Ocean's Breath Plateau hiraeth

@Lucani :)

So she wandered, and wandered, and wandered, with no particular destination in mind. Sometimes, she wondered how she managed to resist the temptation to join the first pack she came across, what with the feeling of lonliness plagueing her most of the time. But whenever she wanted to, the voice in the back of her head reminded her why she left in first place, how she enjoyed the freedom and the idea that no one was watching, that no one was judging, how she could survive a few more months before dedicating herself to some pack once again. And somehow, Chase did remain a lone wolf, but even she knew that that time would soon pass, winter would come and before then, she had to find a pack to reside in.

She shook away the thoughts, not wanting to dwell in their stressful and pressurising presence right now for the view in front of her was breathtakingly beautiful and she wanted to treasure it. So Chase stood, in the middle of a sea of grass, silently staring at the ocean and the land below and in front of her, her eyes gleaming in awe. A smile adorned her pale features and she couldn't help but let out a laugh, shaking her head slightly. Man, was she glad she left home.

Thanks for starting!

The famine had ended it, and with it the life — but not the memory — of Donnelaith's founding father. Lasher was missed by all, and the Medic thought of him even now as she walked along the shore. There was something about the sea breeze that reminded her of his peaceful voice, and while she didn't believe in such ghosts she did believe in the sentiment.

Soon she regarded a pretty sight: a silver female sitting among a field of new grass which swayed gently in the breeze. Greetings, said the tall wolf, compelled to approach.

And then a voice interrupted her thoughts. Immediately, her first response was to turn around, and then run and never look back. It wasn't like the voice had threatened to end her life or anything, it simply greeted her, but the idea that someone had been watching while she'd acted like a complete barmy madwoman - bit of an exaggeration but whatever - scared the hell out of her. Granted, it wasn't really that embarassing, but man, Chase Young definitely did not like being caught off guard. Regardless, she decided that running away was definetly not the right reaction, so she turned slowly around, a hesitant smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Uh..hey," she greeted the female, her eyes running appreciatively over the she-wolf's body, noting the hardened muscle beneath the stranger's pelt and her sheer height. Man, she always liked the tall ones, didn't she. Right. She probably saw all that. Fuck. Snap out of it, girl. A faint pink tinted her cheeks and she cleared her throat. "So, how's it going? Nice view, eh?" she said in her lilting accent, grinning softly but still somewhat hesitantly.

Lucani did not fail to notice the little drama that went on with the stranger immediately after the greeting. The tell-tale twitches of one who thought themselves threatened, then the intense regarding of Lucani herself. She theorised that perhaps the stranger though she was someone she was not. Someone worth running from. It was good that she had decided otherwise, then, for despite having become quiet the stoic Lucani enjoyed the company of others — and always would.

Mm, she replied, turning her dull yellow gaze out to the gorgeous blue sea. I'm still not used to living so close to it. The sea. She returned her eyes to the ashen woman. What of you.

The other woman spoke, murmuring assent before saying that she still wasn't used to living close to the sea. The pack wolf turned her gaze towards Chase and asked a question, causing her to stutter for a moment before smiling, almost peacefully, "I've lived near the sea my entire life. Used to be the place where I went when I got sad or upset or angry. It's always so beautiful, but even after so long, I still haven't gotten used to the beauty of it." She turned her turquoise eyes on the stranger, tilting her head slightly. "Do you think you'll get used to living near it?" she asked, meeting those yellow orbs evenly, for she'd determined that this stranger wasn't a threat.

"I'm Chase, by the way. What's your name?" she asked politely, eyes running briefly over her companion's face. "You're from a pack by the sea? Sorry, I'm asking way too many questions aren't I? I'm sorry," she added, blushing again and turning her face away in embarassment.

While some might tap their paw at anxiety or growl at not getting a word in edgeways, one of Lucani's favourite things was hearing other people talk. And what was more, what Chase had to say had substance. She spoke of her past, and the sea, and maintained her nervous demeanour. I'm Lucani, she responded. From Donnelaith. You see those redwoods? she gestured along the shore to where the enormous trees were finally flourishing after many weeks of destitution. That's Donnelaith. And, like you, I've yet to grow used to my fortune at living in these parts.

"Lucani," Chase repeated, testing the word on her tongue before smiling nervously. "It's a pretty name," she said, wondering why her parents didn't name her something more feminine, instead of Chase, which was, in her knowledge and experience, more of a guy name. But then again, if her mom had named her something like Dandelion, she'd probably hate it more, so, in a way, she was glad her name was Chase instead of something more embarassing.

"Is it nice living there?" Chase asked, turning her gaze to the redwoods. "Are the wolves nice? Any cute guys, or girls?" Then she realised she'd been talking way too much again and promptly looked away, her cheeks tinted pink. "Sorry, didn't mean to be so direct. I mean, I'm usually not that, straightforward. Um...yeah, so, sorry, I..yeah." Oh my god, pull yourself together Chase Young, Jesus what is wrong with you, mate. 

Lucani smiled. She — Chase — was sweet.

The Medic didn't reply to the compliment on her name, because she had no response to it. It was curious, though, to associate anything "pretty" with Lucani, who was very androgynous and was more the type to behold beauty than possess it herself.

When Chase asked about that particular subject, she thought of Aria, Donnelaith's mind-numbingly attractive Alpha, but of course didn't speak this thought aloud. Well it's a very romantic place, full of likeable souls, was her reply to all these questions, being quite middle-aged and out-of-touch when it came to more casual terms such as "cute".

