Wapun Meadow Thunder & Lightning

All welcome

Getting out of Bearclaw was getting more difficult for Scarlet the longer she lived between the safety of the high walls. The white queen was rather fond of the home she found with her mate Kove. After she left the boulder path there were loners out there. Raziel had been attacked by them and she'd rather not get attacked herself. Especially now she was carrying the next generation of Bearclaw. She wasn't showing yet, not really. Surely her small size would make her start showing soon, but currently her fur was still covering up most of her belly.

Scarlett would have liked to show off her growing belly but was also glad because it made her also more vulnerable. Her light frame carried her though Wapun Meadow. Wondering if there would be any friendly faces around here or maybe some old friends she happen to run into. Her ears perked up when the sky cracked above her. A spring storm was coming and a heavy one at that. Better to be in a field instead of a forest right? The forest would be dryer, especially with the heavy drops starting to fall. Thunder and lighting was a strange thing, one she still didn't understand fully.

Wapun Meadow was a while from Blackfeather Woods and the farthest that the adolescent had yet travelled, but Cicero enjoyed being from the pack. It gave him time to recollect his thoughts and be alone. He liked being alone. Besides, exploring different territories was interesting, and knowing the lay of the lands would only help him become better at what he did.

Just as Cicero reached the edge of Wapun Meadow, the sky was torn apart by thunder. He hadn't seen thunder before, though he heard its roar. Cicero perked his head up and looked at the sky and the magnificent display of crackling lightning. Rain soon began to fall, and with his thin fur it didn't take long for Cicero to be completely wet. The Blackfeather youth peered at the sky as it crackled, without fear, and waited with interest for each crash of thunder.

When Cicero noticed the stranger, a white female with bloody red eyes, his tail twitched uncertainly. He had not met many strangers out in the wilds, and approached her with caution. "Is wolf here to see the thunder too?" he asked, although he guessed the answer to be no. In Cicero's experience, he was one of few wolves who could appreciate works of art like this thunder.

Omg Yay! This is going to be great! Cicero should totally sleepover at BCV! :D Nice new Ava! :D

Scarlett was slightly startled when there suddenly was a voice close to her. With the rolling thunder and lighting show above her she hadn't even realized that the young wolf had approached her. The rain also masked his scent really well. Scarlett blinked for a moment and then let her red eyed fall on the teenager. He didn't look dangerous. Her nose recognized Meldresi's scent and that of Black Feather. Her curiously was instantly there to know more about this pup but first it would be polite to answer his question. "Actually. I am. It is highly fascinating isn't it?," she smiled kindly. She sat down, het belly building a bit because of the babies in her belly.

She then turned her attention to the youngster instead of the sky. "I smell a hint of.. Meldresi.. or Black Feather-ish. Is this right?," she asked. Her ears popped up which gave her a kind expression. Her voice was warm when she spoke. "Meldresi is probably one of my best friends. And Kove, my mate, was in your pack. He was a dark brother," she hummed, she might be a bit proud about that. It sounded so mighty in a way. And also fearsome, Scarlett knew Kove would never hurt her.

Thanks :D I am in a thread with Kove too since you both had lonely AW threads xD Shall we say this is set before the one with Kove, for ease's sake? He could have travelled to SCC afterwards, and maybe he'll join Kove to BCV for a bit after or something. :3

"It is," Cicero confirmed while another line of lightning crackled through the skies and his body language relaxed, realising the female meant no harm. His ears perked up in interest as he stared at the display, admiring nature's finest. "This field is good for watching." It looked boring and plain at first sight, but Cicero bet there were lots of other things hidden in this meadow; little creeks or different plants, maybe even herbs or mushrooms or special trees. Today, with the thunder, did not seem like the best day to discover all of the nooks and crannies the meadow had to offer, though. Today, he would enjoy its openness, giving Cicero a good display of the sky.

When the stranger turned her attention to him and asked if he was of Blackfeather, Cicero nodded. "Meldresi is Cicero's mother," the adolescent told Scarlett. Upon the mention of the name Kove, Cicero tilted his head. "Cicero knew Kove," he said thoughtfully, although he did not remember Kove's face or the way Kove smelled. Kove was a name, a lingering memory, the sort that you see in your dreams but when you wake up, you don't remember what they looked like. It was long ago -- in Cicero's short life -- but the name Kove rang a bell.

Yes that sounds great. Although Scarlett would probably bribe him to come with her. xD

Scarlett agreed with the young man. "It definitely is. Never sit under a tree since they can fall on top of you if they get hit," she advised on a rather motherly tone. Scarlett couldn't help it, she automatically moved into a mother like version of herself around younger wolves. "Would you like to know about the thunder and lightning?," she asked. She was a naturalist after all, she maybe explain about the thunder storm if the pup was interested. Not all were at this age which is why she asked.

