So it Drifts... ((Open))

[Asake~]

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~Asake~

[/i]

Soft spoken words...

~ Seems to be the wind's chorus as it softly drifted between the trees, over the grass, across his fur. A pleasant sensation as it stroked carefully, lulling the red brute into a near perfect coma. Unaware of his surroundings as he laid comfortably in a spongy patch of grass. The green hues holding a trace of relaxing winter, a welcome offset to the baring fangs of the sun. Yet even those snarls were comforting.

His audibles flicked at even the smallest vibrations. Angled and thin, rotating lazily upon their bases. The forest was alive on this rather dull afternoon. The birds sang, brilliantly in a variety of tunes and hymns. Much unlike a chorus of howls, yet held a beauty all their own. Another variable that added to the relaxation that swept over the brute. His limbs comfortably numb.

Yet, despite his what his body was doing. Asake's mind was alive, and working for a solution to his more apparent problems. First off, he was rather new to this Valepack. The thought made him shiver with a mix of apprehension and excitement. On one hand, it was exciting to be part of something bigger again. Yet, on the other hand... it was more opportunity to cause dread. He could even say he has been avoiding the other members for a time now.

Amber gaze aimed upwards, Asake's eyes narrowed at nothing. The blue was not his target for ridicule, it was himself. He had made much progress in his moons as a nomad, his attitude has changed for the better. That and he no longer made idiotic and foolish mistakes. He took his time now, saw the consequences before he acted. This little change has been wondrous for him... he did not want to change it.

Even if that means he must live in semi-isolation. Becoming involved only in hunts, or other social events. So be it, at least it kept them safe else he make another mistake. Then again, he might not... all that would accomplish is to become a nomad within a pack. That was not what he wanted. No, far from it... he could attempt to become more involved. Slowly. That might work, if he took his time, who knows what might happen. A small smile emerged across his muzzle. The sky was stunning, brilliant blue without a single cloud. Was such a beautiful day.

So be it... sounds like the beginning of a story, if only he could guess the ending...

[guardians]

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ZIHNA

As with all Guardians, the playful Spirit who came to visit her Chosen now was laced with silver lining, as if touched by stars. Of course, some wolves believed Aetherpack actually did live in the sky, in which case being touched by stars wouldn't be too far-fetched. But in actuality, all Aetherwolves resided in lands far different from Darayn, their names unknown to any living being. And this is where Zihna, with her bright silver eyes, came from now.

As Asake probably knew very well, Zihna was very rambunctious, but equal to her energy levels was her capacity to love. Even to those she was not personally attuned to, her heart reached out. Like the poor little pup she had saved three years ago now. He had been blind enough to waddle off on his spindly legs and swallow quite a few poison berries. And Zihna, with no thoughts for her own self preservation, had bit his abdomen and drank his blood until there was no taste of the venom in it anymore. Doing so, she had died. But it had been an honorable death. Once Zihna had chosen Asake as her Protected, there had become a bond between them - emotionally and physically. Like all other Guardians and their Chosens, otherwise known as Protecteds, the Spirits could feel the living's pain, although it wouldn't actually cause them damage.

And so Zihna felt Asake's now. She felt his confusion, his reluctance to tangle with the wolves that were now part of his very blood. Being the outgoing, adventurous, gentle-hearted, energetic spright that she was, Zihna couldn't just let Asake get away with these feelings. She almost felt guilty herself, sharing his mind against the Pack she had loved so dearly.

Bounding up seemingly out of nowhere until she was straight behind her Chosen, and almost directly upon his bushy, auburn-tinged tail, she barked out without waiting for him to recognize she was near him, "You really must get over these stupid emotions, Asake. There's no need for them anymore!"

[Asake~]

~ The sun was only about to become unbearable, as goes with many things, same with certain feelings. Despite how his mind wanted to work, Asake was a social creature at heart, even slightly more so than he knew. Yet, if there was a strand of it hidden somewhere, Asake refused to acknowledge it. For it did him no good, even if the occurring feeling was enough to tear him in half. It was cross between remorse and duty, all lethal in its way of pushing one along against their will.

Yet that didn't matter much in the big picture. Once he got to know some of the wolves... Maybe.

~You really must get over these stupid emotions, Asake. There's no need for them anymore!

