Life with Koda: Cont'd

[Talist]

OOC: Sorry Kadzait, I didn't get time to finish my post last night, so the changes I made this morning might have the potential to change your character's last reaction. I'm soo sloooow! She's going to try and make the situation a bit more comfortable.

[Chasca]

I would have answered Kadzait's question on him being dead, really I would. But they continued without me being able to get a sentence in, and instead I watch the two wolves chat as if old friends. Remaining silent during their conversation, I manage to give a small weak smile on Talist's remark towards me. I don't know quite how to describe how I'm feeling...could it be...jealousy? Ah, yes. That. Stupid emotions. No, I'm not jealous of the fact that they're getting along pretty much perfectly, although Kadzait seemed a bit embarrassed at first, but the fact that I can't, or couldn't, act the same. First impressions don't seem to matter much, but they do to me. And here was this other wolf who probably had some sort of dark past, I mean you don't just leave your pack out of boredom, and she was being very...mature and good natured about it and everything towards him.

I step away a few inches, more from habit than anything else, and decide to play quiet observer for the moment. That's when I hear Kadzait's comment on the last couple of hours. I want to ask him what the heck happened, that's my first instinct, but I decide...hey! Let Talist ask, since I am only listening right now. And listening's so much easier.

Bleck...I am such an idiot. Being stubborn and letting my emotions get in the way...no, being stubborn and being icy about it. Yeah, I like that. Icy's good...it's hard to get past. It's safe. Of course I'm perfectly reasonable, even now, and realize that it's my fault I am so socially inept, not Talist's or Kadzait's or anyone else's. Still, I can't help but to wonder what happened to Kadzait.

[Kadzait]

OOC: No worries, Talist! That's what the modifier button is for! I fixed it up a bit, so be sure to take a peek!

BIC: As Talist continues to talk, I notice from the corner of my eye that Sila was backing off a bit, almost as if she was observing the scene. However, her face looks like she doesn't know what to think. And did I detect the hint of jealosy? I wondered what she could be jealous about? She did look interested, however, after I had mentioned my, er, brush with other wolves and I feel I should tell my story. I do trust both Sila and Talist, something inside me just allows me to trust them so well. Perhaps it was because they were so different from the members of my former pack, Talist and Sila had a certain aura about them, that showed they too knew what I had gone through, and knew what it meant to lose a pack.

[Talist]

Though I know that Sila has been deeply interested in finding out what had happened to her friend, after her half-hearted smile I can feel her withdraw, distancing herself from us. Her words from the storytelling come back to me, “…traveling blindly…the first friends I’ve had in a long time…” Thoughts come spilling into my mind with the memory. Perhaps Kadzait himself had been the first to extend acceptance. Something had happened to Sila, something that would have left a deep impression on her, but here she must have taken her first steps towards crossing the challenges of her past, have extended trust, have risked her feelings. In return, the bears, Kadzait, had given her friendship she might not have even let herself wish for. And no matter how I approached things now, I was going to create some change in the dynamics—I already had. Does she doubt her abilities? Will she come to recognize that despite any differences between us, that at least in some part, we share the same desire? One thing is clear to me now. I would not gain her confidence with words.

I take a short leap to the river bank, flicking water from my back paws. By turning my head slightly I have a side-glance at Sila, but she still seems inclined to set herself as an observer. My interest in Kadzait’s story had been running under the surface all this time. I wish that Sila would ask him. She has the most right to do so, knowing him better. At least as a listener I can lend support. Something tells me that this is what Kadzait may need most of all.

[Chasca]

I'm perfectly content, or as content as I can be, just standing there listening, but it seems that Talist isn't going to ask Kadzait about everything. I see her head move in my direction...what? Does she expect me to? Gah...she was the one talking, why must I have to bother to open my mouth, taking in the amount of air necessary to ask such a question? Better yet, how am I supposed to ask such a question? What? Go 'Hey, were you kicked out of your pack or something? Ouch, that's gotta hurt,'

Yeah, right. But it seems that Talist wants to be stubbon--or is it me that wants to be stubborn?--so with an inward sigh, I ask as gently as possible, "Uhm...do you want to tell us...about...everything that happened?"

That was weak. That really was. But what should they expect? Well, it's up to Kadzait now. I'm certainly interested, but it's his business.

