xx time lapse || open

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REINER

"Why don't we go to the shores? I'm sure the water would be nice on the fur."

The voice was crisp and tight in the male's ear, a humming annoyance whose only response was a single blink. Visit the shores? Hmph. Not likely. In this heat, he'd be sweating like a pig before he even reached the border of Dürkell's forests. Besides, he could run into someone at the ocean, whereas if he stayed here in the lands, it was almost guaranteed that he wouldn't be bothered by so much as a passing rabbit.

In the weeks that had flown through summer’s unyielding heat, Sicoya’s voice had intensified considerably, her grasp on the aging wolf ever apparent when he was joined by actual, breathing company. He became fidgety and dodged answers like they were accusations. Talking to Echo and Beck was at least somewhat bearable; when Hayashi dared to question him of his whereabouts, he simply ignored her with glares of narrowed eyes or spat back some words he knew would cut. How sweet of him.

When was the last time he’d been in the presence of others, anyways? A few days, maybe a week? Or had it been two? Reiner shook his head, ignoring the dying whispers that told him to think harder. In all honesty, he hardly cared what happened anymore. So what if no one talked to him? He hadn’t anything to say. Mild chit-chat about the weather and the daily commotion at the Auktion Rock could only take him so far, and after that, they would be left to studying the fur on their paws to make the silence more bearable, which in his opinion, was much more enjoyable on his own time with the peace of the woods to reassure him and the soft coo of Sicoya to lull him to sleep.

"I'm okay for today, love. Maybe tomorrow.'"

Sicoya's eyes burned at Reiner for a moment before she sniffed with displeasure, flicking her tail as she laid beside him. It was all Reiner could do not to swat her with his paw. Arrogant she-wolf.

"So what would you like to do?"

Her voice tumbled like velvet through the air, leaving Reiner quiet for a moment. What could they do? Anymore, the fun pleasures of the past held little influence or drive over him. Rest, sleeping, and naps were the things his days consisted of. Finding something to eat was secondary, although that was mostly due to the fact that he hardly hung around the main pack long enough to stay for a hunt and chasing something down on his own time was too energy-sapping.

What would you like to do? The question repeated again in his mind, this time more edgy than before. Reiner vainly wracked his brain for something, anything, that grazed his interest. After a few moments, nothing. More silence. The time lapsed over him, a wave of lost time, seconds ticking.

And then suddenly, his response came swift and gentle. He blinked a few times before saying the words out loud, his voice trembling softly.

"I want to forget."

Reiner turned over onto his bed of pine needles, clamping his eyes shut to the brightness of the day. How dearly he missed Hayashi and what little affection they had for each other all those months ago. He regretted deeply that had never made a bolder move to show her of his true passion. It was mostly because of her. He didn't have the confidence or attitude to shut Sicoya's sweet seductions down, to try and deal with things alone. For now, she would remain his stable insanity.

As time ticked on, Reiner blocked the forest noises and happenings, willing himself to sleep.

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[`| κιrs♥]

-- hayashi

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Steadily, slowly, the lands had become active again. Noises could be heard now, in stark comparison with the hushed silence of winter just days ago. The rivers broke free of winter's icy grasp, the birds began to sing in the mornings, the animals began to venture out of their stuffy homes. Life was flowing once more. It was Hayashi's most adored time of the year; Spring. The fresh scents, the greening grass peeping through the quickly melting snow, the sound of the river bubbling nearby, the warm sun on her pelt. It was refreshing, almost freeing to her, liberating her from winters cold cage.

Hayashi had woken early this morning, a usual notion of hers. Most mornings, she took a walk through her lands for a few reasons. One, to check borders. Two, to check for intruders or any happenings. And three, to clear her head and to enjoy the spring weather. Most mornings, she would lay on a large, flat rock overlooking the east part of her lands and it's main body of water. It was quiet, peaceful, and almost everything that moved, flickered, or even fluttered was able to be seen. The rock lay just a quick run east out of the sleeping dens, and was on the way back from her rounds. Sometimes, she'd be up early enough to see the sunrise, to see the first early birds rustle. She loved it. However, it would be more enjoyable if she had someone to accompany her. To share the beauty with.

That was a touchy subject. Right now, Hayashi was beyond confused on who her real friends were, who cared about her. Especially one wolf. That one, unfathomably curious wolf, Reiner. Although he was the one painful connection to her ruined past, there was something about it that made them click. At least, it had to her. His company was comfortable, something she was used to, unlike this new land. Maybe it was just her head playing games with her, she didn't know or really wanted to. She liked this wolf, more than liked this wolf. He had begun the healing of the hole in her chest, the hole that had been tearing her apart for years. He numbed the pain, made her smile even with his painfully stubborn ways. Stopped the nightmares. Calmed the fears. She had wrapped her mind around it all and it had dug into her, insanely deep. More deep then she knew even herself, Xercese deep. But now, that connection was slowly shattering, almost completely broken apart by now. What was once companionship had turned to bitterness, and that was all she saw in the glares he shot her occasionally. Hayashi knew that the love wasn't mutual, or so she thought. Whenever she thought of there ever being a future with the brute, those five words drove the knife even deeper into her heart.

"No. My mate is dead."

The coldness of which he had said it all the while ago still struck her, still shocked her. The literal feeling of her still being his mate, forever being his mate, was heavily laced into that sentence. It had seemed to Hayashi as a sign that Reiner was not interested, nor ever would be. They were both broken, she knew. They both had the ghosts of their pasts haunting them, encircling them. Reiner especially. He had always acted off key, like he was hiding something. That was usual. But sometimes, Hayashi would see him talking to someone who was actually not there. Looking at someone who was not there. It was odd, but she knew not to question him about it. Which wasn't a problem, since they hardly exchanged words as it was.

However, today proved to be different. Padding her way up to the sleeping dens, Hayashi heard Reiner grumble inside. The leaves rustled, the air stirred. For a moment, she was afraid to move forward. They had never encountered each other closely in the morning because he was a late sleeper and she wasn't. They stayed out of each other's way, as much as it killed her to do so. There was a feeling inside her growing, a thought rising to her head. It had been brewing for a while now, and she had knowingly fought against it, scared of it's outcome. Desperately she wanted to talk to him, to ask him to fix things, reconsider. She knew he didn't want her, but it wouldn't hurt to try, right? She was lonely, hurt, bitter, and it only increased as they became more distant. She was conflicted with what to do. She didn't want to bother Reiner, but another part of her did. She whimpered to herself, slowly stepping to the mouth of the den, sapphire eyes searching the dim floor. She saw his russet pelt turned away from her, and she sighed. Maybe he was back to sleep, maybe she was imagining things. Battling with her thoughts, Hayashi sat where she had stopped, wrapping her tail around her delicate ivory paws. Blinking slightly in the rising sun, she gazed onward, shifting from Reiner's still figure to the forest around her. She said not a word. [/blockquote][/size][/color]

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REINER

It was a a few moments before Reiner heard the shuffling of deft paws and the soft, coo-like whimper. His body froze on contact with the noise, his peace shattered. It sounded like Hayashi.

WIP

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