An Outcast's Revenge - [M] [Grey & Pit] [IC]

[Ashen]

The two wolves spent the day peacefully making their way towards where they hoped the ranch would still be. They chatted all the while, and Kizasi loved hearing about Tala's hopes about what she would find. They even talked about that old story again, about the mare who had been spared, and Kizasi considered it again. Even if it was just a silly story, he loved how happy it made Tala, and he was glad to hear her tell it again.

They traveled through the morning and early afternoon, and as the sun was starting its descent through the sky, Kizasi caught a whiff of...something. He could smell prey. In addition to the animals of the forest, he could smell something new, big, maybe a horse? There were other smells that went with it, smells he couldn't recall smelling before. Could this be the ranch they were trying to find? Kizasi wasn't sure, but seeing the way Tala got excited about it all over again sent a smile to his face. They agreed that it was likely just a few miles more to go, and with a new bounce in their steps, they set off at a run for all the new smells.

Kizasi stopped when he saw the fence in the distance. He couldn't smell any humans, so he wondered if the ranch really could be still there. As he approached, a whole paddock came into view. There was nothing in it except a rusted wheelbarrow, and his heart sank. As he and Tala walked around, they didn't see anyone. Kizasi didn't want Tala to be disappointed, so he took off through the ranch in search of anything worth note.

The buildings were in tact but they smelled as if they hadn't been used in a while. They found several machines they didn't understand, and even old hanging photos and paintings, proof that people had been here once. Hay still littered the entire floor of the barn, and Kizasi sniffed at it, wondering if anyone was around to eat it. The more he looked, however, the more he was sure the ranch had been entirely abandoned.

Back outside, his gaze turned to the paddock again, and he sighed. "Well, here it is," he said softly. "I'm glad it is real." He had wanted them to find more, to make Tala happy, but that wasn't looking so likely anymore. But as he turned to face Tala, he didn't see disappointment in her face at all. In fact, she seemed excited to be here and explore, even if he didn't think there was much to explore. He turned away, confused by her reaction. It was then that he saw a shape on the horizon, just outside the paddock's gate. "Tala," he said quietly, not wanting to alert the strange creature. "What...is that?"

[giraffesrkewl]

After lots of walking and chatter the two wolves did eventually find what they were looking for. The miles and miles they had traveled had paid off at least a little bit when the two came upon the ranch they had heard in the story. It was pretty much silent though besides a creak or two from a rusting machine part spinning in the wind. Every time there was a little sound Tala's ears would flick in that direction in case there as any type of danger around. She couldn't smell any humans. It appeared they had been gone for a long time; however she did know how dangerous a place like this had the potential to be. A wolf had been killed in the story Tala had heard even though she thought of the story as a positive one.

Tala explored as Kizasi did. Sometimes she'd meet up with him; sometimes she would take off on her own scent trail. She enjoyed exploring all that she could even if the whole area seemed like a wasteland these years later.
She looked up at Kizasi as he asked the question. She slowly turned her head to see exactly what he was looking at. It was quite a distance away, but stood on a hill. The silhouette of this creature was really all that was visible at this point from how far away they were.

"Is it..?" Tala said almost inaudible. Her legs immediately began to take her towards the creature. Each step was almost silent as she slowly got closer to the figure in the distance. She was so entranced by this animal that she wasn't even sure if Kizasi was behind her or not. She took her time getting close because she didn't want to scare off what she was very hopeful she was getting closer to.

She watched as the creature lifted its head. With a stomp of its hoof and a snort it turned and disappeared over the other side of the hill. Tala's heart sank as she watched the creature leave. It was at this moment Tala took a quick second to glance behind her and see where Kizasi was at. It didn't really matter to her though because her focus was on the horse that disappeared over the hill. What if it was her?

