The Sentinels m+m's

possible formation thread for viridian sanctum! also a potential counselor/therapist thread if anybody needs that trade. :)

Odessia had not been entirely sure where her feet were taking her as they ate up the miles. She had followed the creek through the wetlands, keeping the mountains to her left. Traveling through a range of landscapes varying from forests to fields to coast, Odessia slowed as she came to the edge of this particular wood. For the first time since The Incident, she felt a modicum of relief. She had never been a superstitious, religious, or even spiritual wolf. Those things were reserved for weirdos who could not handle reality. And, let us face it, Odessia had been in that category ever since she witnessed Tattered Ear kill Viper.
The sun was low in the sky, and the night sounds had started—crickets, toads, the distant call of an owl. She found a small clearing where she came to a stop. Odessia licked her lips, leaving her singular lower canine exposed to the early evening air. She looked down to spot a small yellow flower. Something about it drew her to the color, the fragrance, the smallness of it. She had never cared about plants before, unless they were thorny or edible in some way, and yet this one inexplicably felt different.
Folding down to lay on her belly, Odessia took in the flower completely. It was as if it had become her entire world.

Loneliness had become her only companion, as if fate had cursed her to wander the world in solitude. Twice now, beloved friends had been torn from her grasp, leaving her heart raw and aching. She wandered, not out of purpose, but because standing still hurt even more. Where she went no longer mattered, from the valley, to the flatlands, and now, it seemed, the coast. What was the point anymore?

She’d begun neglecting her own needs; her already slight frame had grown gaunt. Perhaps the salty sea air might do her some good. But her thoughts drifted as aimlessly as her steps, flitting from memory to memory, never settling.

So lost in her own world was she that she didn’t see the stranger until it was too late.

Gah..!

Thud. Kirain landed in a dejected heap, her face pressed into the dirt.

Odessia was engrossed with the little yellow flowers. Her two front paws lay on either side of the plant, her eyes narrowed in on the tiny, frail follicles that made up the center of the flower. Each one was topped with a tiny sphere of bright yellow pollen. The petals—somewhere between six and eight on each flower—curved slightly upward making a little bowl shape. Beneath that, attached to the stem, were tufts of dense, bushy green leaves. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. Odessia was giving a whole new meaning to "stop and smell the flowers."
In a twist on one of her latest encounters, Odessia was the one being run into this time. The stranger let out an exclamation followed by a full-on face-plant into the dirt. Her perfect flower meditation ruined, the memories of Etienne, Viper, and Tattered Ear came rushing back, and Odessia scrambled back away from the stranger, once again flattening herself to the ground and tucking her tail to her belly. Her eyes chanced a cursory look at the stranger, thankful to find that she did not sport the dark fur of svart. Not wishing to be a threat, her eyes went back to the other wolf's feet, Odessia's chin still glued to the ground.
Maybe, if she could make herself small enough, this wolf would not attack her.

Lying there for several moments, Kirain’s mind slowly emptied. The exhaustion and stress of the past few weeks weighed heavily on her now that she was no longer moving forward. She wanted to cry, to mourn, to purge every emotion until she was nothing but a hollow shell.

With effort, she shifted so she was no longer lying face down, her gaze slowly drifting across her surroundings. A she-wolf lay huddled on the ground a few feet away, was she a threat? Kirain didn’t care. Her eyes continued scanning until they landed on a patch of yellow flowers.

They were lovely little things, a splash of sunlight against the dirt. Her heart ached at the sight.

Compelled by a quiet longing, she inched closer, drawn to their brightness. They weren’t intricate or striking, yet they held a quiet beauty. A wistful smile tugged at her lips as she leaned in to inhale their gentle scent.

A small, fragile piece of peace.

To Odessia's surprise and relief, the other white wolf did not attack. In fact, she lay perfectly still for longer than Odessia expected for somebody who was alive—had she witnessed another death? Sucking in a breath, she tried to find her voice, but nothing came. Odessia flinched when the other wolf did finally move, creeping toward the very same white and yellow flowers she had been enamored with moments ago. Blue eyes remained locked to the ground, and Odessia crawled a few inches backward, putting more space between herself and this stranger. A small part of her wanted to ask her name, ask about the flowers, ask what it was about them that had drawn her to them. When she opened her mouth, no sound came out.
"Trapped" was the most adequate word to describe how she felt. Trapped in her own body, yet still somehow feeling outside of it. She wondered if she was imagining the wolf in front of her. Was she real? Was Odessia imagining her? No, she had felt it when the stranger had run into her. Had she not? Odessia blinked, wondering if the other wolf would disappear when she did so.

