On The Run
Antigone was not a wanderer. She had never desired the title of scout, as she had always been perfectly content staying within the borders of her homelands, training and watching over everyone to make sure that things were running smoothly. Now, she stood on the shores of a foreign lake with paws that ached from the countless miles she had traveled. Her whole body throbbed with the dull pain that her travels had caused, her mind still spinning and rage towards the traitors that carried the Dellis name keeping her standing. She was sure that by now the search for her would have been called off. No one had ever gone this far before. At least, no one that returned.
The cattails blocked most her of her view of the lake, but she worked her way around until the ground smoothed out and her weary paws touched soft sand. She approached the shore, allowing herself to spend a few moments quenching her thirst before settling down into the sand and giving her body a much needed rest. The setting sun marked yet another day that she wore this new title of rouge. A woman scorned and banished by her own family. Her claws dug into the ground, her ears flicking back to listen for the sounds that would indicate she was not alone. It was instinct now. Logic told her she would not have been followed here, but she was smart enough to know that evils lurked in all realms of the world. The last thing she wanted was a sneak attack.
The world moved beneath the tireless pace of the healer, the easy lope was thoughtless to maintain, pushing forward until she felt every muscle was stretched and used, and felt the warm burn tingle through her legs. She loved to run as much as she loved to travel and explore. Wondering was in her DNA - or at least she assumed as much. She didn’t know her parents, and could never guess if her lifestyle paralleled their own. Regardless, wondering was her life of choice, and after remaining in one spot for the most of winter she was keen to get back out there. She would return, she had promised Dragon she would stick around a while, and always made good on her promises, but in the meanwhile, she would take this opportunity to chase off a little steam, and let loose her wondering paws. As the daylight begin to fade, and lengthening shadows danced across the landscape, she let her pace begin to slow. She caught the scent of fresh water, and angled her path in the right direction. As her jog became a walk, and her breathing evened out, she would see Firefly lake stretch out before her. She brushed past the lengthening reeds of growth, giving them a cursory sniff as she passed them, before her attention caught on the russet-brown wolf with the cautiously tilted ears, signaling she had heard the healer approach. She gave the stranger some room as she moved towards the water, taking a step into the liquid, and feeling it spread a wave of cool across the fur of her paw. She dipped her ebony head and took a few cautious sips, knowing better then to full her belly after a long run. With that complete, she took a step back, shaking droplets free of her pad as she took a seat against the grass, just as the first fireflies began to take flight on the far side of the lake, casting a glow of flames across the water with their flickering, warm light. |
The air was still and quiet. The only sounds reaching her ears were those of the gentle spring breeze moving through the air and the unmistakable sounds that accompanied any lake. The sounds of water lapping at the shore ever so gently. The quiet was something that she had never had, but had grown uncomfortably accustomed to since her banishment. She stared at the water, trying to focus on the parts that would allow her to trick her mind into thinking that she could be staring at any lake. Perhaps even the one she grew up next to. But the sounds of a body moving through the reeds shattered the illusion, quickly pulling her back to reality.
She didn’t turn her head to look at the stranger, but she listened to the movements, her body tensing slightly as she prepared herself to jump up if need be. But the other gave her space, moving to the water, giving the Dellis woman an opportunity to size her up. They were the same height, but the other girls build seemed to be a bit more delicate than her own. Mismatched eyes bore into the other girls hide as she slowly rose, watching the girl step back as the darkening sky began to light up once more. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the bugs, but she quickly shook it off, returning her gaze to the stranger.
“Who are you?” Antigone’s voice came out smoother than she had expected, given the amount of time she had gone without speaking. Not a soul nearby for her to bother speaking to. She was tired of wandering, and she planned to settle somewhere within these lands, and she hoped that she could glean some bit of useful information from the woman if she happened to be native to the area. Or at least more familiar with it than she was herself.
