Kiona © CatWhoHas14Tails
Achak © Draco
Kanook © Draco
Olathe © Draco
Takoda © Draco
Ayashi © Draco

Kiona sat on the step side of a mountain. There was no wind against this side, so her scent would be hard to track to nearby animals. She was looking down on her past life. At the base of the mountain were two teams of dogs pulling long sleds, and at the back of those sleds were men. She wondered if she missed pulling the sled. She lost track of how long it was since she was abandoned. But she did remember missing being the leader. She didn't mind following, but being in charge made her happy at a big point in her life. She kept staring down at them.

Unknown to the red female, another was watching her from higher up, his own scent hidden like her own. Bright blue eyes gazed past her to the ground below, where the dog sled teams were passing. Lip raising a bit in disgust, the large black and silver wolf looked back to Kiona, gaze softening once more. What was she thinking about? He had followed her out here after she tried to sneak off alone after the morning hunt. Finally, Achak decided to make himself known. "Kiona, what are you doing out here...?"

Kiona looked upward abruptly. It was Achak. She knew he didn't like humans, and felt rather guilty watching them for silly reasons. "Oh, uh..." Kiona couldn't think of a reason. She normally did wander away from the pack. Not that she didn't like living with them, but it was more to assist in scouting the area. She kind of took that role without asking, but she did like thinking by herself because often she didn't feel like she fit in well with the wolves. She didn't dare look back at the humans and was just busy trying to think of a better reason as to why she was alone.

Was she troubled by something? Or perhaps she was reflecting on her past, seeing as she had been watching the dogs and those dispicable humans below. Climbing down to stand next to Kiona, Achak once more let himself gaze down below, snorting in distaste soon after. "Do you miss it?" at her slightly confused look, the alpha continued. "Being with your 'master' and those other dogs?" he couldn't see how, judging by how he had seen them treat her before she joined his pack.

Kiona looked back down at the teams. She knew she didn't want to go back, but there were things she missed about it. "No...not really. My human treated me very well before the incident. And I do miss leading, but...I don't think I'd be able to go back, even if I wanted to." She sighed. It finally hit her that she and her master were dead to each other. Her eyebrows arched and she felt her eyes mist up, but she refused to cry about something so stupid.

Kiona sniffed and noticed Achak's shift of movement. At that moment her tears disappeared. She smiled at him. She spoke, her voice shaking a little bit, from either trying to laugh or from almost crying. "I don't think I can even try to explain my feelings..." she laughed through her nose. "But, if I went back, I'd miss you more." She paused. "Being here more. I'd miss..." Becoming frustrated with herself, as normal, she snuffed and looked elsewhere, trying to find the scenery more interesting than him.

Achak still didn't fully understand her need to have the life she once had. He probably couldn't understand, having been raised in the wild, away from what Kiona was used to. But he could always try and understand. "Do you really think they understood you? Those dogs and your 'master'? From what I observed once was disrespect, abuse and little to no understanding." Kiona was better off here in the pack, where she was accepted as part of a family, his pack.

Kiona hated to admit it, but he was right. Even though she did grow up being a sleddog, there was no way her master would accept her now, so there was no point in yearning for him (besides, her old teammates were moronic). She had a new life now, and it was with the pack that she had grown very close to. Her thoughts then led her to a less serious note, thanking the heavens that Achak didn't notice her little outburst about missing him individually.

Achak had noticed her little outburst, but had decided not to call it out and possibly embarrass the female. Now he just sat patiently, not expecting any real responce to his previous question, as long as she atleast thought about it. He, himself, would rather die than be with humans and their disgusting scents. Even thinking about him and what they had done to him and his family made his fur bristle. Luckily Achak made himself remain calm, not wanting to upset Kiona anymore than she might be now. Perhaps a change of subject would be welcome. "You've adjusted well to the pack life, though it must have been much different than what you had."

