Time to Heal

[Rynn]

Rin finally padded into the clearing, she looked half asleep on her feet and she was still sore from the fight with Akira. She looked up with half lidded eyes, "You guys didn't have to wait on me you know...." At about that same time her fatigue from her previous fight finally caught up with her and she fell to the ground asleep.

[Tsukikage]

Tsuki spun around, smiling sympathetically at Rin. When she fell to the ground, he simply picked her up and carried her inside, wrapping her body in his warm light. The light filled the cave, and lingered on all who lay within when Tsuki had left, like a soft blanket. Tsuki was walking on air; everything seemed so effortless. He walked straight up to Hitoban and smiled mischievously. "Nap time for you too, Heets." He said, softly tapping his forehead against hers. He swept her off her feet and carried her into the cave as well, setting her down in a corner of the cave, further from the others and the entrance, but still easily seen. He stood there, smiling at her confidently. "It's finally finished. We're home." He chuckled, "Now promise me you'll get some rest, okay? An alphess is no good to her people if she's all worn out, if you're still thinking about duty. Besides, I'm sure Wahya and those new healers can handle things for a little while; it's not like there are a lot of us to keep track of... yet." He blushed, and the light faded, until it was just around him again. He laid down, and motioned an invitation for Hitoban to join him. "Let's get some rest, okay? We've got a busy couple of days ahead of us, until we get our territory and pack established here; who knows what might already be here before us."

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban let out a small yelp as she was lifted so unexpectedly, then giggled. When Tsuki set her down in the cave corner, she listened to him, blushing slightly, and sighed. He was right. She had to rest too.

Before she lay down, however, she surveyed the room. It was the same room she remembered, but it was so much different. The smells of the old pack, of her father and Missy, still lingered around the beds. The beds were in different spots as well. They were originally closer to the back, next to the secret tunnel. The food storage room to her left was definately deserted, but the smells of elk and deer still lingered. The nursery to the right held the smells of many yearlings and older ones and she let a small growl. Half-siblings and half-cousins. Her father's beta was his brother, so every smell that emanated came was related to her. This thought did not bring her comfort because she knew they would be Missy's children and Missy's best friend's children. Hitoban's aunt had joined the rebellion against Missy and was swiftly abandoned by her mate. He'd been rewarded with a new one, courtesy of the new Alphess.

There were many things that needed to be done before this place really was her's and Hitoban wanted to get to it right away. New beds would have to be made, as the smell of her own mother was long rubbed out anyway, and there was food to be gathered before the winter. But when she looked at Tsuki she remembered that he wanted her to rest, so she smiled at him and lay down, curling into him. They weren't on a bed and that was better than laying on the one that smelled like Missy.

She breathed in Tsuki's smell (the smell of their future she liked to think of it as) and sighed. She soon found her eyelids drooping and the fatigue encompass her. "Okay Tsuki, I'll rest for now...but when I wake up we have a lot of things to do..."

Then her breathing became even and she was asleep.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya emerges from the water with a pant , he slowly crawls to his feet and stands in the small room behind the waterfall. He looks around to see everyone there, he glances at Tsuki then to Hitoban and stands motion less waiting for someone to say something.

When did they get here... and where am I?

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn's nose twitches and her eyes slowly flutter open. She had smelled someone wet enter the cave and she now saw that it was Wahya. She sat up and looked him over cautiously. He appeared to be of no harm. She tilted her head and addressed him in a whisper, as everyone else was asleep.

Can I help you Wahya? Is something the matter with the grotto?

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya looks over to Dawn as she addresses him, he keeps his voice low as his eyes wander away.

"No, I am good and everything is fine in the grotto. I just needed to get some fresh air for a moment that is all."

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn nodded and yawned. She smiled at Wahya and said I see. Well you can hang out here for a while if you wish-I'm sure Hitoban wouldn't mind. Just make sure to be quiet since they're sleeping.

She gestured around her to the even breathing wolves in the room and smiled. She re-adjusted her position and lay behind Kage with one foreleg in front of him and resting her head on his neck. She didn't, however, close her eyes. Hitoban needed her rest and she had to make sure nothing bad happened while she was asleep.

[Tsukikage]

Kage's eye did not open, but he certainly was awake. He'd smelled Wahya, and even though Kage cared for him, his very presence set his fur on-end. He noticed that Dawn was up, and that Tsuki was asleep... and glowing... Kage chuckled to himself He must be really happy. Rin was a new addition to the room, as well as Mar and Shimo. There were a few other, weaker scents scattered here and there, but everyone was safe... sort of. "Hey, you awake, Love?" He whispered to Dawn. His eye was still closed, but he was alert now; he wanted to find out why Wahya was here without Wahya's knowing, just in case. "What is Wahya doing here? Is he safe?" He opened his eye and looked around surreptitiously, confirming the scents in the room. Tsuki was glowing brighter than he'd estimated; the whole room was tinted with a reddish-gold color. It was a very warm and inviting sort of light, and Kage almost forgot what he was so worried about... then his eye fixed on Wahya, and it stayed that way for quite some time. Is he safe? Is he really Wahya at all anymore?

