Eytan

Finally, finally... home. The journey had been long, too long. Lord, he was getting old. He was one of the older wolves in the valley, second only to Blind and a spare few others, and he was finally beginning to feel it. As his pads moved him forth into his own land once more, he let out a sigh and sank down beneath the large overhang of the cliff that dominated the main clearing. It had become a favorite place of his, good for thinking things over and making decisions. The protest made by his bones was small, but each time he forced them to his will the twinge grew a little more painful. And worse...

He hadn't mentioned it to Nita. He did not want to worry her. But... every once in a while, his vision would blink out for a few moments. To a wolf who had spent all his life defending others, as a warrior who protected the helpless, the few moments when darkness claimed his eyes were excrutiating and terrifying, stopping him completely in his tracks. He was already missing an ear, making his hearing less-than-par... but if he lost his eyes...

Blind. He had to talk to Blind. She could help him, teach him how to live if his sight left him.

Blind

She would not whimper. She couldn't bring herself to whimper or cry out in pain but she desperatly wanted to. As she reached the lands, her movements became a bit stronger, but not much. She found Eytan, and immediatly she knew. She could sense it in the air around him that something was wrong, and she would not tolerate it. So, she lay down about three feet from him all quiet patience and docile disposition.

Eytan

Eytan kept his mouth closed for some time, pretending that he could not see Blind's obvious pain, letting her preserve what dignity remained to the ancient female. Did he even dare to mention it to her?

But when she lay down near him, wordlessly... she knew, then. If she hadn't known, she'd have questioned. No... she knew, and she knew that he knew that she knew... I guess? A sigh escaped him and he forced the thought from between his lips, barely a breath, but enough to be heard. Blind... what can I do?

How sad. Here they were... an old warrior and an old wise one, falling to peices, without anyone to lean upon but each other. Nita... no. Nita could not know. She'd worry, it was just how she was. He could no more tell Nita about this than Blind could complain about her bones. Too much... pride.

Blind

A smile, so faint spread across her lips. We grow old, Eytan. It is how things are done. You must learn carefully, leader. Do you not hear the brook, not to far? Can you not hear the falls crashing upon the still waters? You must learn to listen, Eytan. To feel. When you walk, you feel nothing but when you stand still you can feel things with your paws. The approach of running figures, the blades of grass brushing across you. Soon, Eytan, I will not be around to help you anymore. Her eyes drifted, scanning the terrain as if she could see it and in her eyes was a deep pain. I could see once. When I was very young. Now I grasp to memories to keep myself going. I'm afraid, those memories won't be holding me here much longer. She thought of Nok, and how she had promised to teach the young one to speak. Perhaps she should send for someone else. Someone who could teach the little pup to speak, and speak well. Softly she sighed. It was as close to an admission that she could give, that she was becoming ancient and frail.

Eytan

He could not return her smile, though he did close his eyes and follow her teachings. He could hear the brook, feel the earth under his body... but how...?

Suddenly the years of taking it caught up with him. Never since he was a young wolf, never in 6 years had he allowed his temper to lash out at anyone else. Even when he was threatening those that would hurt his pack-members, he was calm, collected. But now her words made him jump to his feet, ignoring the pain as he bared his teeth, not really at her, but at life and the unfairness of it all.

His voice came roughly, lower with his fury and fear. How can I, the Earless Wonder, learn to listen, Blind? It was a name they'd given him as a pup, when he'd first lost his ear. He had never spoken to anyone of it, but now all the years of it came straight back to him. You, all your life, your eyes have defied you, but your ears have always defended you from what your eyes brought your way. Even still, they do this. My eyes are my strength, my resource, to defend me and to sort through the deception of my ear. If they leave me, my ear is free to lead me astray. Don't make me broken promises, Blind, because I can't hear them!

He turned away, shoulders hunched into himself, his pose the very image of a pup who is afraid of the dark. He was breathing deeply, using these quiet moments to master his temper once more. Several moments passed... and then suddenly his shoulders fell, and his whole composure seemed to crumble as he turned back to Blind. I... I'm sorry. I... it's not your fault. You suffer as I do... worse, I know it. He lay back down again, closing his eyes, letting the sound of the river soothe him. Finally, his soft voice came, more calm. I have always told my pups... On any world, the river eventually wears away the stone... for the stone can only crumble. The river... the river can change.

Blind

As he ranted and raved, she waited patiently. Then when he halted, she snapped at him with a click of her teeth that landed just beside his face. That wasn't a miss, either. She said softly. Just a reprimand, and to snap him out of it. You always use only TWO of your five senses, Eytan. If you could see the world I could see, you would know. Close your eyes, you young fool. I want you to feel the earth beneath you. I want you to smell the flowers that surround your body. Open yourself, Eytan. She was quiet, insistent. He needed to learn, for she wasn't going to be around much longer. She needed him to learn, so that she could die knowing she had done something with her life.

Nok

Nok watched from a distance, unable to say what she felt. She was nearly unable to hear the sounds around her. But she could still see and feel and smell. She walked closer to the pair, not knowing what was going on. Her tail wagged and she looked at Blind. "Wha...Wrong?" She asked quietly.

Blind

She heard Nok come forward, but just barely. Was it getting that bad? Nothins wrong, Nok. Then she felt a pang of guilt. Hey, I told you I was going to help you speak, right? Well, lets start working on it. She stood, slowly but she stood. Think hard about what I said, Eytan. Then she lightly nudged Nok. Come on, little dove.

She trotted a short distance into the terrain, until she reached the creek. Hello, Nok. How are you? She was going to make this fun. Keep up conversation, make her feel at home and welcome.

Nok

Nok smiled, but still felt like something was wrong. She pushed that thought aside and followed the nice wolf. She wagged her tail happily. "I...Good. You?" She replied. Her voice was weak, but it still showed her happiness.

Eytan

Eytan flinched as she snapped at him, but he accepted it as his due for taking his anger out on her. He gave Nok a smile and a tail-wave before they walked away, and lay there, eyes closed, listening to his terra and memorizing the feel of the earth under his body.