Lillies Upon The Snow

[Saeliie]

((again... an attempt to breathe life into this place!))

Snow... drifting ever downwards in a ceaseless rhythm, chill wind ever blowing, sighing across the land and furrowing small ridges into the ground. Lifeless, the land lay, without a sound, without a movement. Once, this place had been a thriving packland, full of energy. Where had that all gone?

A single pair of eyes stirred, fluttering open. Striking emerald eyes revealed, gazing into the white world beyond the darkness. Memories flooded back, stories... what had become of the Minarron pack? Of Asia, of Keerse... of her beloved mate, Hunter? Had they all vanished? Rising to soft paws, the vixen took several steps forward, towards the entrance of the den. The wind batted at her features, forcing the temperature of the usually-snug den to dramatically drop.

Where are they...

Her name was Saeliie, the Delta female of the Minarron pack. Her small frame seemed fragile against the hardships of her location, yet she had been hardened by what she had seen, what she had experienced. Was this yet another of those experiences, which would teach her to be more resilient, to learn that life has to move on? Still... life didn't seem to be moving right now. It seemed all of her pack mates had disappeared... The only one she had seen was Hunter, her mate, yet that was several months ago... or was it? She couldn't even recall what month it was. Had she hibernated, something which was almost impossible for her, as a fox?

Her lithe form silhouetted against the blinding, blurred white of the outside world, the snow vixen stood, pondering the meaning of life.

And where it had gone.

[Keerse]

(Yay! A post! I'm not sure where you're going with this, so I'm just going to take off. Let me know if you had a set plan)

A wiff of damp pine needles hidden under snow. Keerse raised his head slightly off the cold ground, unable to hold it up for more than a short while, trying to sniff the air. He was unable to open his eyes; they were swollen shut. He struggled to pull his legs beneath him. Even rolling from his side onto his stomach left him panting for several minutes.

What had happened to him? His side ached and he could feel dried blood sticking to his legs and his neck. He opened his mouth and tried to howl, but was unable to make more than a mewling cry. He sniffed around, moving his head side to side with great effort, but was unable to detect any of his pack mates around him.

The alpha of Minarron, left, beaten and nearly destroyed, in a frozen forest. He lead his head gingerly on his paws and tried hard to remember what had happened. All that came to him was a flash of red blood on white snow, the sound of his mate's sharp howl, and then...nothing.

Nothing.

[Hunterwolf]

((Sweet! New post, I'll try to play along as best I can.))

A grey wolf lay in the snow...tired...exasted and hungrey. He wanted to sleep and almost closed his eyes when he heard something...like a whisper in his head.

"Hunter."

He suddenly got up in surpraise. It was like a voice telling him to keep moving. So Hunter did so, he ran without knowing where exactly he was going. His exastion caught up with him though. He stopped to catch his breath.

"What happened? Where is everyone?" He thought.

At this point Hunter was ready to pass out from his fatigue but he didn't want to give up so he howled as loud as he could and passed out, his only hope was if someone heard him.

[Saeliie]

((Eep, I have camp this coming week, so I won't be able to reply until Thursday evening... I'm so sorry, guys!! I suppose this'll prove if anyone else is still active here, though. )

[Keerse]

((No worries, Scrii- I've got a musical and homework, so I probably won't be able to reply for a week or so. I think we shall wait and see if anyone else is around. ;P)

[Hunterwolf]

((Alright then, let's see what happens.))

[Asia]

Asia was completely buried in snow, only her speckled face could've been seen to a passerby. Her muscles were sore with the addition of a few places throbbing with pain. She could feel something wet and freezing across her neck... she thought it was the horrid bleeding of an open wound exposed to frigid air.

She hadn't realized she'd been crying... her eyes wet and cold, her tears unable to freeze due to the salt they contained. She breathed heavily, the freeze of the snow running through her thick, white fur, leaving her so cold... so very cold.

She closed her eyes for a moment. Where's Keerse? Where is anyone?

She tried to force a howl, but a quiet, choked bark emitted instead... With attempted strength she lifted her leg, but fell back under the weight of ice and snow over her body. She tried once more and managed to get two legs sturdy enough on the ground--enough strength to pull herself from underneath the cold blanket. She was hurt worse than she thought. Her neck was horribly slashed, although not close enough to any large arteries to kill her, but dangerous none the less. Her back was gashed in various places, but through the pain, she was determined to find someone in her pack. Just let them be alive... she thought.

