the land he and stigmata had claimed, and mahler heard the music of it beneath the softer tones of ruenna's voice. diaspora had become quickly a place where one could thrive, and around him the shadowpriest saw that it was good.
studying the she-wolf as she spoke of healing, mahler wondered what it was that had loosed her heart from the creek. or had she been like he was beneath constantine's reign, never fully connected to the land, never given a reason to cultivate loyalty. it was a question for another time.
a small smile playing at the edge of his mouth, mahler followed the line of ruenna's honeyed eyes toward the lake. "ja," came his agreement. "the voice of children, perhaps." for what was a pack without its entenküken? soon diaspora would ring for the first time with new life, but it remained to be seen whether or not mahler would have a hand in that.
studying the she-wolf as she spoke of healing, mahler wondered what it was that had loosed her heart from the creek. or had she been like he was beneath constantine's reign, never fully connected to the land, never given a reason to cultivate loyalty. it was a question for another time.
a small smile playing at the edge of his mouth, mahler followed the line of ruenna's honeyed eyes toward the lake. "ja," came his agreement. "the voice of children, perhaps." for what was a pack without its entenküken? soon diaspora would ring for the first time with new life, but it remained to be seen whether or not mahler would have a hand in that.
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 03, 2019
Rue dipped her muzzle with a small chuckle of surprise and amusement. "That's just what I was thinking." Perhaps the Diaspora wolves were Rue's kindred spirits indeed, if their thoughts were so obviously synchronal.
"Children have a way of unifying wolves like nothing else... such a boost would be deeply benefical to a newly-born pack." Rue's suggestion was light, so as not to compel further comment if it was not a line of conversation the Kapitän wished to pursue. Although her previous alphas had held the counselor's advice in high regard, Rue knew better than to expect the same from a leader to which she had not yet proven herself.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 04, 2019
from their single interaction, mahler had discerned that ruenna was self-aware and shared a wisdom that was important for all to know. it was small wonder, now, why thorn had so willingly given up his rank to this particular she-wolf. "i lived in swiftcurrent for a time last year. the voman durnehviir ruled alongside constantine then. she prized only her children, and told me it vas chusi's duty to be grateful that she had not slain the girl's own son and daughter." the memory of it embittered mahler; he had began to move along the lakeshore, inviting ruenna to his side with a glance.
"i cannot see vhy any child means more than another. they are the lifeblood of the pack; they are all ours to rear, to protect, to teach. and there vill be at least one litter born in diaspora this year."
the gargoyle was silent then, rather winded after so many sentences. but it seemed the newly made tessarius was of like mind.
"i cannot see vhy any child means more than another. they are the lifeblood of the pack; they are all ours to rear, to protect, to teach. and there vill be at least one litter born in diaspora this year."
the gargoyle was silent then, rather winded after so many sentences. but it seemed the newly made tessarius was of like mind.
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 04, 2019
Mahler's description of his conversation with Durnehviir left a sour taste in the pacifistic girl's mouth. Rue swallowed hard and glanced away, attempting to mask the disgust she knew would be burning in her eyes. Durnehviir no longer led in the Creek, and Rue could certainly see why. What wolf would follow a woman who expected gratitude from her subordinates for restraining herself from murdering children? Such an attitude was beyond Rue's comprehension.
Mahler gestured for the pair to move down toward the lake to continue the conversation, and Rue was glad to oblige. Perhaps the act of walking would help Rue leave her bitterness behind, just as she had left the wolves of Swiftcurrent Creek behind. Mahler's disclosure had strengthened Rue's certainty in her choice to sever ties with those of the Creek.
Mahler shared his own views on the matter as they walked, and Rue shook her head in agreement. One litter did not matter more than another; all wolves here were Diaspora, and all pups born here would likewise be Diaspora. "I am glad to hear that Diaspora will be expecting." Another wolf might have asked who in particular planned to conceive, but this mattered very little to Ruenna. The pups were Diaspora, and they would belong to everyone.
"The attitude of cutthroat competition continues in Swiftcurrent Creek, I regret to report." Rue shook her head again. "The females of the Creek compete to whelp Constantine's pups, and the air is rife with tension and mistrust." It had become clear to Rue that the children of Constantine were the only children that mattered in Swiftcurrent Creek, and so this must be why his were the children that all the women wanted. How profoundly sad.