She had given herself a chance to cool down before her jog had reached its conclusion, but still the chill of the approaching night seemed to seep into her warmed muscles. She shook it off, rotating her shoulder blades as she sat in the soft grass and looked out across the lake, as though she had not a worry in the world. Only a single ear, tilted in the direction of the stranger hinted at catching any whisper of noise. The slight angle of her head, that allowed her to see the dimming reflection upon the water and show her any movement, told her she was aware that another was there. Still, the young wolf held no more caution than these simple steps of awareness. Even having witnessed the outcome of some of the terrible things wolves could do to one another, there was still an air of innocence about her that spoke of her young age, and was displayed in the relaxed stance she boosted by the lake. She felt a small smile creep across her lips as a short time passed, before the stranger broke the silence that had grown between them. The strong, certain voice of the woman contrasted with the serenity of the firefly-lit water as she demanded the identity of the healer. Still, there was nothing but warmth in the ebony wolf’s voice as she replied. “I’m Riva, and what might I call you?” she inquired, turning her head fully now to the fawny wolf, and would see the heterochromic eyes that looked back at her. It was difficult to be certain, sitting as she was, but she had a feeling that if they stood side by side, she would be perfectly matched to look directly into those fascinating eyes. There was muscle in all the opposite places on this wolf, where Riva was built to run, a lithe body and long, willowy legs. There was something coiled and strong about this wolf, and Riva would have bet her precious herbs that this lady was a fighter. |
The way the girl sat, Antigone knew that she was well aware of her presence. She would have seen her when she walked up, yet she showed no signs of apprehension. Her smaller frame would make it difficult for her to out match the other woman, and she didn’t suspect that any accomplices laid in wait to ambush her, and she she felt a bit more comfortable letting her guard slip, if only a little. Eurybia would have likely charged forward with jaws snapping at the first sign of a stranger without a second thought, and either of her brothers would have likely set in on trying to flatter the girl by promising her a special spot in their kingdom. The thought of her siblings left a bitter taste in her mouth, the fact that they still seemed to invade every moment of her now solitary life more and more of a nuisance. She had no need for hostilities or manipulation. Not now, not in this moment. It wouldn’t be wise to come charging into a strange land with teeth bared and picking fights with anyone who crossed her path. There was no one to watch her back if she got injured, and the last thing she needed was more enemies chasing her down.
She forced the tension out of her stance as the girl looked back at her. She attempted to smile, but the expression was quick to fall away into a more neutral one. She gave only a first name, something the woman was not accustomed to, and something about it felt off. She had known all the family names in her homeland, and just by hearing an individuals name she could put together the puzzle of who they were. Even if the girl had given her full name, it would hold no meaning to her. She knew nothing of these lands or the people within it and without anyone here that she knew, she couldn’t help but feel as though she’d been cast adrift in a vast ocean with nothing to cling to. But she couldn’t let that panicked emptiness show.
Her tongue swiped across her lips before she spoke. “I’m Antigone Dellis.” 'Promised Lady of the Dellis Kingdom.’ The introduction seemed to short with no title to follow it. Just a name with no meaning behind it, no power, no place. It was impossible to not finish the introduction in her own head, if only for her own sanity. “I’m new to these lands and I wondered if you might know anything about the packs of the lands. Places that should be avoided.” She didn’t like to ask for help, but she knew that if she was going to survive her, she would need to get a more clear picture of the area, and the faster she got that, the better.
