Raven's Watch birds of a feather

"We have a tradition where retrieving a stone like this is a representation of a rite of passage and this one belonged to my abuela. I have been carrying it with me since my exile since it is all I have left of her. She taught me everything about balance, how necessary it is and how our people had strayed to far from it."

Mictec sighed of annoyance, not at Kirian but the reality of the impending doom of her people. "The pack had too many mouths to feed. I spent most nights out hunting far more then I should have but what was I to do, let a pack that I was being trained to lead fall apart before then?"

Anger she kept locked within her often laced with the words spoken of those who had hurt her. "They have lost sight of what was important, the stories our gods passed down onto us, of sacrifice and perseverance."

Kirain listened intently to the obsidian she-wolf, her expression softening. “That’s a beautiful tradition. I can understand why that stone holds such deep meaning for you.” A faint, sorrowful smile touched her lips.

“That doesn’t sound like you were responsible for a famine, Mictec. It sounds more like you were trying to counter nature’s course, doing your best to survive. That’s the natural balance of life, isn’t it? Not the fault of any lone wolf.” Her voice was gentle, laced with sympathy. “What were you supposed to do? Stand by and watch your pack perish? You did what you believed was necessary, and there’s no shame in that. Don’t carry that burden alone.”

Mictec offered a nod, how true the sentiment she shared especially in times before struggling to ensure longevity of a dying pack. 

"You speak with such empathy. I would imagine you once had a life of a healer. All those I knew understood the balance of life and death best."

She let the weight of her words sink in for the moment, as Mictec saw the potential that the other had even if she did not see it herself.

"What is to come of them I have come to accept as not just the will of gods but the will of nature itself. But I know for me, I would have been living a life incomplete if I had never left."

The lids of her eyes closed gently, the pads of her paws against the hard rocky surface. She could have sworn she could feel the beating heart of the earth. This was were she was meant to be.

I would imagine you once had a life of a healer.

The words struck Kirain like a blow, and her shoulders slumped as the weight of memories pressed down on her. Her chest ached as images of her lost pack resurfaced, faces she couldn't forget, bonds that time couldn't mend. She exhaled shakily.

"Yeah... something like that," she murmured, her voice a fragile whisper. She turned her gaze away from Mictec, unwilling to let her see the raw hurt and vulnerability etched in her eyes.

"Good for you." Kirain’s tone was soft, almost reverent, as if acknowledging an unspoken truth. "It’s not easy to reach such understanding. I hope you find what you’re looking for, Mictec. And that your new pack brings you peace." Her tail swayed gently behind her, a slow rhythm that mirrored the thoughtfulness in her words. She lowered her eyes to the earth and absently pawed at the ground, as if tracing invisible paths to someplace calmer, kinder.

"You deserve that much."

Mictec watched Kirain closely, her marigold eyes softening as she caught the tremor in the other’s voice. For a moment, she stayed silent, letting the weight of the words settle between them like fallen leaves, fragile but meaningful. When she spoke, her tone was calm, steady—a gentle current carrying her thoughts. 

"Perhaps understanding isn’t as rare as we think," she began, her voice quiet but resonant. "It lives in those who’ve endured. Pain shapes it, sharpens it—makes it real. You’ve felt that, haven’t you? The kind of loss that takes part of you but leaves behind something stronger." 

She stepped closer, her movements deliberate, grounding. "I see it in you, Kirain. You carry more than hurt—you carry the ability to heal, even now. Even for yourself." Her gaze flicked toward the earth Kirain pawed at, as if acknowledging the unspoken metaphor. "The paths we trace... they’re not always to somewhere kinder. Sometimes, they lead us back to places we’ve avoided. But there’s strength in walking them, even when they hurt." 

Mictec tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "You say I deserve peace. But so do you. Whatever it is you find, remember this, healing isn’t just what you give to others. It’s what you allow yourself to have, too." 

She offered the faintest hint of a smile, a light in her otherwise somber face. "You’re still here, Kirain. That says more than words ever could. And that’s where peace begins."

All she could manage was a small nod, her softly grayed ears twitching as the pain tightened in her throat, strangling her words before they could form. Mictec’s kindness and understanding were like a balm to an open wound, unexpected, but deeply welcome in these moments of painful recollection.

Life was not kind. It never had been. It was struggle and strife, a relentless test of endurance. That was the balance of things, wasn’t it? The give and take, the ebb and flow. The expectation of all living beings. Yet knowing this truth did nothing to soften its weight, especially when guilt sharpened it into something unbearable.

It’s what you allow yourself to have, too.

Mictec’s words struck something deep within her, a raw nerve she had long refused to acknowledge. Her paw came down sharply on the rocky ground with a sudden slap, born of frustration, anger at herself, at the endless guilt that chewed through her mind and heart like a constant predator.