Kiona thought with her mouth ajar for a moment, then spoke. "...It is very different. But there are also some things that are the same." Kiona briefly elaborated on comparing and contrasting between living in a pack and being a sleddog. "But yeah...if I was like my siblings, and not raised the way I was, I probably wouldn't last a day in the pack. Because I was one of the last born, so I was a bit smaller than they were." Kiona's fur bristled. "My childhood isn't really worth much to me." She grew angry. Her childhood would've been fine, if the other incident hadn't happened. She never told anyone and she was letting it bottle up inside.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Usually a childhood is full of excitement, wonder and learning. But I suppose if not for your early years, you wouldn't have ended up here. Perhaps it was fate." His childhood had been wonderful, and the alpha could remember each moment vividly. Achak was raised around love and respect, having wonderful parents that taught him everything he knew today. "If there's anything you'd like to learn about being in a pack that you are unsure of, you can ask. We will not judge." The silver and black wolf hoped she understood that.

Kiona sighed. "Thats why I love it here. As I got older, I was teased for being part wolf. It didn't bother me, honestly. But you and everyone else didn't ridicule me for being what I was. Well, except one..." Kiona rolled her eyes at the thought of the wolf, Kita, whom she fought a long time ago. "But she's not important. Anyway, here, in this pack, I am assured that I won't be left behind. As long as I'm strong. Right?" Kiona sounded sure with herself, but there was a pang of worry in her voice, that was probably a fear left over from her childhood.

Kiona nodded. "I see." She looked forward from looking up at Achak. In the past she wasn't very wise. Living out here did make her wiser. She knew alot more than she did and she didn't plan on making such stupid decisions again. Especially if Achak was her guide. There was a reason why he was leader, after all. When she first joined the pack, she always questioned his leading skills, comparing them to her own. But now she trusted him more than ever. She smiled to herself and was about to lean in closer against him, until there was a howl coming from behind.

Achak smiled at that, believing her. She had come a long way from when she had first joined the pack. The female used to be aggressive as well as defensive, not trusting any of the other wolves, even if they were being friendly. The alpha's thoughts were interrupted as the sudden howl sounded. His ears swivled around, then he glanced over his shoulder and up. By the sound of it, it was Kanook, most likely asking where his nephew and alpha had gone off to through the howl. Turning back to Kiona, Achak moved to stand. "I suppose we should head back now, if you're wiling." He wanted to ask before answering his uncle.

Kiona looked into the distance. The dog teams were out of sight. A good sign to forget her past. She lowered her eyebrows, but faced Achak with a kinder expression and nodded. "But...um...if you don't mind...I'd like to speak to you privately, later. I need to...get something off my chest." She looked away, rather embarrassed. Although she did grow close to her pack, she still felt most comfortable with Achak.

He nodded back. "Of course, just come see me when you're ready." He smiled at her, seeing that she was a bit embarrassed about asking, wanting to reassure her. Remembering about Kanook's howl, he raised his big black and silver head and returned his own, the howl strong and experienced. It didn't take but a minute for a reply. By this time Achak and Kiona were climbing back up the slope to meet up with the older wolf.

It was about time for them to return anyway. Kiona hadn't realized how late it was and she bet Achak didn't know either, since he stayed with her for so long. She left Achak with Kanook once they made it back to the pack. Kiona greeted those who greeted her, like Olathe and Aya and Takoda. She conversed with them for a bit, but then Kiona sat outside of the den, just waiting for it to be night so she could speak to Achak. She was upset that she didn't have the time to talk to him about her problems earlier, but he said it was ok to talk about it later.

It was about time for them to return anyway. Kiona hadn't realized how late it was and she bet Achak didn't know either, since he stayed with her for so long. She left Achak with Kanook once they made it back to the pack. Kiona greeted those who greeted her, like Olathe and Aya and Takoda. She conversed with them for a bit, but then Kiona sat outside of the den, just waiting for it to be night so she could speak to Achak. She was upset that she didn't have the time to talk to him about her problems earlier, but he said it was ok to talk about it later.

The rest of the day went rather quickly, between scouting with Kanook and Dartanion, to having some quality time with his family, even letting himself get pulled into playing a bit with his siblings. Soon enough the sun began to set, and things around the dens settled down considerably. Now, Achak was sitting at his favorite spot, on a cliff not too far off from the caves, watching the sunset. Kiona would be able to find him here with no problems. And it was private.

Kiona thought the rest of the day would drag on, but watching how playful the wolves were entertained her to the maximum. Deep down, they really were puppies and the thought made her laugh to herself. She saw Achak walking to where his usual spot was, and followed

She expected Kanook to come out of nowhere with his usual comments about her "unusual" behavior (he mostly teasingly encouraged Kiona's smiles and laughter, she knew) but this time, he just smiled kindly and shook his head.

