Kianga

Kianga came to the central lands, seeking her parents. Both had run off when Soleda had left, and now she was worried. Throwing back her head, she let out a howl, seraching to set her little yearling heart to rest.

Elena

She heard her daughter call and stood slowly her body screaming in pain. She shuffled to her daughter and lay down panting heavily as she watched through sad eyes. Her soul was in them, and it was fading. "Shes not coming back....is she Kianga?" She looked around and sobbed. "I shouldnt have said anything. I shouldve been kinder. What harm could it have been to hang out with Abamacho? Hes not that bad...." She coughed heavily and shuddered. "Shes not coming back." She said it so certainly. Zev had gone to find her but it was a lost cause. They would never find her or Abamacho. She turned her ice blue eyes to her daughter and said "Wheres Kekochoi? And Moon Spirit? Where is everybody?" She was going insane. Everybody was leaving her. Would her daughter leave to? Would she be left without anybody to help her?

Defeating the darkness Losing My Sanity

Kianga*Zev

Kianga came to stand by her mother, almost of a height with her now. Her heart ached seeing her mother this way, but she didn't mention it. She listened quietly to her mother's queries, and replied slowly, choosing her words. Mama... I don't think Soleda IS coming back. BUT... she hurried to add, I DO think you were right to be so harsh. And her eyes lowered to the ground, almost ashamed, her voice so soft. You don't know Abamacho like I do... And, in reply to the second question, she said, I don't know where Moon Spirit went, or Keko. But... Papa is coming home. And her voice was certain, for there was something that connected she and her father, and she could always feel his prescence. He's coming home now.

Several minutes passed before her small prophesy came to be, the haggard male trotting in slowly, a fish in his maw. It was a salmon, something light that he thought both he and his mate might be able to digest without coughing it back up. He had lost so much weight, and his muscles had gone so slack that he resembled an apparition, but the mind that had wandered so far from him was semi-restored. Enough to keep him from wandering loose, in any case. He let out a few harsh coughs coming in, not feeling too well himself but not about to tell Elena when he knew she was in just as bad shape as he was. Coming up beside her with a nuzzle, he lay the fish before her. Speaking out of Kianga's hearing range, he said softly, Come, dear one of mine. You must at least try to eat. One pup is lost... but we have two more who need us. What of Kianga, Betrayed? Are we not as much their parents as Soleda's? The pups need you. And his orbs locked with hers, so much pain and despair held in their depths, his voice now a murmur she would have to strain to hear. I need you, Elena.

Elena*Betrayed

Betrayed sauntered in his dark eyes watching his parents for a moment. He hadnt been seen for awhile but he was alive. And bigger. And stronger His coat gleamed under the dancing stars as he came towards his parents. He flashed a smile at Kianga as he nuzzled his mother then sat aways away watching them all without saying a word. He was no longer one of them.

Elenas eyes faded and she closed them for a moment as he said those last words. Nobody had ever counted on her. Nobody. With a watery smile she took a bite of the fish and swallowed it down. She felt her stomach turn and grimaced but she took another bite. She had to live for her mate, for her children. Her bright blue eyes flickered to her mate and she said softly "Share" Her bright eyes no longer held their insanity seeing the three wolves around her. Elenas biggest fear was being left alone in the world. With the three around her she felt so warm, so loved. She watched her mate lovingly knowing that he had tried to find their daughter. But sometimes things couldnt be helped. Elena would know all about that.

Maybe now I can be set free

Kianga

Kianga cast a sweet smile back to her brother, a thank you. She had felt him growing away from the family for a while, but it wasn't a negative thing. It was a growing up thing. Her eyes shone with her gratitude, knowing that his rare prescence made her mother stronger.

Zev come up close beside Elena, keeping her as warm as he could manage with his nearness, though his loss of weight made this difficult. Smiling his quiet smile, he tore off a little chunk of the fish and managed to keep it in his stomach after a small struggle. Hoping the war with his stomach had shown on his face, he continued to manage smal bites here and there. It wasn't a lot that he ate, but it was enough to set him on the right road again. The madness faded completely from his eyes as he realized that his words were a mirror: the pups needed HIM too, and Elena needed him. When he had finished eating his portion of the fish, he drew his head up over hers and stayed there, for more than anythign else he had denied himself, the father was starved for touch.

Kianga came up to lay in front of her parents, curling at her mother's feet as she had done when she was so, so much younger. Her voice was soft as she said, I love you, Mama...Papa.

Elena*Betrayed

Betrayed stayed away from all of them watching his surroundings closely. He was sorry that he hadnt been around much but there wasnt much to help for it. He was growing older. But now wasnt the time to announce that he would be leaving the pack. He would wait until his parents were better. Until everything was made right again.

Elena ate her portion of the fish and grimaced when her stomach twisted. She sighed as she fought her inner battle and won then layed her head on her paws enjoying the warmth from both her mate and her daughter. At least for another day insanity was chased away.

Stars scream in anxious waiting

Shadows creeped and crawled around him as he watched the little family reunion. It was none of them that he was looking for but his would be mate Moon Spirit. If she hadnt run they would have been mates. She would have been his. He made no noise, not even a hint that he was there. He blended with shadows and mists that seemed to dance at his feet. He watched them all knowing he could kill them one by one. Two were only pups, the other two weak with hunger. He smiled to himself just a flash of fangs. What a little surprise Moon Spirit would have to come back and find her whole pack dead. But no even though that would cause her much pain what he would do soon would be the killing blow. Just wait Moon. You will wish you had never been born. He continued to watch careful to remain in the shadows and mists hiding from them all.

You see I cannot be Forsaken because Im not the only One

Zev*Kianga

Kianga remained curled at her mother's feet, a pleasant smile on her face that did not at all reflect what was going on in her mind. She had almost lost both her parents to Soleda's foolishness. And now, with blood oath on her own head, Kianga had nothing to lose. Her mind was made up: she would follow her sister to the ends of the earth to repay her for what she had done to their parents.

She shook her head: now was not the time for such thoughts. She must first see to it that her mother and father were well. Finally deciding that, she felt better, and lay quiet.

Zev sighed contentedly, enjoying having his family all (or mostly) together. Thinks would be alright. Madness would stay away for a while.

I've beaten it back, I'll keep it at bay...
But how long can I hold it?
Shadows are still my companions.
I just have more now...