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+--- Thread: Noctisardor Bypass If I send this void away (/showthread.php?tid=49625)
If I send this void away - Wylla - January 07, 2022
For @Indra III and @Laurel!
God DAMN,Wylla yelled out to no one in particular as she skittered away from a tree where, a mere second ago, a large clump of snow had landed on her back. She lashed her rigid tail and tried to calm the rising hackles on the back of her neck. Snow slid down her side and landed with a thwump on the ground.
Fucking tree,she groused with a vigorous shake. Couldn’t she just have a nice walk by the lagoon without something happening to tank her mood? Just the other day, a spruce grouse had broken cover directly under her front paw and scared her half to death, and now this. Such bullshit.
RE: If I send this void away - Laurel - January 11, 2022
I assumed this is set before the attacks from Ursus, but lmk if I assumed wrong! <3
Laurel was taking Indra out for a walk in the snow.
When it gets this cold, it's harder to look for shiny rocks in the rivers,Laurel explained — collecting shiny rocks in the river was a pasttime that she had taken Indra to do regularly in the summer and fall — and she gestured all around them.
But the snow looks pretty, and it's easier to find prey tracks, too.
When she spotted the paws of another wolf, Laurel asked Indra,
Look. What do you think these are from?It was an easy question, of course, since the paw prints looked a lot like Laurel's own; but that was part of it, anyway. Anything to encourage Indra to grow. Laurel heard someone's voice in the distance and an ear turned towards the sound. She didn't recognise the voice — nor caught the shouted words — though she didn't smell any strange scents, so she presumed it was a pack mate.
RE: If I send this void away - Redbird - January 14, 2022
I forgot to reply! I'll be quicker now that its in my threadlog.
Her mother was taking her on a trip through the territory. It wasn't the first time. The novelty had yet to wear off for Indra, who basked in the attention. Laurel was everything to her.
The snow, though... Was something Indra would be happy to see vanish. She wanted to like it; her mother liked it! Or she seemed to. It was sometimes soft, sometimes hard, and really slippy, but the worst part was how cold it made her feel.
Laurel directed the girl's attention to some divots in the snow.
I'unno,she murmured in a surly manner. Each step she took was awkwardly high, and sometimes she would shake the ice from her toes. Indra nosed at the shapes and did not hear the shout until she looked up, and noticed her mother's ears shift position.
That drew her eye.
Who's that mum?She whispered for Laurel to hear, shrinking down.
RE: If I send this void away - Wylla - January 21, 2022
Fucking snow,Wylla went on, making no effort to keep the volume down as she stomped back onto the path and continued on her way with her eye cast down. She knew the snow benefited wolves — her paws pressed lightly into the surface, enabling her to skim along the surface instead of punching through the crust to the deeper snow below — but no matter how many silver linings she tried to put on it, there was nothing redeeming about winter.
Snorting once like a bull, Wylla willed herself back to calm and lifted her head again, only to freeze when she saw an unfamiliar she-wolf with an equally unfamiliar cub. By now, she knew most of Rivenwood on vague terms, so she knew by process of elimination that this had to be Laurel and one of her kids, a small red-furred girl with a stark white ear. If Mahler had shared their names, Wylla had not cared to remember.
Wylla practically sucked her lips back into her face. She remembered the way Sequoia had reacted when she swore in front of her children, and she hadn't really been keeping her cursing to herself just now. She knew she should say something, but she didn't want to apologize for just being herself. She didn't really want to say hi if she was going to be called out for it, either. The end result was that Wylla simply stood there and stared awkwardly at the pair without a word, waiting for an inevitable outburst.
RE: If I send this void away - Laurel - January 25, 2022
A little louder this time, and Laurel could make up the words just fine. She frowned as she looked up towards the wolf, and like Wylla, she too was able to deduct from vaguely knowing what wolves inhabited Rivenwood who she was facing. Of course, she knew the name of Wylla all too well; ever since Mahler had turned her down in her moment of need. It was complicated to explain to anyone why she needed him in that moment. It wasn't that she was romantically inclined towards him. It was just that he was the only man that she had trusted. She'd needed him, but in a different way. She didn't expect anyone else to ever understand. Wylla's name would always be like a blister on her tongue because it would always remind her of the moment that Mahler let her down.