She trotted a little bit as she began up the hill but slowed right as she got to the top, not totally sure what she would be face to face with on the other side. Her eyes peered over the top of the hill and she looked down upon a heard of wild animals. A heard of horses. There were.. maybe 9 or 10? She didn't take enough time to really count. She did notice at least two young foals though who stood behind their mothers who stood alert and facing the predators that were Tala and Kizasi. Tala switched her eyes to the closest horse; the one who had just been on the ridge. That's when she noticed something about her. Her fur was flecked with different shades of grey and white. She was a little bonier than the rest of the heard and leaned on one side of her hip more than the other; a sign of arthritis probably. As she studied the mare she noticed the faint scaring that roped around her neck and down her torso. There were patches where hair had not grown back at all but also spots that had fur but still scarred. Tala realized she was standing very close to the mare. The one from the story. She was old now; grey and fragile with the years that had passed. The wolf hadn't lost his life for nothing.

The mare stared back at Tala; ears erect and swished her tail back and forth. There was something familiar about Tala to this mare. For some reason she wasn't scared. She didn't alert her herd to flee at the site of the predator. She stood her ground and waited.
Tala moved forward. She took one step at a time. The mare did the same and soon predator and prey stood nose to nose practically. Tala wasn't even sure what she was feeling in this moment. It was.. peaceful if she had to put a word to it. The moment was probably shorter than it felt because it felt like it could have been an our the two exchanged their silent.. understanding?

After only a minute or two the old mare let out a whinny and nodded her head towards Tala; letting a snort out of her nose as she did. She then turned quietly back to her herd and rejoined them. They all turned and headed in the opposite direction of Kizasi and Tala. Tala just watched silently and in awe. She turned her head and looked at Kizasi right after the horses became just about out of view. "It's all real.. she's real."

[Ashen]

Kizasi trailed behind Tala, curious to see how she would react to the horse now in front of them. The mare was holding its ground, clearly afraid but also curious. Kizasi guessed that it used to be part of the humans’ herds back before the ranch had been abandoned. When the horse took off, he shrugged lazily. If the horse had been smart, it would have run away long before now. Kizasi got up to leave, but he saw Tala. She wore a dejected look in her soft eyes, and he padded up to her. He wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure how. Seeing where the horse had gone, Kizasi nudged Tala to follow after it. The wolves made their way over the hill, and they finally caught a glimpse of what was waiting on the other side.

An entire herd of horses of varying breeds and ages stood in the fields there, watching the predators approaching them. When he saw them, Kizasi absently wondered how easy it would be to catch one, and how long he and Tala could eat from it. But Tala clearly had other things on her mind; she seemed so fascinated by these dumb creatures, and Kizasi didn’t understand it. He saw them as mindless meals that had yet to be caught, but if nothing else, their presence here did confirm that the ranch had been inhabited once not that long ago. He couldn’t imagine how else all these horses would have gotten here. He was growing bored of watching them already, but then he noticed something about the mare they had followed here. It had scars that aligned with the ones the horse from the story would have, and suddenly, Kizasi understood Tala’s amazement.

So the story was true. The dark wolf considered what that meant. It had seemed so unrealistic to him, a wolf giving itself for a creature so much lower on the food chain, so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but here was the proof that that horse had survived, and was still surviving, and was living proof of the power of one wolf’s sacrifice. It still wasn’t necessarily a big deal, but Kizasi found himself watching Tala more and more. She took so much more meaning from the story. Tala was moving towards the mare with a gentleness in her steps, and to Kizasi’s surprise, the mare didn’t run away. Instead, they got close enough to press their foreheads together. It was beautiful, and altogether confusing.

Kizasi watched from a safe distance away. He knew if he approached, the mare would leave, and Tala would be disappointed. He couldn’t imagine any creature ever wanting to get that close to him. Before he’d joined the pack, he had been a malicious thing. If a prey animal bothered him for any reason, he killed it without thought, even if he hadn’t been hungry. Something like a horse would undoubtedly sense that about him. It was a big difference between him and Tala, their kindness, their compassion, and as he watched the understanding pass between her and the horse, Kizasi couldn’t help but realize he wanted what Tala had.

His mother had raised him to be a cold-blooded monster with no allies and no regard for the world around him. Revenge had been the only thing on his mind, even when he was a small pup. He’d never questioned that goal, never cared about what he had to do to achieve it. And as a result, now, he was a lonely, pathetic being whom other creatures feared, a soulless wolf that would not leave any kind of mark on the world once he was done with it. Tala was different; Tala touched everything around her, brought sunshine where there was none and smiles all around her. She was a kind, compassionate wolf, and the world loved and appreciated her. Kizasi understood why. And maybe… Maybe he could change and follow in her path.

