45th Ymiden, 718
"Look, mummy!" a young girl exclaimed with excitement, pointing to the cheetah. Ela glanced aside and looked, the small child waving at her and the animals. With a small but shy grin, the Mortalborn waved back to the child, before both the parent and daughter made their way in to their home. As they walked away a strange, hollow feeling ran through the girl. Gently, Alrur rubbed up against her leg, comforting her in any way he could.
Everything about Ela looked different, now that she had given herself a change. What had been long hair was now cut, and the paint on her face removed. Where she had once wore rough, fur clothes, the girl now wore a light and soft cotton dress. Yet despite every difference that could be seen, every change the girl made, she was still Ela Wolfsdotter. Her claws still sat on the end of her hand, spines still ran down her arms, fangs rested in her mouth and predatory eyes still looked around the village before her. Yet those eyes held no hate, only nerves. Nerves, and perhaps a hint of love.
Eventually, Ela made it to the door of the house, glancing up at it. Before she had come here, the house had been furnished a little with different items that would be to her liking. A large bed with space for both her and her animals was needed, buying what had been called a Queen bed before moving in to the house. With a small look aside Ela saw the hammock she had asked for, and when she provided it a man in the village assured her that he could help set it all up for her. The bed, the hammock - all of it. She had been told by them that it was just a welcome gift.
Tapping lightly on the door, Ela waited patiently, all of her animals sitting around her on the grass outside her house. It was a small garden with a little space, enough for all the animals to enjoy themselves for a while if Ela decided to rest on the hammock. After a few trills, the door opened and the same man stood there, a smile on his face. He was young enough, earlier than Ela by about ten arcs, and had a friendly expression at almost all times. His short brown hair and bearded face made him fairly attractive, though Ela had heard him talk of his wife.
"Good to see you again. Ela, right?" he asked, getting a nervous nod from the girl. Without another word, the man stepped aside, letting the girl explore to her hearts content. Patiently outside sat the animals, as Ela's eyes widened and looked around at the house, light flooding in through the doorway and brightening up the entire room. It was beautiful, the girl thought. Light walls, full of light and life. A bed bigger than she had imagined in her own room, with plenty of room for everyone. Kitchen, a sofa and a chair. Everything was ten times more than she had imagined it to be.
"We hope you don't mind, but we went to the liberty of adding a few things for you. Just as a thank you, for signing up to defend us all. We can't tell you enough how much we appreciate it" he said, his tone sincere. Everything this man had done so far had been for free, for nothing. Moving Ela's things in, adding items for free, offering for her to visit for a meal sometime and meet his wife and child. All of that was for her sake. That, Ela knew, was what a pack was all about.
"You really didn't have to" she chuckled nervously, feeling her emotions building up inside her. Nobody in a long time had taken care of her like all of the world around her seemed to be now. Kura, Faith, this man. Every single one of them had helped her for no cost, shown her exactly where her place was, gave her a new life outside of killing. Of course it would be hard to adapt to. But it would be safer for her, giving her a pack to care for. More importantly, having a pack that would care for her.
Before the man could speak, a small bark came from the other room, and out came the last gift for herself Ela had ordered - a Nightpup. Faith had one when Ela went to visit, and just from appearance alone Ela knew she had to keep one. They were beautiful beasts, big too, and generally seemed friendly. "I hope you don't mind, but I've been taking care of him a little, while I set up the last parts of your house. But now I'm finished, he's all yours."
"Now you'll have to excuse me, but it was nice to see you Ela. Perhaps we can catch up soon, my family would love to meet you" he smiled, before showing himself out. Curiously, the Nightpup came over. With a small smile, Ela knelt down and offered her hand to the animal, before stroking it lightly behind the ears. Then, Ela stood up and glanced outside to all of her animals, some sitting nicely on the grass while others waited patiently by the door. Fey had landed on the top of a tree beside Ela's house, while Alrur attempted to climb in to the hammock and fell.
