Post by CHALANDRA on Dec 16, 2015 1:02:13 GMT -5
» C H A L A N D R A
Morning had settled light on the marshes, unable to penetrate the deepest parts of the territory as of yet. Chalandra herself was curled up, her mind restless with the soft creaking of trees from outside to keep company. It had been roughly a season, a few good moons, and many long moments in his presence since she had last seen Sinead's lurking form. They'd left Einheit quickly to avoid the chance the khaki she-wolf might change her mind and guess the deal was more sour than she'd originally tasted. Only by the will of the gods had they made it to Groavche without interaction with another soul, and Chalandra had interally promised her son to Iudex ever since. Even now, she lay in the den with her head draping her paws, her mind pacing about Eperna, Iudex, and the right time to take Bjorn to the mesa to present him, officially. Having been raised without a real parental figure, Chalandra was not only new to motherhood, but to new to the land's deities and stories of old. She wanted desperately to get the dedication ceremony correct down to the very hair, not for herself, but for her son's future. Somewhere inside, she had a feeling that misstep might have contributed to where her own mother had gone wrong with her and her brother.
Shaking her head, Chalandra closed her eyes and tried to fall back to sleep. She'd been up most of the night, tossing and turning, unable to fall into her previously persistent dreams of Nirco and Bjorn. Everytime she got close to them, a wild herd of deer burst into the clearing and blocked her path, trampling her small family to mere wolf parts. It was gruesome and unlike her to dream so vividly about something of this degree, and Chalandra felt her shoulders grow heavy for trying. It had started a few weeks ago when Bjorn had begun to travel outside. Every time he ventured further and further from the pack's main areas; Not surprisingly, almost every time he managed to lose himself in the maze that was now their land. Sure, Chalandra had her difficulties at times, but she was quick to pickup on the small nuances of the forest's character--the scraggly needle bush here near their den, and the tree knot on the third trunk from the marsh's end. It was lovely in that sense, how it welcomed her the more she wove inside of it, how it seemed to accept her. Not unlike the forest, Nirco was a set of walls and bit by bit, she'd been figuring his quirks and tells out.
However, she was far from getting the black alpha to break himself open for her. They laid in the same den, hunted together, and raised Bjorn as a mated pair, those things stood true. But they were cold to each other at night, for Chalandra hadn't the energy or will to try for more since he'd saved her from that figurative and physical desert. It seemed wrong, almost repulsive, to slink over to him when the moon rose and beg for the thing she'd now sought so obviously from another. Chalandra, in all her usual feisty behavior and spitfire talking, had been utterly passive the past few moons. Only with Bjorn had she been firm, making sure to instill the qualities she loved most of the two males in her life--her brother and, of course, Nirco.
In regards to Bjorn, they had decided long ago not to tell him of his true father, and Chalandra found this was an easy lie to partake. It was what she wanted, what she dreamed for when the nightmares left her body still and serene. Nirco was the perfect father in this sense; He was firm but not unreasonable or demanding, and his judgement never seemed clouded or misplaced when reprimanding her son for rowdy, pup playfulness. Nirco, against Chalandra's personal judgement, was better than she had ever hoped for. Reserved loyalty, possibly even distant adoration--these were her expectations. Those ideas were flown to hell when she sat outside the den, watching Nirco wrestle with Bjorn and teach him how to fight. Some days she'd watch the pair of them and attempt to pray Nirco into his blood. Others she would softly slink off and leave presents for Eperna. Nothing big, just a rabbit here, a frog there. Anything to make sure her prayers were being received.
So far she remained undaunted even though, she had heard nothing in response. Sighing, Chalandra cast a glance over at Nirco's sleeping frame. Sunlight was finally beginning to seep into their den. Slowly, she pulled herself up and padded over to his side. Nervously, she leaned down and licked his cheek.
"Wake up, Nirco. It's almost time to dedicate our son."
She said "our" without even thinking about it, and she forced herself not to flinch. He'd have to forgive her eventually. Or maybe he wouldn't. Either way, today could be a starting point. Maybe, just maybe, they could start again. Quickly, before he could grunt his disapproval of affection, Chalandra slunk away to sit just inside the den's entrance. She paused, taking a moment to relax in the sunshine. Today would be different. She would make it so._____
notes !
I imagine this taking place at the same time that Bjorn is off running into Tortuga, btw. SO MANY FEELS. Let me know if anything doesn't sit right with you. <3
tags !
Ὀδύσσεια♐
word count !
881