After the horses had left, Tala finally turned around to look at Kizasi. He coughed awkwardly, trying to make it seem like he hadn’t spent that whole time watching her. “Oh,” he mumbled, absently scratching at his ear. “Yes, I guess it was.” He turned towards where the herd had disappeared and let out a dreamlike sigh. “I’m glad stories like that have some merit to them. It’s…humbling, knowing that the actions of one wolf can have such powerful, lasting consequences.” He wondered if anything he’d ever do in his life would have such an impact. If he could really change himself for the better, turn himself into someone his mother would have hated, that Tala might…love. A blush rose to his cheeks at the thought. He doubted creatures generations after him would remember him, but… A part of him still hoped.

With the herd gone, the two were alone on the ranch once more. Kizasi turned his gaze skyward and guessed at the time. Now that they had experienced what they’d set out to see, there was nothing left but to head back to the pack. Tala no doubt had lots to tell her father, and Kizasi had a lot to think about—what his mother really meant to him, what his mission would result in, how he would live with himself now. What his future would look like, if he could dare to believe in a future. It was all so overwhelming, but he supposed he had plenty of time to think on it.

He looked at Tala, and with a soft grin, he suggested, “Shall we head back?”

[giraffesrkewl]

Tala's body was radiating with a feeling she really couldn't even put into words. She was so happy this story was real. It meant so much to her. There is so much more than just predator and prey; she thought. She thought about how every single creature on this planet had a soul, a personality, a family. Yes, the food chain typically worked the way anyone would think it would; but it took one wolf to not act on immediate instinct and well.. that changed so much. That wolf gave it's life so that mare could have hers. That wolf gave it's life so that the mare could go on and pass on her genes. The mare could tell her foals this story and maybe they would grow up to have a different outlook on life. Life is so mysterious and complex. Tala knew she'd never be able to wrap her mind around that fully. She loved it; though. She knew in this moment, one day, she'd tell her pups that story. She'd follow up by telling them how she met the mare. She hoped they'd grow up like the wolf who gave his life for this mare.

It took Tala a second to snap back into it and realize Kizasi had said something to her. "Sorry, wow I just.." Tala started. "I just can't believe it." She was glowing. Her tail wouldn't stop swaying. She shook her head. "Yes, we should get back before my father comes looking for us. That wouldn't be good." She let out a small laugh as she brushed past Kizasi; heading back in the direction of her pack.

"Thank you for sharing this moment with me and for coming all this way out here with me." Tala said genuinely. Kizasi didn't have to do that. It was kind; whether or not that was his intention. Tala could be fairly naive and it showed in this situation even though she wasn't aware. She had no idea Kizasi had a different motive. She figured he was doing this because he cared for her and because he truly wanted to be part of this pack. She had no idea about his alternate motive. She had no idea that at the start of this Kizasi pictured himself standing amongst her entire pack who lay bloodied and lifeless before him.

Tala pictured something very different. At the start she hadn't necessarily had a view for her future in mind but now, now she did. She hadn't done much thinking about her future before. She knew that the pack one day would be hers and her mates whoever that would be. She had never pictured who it would be really. Lately that had changed. She was starting to picture Kizasi in her life. She really enjoyed his company. The best things come when not expecting them and that was Kizasi.

Tala had been strolling alongside Kizasi quietly as they began their voyage back. She didn't notice she was doing so; but every minute or two she'd glance up as Kizasi and watch him as he walked just a few steps in front of her and a small smile grew on her face each time she glanced up at him.

[Ashen]

The two wolves began their long journey home in silence, with a gentle breeze rushing through their fur and the earth cool beneath their feet. Kizasi was too distracted to notice that Tala was distracted too. He had spent so much time knowing what he’d wanted—believing he’d known what he’d wanted—and it was almost frustrating, that a single kindhearted wolf could make him question everything he’d ever known. She didn’t even realize she was doing it, and that was the most irritating part. Tala was just being herself, nothing more, and that was so unlike everything Kizasi had been told a wolf was supposed to be that it made him reconsider the whole world around him.