Ela gave a small whistle as she came outside, causing all the animals to stand and glance to her. Gently, with her bare feet touching the grass, the girl walked outside and looked around. Curious children looked over, as did a few adults, yet most had a small smile to their expression. Smiling back lightly, Ela looked to all of her animals and knelt down, causing Redfang to pounce at her and wrap his big paws around her from behind, nuzzling her ear. Chuckling, Ela watched as all the animals sat around curiously.
Ela pointed to the house and all the animals looked. "Home" she spoke, before whistling. Immediately, the predators made their way in to the house, some bounding with energy. It was a simple word for them to understand, and all of them knew what it meant. No damage was to be done inside of it, but the home was theirs as well as hers. It had been similar with the cave, and the no damage rule had applied to deer. Though Ela had no doubt some of the items of furniture might mysteriously get torn up, but so long as the entire house didn't find itself somehow destroyed that was fine.
As Fey flew and landed on Ela's shoulder, Rosie hopped lightly over to her feet and rested against her. "E-excuse me" Ela heard, glancing back and seeing the small girl from when she had entered beacon. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I just...I was hoping I could say hello to your animals. M-my name's Ava" she said, nervous. Yet it wasn't fear of the Mortalborn, there was no worried look to her claws. It was just nerves.
Glancing up, Ela noticed the girls mother, who stood by their house and just smiled. "Of course you can" Ela smiled, looking back down to the girl with a gentle smile. She knelt down, bring Fey to the same level as the girl so she could have a closer look. "This is Fey, a bird I found in the wild. Down there is Rosie, who followed me out of Sweetwine one day and has been following me since. Do you want to stroke her?"
With an excited nod from the young girl, Ela picked up the Flunny gently and held her out for the child to stroke. With a soft touch and an awe-struck expression, her hand ran through Rosie's soft fur. Then her eyes looked up to Ela and she let out a small giggle, bringing a smile to the Mortalborns face. "Can I...maybe see the other ones?"
With a small nod, Ela whistled, causing the bigger predators to come outside. "Friend" she said, all of them then coming closer. Alrur immediately nuzzled his head against Ela, before doing the same to the small girl. Meanwhile, Redfang and Aila sat on either side of the pair, resting. Darkfur climbed himself over Ela, lying his body down over her legs. Finally, the Nightpup came out, and sat beside the Ava. One by one, she stroked the animals, each reacting kindly to it. Aila even went as far as to move herself, wrapping herself around the small girl protectively.
And as a break went passed, Ela told the story of how she came to Scalvoris, and how she had an affinity with animals. Her story spoke of the cave she had lived in, her sister Kura, how she had hunted Alrur all the way back in the Eternal Empire. A tale of last season, with exploding fish and hallucinations, which led to Fey and Rosie visiting her. At first, it was just the small girl, but once a break had passed another three children had joined, accompanied by seven different adults. Each started nervous, yet by the end of it her garden was filled with animals, all being played with gently, or stroked. Sitting in the Hammock were two small girls and Rosie between them, while Alrur was chased playfully by a little boy.
"Was it all true?" Ava asked from behind Ela, her mother stood beside her. Both looked similar to the other, beautiful brown hair running down to their lower back and bright blue eyes. While Ava looked thrilled, her mother gave a calmer but warmer look to Ela. "Did you really save Sweetwine woods, and hunt with all these animals, and have deer friends in a cave?" she asked with excitement in her tone. Ela smiled and knelt in front of the girl, picking up a small feather that Fey had dropped while sat on her shoulder.
"Yeah. It was all true. I promise" she muttered, gently putting the feather in the girls hair. Before Ela could react, Ava threw her arms around her and pulled her in to a big hug. A small smile spread across her face as a tear ran down her cheek, the feeling of this kind of affection still new to her. "Thank you for protecting us all, Ela."
"You don't need to thank me, Ava" the girl muttered, wiping the tear with her hand. "It's what I'm here to do."