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

"I am not going to stay here, I am going to go outside and think about.... things."

Wahya glances over to see the light showing from Tsuki, he looks around to the others. I do not see why they bother with me, all I do is bring them pain.... especially Tsuki and Kage.

Wahya sighs lightly as he starts to walk out of the waterfall, he stops right as his nose had a small drizzle touching it then turns back to look to everyone sleeping. His eyes wander a bit then he leaps out of the waterfall to the land outside. He stands still drenched as he looks to the night sky, it was a cloudy night, I can not see the stars clearly...

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn heard Kage speak to her and nodded her head. Yes I'm awake. I'm sure he's fine. I'm keeping an eye on him. You should go back to sleep. She listened to Wahya and nodded acknowledgment. She watched him exit the cave though the water and chuckled to herself.

I guess he doesn't know about the ledge then...

[Tsukikage]

Kage nodded in acknowledgment, but even though he believed Dawn, he was... uneasy. He watched Wahya leave the cave, and he wanted to go after him... to talk to him, but... he was unsure what would be best to do. He stood and turned to Dawn for wisdom. "I don't know what to do anymore, Dawn. He's my friend, and I care about him..." He paused to fight back the tears welling up in his eye, "Giga will destroy us all, I know it! And... and Tsuki and I... we can't protect you all from him. Wahya is the only one who can stop him -- sure, we've gotten lucky, and Shimo, Dad, you... everyone here has played a crucial part in subduing him and protecting the pack -- but now look at us! We're too weak for another attack, and I'm afraid..." The tears finally pushed their way through and streamed down his cheek. "If Wahya gives in... Tsuki might... and if he... then I... and then... Oh Dawn! I just don't know what to do!" He collapsed into tears, howling and crying. His heart was torn in two. Tsuki's light reached out to him, and Kage slowly cried himself to sleep.
Tsuki did not wake -- the others were too worn out as well -- but his heart reached out to comfort his tortured brother while they slept, and the soft, warm light wrapped itself around him.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya closes his eyes as he starts to trot slowly into the forest, he stops after a little while and plops down. The water drips on the ground around him from his soaked fur, Wahya lifts his head and starts to howl lowly a song.

It was soft and soothing, and seem to echo off the forest walls.

As he howls softly, he thinks of nature, the water running down the smooth river, the sound of water crashing into the rocks.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn watched Kage with tears in her eyes as well, but did nothing. She thought about what she would say, but never said it. Clearly she was the strongest here right now and as Kage fell asleep she nuzzled him, then padded outside swiftly and softly. It was her turn to talk to Wahya.

She followed the sound of his howls and soon found him curled up in the forest. She padded over to him and sat down, thinking of what to say.

Wahya I need to talk to you. You are acting like a pup. I understand that you think you're causing more trouble than you're worth right now, but it's not true. It's not you everyone hates-it's Giga. Now that you've started agreeing with some of the things he tells you, some of us have lost hope in you. Look at Hitoban-she coexists peacefully with both of her other halves and here you are agreeing with your bad half. It makes Hitoban falter in her trust for you. Kage only wants to protect his brother, Hitoban, and me-and a pack when we get one-so he's a little sore from when we fought Giga but he will get over it. All you have to do is suppress him. I know it's hard, but I also know you can do it. I still believe in you and Hitoban still believes in you. I'm sure Kage and Tsuki do to, and even though I don't know those healers too well, they still believe in you because they know Hina believes in you. So suck it up and fight him!

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya continues with his song, he stops the song slowly as he sets up on his front paws. With his eyes still closed he looks in front of him.

"I know the way I act is.... not normal, but I do the things I do so I protect the others around me... I do not care for myself."

Wahya opens his eyes slightly as he looks to Dawn.

"I know listening to Giga is not the best way, but I have no other choices... he has always been there ever since that day and my nightmares do not help...."

Wahya closes his eyes again tightly as a tear rolls down his face, "they only remind me of that night everything was took away from me. My life.... my family... everything." Wahya shakes his head, "I do not know what to do anymore, everyone is always looking to me for answers since I am the alpha, but I do not have the answers all the time!"

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn listened to Wahya and gently smiled. Hitoban had gone through this when she was Alphess back in the city. It's not always easy being an alpha, but if you want that kind of privilege you have to have the responsibility too. I know you think listening to Giga is your last resort, but it's not. You're just going through a stage of stress that will only pass when you've had some rest and time to think about things. That's why every alpha needs a beta. They're the ones you leave in charge of the pack while you rest. Who's your beta Wahya?