How does something so pure deserve to survive? How can sunlight fall so freely upon such wretched ground? Kirain's voice was barely a whisper, stripped of its usual warmth and gentle cadence. Her silver eyes, dulled with sorrow, lingered on the delicate blooms as tears welled at their corners.

What right did she have to witness such beauty? After all her failures, who was she to feel anything but regret?

And yet she stared, unable to tear her gaze away.

Fear not. I mean no harm, unless it's happiness you seek. For I bring only loneliness and silence. The words were meant to soothe, spoken toward the other presence nearby. But there was no comfort in her tone, only the hollow echo of someone drowning in grief.

up to you if kirain follows or not!

The other white wolf said something inaudible, too low for Odessia to hear from the distance where she currently cowered. She did not feel the gaze of the stranger on her, but she did hear the second bout of words. If they were meant to be reassuring, Odessia only felt the opposite. Her stomach flip-flopped, and she began to back further and further away. As much as she did not want to leave the world of the tiny flowers, she especially did not want to meet the same fate as Viper to a wolf she did not know. Or even to one she did know, for that matter.
When there were at least three strides between herself and the stranger, Odessia pivoted and took off, not looking back to see if the other would follow her. She only knew she could trust nobody. Except, perhaps that lovely little yellow flower. Odessia hoped she would be able to find one again, or at least something like it. It had been the first moment of peace she had felt since The Incident. If she could manage to recapture that, even for a few seconds at a time, she might be able to find peace again one day.

It took a moment for Kirain to realize the she-wolf had fled. At first, she remained sprawled on the ground, the weight of defeat pressing heavier with each passing second. But then a wave of panic crashed over her, sharp and overwhelming. The thought of being alone again twisted in her chest, cold and paralyzing.

She hadn’t meant to scare the poor thing. Guilt bloomed quickly, spreading like wildfire.

W–wait! I didn’t mean to upset you! she called, voice cracking with desperation.

Slowly, she forced herself upright, limbs trembling beneath her. Every movement was a protest, her body screaming in resistance, but she ignored it. She stumbled forward, following the path the other had taken.

She couldn’t be alone again.

quick cameo! <33

Solenya had watched them from a distance, not wanting to disturb their fragile conversation. Both seemed lost, afraid. It tore at her to not expose herself and comfort them, to ease their minds for at least a moment. Admittedly, she was curious about that which brought them here, each having their own story, their own path behind them. Yet, their paths brought them amongst the giants, amongst the new life teeming here.

The one who did not speak left the spot where small yellow petals scattered in her wake. Solenya hummed thoughtfully, leaving the place where she had been hidden to eye the little flowers. It was the signal of a beginning for the silent one, she felt it in the depths of her heart. The other will find hers, as well, she had no doubt. Her eyes lifted to trail behind their fleeting forms, a soft smile on her lips.

Soft as the wind, she whispered, The Viridian Sanctum welcomes you.

Odessia heeded the call, flattening herself to the ground only two or three quick strides into her escape attempt. She heard the footsteps approaching, and she braced herself for the teeth that would come for her throat. Again, Odessia tried to find her voice. Again, nothing came out. She wanted to tell this other wolf so many things, but there was something very, very wrong with her. She had not been able to make out a single word since she had witnessed Viper's death. Now, she was beginning to worry that she would never be able to speak again. That was a horror in and of itself. How was she ever supposed to be able to convey things beyond simple gestures? She knew it was the way of the wolf, but there was only so much that could be conveyed with body language.
Odessia did not notice the other wolf, nor hear her whispered words.

I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you… Kirain’s voice trembled, a dejected laugh slipping out as she stepped closer to the pale she-wolf. She stopped a few strides away and sank into a weary sit, her body heavy with exhaustion. Everything felt so drained, so hollow.

Still, she summoned what warmth she could, her tone softening as she offered a sliver of comfort to the stranger before her. I’m Kirain… who are you?

The question was gentle, friendly even, but it was clear she didn’t fully grasp just how fragile the she-wolf was. Even so, that didn’t stop her from reaching out. Her wilted heart longed for connection, something, anything, to ease the ache inside.

