Taiya

The bog reminds Taiya nothing more than death. It's a miracle any creatures make habitation within the stretches of this territory. She's always detested it, and more or less strayed away from it. But seasons ago, Taiya teased her curiosity by trekking out here. After rumors of the coywolf described strikingly like her mother, Taiya decided to humor such curiosities to see if this coywolf was who she believed it was. Sure enough, it had been Vale. Perhaps the distinct solitude of the bog was what drove Vale to take up residency amongst the rot and decay, Taiya never found out. Their conversation had been short, almost excessively formal, and Taiya left at least content with the knowledge that her mother still survived.

Grappling over the soggy bark of a fallen tree, Taiya clamors up so that she can see distantly into the foggy mass of the bog's forestry. Brown eyes scan intently through the petrified trees, little nostrils trying to catch a scent. Taiya glances back behind her, hoping Crucifix wasn't far in tow. She sighs a bit, already detesting the setting. "This place is a pit," Taiya comments darkly, a bitter laugh escaping her mouth, "Funny that my mother must've fallen in love with it to make it her home."

Crucifix

He follows her quiet content to find her family first and look for his as they went. Perhaps it because alot of us avoid ithe remarks.

Taiya & Vale

Tossing her gaze back out over the bog, Taiya's tail wags lightly in response to Crucifix's reply. She takes a soft breath of the damp air, shoulder rippling as she steps out further onto the fallen log. Her mother had to be here, somewhere. "Heh, you aren't wrong. My mother could be a bit stingy about space," Taiya muses. The coywolf tilts her muzzle to the sky, brown eyes catching sight of the bare crowns of the trees. Finally she releases a soft, nearly-mournful howl into the air. She holds it for several seconds before stopping, her howl echoing against the trees of the bog. Body bracing, Taiya waits, praying for a response.

~~~

Across the bog, a silvering body dozes on the stump of splintered tree. Here in the bog, it's okay to be reckless and unguarded. Rarely does she receive visitors, and for good reason. The place is a wasteland for most, but Vale has affectionately dubbed it home. Sure, the water is relatively toxic and she constantly is traveling for food, but the eerie forestry and the solitude it offers brings comfort to the coywolf. In here, strangers and their sounds always echo, even from across the bog. Vale's ears twitch uncertainly when she hears the tread of two wolves in "her" territory. Lifting her white-clad face, Vale blinks and gazes out into the bog. They're too far for her sight. Vale lifts her aging body up onto her paws, the wiry coywolf giving a heaving sigh.

Her body flinches as a howl carries in the wind. Ears flash downward as Vale growls a bit, suddenly recognizing the voice behind it. Taiya. The mother can only imagine what would bring the coywolf back to this bog, but the intelligent she-wolf had located her vagabond mother. Vale lifts her head to sky, returning a similar howl. Daughter.

Crucifix

He travels with her listening to her but was silent as she howls. It isn't long before another howl answers it. That must be her, but it could be someone else just responding. He turns to their right and heads that way toward the howl but let Taiya lead.

Taiya & Vale

Leaping off of the fallen tree, Taiya's tail thrashes with exhilaration as she takes off alongside Crucifix. Paws sink into the damp earth as Taiya clamors up a muddy bank, halting with breathlessness. In this moment, the adult Taiya is reduced to nearly pup-like in the anticipation of her mother. Even after the growing absence, Taiya has always loved her mother. "Mother?" Taiya calls into the atmosphere, dark eyes scanning the terrain until she spots the flitting of colors behind the dead leaves of a dead shrub. Her shoulders bristle with an amount of uncertainty as Taiya advances forward. "Mom!" Taiya declares, racing up to the she-wolf, unable to contain herself as she touches her muzzle to that of her mother.

Vale remains rather motionless, not halting Taiya's advances but doesn't make the move towards her. Her body is aged, and she doesn't have the energy to make excessive motions with the same vigor as Taiya. Instead, Vale quietly accepts her daughter's affectionate gestures, the coywolf breathing softly into Taiya's fur. "Taiya," She murmurs, reaching forward to lick the other she-wolf's ear. Golden eyes trace back to the presence behind Taiya, gaze landing on the large black brute following several paces behind. The coywolf blinks, holding her head level to gaze at Crucifix in an expressionless leer. "I see you are no longer alone," Vale observes plainly. She dips her head respectfully in Crucifix's direction, before glancing back at her daughter.

Taiya nods with a wind of excitement. "Yes...this is Crucifix. He is my new...." She pauses a moment, cocking her head, "Friend, I guess."

Crucifix

Crucifix let her lead the way as he didn't want Vale to think him a threat. If she saw Taiya first she might be more accepting of his presence. He comes to a halt by them. Of course we are friends, I am alpha of Parnanssian meadowshe says calmly to vale.We are actually trying to find rememnents of both our families after these long hard yearsHe said.

Taiya & Vale

Crucifix mentions family, a word that hits both of the she-wolves. Taiya gazes over at her mother hopefully, her tail swaying gently along her haunches. "Many took to wandering, others died out alone...we're hoping to mend together a family, so that no one else has to continue the loner lifestyle like we have," Taiya explains cautiously, her nose still gently touching the side of her mother's face. Mahogany eyes shimmer in the pale sunlight of the late morning. She herself can't predict her mother's reaction to their ideals. Long ago, once much of their family from Manahcob split up, Vale seemed very content with her loner lifestyle. Taiya could only hope that Vale wasn't made completely bitter by this life, and would help Taiya and Crucifix try to piece together bits and pieces of their long-lost family.

