twixt the two a witch shall falter

Lasher · October 12, 2014, 07:17 PM

having no intention of traveling to the newly claimed lands of the redhawk wolves, lasher nevertheless found himself in great bear wilderness. he had been tracking a lone mule deer, again, but this time his body was rife with hunger, and he intended to slay the buck as soon as he was within striking distance. the animal was lamed, but that did not keep it from evading his jaws for hours upon end.

presently, he approached the shimmering surface of an unfamilar, cold lake; gazing at his reflection had recently become a diversion of sorts for the delta, and today was no exception. his soul sought to see what it was peregrine had found wanting in him, and taltos curled himself upon the bank to contemplate the details of his dark face.

Osprey · October 13, 2014, 03:18 PM

More than a week had passed since Osprey had seen Peregrine and Dante had taken over the Blacktail deer plateau. After the initial turmoil, things had calmed down and the minds of those, who had stayed behind, returned to all of the little problems to be solved in their everyday lives. She had lost all of her anger and disappointment she had felt towards her brother - clearing her den out of the stuff she didn't need had helped a lot - and now all she could feel was a hollow place in her heart, where it once was filled with love and admiration for her best friend in the world.

Osprey missed him and, the more days passed, the stronger the feeling grew to get up on her feet and go looking for him. Apologize, tell him that she still loves him, make sure that things were fine between them once again. One morning, when the feeling had been the most unbearable, she got up and left the plateau to find and follow the path her brother had taken. However, it didn't lead straight to Redhawk Caldera, because she soon found out that she had no idea, where exactly was it located. So she wandered aimlessly, until she caught sight of a familiar figure and a stranger to her at the same time.

Lasher.

It seemed that he also had wandered for quite some time and he probably was tired. As she approached him with light steps and all the while carefully observing him, she wondered, what had happened for him and Peregrine to part ways. More importantly - did he miss him too? "Hey," she greeted quietly the lying figure on the ground, stopping few feet away from him.

Lasher · October 13, 2014, 04:57 PM

yay! thanks for joining <3

he could not fathom the depths of himself, nor did he wish to do so — he only wished to understand what shortcoming his lover had seen in him. the voice of a woman broached the cold lash of the emptiness within his soul; he turned his head against the dirt to see the face of peregrine's sister, osprey, for which his daughter was also named.

"hello," he responded, lifting himself to a seated position to offer her a halfhearted smile. she had come back into chaos; atticus might never be himself, and peregrine had abandoned them. her nieces were scattered, and pura slunk half-feral 'round the edges of the plateau. his heart mourned for her, for what she had lost, and silently he indicated that she was welcome to sit alongside him, if she was so inclined.

Osprey · October 17, 2014, 02:39 PM

Lasher acknowledged Osprey and she took it as a permission to come nearer and sat down. It was true that her return had taken place at the only peaceful moment at the plateau, because before and after that everything had changed fast. However, she didn't feel the same sense of loss, because ever since her brother had left their birthpack - their personal lives had been pretty distant. She hadn't been involved in raising the kids, in Peregrine's marriage problems, losing and finding Junior again, and finding new people to love and cherish at the very end. She was a bystander - watching the life of the other pass by, yet not taking any part in it.

"I am Osprey, Peregrine's sister," she introduced herself, even though she knew that Lasher had seen her before. "I heard that you have returned to the plateau?"

Lasher · October 17, 2014, 09:42 PM

she came toward him, and seated herself, and his murkwater eyes traveled back to the water for a moment. osprey spoke; lasher nodded. "yes. the caldera could never be my home," he answered faintly. he would expound upon his words if she so chose, but the very memory of peregrine's voice caused him grief. presently, he looked at the woman, amused at how quite attractive the panther and his siblings were, a shared and charming trait.

"i am lasher, also called taltos. i love your brother, peregrine." he did not speak in the tense of the past, for his heart would always hold some level of deep affection for the devil, and because lasher was reluctant to relegate what they had shared to memory.

Osprey · October 18, 2014, 01:25 PM

The way Lasher declared his love for Peregrine spoke of deep affections. Their love had always been a mystery to her, but she realized that some things needed not to be analyzed too much. They had to be felt. "Why couldn't you stay in Caldera?" she asked, genuinely curious. She knew that looking for a new home to settle had been Fox's idea and Peregrine had agreed and tagged along, but why had Lasher decided to leave her brother? Had their love not been enough to get past the big changes.

Lasher · October 18, 2014, 01:33 PM

he observed osprey's reaction; of course she would be curious as to why he did not remain. "fox and i do not get along. forcing your brother to knowingly abide this, and understanding this would make him miserable, i decided to leave. i would not have been a good servant to fox."

he drew a shuddering sigh. "perhaps what i have done is selfish, but rest assured, my heart is unmeasurably broken. i would not have his own heart beat with hurt knowing that i would never bow to fox."

Osprey · October 18, 2014, 01:52 PM

Osprey was surprised - she hadn't known either Fox or Lasher for too long, but from what she had seen on the day she had returned during the meeting, they had looked like a happy family. Picture perfect. Perergrine hadn't mentioned at all that there were problems. Or maybe he hadn't been aware of them.