A fleeting smile passed the maw of the lighter-toned wolf, leaving the healer wondering what thoughts plagued her mind. Her expression was a mask that gave nothing away, well Riva’s in contrast was a gentle expression of reflected tranquility the landscape promoted, with a hint of a smile, and a touch of curiosity. She made no move to close the distance between them, but she shifted her seat to face her, and politely show the other had her attention. The bow tied snugly against her paw shifted, and she dipped her head to tug it back into place, for fear that her carefully stored herbs tucked against the fabric would fall free. The scent of lavender that drifted through the air told here that she had crushed a few dried flowers in her fussing. She hid a soft sigh and left the bow alone, lifting her head back to the woman in time to catch her name. Antigone she had never heard a name like it before, and instantly found herself wondering at its potential meaning. With no further information known to her, she could do nothing to satisfy that curiosity. “Antigone Dellis, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” she dipped her head politely to complete that formality, head ever so slightly tilted as she looked into the strange eyes of this mysterious woman. She felt like she was holding something back, like she wished to say more, or perhaps even be somewhere else, through Riva could give no clarification as why she suspected as much. Perhaps it was the heaviness in her mismatched eyes, or the coiled tightness to her body that Riva had already reflected upon. “I’ve only been here a season myself, but I would be more than happy to share what knowledge I have. What are you looking for in a place you would avoid, other than the usual things?” a hint of a smile, a suggestion of teasing, through there was nothing more then that as she released her inquiry. |
Antigone’s gaze followed the girls movements as she turned to face her, her eyes flickering the the bow wrapped around her leg as the she moved to adjust it. The faint scent of dried herbs wafted towards her, the oh so familiar scent of lavender bringing her back to her mother's den. The purple herbs grew in abundance in her home land, and her mother liked to have fresh strands always drying out in her den, claiming a healer could never have too much of it. It help calm her patients down while she tended to their wounds, and it brought her peace when the horrors of some of the things she had seen began to haunt her. The princess had once criticized her mother for being weak and unable to handle her own line of work, but was quickly reminded of her place. Not all were built for spilling blood, and if it weren’t for those like Tethys, there would be no reprieve from the death and violence in the world.
The gentleness in the girls expression reminded her of her mother. So at ease despite being faced with Antigone’s blunt demeanor and emotionless expression. Her head dipped in greeting, and Antigone did the same, her head lifting once more to watch the woman closely. She could see the curiosity in the girls face, a curiosity that matched her own, though the younger was far more willing to let it show on her face. She wondered how anyone could care so little about how easy they were to read.
The girl explained she had only been in the lands for a season, and did not know too much. There was youth in her face still, she was sure that the girl must still be young and it was unlikely she would have been able to explore much, though any information, regardless of how little, could serve useful to the woman who had only just arrived. The girl spoke with a certain tone, her smile hinting that she was looking for a more light hearted interaction rather than just the straightforward exchange that the woman was used to. “Do you know if there are any packs nearby? Or if any hostile creatures lurk in lands that may appear unclaimed?” In her youth, she hadn’t been one to shy away from a dangerous situation, but that was when she had a kingdom at her back to aid her. Now she would have to be much more cautious. Being carefree as she had once been could mean death for her now, and she wasn’t ready to quit just yet.
It was hard to read much past the bland expression on the face of the other wolf. There was little to go by, other then the hint of a fleeting smile, and well-settled seriousness in the blue-brown multi-coloured eyes that looked back at her. Instead of feeling shut off, she found herself wondering what made up the inner workings of this wolf. She liked puzzled, she liked them very much in fact. It had been the first reason she had decided to stick around Dragon as he re-built his pack. The old wounds on his eyes still boosted an infection, years later, an anomaly she had been treating and testing over the winter days. Her honey poultice had done much, she suspected, but when the infection came and went over many moons, it was hard to tell for certain if the antibiotics in the nectar where treating the cause, or the symptoms. She didn’t let her thoughts sidetrack her for too long, dragging her attention back to the fanwy woman before her. Antigone’s reply was straightforward, bypassing the subtle attachment of teasing Riva had passed along in hers. A smile barely tugged the corners of the healers muzzle, it was clear Antigone had no patience for anything past an exchanging of information. Riva turned completely from the lake, rising as she turned, before slipping back into a sitting-stance, more alert and attentive now then it had been before. The lake behind her was a wash in bugs now, and the dancing, flickering light of many fireflies reflected against the back of her fur, casting most of her front in shadows, and adding a highlight to her edges, which harmonised with the silver-white markings that existed in subtle patches along her body. “Alright” she said, and to herself it was a simple acceptance of the wolfs demeanor, an agreement to give her what she wanted and no more. “I haven’t been here long, but I have a habit of exploring far and wide. Well I haven’t entered many pack lands, or spoken to any Alphas, I can give you an approximation of their lands from their scent borders, and idea of the wolves they boost by what I have scented and seen nearby.” Observation was 2/3rds her job, and she gave it a lot of consideration. “The main land is known by the wolves here as Boreas, and encampasses most of the terratories. A smaller land known as Auster lies in South. I believe there are Seven packs spread out between them all, through I could be mistaken.” She cleared her throat, though she didn’t shift her weight or otherwise fidget. I’ll start with Boreas, in the North there is one pack territory I scented in my travels. Going by the dominant scent, I judge its ruled by a male wolf, through I caught little of who he was by his scent alone, his pack seemed small in number. I found the North myself fairly sparse, but it was in the dead of winter that I was there the most, and the bitter cold could have deterred most.” she paused here, looking at Antigone expectandly. If she wanted any chance in narration, or a different sort of information displayed as Riva made her way through the lands, now was the time to speak up. |