"Look, mummy!" a young girl exclaimed with excitement, pointing to the cheetah. Ela glanced aside and looked, the small child waving at her and the animals. With a small but shy grin, the Mortalborn waved back to the child, before both the parent and daughter made their way in to their home. As they walked away a strange, hollow feeling ran through the girl. Gently, Alrur rubbed up against her leg, comforting her in any way he could.
Everything about Ela looked different, now that she had given herself a change. What had been long hair was now cut, and the paint on her face removed. Where she had once wore rough, fur clothes, the girl now wore a light and soft cotton dress. Yet despite every difference that could be seen, every change the girl made, she was still Ela Wolfsdotter. Her claws still sat on the end of her hand, spines still ran down her arms, fangs rested in her mouth and predatory eyes still looked around the village before her. Yet those eyes held no hate, only nerves. Nerves, and perhaps a hint of love.
Eventually, Ela made it to the door of the house, glancing up at it. Before she had come here, the house had been furnished a little with different items that would be to her liking. A large bed with space for both her and her animals was needed, buying what had been called a Queen bed before moving in to the house. With a small look aside Ela saw the hammock she had asked for, and when she provided it a man in the village assured her that he could help set it all up for her. The bed, the hammock - all of it. She had been told by them that it was just a welcome gift.
Tapping lightly on the door, Ela waited patiently, all of her animals sitting around her on the grass outside her house. It was a small garden with a little space, enough for all the animals to enjoy themselves for a while if Ela decided to rest on the hammock. After a few trills, the door opened and the same man stood there, a smile on his face. He was young enough, earlier than Ela by about ten arcs, and had a friendly expression at almost all times. His short brown hair and bearded face made him fairly attractive, though Ela had heard him talk of his wife.
"Good to see you again. Ela, right?" he asked, getting a nervous nod from the girl. Without another word, the man stepped aside, letting the girl explore to her hearts content. Patiently outside sat the animals, as Ela's eyes widened and looked around at the house, light flooding in through the doorway and brightening up the entire room. It was beautiful, the girl thought. Light walls, full of light and life. A bed bigger than she had imagined in her own room, with plenty of room for everyone. Kitchen, a sofa and a chair. Everything was ten times more than she had imagined it to be.
"We hope you don't mind, but we went to the liberty of adding a few things for you. Just as a thank you, for signing up to defend us all. We can't tell you enough how much we appreciate it" he said, his tone sincere. Everything this man had done so far had been for free, for nothing. Moving Ela's things in, adding items for free, offering for her to visit for a meal sometime and meet his wife and child. All of that was for her sake. That, Ela knew, was what a pack was all about.
"You really didn't have to" she chuckled nervously, feeling her emotions building up inside her. Nobody in a long time had taken care of her like all of the world around her seemed to be now. Kura, Faith, this man. Every single one of them had helped her for no cost, shown her exactly where her place was, gave her a new life outside of killing. Of course it would be hard to adapt to. But it would be safer for her, giving her a pack to care for. More importantly, having a pack that would care for her.
Before the man could speak, a small bark came from the other room, and out came the last gift for herself Ela had ordered - a Nightpup. Faith had one when Ela went to visit, and just from appearance alone Ela knew she had to keep one. They were beautiful beasts, big too, and generally seemed friendly. "I hope you don't mind, but I've been taking care of him a little, while I set up the last parts of your house. But now I'm finished, he's all yours."
"Now you'll have to excuse me, but it was nice to see you Ela. Perhaps we can catch up soon, my family would love to meet you" he smiled, before showing himself out. Curiously, the Nightpup came over. With a small smile, Ela knelt down and offered her hand to the animal, before stroking it lightly behind the ears. Then, Ela stood up and glanced outside to all of her animals, some sitting nicely on the grass while others waited patiently by the door. Fey had landed on the top of a tree beside Ela's house, while Alrur attempted to climb in to the hammock and fell.