She gave him a weird look before setting off. She found him equally annoying as charming.

So caught up in the beautiful scenery, Achak didn't even notice Kiona's approach until she was nearly right next to him. Ears twitching, now that he heard her, his head turned only slightly as she came up to sit next to him. Gazing back at the sunset, which was almost finished, the two sat in silence for a few more moments, each probably feeling equally comfortable with the other. "So what was it you wanted to speak with me about?" The wolf would give her as much time to answer as she needed, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

Kiona took a deep breath. She never told anyone about this. Not even her father. The only one who knew was her master, the one who tended to the physical wounds. "Well, a few weeks after I was adopted, my master took me into Nome, the town we lived by, to see my family. He let me roam free with my two sisters, Saba and Aleu, when I found them. We played aroud town...chasing each other...having a good time. Saba had to go back home, and then it was just me and Aleu."

Kiona tensed up. "I never really liked my sister. I don't really know why, but even before, I never did. But I stayed with her, for company's sake. She suggested eating from the garbage cuz she was hungry, so I sat and watched her...before she could get near the bins, two dogs came from behind them. They were strays. Aleu and I tried to back away, but they weren't going to let us leave. They kept growling at us...calling us children of scum, referring us to...THINGS born from our so-called terrible father...and other colorful names." At this point Kiona was too into her own story to notice if Achak was still paying attention.

"I stupidly insulted them back, snarling at them, and they attacked me. While my sister..."

Kiona's fur stood on end, her ears layed back. "...ran away from me. At this point a third dog came to join in the 'fun.' They tore at me for what seemed like hours, until a was mangled. The snow around us was red from both my blood and my torn fur. They then left me as a human walked passed the alley, but it didn't notice me. My 'sister' never got help. It wasn't until nightfall when my master finally found me."

Achak sat in silence as she told her tale, occassionally glancing at her. But when she got to that traumatic event, he couldn't look away from her, half in sympathy, half in horror of what had happened. It was horrible. When Kiona finished, they both sat in silence for a bit, as the alpha took in the story. Then, shaking his head and frowning, he finally spoke. "That's horrible, I'm sorry that happened to you. It was unjustified." Just because she had wolf in her. But now he finally understood fully why the female acted like she did. "I can't imagine how that must have been like as a pup. You certainly didn't deserve it." this was why he hated man, and the dogs that lived with them.

Kiona nodded. When she spoke her voice was rather bitter, thinking back on the situation. But she felt it needed to be let out. "Yeah...for a long time I just thought of myself as stupid for letting it happen. As much as I didn't like my sister, I hated her from that day forward. But still, I beat myself up about it." She sighed. "I forgot all about it, until I saw those dogs earlier. One thought led to the next, and then that incident bothered me again. And...you know the rest. Sorry for rambling so much. Its a bad habit." When the wind blew she noticed how cold it was.

Seeing her shiver, Achak moved closer. She didn't have quite the thick enough coat to protect her from the cold like the rest of the pack did. If he could, he would keep her warm as they sat there. "It wasn't your fault." his voice was sympathetic and soft, hoping to soothe her. " You should not be ashamed of your heritage. They didn't accept you, and some never will. Don't let it bother you." Knowing he didn't have to restate that she belonged here, and was not judged, rather welcomed into the pack family life, the alpha grew quiet once more, giving her time to let the words sink in.

Kiona sniffed and nodded. The thought of belonging moved her and made her smile. She looked up and saw bits of the northern lights dancing in the sky. The cold then made her frown. She normally wasn't this cold, but then again, she normally wasn't out in the open at night. She was usually blocked in by some trees. She was indeed fed up with the cold, but being as "selfish" as she was, she didn't want to leave Achak. Then she insinctively moved in to Achak's body for warmth and didn't think twice about it.

Achak was used to being close to others like this, so wasn't too surprised when Kiona moved into him for warmth. It did get cold out at night after all. Looking up at the sky, the soft glows of color of the northern lights seemed to soothe the mood as well. They were beautiful, something he never got tired of watching. Usually it was him and his family that came out to watch them, but being with Kiona like this was just as good, if not better. She had come to him, trusting him completely, seeking comfort, someone who would listen and accept her. Achak certainly did accept her. Kiona was something new to him, and it attracted him.