Life with Koda: Cont'd

[Urctos]

Concealed behind the leaves of bushes and undergrowth, the figure of a shadowy beast gazed intently at the scene before it.

The creature went by the name of "Urctos". His coat was purely black: a color rare among grizzly bears and had eyes of a dull orange hue. Slashing across his face was a pink and raw scar, festering with a burning infection. It seemed to almose slice the right side of his head in half, running diagonally from the ridge of his eye, cutting across his cheekbone, and ending it's mortal trail down at his jowl.

The large bear had been sitting there for about an hour or so and had just started to follow the pack of bears in hiding as well. He was fearful of approaching the group because of the anxiety of them shooing him away or becoming frightened of the ebony grizzly. Urctos continued to watch as the sleuth took refuge inside a cavern for the night.

The ears pricked upwards as the sounds of sleep began to fill the empty nighttime air from within the shelter. Urctos stood rigid and trudged with careful paws from the darkness and into the open. His eyes wandered to the star-speckled skies every so often, glad he was in his element: the night. Urctos stood a few meters from the entrance with the shyness of a deer fawn. He began to examine the resting bears with caution... able to recognize some of them a bit. He remembered Ken'ichi, who was now sound asleep... yet all the others seemed like strangers.

Urctos raised a paw inside the cave and held it in midair, hesitiant and a tad afraid. It withdrew against his chest quickly as if it touched a hot surface. He frowned sorrowfully and began to turn his back on the bears. Craning his neck, he took one final glance at the beasts peacefully dozing, and lurched back to where he was before, leaving nothing but a pawprint in his wake. He lowered himself down upon his belly, resting his chin on his claws and eventually nodding off to dreamland.

((OoC: I hope that wasn't too confusing. XD I wanted to join but couldn't find the perfect place for him until now. )

[Spectrum]

OOC: Your very descriptive! I could actually see what you were doing. Nicely done! Welcome to Life with Koda, lol. ;D

[Talist]

OOC: Just an advance warning--I'm sorry, but I'm forced to retro-activeness again, just so I can do some catching up, for the sake of all the wolves who have been quite swept away by recent events. When I post, it will refer to things that happened way back on page 24, but I really don't want to resort to a flash-back, so please bear with me, friends!

[Kirchy]

OOC: OK, that's fine with me. Do whatever you want.

[Truttle]

OOC: Since I had already begun typing this. I'm going back several days to have something to do. Showing what I did while I was gone.

BIC:
(Where I left off.)
I was engulfed in Sioul's story. He told me about the Saber toothed tiger, the waterfall, the storm, and the flood. I was so taken back by his story. That I remained speechless even after his story was over.

"Stop daydreaming and wake up!" He yells.

"Okay! Geez! I hear you! You really ran into a bit of trouble for running off on your own like that. I could have help beat up that tiger if I was there. But I guess you didn't let him get the best of you huh? Your really learning how to fend for yourself. Now I know how your were able to make out here by yourself. I'm really proud of you." I pat him on the shoulder and he smiles giving me a hug.

The sky hadn't really cleared from the storm of the previous night. Thunder could be heard in the distance.

"We'd better get out of here before the storm comes in. Come on Sioul."

A lightning bolt struck the forest in the distance. a column of smoke began to rise from the forest. The forest wouldn't be safe with a fire breaking loose. I took Sioul back to our den and stayed there for the rest of the day.

The season was getting colder and the climate was changing drasticly. Food was starting to get scarse around this season. The next day I had taken Sioul out to forage for berries and teach Sioul how to hunt for deer and caribou. We were hiding behind some bushes looking at a deer grazing a few yards ahead of us.

I wispered to him. "Okay don't make any noise. We don't want it to run off before we can even get close."

"What?" he says.

"I said be quiet." I said raising my voice slightly.

"What did you say?" He says even louder.

"Stop making so much noise." I say, gritting my teeth in frustration.

"I can't hear you!" He continues.

"Grrrrr SHUT UP!!!" I yell.

This caused the deer to bolt off in a quick run before I could even notice in time to react.

"Oh for the love of-!!!"

I ran for the deer but lost track of him before I could make it a few yards away.

"Well this is just great! I can't believe we lost it because of you!"

Sioul:"Well it wasn't my fault! You didn't warn me to be quiet!"

Me:"Your the one who's too deaf to hear anything!"

Sioul:"You went too far that time! You know that I'm deaf in one ear from that accident!"

Me:"Okay! I'm sorry! I know you have trouble hearing. I won't bug you about it anymore. Come on. Let go back home and rest for the day. Maybe tomarrow we should go to the salmon run and see if we can get some fish over there. They're a lot easier to catch anyway."

We headed back and slept until morning. We would be going back to the salmon run the next day.

