A wide river dominates this section of the forest. Romance is in the air, and wolves of all ages come to search for their mate.
‘I’m sorry.’ Apologies were not something that she was used to. After all, apologies were seen as a sign of weakness in kalak society. But it was just another sign that she was not in Faraway any more, and she hadn’t been for a while. There were most certainly wolves here who were evil, who could not be trusted… but it wasn’t every wolf. ‘I didn’t mean – I wasn’t -’ Olya tried to slow the beating of her heart – she took a few deep breaths and then held the last one, and found that finally her chest wasn’t being terrorized by the vicious thrashing of her beating heart. She was still tachypneic but it was not nearly as bad as it had been. Slowly, her coat of feathers smoothed down along her back so that they were no longer puffed up, and as the other female backed away, Olya shook out her coat, trying to shake out her nerves. ‘I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have to… I mean, no… I know I shouldn’t have… I really am sorry, I promise!’ Slowly, Olya nodded her head, but then shook her head… and then shrugged. Really, what was the right response to that? “I… um… it’s okay. I scare easily.” ‘No! I mean – you just looked… like a fox. Orange. Pointy muzzle. But – you smelled like a wolf… and the feathers – I just wanted to make sure. I’m sorry.’ There she was apologizing again. Olya managed a smiled and she shrugged again… another useless body motion. Frustrated with herself and her lack of ability to conversate normally with other wolves, she furrowed her brows. ‘I’m Iliamna. …mane? I see no mane, other than your feathers, which are more like a cape… unless that was what you were talking about – ah, I guess I’m not very good at talking to people either.’ Olya growled a little and shook her head, realizing she had made a big mistake – she had told this stranger that she was a kalak… only she wasn’t. Not any more. “I am… I guess I don’t have a mane. I am… well I am an Ethiopian wolf. I said I was a kalak wolf, because I… well I am. Or I was. I used to be a kalak – a maned wolf – I fell into a magical void and when I awoke, I was this – a kalak no longer. Kalaks have manes of black fur surrounding their napes. I guess… I guess I sort of do have a cape of feathers. I guess I am a caped Ethiopian!” Olya paused for a second, then chuckled once, her laughter quickly fading. It was only her first or second attempt at making a joke, and she had quite clearly failed. “I… I’m not very funny either…” The words were muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath and sighed. “Umm…Iliamna is a pretty name. And… we could just be not good at talking together. So where are you from? I am from… well… Originally from faraway in a place called Faraway. But… the princess I served joined a pack here called Graes Waegholm… but then she was killed. I guess I still lived there for a while, but it is closed for now. I knew the alpha but… I have not seen him in months. So I am homeless now.” She giggled nervously. “I guess that isn’t the best thing for a wolf who is terrified of everything, is it?” |
Slave of her own Chains || No heart || Part of Graes Waegholm |
♥dante |