Snowforest Taiga Walk along the forked path

@Wynter 

It's clear that no matter which she choices there is no telling what will happen. Which was the best choice? The path she was walking was clearly forked. There are too many things that she wanted but there was also the duty she was born with. The path she would choose meant abandoning something forever. No matter which path there was always something that would be abandoned. At any rate Lacinia decided that a home wasn't something she needed right now. She did want to settle but she was incomplete and unsatisfied. 

Having hopes of a home did keep her inner conflicts in check but that didn't last long. It was just too early to settle within Redtail Rise. Her inner conflicts made her hesitate about everything. She didn't know what she wanted, She didn't know what she wanted to do. What was her purpose of living?

The solution didn't seem to be within Redtail Rise so she needs leave. She needed to find her true purpose within this world. Then hopefully later she'll be rewarded with something that would allow her to have a bit of fun. Torturing others was fun but she didn't have the power to surpress the victims. 

Something had to be done. She needed to seek it out for herself. For now she turned a final eye towards the Rise. She counted on leaving without saying goodbye. It's not like they would argee with her actions if she told them. Still she hesitated bit. If she left she would likely not be welcomed anymore. She would have to be a loner again for a while. It wasn't hard but it would be too much alone time with her thoughts, Hopefully she won't go insane.

Wynter wandered the borders of the pack. It hadn't been long since she had stepped over the boundries into a world outside the Rise. She had returned recently but hadn't exactly been welcomed back with open arms by her mate or really anyone here. 

As she trailed through the forest she picked up the familiar scent of Lacinia. Probably the only wolf she hadn't talked to yet that she had met before. The last time she talked to her though she was not exactly coming across as the friendly type. Although Wynter admitted she kinda asked for the reaction she got since she had been so lazy in the weeks before.

She had been the complete opposite of lazy since she got back though. Working herself to a tiredness that usually resulted in her falling asleep wherever she was at the time her energy ran out. She worked herself till late hours some nights completely draining herself and then using her sleep as yet another escape from her emotions. 

It wasn't long before the amber coated wolf spotted Lacinia and she approached with a small chuff. There was something not quite right with the fae. Something was bugging her. Or many things were. Wynter wouldn't pry but perhaps she could try to help. "Hey," she said with a friendly smile. "It's been a while," she joked but her stomach did a back flip. 

Lacinia did want to leave without leaving much of a trace, but before she could a wolf from the Rise just happend to show up. She recognized that it was Wynter. When the encounter happend she had no idea how to feel about. Happy? Angry? Sad? embarrassed? It's like a wheel of fortune that would never stop spining. In the end there was no emotions shown.

She stood there, unsure of everything but Wynter word's were able to help Lacinia break out a bit from an unless cycle of hesitation. "Yes.. It has been a while." She said with no emotion what so ever. But now what? Was she going to have to explain herself. Still, even Lacinia didn't really know what she was doing. She just wanted to leave and discover but then what would the female do after seeing Lacinia leave?

Well she could try to kill the witness to buy her more time from the unknown but there was still total hesitation. It would be wrong to kill someone that is innocent but did that really matter? 

She just looked away. Looking to the eyes was impossible. What was she suppose to do here? Maybe she should just turn and walk away, or was that not the right move either. She wanted Wynter to disappear but there was also the desire to talk with her. There is a reason for her appearance right? It was a bit unusual to meet Wynter here at the border, Lacinia did believe she was one that stay within pack ground. Still that doesn't change the fact that Lacinia hasn't seen her for long time. All that thinking did bring out a few more words before she would go silent again. "I never imagined you would show up here.." 

I'm basing this after her thread with Reek

Wynter had a straight face as Lacinia had looked almost as emotionless as she had been lately. What was wrong with her? Wynter was pretty sure she hadn't just been told by the one she loved that she was no longer wanted as a mate. Nothing could have been that bad, in Wynter's eyes.

Wynter nodded and gave a brief half smile as Lacinia mentioned not expecting to see Wynter here. By here she was sure she meant this close to the borders of the Rise. "Yea, I was out for a walk and decided I would stick close to the borders this time. Then I picked up your scent and figured I would see if you wanted some company," Wynter said with a small sigh. Right now she could use a friend in this pack because otherwise she would be spending most of her time depressed or dwelling on the meories she had with Reek before she had dissapeared. Biggest. Mistake. Ever. 

"Why are you so close to the borders?" Wynter asked with a curious tilt to her head. Lacinia she hadn't known to be one to patrol borders so what brought her so close. She decided for now that was a better question than being so forward and asking what was wrong with her. That just seemed rude.

Company? Well out of all the possible wolves remaining, Wynter was the only one that Lacinia would accept to see or have around for a while. Of course no matter what, she counted on leaving very soon. Something in her mind made her want to tell Wynter everything but something else was opposed to it. Conflicted desires, unsure of what she should do, her hesitation was at it's strongest. Still maybe all she needed to do was speak her mind, it was actually the only thing she could do.

Perhaps Wynter's appearence here was a sign that Lacinia could trust her. Atleast she would be able to say something about her situation. "I see, I guess I should just say what I'm doing then." Then there was a moment of silence. "I don't have a clue of what I should be doing but staying with this pack is getting me nowhere."

Having said that out loud made her suddenly realise that many she never had a place to go to begin with. Maybe she should have been dead with the others but then that would make living right now meaningless. Lacinia stood before Wynter, she wasn't sure what to expect. "So I'm leaving the pack. The only reason would be that I don't find this place to be the home I was wishing for. I can't seem to find a place among the others so I believe this place isn't where I belong." She said in a steady voice.

