Silvertip Mountain Zhavvi does not cry.

Zhavvi's reaction to Hoshor Plains disbanding, dated forward a few days. @FitzDutiful let me know if you want me to change the slight PP of Fitz being in his den! (And of course @Mason and June are also welcome <3)

Zhavvi tended to avoid Hoshor at all costs, she was still wanted by the pack after all, but after venturing out to look for poisonous herbs she had wandered close to the territory without really noticing. She was shocked at first and wanted to run away when she noticed how the golden plains started to appear in the distance. Curiosity got to her since there was barely any movement. She sneaked closer. The bison were laying down, some grazing from what she could see from the distance. She couldn't see any wolves herding the bison, or even guarding them. How strange!

She trotted closer trying to look over the high golden grass, every muscle was tense. She didn't want to walk into an ambush. The scents were old, the golden plains were... empty? Her heart skipped a beat, stuttering in her chest in a bad way. Her green eyes looked shocked. They.. left? They left her? Zhavvi knew that her bonds with her previous Khalas was rocky. Deep down she still loved her father. Now she felt a hint of what her father might have felt after she left. She wanted her father to suffer after holding her on such a tight leash but he had clearly moved on without her, literally. Deep down she hoped that she could return to her father one day. Once she was.. normal.

A bitterness grew in her chest, she would never be normal would she? She was poisoned after birth. It was the bloodshed of the innocent that made her this demon. She was certain now. Her heart slowly started to beat at a normal pace when her brain started to function again. She wasn't abandoned. Alphas Fitz was still there. He allowed her to do as she pleased. He wasn't controlling and he didn't look down on her. He even praised her! He was helping her learning this new tongue too. In exchange she wanted to be loyal to him. Zhavvi realized that maybe she could have a normal life if she stayed with Alphas Fitz, or at least, get an idea of a normal life.

Still, her heart ached in a way she never felt before. Her father was gone, even though she might have despised him Zhavvi didn't want him to leave entirely. He was the core of her culture. She didn't care much for the other wolves of the Khalas, except her uncle, but even the mindless slaves meant something to a Dorthran Wolf. Lavakho had followed his brother, naturally he would. Still she genuinely liked him. Her uncle had been her first. Now Zhavvi's past left, no ties. Even the language she knew by heart was useless now. Why did she feel this pain inside of her? She never felt pain, emotional pain. She was always angry and bitter. She was never sad or hurting because she cared. Why did she feel the need for comfort? She could take the world alone! She was Zhavvi daughter for Rakharo. Zhavvi then realized that she was not. Her name had no meaning. She was not Zhavvi. She was no one.

That last thought struck her deeply. Zhavvi was a wolf that took pride in her name. Her father was gone, Dorthran didn't mean anything since the wolves who spoke it followed him, and so the sole existence of what her name meant was nothing. Names were important and it didn't mean anything anymore. Zhavvi let out a cry, a rare sound for the female to make. She turned on her heels and rushed back. This couldn't be true! Her vanity and pride scratched deeply by some invisible claws. How long had they been gone? How long had she been a nothing?! The quick girl raced back to Silvertip. Her new home. They had to give her a new name! It was important to her. Her long legs carried her over the vast distance without stopping. Once she reached her pack lands she ran to her Alpha's home, the sun had already been replaced by the moon. Fitz offered his pack members shelter after all, he said so after the storm. Zhavvi thought it was also for emotional comfort. Since she was very internally hurt.

She rushed into the den without much explanation, luckily lowering her speed so much she wasn't crashing into anyone. The female located Fitz and with a soft whine she buried her face into his fur, crawling against him. She could not cry. Zhavvi didn't cry. She was tough. Zhavvi wasn't allowed. But the moment her brain reminded her that she wasn't a 'Zhavvi, Daughter of Rakharo' anymore she broke down in heavy sobbing. She was allowed now. She could. She cried.

FitzDutiful was slumbering, happily slumbering of days when he would finally find a female who wanted to be along side him, rule with him, and they could raise lots of happy children together. It wasn't a faceless she-wolf however. One time it had been Raissa, then it had been Bindi, now his affections were building for Zhavvi and she was haunting his dreams. He would never act on it though, she seemed too vulnerable without knowing all of her idiosyncrasies. He had jumped into things too quick too often. Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me; and all that.

Rousing himself out of, he began to hear the thunder of someone running closer. The scent came in before she did and he was taken by surprise as she buried into his fur. He didn't pull back though, he didn't resist. He let her sob into his fur, concern on his face as he looked at her. He wasn't sure what was wrong but he needed to know what had happened to upset one of his so much.