Ela gave a small whistle as she came outside, causing all the animals to stand and glance to her. Gently, with her bare feet touching the grass, the girl walked outside and looked around. Curious children looked over, as did a few adults, yet most had a small smile to their expression. Smiling back lightly, Ela looked to all of her animals and knelt down, causing Redfang to pounce at her and wrap his big paws around her from behind, nuzzling her ear. Chuckling, Ela watched as all the animals sat around curiously.
Ela pointed to the house and all the animals looked. "Home" she spoke, before whistling. Immediately, the predators made their way in to the house, some bounding with energy. It was a simple word for them to understand, and all of them knew what it meant. No damage was to be done inside of it, but the home was theirs as well as hers. It had been similar with the cave, and the no damage rule had applied to deer. Though Ela had no doubt some of the items of furniture might mysteriously get torn up, but so long as the entire house didn't find itself somehow destroyed that was fine.
As Fey flew and landed on Ela's shoulder, Rosie hopped lightly over to her feet and rested against her. "E-excuse me" Ela heard, glancing back and seeing the small girl from when she had entered beacon. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I just...I was hoping I could say hello to your animals. M-my name's Ava" she said, nervous. Yet it wasn't fear of the Mortalborn, there was no worried look to her claws. It was just nerves.
Glancing up, Ela noticed the girls mother, who stood by their house and just smiled. "Of course you can" Ela smiled, looking back down to the girl with a gentle smile. She knelt down, bring Fey to the same level as the girl so she could have a closer look. "This is Fey, a bird I found in the wild. Down there is Rosie, who followed me out of Sweetwine one day and has been following me since. Do you want to stroke her?"
With an excited nod from the young girl, Ela picked up the Flunny gently and held her out for the child to stroke. With a soft touch and an awe-struck expression, her hand ran through Rosie's soft fur. Then her eyes looked up to Ela and she let out a small giggle, bringing a smile to the Mortalborns face. "Can I...maybe see the other ones?"
With a small nod, Ela whistled, causing the bigger predators to come outside. "Friend" she said, all of them then coming closer. Alrur immediately nuzzled his head against Ela, before doing the same to the small girl. Meanwhile, Redfang and Aila sat on either side of the pair, resting. Darkfur climbed himself over Ela, lying his body down over her legs. Finally, the Nightpup came out, and sat beside the Ava. One by one, she stroked the animals, each reacting kindly to it. Aila even went as far as to move herself, wrapping herself around the small girl protectively.
And as a break went passed, Ela told the story of how she came to Scalvoris, and how she had an affinity with animals. Her story spoke of the cave she had lived in, her sister Kura, how she had hunted Alrur all the way back in the Eternal Empire. A tale of last season, with exploding fish and hallucinations, which led to Fey and Rosie visiting her. At first, it was just the small girl, but once a break had passed another three children had joined, accompanied by seven different adults. Each started nervous, yet by the end of it her garden was filled with animals, all being played with gently, or stroked. Sitting in the Hammock were two small girls and Rosie between them, while Alrur was chased playfully by a little boy.
"Was it all true?" Ava asked from behind Ela, her mother stood beside her. Both looked similar to the other, beautiful brown hair running down to their lower back and bright blue eyes. While Ava looked thrilled, her mother gave a calmer but warmer look to Ela. "Did you really save Sweetwine woods, and hunt with all these animals, and have deer friends in a cave?" she asked with excitement in her tone. Ela smiled and knelt in front of the girl, picking up a small feather that Fey had dropped while sat on her shoulder.
"Yeah. It was all true. I promise" she muttered, gently putting the feather in the girls hair. Before Ela could react, Ava threw her arms around her and pulled her in to a big hug. A small smile spread across her face as a tear ran down her cheek, the feeling of this kind of affection still new to her. "Thank you for protecting us all, Ela."
"You don't need to thank me, Ava" the girl muttered, wiping the tear with her hand. "It's what I'm here to do."
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