Crucifix

The 140 lbs, nearly all black wolf with gray on his sides and white on his underbelly and his bright yellow eyes had decdied to take a walk out of his pack lands which he hasn't done in a while. Everyone seems to of dissppeared and he wasn't sure where they went or if they were alive.

He walked the edge of the canyon sometimes looking down it. He thought of his father Kalaber a lot these days. What would he be doing if he had remained alive? If he hadn't felt so guilty for thinking t osee if the haunters were really all that bad. He didn't know how his father could do that but then maybe he could, after all he wanted to get to know his sisters, but they had been kidnapped as pups one of them was killed when she escaped. Finally he sat down and just stared down the canyon.

Taiya

Taiya wasn't the sort to stick her nose into trouble. During the peak of the conflict between packs when she was a pup, Taiya remembered herself being terrified. Nothing, and nobody, was safe. She remembered admiring the unfaltering confidence of her mother, or the dynamic leadership of her grandparents. It was a time where every canine had blood on his paws, and there wasn't telling if the vendetta against your pack would have your name written on the next-in-line to die. So when the war died down, and packs began to slip into their own privacy, war leaders succumbing to their age, Taiya was relieved. Finally, perhaps, the Valley would know peace.

Was she foolish to even hope for such notion?

The black she-wolf spent a lot of time these days wandering and alone. Her family was slowly passing on. Her mother was still alive, though a she-wolf much beyond her prime. Taiya preferred the lifestyle of a loner, though she did have a blood family that would accept her with open arms. But she relished anonymity. Sure, securing a meal was sometimes an unstable predicament, but she enjoyed this life. No rules, no alliances, no enemies. For a wolf raised in a time where every wolf live and died by such thing, Taiya was content.

Today's wanderings left Taiya admiring the structure of the canyon. Her mother said the river below once carved out the rocky walls of the chasm. Dark mahogany eyes study the long drop to the bottom of the canyon when suddenly the scrape of paws against the dampened ground stir Taiya's senses. The she-wolf whips around, shoulders braced as she observes the massive alpha stride onto the territory. Taiya keeps hunkered close to her observing spot near the edge of the Canyon, eyes fixated on Crucifix. He hasn't noticed her yet, but Taiya is nervous to see his reaction when he finally realizes her presence. And so she waits, quietly and thoughtfully.

Crucifix

He did not know where any of his pack had gone. he knew some where still around some where having picked up their scents here and there including his siblings but he has yet to run into them. He would rebuild the Cryptic Vigilantes but what would be their purpose now that every pack seems to no longer want or care to fight for anything? Should they just live as a pack a family? or should they try to dominate the others? He did not know. His father would know, his father would probably choose peace over war.

He sat down at first not aware of Taiya hunkered down not far from him to his left. His ears would twitch every now and then as his mind ran over a million thoughts. When they started the settle and the wind changed he froze.

A semi familar scent travels to him and his head swivles in her direction. He could become aggresive and ward her off. Or he could simply ignore her or he could talk to her.

Well well Didn't expect to run into anyone up here at this timeHe said deciding for now not to be hostile or ignore her. He stayed where he was though more on alert.

Taiya

Whatever burdens Crucifix, it is evident through his disposition. Taiya watches with curious eyes, a fleet of thoughts traversing her mind. She didn't know him, but she could tell he came from similar upbringing as she. Born into the hellhole that was this Valley. Born to pledge loyalty to a pack, to uphold their ideals of peace, and morals, and the strife for victory even if it costed their life. The young Taiya had never once questioned her previous cause, her soul committed to the Refugees. A pack that flitted from neutral to hostile to neutral back to hostility because blood ran thicker than water. It was the only tune Taiya had known. And now...without it, Taiya wandered in a hazy bog of confusion. She lacked a cause. And while she could never denounce the happiness of the relative peace in the Valley, there was much Taiya now had to learn, to discover, here.