So, you live along the shore? she requested more information as to Chase's own home, having surmised so far that she too was from a seaside pack.

Chase grinned at Lucani, amusement glittering in her turquoise eyes. "Romantic place, huh?" she chuckled softly, slowly warming up to the pack wolf. She was a very nervous and anxious soul at heart and when situated in situations where she had to socialise and talk with strangers, words tended to go all over the place and she ended up embarassing both herself and the other person, as well as making sure that she would never, ever be friends with that particular person. That was why she liked wolves like Lucani, who didn't seem to mind her babbling behaviour and was gentle with her.

"Ah," Chase winced slightly. "Not really. I used to live along the shore, but, um, kinda got kicked out from the last sea pack I had because I accused a guy for..um..this is awkward," she winced again, though she was over it, she still didn't like the memories. "Yeah, I accused the Alpha for unwanted sexual advances and he kicked me out and I've been wandering ever soon. I should probably find a pack soon, but, I dunno, I get nervous and stressed when being in a pack with a bunch of strangers so..yeah," she said, nodding slightly. "That's why I'm still a loner."

"I only got into packs the last few times because some friends invited me," she shrugged and smiled, almost helplessly. Wasn't like Chase could help it, after all, the anxiety just came with whatever she did.

Describing Donnelaith as romantic was perhaps an understatement, for Lucani had never known a place so magical. Part of this was never having lived by the sea before, and the fact that the pack's great father had dedicated Lucani to the land before dying, further added to her feelings for the place.

At Chase's story, Lucani's heartstrings twanged with fierce sympathy. She herself had left her birthplace in protest of the sexist regime that had risen there. Her instinct was to invite Chase to Donnelaith's borders to speak with Aria about the possibility of introducing her into the fold, but something the younger female said gave her pause.

She had friends scattered throughout multiple packs and had in fact been part of those packs...? And why did you leave those? she asked with interest.

"Um," Chase flinched slightly and looked away, carefully avoiding Lucani's yellow orbs. "I might have lied....a little," she said, choosing her words cautiously, "by packs, I mean pack. Singular. I've only been in another pack since my natal one, and thats because...um..my childhood best friend was there and he recommended me to the Alpha. I left that pack because...well, you know", she shrugged, a nervous smile on her face

Lucani quirked a brow, a little confused. It wasn't that she didn't believe Chase — on the contrary, Lucani was the type to believe any victim of sexual harassment — but the lone wolf was, to put it bluntly, not the greatest storyteller.

Perhaps we can think about introducing you to Donnelaith, she considered slowly. But first, do let me know if you've picked up any hurts or ills on your travels. I'm a Medic, she explained, and advice is free.

Chase turned her head around abruptly, pain flickering through her eyes for a moment before she met Lucani's yellow orbs with her own turquoise ones, hope but suspicion lingering in her wide orbs as she considered the female's words. While it wasn't like she didn't believe the pack wolf, because she seemed to be a good person, it was just the fact that Chase had been let down so many times by wolves she considered friends and family that she didn't trust much anymore. And if loved ones could hurt her so much, could bear the thought of betraying her trust, then what could a loner with a message of hope do to her?

Chase didn't like to think about the consequences trusting Lucani could lead to, because there were many, many unwanted and horrible ones. "Will you do that? You don't have to. I..didn't expect you to..." she asked, slowly, her emotions written clearly over her face - Chase had never been one to hide her emotions. Oh, she tried, she just never succeeded. 

The Young wolf shook her head, "I ran into another wolf on my way here. Nice girl, she..patched me up." She smiled at the memory.

At the girl's hesitance and uncertainty, Lucani simply smiled, her way of saying that yes — she would give Chase a chance. She had no reason not to, for Donnelaith was healthy now, and might open itself to a new wolf, especially if she had much to give.

But first, she tilted one ear with curiosity at Chase's recent adventures. Would you mind if I pried into what happened, and how you were fixed? she asked, then swiftly explained why: professional curiosity. Perhaps the Medic could learn something, even secondhand.

Chase glanced at her curiously, before lifting a pale shoulder in a shrug, her bright eyes returning to the distant horizon as she recalled her recent misadventures. "I was exploring a forest," she began, her voice almost thoughtful, "and halfway through, I entered a clearing. There was a loner on the other side, about thirty meters away, guarding a pile of dead bloody bunnies. I stared at him for a moment, and then, without warning, he leapt at me. I dodged several blows before he caught my flank and bit into it. I kicked him off and ran away. Later that day, I bumped into a pack wolf who was kind enough to patch me up. She made me..." she frowned then.

"She made me wash in the lake, before licking my wound and making me chew half of a disgusting plant, whle she trickled the juices onto my wound with the other half. I'm not sure...." she flashed Lucani an apologetical look, "I'm not educated in this," she said, frowning slightly, not liking the fact that she couldn't provide someone with appropriate information. "Sorry."

One of Lucani's favourite things in this world was listening to stories. Not just any stories, certainly, but ones that were personal and telling. Chase's story was a good one. She listened with professional interest about the mysterious healer, and could not help but wonder if it was the same stranger who'd saved her life. Lucani hadn't thought about said stranger since the incident... and, to be honest, it was too soon to revisit it, so she shook off the thought and focussed on another aspect instead.

A loner guarding a pile of bloody rabbits, she repeated thoughtfully. What a gory sight. It sounds almost ethereal.