"I was at the Creek only for a short time," Rue admitted. "I just found it impossible to build familial bonds under such conditions. It was impossible to heal from the loss of my former pack, Blacktail Deer Plateau." Rue had found Diaspora to be much more conducive to healing, thank the stars.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 07, 2019
mahler made a sound low in his throat as he walked beside ruenna, but said nothing until she had finished. it was unpalatable that swiftcurrent still stood, and moreover, that constantine seemed to have followed in the teachings of his mate when it came to 'royal children.' remembering how he had seen kubo once in the sunspire, only to lose the boy to fear, the gargyole wondered if chusi had yet departed the place. "it is unlikely that constantine vill put an end to that. if it is ego or something else, i do not know."
healing, once more. ruenna had lost a pack, and gained another. but to be forced into moving twice — mahler did not know how the small she-wolf had kept from fraying beneath the weight of it. "i came to swiftcurrent after my pack along the coastline disbanded. grimnismal," and to say it aloud prickled mahler with some unexplainable emotion. "something happened between the two of them, she and constantine, and the creek suffered for it. i could respect neither of them after that, and took my leave."
perhaps it was the thought of wylla that sparked such revolution in his chest, how the last time he had seen her, she had gazed at him in such a way. and then she had disappeared with tiercel, and never returned. swallowing quietly, the shadowpriest turned his own lavender eyes upon ruenna.
"but for all of that, you are here vith us now, and i am glad. may diaspora continue to be a home to you." another rare smile curved mahler's lips; they had gained a rare and trustworthy wolf in the tessarius.
healing, once more. ruenna had lost a pack, and gained another. but to be forced into moving twice — mahler did not know how the small she-wolf had kept from fraying beneath the weight of it. "i came to swiftcurrent after my pack along the coastline disbanded. grimnismal," and to say it aloud prickled mahler with some unexplainable emotion. "something happened between the two of them, she and constantine, and the creek suffered for it. i could respect neither of them after that, and took my leave."
perhaps it was the thought of wylla that sparked such revolution in his chest, how the last time he had seen her, she had gazed at him in such a way. and then she had disappeared with tiercel, and never returned. swallowing quietly, the shadowpriest turned his own lavender eyes upon ruenna.
"but for all of that, you are here vith us now, and i am glad. may diaspora continue to be a home to you." another rare smile curved mahler's lips; they had gained a rare and trustworthy wolf in the tessarius.
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 16, 2019
Rue didn't know Constantine well enough to know whether he would make an attempt to correct the situation within his ranks, and she had not felt it was her place to offer counsel to the king of the river, a relative stranger. "Before I left, I tried to reach out to the other leaders-- Kavik, and Soltero.." Both male, as it happened. The structure of Swiftcurrent's ranks had not escaped Ruenna, with the males at the top of the hierarchy and a pile of women beneath them filling the subordinate ranks. "But something tells me my efforts were too little, too late."
She had encouraged Soltero to approach Constantine with his concerns instead of burying his opinions in an effort to avoid confrontation. Had she been fighting a losing battle there? And Kavik... she had counseled him to let his walls down and allow his packmates to help and support him. The Swiftcurrent subordinates would never be able to connect with him so long as he continued feigning invincibility. She had most certainly been wasting her breath there, hadn't she?
Mahler touched on a new subject briefly, mentioning a former pack of his with an exotic-sounding name. Rue might have asked him a question or two about Grimnismal, but as quickly as Mahler had brought up the topic he dismissed it. He turned the conversation back to Durnehviir and Constantine and the suffering of Swiftcurrent Creek. "It's their children who suffer most," Rue commented quietly and with certainty. Soltero had told her as much.
"The Blacktail Deer Plateau leaders had a similar ah, conflict.. I suppose that was the beginning of the end." What was it about leadership and love that turned wolves into such selfish, self-destructive creatures? It seemed to Rue that any wolf who had both immediately began hurling down a long path of poor decisions.