OOC: Thats about as much as I can do until everyone wakes up. I don't have the creativity to initiate anything to move the roleplay ahead, so I'll leave up to you guy's and I'll try to follow along.

[Ohanzee]

OOC: I think I'll join this roleplay, hope that's alright!

BIC: Silently, sweepingly I dart across the open plain, under the cloudy night sky. Freedom. I could hardly be seen, my jet-black fur blending with the dark surroundings around me. All that could really be seen of my form was the silver-grey fur that ran down my back and on my chest, shimmering as the moon peered around the rain-filled clouds. I loved the feel of the wind in my face as I ran, and the sound of distant thunder awoke my senses even more. Lightning crackled across the sky, sending its fingers to the uttermost edges of the clouds. For that brief moment, you could have seen me, lit up in the radiant light. I continued to run, as the clouds above could no longer carry their heavy burdon, and they let loose the flood of rain. I let it fall onto my fur, it felt as free as the wind.

Halting suddenly, I sensed a change in the wind. I could smell smoke, but as I looked ahead, I saw that it was only the remnants of a dying forest fire. I walked warily around the scorched ground, when another scent caught my nose. That of wolves. More than one, but not many. Perhaps it was a pack? It might very well have been, so I approached with caution. Not many would take kindly to a lone wolf, having taken free choice of leaving a pack. Not that it was entirely what I would have done, had circumstances been different. I continued on, coming near a long snake-like river, and I lowered my muzzle to lap up a drink. The water flowed cooly down my throat, and dripped onto my chest fur. It was then I saw the wolves, though they had not seen me. I remained, as I usually did, in the shadows, clinging to the thing that was my namesake. I watched with grey eyes darting at the four wolves, three adults and one pup. I watched warily, trying to remain hidden in the darkness.

OOC: How's that?

[Nikiski]

OOC~ Basically me and Ken'ichi share the same dream... so I won't retype it here...

Welcome, Ohanzee and Urctos!

That's all right Talist!

BIC~

I wake up to the beautiful sunrise... I open my eyes to find the cave filled with a slight red color.

Wait, there's somebody on my back...

"Ken'ichi... what are you doing on top of me?" I say as I am staring at nothing.

"What? I'm next to you!"

"Whoa?" I turn to see Ken'ichi on my right... who's this on my back then...

I turn my head around...

I see a cub on my back... white maine... black and silver fur...

He slowly opens his eyes, looking in my direction...

"Eer, good morning!" I say.

[Ken'ichi]

OOC: Welcome, Ohanzee and Urctos!


BIC:
I slowly wake up from that dream, still feeling Kamali's hug...Wait, it's morning already?

I could hear Niki waking up with a few groans and movement, "Ken'ichi... what are you doing on top of me?"

Huh? I'm not on Niki, "What? I'm next to you!"

Niki looks at me like if he's losing his mind or something. I know it can't be Kirchy because she's right next to me, and Koda is with Kenai on the other side of the cave...Wait...the Soul Quart...the choice...brother bear...

"Eer, good morning!" I hear Niki say.

I shrug and lie down again to sleep, I'm still pretty sleepy and I can wait a little bit more to see the Soul Quart's promise.

"Hehe, good morning Niki." My ears perk up and I open my eyes...that voice...It can't be...

I raise my head and slowly turn around, a cub is sitting on my brother's back. Black fur...silver maine...one white eyepatch on his right eye...silver fur on his arms and legs...

"It's good to see you again, Ken'ichi...in person..."

I stand up, my eyes fixed on the cub, he just looks at me with a grin, probably knowing what to expect. I put one paw on Niki's body, stand up on my hind legs and look at his eyes...Those ocean blue eyes...

"Kamali?" I had to ask, Spec told me if I dreamt of what my friend was gonna be...and I dreamt about Kamali...and he told me he would be here...I had to make sure.

The cub just grinned wider, "The one and only!"

As soon as he cried that, he jumped on me and we both started wrestling about, rolling around the cave. It's him! I know it! Those eyes...this strength...the feeling of his touch...this personality...everything! It's really him!

"It's really you!" I cry as we keep wrestling about.

"It sure is!" He cries back.

After a while of wrestling, we stop and sit up to catch out breath. None of us could pin each other, our strengths are evenly matched, we have to wrestle all day till one of us gets tired to make a pin.

I turn to Kamali and hug him, "it's good to have you back..."

Kamali hugs me, "I'm glad to be back."

I part from the hug and look around. Uh-oh, our little game has awoken everyone up, everyone is staring at us. I laugh nervously and look at Spectrue.

"It worked."

[Nikiski]

"Hehe, good morning Niki." The bear cub says.

Immediately I resemble Kamali, Ken'ichi's brother... Black fur... silver maine... one white eyepatch on his right eye... silver fur on his arms and legs... He says.

