Floating Land

Unbreakable Survivor

The golden maned child waited for the woman’s final verdict. Heart pounded within pale chest as the midnight air chilled her still damp fur. Would the woman before her grant her refuge? Or would she have to leave, turn tail and find her own way as it has always been. The thought of that caused a sinking feeling. Though she had managed to survive on her own so far the Adhil didn’t know how much longer her luck would last. There was always that chance she would become ill, or even fail to feed herself. The reality, the possibility that she would fail, that the youth could even die out there on her own scared the child. If she could find a place of safety, a place of refuge, Ciannait would take it. It seemed Cian’s answer perked the Empress’s curiosity. If she looked closely there was a spark in the woman’s otherwise unreadable expression. There was hope, but the girl didn’t dare to hope.

Those rose tinted optics seemed to grow distant and the Empress of Ashen appeared to be in deep thought. There was a sigh. Ciannait’s heart dropped into her stomach. It was no use asking to stay. She was a trespasser, and was deemed unworthy of staying. A hindrance, and an extra mouth to feed. Not that the earthen-toned youth would be a freeloader. She knew how to hunt, at least for herself. Though the proper ways, strategies, were lost on the young she-wolf. Out of necessity, and definitely desperation, the striped her had taught herself how to hunt. Just as the girl was ready to stand, attempt the journey back to the mainland, and probably failing, the Venom finally spoke.

Yet, it wasn’t the answer the young she-wolf was expecting. Despite her barriers Cian and erected, those oceanic eyes widened. What did she just say? She could stay? Did the shadowed woman really just say that? The tension that surrounded the Empress softened, Venom’s demeanor less defensive, and the Adhil youth dared to describe it as welcoming. ”I can stay?” She asked quietly, disbelief in her voice. The woman before her, now her leader, alpha. No, her Empress, fell silent for a brief time. ”Thank you,” came the youth’s overwhelmed response. She didn’t know what else to say to the woman before her. However, the girl truly meant it. Perhaps her struggled out in the wild were over. At least for now.

The Empress then stated that she would be granted the rank of peasant. A temporary placement to see if the girl truly was worth the Empress’s, and the pack’s, time. This little fact was not lost on the girl, and her mind blazed with the challenge. She would prove herself to them. She would show them that she was not just some stray that had been granted temporary asylum. Ciannait would show them all that she should be here. However, the striped youth didn’t know why she was so intent on joining this pack all of a sudden. She hadn’t been a moment ago, her intentions only to explore the island till she discovered the pack was here. It was a funny thought. Though the golden marked yearling was honestly excited to be a part of something instead of being on her own.

As the explanation, however brief, was finished, the Empress, her Empress, began to lead the youth towards the infirmary. Ciannait flashed a confused expression at the term. She had never heard of an infirmary before. Still, with Venom’s added description as a place to rest, the girl wondered what else this infirmary offered. The girl was asked another question and she stopped mid-step, thinking. Of course she had countless questions to ask the woman. Some probably unnecessary while others more important. Still, she didn’t want to be given all the answers, and wanted to find them herself. So the child shook her head, ”No, I think I can figure it out on my own,” she replied, ”But if I do have something I need answered I will ask.” Ciannait then stated, the idea that she could seek answers from someone slowing sinking in. Though it felt weird to say such a thing as the girl was so used to finding her own answers to everything, never able to ask for help or to be given anything. It was a nice thought, but one she would never take for granted. The youth then waited for the woman to lead her on towards this so-called infirmary, not having a clue where to go without the woman’s guidance.  

OOC || FIN? 
”Speaking”
Thinking