» And What Of Those In Silent Discontent?, all welcome

[Moe]

ooc: here guys, have a random thread. plz don't hate me if I'm a little slowish on replying because shit happens. XD Yokushin had been feeling better of course, his wounds healed and his life shifting back towards some normalcy. He was still at a huge loss and utterly terrified of himself almost all the time, but he just figured all he could do was suck it up and move on so that was his plan for today, although it was more then inevitable that he would still linger heavily on the past no matter how hard he tried to do otherwise. The tawny-coated heir had made his way to the abandoned riverbed where the spirits were rumored to linger with no exclusive purpose in mind but he traveled forward nonetheless. He thought for a moment of Aiyoku and realized that he actually missed his pain in the ass sleeze-ball of a sister. He had concluded that she was, in fact, gone but for what reason and to where he had no idea. Yokushin had covered this entire pack land a few times now and found no hint of her. It was if she had simply fallen off the planet and this was really the first time ever that Aiyoku hadn't been a part of his life. She had been the only other puppy not stolen away from their den in their earliest days and even though she was a total bitch sometimes, she was still his sister. All he could do was sigh quietly as he pushed his paws onward, down into the bottom of the empty riverbed. The air here felt a little different, but he continued on anyway with all his senses alert. It felt thicker, almost heavier, but he was well known for over thinking everything on the face of the earth so it was probably nothing to fret over. His mind wandered to the idea of spirits and if Mother was one of them watching him right now, which he figured was likely. A shiver crept down his spine at the mere thought of Mother's golden eye observing him with peaceful composure, her blinded gray-blue eye blank but still seemingly staring at him nonetheless. What if...she had seen him at his very worst, that rabies-like behavior all those weeks ago? His mood sunk exponentially with shame so to distract himself even a little bit, he kicked out his hind legs and upped his pace to a swift trot instead of a lazy ambling walk.

table by zina

[Zina]

Tamashii Shinrin. The place of spirits, of ghosts, and of futures unforetold. The beauty of this place had always astonished Jurune. The misty depths of the ancient river bed had long since masked the true meaning of this special place. Here she would come to be alone with her element. This was the purpose in her life and the only reason she felt the need to continue existing. She was a Link to the Underworld, an important piece in the vast puzzle of life, death, and the essence between the two. Her whole life she had spent breaking this science apart with careful attention to detail in order to understand it, to see it, and know it like a complicated language. This tongue of sorts she had mastered, but all it had earned her was the title of 'crazy' and a long, broken scar on her leg. Careful, lengthy strides parted the whispering mists at her feet and she looked for nothing in particular, her nearly blind eyes catching movement from afar. They lit like torches as she spotted someone moving, and like a parasitic creature, she followed him from a distance for a while. Eventually she moved quicker, limping as she did so though her wound had long since healed. She knew that this was Yokushin, and not Zegazla, for the way he moved. From behind him, she whispered a quiet, "Yokussshin."

[Moe]

His senses had not registered the uneven, limping pawsteps that had fallen into place behind him. He had been thinking, of course and wondering about spirits as he trotted. What did they see and feel? That was, if they honestly, truly existed which to him was still highly debatable. If they did exist, he couldn't decide if that was good or bad. He would like to know that Mother was still around, even if she wasn't inhabiting a physical body any longer but in the very same breath, if she was still around, she would've gotten to see all his failings a few weeks ago which was not a good thing in the very least. Anyway, he kept moving forward until his ears caught a whispering voice that called his name. He promptly froze, his feet coming to a startling halt as an unnatural chill crept through him. Instinctively his hackles prickled just slightly as he dared to turn around to check behind him, his golden eyes squinting against all the fog. There, he saw her. Jurune. His heartbeat quickened and he felt a flicker of panic, but he just stared at her blankly for some time before he came up with anything to do. She didn't look angry at him but she was a strange one for sure so he wasn't sure what to think yet. "Uh, hi?" he said, ears slicking back firmly against the top of his head. He couldn't bring himself to look her over decently for fear of seeing the damage he had done..

table by zina

[Stormecho]

OOC: Waaah, this seems so plain in comparison to everyone's fancy tables. :P Yes, I felt the need to butt in with my angsty puppy. So, angst ahoy, even if not in this post. x3 Muahaha.