He thought of his mother, of her dark eyes, of her permanent snarl, and of her decaying body as her illness slowly killed her. She had been a bitter wolf until her end. The circumstances of her life—of her illness, and her inability to bear pups—were unfortunate, but Kizasi couldn’t let that excuse how she’d acted. So obsessed with raising her own young, she had lost sight of what it really meant to be a mother and to care for others. Kizasi doubted he would ever have pups of his own, but he had other wolves in his life now, wolves who might never come to know how he’d been brought into this world, but wolves he wanted to protect like he had never been protected. And maybe he would never be very good at that, but he wanted to try. For Tala. And for himself.

They had been traveling for a while when Kizasi paused to look at the sky. Their trip could continue tomorrow; for now, it was best that they get some rest. They looked for a place to spend the night and, upon finding a small cave with no nearby threats, they lay down to get some sleep.

Kizasi dreamt of his mother, expression hardened and teeth bared. She criticized him for failing all of her training, and she taunted him for falling for the alpha’s daughter. He begged her for forgiveness and promised to make things right, but when he woke up panting, he was disgusted with himself. His mother had no power over him now, he reminded himself. She had been dead for a long time. It wasn’t her haunting his dreams; it was his own insecurities, and Kizasi was determined to stop listening to them.

Once Tala was awake, they traded their usual good mornings and set out again. While they walked, Kizasi considered something. “Tala,” he said before he could fully think through what he was about to say. “I know it is customary to bar disabled wolves from breeding. It weakens the strength of the pack, of course, and I understand that. My mother was—” He stopped himself, wondering if it was wise to continue, but then he shook his head. He could trust Tala. “My mother was not allowed to bear her own pups because of her ailment. She did anyway, of course, and passed her illness onto me, but it was the cause of her banishment from her pack. So I…”

Kizasi’s voice trailed, and he realized he didn’t know how to say what he wanted to. He had never given much thought to a future beyond killing Convel, so this change was new, and weird, and altogether overwhelming. But, if given the chance, if given a future, he wondered how he would spend it. How he could. He hesitated. “Would I have the same fate?” he asked in a quiet voice. “In the event that I… Well. You know.” Kizasi suddenly realized he’d never talked about having pups with anyone, and his face grew warm while he averted his gaze. “I’m not very good with them. Pups, I mean. And I doubt anyone would see an ideal mate in me. But…”

All too aware of how awkward he sounded, Kizasi swore under his breath. He shook his head, trying to shake the awkwardness of the last couple minutes. “No,” he said dismissively, “never mind. It’s not worth even thinking about.” The laugh that followed his words was joyless, and even if he knew it shouldn’t have been a consideration, he wondered how his mother would have reacted to such a barbaric thought. Kizasi, with his own pups. A future. With a pang of guilt, he was glad his mother would never get to meet any offspring of his.

Shaking his head again, Kizasi bounded a few paces forward to make up for his stumble. “Seeing that horse and its family and the impact of one wolf’s decisions on the world, it’s just got me thinking some weird thoughts. Please, just ignore me.”

[giraffesrkewl]

Tala adored how she and Kizasi could just walk in silence but also share meaningful conversation when needed. The beginning of their journey back had been pretty quiet; the soft padding of their feet on the soft ground was really all you could hear. Of course the subtle sounds of forrest creatures were audible too but a lot of those creatures cleared a path when wolves were around. There definitely were a lot of pros to being towards the top of the food chain. A wolf didn't really have too much to fear out here, well, except other wolves.

Tala followed quietly behind Kizasi and went into the small cave he had scouted out quickly and easily. She was comforted by the way Kizasi took care to make sure the both of them were taken care of and safe for the night; like he did every night they had spent together so far really. It honestly was nice to be away from being the Alpha's daughter. There was so much to that role she had to and was expected to fill. It wasn't really that she was going to mind that role; she honestly was alright with the idea of caring for and having a pack underneath her. Her and hopefully someone she could spend her life with and rely on with no doubt what so ever.

