Swiftcurrent Creek Trust Fall

@Vespera, this is before she meets Tobias and Sativa!

In her travels to try and round up as many of the Uaine Wolves, to know what their plans were, to make sure they would be okay and find a new safe place to stay - and of course, to welcome them to always come find her should they need anything. Apprehensive of following anyone to a new pack as of yet, she would remain behind for now, try to find Sativa should she still be around before wandering off to find somewhere new.

Trying to find any trail of the Uaine wolves, she found herself by the creek, wandering by the side of the water's edge and hoping for a familiar face to come out of the wood works and surprise her; but the longer the wandered, the less that seemed to be a possibility. Maybe not today, but she would keep her hopes up for someone to cross her path and reassure they were okay.

Vespera had been wondering for what seemed years to the girl with her paws aching. The woman had nowhere to go, she had no idea what she could do with herself, but the only thing that seemed logical for her at the time was to attempt to take her own life again. But the more she looked deep into her feelings, she couldn't muster up the courage to attempt the act of suicide again for her scar was a constant reminder of what she had tried to do.

She had no family.

She had no friends.

She had no one.

This was all rinse and repeat for Vespera, in fact, she didn't seem to care about what happened at Easthollow, she should have predicted this, and when the time came, she wasn't affected by it. The exile knew that Valette wouldn't do anything about Greyback, the poor woman was blinded by love, and she didn't know if she could truly blame Valette for what had happened.

But it still happened.

The woman dragged her paws through the blades of grass, the sound of the running stream fell on deaf ears for the voices in her head were clogging up her hearing. Vespera didn't even bother to slide her eyes to the other wolf that was at the creek, for if this was a territory, she wouldn't give a damn if the wolf killed her if she was trespassing. The girl sagged her head and shoulders as she dragged her paws to the stream, away from the other wolf, her dull eyes looked at herself in the reflection of the water as she strolled up. The river made it all clear.

She was miserable.

Her ears were slumped lazily on the sides of her head and her eyes were baggy from the lack of sleep. Vespera slouched on her haunches and continued to look at the reflection of the stream with as much interest as a student sitting in a lecture class.

Not aware of the other wolf as she wandered by the waterside too until it was too late, she kept a weary eye on the woman, wondering what would come from this. She was unfamiliar, and thus, Reiko was apprehensive of approaching - but it was the defeat in the woman's eye and posture that kept her from hiding or running. Something went wrong. The question now was, should she involve herself or let the woman mourn whatever she was going through?

The woman didn't even cast a glance in the direction of the pale woman. Cautiously she approached, after moments of stillness between them, she decided against reason to seek out the woman and speak with her. She was defeated, and so she meant no harm, yes? Something is clearly wrong. Will you be alright? She was preparing for the woman to retaliate, to yell and tell her off for poking her nose where it didn't belong - but it felt wrong to ignore someone who was clearly in need of someone.

Much to her annoyance, the stranger did eventually come in her personal bubble, mind you, her bubble was quite large. Vespera lazily dragged her eye to look at the approaching stranger for a few seconds, the only thing she cared to note about was her appearance, her pelt was white and she was the same size of Vespera. The exile then slid her eyes back to the stream, she didn't care if the woman would want to converse, she could either ignore her, or she could just lay all her problems on someone she barely knew.

She went with the second option since the stranger didn't beat around the bush and immediately knew something was up.

Vespera didn't look at the woman at all, she gave a sigh with her frame shakily rising and falling, "I try not to make it obvious, another thing I can add to my list of failures," she replied with a monotone voice, but she responded as if she was also talking to herself.

But she too didn't want to beat around the bush either, so she continued to stare at the stream, "I'll be fine..." she muttered to herself as she let her front paws slowly slide out from beneath her and let her body gravitate to the ground.

Failure. That was something they shared right now, the feeling of failing another. Uaine's disbanding felt like it was at least mildly her fault for not trying harder to keep her packmates closer, but that was a childish dream and she knew it. But the feeling lingered never the less. There had to have been something she could have done. 

She too felt like a failure. From one failure to another? Carefully she sat herself down at the water's side, looking over the river by keeping a good distance between herself and the darker woman. Just close enough to talk, perhaps within Vespera's large bubble but to Rei, she was just far enough for her own. It's been a tough year. From losing track of Kaistleoki, running away from Moonspear, and now this. All this after traveling so far from the North, away from Hime. 

