Everything Ends
05-03-2016, 06:48 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-03-2016, 07:39 PM by Tealah.)
Cascade lifted her head to another sunrise, and she ached.
It had been so long now since the disease that ravaged their pack had caused Valentine's mind to crumble under the hallucinations. Since he left. Since her oldest son, the pack's heir, had left to follow him. She'd pushed herself to keep the pack together, to keep going through the numbness and exhaustion, despite being alone and lonely, despite the illness that even now held two of her children in its grip. She didn't know where everyone was anymore. She couldn't patrol the borders, and hunt, and take care of her children, and do all the thousands of other things that all the pack members should have been doing. She wasn't an alpha. She'd never be an alpha. She had no claim over Imperium or the loyalty of its members. Hell she wasn't even Valen's mate. She was just... whatever she was.
It was time to admit defeat.
Imperium was dead.
She was surprised at the swell of bitter grief and abandonment she felt in that moment. She, who had always prided herself on her independence. She, who didn't need anyone. And yet, at that moment, she would have given up everything to have Valen back.
Just one moment, as her chest ached and her eyes burned, her throat catching on a keen she wouldn't utter.
Then she took a deep breath, and moved on. She was still alive. Her children were still alive. They would move on, and they would continue to survive. She had been fine before Valentine. She would be fine now. If Valentine ever came back, well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it. Losing her best friend did not mean the end of her life.
Heaving herself to her slender legs she peered over at her sons. Phim had been steadily improving and was probably well enough for what she had in mind, though Chaos was only just now on the mend. She gave a soft woof to call Vana's attention from where she was tiredly making up a new batch of herbs for Chaos, then lifted her head in a howl to call together what remained of the pack. It was time to end this.
OOC: all former Imperium members are welcome to post here, or not, if so inclined, or whoever else has an interest in Imperium or whatever. Cas is breaking the bad news.
It had been so long now since the disease that ravaged their pack had caused Valentine's mind to crumble under the hallucinations. Since he left. Since her oldest son, the pack's heir, had left to follow him. She'd pushed herself to keep the pack together, to keep going through the numbness and exhaustion, despite being alone and lonely, despite the illness that even now held two of her children in its grip. She didn't know where everyone was anymore. She couldn't patrol the borders, and hunt, and take care of her children, and do all the thousands of other things that all the pack members should have been doing. She wasn't an alpha. She'd never be an alpha. She had no claim over Imperium or the loyalty of its members. Hell she wasn't even Valen's mate. She was just... whatever she was.
It was time to admit defeat.
Imperium was dead.
She was surprised at the swell of bitter grief and abandonment she felt in that moment. She, who had always prided herself on her independence. She, who didn't need anyone. And yet, at that moment, she would have given up everything to have Valen back.
Just one moment, as her chest ached and her eyes burned, her throat catching on a keen she wouldn't utter.
Then she took a deep breath, and moved on. She was still alive. Her children were still alive. They would move on, and they would continue to survive. She had been fine before Valentine. She would be fine now. If Valentine ever came back, well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it. Losing her best friend did not mean the end of her life.
Heaving herself to her slender legs she peered over at her sons. Phim had been steadily improving and was probably well enough for what she had in mind, though Chaos was only just now on the mend. She gave a soft woof to call Vana's attention from where she was tiredly making up a new batch of herbs for Chaos, then lifted her head in a howl to call together what remained of the pack. It was time to end this.
OOC: all former Imperium members are welcome to post here, or not, if so inclined, or whoever else has an interest in Imperium or whatever. Cas is breaking the bad news.
05-03-2016, 07:27 PM
How many regimes had she seen fall? How many packs had she been a part of? Birna closed her eyes and sighed, she had never expected Imperium to be the next to fall but it seemed fate had another plan. Valentine and many others had fallen ill and despite the healers best efforts the Rex had lost his mind and gone skipping off into the sunset. No one could find him. After Valentine left the pack had fallen to pieces and more and more members were going their separate ways. It was over.
Birna gazed at the sunrise but all she could feel was defeated. Was it even worth joining another pack? Was this a sign that maybe she should go and try to find her brother? But where would she even look? Birna knew it was foolish to think they’d run into each other again. The last goodbye’s they’d said had been final and she’d taken the parting into her heart and accepted it but as the warrior woman sat on the knoll gazing out at the sky she couldn’t help but realize how painfully lonely she was. Birna had always seen herself as a lone warrior, a survivor, someone who wasn’t diminished by solitude. Now that felt like a lie… but she’d endure. She always did.
Getting to her feet Birna turned to start making her way north when she heard the despondent call of Cascade. She flinched. She couldn’t imagine what the other woman was going through. Unlike her Birna had no strong ties or family in the pack. Though she did have a fondness for the children of Imperium… she couldn’t deny that she would miss them terribly but she wouldn’t linger here. The story was closing on this chapter, it was time to begin another. Birna found herself moving toward Cascades call, uncertain what she was doing or what she would even say.
“Cascade?” Her voice was soft as she approached the other woman, pity in her eyes despite her efforts to remain impassive.
Birna gazed at the sunrise but all she could feel was defeated. Was it even worth joining another pack? Was this a sign that maybe she should go and try to find her brother? But where would she even look? Birna knew it was foolish to think they’d run into each other again. The last goodbye’s they’d said had been final and she’d taken the parting into her heart and accepted it but as the warrior woman sat on the knoll gazing out at the sky she couldn’t help but realize how painfully lonely she was. Birna had always seen herself as a lone warrior, a survivor, someone who wasn’t diminished by solitude. Now that felt like a lie… but she’d endure. She always did.
Getting to her feet Birna turned to start making her way north when she heard the despondent call of Cascade. She flinched. She couldn’t imagine what the other woman was going through. Unlike her Birna had no strong ties or family in the pack. Though she did have a fondness for the children of Imperium… she couldn’t deny that she would miss them terribly but she wouldn’t linger here. The story was closing on this chapter, it was time to begin another. Birna found herself moving toward Cascades call, uncertain what she was doing or what she would even say.
“Cascade?” Her voice was soft as she approached the other woman, pity in her eyes despite her efforts to remain impassive.
05-03-2016, 08:23 PM
Somewhere, she knew it. She felt it. She felt it like she felt the sickness settling into her bones. This had been her home the longest, and she had felt like it would be her home until she died. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Esti moved toward's Cascade's call. When she came upon the woman, she found she was unable to smile. Her mind felt mixed. She was free, but with that freedom, she lost her rank, her home, her everything. She had just turned two when she joined Imperium. Ashmedai had spent his whole life in Imperium. Esti wasn't sure what else to do. She didn't know what to think about this, and she was sure it showed. She looked from Birna to Cascade, the two strongest warriors in the pack, in Esti's opinion. She let out a soft sigh, "So... Now what? Is there anything?"
05-03-2016, 11:43 PM