Laurel decided to skip over Wylla's outburst, because hostility would solve nothing and Wylla hadn't even seen herself and Indra approach. Besides, Laurel herself wasn't exactly miss perfect when it came to language, even though she tried to keep herself back in front of the kids, of course. Ignoring it would probably be best right now; also for Indra, to not emphasise too much that there was anything to do around foul words.
She refused to live in awkwardness, so when Wylla stood and stared awkwardly at herself and Indra, Laurel gathered a brilliant smile onto her face.
Good day. You must be Wylla, are you not?Then, as she nosed the top of Indra's head,
This here is Indra, and I'm Laurel.Wylla probably also knew Laurel's name, as she imagined she must've been told, and they saw each other around the territory from time to time; but they'd never formally introduced, and so Laurel would happily upkeep the façade of polite and friendly Laurel while on the inside, her guts squirmed in discomfort at the name of Wylla.
RE: If I send this void away - Redbird - January 25, 2022
Her mother did not immediately answer her. It stung to be ignored, especially by Laurel, and Indra was adamant she be given all the attention - as per usual - so she sucked in a breath and began to protest; except before she could, the voice came again.
Fucking snow.
The anger there was surprising. It didn't sound as though it were directed at Indra or her mother, but the girl was intrigued enough to keep her mouth shut and look around, clustering closer to the only adult she knew.
Mother began to talk next; that was when Indra saw the large, dark figure that was the so-called Wylla. The girl felt a touch to the top of her head and lifted her nose to try and look up, basking in the affection and recognition of Laurel, until she saw that her mother's attention was still on the stranger.
The girl was quiet; giving the stranger a few cautious glances that turned in to frowns, as she nosed at her mother's fur like a child with a comforting blanket.
RE: If I send this void away - Wylla - February 26, 2022
I'm happy to either continue this one or wrap it up, whatever you two would prefer since a lot has happened since this! It would be totally in character for Wylla to exchange a pleasantry or two and be on her way if you prefer the latter.
She'd never been good at introductions or small talk in general. Luckily, Laurel seemed well-versed. Wylla couldn't help watching the child throughout the woman's introduction; Indra had to be at least five months old by the look of her, but she was behaving more like a little one just shy of two months. The way she frowned back at Wylla and nosed against her mother reminded Wylla of a delicate little fawn. She didn't find it very cute.
It wasn't her business if someone else raised an incredibly dependent child, anyway. Wylla was no expert on rearing children herself but she was proud of her own. Phaedra had exhibited some of the same behaviours when Mahler was off with Nyx, which she preferred to not think about, but now her daughter was as independent as they came. Others might use the words "withdrawn" and "anti-social" to describe Phaedra and would rightfully judge her parenting skills in much the same manner that she judged Laurel and Indra together now, but Wylla was ever the shining hypocrite.
Yup, that's me,she confirmed, returning her cyclopean gaze to Laurel. She was naturally suspicious of anyone who acted so chipper — she got serious Chusi vibes from this one — but there was nothing about Laurel that suggested she was faking it, so Wylla offered a more subdued smile back. She had to stop being so pessimistic. Not everyone was out to get her or deceive her, and probably this woman least of all.
Nice to meet you. Gotta say, I kind of expected you to give me sh— uhhh, a hard time for swearing.
RE: If I send this void away - Laurel - March 01, 2022
i'm cool with fading it somewhere in the next posts with them exchanging some pleasantries before being on their way. <3
Laurel dipped her nose to Indra and nuzzled her forehead in a silent affirmation that she was still there as the woman greeted her back. Laurel did not like her very much. She didn't like that Wylla didn't even seem apologetic for coming into Laurel's pack and not even so much as introducing herself. Laurel knew that Wylla meant a lot to Mahler, and that was probably what kept the smile plastered on her face right now. It had always been Laurel's defensive mechanism to just keep a friendly smile on.
Wylla then said she expected Laurel to give her a hard time for swearing. Maybe she should've, but Laurel didn't want to give Wylla any canon fodder against her. Laurel wanted Wylla to like her, because she didn't want to give her any reason to complain about her to Mahler. So she just said with her pleasant smile,
Ah, that's alright. I assumed you didn't see us there.Laurel hated pleasantries and she hated being pleasant with wolves she did not like, but her life had taught her that it was the easiest that way.