Vale tilts her face away from Taiya for a moment, golden eyes distantly focusing on nothingness beyond them. Once upon a time, Vale had lived for nothing but the blood bonds of family. These vicegrip holds of loyalty kept Vale close to the heat of war. It was an exhausting lifestyle, yet Vale did not regret her past. But this new lifestyle was somewhat comforting. The burdens of family and loyalty no longer crushed Vale's bones. "Taiya..." Vale breathes. "I wouldn't be hasty to building a pack...there's still creatures here that won't take lightly to packs strengthening their forces once more..." She flexes her shoulders, gazing over at Crucifix with a critical stare. "It is no offense to your well-wishes," she claims, adding, "But the souls in this valley still haven't forgotten and forgiven the war mongers that still run in your blood." She keeps her eyes fixated on Crucifix in that comment. She can see the blood of Kalaber in this brute, and while Vale is beyond the point of harboring any ill-feelings for the son of Kalaber, Vale knows the concern that there must be observed in the simple relation of blood.

Crucifix

Crucifix listened calmly till she brought up his heritage and he lowered his head alittle. He had respected his father atleast until he went to the haunters, he lost a little respect for his father then. The haunters had not deserved the chance to prove they meant no harm. My father didn't start the war My father just wanted his family back. If he had gotten that he would of returned to his pack with them and ignored the shadow haunters from that day on. He only did what was necessaryHe couldn't help but defend his father. At least he felt like she was bitter towards his father. He shakes his head.But I am not intending on restarting any war. That time is past us. I have no wants to bring up my father or any of them but I can't help but defend my father so please excuse my outburst.he said calmly after. He sighed. Taiya you can stay with your mom and continue with me, but I don't believe she wish's to have anything to do with me or anyone that has ties to any of the pasthe said. He wouldn't hound others about joining his pack.

Taiya & Vale

An amused hum rises from Vale's chest as she listens to Crucifix's rant. While the resentment still manifests its dying roots within Vale's mind, the older she-wolf muscles it down. She only nods softly, golden eyes now fixating on the rotting terrain beyond them. A voice chimes in her head, No war. Not anymore. along with This is not Kalaber. "I guess...the past is in the past...whether one can completely accept that or not..." Vale muses with a distant tone of mournfulness. The scars of what occurred many years ago healed with time, but resentment still became a symbiote she tried hard to combat. Finally she yields her gaze back to Crucifix, before they tilt to Taiya. "Not to speak for my daughter, but I can only safely assume that Taiya wouldn't have followed you this far to just determine she would leave you."

Taiya's jaw drops a little as she scrambles for words, the black she-wolf turning her head back towards Crucifix. "I-I'm not leaving," she stumbles over the words, slightly blindsided that he would suggest such a thing. There's a waver of stubbornness that takes to Taiya, causing her limbs to grow ridged as her ears flit down against her skull. "Don't be crazy," Taiya warned Crucifix, adding with a sarcastic smirk, "You aren't getting rid of me that easily."

Vale chuckles, touching her nose to Taiya's cheek. "I only voice my concerns, whether they be ill-received or not," She resigns, looking back to Crucifix. "I'm not sure the details of your family. Or mine for that matter. I suggest looking around neutral lands...very few have taken to claiming territories with such dispersed numbers. There's strong scents of wolves around the prairie more often than not." Vale pauses for a moment, the air silence while she considers further. "I'd be cautious...The Ruins became home to a new pack. What intentions they hold is still unknown to me, but after the last inhabitants of the Ruins, I'd carry caution with whoever decided to make a home where the last blood-hungry pack of the Valley resided."

Crucifix

Crucifix knew some would think he was stupid to defend his father, but his father was his father and for the most part Crucifix had supported his view. He sighed but was also glad that Taiya wouldn't leave him, he was worried about her wanting to stay with her mother in which case he wouldn't of forced her to stay with him.

He nodded.I had no intentionso n going to the ruins incase any of her pack remained there. If there anyone who wouldn't want me around because of my blood it would be them and as it is im not looking to start a fight right nowHe said calmly. If you ever want to see taiya or join us we are in Parnassian meadow. We are gonna head to the prairie. He had a feeling one of his sisters might be there.

Taiya & Vale

The old she-wolf blinks at Crucifix, only nodding slowly. The ruins was haunted with the blood of many. Even Vale didn't dare to step foot close to the former territory of the Haunters, not even to satisfy her own curiosity. She grimly chuckles at Crucifix's comment, the she-wolf agreeing silently with his statement. He extends his invitation, to which Vale softly shakes her head. "I'll consider it a safe place...but, for now, I prefer this rotten wasteland. No offense to your kindness...this just better for me," Vale apologizes, her tail wagging softly as she reaches over to Taiya as Crucifix announces his leave. "Go," she whispers, "that is your new family."

Taiya nuzzles her mother before turning to follow Crucifix. She glances back once with a wag of her tail, before disembarking for the prairie.