carve your name [challenge]
Arivae had been in a deep sleep when the challenger called for Leo. If it were any other call she would have refused to move. But this...this was a challenge. And not just a challenge for some random pack. It was a challenge for Fiori. Her home, her everything. It was her birth place. This very place homed her mother when she had given birth to her. Now some fool was trying to tear it away from her, again?! Jupiter had done enough damage. Feeling that same pain overwhelm her like last time would be awful. She couldn't let this happen...she couldn't. But she had no word in the matter. It was Leo that had to fight for his home and for his family. She'd be there rooting for him every second of the way- she wasn't going to let some illness keep her from being there for him now of all times. The tiny girl slowly moved to her paws, feeling her knees shake beneath her. Her body was already trying to pin her down even after hours of sleep. But she couldn't...she wouldn't. She needed to be there for Leo. She wearily hobbled out of her small den and stood in the sunlight for a few minutes, trying to assure herself that she'd make it there without passing out. Finally she set off toward the call, soft pants leaving her maw with each step. She had gone on and off between slow, easy strides and walking. By the time she got there she was panting heavily and her paws were aching. But she was happy she had made it. She was exhausted, but she made it. She'd be here. The girl lifted her head and gazed around the clearing, spotting a few wolves gathered around what was probably the challenger. But was Leo here yet? She searched for him, but failed to find him. The closest she got was Svetlana who looked...bad. And Amalia was here too, looking horrified. What was going on? It was normal to be upset about a challenge but...several wolves in particular were staring at the challenger like they were a box of squished, bloody pups. Arivae approached the cluster of wolves she knew that included Epiphron, Amalia, Svetlana, and Bright Moon. Amalia was in the center, seemingly held up by the others. With a worried look, the dark girl followed everyone's eyes to the challenger, and she choked back a pained whine. Bacchus. Bacchus...Tiburtius' brother. Now she didn't know him as well as the others might have, but...it was the fact that Tiburtius had been so hopeful for Bacchus' return to Fiori. Tiburtius loved his family to pieces and had always hoped that his brothers would return soon. But this surely wasn't what he was expecting by returning. And she was sure Amalia was horrified as well. Everyone who knew Bacchus was probably horrified. He was challenging his own uncle that hadn't done anything wrong...why?! With another weak whine she opened her mouth and closed it helplessly. This wasn't right...she dug her toes into the ground for support and lowered her head, feeling her chest constrict painfully. After awhile of fighting off her emotions on her own, she stepped away from the group of wolves and sat by herself, her body shaking violently. She didn't know what to do. This was beyond what she had expected. She didn't want to see this happen...Leo would be horrified! And what if Bacchus won? What would she do? What would Amalia and Athena do? The small woman whimpered and lowered herself to the ground, her dull eyes resting onto Bacchus. "Talk" "You" Think |