Asake jumped at the sound of an abrupt speaker, he quickly gained his footing and spun around. Ears plastered flat against his skull, as if pressing themselves down they might spare any wounds that would go their ways. Multiple thoughts played through Asake's head in that very moment of shifting his body weight as so to be in a good position should this wolf be violent. How did the creature sneak up on him? Was he really that self-absorbed? To not notice...

His thoughts vanished as he noticed the silver outline that encompassed the wolf, a tranquil feeling over washing him at the site. Well, actually it was relief. For he knew the wolf, had a grip on what her name could be. Yet, ceased to ask for clarification as he deciphered her words. Amber eyes dancing its gaze about her silver orbs. He felt certainly close to the wolf, as if she was his own mother. Odd as that was, Asake was curious on why of this certain connection that already seemed to exist between him and this visage. For, he did not fully recall meeting this wolf before, still he had the feel he had. All it did was confuse the brute more.

Relaxing himself despite the little scare, Asake was too sane to hold a grudge for something as silly. That, and the fact that this femme... was not of this world., or so he guessed. Instead Asake moved his tail in a low arc. Pondering her words, a slow silence as he let out a drawn out sigh. " No need for being cautious? Hmpf. " His voice echoed, a low vibration that seemed to echo the birds. A toned down hymn of its own.

Yet, Asake regretted his the tone his voice escaped as. Making him come off as snobby and arrogant. He kept his silence a moment more... did this femme know of his past experiences? Not that the red brute would dwell on such. Yet, if she knew, she would understand the reason for his thoughts. " I have to take it slow... No mistakes. " He corrected he previous statement, making sure he seemed more beneficial and kind. Even nodding slightly to emphasize his willingness to at least try if anything else.

Yet, why was he now bending himself? He should had stayed a Nomad! At least then he would not be visited by ghosts... nor would he be fitted with conflicting emotions. He would not have to answer to a higher being, there was no need for structure right now... Why.

The word echoed slightly, his gaze wandering about the outline of the femme before focusing back upon her face. " Why... the visit? " He echoed his thoughts. Pleased that his vocie seemed gracious and welcoming, despite how he was feeling, and that was not to well right now.

[guardians]

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ZIHNA

As soon as her Chosen's words left his muzzle, the silver-lined bubble of energy had bounded forward and struck like a snake, her vicious, yet at the same moment gentle, nip landing precisely upon Asake's black/red/brown-colored shoulder. This lightning-fast action would quickly anihilate yet another myth about Spirits - they were solid. As Zihna's sterling gaze locked upon Asake's burnt-orange one, they danced with her love of life, and her seriousness of his thoughts that were being shared within her own head and being felt within her own body. Bristling, she scoffed, "Get a grip! You've had plenty of time to be c a u t i o u s." She let the latter word be drawn out, letting it sink into Asake's veins. And, just as suddenly as she had struck out physically, the Aetherpack female decided to lash out verbally. "Or are you just cowardly, Asake, dear?"

There was a visible smirk upon Zihna's face, but she knew far better than to play with her recently-Chosen's mind. Sitting down upon her fluffed-out rump, she hastily relaxed, closing her eyes and letting a wolfish smile play at her sooty lips. Pricking her ears and focusing far too intently upon the male before her, she let her own feelings rush into his mind, just as his thoughts invaded hers automatically. He could not choose whether or not she felt his pain or happiness, but she could choose when he felt hers. And doing so, the spirited Guardian let her emotions become known to the new Valewolf. Her ambitious loyalty and love to her Pack was obvious, the way she trusted her Packmates with everything (but her life), the way she viewed them as beings to be protected, as she just knew they felt the same towards her. These were the thoughts she let flood Asake's mind, fervently hoping that he could possibly grasp one or two of them. After all, she was a Spirit now. She knew the truth.

[Asake~]

~ Startled by the lightning nip at his shoulder, Asake took a involuntary step back. He was not expecting such a thing to happen, nor did he expect the words to sting so badly. It might just because this femme just seemed so close. The fact that she felt like a close friend or family member, He would have snarled, denied her assumption. Yet, he couldn't', cause she was speaking the truth. He was a coward, Afraid of what to come.

Asake was starting to withdraw within his emotions again when his Amber/Orange eyes caught the smirk on the the spirit's face. His eyes closing shut, ears folding flat against his skull as he couldn't help but feel a new found urge, if not ambition. Asake felt instantly comfortable in his surroundings, as if he has been here his entire life, Comfortable and trusting that there are others around he can confide to for safety and love. Then, the visible urge to protect all of this.

