love the people with whom fate brings you together

*Shadow* · October 29, 2014, 09:58 AM

@Paarthurnax if you have time :D Set after pack meeting. Also hover over the latin for a translation, don't move away.

He lay awake, the bright moonlight shining through the entrance of their den. He couldn't sleep, and it wasn't the first time. He had slight insomnia, though it became severe when he left Noctem Vagus with his two littermate. Constantly thinking about his other siblings that he left behind, wondering how they were, hoping his father wasn't being too brutal to them though the chances of that was unlikely. The Roman had defended his younger brothers from Aku's wrath and taught his sisters how to fight (if they wanted to) against his father's will. Sometimes, he wanted to return to Noctem Vagus and kill his father, but that was one of the most important laws of Rome. You couldn't kill your father, pathetic really, and the silver male was ready to break it, but the gods would punish him, maybe he might not even go to Elysium, and he couldn't have that. Eternal torment for his father from his siblings should do. But Noctem Vagus was so far away, and he couldn't leave his wife ~~and unborn children~~ here. He couldn't leave Noctisardor Bypass too long and the journey to his his natal pack was certainly going to be anything but short.

It had begin to heal at the beginning when he arrived at Teekon Wilds but nowadays, it was becoming more severe. The ashen outrider silently got up and crept out of their den, hoping he had not woken Paar, and sat beside the entrance, gazing at the sky. The stars twinkled down on him and the moon lit up his fur, making them glow an ethereal silver. Shadow knew the gods were there, watching over him, even Diana, the goddess of the moon. The Roman hoped his family, his blood family was safe, for he had another family to take care of here. Dies pater, Optimus Maximus, Lord Jupiter. Noctem imitantur vagus in invigilandi, rogo, ira Aku tueri. Mars Ultor, Rogo te, ut cum patientia ac fortitudo imitantur indigent, cum indigent, opem et auxilium. he said softly, praying, gazing at the sky.

Paarthurnax · October 29, 2014, 11:31 AM

Shadow's movement was careful, and he succeeded in his attempts at refraining from rousing her. What brought her from slumber, however, was the absence of him. Lashes fluttering, the drowsy wolfess squinted against the dim moonlight that broke through the entrance of the den she shared with her mate, and found herself blinking sleepily in his direction. He murmured gently in his native tongue, words that she could not understand, but in her tired haze she did not particularly care to know.

In silence she looked at his strong back, uncertain as to what had woken him, and with a groan the bi-coloured lifted her head. "Come back to bed," Paar beckoned softly, maneuvering in place to make herself better comfortable now that she did not have Shadow at her side to hold her up. She did not realise that he was battling an inner storm, troubled by the past he'd always been so eager to cast aside.

*Shadow* · October 30, 2014, 05:28 AM

He froze when he heard a grown, then a familiar voice rang through the night air. "Come back to bed," she said softly. Shadow turned around, the light of Diana catching his eyes, making them seem to glow pure white for a second before it turned back to its usual platinum. The ashen outrider shook his head and smiled wearily at Paar, trying his best to not seem like he was worrying. I'll be fine, you go back to sleep. he said to her softly, and turned around again, hoping she would rest. He hadn't meant to wake her up, and though he asked her to go back to sleep, a small part of him wished for her to talk with him and ease a bit of his burden off his shoulders.

Now his mind wandered to Swiftcurrent Creek and how they were doing now, so far, the wolves there had not bothered the wolves of Bypass. Good. At least Scimitar was keeping them away, he himself wouldn't go too near that place now, it wasn't because he was scared, but because he didn't want that place to remind him of his past.

Paarthurnax · October 30, 2014, 05:37 AM

He looked over a broad shoulder at her, a solemn smile tugging at his lips, and it was then that Paarthurnax realised her mate had something on his mind. The crimson beauty lay in silence following his assurance that he'd be okay, that she should go back to sleep, and considered how to go about tackling Shadow's wary thoughts. The sterling Alpha had always been a quiet, mysterious brute; emotions were not something he paraded around on show.

Quietly, Paar wondered if he was doubting his decision to promote her, but did not dwell on this prematurely. Flicking her ears back and gathering herself to her paws, she stepped tentatively across the den floor until she reached her partner's side. She reached out to him, very tenderly nudging at Shadow's strong neck as she sank to her haunches. "What's on your mind?" Paarthurnax questioned gently, copper eyes brimming with concern and uncertainty.

*Shadow* · November 01, 2014, 09:31 AM

He knew, though, that she would not sleep but try to get him to talk. And sure enough, moments later, faint footsteps were heard as she walked across the den towards him. Shadow leaned into her touch, absorbing the warmth she held before exhaling softly. "What's on your mind?" he smiled tiredly. I was afraid you would ask that, he said, gazing up at the stars littered across the night sky. It's everything. I've been worrying about everything. My families.

Especially my siblings. he continued, then he stopped, unable to bring himself to say anything more, instead scooted closer to Paar and lay his head on her shoulder, seeking comfort and warmth. Every wolf needed love sometimes, even the most heartless villain, or the most sarcastic, annoying, strict, indifferent, snarky Roman. And it was one of those days (or nights) where everything came rushing towards you, and wrap and blind you with your problems.