"Hey, hey, hey now." he said, comforting, his words calming, "Why are you sad?" he asked her, putting his head close to her in a hope that she she would feel protected. He wouldn't let anyone harm her, he would protect her and care for her.

I need to brainstorm for Zhavvi's new name if she would get one, lol. Maybe you have some nice suggestions? :D

Zhavvi had never plainly sobbed like she was doing now, but then again. She wasn't herself. She was not Zhavvi anymore. She was not the daughter of Rakharo, she should have realized that sooner. All the other wolves were gone and she was just ... abandoned. But her pride being hurt so viciously of not having a name anymore was the worst to her. She only moved her face more in the long silky hair on Alphas Fitz's neck. "Sia svihelen ui gethrisja. Astahii zulf. Si mi thric Zhavvi hianag di Rakharo. Fronah svaust renthisjic sia ooble ui ti tenpiswo. Wer xanalre si siofme vur renthisj persvek ui ti di impoe. Sia ominak lae thric migok. Si mi vi ilfis. Si mi ehis jaka," she bursted out since she had no other way to express herself. It sounded very dramatic.

Zhavvi pressed her face back against Fitz's neck, almost like she was ashamed about herself. She had no way to tell that her family was gone. Maybe she could try but she would need to calm herself. She never felt so distressed before. "Khalas, no. Khalas, no wait. Khalas, no there. Rakharo.... Rakharo... Khal. Zhavvi... like June to Alphas Fitz. Zhavvi no more Zhavvi. No... Dorthran. No Khalas. Zhavvi is no Zhavvi. Khalas and Dorthran away," she really tried to explain it. She didn't know the word 'daughter'. But she thought that it was pretty smart that she mentioned June. "Zhavvi... hungry?" With that last bit it meant she was empty. That her name meant nothing anymore. "Zhavvi bad. Zhavvi not want bad. Rakharo bad, Zhavvi away from bad. Zhavvi happy Alphas Fitz. But no Zhavvi. No no Zhavvi. Hunt... name for I!" She wanted a new name a normal name in the new tongue she was learning.

Pretty avatar!!!

The dramatic language in which she spoke was strangely compelling and FitzDutiful found himself wanting to learn it. He wished that he knew everything that she was saying because it seemed so important. He hated not being able to help. Unsure of what to say, and knowing nothing would probably help without knowing the words, FitzDutiful kept comfort by just keeping himself close to her. Sometimes contact with another could be all the help one needed.

Zhavvi seemed to realise that FitzDutiful wouldn't understand the words being said and attempted to communicate in his tongue. It was difficult. It seemed to suggest that her father and pack had left her behind. He wasn't aware that packs moved often but he could understand her state of worry now. "Zhavvi not bad!" he said, not wanting her to think that this was her fault. She seemed to want a new name but he wondered at the sensibility of that.

FitzDutiful decided to impart his knowledge on this situation, though who knew how much she would understand. "Zhavvi is last connection to Kahalalas. Zhavvi is still Zhavvi. FitzDutiful likes Zhavvi. But, FitzDutiful has secret name, a name FitzDutiful chose for himself and Zhavvi could have secret name too. Secret name is like protection. No one can hurt me with FitzDutiful because my real name is secret."

Did it make any sense? He didn't know. FitzDutiful had never told anyone his secret name, the only wolves that knew were those at his own naming ceremony and his children as part of their ritual. He wondered if he had known all along that he and Raissa were not to be if he had never shared it with her either.

Mason had not been doing much besides lolling lazily when Zhavvi broke into the den at speed, slowing immeasurably until she literally melted against his father. The young lad with his somewhat stunted legs lifted his head from its cushion of tuft of moss. The rest of his body spread languidly along the den floor as he watched Zhavvi dissolve against FitzDutiful. He felt a flutter of discomfort thread through his body at her obvious distress. In fact, she started sobbing without warning, and Mason’s ears flicked back against his skull as he took all of this in. Boy, was he glad June wasn’t prone to fits of inconsolable anguish. 

Dad asked her the obvious question. Mason slowly collected together his paws, and turned his body so  that he was lying sphinx-like. He watched stolidly as Zhavvi burst out her mother tongue. He knew her quite well, so this did not surprise him, but he was interested to know what it meant. Perhaps he would have to ask her to teach him some of her words… once she had calmed down, anyway.