Kirain let out a long, shuddering sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of it all. The battle inside her felt endless, unwinnable.

“If only peace were so easy to find, Mictec,” she murmured, her voice heavy with weariness. Yet, despite the resignation in her words, she managed a small, appreciative smile for the she-wolf, a flicker of gratitude breaking through the storm within her.

Mictec’s gaze softened as she watched Kirain, her sharp eyes recognizing the struggle beneath the surface. The silence between them was thick with unspoken truths, but it was in the silence that Mictec found the words to bridge the gap.

Peace is never easy, she said quietly, her voice gentle but firm, as though speaking from the wisdom of years spent walking the same path. But it is not something you find, Kirain. It is something you create, little by little, through your choices. The truth is, we will never be free of the struggles we carry. They are part of who we are. Her eyes met Kirain’s, seeing the same overwhelming agony that clouded her own judgement mere days ago. 

But you don't have to carry them alone.

Mictec surveyed the area around them, ravens were habitual collectors of trinkets and egg shaped pebbles. Her eyes landed on one, a piece of sea glass far out of its element, like themselves, and placed it in front of her. Mictec had her abuela's stone, perhaps Kirian was in need of her own, one meant to anchor her in the moment, offering something solid amid the chaos within. Sometimes, peace is in the acceptance of the struggle, the knowing that it doesn’t define you. It’s what you do with it, how you rise from it that matters.

She let her words hang in the air, simple and yet full of meaning, before offering a small, knowing smile. And sometimes... sometimes peace is just a moment, a breath, when you allow yourself to be. You don’t have to solve everything at once.

As Kirain glanced down at the seaglass placed before her, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. The simple gesture carried so much meaning, touching her deeply. With a gentle, deliberate motion, she extended her paw to draw the piece closer, eager to observe it more closely. It was a beautiful seafoam green, smoothed to near perfection by countless hours spent tumbling beneath the ocean waves. She blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears gathering at the edge of her vision, unwilling to let them fall in this quiet moment of peace.

Thank you, Mictec. Her voice was soft but steady. When I set out on my journey here, I never expected to meet such an understanding and considerate wolf. You'll make an exceptional leader, I have no doubt about that.

This time, the smile she offered the obsidian-furred dame was warmer, more genuine than the ones before, a true reflection of the gratitude she felt.

Mictec's gaze softened as she observed Kirain's reaction, the sea glass shimmering in the dim light. Her tail gave a slow, comforting sweep behind her, the gesture a subtle show of solidarity.

You’ve shown great strength, Kirain, she replied, her voice low yet firm, rich with warmth. Your journey may have brought you here, but it’s your heart that’s carried you this far. I believe in you, and I know you'll find the path you're searching for.

Mictec watched as the sky above begun to enter its final act of the day. If ever the road becomes too difficult, or you find yourself in need of rest, search for me out west. Sanctuary, safety, and support — you’ll always have a place with me.

She offered a deep, respectful nod, her expression full of quiet strength. She had shocked even herself by how easy peace was to find, when the weight of the world truly did not rest upon her own shoulders but on everyone's. This was the lesson she was meant to learn, a step towards understanding what true leadership meant.

With night approaching, Mictec looked at Kirian, her marigold eyes alight with renewed sense of purpose and spoke in an ethereal tone, Tonatiuh tlen miak, xochipilli tlen tlakatl, tlakatl in tlakatl. Nimitstlalia, nimitstla. (May the Sun's warmth guide you, and the beauty of life fill your heart. Farewell, until we meet again.)

Dipping her head, Mictec lifted the obsidian stone, which normally was cool to the touch but now begun to radiate a soft heat. It was a sign, she told herself, a nod of approval that this was her new path.

I’ll keep that in mind. I highly doubt I’ll forget about our meeting anytime soon. A soft chuckle escaped her as she gazed out at the horizon, reflecting on the time they had shared. From two strangers, cautious and wary, to companions who now carried the weight of the world together in such an intimate way.

You are no dark omen. Continue spreading peace and hope. I look forward to seeing you again, my friend. May your path be steady, and may all your endeavors bear fruit. With that, she gently collected the seaglass in her maw, handling it with utmost care, an irreplaceable treasure she intended to cherish. A brief stretch of her muscles, followed by a surge of revitalized energy, filled her. For the first time in what felt like ages, the future seemed free of dread, and her heart swelled with a quiet but powerful hope.

One last glance at Mictec, a respectful bow of her head, and she turned, continuing her journey eastward. Her mind heavy with thoughts, she carefully navigated the rocky cliff face, each step deliberate as she moved forward.