Kore wanders from land to land, searching for any signs of his missing brother. Time is measured by the turning of the seasons, each one reminding him of his failure to keep his brother safe and marking yet more time apart from him. He orbits his sister’s life, checking in when he can while never stopping his extensive search for Kal. Spring marks the siblings second year of life and yet another season without his blue fire-kissed brother. The man’s paws have developed callouses so thick that he no longer feels the shifting lands underneath him. Food is plentiful but the galaxy clad man only eats enough to fill him and nothing more. At night, he dreams of horrible, scary things happening to Kal and he often awakens in a cold sweat.

Tonight, the moon stands high in her heavenly abode, shinning her silver rays down on the man crafted from a nebula. Kore lays in the soft grass of Sweetgrass Basin, a small fire crackling merrily beside him. But he does not have eyes for the earth around him and, instead, cranes his neck back so that he is looking up at the silver maiden. The three siblings had never known their mother, the wolf who had birthed them had passed with the giving of their life. Yet, when he looks to the moon, he imagines that she is up there, smiling down on him from her new celestial home. A tear slips free of his water-filled eyes and slides down the fur of his cheek until it can drop silently onto the grass below him.

Would she be ashamed that he could not protect Kalyke? Something whispers to him that she proud but Kore shoves it away because he is ashamed of himself. A world-weary sigh rolls past his dark lips and he gently shakes his head from side to side, allowing more tears to slip free. Voice hushed, almost afraid to voice his fears, Kore says, “I’ve failed mom. I… I couldn’t keep him safe.” The fire beside him pops, sending sparks to dance in the night air. Eyes close as emotions war within him, their battle playing out across his features. Ears lay pinned against his skull in shame and sadness as the galaxy-hued man allows himself to ruminate on his shortcomings.



WC: 386
Total WC: 386 / 1500


"Kore Regni"

There’s something exhausting about wandering. It reminds Cy that the exhaustion is all she’s ever known. It’s bone deep, but farther than that. It’s soul deep. There is a tired in her that can’t be processed, not processed right at least. Something that lives in her. Something that will live in her for as long as she lives and breathes. Cyanide has understood the exhaustion of wandering far longer than she’s understood anything else. The only things that have ever made sense– the bitterness in her chest and the exhaustion in her bones. They’re the only things she’s ever felt worthy of. There are layers to her exhaustion now. She puts the thought of motherhood out of her mind, for now. Thinking of her pups… admittedly, the wraith wasn’t. They were fine. She can free herself of that responsibility for now. Under the guise of hunting for a snack, or something, she’d slipped away from the den. There are bitter thoughts in her head, and Cyanide doesn’t want to poison those she cares for. She does that far too often. Far, far too often for comfort. Sighing to herself, the creature slips out into the night. A cool breeze rips through Cyanide as she steps out into the Basin. It’s a nice feeling, bracing. Enough to remind her that she’s alive. There’s air in her lungs and a pulse in her chest. Her thin coat fluffed up as best she can against it, but it’s not enough. She knows it’s not enough. Still, the wraith refuses to turn back. Nothing could drive her back, not yet at least. Finally able to be out and on her own within it, she won’t go back to bed. From somewhere off to her left, she hears it. The cheerful crackling and popping of a fire. It draws her in like a moth to flame, and she doesn’t make any secret that she’s coming. Cyanide knew better than to sneak up on someone at night, like this. She’s not sneaking, no. Bold as brass, she steps out towards it. “Room for one more?” Not like her to be friendly, but she’s not too proud to admit she’d like the warmth. “It got cold fucking fast.” Her remark on the weather, or whatever. Cy was trying to be friendly, even if she wasn’t great at it. As she neared, a man came into view beside the fire. The light catches on his markings, and her gaze settles on him from her distance. He wouldn’t be so different to her, at least, if she’d been interesting looking. She keeps her distance, waiting for him to speak, waiting to know if she needs to high tail it in another direction. Hovering, hoping. WC: 455 Total: 841/1500 cyanide he said to be cool but i'm already coolest

Kore cannot tear his eyes away from the moon, seeing the mother he never had the opportunity to meet in that silver goddess. The fire beside him crackles and pops, slowly devouring the logs while staving off the chill of the spring night. Failure squeezes his heart, choking the air in his lungs and threatening to send tears cascading down his galaxy-hued cheeks. The man feels himself drowning under the unbearable weight of his short-comings and his mind turns, once again, to where his brother might be.

Pawsteps draw Kore’s attention down from the celestial plains that sparkle brightly above and forces them back down to the dark, cold night. A figure, tall and dark steps into the dim light that the fire tosses out at its furthest edges and he watched him with silent wonder. Words reach the man and he blinks for a moment, watching the woman as his brain processes her words. Lifting a paw, he gently beckons her to the fireside, offering to share the warmth and his companionship in that simple gesture.

A smile wiggles his lips as he ushers her closer, his voice calmly saying, “There is always room for another. Please, come and warm yourself.” Cerulean eyes watch the woman as she approaches, the man making sure to keep his posture open and relaxed so as not to make the woman uncomfortable. Once she is settled, the man offers a deep bow of his head and says, “My name is Kore. I was just… talking to my mother.”

Ears slick back slightly at the admission but he offers her another, polite bow as she gives him a name; Cy. A comfortable silence lapses between the pair, the cheery pop and hiss of the fire lulling the wolves into a deep, relaxed state. Cy poses a question, asking the lone male who his mother is. The man, cloaked in galaxies, offers a rolling sigh. Once more, he turns his gaze up to the silent sentinel above them, knowing that his mother keeps watch from up there in her heavenly home and Kore offers a sad smile.

For a moment, he just stays like that, watching the moon as the fire crackles beside them. Finally, his soft voice, filled with emotion, fills the night air, “I never knew her. She… passed as my brother, sister, and I entered the world. We all were blessed with colorful markings and some said it was as if the stars themselves had touched us.” His gaze slides down to Cy as he admits, “I don’t know about that but I have always felt comfort whenever I talk to her.” Kore turns his gaze back up to the moon and he inclines his head, a small gesture to show Cy who he means.

The sad smile falters and falls from his lips as he continues on, “Soon after we left our dens, my grandfather packed up all my siblings and I and moved us. We were heading down to another pack when things… fell apart. Ah, but that is another story.” A paw lifts to wave away the words and, with them, the sad memories that are attached. He pulls the conversation back to his mother by saying, “Anyway, since then… it just helped to have someone to talk to. Even if it isn’t… real.”

Another sigh rolls out as Kore turns his gaze away from the moon and allows them to come to rest on the fire. Silence falls as he remembers the long, lonely months with just him, Ao, and Kal; it had been the three of them against the world. Now, his brother is missing and Kore has been chasing his fading scent from land to land, holding on to an ever-thinning thread of hope. Will he ever find Kalyke? Will the three of them ever get to be a family again?

A thought suddenly occurs to the man and his gaze snaps up to catch Cy’s lavender gaze. In his eyes, there is a desperation so deep that it has become unfathomable even to him. His voice quivers as he asks, “Hey Cy… have you seen a blue and black wolf?” The night wears on as Kore shares the story of his missing sibling and questions if she has seen anyone like him in her travels.



WC: 720
Total WC: 1561 / 1500


"Kore Regni"