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Post by Dezari on Jul 1, 2008 17:26:38 GMT -5
When Iago first laid eyes upon the field, he lost his breath. It spread around him, enveloping him with something he'd never felt before. Freedom... A breeze tickled his nose, and he sneezed, sending up a dandelion's seeds that swiftly were lost from sight. A lightheartedness seized him, and he left Cher's side to run down the grassy slope they had stopped to rest at. He felt like a pup again seeing the world for the first time. Hope shone from his very soul as he took in the sea of green and the sky that bore no clouds, just as his heart was freed from its clouds. He could still glimpse the fringes of the eastern forest behind him, but it seemed a distant memory already. He dropped and rolled back and forth on the ground, lowering his guard for a brief moment. Pure bliss. Leaping back to his feet, he raced back to Cher and jumped in circles, in a playful gesture. He wasn't acting like himself, he knew. But then, had he ever really known who he was? He couldn't bring himself to care at the moment, so with an apathetic flip of his tail, he brushed all thoughts aside.
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Post by Kiya on Jul 1, 2008 20:23:08 GMT -5
Cher smiled when she saw how happy the open field made Iago. She felt that his burden was lifted when they left the forest. His playful movements made her feel even more at ease around him, and she jumped into the air, running as fast as she could in the sunlit grass.
((OOC: This post totally vaccuums... Please go on ;] |
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Post by Dezari on Jul 2, 2008 17:48:28 GMT -5
On their short journey to the field, not many words had passed between Iago and Cher. Knowing that this was due to his own taciturnity, he felt ashamed. Curious as to why Cher had been on her own in the eastern forest, Iago approached her. "Cher, you mentioned that you came from the alpines? Do you have a pack there? I want...I want to find close companions that I can live freely with." Iago's gaze drifted away from her face. Embarrassing as it was to admit it, Iago found it necessary to be honest with Cher.
((OOC: Oh, suckage. I think I need a few days away to build up my creative spirit again. I'm having to drag the words out of my brain...))
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Post by Kiya on Jul 2, 2008 20:10:37 GMT -5
Cher thought on his words for a moment or two, wondering if she should tell him about the Alpine pack. She didn't want to go back. She was still a bit humiliated from the rejection a few days ago. She chewed on a long stem of grass as her eyes lifted to the setting sun, and then she dropped it back to the ground.
"Iago... I did come from a pack in the Alpines. We are led by our alpha male, Thorn."
At the mention of Thorn's name, she winced. Who knew what Thorn and Dezari would be up to at this time...
Then her humiliated gaze met his, and for some reason, she wished that he would ask what was wrong. She highly doubted that he would, though. But still... she thought, it would be nice... for someone to care. She wondered if he wanted the same thing. |
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Post by Dezari on Jul 2, 2008 23:07:51 GMT -5
Iago could sense her uneasiness. Something had happened when she was last with her pack, he gathered. Normally he wouldn't care what another wolf was dealing with, but that was when he was surrounded by wolves that he didn't even love. Cher had shown him kindness that he didn't deserve, and he felt that he owed her a respect and a knowing heart that he willingly gave now. "What happened? I can tell this Thorn had something to do with it. Alpha males are so incredibly prideful! They think that their subordinates should do as they say without second thoughts. They act without thinking about how it will affect others." Stopping abruptly, he realized that he was talking more about his experiences now. He tried to direct the conversation back to Cher. "So what did this alpha male do?"
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Post by Kiya on Jul 2, 2008 23:39:12 GMT -5
She looked up at him with a face of gratitude, and what for? For him to simply care. She could tell that he had much experience in dealing with alpha males as well.
"Oh, Iago, it's not a big deal. It's something we shewolves are too sensitive about, anyway." She smiled and kept walking through the huge field, where no one could hear them or their conversation. When she realized the calmness of it all, she went on, even though she was trying to fade the memory. "I was rejected by Thorn for a wolfdog, and to make things even worse, she didn't even belong to our pack. How senseless is that?"
She shook her head in utter disbelief.
"I felt for sure at the beginning that he was going to choose me. The whole thing happened so fast, and I guess it could be my own fault. You see, I am not the type to openly greet wolves with a wagging tail and friendly smile. Not like I kind of did with you, anyway." |
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Post by Dezari on Jul 3, 2008 15:43:08 GMT -5
Being a hewolf, Iago couldn't quite empathize with what Cher was feeling, but he knew what it felt like to be rejected, even though, in his case it hadn't been a possible mate that had turned him away. Feeling that what he was about to say was as much for him as it was for her, he mused, "You can't change the way you are for another wolf's benefit. If that alpha couldn't accept your personality and your quirks, than it's his own fault for not being more open-minded. Every wolf wants to be welcomed and loved in their own way, but we shouldn't have to compromise ourselves in the process. Be yourself, and take things at your own pace." Iago slumped to the ground, and sighed heavily. "Perhaps I should be honest with you...I know that if I tell you of my past, things won't be the same. I've done something no wolf should ever do, but I'm not sorry for it. In my mind, it was justice. Do you wish to hear?"