Morrigan hadn't been here before. She had spent time in safe, secluded spaces - places where she could rest and hunt a mouse or two, gather strength. But those places were bright and peaceful, and the air was clear and sweet to her nose. It grated, when her soul felt as bleak and cold as the winter that had birthed her, with fear and suspicion and dread roiling like an unceasing snowstorm. This place was different, the air heavy with sorrow and memories, the mist swirling around the riverbed and cutting it off from the too bright world around it. She liked it - it welcomed her, and the misfortune she brought with her, and once she skidded down to the riverbed, the mist wrapped around her, secluding her from the world. Shielding her. The mottled grey of her fur blending in with the heavy mist, she walked along it slowly, pads thumping quietly against the dirt.

She hadn't expected company. The riverbed was somber, a place where one could walk alone for hours... And the lack of wind, except for aimless gusts that pushed the mist around, fooled her. No sound, but that of her shallow breathing and her paws on the ground - no smell, but her own, and the damp air - nothing to be seen but the swirling mist. So when the pup nearly walked into a large tawny-furred wolf, it took a moment for the surprise to kick in. Suddenly, there was someone in front of her, and the scents of two strangers, and the sound of talking. Stifling the fearful whimper that fought to escape, she instantly backed up as quickly and quietly as possible, hoping the mist would muffle any sound, while keeping them from scenting or seeing her. ...Yeah, it would take some extremely magical mist to do so.

[Zina]

This thread is destined to become a bucket of angst. xD

Her true home, the old riverbed, was a place where she could be free. The powers that bound her to this earth and beyond were wonderfully full and reaching out like vines from a violent creature, grabbing at everything in their path. Behind Yokushin, she did not know what to expect. Nor did she care. She was not looking for apologies or pity. Such things were trivial to a gem like her, and meaningless to a person so powerful. As she caught his golden gaze, she looked up at him with a weird, emotionless expression and cocked her head slightly, though she was not puzzled or questioning. She moved around him slowly, her limp obvious, and stopped when his body and hers formed a right angle. She stopped because her ears told her there was someone else near. Turning her face to the mist, she looked out and spotted a shape amidst everything, though her eyes were too bad to be able to tell what it was. The sound of steps told her it was another wolf. "Come forth!" she hissed, her voice hardly above a whisper. "Do not dare to run!" Yokushin was temporarily forgotten while she focused on this odd figure, knowing that it was too solid to be spirit.

[Moe]

He kept his eyes carefully trained onto Jurune. He was very unsure of her, not knowing what her intentions were or if she was planning anything against him. If she was, he wouldn't be surprised in the least; he had harmed her, ruined her step forever and marred her with an ugly scar and its accompanying limp. Also, he found it truly unsettling that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't read her expression for any hints or indications as to what her thoughts were. She was simply an odd sort of vacant that worried him. Yokushin remained quiet though, watching her. She didn't speak to him and actually didn't do a whole lot until she stopped. He could feel his heart rate quickening in his chest and his breath stilled. Having been very absorbed in watching Jurune, the arrival of another in the immediate area had gone unnoticed until the odd girl drew his attention to it, so finally he turned his golden eyes away from Jurune to peer into the thick fogs. Jurune's words of summon weren't exactly the nicest or more polite, Yokushin realized, but didn't dare remark about such a thing. "Hey," he woofed in the general direction of the other, not recognizing the bit of scent he was catching. He immediately set to wondering who else would be here, especially who he didn't recognize. Yokushin glanced back to Jurune, wondering how what else she had planned and realizing that he never should have come here in the first place..

table by zina

[Stormecho]

Morrigan would have run instantly, and wanted badly to skitter back into the concealing mist, but the challenge in the female's voice froze her paws to the ground. She didn't want to be weak, to show just how vulnerable and pathetic she was, but her tail curled downward and a whimper rose in her throat despite her internal struggle. Slowly stepping forward, until she could see them both, the pup flattened her ears, wishing fervently that she had gone the other way. Two adults - and both looking expectantly at her. She was giving mixed messages, charcoal and silver fur rising on her shoulders to try and make her look bigger, but shrinking away at the same time.

Two strangers, both fully grown and well-fed - far stronger and faster than her. Probably pack wolves too, though that didn't help her situation. She had only joined the pack because safety was in numbers, and had met a grand total of one of those wolves... until now. Unfortunately, the female's tone implied that, a part of the pack or not, this meeting wouldn't go well for her.