Sitting on her haunches, the significantly smaller she-wolf's tail swishes slightly in a greeting to Crucifix's address. Her coyote-like face tilts, deep eyes shining with outward friendliness. She's more than half his weight, and in no condition to pick fights, even if she wanted to. Her only victory would come from hoping her agile body was quicker than his. So she keeps her shoulders relaxed, and ears perked. "Ah, well," she starts with a smile, "I've got a bit of a nomadic heart these days and find myself everywhere and anywhere." Her explanation is lighthearted, true to the core. Taiya has been wandering for weeks now, traveling the deepest gullies and highest peaks of the Valley in hopes to locate her newfound purpose in this world. So far, she'd only seen snowcapped sunrises and vibrantly-colored sunsets. Which, wasn't a complete loss. The she-wolf stretches a bit with a yawn, gazing at Crucifix for a quiet moment before asking, "And tell me, what did the canyon do that makes you so perplexed?" She tries her best to innocently joke, hoping Crucifix is in a good enough mood to humor her.

Crucifix

He may not know her know her but they weren't far off in age and he could tell. He listenedt oher and watches her. aren't we all just nomads now? My pack has vanished on me and I dod not know what to do or thinkHe said calmly.

At her question he gazes down the canyon thinking on it.Nothing really, just suppose makes me think of everything thats happened, of my fatherHe said. His tail twitches as he speaks.

Taiya

Exquisitely, her ears twitch at Crucifix's words, catching the wistfulness laced between them. It seems his pack had vanished on him slowly, like a slow crumble to its infrastructure. Sometimes loss was a swift, merciless blow. Other times, a drawn-out, bleeding wound. For Crucifix, it seemed he'd eventually woke up to realize his family depleted. And his father. The way he mentioned that soul made Taiya's heart go out to him. Maybe his father had too vanished. Or perhaps he'd died long ago. Taiya, herself, had never known her father. Some brooding rogue that simply encountered her mother. The rest was history. But, Taiya could imagine, in her situation with her mother instead, the aching wound of the loss of one's parental idol.

Taiya gazes out over the rocky landscape, dark eyes surveying the snow-kissed stones. There's little for her to say in that moment, curiously musing about the ache for her own mother. While Vale still was alive, though pressing on in age, Taiya hadn't seen her in seasons. Taiya mentally notes visiting her mother when the time was right. But, that thought is shoveled into the back chambers of her mind as she turns back to Crucifix. "The Valley is very different than when I was a pup," she explains, cocking her head to welcome Crucifix to agree. "I was born into a time where peace seemed non-existent. And while I know not to grow too fond of this wash of peace in the Valley, this...this is nice." Drawing in a long inhale, the taste of damp earth rides against Taiya's nostrils. She smiles softly, gazing over at Crucifix. "Have you found your peace, friend?" She asks. She's curious to a flaw, and wants to know the past of this brute.

Crucifix

He grew up with his father's hatred so that is what he was use to. He listened to her we grew up in a world filled with hate and anger. That is all I know. We all have blood on our paws he said.

Had he found peace? He looked back to the canyon. no I don't think I have he replies without looking back at her

Taiya

Hate. Anger. Blood. His words drive Taiya to drop her head a bit, gaze downcast at her black paws with thought. She nods softly, so that Crucifix knew she hadn't zoned out on his talking. For a second, she remembers the first time she killed somebody. It had been a she-wolf nearly twice her size. She remembered how blood still glared red against her dark paws. She remembered the way the trail of blood, profusely gushing from the she-wolf's torn throat, saturating the dirt around her. And the smell. Death, mixed with an atmosphere of hell and chaos. Hate. Anger. Blood. War. The thought made Taiya shiver a bit, a chill prickling even underneath her thick winter coat. Finally, Taiya looks back at Crucifix, wearing a bit of a downtrodden expression. He's staring out into the depths of the canyon, and she wants to offer an ounce of comfort, but even Taiya has little to offer. Even after all this time, she still found it impossible to grasp the notion of inner peace after living by such means.