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Post by Kiya on Jul 3, 2008 15:59:29 GMT -5
The femme kept walking in the beautiful field as if she had not heard him, even though she had. The crickets chirped loudly, dying down as they walked past, but continuing their song after they were a few feet away. She looked down at the hard, dusty ground, staring their for a few minutes. Her legs pushed aside the tall grass that they walked in, each limb moving gracefully up and down and paws padding down in the soil. Her tail swished back and forth as she thought on Iago's words. The world seemed so hard to get along in, anymore. Why was it that everyone had something happen to them as a cub? Life never seemed fair to anyone.
"Please tell your story. Unlike many of this day and time, I wish to accept you, even over what you have done." Her eyes led up to him, and the were intent and truthful, reflecting off Iago's own gaze. She was a wolf of trust and respect; one that others loved for it, but others despised. "...please, Iago."
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Post by Dezari on Jul 3, 2008 23:12:38 GMT -5
Iago's mind traveled back many moons into his past. Slowly, he explained all that he had had to bear...
He had been in a pack that his father, Betryn, ruled as alpha. Iago was born into the world with one other sister, Huyte. There had been others, but because of some birth defect, none of them had lived but they two. For most of his young pup days, he was kept separate from his father, so he did not learn of his cruelty until much later. His mother taught he and his sister how to hunt properly, and all the things a normal wolf would come to know. He didn't find it odd, really, that he and his sister were kept away from all of the rest of the pack. He grew very attached to Huyte, because she was his only companion. Time passed, and Iago was brought before Betryn. His father told him that he would inherit the pack as the new alpha under his father's guidance. This was good news to Iago at first, but then he began to realize how truly horrible Betryn really was. The alpha claimed the best of every kill, no matter who had taken the prey down. He treated the omegas with even less respect than normal. And what was worse, he expected Iago to become the same way. Iago rebelled in his own his own manner by becoming reclusive and refusing to listen to his father's demands.
The pack fell upon hard times, and the hunting grounds no longer produced the food needed to support the many wolves. Many of them plead Betryn to leave, and some even tried to break away, but Betryn killed any wolf that left...and feasted on them. Things became even worse, and Betryn, who should have paid shewolves the highest respect, slowly began killing off the younger pups, male or female. He even took the life of his daughter, who was of a fairly weak nature and not an effective hunter. Iago saw all this happening, and even tried to stop it. Betryn merely suppressed him with his superior strength and told him, as Iago would lay, panting, belly up that he would spare his life since he was his son. Gradually, with less wolves around, game moved back into the forest and the situation became better. Then there was the forest fire. It had been late at night, and most of the wolves were sleeping in the large den that they had, but Iago was awake keeping a sort of lookout. Taking his chance to leave, Iago ran into the night, the sounds of his dying pack chasing him like Cerberus, the dog of Hades. He had the opportunity to save them all, and he chose to save none. He loathed himself for being weak, but he did not regret his actions. They were better off dead anyway.
Iago finished his lengthy story with his eyes closed. He knew that Cher would be taken aback at the least. His wild past didn't even seem possible to someone who hadn't been there. The actions of his father were not acceptable within any honest wolf's territory. It was simply not done...cannibalism, the horrid treatment of shewolves. It wasn't done, but it had been; Iago had witnessed it with his very eyes, and exacted his own form of justice.
((OOC: Haha. Very dramatic! I don't like it...BAD BAD BAD))
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Post by Kiya on Jul 3, 2008 23:34:38 GMT -5
((OOC: I like it! It's good.))
Stopping in her path, Cher saw the horrific look on the brute's face. What a horrible past. She couldn't imagine being in such a situation, and such a terrifying father. And yet, she wondered if Iago was heartbroken because his father didn't add up to what he wanted him to be. Maybe he thought as he was cub, that his father would be a loving, caring wolf of generosity and wisdom. And maybe as everything happened, he still felt like his father was a good leader, and he just had a few issues. But after such unforgiving things that he had done, he finally realized that he was never going to be the wolf that he wanted him to be. His heart would be shattered. Cher understood.
After listening to such a story, she felt foolish for what she was upset about. She had never seen such fear as Iago must have, and yet she was whining over something so childish... so immature, so ridiculous! She felt a bit redundant, but she tried not to show it.
"Iago... I am terribly sorry." She stopped walking to meet his gaze, so that he might know that she was telling the truth. "Really, I am. I guess I have no idea what true horror is." A pained expression filled her face, and she squinted out the setting sun. It was beginning to get dark, and the night creatures had started their song a little earlier this evening. She wondered if they would sleep under the stars, since they were already so far from shelter of trees or rocks. It was a clear night out; why not?
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Post by Dezari on Jul 7, 2008 19:00:28 GMT -5
Iago hadn't expected that reaction in the least. Staring at Cher with a stunned expression, he whispered, "No one could truly understand all that I've been through, but I think with your help I've been able to put some of it behind me." He noticed too, that the sun was slowly sinking into a glowing gold line across the horizon. Sighing deeply, he said, "I suppose we're sleeping out in the open tonight. That's not entirely safe, but we'll be fine." Iago padded around in a circle, pushing down the stalks of grass to make a cushioned resting place. With a last grunt, he fell to the ground and rested his head on his paws. From this position, Cher looked even taller than normal. Iago chuckled to himself, surprised at his own lightheartedness. Telling his story really had helped his state of mind. Everything seemed less sinister and his thoughts were less dark. He knew he had monopolized the course of their talk. Thinking about the future, he asked, "Where should we go from here?"
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