Although the journey down memory lane had been enlightening, it seemed to be instilling melancholy at best and bitterness at worst upon the conversants. Rue was more than willing to allow the subject to shift. As if she could fling away the ill-feelings, Rue gave a shake of her pelt as Mahler directed the conversation back to the present. "Thank you, Mahler. You and I seem to have much in common. All of Diaspora does.. And I'd say that's an auspicious start." Smiles were also a rare sight upon the champagne lady's countenance, but as she met the shadowpriest's lilac eyes, she matched his warm expression with a small smile of her own.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 17, 2019
he wanted to comment that it seemed they came from similar stories, but was unsure whether or not ruenna would take that as forward. her smile was a welcome sight, sweetening the resentment that had welled up from the depths of his heart during their dour talk. and, though mahler would not admit such a thing, he enjoyed the sound of his name in her welcoming voice.
"it is good to be well met with someone so easily," the gargoyle rumbled in answer, thinking of takiyok and their odd but comfortable bond. and although mahler had never cared to disentangle the emotions comprised that particular entwinement, he was grateful for it all the same.
in the present, however, he was unsure of how to continue his conversation with ruenna. it was not a feeling of timidity that had arisen in the man, more a desire to turn their talk to lighter things. "it seems as though you vere a mediator to leaders before, ja? you have a good vay for it," mahler commented, turning his gaze from their path to glance at ruenna once more. a shyness entered his heart then; he cleared his throat and arched a brow self-deprecatingly before adding, "i myself have always vanted to be a midvife."
what would she think of that, he wondered. it was an unusual profession, and moreso for a man. but she had been only easy with him thus far, and in their sharing was a catharsis mahler realized had been sorely lacking in his existence.
"it is good to be well met with someone so easily," the gargoyle rumbled in answer, thinking of takiyok and their odd but comfortable bond. and although mahler had never cared to disentangle the emotions comprised that particular entwinement, he was grateful for it all the same.
in the present, however, he was unsure of how to continue his conversation with ruenna. it was not a feeling of timidity that had arisen in the man, more a desire to turn their talk to lighter things. "it seems as though you vere a mediator to leaders before, ja? you have a good vay for it," mahler commented, turning his gaze from their path to glance at ruenna once more. a shyness entered his heart then; he cleared his throat and arched a brow self-deprecatingly before adding, "i myself have always vanted to be a midvife."
what would she think of that, he wondered. it was an unusual profession, and moreso for a man. but she had been only easy with him thus far, and in their sharing was a catharsis mahler realized had been sorely lacking in his existence.
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 17, 2019
Mahler agreed with Ruenna's statement... although while Rue had ammended herself to point out that all of Diaspora shared commonalities, Mahler's words called attention back to their own easy connection. Something similar to both amusement and shyness flashed in Rue's amber eyes before she dropped her gaze away. "Agreed," she answered simply, and a sudden lightness in her heart pulled further at the corners of her smile.
Mahler's unexpected compliment elicited a grateful (although somewhat disbelieving) chuckle from Ruenna. "My leaders did hear my advice from time to time," she confirmed, amusement still present in her voice. "Whether it was worth much, that's hard to say." Despite all of her counsel, the leadership in both Blacktail Deer Plateau and Swiftcurrent Creek had been a discordant symphony of poor decisions.
It seemed that a tendency toward self-depreciation was another similarity the pair shared. Rue tilted her head at Mahler's confession, as if seeing the man for the first time. Truly, his disclosure painted him with more dimension than Rue had thought existed within her somewhat reticent leader.
"A noble pursuit," she commented, voice softening thoughtfully. "As a trade in general, it's always seemed to me that the healing arts are inexorably bound to pain and suffering. But midwifery.. well, that's more akin to joy and new beginnings, hmm?" In Rue's experience, the male heart strove primarily for dominance and destruction; it was refreshing to hear Mahler speak from a more nurturing masculine perspective.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 17, 2019
”i vas taught, ‘a man is only as good as his counsel,’” mahler rejoined, scenting the air for prey in his rote manner. ”but vhen i grew older, i realized how unfair that vas. many leaders are given good counsel, but choose to ignore it. therefore, it is better to say, ‘a man is only as good as the counsel to vich he listens.’”
with a small start, he realized how easily his words had been coming to him. it was not often that mahler spoke at length, for he found meaning in silence and annoyance in rambling. and despite that, here he was, letting his words travel without end.
his musiker’s heart found her laughter like the trill in an aria’s beginning, though this was too lofty an idea for him to dwell upon for long. instead, the charcoal ears swept forward to hear ruenna’s commentary upon the juxtaposition between the two roles, and again a smile glowed to momentary embers upon the hard planes of his face.
