Those who do not move
Do not notice their chains
She could not for the life of her figure out why her father had insisted on her spending time with pups she did not even know, especially when there were so many more important things going on… like the war that was about to start. Qiturah had insisted that she would be able to be of at least some use - she could at least serve as a distraction if nothing else – that way it would be safer for her father and the other tempests could attack the dirty vampires a little more safely. But Vladimir had grabbed her and roughly cleaned her, slicking down her unruly fur into something that resembled cleanliness and order, before telling her that she was not big enough for war. Qi had of course thrown a temper tantrum over that… which was exaggerated all the more because of the Tempest blood running within her veins. It had all started out with a slow sizzle, where she had gritted her teeth and tried to calmly tell him that just because she was small only meant she couldn’t fight, not that she couldn’t be useful… and then when her father agreed that there were things she could potentially do but that he wanted to ensure her safety first and foremost, it had worsened. The noise had stopped, and she had held her breath until it made her dizzy, light headed. Her lids had grown wide, before narrowing suddenly with a sharp exhalation of her breath. That… that had been when the screaming had started. She had screamed at her father until she ran out of actual words, and then she reverted to instinctual, primal sounds… really more grunts than anythings. There had been high pitched squeals high enough to explode little birds, and loud enough screeches to overpower the closest of thunderclaps. And when, at last, her energy had been depleted and her vocals had gone raw, she had collapsed. The whole while, her father had remained silent, patiently waiting her out, until now. Now he had grabbed her scruff and lifted her, carrying her in a rhythmic swinging motion to the hidden den, until she fell asleep in his grasp.
It was not their normal den – Vladimir had decided that the pups and those vulnerable should wait out the battle in a hidden place, not the normal area marked by their scent. After all, if their enemies managed to infiltrate Dierne Hrof, the Tempests would not be able to know, not being able to sniff them out… and so it was safer this way. Vladimir crossed a shallow river, traveling in the creek a few miles, keeping within it a little way until he at last exited. But along this path, a garden of flowers had been planted. Their perfume prevented tracking anyone, making their way safe. There, he had trotted a little way until he had been able to cross onto the solid rock. While there would still be a faint scent, there would be no organic material to hold onto it, and no soft soil to leave imprints in. It was the perfect place to get lost.
Thus it was that when Qiturah awoke, she was in a cave. Vladimir nuzzled her gently and told her that others would be coming here soon. That she could explore the surrounding tunnels, but not to go to far lest she get turned about. Qi had scoffed half-heartedly, declaring that she would not get lost, not ever, and her father has kissed her. ‘Of course you won’t. I’m going to put a big responsibility on your shoulders, my little love – find as many exits to this cave as you can… just in case.’ The faeling had become quickly intrigued though at the thought of others joining her – would it just be her siblings? – and all thoughts of what he meant by ‘just in case’ went to the back of her mind. But her father had shook his head and explained that he had picked out such a large cavern so as to be able to accomadate quite a few wolves– perhaps some of the rainbows would hide out here, many of the Tempests pups would as well. Qi had tilted her head, her ruff standing on end – there were other rainbows other than Scamander? And… other Tempests pups other than them? For their whole life so far (which had not been very long), Qiturah had only had the company of her mother, her father, Scamander, and her siblings. She had been initially happy when her parents had a second litter, thinking that she would have more options for playmates, but she had quickly found out that it meant the opposite – they were smaller. Not much, but enough to make a big difference. And so the thought of other Tempest pups… would that mean new friends? Or would they be just more wasted space? But before she could ask more questions, her father had given her a last kiss before turning around. And then he had left. He had left her. It had not made sense at the time, until at long last she heard the approach of another set of paw steps. Qiturah, ever stubborn and prideful that her father had been, widened her stance and jutted out her lower jaw.
“Who comes there? I warn you my daddy will skewer your eyeballs, munch them for lunch and snuff out your breath if you hurt a hair on my head!”
Qiturah | Vladimir x Seraphina | Ziva, AsmundIkuseghan, Roan, Maui, Liora | Pup | Lonely Heart | No Legacy