Mason let out a small cough when Zhavvi said she was hungry – any metaphor was lost on him through his youth – and he turned to the side of the den where there was a cache of meat they had been keeping in case the weather turned bad and hunting went down. Without sound he lifted himself to his paws and ghosted across the den to the cache. He picked up a small rabbit, and moved back to where Zhavvi was just finishing her mention of hunting. Pleased with himself, Mason dropped the rabbit next to Zhavvi, and sat next to her and his father, pressing his nose lightly against her shoulder to try and help comfort her as his father was doing.

Thank you!! :D I was super excited when I stumbled on it! <3

Zhavvi dried her tears on the male's fur when he started talking. They were still rather wet as she listened to him. The way he spoke about a Khalas sounded really funny from his mouth and it made her smile a bit through her teared eyes. "Khalas," she corrected quietly. "Alphas Fitz likes Zhavvi?," she repeated and then blinked a few more tears away. That is when she noticed movement and watched Mason move and her eye contact was broken. He returned with a rabbit and watch him place it by her feet. That was really sweet and he even tried to comfort her! Zhavvi felt really welcome and loved. She nudged the pup back gently in thank you.

Alphas Fitz had talked about a secret name but she wasn't sure what 'secret' meant. Did it mean new? She might needed a new name yes! A good one that was the new and normal Zhavvi, the one that was liked by Alphas Fitz. "Secret name...," she repeated softly, more to herself than for the others. Her tears were fading. She didn't want to think about her family that left without her. A real new name, yes, that would be good. But what to call herself. Her sobs and sniffles had died out by now, feeling surprisingly better instead of embarrassed.

She took a bit from the rabbit realizing she was hungry from her long run here. It was still very tasty. She could only think of Dorthran names. "Alphas Fitz and Mason help I with name," she returned. She stayed snuggled close against Fitz though, he was really soft and warm. She kinda liked being snuggled against him.

So sorry for holding this up. Work has just exploded in crazy this weeek. Also, maybe Mason can suggest Zavia?!

It seemed that even Mason was aware of Zhavvi and her discomfort. FitzDutiful had thought that the two children were fast asleep and it was only when Mason coughed that FitzDutiful realised he wasn't. Despite that, Zhavvi firmly kept hold of his attention until the rabbit was dropped at her feet. The talk of a secret name came up and it seemed as though she wanted to take part of it. She wanted help with it though and that wouldn't do for the kind of secret name that FitzDutiful had mentioned. No, that required the owner to do the thinking.

A new name it was.

FitzDutiful thought through all the names he knew. He didn't know much about the whole random name for a child. All he knew was personality traits and things you wanted the bearer of the name to uphold. Maybe that would do. He studied Zhavvi and started coming up with ideas.

"Adventurous, Charisma, Insight?" he said, choosing three of the ones running through her mind. Wondering if any would fit her right. He didn't know her quite as well as he wanted to. Not yet.

Zhavvi nudged him back, and Mason felt a blush thread through his cheeks – he was glad that his fur covered the hot feeling from view. He watched her take a delicate bite from the rabbit and listened as she determined that she needed a new name. 

He looked at his Dad and then back to Zhavvi. The lady was snuggled against Fitzdutiful and he felt a small stab of jealousy – towards which of them, he could not say. It spurred him on, eager to accept the challenge of giving his friend a new name. He didn’t know why she wanted one, but he was happy to oblige. He waited until Fitz had spoken his names and then Mason leaned forwards, trying to catch some of Zhavvi’s attention for himself.

“Sumthin’ like a nickname?” He asked, wiggling his tail behind him. He liked her name, and he didn’t really want her to change it. “Zali? Zari?”

Zhavvi tipped her head at the words Fitz pronounced. She really didn't feel like an 'Adventurous', it was too long. She wanted something short and spicy. Zhavvi stayed close to the alpha though and watched Mason lean forward and turned her attention back to him. Zhavvi nodded even though she had no clue what he was saying. But the last two words she really liked. Her tail wagged excitedly and then nodded. "Zhavvi likes!!," she returned and then licked over his cheek in thank you.

The female started testing the names on her tongue. "Zali? Zalia? Zari..Zari... Zaria!?," she spoke and then looked over the two. "Zhavvi likes Zaria!," she returned. Somehow it sounded cute, yet spicy and it was short and it had a bit of the same tone as her old name. She could totally roll with this. She wanted to be nicer and this new name would probably help her with that. Even though she would never bee too friendly with strangers she could start to be more of a member of this family. An actual family. "Thanks yous, Mason!," she returned, saying thank you twice well that could become pack news.

Zaria then glanced with her green eyes to the side at Fitz and gave him a lick on his cheek too. "Thank yous, too!," she returned. "Zaria alway protects Alphas Fitz and family."

