DotW: I'll Follow You

An RP between Kris'tran and Moth with lilwyverngirl as Kris'tran and halloumicheese as Moth.

----------
lilwyverngirl said the following:

The earth was screaming for help.

It had buckled and bucked in a way that Kris'tran had never experienced in his entire life and for one of the first times in his life the very ground he had trod upon had actually elicited a strict sense of fear in the wolf's heart. His large paws had struggled to keep himself upright as all the birds in the forest seemed to take flight all at once prior to the shaking of the earth. But what caught his eyes even more was the black smoke spewing from the south in a place that had become terribly familiar to the young Courser now.

Fellfang was in trouble!

He had taken to running toward the pack lands once it became clear that the danger was imminent for the pack and they may need help. Kris'tran's heart flew straight for Moth and he worried for her safety. Would she be alright? Should they shelter in Aryn? What can I do to help them?

Adrenaline fueling him with strength that put a temporary stop to the terrible ache in his chest, he plowed forward until he broke past the borders and into the plains beyond heading straight for what he thought was a group of wolves trekking away from the direction of Fellfang Territory.

Moth!

----------
halloumicheese said the following:

The earthquake, it seemed, had shaken lands for miles around and settled the inhabitants of these small patches of land into a certain disarray. The tremors had only lasted a few minutes, although for many it had felt like longer - felt like the seconds dripped by with the speed of a melting icicle on the roof of a cave. Some had been hurt, and almost all had feared for their lives, or feared for the lives of their loved ones.

It had taken everything she had to turn away from the fire, but she had fought to break the spell it wove around her and made her way toward the panicked calls of her pack. From across the territory the Fellfangir gathered, coming together in drips and drabs to follow the Jarl to safety. Moth had found the fleeing party when they had already left the boundaries of their home, forced out by the flames that had swallowed the lands in one gulp. From a distant safety they looked back upon their home, a furious burning blot upon the landscape.

Home it had been. But home it was no longer. They could not remain there, could not hope to forge a life on lands blackened and charred by flames. There were some things the earth could not come back from. So Fable had gathered his followers and decided that they must move on, to a new place. To new hope.

The news was met with sadness from many, but for Moth, it set a panic. Move? To where? She had built so many roots here, made so many plans.

Ruffian. The Dreamwolf had turned her away again, and it had hurt just as much as the first time, but being close by had always seemed like something of a safety net. No matter what happened she had been able to go back, to see him again, to hear his voice. If they moved on, this would surely mean the end.

Olega. Moth had only ever sought out Fellfang in the first place in the hopes that her beloved mother might return to her own ancestral home. Olega hated Fellfang with every fibre of her body but it was the only constant thing that united them, other than their blood. If they moved on, would she lose all hope of ever seeing her mother again?

Kris'tran. The thought of him brought a flutter to her stomach, a familiar feeling of late. The thought of leaving him behind seemed worst of all. They had made so many promises, dreamed of so many futures. They were young and this was new to them, and she was not stupid enough to think that this could be forever. But he was kind and committed to her. He was steady and constant. She had to find him; what she would do when she did, she didn't truly know.

As the pack began to move Moth stuck by the edges, waiting until they neared the familiar territory of Aryn. She had been considering the best way to slip out of sight when his scent found her, and she turned to see his familiar pelt streaking across the open land toward the group. All appearances forgotten, she sped away from the Fellfangir to meet him in the lands beyond. She skidded to stop, pushing her head toward the comfort and warmth of his neck.

"Fellfang is destroyed," She whispered in his ear. "The Jarl plans to lead us to new lands. A new home."

----------
lilwyverngirl said the following:

As a familiar pelt broke off from the group of wolves, Kris'tran felt as if he could crumple to the ground with relief as his legs weakened from the rush of happiness that the fire had not taken the one wolf who was most important to him now. When Moth pushed her head up into his ruff he curled his head gently in a return of the embrace, drinking in her scent as their reuniting washed away any thought or feeling from the nagging chest pain that normally wouldn't leave him behind.

Their touch seemed only too brief as her whispers in his ear brought him back to cruel reality. He withdrew quickly but carefully as his hazel eyes went wide with horror and disbelief. "Fellfang? Destroyed?" Such a concept was beyond Kris'tran's ability to comprehend. Most of the packs had territories that were quite large - so large that Kris could never think of anything that could totally destroy any of these lands. Perhaps part of the land - but the whole thing? Impossible! "How can that be? Where are you going? What about the alliance with Aryn? What about...?" Kris'tran couldn't choke out the words. He didn't want to ask the question. What about us? It terrified him to think about the answer. Were they over now? Was Moth leaving him?

Suddenly frozen, all he could think about was the times they had had together and what they would do now. Or rather, what would he do now? If Moth leaves with Fellfang, what would he do? The thought came almost instantaneously - he would go with her and Fellfang. But what about Seven? His adoptive daughter deserved to know. But his thoughts remained private as his eyes wandered to the retreating Fellfangir before turning back to Moth.

----------
halloumicheese said the following:

Her words only brought him confusion and pain; his chest trembled and his expression was heavy with the weight of his concerns. He brimmed with questions, reeling one after another from his lips, and Moth only gazed back at him, her wide eyes filled with conflict. She didn't know what to tell him. She didn't know what the answers were, she didn't know where they were going or how far away it would be or what it meant for their future. All she knew, as she glanced over her shoulder at the distant smoking embers that had been home, was that they could not stay here. There was nothing left for them to cultivate, nowhere left for them to shelter and grow.

Moth had felt this before, the fear of having to choose. Twice now she had turned her back on Ruffian, both times for Fellfang, and for the hope of finding Olega. But this could not compare, this was more different than she could ever hope to describe. Something in her stomach churned when she looked back at the Arynian wolf, meeting his worried eyes, and thought about turning her back. She swallowed nervously. She had been wondering lately if the sickness in her belly was truly only a product of worry and not something more.