All of these feelings and urges were sudden, linked to another wolf that he could guess who they were coming from. Even if that was true, Asake did not want to lose them. Mentally trying to reach out and grasp one or two and keep them close, the trusting atmosphere, the warming that comes with knowing you have family nearby. Asake grasped at those yet whined each time they slipped away. Trust being the slipperiest, constantly folding away as he got near. He yearned for it so intensely that it was beyond his grasp.

The red brute was still young, still naive to not notice that these feelings were not his own to grasp. These emotions belonged to Zihna, to the spirit before him. They were not his, only a base on which he was to build upon.

The insight of the spirit's name came almost instantly with her emotions, yet Asake ceased to use it. Instead, as the emotions trickled out of his body. Seeping through his core into the cold earth below him. Asake fell on his rump, eyes locked on Zihna's feet. His mind reeling from the emotions came and gone, as if he lost a part of himself in the process. Still, Asake was smart, wise enough to know when he was being pushed along some path. His eyes elevating to lock with the spirit's. As if the silver glow of her eyes would help the message become clear.

He wanted the emotions she harbored, almost to the extent that he would kill for them. Asake could not do that, could not kill for something as this. The foundation of what he wanted would take time, work, dedication. He needed to incorporate himself into the pack should he wish to even have such common emotions as Zihna. Yet, at the core... the thought scared Asake.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." Asake echoed softly, finding acceptance in the wording. The acceptance helped, even a little. Asake was still not completely sure with how he was even willing to get himself noticed. Yet, after feeling how Zihna trusted the wolves of Vale so fiercely, Asake could not help but feel like nothing horrid would come from trying.

Returning to Zihna, Asake was graceful enough to scrounge up a smirk. The thought of a smile was far off right now, yet... there was room for improvement. " Gracious timing Zihna... Yet, is this all you came for? " voiced the brute, trying not to sound ungrateful. For he was grateful, unexpectedly so. Took him awhile, yet it seemed that even this little push was able to sort out what would have taken years...

[guardians]

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ZIHNA

Once her little mental charade through his mind was finished, Zihna blinked and pointedly ignored Asake's remark. It might have come off as rude to some, but, as his Guardian, she very well knew what he was actually feeling. And that was thankful. A giddy, bubbly sensation came to the silver-clad Spirit, knowing she had completed her purpose. Knowing that the red brute before her was, indeed, of a noble soul and would try his very best to take her opinions to heart. A wide wolfish grin spread across her black lips, her astonishing, glowing eyes sparkling with their happiness, practically gloating their success.

Just as suddenly as she had nipped Asake's hindquarters and sat down fluidly before him, Zihna god up, her fur ruffled in places where her skin had folded. Raising her fluffy tail high in the air and shaking from her shoulders all the way to her pointed gray muzzle, she started padding away, trying to make a point of her intentions to leave. But not before barking out a loving, "Maybe you should wonder a little bit more, Asake, of the reasons I could have come for. You don't need me to figure out everything for you!" Her voice was teasing, yet it came out as a bark of laughter, her eyes shining with her loyalty to her Protected. Her Asake. He was her life's duty now.

[Asake~]

Vague, she was being vague now.

~ That did not make Asake mad as it should have. Must have been the gleam in her eyes that made him look over the little point. His own happiness rising at the near glow in her eyes. Made him feel good. He was sure she planned such, her eyes danced with the achievement. Still, Asake could not begrudge for what has helped him. Then, as she began to bound away with that endless energy Asake was coming to envy. Her words did indeed make him wonder.

Did she just happen to show up... just to make him want to achieve something in this pack? Could not haven been just that, from how she felt of this all. She possibly was showing him the brighter side of it all. Zihna could just be playing with him, confusing him. Yet, that thought brought sorrow for even pondering it. No, he could not think lowly of the creature. Her emotions were truth. Falling back down, muzzle laying flat on the green blades. Asake rubbed the ridge of his muzzle with his paw,amber eyes flickering about him as he sighed.

Zihna did get one thing accomplished. She did give Asake some reason to attempt a life in the Vale. Now, the larger question was...

How was he going to do that?

The question was incredibly vague. As was much this evening. Still, the best Asake could do now is enjoy the day, escape into one more day of no worry before the next hunt. That or the idea of just meeting the pack in general.