[Zina]

The grey creature ignored Yokushin for the time being, focusing on the blurred shape so easily obscured by the fog and mists. Jurune stared with an emptiness that one could only get if they were blind or dead, and yet she was able to see in both eyes, just not well. it was an ominous moment, a time when anything could happen. Spirits were everywhere, she knew, but she did not shift nervously or blink too often. She did not want to disturb their quiet. Doing such a thing could anger them and the demons that walked among them. It could even bring forth Zegazla from Yokushin and she would be forced to fight once more. Her savior was not here today with them. The creature that came forth was indeed a wolf, but a young wolf. She was smaller and thinner, yes, very thin, with dark grey fur just like her. Were they not so different and Jurune's parents both dead, one might think they were even related somehow. Ugliness like Jurune's however did not come so often in the wolven world today. The pup was a teen by now, with long limbs and an awkward body, but large enough to hunt and roam far. She reeked of new, Yamamori scents. "Why are you here?" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper, her tongue rattling like a snake. Jurune was blunt, yes. She addressed them both, however. Yokushin and this new critter. Did they not know the true power of this sacred area? This was a place of banished, lost, and forgotten souls. It was not a place for a young wolf or a demon-infested individual. How could they possibly be so thick?

[Moe]

Yokushin felt rather out of place here for some reason and at the same time, he wished he knew more about the younger female who had just barely shown herself. He simply didn't understand anything that was going on here and now realized that he wasn't sure if he wanted to. It was now pretty clear to him that he should have just stayed resting somewhere all damn day instead of getting out and wandering to potentially clear his head. The brown male just had an inkling that more trouble would come from this, it was just too strange. However at Jurune's words, he flinched slightly, but quickly shuffled to recollect his composure. First he began to settle back down to not answer since he thought the question was for the unknown youth in their midst, but with a glance to Jurune he realized that it could also have applied to him as well. He hesitated a moment, still unsure, but figured to go ahead with it. So, in typical, awkward Yokushin fashion, he answered. "I was just walking, not doing anything specific." he said with a roll of his shoulders. It was a piss-poor answer and really not a good reason to be anywhere, especially somewhere strange like this, but it was the best he had to offer. He didn't think he was out of place too much though; there wasn't anywhere in this pack land he wasn't allowed to be considering his ties to the founder of this place so he wasn't too concerned about Jurune snapping at him for that. If she did have reasons for him to not be here, they were probably strange and well...typical of her and only her. With his explanation out of the way, he again turned his eyes to the younger, cautious female. He didn't want her to feel unwanted here or scared or whatever she could be feeling because kind of like Jurune, she was difficult to read, but the heir didn't know where to even begin. So to not make matters worse, he only offered a soft flicker of a smile and a quick wag of his tail as he waited.

table by zina

[Stormecho]

Morrigan stiffened at the question, huddling in the damp mist, unsure of how to answer. She heard the male's answer and knew it was her turn. Hesitantly, she began, "I... This place... it smelled different. Darker. It felt... like it welcomed me." After a pause where she was all too aware of the hostility of the female, she added, "Why? What is this place?" It was true, what she had said... The mist felt like it concealed her from the harsh realities of the world, from her own bad luck, from the fate she believed she had... It was a place of quiet, of a strange sort of peace that she wanted to feel. So, the pup didn't back down or run off instantly after, and had even answered back. If this place was forbidden then... it would be a pity, and she would leave, but otherwise... She wanted to stay.

A flicker of motion drew her eye, and she saw the male's tail wag swiftly, which, oddly enough... made her feel better. He, at least, had no problem with her presence, though the older female seemed to think he wasn't supposed to be here as well.

[Zina]

As Yokushin answered, Jurune never took her eyes off of the young wolf. They burned with mild frustration, and after the simplistic words slipped from Yokushin's lips, she flicked her eyes to him finally and watched. Her lack of expression did nothing to present her real thoughts on the situation. He knew nothing of how sacred this place was. He knew nothing of its power, of its hidden riches. He knew not that it was a breeding ground for sin and evil, as well as a sanctuary for those who looked for it. He didn't know that her father had risen once more from here. He didn't know that this was the same place she had banished her father's ghost some time ago, forbidding him forever to return to the Land of the Living. He didn't know that this was her home, the place she had spent the remainder of her childhood after her parents had died. It was all she truly knew. Everything else was stuck onto the end awkwardly, like an extra appendage added with Scotch tape. Once more, as the girl answered, Jurune did not take her eyes off of Yokushin this time. She barely blinked, and when she did, it was slow and unnatural. When the girl was finished, Jurune moved her gaze slowly to her and stared. Then, she smiled slowly, something so out of place that it made her even uglier than usual. Her words spoke the truth. The darkness welcomed her, she said. Could she too have a power? Could she be another like her? The grey she-wolf closed her eyes for a moment. Her speech was slow, almost drawling. "The fog that covers this place is not normal fog. It is the body of many souls. This is a resting place of the dead, not always in physicality, but in spirit. All who dwell in Limbo after death remain here, if this is near their place of passing," she explained. One did not remain here if they died far away. There were many places like this everywhere; they were like rivers, all going to one Ocean, and yet coming from different Mountains.