The laugh startled Odessia, and her bladder decided it had had enough. She had soiled herself, covering her tail and hind end in urine. Now, on top of being petrified, she was also excruciatingly embarrassed. She wanted to crawl into the nearest log and live out the rest of her short, mute, piss-covered life there.
The other wolf gave her a name, and Odessia wondered how long it would take for the smell to reach Kirain. The question was turned back on her, and she so desperately wanted to answer, but her throat would not make the words.
Instead, she opened her mouth, then shook her head. She could not speak.

Kirain stared expectantly at the stranger, waiting patiently for a response. The pale she-wolf opened her mouth, but no sound came.

For a moment, Kirain simply blinked, confused. Then, slowly, realization dawned. Can… can you not speak? she asked, her voice soft with growing concern.

She was about to say more when a new scent reached her nose, faint, but unmistakable. It took another heartbeat before she recognized it: urine.

Whatever curiosity or awkwardness she’d felt before was instantly overtaken by a deep, aching empathy. Her heart sank. She couldn’t imagine how humiliated or frustrated the other wolf must be feeling in that moment.

Not wanting to draw attention to it, Kirain gently pushed the conversation forward. I wonder how we might help you share your name. I hate the idea of leaving you nameless, it feels so impersonal, so wrong.

Her ears perked slightly, eyes softening with a hopeful light. Maybe… I could call you something else for now? You seemed to like that yellow flower. How about something inspired by that?

Odessia shook her head, shame and embarrassment quadrupling on the spot. Not only could she not speak, but she had pissed herself as well. At least Kirain was kind enough to pretend not to notice, though the smell was obvious enough to Odessia. All she wanted to do now was get away, get clean, and go back to staring at that ever-so-wonderful flower. Instead, Kirain suggested another route. Odessia had no way to recommend anything else.
She lifted herself barely off the ground, the breeze making her hind end cold from the dampness there. Odessia kept her tail tucked and her ears flat against her head, waiting for Kirain to lead her back to the tiny yellow flowers. She could not say that she trusted the other white wolf, not yet, but she did not exactly distrust her, either. At the very least, she could go get lost in the tiny intricacies of those flowers again.

Kirain's eyes widened as the soaked dame slowly rose. A flicker of guilt twisted in her chest, she must be so uncomfortable. Kirain glanced away, her voice soft with remorse.

Ah… I’m being selfish with your time. If there’s something else you need to do, I understand. I did spook you, after all. I can drag myself back to the flowers and wait. Though… I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t come back.

The words cut deeper than she expected. Guilt bloomed sharp and sudden, tightening in her chest. In her eagerness to chase her own desires, she'd completely overlooked the other she-wolf’s comfort. When had she become so thoughtless?

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she turned away, ears folding back in shame. The path back to the flowers felt impossibly long. Still, the stranger deserved a moment of privacy. With a shaky breath, Kirain pushed herself upright, wincing as sore muscles screamed in protest.

The other female seemed to waffle on her original plan, leaving Odessia to wonder what she was supposed to do. She paused mid-step, watching as Kirain winced. What was wrong with her? Why was she now folding her ears back? Odessia was left even more confused and anxious than before, unsure of what direction would result in her survival. Maybe there was no direction of survival. Her ear twitched, and she followed Kirain for a few steps, wondering if this was what the other wanted.

Spiraling. Spiraling. Spiraling.

Kirain was trapped in an endless loop of doubt and sorrow.
Selfish, selfish, selfish.
The word struck like a blade, carving deep into her chest.

She didn’t even notice the poor stranger trailing behind her. Every ounce of her focus was consumed by the struggle to move, lifting each leaden paw, forcing it forward.
Move. Move. Move.
The only rhythm she could cling to.

What was happening to her? Why did everything feel so uncertain, so wrong?
Alone. Alone. Alone.
She didn’t want to hear it.

With a sharp shake of her head, she tried to cast the voice out, her breath catching.
No. No. No.

odessia out for real this time! thanks for the thread. :)

Odessia felt a change in the air, though she could not pinpoint exactly what it was. Either way, with no instruction from the grey-eyed wolf, she slowed, stopped, and eventually crept away from Kirain. There was something off about her, Odessia sensed, and that was rich coming from her.
Besides, she had the strong urge and instinct to clean herself, and that was overpowering just about every other action she wanted to take right now. Maybe, when she was clean and dry, she could come back to the flowers and get lost in them again.