"It's good to see you again, Ken'ichi...in person..."

Ken'ichi is probably quite surprised to hear his voice again. Ken'ichi stands up on his hind legs and puts one paw on my body. Ken'ichi asks.

"Kamali?"

"The one and only!"

As soon as Kamali cries that, he jumps on Ken'ichi and they both starts wrestling about, rolling around the cave. I watch closely and I'm glad that he has a brother to play with now... as I'm not always there to play with him...

"It's really you!" Ken'ichi cries.

"It sure is!" Kamali cries back.

Well everyone's awake now, staring at the two brothers as they stop and catch their breaths. Ken'ichi turns to Kamali and hug him, "it's good to have you back..."

"I'm glad to be back."

Ken'ichi looks at Spectrue and says, "It worked."

Remembering what I promised Spectrue last night about showing him to do all the bear stuff, I smile and turn to Kamali and Ken'ichi.

"OK guys, I'm gonna go do some business with Spectrue, you guys can go play... be back in an hour so we can head to the river for breakfast, OK?"

I turn to Spectrue as we walk outside the cave, "so... what do you wanna know first, Spec?"

[Talist]

OOC:Thanks for your patience. Yeah, this post takes place right after Kadzait's post on page 24, and I'll modify it as soon as I can to bring it up to the events of the day.

BIC:

I lift my head to the rain, letting it trickle down my muzzle and drip from my fur, listening to the sound of heavy drops pattering on the stone around me. The creeping traces of sleepiness disappear, along with my earlier restlessness. Pupils wide to drink in what little light is to be had, I continue my watch. There is no sense of threat in the darkness. I can only trust that tomorrow’s clearer skies will bring a change to the salmon run. Now, though, I revel in the chill of the wet night. It is something akin to the thrill I’d felt in the human village, where the edge to sensations brought with them a sheer vitality.

A flicker of movement by the river. Gathering myself in a wary crouch, I search the night for the source, but my ears thingy forward. Am I letting my hopes deceive me, or…

“Hi guys,” the wolf says, a smile touching his expression.

I leap down from the rocks, calling for Sila and Nertuark as I go. Prancing sideways, tail high and wagging furiously, I whine my delight at seeing Kadzait return looking well, though deeply tired, his fur spattered, but not with blood. The ground is thick with mud, but this only makes me laugh. The raven, shuffling back and forth, apparently disapproves of the general atmosphere, shaking his wings against the damp, he meets my glance beadily. “Many thanks, friend, for bringing this errant wolf back to us,” I tell him, smiling. Mollified, Wroc makes some pleased noises in return. I step back to watch as Sila and Nertuark join in the greetings, curious to see how the other wolves would respond. Wait, hadn’t Kadzait asked me to think about an idea before he left? Here we had the makings of a small pack. I feel a rush of conflicting emotions for some moments, but finally settle on resolution. If my past experiences stirred such intense feelings in me, it was all the more reason to do everything in my power to keep this hope alive. I would not let my weakness hurt my new friends.

Nertuark cheerfully keeps up a running stream of questions, but I manage to cut in smoothly for a moment.

[Kirchy]

I hear cubs laughing and it wakes me up. I see Ken'ichi wrestling woth a cub. The cub has black fur...silver maine...one white eyepatch on his right eye...silver fur on his arms and legs... Everyone else wakes up.

"It worked." Ken'ichi says to spectrue.

Then I realized the cub was from the Sould Quart. He was Ken'ichi's choice.

"OK guys, I'm gonna go do some business with Spectrue, you guys can go play... be back in an hour so we can head to the river for breakfast, OK?" Niki says.

I stand up and walk over to Ken'ichi and the cub. "Hello," I say softly.

[Spectrum]

Waking up to a few cries and and happy yelps, I peered my eyes around, nearly closed, and slowly lifted my body up.

"Ohhhnnn..." I mapped my mouth a bit, looking around and saw Ken'ichi before me, standing beside...another cub? Ken'ichi looks at me.

"Eh-heh...What's goin on, bud?"

"It worked." He said with a pleasing smile. I watched him closely. What worked? Finally, it triggered in the back of my mind that what I had told Ken'ichi last night about the soulquart revealing results this morning...Well, I suppose I was right. It occured to me that the bear cub that was beside Ken'ichi striked a very similar resemblance to the brother bear I saw in Ken'ichi's nightmare, or dream, whatever you wanna call it that we purified him in... Although this cub was of course smaller and about the size of Ken'ichi, not like that of the spirit I glanced at before leaving the dream... Then it also struck me that Niki had promised something else too... He asked me if I would like to learn how to be a bear out here....I decided why not?, for the pure fact I wanted a vacation for a while from the craziness in the other parts of the world, plus I needed to know how to be a bear, if I was gunna use the form...