[Moe]

The small unknown female spoke and Yokushin furrowed his brows at bit. He didn't think this place called to him at all, but maybe he was the only one here who felt this way. But then again, he was also wholly unaware of what the two younger girls were feeling here. He thought nothing of the fogs, just that they were creepy, and sure, he had heard the legends and rumors but that was really the extent of his knowledge. The tawny male felt very out of place here, but shifted his ears towards Jurune as she spoke. It was no surprise that she spoke of odd topics encompassing souls, death, and the afterlife matters. Once more, all of those things went well over his head but he slowed down to think for a moment when he remembered Mother. Had she passed through here at some point or another? A shiver crept down the length of his spine and his golden eyes glazed over in worry. He felt incredibly dumb for the question that was on the tip of his tongue, but he let it go anyway. "Do you think Mother was here once?" he asked hesitantly, figuring Jurune would know if anyone did since she seemed awfully in tune with these things. The other girl, however, was still wholly perplexing. He wasn't sure if he could have two oddities like Jurune around here; one was already too many.

table by zina

[Stormecho]

Morrigan winced, gold eyes wide and frightened. A place where the dead lingered? It was a chilling thought - but one part of her, that curious, detached part that wasn't affected by her usual fear, wondered just why the place felt like it did. Peaceful, welcoming... Was it her misfortune, the fact that she could perhaps kill someone if they stayed around her long enough? Or maybe... it was a sign that she would die soon. That thought set off a bout of trembling, though she tried to still it. It was fall, and she knew the winter was coming, and that she hadn't eaten enough, hadn't gained enough weight, hadn't grown... And thought the packlands were sheltered, for the most part, that couldn't stop the season from taking her when it hadn't before.

"I... I think I will die, soon. Is that why this place likes me?" She watched the fog with new, wary eyes, but it still felt as if it could cut her off from the world, as if she could rest here with no fear of anything at all...

[Zina]

Yokushin's question hardly surprised her. He was dwelling still on the death of his mother, though he was now considered a grown man. The idea that his mother had passed through this place at one point or another was altogether quite probable, if not obvious to her. She stared at him for a long moment, though his shape was blurred slightly, partly because of the fog, mostly because she had never had the best eyesight. She walked a few steps, moving her paws in a weird way to part the low-drifting fog at her feet, eerie in the way that it wrapped itself around one's toes so smoothly, like cream. "Yes. At one time. But she has long since moved on," she said. If one asked her the name of Yokushin's mother, Jurune would not have been able to remember. "One may still speak to the dead through the earth, if both share strong ties to the land," she said, though her words were coated in riddles. Then the young girl said something interesting too. She said that this placed liked her. This place liked Jurune too. Those who felt ties to it had the capabilities of seers, and, in her case, Links to the Underworld. "On the contrary, if one is drawn to such a place, they often have the nature of not dying, even when it seems likely to do so. It is a kind of protection. Some have abilities to see into the past, present, or future. Some have abilities to draw spirits from Limbo and give them form. I have done this once," she explained, though whether or not any of it was true, no one could know. Jurune believed that she had once risen her dead father from Limbo, given him a form, and walked with his ghost for a year. He had raised her, the ghost of her father, though without love and without warmth. Such things were emotions and feelings that Jurune did not know.

[Moe]

With a worried twist of his face, he quickly regarded the younger female once she finished talking. "Why do you think you'll die soon?" he asked gently, slicking his ears back. That obviously wasn't very good but Yokushin really didn't see why she said that. She was skinny but she didn't look extremely emaciated and in such awful shape. Hopefully she didn't think she would die soon because she though someone would kill her... the heir was sick and tired of murderers. But, at Jurune's words his ears flicked forwardly eagerly. She had been through here!? His body tensed and his eyes skimmed through the mists again with a different appreciation then ever before. Also, her cryptic words sparked his attention and he peered at her curiously. "What does that mean?" he asked, doubting the answer would make much more sense but he had to ask at least. Maybe Mother really still had strong ties to the land, but then again, maybe she didn't. Although this place had been her pride and glory, a lot of pain for her had still happened. Yokushin sighed softly and shifted his attention back between Jurune and the other girl while Jurune continued to talk about incredibly strange things that went well over Yokushin's head. But, since this one barely concerned him, he kept quiet and listened so that maybe it would become clearer to him.

table by zina