It had been hard to follow, the conversation that occurred between Losa and Emerie, but the tiny tempest had picked up on the most important things: Losa had apparently decided not to go see the ocean today, but instead wanted to head back home, to the pack. Iku was filled with an unsatiable curiosity, and so had wanted to learn more about the ocean, and thus was disappointed about this change. But more than that, there was something about joining… Or… Emerie to come? Ikuseghan could not really follow it all that well, but she still looked at Losa‘s mouth, trying to pick up as much as she could. A happy yip slipped through her lips and her tail began to wag when Losa nuzzled against her, apparently ending the conversation, and Iku found herself forgetting all about the ocean… for now. Ikuseghan returned the caress happily, not realizing that it was something that her father would disapprove of. After all, once she got a little bit older she would not be allowed to touch the rainbow colored wolves anymore, lest the contact damage her. Not physical damage, so much, but it could transform her. It would be more difficult for her to understand than it would be for most of the others in her litter - after all, how could her father adequately explain to her what they were, and what she was to become? Even worse, she would be more sensitive to the touch of the Arcus Irae, because she was to be a Haeld, not an Oferweder. Of course, there was no way for her father to know this, not until she changed, but it would be imperative for her to not touch any that she bonded with. If she bonded with any that is.
Losa pushed her gently, and Ikuseghan happily started off at a little trot back towards her home - she had wanted to explore the rest of this place, but she was just as happy to spend time with her new friend. It was not that she was simple witted or had any retardation of her mental abilities, she simply was happy with anything that she was able to do. She was an optimistic wolf, more than she should be for one who had such a strong disability, but she made the most out of what she was given. She was naïve yes, but sweet and innocent too. After about five minutes, she swung her head backwards to say something to Losa, and realized that Emerie was no longer with them. She whined, an obnoxious high-pitched sound given that she could not hear herself. But then, she started to run back the way they came, thinking perhaps they had moved too quickly for Emerie, but after about 20 feet she stopped, and looked about - there was not even a hint of her perfume - it seems that Emerie had not even had a thought to leave with them. It was not that she had gotten lost, no. She had chosen not to be with them. Iku moved to Losa‘s side and rubbed against her limb, weaving her way in between the tall, lean stilts.
“Why EE-mer-ee no come? She no like us?”
It was a sad thought, especially considering that Losa and Emerie were the first two wolves that she had met whom she was not related to. Well, aside from Scamander, but he was essentially her brother, so he did not count. The little heiress could not understand why anyone would not like her, nor would she be able to comprehend that for a long time given her disability. She knew that she was different from others, but why should that set her apart? Why should that change how others viewed her? Why should she be kept at bay, at a limb’s length away? For now, she would not even put her deafness down as a reason for Emerie to have left, instead she placed her mind on other things.
“She have family miss her? She hungry? Tired?”
Ikuseghan shook her head, trying to think of more reasons of why Emerie would not have come, just as her own stomach rumbled. She was young enough still that she relied on the food supply given to her by her mother. Most often, Ikuseghan ate food that Seraphina regurgitated for her as she was unable to hunt herself. But occasionally, when she was really upset, Iku still tried to nurse off of her mother‘s mammaries, solely for the comfort that it lent to her.
“Losa? Me hungry… Food?”
Ikuseghan faced Losa expectantly, not understanding that Losa probably did not have anything in her stomach fresh enough to regurgitate up… And not understanding that not every wolf was expected to share their meals with her. Vladimir made sure that Seraphina was always full both for her sake and so that the pups would always be full. Ikuseghan skipped toward Losa like a tiny bunny hopping, until she was close enough to reach her nose into the corner of Losa’s mouth. It was what she always did with her mother Sera, so why should be any different now?
Word Count: 863
|