Even in the dim light of the fireflies, Antigone could see the curiosity in the girl. The woman didn’t show much in the way of emotion, though it was normal for her where she came from. The Dellis family did not tend to be very in touch with any emotion other than anger or jealousy, even with their mother’s constant doting over them when they were still pups. She hadn’t done well to hide her disappointment when it became clear that all her children seemed to take after their father’s mannerisms, but there was nothing to be done about it. They were who they were, and while Antigone knew that the girl before her couldn’t know all of that, it was still strange to her to come face to face with someone who knew nothing about her. She’d grown up as someone who was well known, even if it was simply by reputation alone. She’d never traveled from her home to meet with allies, and she’d never seem war. There had never been a need to wander off before.
As the girl turned fully, her face became cast in shadows, and the backlighting from the bugs made it appear as though she glowed around the edges. Her eyes narrowed, trying to allow her vision to adjust to the lighting enough for her to be able to make out the features of her face again.
A single word left her lips at first, causing another small bout of confusion as she wondered why she had chosen to start with that. She almost hadn’t expected to rush of information the girl gave her, as she had claimed to have only been in the lands for a season and to not know much. She listened carefully to each word that Riva spoke. She would commit the information to her memory, and she would do her best not to forget a word of it. As the girl paused, she nodded. “Go on.” Her voice had become somewhat less cold, if only in the slightest bit. She wasn’t a warm creature in general, but she couldn’t help but be impressed with the knowledge that the girl had gathered in such a short time.
She knew all she had was speculation over fact, a picture woven by exploration, scents and feeling, rather than actual confrontation with the wolves and packs of this land. Still, it was all she had. If Antigone wanted the information here, it was the best the healer could provide. Her pause was short lived before the other woman urged her on. Once again to the point, dropping words like they were precious, rare, and few between. She ducked her head a little, hiding her next smile in the deeper shadows her dark form created against the back-lighting. “In the East there are two. One in particular, and the closest pack to where we are now, I had to travel far to make my way around. They boosted a larger territory than most. They had a wide plain, an area of tall glasses, and yet another area with a long stream looping through it. I gather from this that they are a prosperous pack. There was two dominant scents here, at least by my best guess. With a larger member base, the scents where harder to detereme. Male and Female, possibly.” Speculation again. Riva wished she had better to offer. ”The second pack in the East was larger than the Northern pack, but smaller than the second pack I mentioned. They had mostly mountains land, and I didn’t not get very close to it. I know nothing else about this pack, but they are just South-West of here if you wanted to investigate further yourself.” I travelled through the South without detering to make my way to Auster, and caught no scent of packs in that journey. If there where any, they were not on the straightest course to the Southern Island. It was a lot of talking to do, especially with a stranger, and one that kept mostly silent herself. The urge to shuffle uncomfortably drifted through her, and she held herself still until it had passed. Her mentor, and the woman who had raised her, had not approved of fidgeting, she demanded nothing but absolute attention of her pupil. It was how Riva had learnt so much healing in so little time. Some might have considered the older woman harsh, but she was all Riva had known, abandoned at birth by her own mother. “West. Here a pack lay in Willow Trees, and a Valley. It is ruled by two male wolves. I met one of them briefly, who went by the name of Torin. He seemed abrupt, and short of time. Don’t mistake this to mean harsh, I had the impression he was a good wolf, but didn’t have time for strangers in the harsh winter season.” “I scented at least one other pack in the West, but didn’t go near enough to get any further information. In most of my travels I have encountered very few Rogues. Perhaps now that Winter has passed, that will change.” her eyes had barely drifted from their gaze on the other woman. Her impassive expression had been one of interest to Riva, as she looked for any evidence, any tightening of her eyes, or flicker of her maw, that any of this information mattered one way or another to her. |
Antigone listened closely to the girl as she listed off the different packs that resided within the lands, and while she would still need to do some investigating herself, the information she had been given was incredibly valuable. And far more than she had expected from the way the girl had claimed to not know much. There were no specifics about the packs, but she at least knew what to expect. There was a lot of information to process and to memorize, but it was giving her a far better picture of this place than she had assumed she would get. One pack was led by two males, and her mind wandered home once more. Her brothers had intended to rule together, with her just below them, and she wondered who had taken her place. Had they given her title to Eurybia?