When things ever began to look up, it always seemed to crumble eventually.

The woman decided to sit near Vespera which would have annoyed the hell out of her, but she had no energy to fuel up her anger, she was out of steam. The stranger then responded to Vespera's monotone comment in a way that was relating, just like the other man that she met, there was a very thin thread of connection.

They both had failed.

Vespera sighed in response, "Yup," there were loads of defeat in her tone, at least there were more wolves out there that could relate to her. For a few moments, there was silence between the two women, but the stranger broke the silence by commenting about how tough the year was. "Yeah no shit," she replied with a mutter.

She was at a loss on how to help the individual. What could she possibly to do get this woman on her way, feeling a little better than she was feeling now and with new hope that tomorrow would be better - without sounding naive and ignorant to her woes and making things worse. So many were out there, lost, just as they were. Rejected, dejected, - and that's when it clicked. 

What if... She paused, unsure of what her next words would be. If they were wise. If they were true. What if I told you I want to make a place where we will never fail again. With a tilt of her head, she wanted to study the woman's expression. Where the past is the past, we can start a new, where everyone belongs with a purpose.

And mistakes are learning opportunities. The last was spoken in hush tones, still uncertain on how this woman would be like. Would it give her hope, or anger her further?

Vespera expected those last words to be the last of their interaction, but she was mistaken, sadly? She will be the judge of that. The silence was broken between the two women again when the slender female gave a what if statement and trailed in her words. However, Vespera wasn't going to be interested in what the woman would suggest, she wasn't in the mood for getting a lecture on how to brighten up her mood. But that wasn't what the girl said afterward. The strange woman went on like she was promoting some sort of ad, but this 'ad' seemed like she was listing unrealistic things to Vespera, she was making huge promises that even the exile knew that couldn't be fulfilled. Her words fell on deaf ears as if they didn't slide down her ears at all, her face was looking more and more defeated with a hint of annoyance, but the more she dragged on with her words, the more annoyed her face grew.

However, there was a phrase that forced its way down through her sagging ears. 

And mistakes are learning opportunities.

For the first time in a while, her worn ears slowly perked up in interest, her lifeless eyes slid to look at the woman who spoke of such a promise. But she said nothing, she kept staring at this strange slender wolf for a while for she was contemplating what to respond with. Is this possible? Can it actually happen? But those questions faded in the back of her mind in a fuzz.

She started to doubt the woman.

Vespera blinked with her eyes moving back towards the stream and stared down at the running water for a while once more. Then, with a sigh, she firmly planted her paws in the ground and used what little strength she had to shakily rise to a sitting position, she then shuffled her front paws to stand evenly under her chest. The exile turned her head with a thoughtful, but doubtful look painted on her face, "I highly doubt that's possible" she replied with an uninterested voice as she raised her right brow. "I just came from a pack that had the values of "family" painted on their banner and yet that was total bullshit," she said in her signature blunt manner, her mind like a steel trap for she was in no mood for childish and false realities that any place can give the chance for anyone to learn from their mistakes.

Perhaps she was just pondering out loud instead of trying to coax the dark woman to follow - no, she was bouncing ideas, seeing what stuck, seeing what might be interesting, what might be necessary for those in the wilds. If she could implant some hope in this woman's heart, well, that would be an absolute bonus.

Not a family. She shook her head softly, a smile slowly finding its way to her lips as she pondered over the idea of what she was forming in her mind. That silhouette that came brighter and brighter as she mulled over the details. There was nothing wrong with a family orientated pack - but it didn't seem right. Not with what she had in mind.

A refuge for lonely souls, a place to call home. Where no one will ever feel lonely again. That, that was what she wanted most now. A place where no one would ever feel lonely again. 

Open doors to kind souls, no tethers tying them down with shallow loyalties out of obligation. Where the doors are always open for people to come and go.

The white wolf said that this wouldn't be a family, but that made no difference to her. For Vespera, Easthollow was a wolf in sheep's clothing, especially under the rule of Greyback, but even the exile knew that she couldn't paint all the wolves in Easthollow in a bad light. The dark female kept quiet as the woman yammered on about what she had been dreaming about 'this place' to be, this place that she claimed would be a place for lost souls and where people can come and go. Again, Vespera found this to be unrealistic, but she felt that she made it clear that this was her opinion, but her smile brought a familiar warmth that she couldn't ignore.