"It was a very selfless thing to do," she said quietly. For she hadn't followed for similar, but more selfish reasons - she didn't want to bow to her brother anymore. "I am sorry that it didn't work out with Fox," and it seemed that most people she had met didn't think highly of Perry's new mate either.

Lasher · October 20, 2014, 02:11 AM

taltos gave a noncommittal sound as osprey spoke. "i am sorry, also, but it is my fondest wish that peregrine remain happy. i hope fox will allow him that." his voice was not without bitterness, but he bit it off; the silver woman was the panther's brother, and he would do well to respect his former devil in her presence.

"the caldera is truly beautiful," the man murmured to his companion, remembering the verdant, circular sweep of vast, unclaimed land. "have you visited yet?"

Osprey · October 26, 2014, 12:31 AM

Osprey frowned, because Lasher wasn't the first one, who doubted that Fox could make Peregrine happy. In her eyes, she was the bad guy only for taking Perry away from his pack and people. On the other hand - her brother had responsibility to bear too - he would never do anything he didn't want. So... kind of even in this aspect. She had been cured from her disappointment because of the idea that if she had lost her brother to someone, who made him happy, then she didn't need to worry. Yet - there was Junior, Saena, Lasher and other people - who had hard feelings for Perry's new lover. Osprey couldn't decide to what level should she believe them. Where did emotions end and, where the facts shone in the true light?

"No, I haven't," she replied truthfully. "I don't even know, where it is." Perry had left with loyal people in tow, without telling the exact location. "But I want to see him - to make amends."

Lasher · October 29, 2014, 09:24 PM

lasher chided himself quietly, for he had spoken before he knew osprey's true thoughts upon fox. however, she gave a mere, masked frown, and he did not press her for the reason. whatever she thought of the woman, her mind was her own, and he would not seek to influence her opinion with his own wounded castigations.

"south of here," taltos murmured, standing to his paws to stretch the gathered tension from his body and gesture in the direction of the distant caldera. "it is a bowl-like place, with mountains rearing and deep valleys. a fitting place for them to settle; it inspires its own sense of awe and joy."

Osprey · October 30, 2014, 05:11 PM

"I will keep that in mind, when I am ready to visit them," Osprey said, following the direction Lasher had shown with her gaze and memorizing the characteristics. She could go now, if she wished so, but it didn't feel quite right at the moment.

"I never had a chance to get to know you back in the plateau," she changed the subject for the sake of taking their minds off the sad business. "Would you mind a little introductions/small-talk?" she asked politely, however being polite enough to leave the choice to the gentleman. She would leave him alone, if he desired so.

Lasher · October 31, 2014, 12:25 AM

taltos had thought he wished solitude, but in fact he did not, and at osprey's polite words, he nodded, mentally clinging to the idea that she would remain with him for a time longer. "of course," he told the woman who perhaps would have been related through mateship to him, had he eventually succumbed to the title beneath the banner of peregrine's love. "what is it you would like to know?"

perhaps osprey wanted to know the intricacies of lasher's former relationship with her brother — nothing sordid, of course, as his lips were closed upon that point — but how the panther had come to love a man.

Osprey · October 31, 2014, 12:41 PM

"Great," Osprey replied and swayed her tail in a happy manner. She wasn't going to pester Lasher about his relationship with Peregrine. No matter, how unorthodox it had been, she respected her brother's choices. Was it really important with whom you got together, if he or she made you happy? Did you really need to dissect all the motives and reasons for that? No. Besides - so fresh after break-up it would be cruel from her to ask more about this subject than she already had.

"What do people ask on these occasions?" she mused aloud, while her gaze was wandering across the frozen lake. "Say, you and me met over a fresh caught rabbit - I say, the weather has been cold lately and you say..." she offered him a playful grin, inviting her companion to play along.

Lasher · November 02, 2014, 08:22 PM

though he had never spoken with her till this moment, lasher liked osprey immediately. her humour and perceptiveness was endearing; he warmed to the game quickly. "laughter," he murmured, watching her with shining eyes. "i would answer, 'yes, it has been quite cold, but we are well, and that is what matters.'"

she brought a welcome distraction from the pain wrought by the split from peregrine; taltos wondered if the silver woman did so intentionally, for they had been speaking of her brother's actions. yet he did not question this; he merely smiled at her, awaiting the next bit of the game.

Osprey · November 04, 2014, 12:22 PM

Osprey's purpose in changing the course of their conversation had partly been to distract her companion from the sad stuff and but for the most part she was very curious about Lasher. She wanted to get to know him in her own special way - by testing the unknown waters with her sense of humor and creativity. To see a flicker of happiness in her brother's former lover warmed her heart and reflected in her expression. Her smile grew even wider.

"Then I would say - "Oh, my, but there is nothing like a warm summer evening. How sad it is to see the leaves go away, the grass and trees die..."" she paused for a moment, getting herself in the role properly and then continued. "I have heard that these rabbits," at this moment she gestured towards the invisible rabbit that lied before their feet, "aren't as good as they used to be. What are your peers?"