She curled up a little closer to Kizasi that she typically did. It helped that the space was fairly small. She dozed off pretty quickly and slid into a peaceful dream about the horses they had come across. Every part of her was clearly very touched by the fact that that story was real. It was giving her an even more open look on life. It was possible to not play by the rules. It was possible to change things up. Tala didn't have to do every little thing she was supposed to do. She ultimately, like the wolf in the story, could follow her heart.

Morning came quickly and Tala had a solid night of sleep to be able to press on for the day. They would most likely make it back to the pack by the end of the day if they kept up this pace. The pair made little conversation as they began their walk but it was interrupted by a more serious statement pretty quickly.

"I don't want to ignore you, Kizasi. Your thoughts and feelings are just as important as anyone else's." Tala stated before going further. "I.. didn't know that." She said quietly. "I've heard of situations like that before and honestly.. it makes sense to me." She said referring to the whole thing where wolves with disabilities weren't likely to be able to have offspring because a weak pack wasn't good for anyone.
"But now.." She made sure to start again quickly. "There are no rules. Life doesn't have to be a certain way. A predator can give it's life for prey if it wants. Someone who wants to fall in love.. to have offspring.. should be allowed to. There's so much more to life that either of us have been told growing up." She obviously didn't know too much about Kizasi's past but she could tell it was a lot different than hers. Being the Alpha's daughter; her pup-hood was a little rough. It was still filled with love though and plenty of it. It made Tala who she was today. She could sense there was a lot more to Kizasi's story than what he had begun to share.

She stopped suddenly and waited for Kizasi to notice and when he finally did and turned back to her she began to speak. "You can trust me, Kizasi." She said to him. She had a feeling that wasn't a sentence he had heard much in his life before. "If I have anything to say about it as the Alpha-to-be, I would not stop someone from living their life and being happy." She said with a smile. "I want you as part of this pack. I want you to be part of.. my pack. With me."

[Ashen]

Kizasi knew Tala couldn’t have known about his past. It wasn’t likely that Convel even knew what his father had done to Kizasi’s mother, how he had banished her, let alone Tala. But something in the way she spoke made Kizasi think that she was asking him to trust her with even this. With the story of his life, no matter how ugly it was. The thought terrified him. What if even she didn’t accept him? What if she grew to fear him, believing that wolves like him could never change? He’d spent years convinced he’d wanted his mother’s revenge; he couldn’t ask anyone to believe he’d given up on it so quickly. But for some reason, despite the logic that told him to keep his mouth shut, he still wanted to try.

“My mother was not a kind wolf,” he said quietly. Kizasi got up and continued walking, because keeping his eyes on the path ahead allowed him to avoid Tala’s gaze. “She was obsessed with getting whatever she wanted, and she was never content with compromise. I don’t know much about how she was raised, but I understand things weren’t easy for her. My dizzy spells are nothing compared to the daily tremors that took hold of her body. It wasn’t her fault, but… She shouldn’t have gone against her pack regardless. She shouldn’t have…” Kizasi paused. “She shouldn’t have had me.”

It was a strange revelation, and something he had perhaps always known, but there was an uncomfortable feeling that rose to his throat with saying it aloud. It made him feel worthless, but he tried not to spare it too much thought, not now, and instead rushed on ahead. “I was the only one of my litter to survive, so Mother devoted everything to me. She raised me to fend for myself, and to never trust a pack, because hers had betrayed her. She even wanted me to…” His voice trailed, and he turned to Tala. She was watching him, eagerly awaiting the continuation of his story. And he did trust her, or he thought he did, but now wasn’t the time to confess to that. “She wanted me to rise above the need for a pack, and to live self-sufficiently,” he said instead. “I don’t think she ever realized just how lonely that was.”

Kizasi let out a long sigh. He wished his mother was still alive, so he could introduce her to Tala and show her the good in wolves, the possibilities in a future led by kindhearted alphas. But he never would get a chance like that, and the unexpected sorrow he felt at that revelation filled his heart. “I’m glad you’re different,” he said quietly. “Mother didn’t ask for her illness, and I don’t think she should have been denied her place among her family. So to know when you become alpha, that you will not damn wolves for things like that… It brings me happiness.”