"OK guys, I'm gonna go do some business with Spectrue, you guys can go play... be back in an hour so we can head to the river for breakfast, OK?" Niki was talking to the others... He turns to me and motions for me to come along. I follow. We exit the cave...
"So... what do you wanna know first, Spec?"
I looked at him and then thought for a moment...

"Well....what is a bear's basic diet?"
"Diet?" He asked.
"I mean, what do you mostly eat?"
I was begining to get hungry just thinking about it...

[Nikiski]

"Well....what is a bear's basic diet?" Spectrue asks.

"Diet?" I am curious by what he means...

"I mean, what do you mostly eat?"

"Well... we eat everything... from berries to fish... or even small animals and moose..."

Spectrue gives me a look.

"...but we usually leave the animals alone... unless food is scarce..."

I pick up some berries from a bush as we sit down.

"See, you use your claws to grab them... go ahead and try."

[Ken'ichi]

As Niki and Spec walks off, Kirchy walks up to us.

"Hello," She says softly.

"Good morning Kirchy." I greet her and point to Kamali, "Kirchy, this is my brother the Soul Quart gave me. His name is Kamali."

Kamali nods, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kirchy."

Oh yeah, that good manners of Kamali is still there, I thought he wasn't going to use them since he's younger than he used to me.

Kirchy giggled, "Well it's nice meeting you too."

"Me and Kamali were about to head outside and catch up on things." I told her of our plans, then I ask, "you might wanna come along?"

Kirchy smiled but shook her heard, "If you have things to catch up, I think it should be between you two. I just want to try and find Kia today, I hope she's in the listening mood today."

I practically gave up on her, but Kirchy still tries, "Ok, you can call me if you need me."

She nods and runs off. I look at her as she runs off into the distances...Wait, what am I doing...

"Seems like you got yourself a girlfriend." Kamali pounces me with a laugh.

"Yeah yeah yeah, enough with the jokes Kamali." I pad outside, "I still see you're still the jokester."

"You haven't changed a bit either." I hear Kamali say as he catches up to me."

I scoff a little, "Yeah right, you should've seen me how much I've changed ever since I...well, you know..."

Kamali just looks at me, "Ken'ichi, I've seen you up there how much you have changed. But when that Darksoul has started growing in your soul, you weren't the Ken'ichi I've used to know..."

I look at my brother as we keep walking in the forest, he just smiled, "So let's just say the Ken'ichi I was watching over was half of you, and your other half was slowly incubating, as if I was watching over the egg that would complete your soul."

I smiled back at him, "I guess I kind of understand that, I mean, you have seen me through a lot."

"Yeah." Kamali began to be a little hyper and starts jumping around me, "Especially when your anger got the best of you and you got struck by the arrow..."

I stop walking when Kamali said that, I sigh deeply as I start remembering that day, I can still clearly remember Niki's face when he saw me, I could've heard his whispers and crying when I was suffering from that severe pain, when I was too weak to even do anything, I was just lying there, feeling more pain and colder as the time passed.

"I guess I shouldn't have ranted about that." I hear Kamali say as he sits down and his ear lowers.

I chuckle, "Ah don't be, you're a cub now, it's normal for cubs of my age to rant about that sometimes."

Kamali smiles and pounces me again, tumbling me back and having him on me, "I'm glad to hear you're not upset with me, I was scared of you being upset after just minutes of my reincarnation."

I placed my paw on Kamali's head and look straight into Kamali's eyes, "Now that you're a cub just like me, I won't be able to fully depend on you like I used to do when you were older and bigger. But now that you're a cub, maybe we'll have a better time of doing stuff together. And we can cherish everything with do and plan, as brothers once again."

"Yeah, like wrestling with each other." He says and immediatly pins me to the ground.

Oh great...Now I get why he decided to pounce me so he can have a better chance of pinning me, "Pretty sneaky, Kamali."

I glare at him, he takes it seriously and gets off of me. But I immedialty jump and pin him to the ground.

"Hey, that's not cherishing!" He complains as he tries to get out of my grip.

I laugh, "You didn't dissapeared, at least now I know I'm not dreaming."

Suddenly, a familiar scent is picked up by my nose. I get off of Kamali and sniff around.

"What's wrong?" Kamali asks.

"I smell something...a bear..." Ah, too many bears around here, of course I smell bear, "No wait...I recognize this scent."

Kamali starts sniffing, "I don't, who is it?"

I continue sniffing, I look down to see a pawprint that of an adult bear, "Hold up..." I sniff the pawprint, "Hey, smells like..."

I hear a rusttling in the bushes, I sniff again and slowy pad to the bush, "Urctos? Is that you?"

[Kanoa]

~OOC~ I'm oblivious here XD Uhh...should I activate my character agian..I feel I need your permission, guys
(So I won't disrupt anything)