"To be honest," she begins, her voice soft, "I'm not sure we'll ever escape our pasts. I've spent seasons traveling this Valley, trying to find some sort of meaning and accepting peace. But I haven't. And I'm wondering if maybe it's because I've damned myself to die as I lived, or if maybe 'peace' is only a fallacy." It was true -- the restlessness in her heart. Without a battlecry to march to, Taiya was at an extreme loss. And the notion of that was slightly ludicrous, because war shouldn't be an eternal, universal thing. But why was that all Taiya knew? Why could she not be content with the silence in the wind that replaced the war cries of super-packs? Instead she was restless in an odd way, like a flea-infested mutt who couldn't quite reach his itch. And so she knew exactly what Crucifix meant. She, too, hadn't found her peace. And she was beginning to doubt if that was entirely possible, after all.

Crucifix

He watches her out of the corner of his eye as he watched birds fly through the canyon. One ear always on her as he listens. for me it's not just my past that travels with me my father's also rests on my shoulder. Others look at me and either see me as a strong confident wolf or as one being led by hate. he said

Taiya

Taiya only nods mutely to Crucifix's statement. At this point, the dark she-wolf lowers her haunches onto the ground. Paws squish in the damp dirt at the plateau top of the canyon. The only sound passing between the duo is the soft late-winter breeze. It buffets Taiya's thick winter coat, the she-wolf blinking away the cold air as it scraps against her face. "Tell me, are you the strong, confident wolf or the one led by hate?" She asks, prompting Crucifix to decide who he was to her. She knew what it was the exist under a label forged by the vast majority. By enemies. By animals who knew nothing of them, other than that their disposition on peace, and territory, and morality differed from their own. Taiya understood that. Some would revere her as the descendant of monsters A warrior for chaos. Other would see her as an ally, as a warrior for the greater good. Were any of them really right, though?

A soft sigh exits Taiya's mouth, followed by a bitter chuckle. Crucifix must be exhausted by her constant questions, digging into his psyche. He's just as exhausted by his past as Taiya is of hers. "I'm sorry," she apologizes wistfully. "I'm just a battle-scarred brain, trying to pick at your head to better understand my own past, I think."

Crucifix

He looks to her now. I don't really know, as I still feel like its someone's fault my father and aunt died and part of me still wants them to pay, he said

He shrugged. its fine he said as not bothered by it, not like he had anything else to do

Taiya

Ah, so he was the dark, brooding type. Inwardly, Taiya felt a twinge of amusement as she unearthed more and more emotion from the big brute. There wasn't much judgement that Taiya could pass, though. They'd all lost a lot throughout the years. Taiya lost an amount of family and friends. Peace of mind, comfort and, altogether, happiness was plundered from the packs that resided in this Valley. Taiya only seemed to know loss, loss, loss. And it only seemed natural for one to want to give their losses a face to blame, and to exact revenge for taking away the very few precious things they held to. The she-wolf, herself, wasn't the one for revenge. She simply accepted the cold hand of loss, helplessly. She was too small and not nearly savage enough to fulfill a revenge contract, even if she wanted to. Her head cocks slightly at Crucifix, slowly nodding. "It's okay to feel...to feel the want to regain some sort of control for what's already past," she explains slowly. A grim chuckle comes from her now. "In case you wanted unsolicited advice from me."

The black she-wolf stretches her front legs, a little yawn escaping from her jaws as she resumes a standing position. "What kind of wolf was he? Your father?" She asks. Up until now, she's remained general with Crucifix, but the burning question remains alight in the peaks of her brain. She's no longer tied down to the allegiance of any pack, so the threat of her hostility isn't there. He could be the reincarnation of the masterminds of the war, and Taiya could care less. But, genuinely, Taiya is curious who exactly this brute in front of her is. What did he inherit from the war years ago?