[Nikiski]

OOC~ I don't know, but I feel like bringing another character in or something... any suggestions? Should I make it a bear cub to make a trio? or... a wolf? or... ahem... sabertooth tiger? a mammoth? XDD

(Ken'ichi, where ARE you??)

BIC~

I keep wandering around that tree, hoping that I'll find Ken'ichi somewhere near by, but, nope, he's not here...

OOC~

OK, I think I am stuck here and I need to wait for Ken'ichi to come back... so... no more posts for me right now...

[Kadzait]

OOC: So you wanna know about Kadzait's past, eh? Well, you asked for it! It's a rather long one! Sorry!

BIC: There is a short pause after the talking, and it is rather akward. Talist looks over at Sila, and Sila looks back at Talist, almost as if they are communicating with their eyes. Yet even though I cannot understand their form of eye talk, I can tell what they are both wanting to know. They want to know what happened to me, and why I had returned all covored in blood and cuts. Talist gives a grin, and jumps to the water, splashing a bit around. She again looks at Sila, and it seems Sila finally succombs. She turns to me, a bit slowly, and asks if I would like to tell what had happened. I sigh. I knew it was coming. I knew I would have to tell sooner or later, so why was I worrying? Maybe I could beat around the bush a bit....or maybe it was best to be flat out truthful right now. I had nothing left to lose. No, nothing at all.

"Well, if you really want to know..." I say, a tad warily. They seem interested enough, and who wouldn't. I sit down, and begin my story.

"Well, it seems fit that I should start at the very beginning. I grew up in a good strong pack. We had a good strong leader, his name was Zepher." As I said the name, the scar on my side throbbed. I shook it off. "He trusted and respected me. Until that one day.

Well, that day I went out on a leisurly stroll, with just some time to myself. Little did I know, that this stroll would be the last days with my pack. As I was walking, I heard a strange cry for help. I didn't understand the call, and I wondered what kind of animal it could be. Yet I could tell he was in distress. Hurriedly, I ran to the scene, and I found a man, trapped in the rocks above. I suppose he had been climbing, and had fallen in. I wasn't sure what to do, but he heard me and looked down. There was no fear in his eyes, no fear at seeing a wolf. I could tell from his eyes that he was good, not like hunters who had stalked our pack. I knew I had to help him. I ran to the top of the rocks, and with a strong vine, I lowered it to him, and he pulled himself up. He looked at me, and I allowed him to come close, and he stroked the fur on my head. I followed him on his journey for a while. He was alone, and I wondered why. Yet I liked this human, he was kind to me. Anyway, one day, he was going to return to his own pack, and when we reached his lands, I saw the many huts of his people. He turned to me, and though I couldn't understand what he said, his eyes spoke wonders. It was time for him to return to his pack, and it was time for me to return to mine.

I did so, but upon reaching my pack, Zepher came up to me, a look of strong hate in his eyes. Seems wind of my ventures with a human had traveled to our pack.
"It's against all our laws to mack pacts with the two-legged hunters!" he bellowed in my face. His hard silver eyes ate away at me, as he snarled, his sharp white teeth bared to their greatest extent. I knew he meant business.

"What's wrong with what I did? He was in trouble!" I said to him.

"No, you bring a curse on us all!" Zepher barked. I shook my head. I wasn't going to be driven out. Zepher warned.

"Get out." He snarled. I stood my ground. As the pack watched with wide eyes, Zepher struck, leaping on me and biting. I fought back, valiantly, but not strong enough. He pushed me aside, and repeated: "Get out. Now." I had no choice. I left the pack of my birth.

I wandered for a while, all wolves shunning me, the news having spread like wildfire. Then I came upon the Salmon Run, and met my friends here.."

I pause, looking around. It was time to talk about what had happened earlier that day. I sighed. All or nothing.

"Then, just this morning, I heared a crow mention the name of Zepher as he was flying overhead. I asked the crow what he knew, and he told me that my former pack was being attacked by an enemy pack. My heart froze. I still felt my loyalties lay with Zepher's pack, even though they had kicked me out. I decided I needed to go and help my best. Perhaps they would accept me back.
But I thought wrong. Upon my arrival, I began to fight for my former pack, and when they saw me, hate filled their eyes, and they treated me as the enemy. The only problem, was that the enemy pack saw me as their enemy as well. So, in fact, I was fighting on my own.

