Ara was not used to feeling helpless. For some time, after she helped Novel back to her den, she would lay with her. She was content to listen to the gentle sound of her breathing, knowing she was safe here with her. How badly she wanted to keep her tucked away from harm forever, to keep her innocent and pure -- but all that had been taken from her. It was difficult to keep herself from pressing closer to Novel, wanting her to know that she would never hurt her, that she would protect her for as long as she possibly could, but she knew that Novel needed rest more than anything.
Hours would pass before she was able to pry herself from her friend's side. Elohim would remain here with her, and she would not venture far from Novel's den. Quietly she pulled herself to all fours, watching as Novel's companion replaced the spot she had placed herself in through the evening. A slow nod was offered to him as she slid from the den's entrance, her pawsteps quiet and precise, not wanting to wake Novel from the slumber she required so badly.
A gentle call would escape her lips, a hushed sound that was for Song -- or whoever else wanted to come to her. Though Novel had told her she couldn't tell anyone, she needed to, for not just her safety but for the well-being of the entire pack. After a short time she would wait, shuffling her paws uncertainly, feeling a strange tension building in her chest.
Song would gently groom her sleeping daughter?s fur, the dark almost blue pelt reminding her not of Cherokee, but of Garthinaw. She was a wonderful child, polite and beautiful. She didn?t want to anticipate the future but she couldn?t help but to foresee some type of troubles in her future. She would be right of course, she just had the wrong daughter. The timing would be incredibly off as well as her pearly ears took in the sound of Ara?s gentle call. She?d been meaning to sit down and talk with the girl, she seemed so close to Novel. As well, she wanted her to teach at her daughter?s side. With a little regret she would nuzzle the small pup, giving her one last kiss as she stood and exited the den.
Novel?s desired place of residence was not all that far away, the call had been soft and had easily traveled the distance. It didn?t seem anyone else had an interest in response either as Song walked up to the girl alone. ?Ara? What can I do for you, darling??
Ara would wait patiently for someone to come to her. The silence that seemed to envelope the land was greatly appreciated. It seemed that every sound -- the softest rustle of leaves in the wind, and the gentle song of the owls that had begun to awaken as night fell -- seemed to startle her. She was not far from Novel's den, and would go there quickly if anything bad happened, but she couldn't help but feel panicked nonetheless.
Song would arrive after some time, her demeanor calm and sweet as always. Ara could not help the worry that welled in her bright blue stare. How could she even begin to tell Song what had happened? Slowly she nodded in greeting to her, feeling suddenly guilty for having to tell her this, still feeling like she ought to have been there to protect Novel. "It's Novel..." she began, keeping her voice as level as possible. What had happened was done, and though she still felt quite shaken, being frantic would not help anything. "She was attacked earlier, Song. She was... raped." It was a difficult word to say, but she knew it was necessary to explain the gravity of the situation. Novel was in heat for the first time -- as was Ara -- and the possibility of her having children was a very real one, albeit one she didn't want to consider. A soft whine left her lips, her affection for Novel so obvious, but she didn't bother to hide it. "She didn't want to tell me what happened, but Elohim did. He said it was someone named Lel. She's okay now, but got some injuries near her neck. I've been resting with her..."
The dark was coming, Song had been avoiding the heat by being awake during the cooler parts of the night, avoiding the heated days as best she could. The night would greet her with silence as she padded towards the girl, the stress obvious on her as greetings were made and given and her level of alertness would rise. With out much hesitation Ara would begin, her first words of Novel. Song?s heart would beat faster, eternity would pass before the next words would fall from Ara?s lips, but as they came Song could feel her breath stop. The world would kick start again as Song took in the information, stunned into silence at first but a red hot anger would well up within her belly.
Were her mind not completely occupied by the news of these events she might have realized the affection and severity at which Ara held for her daughter. She would notice eventually with out help, but for now she would be distracted completely by Novel?s attack. She?d take the name and hold it close to her the building emotions within her wrapping around it possessively. She would growl darkly, a sound that had never breached her chest before. Were she thinking more clearly she might have been reminded of her own brother?s similar transgression. She?d shake her head, her mind suddenly determined as she brushed past Ara to see her poor daughter. She would visit her briefly, and then she?d have to hold some type of meeting with Garthinaw and Dhiren.
?Thank you for watching her Ara, Elohim.? She would say this as she entered the den, her ears clinging to her skull. Instead of an angered growl now would come a defeated whine. What was she going to do?
She now understood how her parents felt about one another. She had felt love growing in her heart for Novel since she had come to Ludicael, but only today did she realize it was not exactly the platonic kind. The very thought of Novel belonging to another was painful in a way that she had never experienced before. Now it was even more difficult to handle was the pain she felt at knowing what someone had done to her beautiful friend. It was difficult to watch Song's reaction as she told her what had happened; anger visibly bubbled beneath the surface, though it was obvious she was hurt too. "I shouldn't have let her go alone," she stammered as Song moved quickly past her, toward Novel's den. Though she still felt guilty, she also knew that two girls in heat, wandering together were an even larger target. Ara didn't know the first thing about defending herself -- she never imagined needed to know how to fight. But she knew if she'd been there, she would've done something to protect Novel, even if it meant putting herself at risk. She had been torn between wanting to spend time with Novel and caring for her parents and her new baby brother, and knowing she had made the wrong choice today was deeply unsettling.
'Thank you for watching her Ara, Elohim,' she said softly. Ara didn't need to be thanked, but she wouldn't protest. Eyelids would squint over her blue orbs as she sought the sleeping form of Novel. Her beauty took her breath away, though she felt a whimper struggling to leave her throat again, her chest constricting as she couldn't shake the vision of Novel being attacked from her mind. "Song," she began softly, her lyrics quivering with uncertainty. "What do we do?" Would this Lel get away with what they had done? Was the world so unfair?
Song would eventually come to see the blossoming romance between her daughter and Silent?s. It was hard to tell now how she would react, the weight of the current situation far too overwhelming. She?d barely catch that the she wolf would take the blame on herself, Song?s attention would be too focused on her daughter?s harm to steer her any other way. Song would think of the prevention, and if anything she should have been the one to blame. As her paws drew her into the den she?d nuzzle her daughter lightly, unwilling to let her awaken. Her attention would be brought back to Ara though, the look upon her own features incredibly akin to her own. Ara?s words would catch her, the question eluding even herself. ?I don?t know yet, Ara. I need to talk to Dhiren and Garthinaw, and maybe even Novella and Bass.? She?d muse, knowing the situation would not resolve itself within the night.
There was a pain growing in her heart that she could not shake. Ara wondered, if it hurt so badly for her to know this, how much it must her Song -- and how terribly it was hurting Novel. Though she had always known that the world contained more cruelty than she could possibly imagine, how could someone simply do this to Novel? She was stunningly kind and generous, and wouldn't ever provoke a soul. Another sigh left her lips, and she found her head shaking slightly in disbelief still. All she could hope for was that Novel would find time to rest, that she would trust Ara in watching over her and sleep for as long as she needed, slipping away from reality even if just for a few hours.
The woman turned to watch as Song slipped into the den, gently nuzzling her daughter. What if something worse had happened? She was grateful Novel was alive and, physically, mostly unharmed. It could've been so much worse. "Of course," she would murmur quietly, fearful her words would awaken Novel. "Just tell me if you need anything from me, Song. I'll do anything to help her and you." Ara wasn't known for being particularly selfless; though her mother was a generous woman, her father was much more reserved and independent, often reminding her that family came before anything. But in this case, she wanted so badly to help and to keep Novel safe.