As the girl finished, the woman sat back, her tail curling towards her side and she visibly relaxed. “Impressive.” She muttered more to herself than anything, though she was certain that Riva would be able to catch the word.
“That was quite a bit of information for someone who has only been here for a season. I had figured I’d get a picture of only what was around this area.” She watched the girl carefully, surprised by how much she had been given. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem young. How is it that you’ve managed to gather all of this information so quickly?” She could be cold, but even she could acknowledge potential in those who had it. This girl had to have some amount of ambition within her to be able to gather so much information, and while Antigone had no personal investment in the girls success, it was a quality she enjoyed to see in others.
She finished detailing what she knew of the packs of Boreas, and all she had discovered of them, in her quiet winter walks. The whispering-flicker of fireflies behind her cast an ambient noise into the sudden silence as her voice ceased. Before her, Antigone rocked back, relaxing as she appraised the healer, and one further word dropped from her lips. For a moment, Riva was certain this was all she would get. If one thing their brief encounter had taught her, it was how few where the words of Antigone, but how much she seemed to say with those few. After all. She had gotten quite a description of this land from Riva with only twenty words, and two of encouragement to keep her going. Riva hid another smile at the thought, and was pleasantly surprised when Antigone continued. “Thank you” Riva said simply at the compliment. The Fawny wolf would the continue to express her surprise, and question how she had learnt so much, so quickly. “I am a healer, I was trained to take that seriously. I have sought herbs all across the continent, and I have searched for wolves that needed my aid.” She suspected, in fact, that the healer who raised her had known who her mother was. She had never given anything away to prove this theory, but sometimes… when the old healer had looked at her, and this look of frustration and need had passed over her, those were the times when she had pushed Riva the most. It made words like ‘atonement’ pop into her mind, and a little flutter of hurt had always put pressure against her heart when she wondered just what kind of woman her mother had been, to bring out the harsher side of a healer. Not that it mattered to Riva, she had no mother, no father, and no family. Her life was her healing, her mentor has seen to that. She was content with her lot in life, and the wandering life it boosted had suited her well. She bit down on any sadness before it could flash across her features. If there was a tightening in her eyes, it could be accounted for the change in light as a firefly fluttered near by, casting the blue of her eyes in a sudden, and yellow glow. “That's why I have traversed as much ground as I have, and why I take great care to understand what the scents of the land are telling me. I’m just glad you might find some use now in what I’ve gathered.” |
The girl was quick to respond to Antigone’s next question, but her answer came as somewhat of a surprise. She had assumed the girl had some level of healing knowledge based on the lavender she had tucked under the ribbon tied around her leg, but she hadn’t expected healing to be her motivation to travel. It made sense, though, to want to know where all the herbs where in the lands, and how that could be useful. But she also seemed to seek out others to heal, which came as another surprise. Antigone was a healer herself, but she had limited the use of her abilities to those in her father’s kingdom, never wanting to waste herbs on those who were unworthy. Her skill was not something she wanted to be exploited, as she had her sights set on much bigger things.