I managed to escape, and I came back here, and that is how you found me. And that's my story." I stop, heaving a huge sigh. Somehow, it had felt really good to tell it, I had been hiding it for so long. The only problem now is that Sila and Talist would probably now shun me as well, as it wasn't custamary for a wolf to have been in a human's company. Hopefully I had read them right, and they wouldn't abandon me as well. I look to them hopefully, as my side aches again.

OOC: Woah, talk about long post!! I don't think I've ever posted that long! And I was thinking that that human Kadzait found was on one of those journey things where they go to find out themselves, and find out who they are type of journey. Kadzait helped him find that somehow, and now I'm just rambling cause I don't really know what I'm saying.....yah...I mean, I know what I'm saying, but I can't say it in words right....you know what I mean. eh? heh!

[Ken'ichi]

OOC: Hey guys, I'm back! Welcome back Kadzait! Sounds like you had a lot of fun at Disney, glad to hear it!

BIC:

I open my eyes to see the forest right in front of me. It has been hours since I was up there, talking with the spirit of the bear that I have always looked up to...my brother, who's name is Kamali. When we have finished talking, I showed him that I have kept my promise and collected the crystal. Afterwards, Kamali took the crystal and did some sort of magic, which carved something inside the crystal and a rope appeared around the crystal and he placed it around my neck. He told me how proud he was of me, telling me how he'll never stop to look out for me, even after death. However, before he left, he offered me to have my story told to my friends in their dreams.(OOC: Guys, remember this when your character goes to sleep, please!) BIC: Before I could answer, he left. I guess it'll bring no harm, they'll learn many things from that dream...How my family had died because of humans...how afterwards I had lived alone in the forest...How my family's death and fortune had brought me little joy...How I had grown to distrust everyone but myself...And, more than anything else, how lonely I was...

Now, after climbing back down the mountain, I stand in the forest. I pick up the crystal dangling around my neck and hold it at the sun's rays, and I see inside the crystal a carving of some sort of a big bear playing with a little bear. I figure Kamali realized I now have Nikiski as my big brother and carved me and Niki playing in the crystal, either that or these bears is me and Kamali. I sigh, getting ready to show my face back to Niki and the others, they're probably worried about me. I pad back to the salmon run, but my thoughts go back to that tree. What the heck. I pad to the tree which holds my slash mark and Kamali's. When I reach the tree, I look at the marks and smile as I place my paw on Kamali's mark. I'm glad he's proud of me, I just wish he was still alive with me.

[Nikiski]

OOC~ Welcome back eh, Ken'ichi!

BIC~

I have almost gone crazy trying to find where Ken'ichi is. I nearly turn the whole forest upside down to find him... I've asked birds, moose, beavers... whoever comes into my sight... but where is he anyways!

I hear something walking closer to me. Ha, it is Ken'ichi! My worries are relieved, and I run to Ken'ichi. He tackles me and I fall on my back, tossing Ken'ichi and plays with him.

"Where have you been? I... um... have been looking for you... What's that crystal thing there around your neck?"

[Ken'ichi]

OOC: Thanks Niki, I had such a great time! I went to a waterfall in the rainforest and dived in, the water was soooo cold. I took pictures so if you all want to see them, seeing that waterfall reminded me the salmon run.

as I walk back to the salmon run, I see some cubs playing around and running back and forth from the salmon run. No sign of my friends yet. I pad along the forest until Niki comes into sight, he sees me and runs to me, I smile and run to him, tackling him as I reach him. He tosses me into the air and we start playing around. We settle down a little when Niki asks me where I was and about my crystal.

"Well...I felt the spirits calling me, so I climbed the mountain all the way to the top." Ok, I now I shouldn't tell Niki right away what I did, but I owe him so much, I had to tell him what I did.

"And as for this crystal." I take out the crystal from my maine and let it dangle in my paw, "You see, when I was younger, my brother and I went to explore a few caves around our den when we were living up in the mountain. That's when we found this crystal, then I promised my brother that I'll take and keep this crystal when I'm living alone." I lifted the crystal to the sun's rays, "And when I was up there, he saw that I kept my promise and did something that placed these figures of a big bear with a small bear inside the crystal, and he also made this rope around the crystal so I could place it around my neck."