She limped onward, sniffing the snow. It felt like hours before she caught that familiar scent. She stepped closer... "Keerse..." she collapsed beside him as her heart dropped. "Oh Keerse... don't be dead. Please don't be dead..."

[Saeliie]

As she stood, gazing past the whirling snow and the oncoming whisper of death, she sensed something shift within the air. Something was different... life? Life within death? Her ears flicked up, causing the feathers by them to flutter even more violently than before. She could scent so many familiar things... memories flooded back: of rebelling against the old Alpha, of saving a pup, of those horrid creatures which she had brought back to threaten her new pack, Minarron... and of Hunter. Dear Hunter, her beloved mate. And yet, he was there: she could smell his scent even through the dashing snowstorm!

Her heart caught and her hopes raised, her emerald eyes flashing with renewed vigour. For with her mate's scent, came two others, which she knew all too well. Her Alphas. Asia and Keerse.

She leapt out of the den, the walls disappearing behind her in a flash as she dived into the snows. Her mate and her Alphas were in different directions, but she knew she would find them. She had to! Her heart pounding in her ears, her ice-tinted paws flew across the invisible ground, sending the snow behind her in dashing flurries. Nearer, nearer...

All too sudden, she stumbled across the still grey figure of a wolf. Her breath caught.

...Hunter..?

Shock came flooding through her senses, completely blocking out the flying snow around her. No... She collapsed beside him, nudging his paw, his muzzle. Nuzzling his dark-hued ear, she curled up beside him, her head resting upon his. She could still hear his heartbeat, the blood pumping through his body... and she'd stay with him. If there was an afterlife, she would enter it with her love.

[Asia]

Asia heared the small crunch of snow meters away. She had mixed feelings. It would be the enemy returning or someone from Minarron that was actually alive. Asia howled instictively and wondered who would come toward her and her mate.

The snow swirled and reduced her vision to a two foot radius, but she smelled the air and hoped with all her heart it was someone from Minarron...

[Hunterwolf]

Hunter stirred after a little bit. He felt something pressed against him and opened his eyes slightly..."Sa-Sae-Saeliie?" He said weakly. He sighed in relief but closed his eyes again. He was so exhausted and could hardly move.

"I am...so glad you're alive..." He said just above a whisper.

"Are you...alright?" He asked his mate. Just as he asked he heard the howl nearby and knew who it was. He was sure Saeliie knew too but due to his exhaustion he saved his breath.

[Saeliie]

Saeliie's heart leapt as she felt Hunter move slightly. She was immediately on her paws, and she licked his cheek in complete relief. "Hunter!" Her voice was soft, yet pure joy was clear. He was alive!! She stood beside him, aware of his current state. "I'm fine... But I'll stay here with you," she said. The vixen had heard the howl. She had recognized the voice: it had matched with the scent she had picked up earlier. Standing within the swirling snows, she let out a few, clear yips, hoping that her Alpha would be able to hear her. Was Keerse injured, too? Or was he just exhausted, like her own mate was?

She would not abandon Hunter to find her Alphas. Who knew if she would be able to find him again?

[Asia]

Asia's ears perked to the direction of the sound... "Saeliie..." she whispered. She was relieved to know someone was alive, but Keerse was still motionless and for a while she'd even thought he was dead. The almost invisible, cloud of warm breath from his nostrils assured her that he wasn't, however. She smiled and licked his muzzled and hoped he'd wake up... she, too, not leaving his side.

[Hunterwolf]

((I'm going to wait for keerse to catch up before I post again. )

[Keerse]

((heh, thanks Hunter. ))

Keerse's ears twitched and he struggled to open his eyes as a familiar scent assailed his nostrils. Wha...? He struggled through the fog in his mind to place the scent.

"Asia...?" he croaked, trying to move, but unable to. He felt a warm lick on his muzzle and struggled to raise his head. He looked over and there she was next to him, a warm shape of white fur. He pressed his muzzle against her's in relief.

[Asia]

Asia sighed heavily, "Keerse!" she breathed. "Are you hurt bad?" she asked, scared of what his injuries might be...