Perhaps it was the same aura that Valette brought with her, an angelic welcome who was outstretching her paw to those in dire need. Yet, Vespera knew that not even a kind soul such as Valette could banish evil, but the locked away urges of wanting to be part of a family starting to break their chains within her. The girl raised her brows as she slowly blinked at the stranger with an unconvinced glance, but she decided to entertain these childish dreams. "Alright," her tone was coated with slight snarky amusement, "what is this so-called heaven of your called?" She had almost forgotten about her sorrows that plagued her as she gave the woman a slight snarky smile.

The annoyance of the other female had gone right over her head - for the time being. Reiko was already beginning to excite herself thinking of all the possibilities she could bring, not a kingdom for herself, but for everyone to enjoy, to feel safe and always welcome no matter how long you were around or away from for whatever reason. She would not judge anyone who came seeking shelter.

But the proper question came up. It stopped her in her tracks for a moment. The tail sway behind her ceased as she caught herself in a deep thought. What would she call such a place? 

Hmmm... She took a moment while looking at the ground to think it over. She was always so terrible with names, and now she was stuck with picking a name for a place that should be a beacon to others?! I don't know... do you want to help me think of one? Cerulean eyes sought to make contact with the violet orbs of the stranger, to make that first contact. 

Then it was broken as she wandered into a spiral of names, of possibilities - she would of course stop and listen should Vespera come up with something or speak up. Abel? Heaven. Arinia Dynasty... Reneian Empire?

Vespera's question seemed to stump the woman, it was obvious that she was way over her head and didn't quite think this through. The woman pondered on her question, the more she pondered, the more Vespera took her less seriously. But before she could even pry her jaws to speak, the stranger asked if she would help with the naming of this place and the exile shook her head rapidly with her coming out of the shake with a bewildered look. Before Vespera could protest for she needed to contemplate what she was going to say, the woman began listing off names of this possible new heaven.

This girl was serious.

The dark woman blinked at her with her dull orbs, but Vespera's mind betrayed her and she actually started to think which name suited this dreamland of hers. She sorted through the names even though a part of her conscience wanted to shove the idea of helping this girl but was losing her own war. "Uhhh..." she paused with her eyes darting from all ends in her skull, she couldn't believe that her childish mind was wanting to name something. Vespera thought that it was no use, her dueling mind threw the white flag and she surrendered herself to helping the stranger. But, she wouldn't be leaping with joy on her paws like a wound-up puppy, so she shrugged her muscular shoulders and scoffed, "I don't know... That last one?" She tilted her eyebrows up as if she was scrambling for an answer and her voice revealed that. "That... Reee... whatever it was you said," she scrunched up her nose when she tried to pronounce the name that tongue twister of a name.

Yeah? Re-knee-an, I like it. Hearing the woman's difficulties in pronouncing the name, she enunciated to try and help her out. Though it was not important, anyone could pronounce it how they wanted to. After the confirmation of the dark woman's opinion, even if it was a small one, was enough to have her pick the one. It has no meaning, just a name, it's perfect. Nothing to own up to than their own morals and beliefs than one as a pack.
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Turning back to give the darker woman her full attention, tail swaying behind her while bright eyed in wonder. She offered a kind smile, seeing the woman perk up just a little during this whole encounter was enough to make Reiko happy with its outcome. More so than the idea of making a home for everyone to enjoy. With a tilt of her head she continued, carefully as to not try and overwhelm the stranger - but maybe, she could be that beacon for her first. Would you like to come?

Whatever had happened to have this woman be upset, to have her be so defeated, it could be put behind her and start over. She didn't need to tell Reiko of what happened, it was none of her business, but should she want to talk about it some day - well, that was always welcomed too.

Vespera rolled her eyes when the woman pronounced the mouthful of a name to her and shifted her head to look back at the rushing water. She was glad to give this stranger the assistance that she needed and the answer, but her stubborn nature and through all the experiences she has been through, she was still highly untrusting towards the woman. She continued to blabber on about the future of this "pack," for she assumed that this is what she leading up to, the woman then turned her attention to Vespera, Christ, what more do you want? She wanted to snap her muzzle to the girl and challenge her with her tail raised and snarling fangs.