He didn’t know why he was rambling. Kizasi just felt that Tala was a safe wolf to confide in, and that she wouldn’t judge him or banish him. And for some reason, talking about all of these things made Kizasi feel…better. Like a weight was being lifted from his chest, one that he hadn’t even known was there. It felt good, and he wanted to keep talking, to come clean about everything, even about why he’d approached Tala in the first place. About the horses, and his change of heart. But now wasn’t the time. No, that would come later, after he had really proven to everyone that he was changed and trustworthy.

[giraffesrkewl]

Tala immediately pressed her neck into Kizasi's as they walked; a comforting brush. She could tell by his hesitation this wasn't easy for him. Tala didn't know a life like that. Being an Alpha's daughter wasn't always easy but she didn't know the cold hearted hatred that Kizasi seemed to grow up knowing.

"That's sad. I feel sorry for her. No one should have to life that way." She said after backing up from comforting, or at least attempting to comfort, Kizasi. "But, I am glad she had you. You're different than her. I know I haven't known you long but I can already tell there's a kindness in you. If you were our mother we wouldn't be having this talk right now."

"What was the illness like? What happens to you?" Tala asked just out of curiosity and concern, not judgement. She would never. There was no judgment anywhere inside of Tala. "I could never have grown up alone like that. An important part of a wolf's life is being part of the pack. I'm sorry, Kizasi, I really am. I hope that you know you're welcome in our home. You're welcome to be part of our family. In fact, I hoped you would.." Tala's tone got a little bit lighter when she said that last sentence. She had grown to care a lot about Kizasi and she didn't want to have her offer rejected.

Before she knew it she found their thick fur nestled up together again as she brushed Kizasi one more time. All she wanted to do was provide comfort. It hurt her heart to know how he had grown up. It didn't sound like he really ever experienced love.

"You can always confide in me. I'm here." Tala smiled at her friend. They had made a lot more progress on their venture than she had realized. They were spending most of the time talking and that made the walk back pass by very quickly. They weren't too far from being back at the dens and honestly it was good timing because the sun was just beginning to set.

[Ashen]

Kizasi’s instinct was to reject Tala’s pity. He had gotten this far on his own without showing weakness, and he didn’t need anyone to pity him. But when he paused for a moment to really listen to what she was saying, he realized pity was not what she was offering him. Rather, she was genuinely sorry he’d had to go through such a rough puphood, and despite it, she didn’t think of him any differently. She sure was a strange wolf, Kizasi thought, but he was happy for that. For someone to see him as something good. He didn’t quite believe her, not yet, but he knew she believed that of him, and he took comfort in that.

“Thank you,” he replied quietly, accepting her comforts and condolences with a small bow. “I am glad to be here.” When Tala rubbed against him, he tried not to tense against her and enjoy the moment. As much as he trusted Tala, and as much as he wanted to trust her, it was still strange to be so intimate with another wolf like that. But Tala didn’t seem to mind, so Kizasi reminded himself to embrace things as they came, to live in the moment, and to not immediately reject anything that was uncomfortable. He figured that would be a good first step in showing Tala he was trustworthy, too.

Her question caught him by surprise, and Kizasi took a moment to consider it before answering. “My mother told me that our brains weren’t put together correctly,” he explained as they continued on their way back to the pack. “They respond inappropriately to certain stimuli, though I’ve never been able to find a pattern. For me, this means I get dizzy and pass out frequently. These spells can last for minutes or for days. I never know when I’ll wake up, if at all. Occasionally, these spells are accompanied by seizures, though mine were nothing compared to my mother’s.”

He paused, remembering the times his mother’s illness threatened to take her from him, and he winced at the memories. “Sometimes, my mother’s whole body would convulse, and when it stopped, she wouldn’t remember how to walk. One time, a seizure left her forgetting who I even was. Her blackout spells could last weeks, and she often had violent mood swings. One day she could be violent towards me, and the next, she wouldn’t even have the energy to talk with me. It was…frightening, watching her go through all that, and knowing that my future could be similar. Luckily, I don’t think I’m quite headed in that direction.”