"I don't know," She whispered back softly, searching his eyes for the support and wisdom he had so often been there to offer. In the depths of despair he always seemed to know the right thing to say or the right path to take, but now? Now they stood in loss and confusion, neither one of them knowing where they could turn. She had seen what seemed like the end of one treasured relationship. She was not sure she could bear to see the end of another.

In silence she drooped her head, feeling more selfish than she ever had before as the worlds left her lips.

"Come with us. Come with me."

----------
lilwyverngirl said the following:

It seemed as though the moment would drag on into eternity for Kris'tran as he waited for Moth to answer his questions and entrities to her. The world seemed to swim before his very eyes as he thought back on the destruction he could clearly see ahead of him in Fellfang and the long line of Fellfangir beginning to retreat. He could see Moth searching his eyes for support and wisdom but all he had was a growing pit of fear of the unknown filling his belly with squirming worms. What about Seven? I can't just leave her without a word. It would be unfair. And the Lady Sovereign... I must at least tell her I am leaving too. The Coursers are becoming fewer and fewer by the day in the pack...

And yet as soon as the words were out of Moth's maw Kris'tran felt the pull to follow the Fellfangir in their retreat from their smoldering pack lands.

He hesitated for a long moment before he finally replied to Moth. "I... I can't just leave Seven without saying goodbye," he said as his voice was taunt with grief and indecision. "I found her when she was a pup and had lost her parents. I can't just abandon her..." It hurt him as his chest began to throb painfully again. He showed no sign of this pain however as he made a final decision. A decision he knew there would be no going back from.

"But I can't just let you go with Fellfang alone," he said as he leaned forward to brush his cheek against Moth's own. "I'll go tell Seven and the Lady that I am leaving and I will follow you. I'm a Courser - I'm sure I can follow your scent trail to wherever you are going. But don't wait up for me.

"I'll follow you. I promise."

----------
halloumicheese said the following:

She felt terrible for making him choose between his home and her. She could see the conflict ripple through him; she could see his thoughts racing behind his eyes. She understood. She knew that she was asking more of him than she had any right to, but it seemed to her that she had spent far too long letting go of precious things. Fellfang.. she needed them. She had a tie to them that she could not break, and still yet hoped that her mother would return to her birth pack so they could be reunited. But she needed Kris'tran too, needed his strength in the times to come.

When he spoke of Seven she found she could not hold his gaze, for fear that the guilt she felt would bleed through. Of course... he had a family in Aryn too. In his endless kindness he had taken in a helpless puppy, lost and alone, and he was rightly hesitant to leave her behind. She was older now, Moth knew, but that did not lessen their bonds. "I understand..." She said quietly, sadly, believing that he would not come. That he could not leave Seven. She would not blame him for that. She could not storm into his life all those months ago and then demand to be held in higher regard than everyone who came before.

But then -

Relief washed over her when he finally replied, and gave her his promise. The words etched into her bones where he pressed against her cheek, his warmth comforting. He was more than she deserved. She closed her eyes tightly, filled with emotions; the desire to keep him close in case the earth shook again and kept him from her, the fear of what would come, the lingering guilt knowing what he had to leave behind. "Thank you," She replied softly, so grateful that he would not leave her to wander alone.

"I will mark the trees as we go to help you follow our trail," She breathed into his ear, her body feeling hot and sick. "I know I ask so much of you," She continued, her brow furrowing. "But when you return... we can..." She exhaled heavily, her words heavy on her tongue. Her orange eyes glinted knowingly. She had suspected, and he should know. A small nervous smile found her lips. "We can raise our family."

----------
lilwyverngirl said the following:

As Moth's expression changed from hope to disappointment and finally relief he was glad to make this decision for Moth. It was the right thing for their lives together and Aryn would survive without him. Seven has grown into a strong wolf despite what has happened when she was a pup and Kris'tran could hopefully send word to her how he was or maybe even travel back to tell her about Fellfang and how things have unfolded for the ally to Aryn. But at the same time his heart broke to leave her behind - it would be a difficult and painful goodbye.

The last words uttered by Moth though made his heart soar again and the pain in his chest nearly melted into nothingness. Pups! He was going to be a father! Kris'tran's eyes sparkled with so much emotion he could hardly contain it, though he smiled warmly at Moth and nuzzled against her neck gently again. "Thank you Moth and I will do all I can to be the mate and father you and they deserve," he told her warmly. "You can never ask too much of me Moth."

He pulled away to see the wolves of Fellfang becoming distant now and he knew Moth would have to return to them and he would have to return to his pack to say his goodbyes. "I don't want your pack to worry and I must hurry to say goodbye so I don't lose your trail. Goodbye for now Moth, I'll see you soon." Kris'tran didn't want to leave but he knew he must. He turned back toward Aryn lands and headed back to the borders to say his goodbyes.

----------
halloumicheese said the following:

Her smile grew. The nerves lowered to a gentle simmer and she leaned into his nuzzle as though she belonged there. For the briefest moment she felt peace, even in the midst of such sorrow and such upheaval. Protected by his touch it seemed like nothing could hurt her, nothing could end this calm. When he pulled back reality began to creep in again, but as he bade her farewell she could still hold onto that rare feeling of serenity, safe in the knowledge that it would soon return. That he would find her in Fellfang, and they could begin to forge their own chapter.

"I will wait for you," She replied, gently licking his cheek before he turned away. He would say goodbye to Aryn - and then they would be together. She watched him retreat, and when she turned back to the Fellfangir to rejoin the group, she could not hide her smile.