Scarlett smiled softly when she realized Cicero was one of Meldresi's young. She wondered why Cicero talks about himself in the third person but she wouldn't question it further. It might be just his thing. "Well, nice to meet you Cicero. I am Scarlett. I know your mother well," she introduced. Meldresi was her best friend after all. "I have my own pack too. In a valley further down. It would be nice for you to explore too. We even have a super cool bear you could meet and talk too. Have you ever seen a bear?," Scarlett asked.

haha, charon at this age would've been a lot easier to persuade! xD it's such a shame charon and scarlett live on opposite sides of the map, i've been toying with the idea of him visiting BCV but it's so far u -u

Cicero had never seen a tree get hit by lightning, and he wondered what such a tree must have done to make the lightning so angry that it would strike down for them. As Scarlett asked if he wanted to learn more, he answered, "Sure. Does wolf know about this field too? Special handy places, maybe?" He did not mind listening to her explain a thing or two about the lightning, but truthfully, watching the lightning crash was more of an aesthetic interest for Cicero. Knowing the territory, though, that was a different and more serious matter.

Scarlett. Like her eyes. Cicero did not remember Meldresi speak of Scarlett, but then, neither did he hear her speak that much of Kove, while they obviously still held ties. Scarlett spoke of her pack, and Cicero smiled in amusement, though he felt no temptation to meet a bear. "No," Cicero simply replied. "Cicero may drop by later to see Scarlett." He might come by another time altogether; while he told Meldresi when he left, he could not just extend his departures for days on end. Then again, he had told Meldresi where he was headed. Would she really mind if he stayed a few days longer?

"Why did Kove leave Blackfeather Woods instead of asking Scarlett to join Cicero's pack?" Cicero's question was asked neutrally out of curiosity, for he did not feel emotional over the fact that Kove had left; he was little then, and while Kove's name rang a bell and was connected to pleasant - albeit hazy - memories, it was nothing more than that.

Scarlett the child-napper. hahah. Yes! So sad! They should meet one day again, although now Scarlett won't travel that far since she is pregnant.

Scarlett looked at the crashing lighting as it landed somewhere in the distance. "It has something to do with the warm weather, and the clouds reacting to that," she explained. "Yes, I do. I've been here many times. Scattered throughout the field are big rocks which you can use as an overview of the place. Grass becomes really high in spring, and in summer I can walk through this field without being seen. There are small creeks and other nooks to hide. Like big hollow logs. A lot of field mice live here for a light snack," she explained.

The red eyed female smiled when then the youngster declined. "Well, howl at our borders and I will welcome you inside. But you definitely welcome to stay longer. Do let your mother know, so she won't worry," Scarlett spoke,making sure he would knock first instead of walking in. He wasn't a prince in her lands after all. She wasn't sure if the pup knew that. "Oh. Well. I am a bit too kind for Black Feather... And the forest is so dark," she admitted. "Plus Kove and I wanted babies. Our own family. So we started our own pack where we were the leaders. The alphas," Scarlett out with a hint of pride. Her belly was a bit bulging after all. She was small so she would soon turn even bigger with the pups in her belly.

"In a few weeks there probably will some young pups in Bearclaw Valley, that is where we live," she explained. The thunder raged above their heads but Scarlett couldn't be more calm. She liked to watch the storm up ahead, feeling rather small, yet so small she felt content about it.

While the sky was painted with light once more, illuminating the edges of their faces, Cicero faintly listened to what Scarlett told him about lightning. Then she went on to speak of the territory, which piqued Cicero's interest a bit more. It was interesting, all of it; to be able to sneak without being seen (although he'd probably see little else if the grass reached that tall), to have places to hide and always a snack nearby. "That is interesting," the youth said with a nod.

Cicero nodded again as Scarlett said that he could howl at the borders and she would welcome him inside. He would let Meldresi know he'd visit beforehand, as it sounded like Scarlett wanted him to stay a few days. Upon her next words, Cicero could not help but grimace. As if Blackfeather hosted only dark, not-well-willing sort of wolves. If that was true, then it explained why Meldresi did not care what happened to her children, did not care to punish the wolf that had harmed her daughter. Or perhaps she was just not as smart as Cicero held her in regards, that she had not pushed to even ask the wolf who clearly was the only one with intent to do this. It did not anger him; it made him feel very little at all. And that worried him a little, as perhaps it meant that he was just kind enough for the Blackfeather pack; not kind at all.

He opened his mouth to tell her that not all Blackfeather was bad, and that you did not need to be a dark wretch to live there, but the words got stuck somewhere on their way out while he considered their truthfulness. Cicero had never felt bad or sad about anything that he could remember -- not even when his own sister was wounded and her eye was taken -- but he felt sad at the notion that perhaps he was dark enough to live in Blackfeather Woods, that he did not have much kindness in him, like Scarlett did. He closed his mouth again, staring ahead towards the dark sky with a serious, brooding expression on his face.

