Let's Go A Little Harder

“A surprise to see you again as well, Avalon.” She noticed the way he seemed to try to focus on her, and as she took another step closer to get a better look at him, noticed the familiar white tinge over his eyes. He was going blind. Not quite fully yet, but she could tell he was getting there. She supposed she had been lucky that she hadn't inherited her mothers early blindness. But the hip problems that plagued her father and the larger Ancora's had been coming around on her. She had started feeling it over the last winter and she knew it wouldn't get any easier from there. “Alive.” Came his response to her question. She tilted her head slightly as he went on to explain he had participated in last winter's tournament. She nodded slowly as he told her about the outcomes of his fights.

She frowned a bit. She had thought about participating in that tournament, but she knew she was far too old to fight anymore. She decided to retire in some form. To retire from the field and pass down what she knew to the younger generation. She was well past her prime and had been for years. "My son, Dragon, participated in that tournament. He won every fight last I heard, but I didn't stay till the end. But...he's years younger than I am. Blind, but younger still." She sighed softly, "We're not as young as we used to be, Felicien." She said it softly to him. She had come to accept that long ago. There was the chance he did, too. But sometimes denial liked to rear its head.

She sat and wrapped her tail around paws as he told her more about him. True, they didn't know much about one another but it was never too late to learn. She remained quiet as he told her a little about his past. How he never thought he'd make it this far. Things she often thought about, too. She hadn't seen half her kids for a long time, and her heart ached. Gryphon. Kharnage. Lykos. Charm. Arke. Afrit...only Dragon and Okami were left. And even then, Okami had been scarce for some time, too. Then...that he should have died long ago on the battlefield. She didn't know when or where she should have died. There were times many years ago when she had been a slave that she wished she had died so she didn't have to endure it anymore. And then even the time she nearly walked off a cliff and Bass saved her because she felt she wasn't worth anything after being abandoned by Newol, and the way she had told Vereux that she didn't think she loved him like she thought. Both times she had felt terrible...and she still regretted what she had told Vereux.

Foreign words touched her ears then, distracting her from the thoughts that threatened to sadden her. She didn't understand it, nor did she really recognize what language it was. But he decided to change the topic, and she was grateful for that. "I am sorry, Felicien. Perhaps it might not be all bad, though. Where one chapter ends, another begins." Her words were meant to be encouraging, but she wasn't sure how effective they might be, if at all. "I wish I could say my life has been spectacular lately, but truth be told...my family has drifted apart. I only have Dragon, and Okami, and Greed and his mate left. I've been a rogue since my son lost his pack, and it's not a lifestyle I like very much. I'm old, Felicien. At some point I wish to retire in a pack where I might be able to live the last of my days in peace and without worry." She breathed deeply, realizing she might have said too much that wasn't exactly...cheery. But who else to tell? "I'm...sorry. I suppose it's just my old lady mind," She chuckled softly. But inside, she was afraid of dying alone.