“All the healers I’ve known have settled in a den near a place where herbs are plentiful, they’ve all kept an extensive store and have had others come to them when they need assistance. I’ve never met a healer that travels as much as you seem to.” She paused for a moment, thinking again about the pros and cons of that kind of lifestyle. She knew it wouldn’t suit her, but she had to admit that the benefits of such traveling could prove incredibly valuable. “Have you found many good places to gather herbs?” She hoped the girl would be as helpful in answering this question as she had in the one before. The more information she could gather about this land without having to do all the footwork herself, the better. It would make it that much easier for her to find a place to settle.
A firefly drifted closer, and Antigone saw the change in the girls expression. She watched carefully, but there was nothing to imply that the tightening of her eyes was caused by anything other than the sudden brightness. “I’m sure many could find use in such knowledge. It’s a powerful thing.”
She glanced up at the firefly that had darted close to them, and watched as it pranced through the air, travelling higher and higher, until Riva’s face was cast in darkness once more, as its light was lost to her. She shook her head, and turned her gaze back to Antigone, who was speaking once more. She pointed out that most healers stuck to one area, and healed one set of wolves that she knew. “True, that’s the usual way of things, but i’m a nomad and it’s never been my intention to settle, despite being a healer. I prefer sharing my knowledge, and helping any I come across, that’s the way my mentor raised me, and I’ve never had a desire to do differently.” her path had been chosen for her long before she knew that fate and future meant. That was ok, the lifestyle had suited her well in the end.
She didn’t blame her mentor for the subtle enmity she seemed to hold for Riva. She might never know the reason for it, she might never know the connection the healer had to her mother. These were all unanswered questions she had come to terms with never having an answer to.
“I have” Riva agreed, and there was a slight delay in her next reply, a subtle twitch of her lips at an unanswered smile. Of course, she wasn’t going to keep that information from the woman. “That actually brings us to Auster, the island in the South. I’ve found herbs to be bountiful there, especially in winter, which was milder that far South. There are pockets of places in Boreas where different herbs are more plentiful than others, so more information would depend what you where after.” she explained.
The girl spoke of her desires and Antigone listened, nodding along. “Some may say that’s a noble path to follow, others may say that it’s foolish. I’ve seen kindness be rewarded and taken advantage of, but I guess it just depends on what you do with it.” She assessed the girl for a moment, wondering what she might face in her future. “With all this travelling, do you do it alone? Or do you have someone who goes along with you?” Even in the darkness, the youth about her was plain to see, and while Antigone was no soft hearted creature, she had known of horrible things happening to young, lone travellers. Her own brothers had committed an atrocity or two themselves. Not that she had ever said a word to try and stop such things. She had herself to worry about. But this girl had a certain amount of ambition, a spark that the woman had to admire and she’d hate to stumble upon her one to to see that the spark had been doused.
As the conversation moved onto the topic of herbs, the girl seemed to have plentiful knowledge on that subject as well. “Nothing too specific yet, but you never know when you might find yourself in need of something.” She paused for a moment, her gaze moving past the girl and to the fireflies dancing over the lake, the reflection of the light bouncing off the surface of the water. “Sounds like I should head to Auster.” She looked back to the girl, wondering if there was anything left to be gained from their encounter. Did she have more information buried in the wealth of knowledge she seemed to possess that could further help the woman settle into this new place, or had she already exhausted this resource?
Riva nodded in understanding, through she was naive and kind enough for others to take advantage of her, she was also determined, and her strengths shone through best when she had a job to do, a wolf to look after. “I travelled with my mentor at first, but she believes in trial by fire, and sent me out to face the world on my own once I reached a year old. Since then, it’s been just me” she would explain. She hadn’t spoken much about her healer, but something about her conversation with Antigone seemed to bring the woman to the forefront of her mind. Riva agreed heartily with what Antigone said next, believing herself in the need to be prepared for any disaster. “Well if you ever need something specific feel free to look me up, I’m always happy to help” Riva promised her, meaning every word. “I definitely recommend it if your searching for herbs. If you find yourself near Lazuli Falls, there is a cave hidden at the base of the falls with some interesting herbs inside.” Riva had spent a winter storm trapped in that cave for a few days, and knew it well. She hesitated, wondering if this would be where the two parted. Antigone interested her, and she had said so little about herself, leaving Riva wondering about her. |