Ankyra Sound A lost little trinket

@Kalika and @Akantha <3

Carnation padded through the dark sands, the moon lighting her path. Her small body quivered in slight fear, her loneliness consuming her. She tilted her small sweet face back up to the glimmering smile that was the crescent moon, wondering why she lead her to these shores.

The tide licked at her delicate paws, kissing her toes with its icey, yet comforting, touch. The sharp crack of a rock dropping down the nearby cliff frightened the small girl. She leapt forwards in a jerky motion, crying out in a fearful voice for her mother. The realization of her mistake made the little wolf whimper with grief. Her mother was gone.

She sat lightly upon her haunches, staring out at the cresting waves. Comfort flooded her small form as she breathed in the salty air. Although she was now calm, the girls whimpers could be heard from afar.

Kalika rarely wandered far from Soteria these days, but the early evening brought out her particularly adventurous side. After crossing the sandbar (tides were still fairly calm, though they did put up some fight) and entering the mainland through Ankyra's Sound, she retired to a a smooth-topped rock formation. There she sat for a few moments before catching wind of what seemed to be a child's whimpers. And not just any child, but a girl child!

Immediately she began her investigation. Coming around a bend, the tiny body of the infant came into view. Kalika lowered herself and drew a wide smile across her maw as she made her approach. Hello little one, she cooed, Are you lost?

SWOOPS THE HECKIE IN

Akantha was heavily immersed in meditaiton when a frightened ki-yee startled her out of her conversation with the Mothers. She returned to her mortal form while her mind refocused on her surroundings. The Matriarch lay in the shallows as the waves rolled gently into the shore, colliding with her chest, and causing her fur to float around her like an etherial halo. She inhaled; the Moon smiled, and the Sea urged her to rise with a gentle hand. Exhale. She gathered her paws under her and stood while the water cascaded down from her fur in rivulets. 

A fitful cacaophony of whimpers drew her attention and she swung her great head around towards the distant sound. She lifted her nose and observed the moonlit beach, seeing nothing and no one of any consequence. But the sound continued, and became louder as she took off down the shoreline in pursuit of the cries. It did not take her long to come across the seated form of a young, pale, pup. 

Her hackles bristled instinctively, more out of suspicion than anger, and her gaze darted around the immediate area to scan for any signs of an ambush. There was nothing. No one around, and only the salt of the air and the eye of the Mothers upon them. A wave crashed loudly into the shore and Akantha took it for what it was—Kalika appeared on the opposite side of the shore, from where the bridge met the shore, and the Matriarch hurried to join them.

She hummed a soft note to the girl, and offered Kalika a glance to ascertain exactly what the ambassador-to-be thought of the situation.

forwarning the mobile post

Carnation was watching the sea shudder and bend, whispering unintelligible, but assumed to be, sweet words of comfort to the child. Movement caught the stricken pup's gaze as two figures approached her from opposite sides.

The little fae couldn't help but curl in on herself as they approached, one as obsidian as the night sky, and the other as pure white as a pearl. Her ivory tail wrapped itself around her as she whimpered, this time for different reasons. She only relaxed lightly when they both cooed sweetly to her.

A small, hesitant smile stretched across the girl's face. "I-I think so.. But I've been lost f-for a really l-long time" her sweet voice hiccuped with grief. She looked up at the two wolves, the darker one seeming almost eathereal to the young fae. The girl looked to the snow-dipped woman, taking a liking to her almost immediately.

Kalika gave a nod to Akantha as she approached, though a look of concern came paired with it. If Akantha had also heard the child's cries, then surely there were others as well. They could all be in the middle of a possibly dangerous situation, depending on if the local predators had as good of an ear as the two Nereids. Kalika kept her voice low as she spoke to Akantha in Greek, following the child's explanation, We need to know where she came from and where her parents are. If she is alone with no ties to any other wolves, I think we should bring her back. She's the perfect age to begin learning about our ways, but with the advantages of being a blank slate. I will take her in as my own and vouch for her if that is what it takes.

Then, turning back to the child, Kalika gently nosed at her shoulder and tried to comfort her. I want to help you, love, but I need to know more about you, okay? She took a step back and looked at the girl, then back to Akantha, and back once more. Do you remember where you came from? Or where your mommy and daddy are?

The small ivory wolf nodded at the white woman's words offering help. She found her small tail curling around herself as the woman asked the unevitable question. Her words came out soft and somber, her small body shaking, "I can't remember...my first home s-started with an 'M'....I think." Her tiny nose scrunched in frustration, for the little wolf couldn't quite remember. She had been to so many places as a pup that she could barely remember her beginnings. Her creamy ears pinned back upon her skull as the woman went on.

Carnation's emerald eyes closed as she answered the fae's next question. "Daddy left mommy and I." She sniffed. "Mommy...mommy died." Her small body shook as a sob tore through it. Her large, sweet eyes looked back up at the two wolves. "She always smelled so sweet you know... everyone like how mommy smelled...and she was really nice.." She couldn't stop talking, pouring out her little heart to the two women, hoping they wuld understand her.

Kalika has permission to PP Akantha from here since I won't be back in town until Sunday night. Akantha isn't gonna be doing much except hovering and watching. :)

Akantha's expression shifted when Kalika whispered to her in their mother tongue, and the faintest flicker of surprise echoed across the planes of her face. She hadn't seen any indication that her ambassador-to-be wanted to be a mother. Perhaps this was how she wanted to show her dedication—it was a sacrifice that Akantha was far too selfish to make even though she proudly bore the title of Matriarch. 

Her ears peaked as she considered Kalika's proposal, only to shift back into a more casual slant as she consented with a nod, chosing to remain silent on any opinions or concerns she had. Either her sister would be successful, or she wouldn't. The situation wasn't dissimilar to the one she was currently in with Galateia. 

The sweet, lonely little girl began to pour her heart and soul out to them. It was clear she didn't quite understand the seriousness of her situation, but the hurt was plainly cast upon her young heart. Akantha felt for her; a keen pang of sympathy that drove her further towards supporting Kalika's decision. 

"We can give you a home." Akantha replied softly. "It won't replace your mother and father, but they wouldn't want you to be alone out here."

The little fae watched as the obsidian woman spoke, enamored with her. She stood quietly, awed by the visible scars marring her otherwise beautiful face. She let the femme’s soothing voice relax her, allowing her tail to fall away from her torso. Her excitement grew as the wolf offered to take her in. A small grin spread across the girl’s maw as her tiny tail thumped upon the sand. The water lapping at her paws seemed to nearly nudge the girl towards the black wolf, but Carnation could not tell if it was just an accident or not. She spoke with enthusiasm seeping into her words, “Really? Thank you… thank you so much.” Her form shook with joy now, instead of grief. She jumped up, burying her small muzzle in the fur of the woman’s chest, forming something as close to a hug as any four-legged animal could.

Kalika was relieved to hear the confirmation from Akantha, though she didn't need much more than a glance from the Matriarch to know that her request had been granted. That is right. Come with us, love, but watch your step. Gently pulling the child from Akantha, she nudged her back toward the part of the land which housed the sandbar. Kalika looked back over her shoulder to see that the Matriarch was following, and she was glad to see that she wasn't anymore than a few steps behind, watching carefully as they marched ahead. You're going to love it here, prinkípissa. I know it.