Kizasi shrugged. It was weird to talk about his mother like this. He had never gotten a chance to before, and now, he wanted to voice it all, speak into existence the fear he had lived with, and the anger at her condition, and how she had treated him. But he shifted as he realized all those emotions gave way to sorrow.

“When she died,” he continued, “it was…difficult. She had been the only wolf I’d known, so it was hard to come to terms with the fact that I was completely alone in the world. There was also freedom in her death, however. I could find comfort in knowing that she was no longer in pain, and that she wasn’t always hollering at me.” He laughed, though it was a sad sound. “But then, I met you, and your pack. Things are different now. I’m not alone, or lonely, and I have people to rely on who aren’t so harsh to me. And I thank you for that.”

He hadn’t realized how long he’d been talking, but now, he felt embarrassed for rambling again. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, shaking his head. “I’ve come to terms with everything that’s happened with my mother, and I feel alright about the situation, especially now that I have you.” Kizasi paused, his legs stopping mid-step. He hadn’t meant to say the last part out loud. “…that I have you with me,” he awkwardly corrected. “As a companion—I mean, your company, I’m glad that I…” He barked, frustrated with his own tied tongue. After a moment, he straightened. “I…apologize,” he murmured. “I am glad you are by my side. I didn’t mean to make things…weird.”

[giraffesrkewl]

As Kizasi went on about him and his mother's illness, Tala almost stopped in her tracks at the severity of the description. It sounded horrible. Tala couldn't even imagine such a thing. She had never seen it so how could she? She couldn't imagine how scary that must have been for Kizasi as a pup as well. Tala couldn't imagine her mother on the ground wrenching in pain and then when she finally awoke not even knowing who she was. She had to shake her head of the thought.

"I hope you're not headed in that direction." Tala said with a genuine tone. Her brow furrowed in almost a sad way. The thought of losing her friend who she had come to know well recently broke her heart. She once again had to shake her head to get that thought out of there. Had these episodes happened since she'd been with him? She was trying to remember if anything strange had happened. There was this one time, maybe? She couldn't quite remember. She didn't know to look for anything out of the ordinary to have paid attention to.

Tala's tone switched a little and she couldn't help but laugh a little bit at Kizasi stumbling over his words. She made sure to brush up against him one more time as she spoke, "I'm glad to have you by my side, too."

"You're more than welcome here, Kizasi. In fact, I'd like to speak with my father when we get back. He of course has final say but, I for sure would love it if you stayed with us. If you want, of course." The end of that sentence came across a little awkward maybe; just because of the slight possibility of Kizasi rejecting Tala's offer. She wanted to offer him a pack, a family, love. She wanted to teach him what life could be like. She probably already was.

Some familiar sites were now beginning to come into view. "We're close." Tala said. She stopped for a quick second and shut her eyes, lifted her head, and let out one of the most gorgeous sounds of the forest. She howled for her family and waited with ears pricked for a response. It only took seconds but the call of her pack members rang out and she smiled while looking towards Kizasi. "We're home."

Before Tala knew it she was trotting towards her parents who stood near their den. She went to her mother first, brushing up against her and holding there for a minute. Next, to her father who she nuzzled as well. "The story is true. It's all true. We found the mare." Tala said to both her parents but really only her mother was the one listening. Convel had his eyes pinned on Kizasi. It wasn't easy to tell right now if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"I'd love to hear all about it." Fae said and then nudged into her mate. It broke Convel's focus for just a brief second for him to respond with a quick, "Yes, me too." His eyes went back onto Kizasi. He probably was only locked onto Kizasi for a few seconds but it felt like minutes with how intense and still the moment was. Finally, he took a few steps away from Fae and Tala and approached Kizasi.

"I see you two got back safely, as promised." The Alpha said. "No issues?" He asked.

"No issues, father." Tala rushed in to say as she joined Convel and Kizasi, leaving her mother standing a bit back to observe. "In fact I'd like to talk to you father. When you have a minute." This comment also broke Convel's stare on Kizasi and he turned to look at his daughter. He had an idea of what she was going to ask of him when she got the chance. "Maybe later tonight." He said. "I'd like to spend some time with Kizasi first."