When she told of pups, Cicero absent-mindedly answered, "Oh, that must be nice.", half catching something about Bearclaw Valley having pups. He looked at Scarlett again and noticed her stomach's size; it was not hard to guess whose pups they would be.

Scarlett realized that Cicero wasn't that talkative as she might expected. Scarlett was briefly worried that she said something wrong as she always did when wolves didn't seem to want to talk. She decided to embrace the silence and think about Black Feather. She wouldn't see herself in that pack, maybe she should but that atmosphere around it was too dark for her liking. She did like Meldresi and Burke had only treated her with respect. Probably only because of the dark brotherhood. But with respect nevertheless.

A soft hum came of her lips. She was happy where she was now. And her pups would turn out to be great wolves and would only be really loved. Yes, that was what would happen. Until now everything she had wished for had come true. She had to do a lot of surviving before she got rewarded with what she wanted but she was finally becoming a mother. The lighting show continued above them, and Scarlett could only watch in awe. Her mind occupied with the show instead of her own thoughts. The thunder roared so loud the ground trembled. The pale female was slightly scared with how powerful the weather could be.

Nothing but a hum came from Scarlett's lips, while she had been talkactive before. Cicero did not consider it might have been something he had said -- or not said. He simply sat and enjoyed being in company of another that could be trusted, for as far as he knew. It allowed him a moment of relaxation in the dangerous wilds. Cicero knew he could not relax out here as he could within Blackfeather's borders, after all.

While he watched the beautiful thunder, Cicero thought of all they had spoken of. He wondered if it was because his view was too skewered, too coloured in already to see, that he did not consider Meldresi nor any of his pack's members -- bar Grimnir -- that he had met so far to be dark wolves with bad intentions. Perhaps it was not what Scarlett had meant to say, but it was what she had intended. Was it that he could not see the darkness because he was too close upon it, because they liked him? Or was it because he, himself, was too dark to see what was good and bad? Cicero did not know, and it confused him, although he did not speak of it.

Instead of speaking of his thoughts, Cicero joined in on Scarlett's hum, trying to follow her tone height to make their soft song sound nice.

Scarlett started humming louder when Cicero joined, it actually sounded really nice. She was tempted to howl with the thunder but she didn't and quieted her hum a bit. "You have a nice voice Cicero," she complimented. "I think you would fit well in Bearclaw Valley too," she added. She could see him do his own think but also hang out with others. He might be a bit quirky but that was just Cicero's being. She found it refreshing. The thunder disappeared over the mountains towards Black Feather and that area.

"You are lucky you weren't in the mountains with that storm. You could have been electrified," Scarlett then spoke, remembering seeing two bighorn sheep being struck to death by the weather. She wouldn't see that happening to any wolf. Not even her worst enemy it sounded like a horrible way to die, just like fire. How horrible would a fire be? Burn to death. She shivered. She shouldn't think of these things. "Will you go to Bearclaw with me or? You are more than welcome."

It was strange to be complimented on his voice. Cicero did not know how to react, whether to thank Scarlett or not. He accepted the compliment with a nod, an appreciative smile on the boy's face. When she say that he would fit in Bearclaw Valley too, he felt conflicted, feeling as though he was too dark to fit anywhere but Blackfeather. Besides, what use would a pack like Bearclaw Valley have for a wolf like himself? Scarlett seemed very friendly towards all and had just said she did not have darkness in her, and so Cicero could only assume she also had no need for a wolf that was sneaky and knew how to kill another wolf or harm another wolf with a herb. He did not respond to what she said, for he did not think it just to bother Scarlett with his own worries. Maybe she would understand some day.

Cicero did not think the odds to be electrified were that high, for he had never seen any electrified wolves, and if the odds were high then he would surely see more dead bodies in this sort of weather. He did not share this, however.

When Scarlett asked if he would come, Cicero shook his head. "Cicero will inform Meldresi first." With those words, Cicero slipped off, loping away in a calm trot. If she wished, she could catch up with him, but if not, then maybe he would see her on the day that he would visit Bearclaw Valley -- which he certainly intended to do. Cicero continued to search through the territory, looking for all the places that Scarlett had mentioned to further explore and know this territory.

I will archive thank you for this! :D

Scarlett liked Cicero in a way, but he could also be very troubling to communicate with. That was for certain. Not that Scarlett would ever tell him that. Something seemed to trouble the young one but Scarlett dint' know him well enough to know what was troubling him. When the young prince spoke about talking to his mother first, which he didn't even call mother by the way, Scarlett nodded in agreement. She didn't want to be known as a kidnapper or anything like that. She was surprised so see him set off into the valley, the lighting show was at its end, heading to the mountains.

She wasn't sure if she was invited to explore with him, along with the fact that she should return to the safety of her valley made the female get up and walk into the other direction. She was hungry and tired, which was probably because she needed more food for the little ones in her belly. Such a warming thought. Hopefully they would have some guests within her pack.