”that is vhat i have alvays believed. but boys are not allowed in vhelping dens. i asked the grandmothers, ‘vhat are you looking for? vhat does that pup’s cry mean? vhy are you giving their mothers green herbs?’ alvays underfoot,” mahler chuckled, rolling his shoulders.
”for vhat it is vorth, ruenna, i vould be honored to have you as an advisor in diaspora.”
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 23, 2019
Mahler shared the wisdom he claimed to have gained with age, and his words brought the knowing glimmer of amusement back to Ruenna's features. In her short time offering advice to leadership, she had experienced the truth of Mahler's aphorism more than once or twice. But she could respect the difficulty inherent in a leadership position; after all, the adviser was not the one whose reputation was at stake.
"It can't be easy to be the one taking action and risking the consequences.. I don't envy leadership for that," Rue said sympathetically, pairing her words with a small, dismissive shrug. To be honest, it surprised Rue how many wolves were so keen to take on leadership responsibilities. Rue herself was quite content filling a more background role.
As Rue spoke of the joy of new life, she saw that very emotion spark within the depths of Mahler's dusky countenance. What a shame, that the elders he mentioned wouldn't recognize that passion and assist him in channeling his curious energy. If a pup was "underfoot," Rue saw that as a failure on the adult's part for not directing the child to a helpful task... especially when the pup seemed to be so eager to assist.
"Diaspora will do things differently, I imagine," Rue predicted with a lightness in her voice to match that of her companion. It seemed to her that Diaspora did just about everything a little differently, after all. On a more serious note, she added, "You are not the sort of leader to allow any wolf's potential to lie fallow." Rue's knowing gaze lifted to meet the pale eyes of her Kapitän, and she felt her heatbeat accelerate. She hoped she hadn't made too bold an assumption.
Mahler expressed his desire for her advice in an official capacity, startling a genuine smile from the young lady. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so surprised after the leader's compliments, but Rue still sometimes struggled to recognize her own strengths and value. "Mahler.." she murmured his name as she exhaled. "..Thank you." She gave a slight, dismissive shake of her head, her disbelieving smile still lingering. "The honor is all mine," she assured him demurely.
RE: shine on - Mahler - February 25, 2019
recognizing also in himself the refusal to accept a kind word, reverting instead to his usual tactic of 'this is how i must be,' mahler was comforted somehow by this reflection beneath ruenna's soft comment. "it has its revards," he chuffed amusedly, remembering how alight with passion and confidence stigmata had become at the beginning of the season. he himself still floundered when it came to wolfesses in their cycles, preferring to remove himself rather than be tempted by the male weaknesses of his own body.
the goldenrod of her eyes found his, and mahler let the lilac of his own gaze soften, beheld the bloom of her smile across her delicate features. like music, came the torrential thought, and he steeled himself against it. perhaps few kind words had been paid to ruenna in her life, or perhaps many had been given, but few truthful. that was a poor way of treating another, to build them with false compliments and empty promises.
mahler was many things, but a liar he had never been. it was how he allowed himself to omit the sorrow of his past life; he did not lie, except to himself about why he chose to keep such things veiled. realizing belatedly that he had been silent for too long a moment, the garogyle pulled his gaze away and nodded. "i vould be remiss to allow such possibility to go unseen," he murmured quietly. leadership had not been something he sought; it had come to him. his lack of ambition to be atop a hierarchy had served him well these past weeks in diaspora, but with an objective and true advisor to offer her knowledge to stigmata, to himself, to takiyok — it was of great importance.
the moment had grown perhaps too tense, too filled with something he refused to name. and so mahler paused to inspect the air once more, brow furrowing as he lowered his muzzle and looked to ruenna. "coyote. they have come to try and raid a cache again." a resolute light entered his lavender stare. "vell, counseler? shall ve go and defend our claim?" and though he did not smile, the edge of humour had not left his voice.
the goldenrod of her eyes found his, and mahler let the lilac of his own gaze soften, beheld the bloom of her smile across her delicate features. like music, came the torrential thought, and he steeled himself against it. perhaps few kind words had been paid to ruenna in her life, or perhaps many had been given, but few truthful. that was a poor way of treating another, to build them with false compliments and empty promises.