Crucifix

He had never tried to judge others because of who they were related to because he didn't want to be judged that way. how long till we are forced to choose sides once again because of our past? What I'd the lurkers are still around and think my father and aunts death was not enough repayment for his betrayal? he says.

At her question about his father he sat and thought. proud loving and over protective. His love for family helped fuel his hate for risen and he never could leave revenge alone he wanted it badly he said

Taiya

A cool wind brushes against Taiya as Crucifix speaks, wrapping itself around her small frame and sinking down to her flesh. Maybe he was right? There was no escaping the past. Not in this Valley. She'd known family who wanted to escape this Valley -- to escape the madness, the bloodshed and the hatred. And so they left completely. Every living soul here didn't forgive so easily. Taiya wouldn't put it past those who Crucifix spoke about to not have forgiven the past despite the slaying. Repayment, for many here, was a sick cycle of constant bloodshed. Taiya bowed her head at the thought. Her family knew that all too well. They had played a role in that game of unforgiveness with many. It chilled Taiya's bones to hear the different side of things.

"I guess only time can tell, huh?" Taiya sighs. Her little ears twitch as Crucifix describes Kalaber, and while she alone can't exactly place who he speaks about, a dawn of realization begins to creep through the cobwebs of her mind. Risen. That name felt like metal against her tongue. She had almost though that name was dead. But now, a vicious queen such as Risen never died. "Legends never die," some may say. Taiya forces herself to nod softly. "Maybe I'm a fool, but there's always a part of me that believed the departure of Risen would mean peace for this Valley," she admits sheepishly. "But...this Valley seems cursed to repeat its same violent past. I can only hold my breath until chaos erupts once again here."

Crucifix

He watches the flying birds as he listens to her. Only time would tell if this peace would last or if it would take one run in that will end it. His mind began to ponder. would you be interested in joining my pack? Perhaps we can find away to keep this peace and make the past the past he said. His tail wagged alittle

Taiya

An invitation. In most circumstances, the lonely she-wolf would find herself leaping at the chances to cure the wandering disease that gave wariness to her paws and limited her hunting selection. But there was a hitch on the fae's heart, a careful consideration. Sure, there could be no denying that a pack and a family would be safe. But the Valley knew very little about traditions. Sometimes affiliation was more dangerous that hiking the wildlands on your own. But despite that heaviness hanging on her shoulders, Taiya can't deny that it's time to stop shying from the rest of the Valley because of the past war. Times and seasons have changed, and life now presents itself with a form of companionship and family. Damn her outcrying instinct against it. It wasn't as if Crucifix was calling for a pact in blood from Taiya.

Drawing in a long, thoughtful inhale, Taiya gazes out at the flitting birds in the sky. Even birds remained in close quarters with one another. Life was not to be faced alone. Her lungs exhale. Taiya turns her eyes over to Crucifix. "Pledging allegiance is a dangerous business in this Valley," she muses sadly. "The life of a loner has eclipsed that of pack life, at times. But it's not satisfactory." Brown eyes glimmer in the sunlight as Taiya lifts her head to the skies as two songbirds fly overhead. She smiles warmly. "But I'm not afraid to change my worrisome disposition on the matter. I'd love to join you..." She holds Crucifix's gaze. "Friend."

Crucifix

Crucifix knew that if she pledged herself to him that what ever others perjected about him would travel to her it always did so he knew it wasn't an easy choice. He would wait for her to make the decision. If she chose to remain a loner he would not hate her.

Finally after a little silence she speaks. there are pro's and con's to bothhe said calmly. Then she spoke and he dips his head.probably a good choicehe said calmly.Friendhe said.

Taiya

A broad smile steals away across Taiya's face as Crucifix returns her statement. Friend. A warmth ripples through the she-wolf as she forces her eyes away and draws in a deep breath. "So shall you show me the place I can now call home?" She asks politely, curious to the humble abode Crucifix resides in.

Crucifix

He stood up and stretched and shook himself out.of coursehe said as he then moved past her toward parnassian meadows.