Lasher · November 05, 2014, 07:23 PM

"hmm," he rejoined, eyes dancing. "perhaps they are a new sort of rabbit. we should take care in eating them." though his humour could not quite match her own, he made a valiant effort all the same. a glance to the sky gauged the sun's position. "care to walk with me, kind gentlelady?" he purled to osprey, bowing to her elegantly as the details of their game emerged.

he stood aside, inviting her to join him, and gave a wan smile in the direction of her pretty face.

Osprey · November 06, 2014, 02:10 PM

"It is my pleasure," Osprey accepted Lasher's polite invitation with a light dip of her muzzle and smile. She got to her feet and stretched thoroughly - making perfect "downward" and "upward" dogs, which would make any yogi green with envy. "Yeah... can't trust food we eat nowadays... how funny it is that too much knowledge makes living so hard," she said, chuckling to herself about this whole nonesense.

"Where shall we go - gentleman?" she tilted her head slightly to the side and - with excitement flickering in her eyes - waited for her companion's response.

Lasher · November 08, 2014, 01:39 AM

he gave her a warm smile. "along the shore here, my lady osprey!" came his joyous exclamation, and he waited for her to fall in step alongside him before continuing at a leisurely pace. "i know what peregrine has told me of your family, osprey," lasher murmured to his companion, "but i am interested in knowing your part of the story. will you always remain here, near your brother, or are your ambitions vested elsewhere?"

it was a pointed question, and more serious than their earlier rapport, but taltos was thoroughly involved in their time together, and osprey proved quite the interesting sort.

Osprey · November 11, 2014, 01:58 PM

Osprey fell in step with Lasher quickly and she found out, how surprisingly easy it was to be in his company. The way he spoke about her made her feel special and important - usually it was her, who tried to cheer everyone up and try to help, if possible, even if it left her drained after that. Now she glowed, enjonying the gentleman's attention.

"I think I made my choice, when I stayed behind at the plateau," she said. "I love him dearly, but this is a point in life, when we can't stay together as we did before. There might be a time, when I would want to have a family of my own - and where would that fit in Perry's and Fox's pack and life alltogether?" she asked rethorically. Truth to be told - she wasn't so keen on settling down yet, but this would happen eventually. It was better to go through the pain of separation sooner than later.

Lasher · November 13, 2014, 12:23 AM

taltos nodded. fox left little room in the world she had created with peregrine, but he felt that was as she had intended. osprey spoke of wanting a family, and lasher realized she was not as young as he had first thought, though by no means was she a decrepit creature.

"the want of my own children is not something i have experienced in the past, yet as i look about me at the beauty of the land, and the miracle of life, my heart has softened in that regard." he had wanted a life with peregrine, but whatever crass demon overruled him did not deem it fitting. "have you a bachelor in mind, dear osprey?" taltos joked at length, his eyes settling on her own briefly.

Osprey · November 13, 2014, 05:15 PM

"I feel the same," Osprey agreed, casting a glance at the scenery around her. "I mean there are so many simple things that we are used to that we fail to see the beauty in them. However - for a little one - everything is new and unknown. I remember helping taking care of my younger siblings and it was amazing to see the world from their perspective," she recalled the past and smiled. "It's one thing to live in your own world... and entirely different if you have someone to share it with."

"Should I take a chance on you?" she teased him back. "From what I have learned about you now - you are the man of every woman's dreams."

Lasher · (This post was last modified: November 17, 2014, 01:28 AM by Lasher.)

lasher, not for the first time, wondered at what he had never experienced through his lack of siblings. none had been created with him, or 'born,' as was the term, but he had often mused over the changing of his life that he would have perhaps undergone with a brother or a sister alongside him.

osprey's jest caught him off-guard; taltos coloured beneath his sable fur, casting her an appraising glance through the veil cast by his lashes. "oh surely, not every woman," he rejoined. "i only seek to please," the man informed the silver wolfess softly, eyes seeking hers for a brief, affectionate moment.

Osprey · November 20, 2014, 04:15 PM

Osprey met Lasher's gaze for a moment, winked and then averted her eyes. "Of course - my dreams still consist of dragons and finding the gold at the end of the rainbow," she said in a little cryptical manner. If there were people, who saw prophetic dreams, or any dreams with a hidden meaning, then Osprey was not of their kind. Either her sleep was dreamless or her mind reflected every remarkable moment of her day in a mixed order.

"But you wanted to know more about my past? What else is there that you are interested in?" she returned to the previous subject, trying to prepare herself for any kind of questions. If her companion sought to please, then at this very moment Osprey wanted to amaze and surprise.

Lasher · November 24, 2014, 10:01 PM

he did take her words to bespeak an idealistic nature not often found among the world's denziens, and it endeared her moreso to him. "dragons. i know very little about them," he mused aloud, casting her a sly grin. the conversation again turned toward the gilded woman, and taltos nodded. "you and peregrine are very different, as i am sure you know." he knew nothing of atticus, but was sure the same sentiment applied betwixt himself and osprey.

"he can be a loving, gentle sort, but he can also be cruel, needlessly harsh. why is it that two siblings find themselves so opposite — rather, what was it that happened in your life to mold you as you are, and not him?"