mahler was many things, but a liar he had never been. it was how he allowed himself to omit the sorrow of his past life; he did not lie, except to himself about why he chose to keep such things veiled. realizing belatedly that he had been silent for too long a moment, the garogyle pulled his gaze away and nodded. "i vould be remiss to allow such possibility to go unseen," he murmured quietly. leadership had not been something he sought; it had come to him. his lack of ambition to be atop a hierarchy had served him well these past weeks in diaspora, but with an objective and true advisor to offer her knowledge to stigmata, to himself, to takiyok — it was of great importance.
the moment had grown perhaps too tense, too filled with something he refused to name. and so mahler paused to inspect the air once more, brow furrowing as he lowered his muzzle and looked to ruenna. "coyote. they have come to try and raid a cache again." a resolute light entered his lavender stare. "vell, counseler? shall ve go and defend our claim?" and though he did not smile, the edge of humour had not left his voice.
RE: shine on - Ruenna - February 25, 2019
Although Mahler left ambiguous the specific "rewards" to which he referred, something about the levity in his tone told the perceptive lady all she needed to know. She lifted a brow in silent, amused interest. She wasn't sure that she and Mahler were yet friendly enough for her to remark upon the comment, but it did spark her curiosity.
Rue remembered all too well the females of Swiftcurrent fawning over and constantly flitting around Constantine-- was Mahler's leadership position also winning him extra attention this season? For some reason it was difficult to picture proud wolves like Kazimir or Takiyok behaving in such a way, and imagining such was its own source of entertainment.
She had let her imagination run away with her, and it was only when Mahler spoke once more that Rue realized they had been sitting in silence. His words were quiet, honest. And yet they continued to brim with praise. Rue almost dismissed the commendation once more, but she instead swallowed her impulse to reject his kind words and nodded gratefully.
Mahler raised his muzzle to taste the air-- air that had become rather heavy, in Rue's opinion. The tessarius also inhaled deeply, an ear flicking in annoyance as she confirmed Mahler's observation. Rue was almost certain that the coyotes lingering at the Diaspora border were the same band that had gotten the better of Blacktail Deer Plateau, which meant Rue had a grudge to settle.
Mahler's use of her new title sparked a glimmer of appreciation in her expression."Yes Kapitän, we shall," Rue answered, tone similarly light. She bumped her shoulder against him in a companionable way, waiting for him to take the lead.
RE: shine on - Mahler - March 01, 2019
fade here? <3]
had mahler the sense to rethink his words, he might not have spoken them. as it was, he could only find a brief, warm chagrin at ruenna's arched brow. it did not last long, however, for her touch against his shoulder set his thoughts only to her, and to the pursuit ahead. to act in tandem with a packmate was one thing; to move alongside one of similar mind was quite another, and mahler found himself distracted even as they set a steady gait for the interloping coyotes.
perhaps some feral part of him found it pleasing to shed blood with ruenna, to solidify her place within diaspora as only wolves might. he recalled how his bond with stigmata had been forged, in the scarlet life of their twin quarry. and so it was with the tessarius.
the thought pleased mahler beyond the reach of his own gruff words, and so he was silent, carrying them at a quicker pace now. the reek of vermin in the cold air grew stronger, stinging his senses and leaving him reeling with a growing protectiveness over diaspora.
steadied only by the small presence at his side, mahler swept down terribly upon the unsuspecting handful of coyotes, teeth bared, hackles abristle, and the guttural echo of a challenge in his throat.
perhaps some feral part of him found it pleasing to shed blood with ruenna, to solidify her place within diaspora as only wolves might. he recalled how his bond with stigmata had been forged, in the scarlet life of their twin quarry. and so it was with the tessarius.
the thought pleased mahler beyond the reach of his own gruff words, and so he was silent, carrying them at a quicker pace now. the reek of vermin in the cold air grew stronger, stinging his senses and leaving him reeling with a growing protectiveness over diaspora.
steadied only by the small presence at his side, mahler swept down terribly upon the unsuspecting handful of coyotes, teeth bared, hackles abristle, and the guttural echo of a challenge in his throat.