Mason suggested nicknames and Zhavvi jumped all over them. It appears that was exactly what she wanted and FitzDutiful smiled. He had never really known the whole nickname situation despite lots of people having one for him. He had never come up with a nickname for another wolf either. If he referred to someone differently, Kero or Perry for example, it was because they had been introduced that way.

However, it seemed Zhavvi was now going to go by Zaria and if that made her happy then he was okay with it too. "Zaria it is then." he said with a smile, feeling flushed when she licked his cheek. This was too familial. Too picture perfect. Him, her, his children. She seemed to get on so well with Mason and maybe it wouldn't be sure a bad thing if —

No.

Too much, too soon. He'd done it once, twice in fact. Not again.

Still, he didn't pull away and he let himself relax onto her companionably. For now, he was content with what they had.

The multi-toned beauty seemed exuberant at Masons’s choices. He felt another blush – hotter this time – burst through his skin when she leaned forward to provide a chaste kiss on his cheek. 

She repeated the words he had suggested; they sounded softer and more feminine from her own tongue than they had been from his. Mason waited with baited breath to see what she would choose. She altered the later one (his favourite all along, he immediately decided) ever so slightly and determined that this would be her new name. Despite the small alteration, his success was still evident, and he chuffed excitedly. “Welcome” he responded, his voice turning gruff with pleasure and he dipped his head with a blink of his eyes, fortunately missing the lick his father received.

Mason’s ears twitched to the back of the den where he heard a beetle scurrying against the floor, its legs giving off a faint clickety-clack. His eyes returned to burn on the sight of his father and Zhavvi. A hint of displeasure nestled amongst the orange irises and he hastened to interrupt the moment. “Zaria, do you want to play ‘I Spy’?” he spoke slowly, hoping she would be able to follow his words. It was easy for him to understand her relative difficulty with the language – looking after June had given him an innate set of skills in discerning levels of intellect against speech. He could see the intelligence there, despite her troubles.

Last round-ish? :3 <3

Zaria was pretty much settled against Fitz now. She rather liked it and it kept her warm. She almost wanted to snuggle more against him and use his thick fur as heater. She was a sucker for heat, these other seasons she dislikes, if she only knew what was coming! Zaria watched Mason but was clueless about his blushing. She was interested in what he said though. "Was 'I Spiii?," she asked curiously. As a Dorthran wolf she never really got the play games. It was just behaving and acting like her father wanted her to act.

He only fun was ordering the slaves around, well he didn't have any slaves here. She decided that slave made her vain and mean. The girls sat up and turned herself to Mason to learn this new game. Oh she was definitely staying over tonight, she was just going to try and press her luck because she would have nothing rather to be laying between Fitz and Mason. She was rather liking Fitz, because he let her do her own thing and not be controlling. She was rather fond of that. Plus the male had sometimes a look in his eye that she kinda liked. Her green orbs looked back at him now. "Zaria wanna learn I Spiii," she spoke.

My last post before holiday! :D

FitzDutiful didn't see Mason's blush either, his eyes had been closed until Zhavvi - Zaria's question about I Spy. The new name was going to take some getting used to, but he would do it; for her. He opened his golden eyes into her green ones as she asked about the game. "You look around a pick an object. Then you say, "I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with..." and then say the first letter of the object you saw. The other person tries to guess what it is. It's a game that helps learn spelling" At least that was how FitzDutiful had used it.

His gaze at Zaria began to fill with affection and he quickly turned it on Mason - a subject for whom affection would not be questioned - "It's better learnt by playing. Mason, you start." He would happily oversee in this game, moderating and spelling words out if it was asked of him though he wouldn't actively participate. He would be the hint provider, offering options that weren't considered.

Mason had succeeded in obtaining the interest once more. Not usually one to snatch the limelight, he couldn’t help himself on this occasion. He grinned at his Dad when Zavv- no, Zaria, said she wanted to learn the game.  Fitz explained in summary and then turned an affectionate gaze on his son, whose tail thumped, clearly assuming his Dad thought it was a great idea.

It was an easier game to learn through play, he agreed. With a thrill of excitement, Mason cast around for something nearby that would be easy for Zaria to guess. “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with F” a wink towards his Dad let him in on the secret, and then the game was afoot.

Sorry I some how forgot to wrap up this thread!

Zaria looked a bit helplessly around because she couldn't think anything with an F or in letters, this exercise was very hard on her because she was still sometimes thinking in Dorthran Language. She looked at loss and then suggested to play the game with colors. So instead of staying the letter they had to give the color of that certain object. Zaria became rather competitive in the game, which made it only more fun.

- Fade -