Lacinia was aware that leaving would likely turn the others against her. Would Wynter turn on her or not was the question now. She was a bit ready for an attack but wasn't expecting it. Maybe she should have just walked off and avoided the problem. But there was that desire to talk and share with someone that would keep her here for now. Maybe a little talk could help her figure out something important before going off back into the lonesome world.

Wynter listened as Lacinia explained the situation and why she was so close to the borders. "I see," she said nodding slowly. Wynter wasn't mad but she couldn't say she was entirely happy with the dark fae either. "If it's what you feel is best then I can't stop you," she stated. If a wolf wanted to leave the pack she wasn't going to stand in their way. Everybody has to do what they feel is best and if lacinia thinks this is what's best for her then why not.

Wynter wasn't sure if she would ever leave this pack. She supposed it would be based on the outcome of her relationship with Reek. If she couldn't put the pieces back together then Wynter would probably leave. She couldn't stand having to live with the fact that she lived in a pack with her once mate and deal with all the awkwardness.

If however, the relationship recovered then Wynter didn't see why she couldn't stick around. For now though, she was left with a sword virtually hanging over her head.

"Where are you going to go? Any ideas?" she asked tilting her head. Even though the fae was "Betraying" the trust of her pack mates. Wynter was still concerned for the well being of the dark coated wolf.

Choosing a destination was impossible. But she had an idea. "Maybe back to a wolf who helped me out before." but then suddenly had a change of heart. "Or perhaps I should seek out some entertaining problems." She said in darker yet steady tone. But then she shook her head, why would she want to find problems when she already has one? "I don't really know where I'll go or end up but I'll end up somewhere out there."

Without much to go on she thought about Wynter instead. With a bit of thought she decided to ask about something. "Are you faced with a problem right now?" It was simple really. For there to be change, there has to be a reason. A problem could easily become a reason to change so maybe Wynter has a problem somewhere. It was too bad that Lacinia didn't really gather information about the other wolves but maybe that's for the better.

Lacinia decided to sit down for now. She wasn't in a hurry to leave. Then again maybe she should leave before other members appear so she got back up and turned around. She remember that she asked a question she should wait for an answer at the very least. She turned to face Wynter again and gave a little smile. She wasn't as emotionless as before but that was a bit unstable. She was still facing dark desires towards Wynter but the constant hesitiation allowed that to stay quiet.

Wynter nodded as Lacinia explained she might return to a wolf she had met before. "That sounds like an idea," she said with a small smile. If Wynter knew the location of any of her old packmates from the sound, or even if they were still alive, she would probably have visited them by now. She knew that Panteleimon was in Redhawk Caldera but due to complications she wasn't able to visit him.  "I wish you luck with your travels. Wherever they may take you," she said with an honest smile.

The wolf she would love to see the most though was the mute white fae by the name of Phantom. She wondered what had happened to the young fae after the pack had split up. Thoughts of the sound had been on her mind lately, mainly flashbacks to times she had spent with Reek though. 

A problem. Yeah that's what you could call it. She thought to herself humorlessly. "Yeah," Wynter said with a small smile. "I do in fact have a problem, it is with the beta wolf and my "mate" although I'm not sure for how much longer. It seems he refuses to forgive me after I left for a while without telling him," she stated deciding that Lacinia could probably figure out by now who she was talking about.

Nothing in Wynter words came close to provoking Lacinia which was a good thing. Leaving didn't seem to cause a problem here but would it be safe to say that the others wouldn't mind either? It would be better not to try to find out. What she wanted just wasn't provided it was best to just up and leave. They don't need to know anything and just pretend that Lacinia wasn't there.

She wasn't able to figure out who exactly Wynter was referring to. It didn't really matter anyway. She never really tried to get to know the others. She never felt any attachment in the first place. 

So Wynter's disappearence caused problems. But was it really a problem? Lacinia saw nothing wrong with disappearing as long as the wolf came back when needed. Honestly what would be wrong with trying to take a little freedom? Freedom did sound like something great to have, being bound to some place or to someone is like giving away a piece of life. Wynter is being punished for wanting to keep her freedom? That's the conclusion Lacinia came up with.

"I see nothing wrong in trying to keep some time for yourself. If he can't forgive you then all he wants to do is take some of your freedom." Then she sighed "Isn't it better to believe in someone than to doubt them or is it better the other way around. hmm I don't know really, but worrying about someone also takes some freedom away. An independant life sounds so much better. To do as you please without having to worry.. It does sound good." Lacinia was thinking out loud than chatting but the thought seem to clear her mind a bit. There seems to be a path that's better than the rest.

I think I might slap an ending on this as it appears you haven't been around in a while. If you want to reopen this sometime feel free to PM me and i can change it. Lol.

Wynter nodded as the Dark female continued talking about how if Reek couldn't forgive her then he was just trying to take away her freedom. She supposed that could be right. However Wynter realized even then she really shouldn't have left for as long as she did. "I suppose you're right. Although i admit leaving for a month wasn't entirely fair on anyone in this pack. They probably needed me here more than I realized. The numbers here are dwindling but to be honest. I'm thinking I might not be around too much longer myself. I can't handle seeing Reeak and Saena so close. I'm pretty sure she's my replacement.." she trailed off. She was probably rambling and annoying the black fae. She decided perhaps it was time she shut her maw nd let the wolf go where she needed to go. 

"Anyways, I shouldn't keep you here much longer. I wish you the best of luck on your travels and hey who knows maybe we will run into each other again sometime in the future," she gave a polite smile and a wave of her tail. "Goodbye Lacinia," she said as she turned and padded back into the forest.

 She had no idea how much longer she would call the rise home. However long that may be however, she planned to make herself of some use to the others. She went to continue her favourite pastime lately, hunting.