I look at Niki, "Uhh...I'm sorry for scaring you like that..."

[Nikiski]

I feel like Ken'ichi isn't telling me the whole story, but it's ok... I figure that I will know it later anyways.

As Ken'ichi explains about his crystal, he holds it with his paw. I look inside the crystal and indeed see a carving of a large bear playing with a small bear. I smiled, and hold out my crystal as well. The same (or very simlar) carving is inside of my crystal too!

"Oh wow, I didn't even notice that..."

Ken'ichi apologize for being gone...

"It's ok, little brother, I'm just glad you're safe. What does this carving in the crystal mean anyways..."

I am in deep thought as we walk our way back to the salmon run.

[Ken'ichi]

As we walk back to the salmon run, I noticed Niki is being troubled by something, thinking of a solution to something maybe. Niki didn't really get a chance at being a big brother yet, seeing as I fell asleep last night and dissapearing very early this morning. I think I should give him a little relief of troubles, so I pounce him.

"Hey big brother, how about a race back to the salmon run?" Niki agrees and takes a head start, "Hey, no fair!"

I try to catch up, but Niki took too much of a head start and beat me to the salmon run.

"No fair Niki, you took a head start."

"You took a head start after Spectrue left."

I giggled, "I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!" I playfuly tackled Niki and tumble him back, falling into the water.

[Nikiski]

I am still thinking about all that have happened, when Ken'ichi suggests a race.

"Hey big brother, how about a race back to the salmon run?"

I say as I get a head start.

"Ha, sure, there's no way you gonna beat me this time!"

"Hey, no fair!"

I laugh as I keep running.

It doesn't take long to run back to the salmon run, and you know what? I get there first.

"Ha, I beat ya!"

"No fair Niki, you took a head start."

"You took a head start after Spectrue left."

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

Ken'ichi tackles me and we both fall into the water. I surface, find Kadzait and the group of wolves talking. I swim ashore and I shake my fur dry. Ken'ichi follows.

[Chasca]

OOC: Welcome back, Ken'ichi!

BIC:

I listen intently until Kadzait finishes, and then I am overcome with shock and confusion. The confusion from the anger that I feel at first, but that's mostly instinct, and I shake it off. But still...helping a human? That's extremely weird...and stupid. Very stupid. Well...I guess we all have our oddities.


"Uhm...well...I can't say what you did in the first place is something I'd do...but I can't say what they did is something I find righteous either," I stammer, looking at the ground.

Well...how am I supposed to handle this? I mean, I really do feel empathy for him, but I also feel awkward about the whole situation. But I won't abandon him. I'd never do that. We all have done things that darken our past, and that I understand. Who knows...maybe he's right. Maybe I'm just being narrow minded. But, then again, some things that even wolves do are stupid...I realize that. And in a way, from the way Kazait said it, it did seem sort of...mild. Oh, I don't know. If I keep this up I'll get confused.

I give Kadzait a reassuring smile. "Well...I won't abandon you just because of that...and I still don't think any differently of you...I'm sorry though." Though, I admit, helping...especially a human, isn't something I'd be accustomed to doing. I also feel anger towards Zepher...I mean, he and his pack, despite it once also being Kadzait's, did hurt my friend. I don't know how Kadzait would feel though if I decided to go and get revenge on them...he may still have feelings towards them after all. But, after what they did to him...would he? This time the anger I feel is directed towards Zepher. Well, now, Kadzait is my friend. Not his. And I protect my friends.

I see Nikiski and Ken'ichi come ashore. Well, at least that means we won't have to save anyone for a little while. I then notice a crystal dangling from Ken'ichi's neck. "Not another one..." I groan, a hint of sarcasm in my voice. I wonder though how he got it, and glance at him questioningly. Hmm...weird.

[Ken'ichi]

I surface from the water, planning to splash Niki for a while, but then I notice him walking out of the water and heading to Sila, Talist, and Kadzait! Haven't seen Kadzait in a while, wonder where he was.(OOC:Take note Ken'ichi hasn't been told about Kadzait's absence)BIC:I pad over to them alongside Niki.

"Hi guys" I greet them.

I take note of Sila glancing at me, probably taking note of my brother's crystal around my neck, but I'm not completely sure.

"Something wrong Sila?"