RE: If I send this void away - Redbird - March 02, 2022
The stranger wouldn't stop watching her. Indra kept herself as close to her mother that was possible, but even when Laurel moved to comfort her she wasn't fully paying attention. She watched the stranger back for a few seconds before averting her eyes; less so because she might respect them, and more because she was afraid. Nobody had come to visit Laurel throughout Indra's entire existence except, sometimes, the man with the medicine. The girl had no idea how a pack was supposed to work. So far as she was concerned, her whole life was her mother and that was it.
Mother appeared to know this other woman, though. Laurel called her Wylla (and truthfully Indra thought her name was pretty, perhaps because it was new and different), and for some reason mother was being especially nice to her. Usually when someone new came upon Indra or her brother, mother would be there to keep them safe or to send them away. Not this time, which was peculiar.
Indra looked from woman to woman while Laurel put on a show of kindness. Smiled unnaturally. Spoke with a tone in her voice that Indra couldn't place, but it wasn't one she recognized. How could this Wylla person command such a change in her mother? Indra did not know what it was she saw between them, if there really was anything amiss, but the awkwardness of encountering another person was enough to make her shy away.
She wanted to go home.
RE: If I send this void away - Wylla - March 02, 2022
She had no inkling of the dislike festering in Laurel. She wouldn’t have known what to do with it if she did. Wylla felt grateful, although the sustained smile was becoming a little unnerving.
Yeah, I didn’t.
Now, Wylla had little experience with other wolves in positive situations. What friends she had she’d made because they looked past her offensive attitude. The first time she met Stag, she made fun of his long legs. The first time she met Mahler, she suggested he was a lecher. She certainly wasn’t well-versed in making friends the conventional way, but she didn’t think acquaintances that would be friends just smiled at one another like that. It was a little creepy.
Well, I’ll let you get on with your walk,she said, as eager to escape the small talk trap as Laurel was.
I wouldn’t suggest going that way,she added with a gesture behind her.
Snow’s falling from the trees. wouldn't want you to get buried.She shot the pup a smile then. Maybe Indra would enjoy it, but Wylla didn't.
RE: If I send this void away - Laurel - March 03, 2022
The talk between them remained awkward, and Laurel wasn't entirely sure what to do with the talk or herself. She just kept up appearances, not sure what else to do, and nodded as Wylla said she had indeed not seen them there.
An awkward silence was between them shortly before Wylla said she'd let them get on with their walk. Yeah, Laurel and Wylla didn't really have much to say to each other, anyway...
Alright, it was nice to meet you,said Laurel. More un-meant pleasantries. She felt irked when Wylla said she wouldn't want them to get buried (she didn't want Indra to get scared), but nonetheless she said,
Thank you for the warning.
Laurel nudged Indra's shoulder and said,
Come on sweetie, let's get going.And once Wylla was out of sight, Laurel's demeanour fell into a more genuinely kind one as she turned her full attention back to her baby girl.
RE: If I send this void away - Redbird - March 12, 2022
The girl looked worried regardless of the pleasantries exchanged by both adults. She stole shy glances at the stranger and remained huddled close to Laurel.
It wasn't within Indra's current capacities to judge the situation properly or to have an opinion outside of whatever choice her mother made, and as she witnessed, there was a strained friendliness between both women. That at least meant this person wasn't a threat; plus, they smelled quite strongly of Mahler, which should have clued Indra in to their trustworthiness - except, Indra still wasn't sold on the old man either.
The final nail in the proverbial coffin came after Laurel tried to usher her daughter away, and Indra caught another look at Wylla, seeing a taut smile there which made her uneasy. She couldn't muster one of her own and meekly turned away, hurrying to keep up with her mother. Her tail remained firmly tucked throughout the brief encounter.
RE: If I send this void away - Wylla - March 14, 2022
You too,said Wylla, and to her credit, she did mean it. Just because her effort to be friendly with Sequoia had backfired in her face didn't mean it wasn't nice to meet her packmates. It just meant she didn't actively seek them out or expend much energy trying to make friends with them, and Laurel and Indra were no exception.
She stepped out of the path to give them room to pass, sparing only a glance and another small smile in parting before she hastened out of the woods. She didn't want another branch to give way and dump more snow on her head.