But she restrained, the white wolf tilted her head and looked at her with her blue orbs and asked if she wanted to come.

Vespera tilted her muzzle up a bit, she kept her muzzle shut at the wind kept some form of sound in her ears, did she really want to go with her? Could she just rely on a stranger to keep the promises that she proposed? She wasn't mentally stable to have another fall out like what happened at Easthollow. As the wind blew, the scents of Easthollow carried into her nose, she moved her head to the direction of the scent and stared at the beyond, she zoomed her focus on the false home that was Easthollow. The exile flared her nose and narrowed her eyes at the direction of her old pack, she swung her head towards the woman with a less scroungy look. "Why the hell not," she shrugged as she straightened her legs and stood at her full height and looked at the woman's sympathetic face with her barren face.

Smiling widely, cerulean eyes twinkling with faith and wonder - the dark woman agreed and Reiko's tail just could not stop, the swinging was so violent that her whole bum and hips wiggled along with its motion. My name is Reiko Izuka, I can't wait to get to know you better. She would let Vespera do such at her own pace, right now she was probably feeling overwhelmed with the situation but maybe, some day, she will come around and come seek out the white damsel to talk. About anything.

I have to meet a friend tomorrow, everyone is very nice. We can go whenever you're ready. With a short curtsy, she backed away and gave the dark woman more space. Reiko would go and wash herself off in the river. The water was still cold but the shallows was enough to allow her to wash some dirt off of her pelt. She'd continue to preen and clean until Vespera would be ready to go - heck, if it took long enough, she may take a nap by the river's edge.

The woman was ecstatic that Vespera complied to go with her, in fact, she was so happy that her tail started wagging to the point where she couldn't keep her ass in place. The girl almost wanted to chuckle in bewilderment as to why she was so happy but she just gave her a small smirk and shook her head. She introduced herself as Reiko Izuka, "Vespera," she replied, "But I'm not fancy so I don't have a last name, at least, I don't remember having one," she yawned, she really didn't care if she had a last name or not, wolves only needed to know her first name anyway.

The wolf expressed that she would like to get to know her better, Vespera's chest twisted with cringe, such a cheesy line, she thought, but remembering what had recently happened to her, she restrained with shaking with fury at any thought of the event. So, she did the best thing that she could think of, "I really don't have that much of an interesting history," she casually said, "though I do remember my parents dying," there was no hint of grief in her words, she was used to it by now that it was just routine with her just to say it.

Reiko backed away from Vespera to give her room, but she really didn't care at this point if she was standing right next to her. She stated that she has to meet a friend and they could leave whenever they could. The exile cast a lazy glance at the stream as the woman began to clean herself with the cool running water. The dark woman narrowed her eyes down at the river, she then gave that same look back towards the direction of Easthollow. The memories of the false family and pain that had been brought flashed in her eyes, to get rid of those memories, she stepped up to the bank of the river and dunked her head into the stream with a splash. She knew the woman would have questions so she quickly pulled up her head like a crane and shook the water off.

With a dripping face and a casual expression like nothing happened, she turned to Reiko, "we can go now," she made it sound like a suggestion but in reality, she wanted to leave as fast as possible.

We can always give you one~ Despite the woman showing that it did not matter whether she had one or not, Reiko would offer her one regardless (even if they technically have the one same one in the end ;]). Reneian was to be a place of renewal after all, it was only fitting to be handing out names, including familial ones to those who desired it. 

I can sympathize with that. Offering a saddened grin, she let that thought die right there. Reiko was not fond of remembering the passing of her parents, it was a wound that never seemed to heal. It was so sudden, and the catalyst to it all that followed. 

Vespera bathed as well, which was a pleasant thought. The two of them would go back to Ibis and the gang with freshly cleaned pelts, giving it their all with their best foot forward. Okay Vespera, lets go meet the others. With one last swish of her tail, she turned to bound into the direction where Ibis should be waiting with the others. With one more in tow, a new face, they'd all travel together to Kaistleoki - Reiko would allow Reneian to linger in the back of her brain for now.