Paarthurnax · November 04, 2014, 03:11 PM

Paarthurnax flicked her crimson ears back when Shadow's expression changed, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. He leaned in closer to her then, but still he did not look her way. With his gaze cast toward the glimmering midnight sky, the ashen Alpha offered a solemn explanation for his unusual sleeping pattern.

"Everything" didn't really narrow it down, however, and concern flooded Paar's wary heart. She remained silent for a short time following Shadow's excuse, unsure how to respond or how he wanted her to respond. Did he wish for her to snuggle close and tell him that all was going to be okay? To promise that life would somehow, miraculously make itself better?

She lowered her muzzle, pressed the tip of her snout to her mate's sterling forehead. "Why are you worried?" Paarthurnax blinked, fearing that the answer might be that he was deeply regretting giving her the opportunity to be Alphess. That somehow she would bring shame to his family by being a woman of the desert, not a lady of Rome.

*Shadow* · November 07, 2014, 08:41 AM

The sterling outrider leaned into her touch briefly as she spoke, "Why are you worried?" she asked. His eyes darkened as he thought about how to answer. My siblings in the North, I fear my father will hurt them beyond repair and I wish to travel back there to rescue them from his wrath he replied first, silver eyes still focused on the midnight sky. The wolves of these pack, I know a few wolves of the Northern lands but I worry for those in the south, especially the young, and I know you want children. Winter was where his ancestor Pluto was the strongest, perhaps he would protect the wolves of Noctisardor Bypass and keep them from rotting and dying away when the cold icy season came.

There was so much more buried in his mind, but he was not going to pour out his heart to his mate just yet. It would take time for him to tell anyone bits of what he was thinking and what he felt. He loved Paar, truly but he felt there were somethings that were best kept to himself and him only. If only Shadow knew four of his siblings now wandered the lands of Teekon Wilds, one in the ranks of The Sunspire, the other in Blacktail Deer Plateau, the other in Ouroborus Spine and the last one a loner. He would have given anything to see the scene between Scimitar and Scipio, knowing full well that Scip could have easily given Scimitar a few scars to remember him by if he was in a better shaped and actually wanted to do so.

Paarthurnax · November 07, 2014, 09:17 AM

He shared with her some of his concerns: his brothers and sisters, the wolves of his pack that were not of their current terrain, and the idea of pups. It was the latter that brought great pain to her heart. Did her mate not wish for heirs? Paarthurnax was already fairly certain that she'd conceived, a secret she was holding onto fiercely until the time was right to be revealed without worry of early miscarriage. Failure in a first pregnancy was something she'd learned to be common, but not something she was sure she could cope with emotionally.

Shadow expressed desire to seek his litter-mates, which caused the crimson beauty to gaze thoughtfully at him. Was he being serious? Could he stand to leave his pack behind, to venture far from home in an uncertain direction? It had been some time since he left his siblings, even longer since departing the place of his birth. They could easily have moved on by now.

She frowned deeply, concern gripping her fragile heart, and she sighed gently. "It is not your responsibility to take care of everybody," Paar assured her mate softly, "it's your responsibility to lead. We can take care of ourselves and each other, as a pack." Her tail curled supportively about her hindquarters. "Do you plan on making a trip to find your siblings, or...?" Uncertainty clouded her features, for she was not quite sure what her partner was getting at.

*Shadow* · November 17, 2014, 05:37 AM

Quickly get this to 10 posts then fade?

"it's your responsibility to lead. We can take care of ourselves and each other, as a pack." the silver leader sighed softly. He knew that it was his responsibility to lead the Bypass, but his younger siblings were also his responsibility, he couldn't just leave them at the mercy of their father, assuming Aku actually had mercy. But it was the hard truth, Shadow could not leave the Bypass behind to go on a journey which might prove to be worthless. His packmates mattered now and he knew it was up to his siblings to save their own souls, hopefully they would rebel against Father. But Aku, though bloodthirsty, was still a formidable fighter and it would probably take a few of his siblings to bring him down and even more to keep him that way.

"Do you plan on making a trip to find your siblings, or...?" Platinum eyes darkened as the ashen outrider shook his head. Shadow exhaled softly, shook his head and sought to lean on his partner, wishing for her comfort and warmth and perhaps everything would turn out alright in the end. Perhaps, for once, the gods and the fates would grant him a happy ending.

Paarthurnax · December 14, 2014, 02:56 PM

He did not answer her with words, but instead made to seek comfort in her embrace. Paarthurnax leaned against him as he did her, keen to hold him up and be the rock he needed to lean on, though her heart was heavy. It had already occurred to the bi-coloured beauty that she was not the happiest she could be, but it pained her to see Shadow go through such emotional turmoil. She wondered if he was sensing her discontent, which roused similar feelings within him.

Paar made no other comment on the matter. If there were things he wished to tell her, she would allow him to speak his mind freely and in his own time. Until then, she made to support him physically. She trailed the tip of her snout through his ashen ruff, buried her nose among the thick ivory fur of his throat. I love you, her heart begged for her to say to the wolf who was her beloved, yet she could not form the words.

She did not know if she truly felt that way for him anymore.