The Wolf Dream Leads Louvete Aulare ~ Welcome to the Wolfkin

[Guest Allisa]

Janna tossed restlessly in her bedroll, sending blankets asunder and crying softly in her sleep. Beside her Silver whined anxiously, tilting her head and watching her human companion grapple with the demons of the past. Dawn was still hours away and the young pup had a fair idea of what the Tracker dreamt. Chime would awaken bleary eyed and somber, memories of Wind a tangle.

 

Two legged’s are so silly, the cub settled her head between her paws, golden eyes intent on Chime as she struggled.

 

They know only today, cub. They live in the moment.

 

Silver’s ears perked and she raised her head slowly. Beside her Windracer sat grooming himself, delicately licking his paws, and though transparent he exuded an unearthly glow. The cub pounced at him, startled when she tumbled on the ground without making any contact.

 

The old wolf laughed and turned toward Chime, Aren’t you supposed to be guarding her?

 

Silver regained her feet with as much dignity as she could muster, It’s so boring! The wolf cub huffed, She so much more fun when she’s awake.

 

Windracer growled low in his throat and Silver hunched low, apologetic. She’s vulnerable when she sleeps, cub…you must protect her. For me.

 

The old gray wolf approached Janna slowly, Silver a few steps behind. They both regarded the human with varying degrees of affection as she tossed and turned. Finally Wind bent low and nuzzled her neck. The Tracker sighed and relaxed suddenly, all the angst and tension gone, her sleep true and healing. Windracer gave her a last affectionate lick then turned to the cub, his golden eyes stern and intense.

 

You must watch over her carefully, little one.

 

Silver ducked her head, I will. It would be easier if you revealed yourself in the Dream. She won’t listen!

 

The older wolf laughed again. Not yet…..and I have work for you.

 

The cubs ears perked up once more and she listened and the image of the two legged became clear in her mind.

 

 

They set out the next morning, Janna clear headed and well rested, the cub nearly falling over herself in her excitement.

 

And you should see the way she catches rabbits! The silly things don’t stand a chance just **zing** and their caught!

 

Janna let the cub chatter on as she considered how best to approach this new Wanderer. Silver said she was only just beginning the Howling…perhaps a straightforward meeting? Or should she wait for the newly made Wolfkin to approach her?

 

The straightforward approach proved futile, the young woman was stealthy and avoided them at every turn. Finally Janna struck camp and let Silver do the looking, in the Dream. Hopefully their newest Sister would approach them.

 

Janna Telenvar

Twisted Chime

Head Tracker ~ Wolfsister

Companion to Silver

 

 

OOC: Janna is in her mid twenties, black hair worn in a tight braid (before she became a tracker she wove silver bells into her hair – hence the name). Her right arm is crippled, stunted since birth and she generally keeps it tucked tightly against her. Carries a crossbow specially made for her and a heavy pack. Silver is her new companion, a white pup, very young and enthusiastic – feel free to npc both as you need. Welcome to the Wolfkin!

[Winter Mist]

~Louvete~

 

It took nothing less than exhaustion to bring the remotest trace of sleep. She had given up trying to black out the maelstrom of her thoughts until she was on the verge of blacking out from tiredness, so many troubles she had suffered in trying to get respite. It was not fair. First, bereft of love and livelihood and then secondly, to be deprived of sleep, and as a result, her health. She was feeling the effects of aimless wandering; only the pull of what she saw when she closed her eyes giving her a direction. That she saw a pair of golden eyes that watched her with a grave recognition she found disconcerting was part of it; more so in later nights than she had ever felt, stronger, as if she could reach out somehow to the creature. The eyes belonged to a wolf.

 

It had always merely watched before, content to guard her protectively as Avun would have done had he been alive. Now, it felt closer to her somehow. Curiosity nagged at her like a fishwife near the end of her tether, and tonight, now in fact, she would try to talk to whatever it was in her dream and find out what it wanted. Unable to take another step in body, her mind raced on, considering possibility after possibility when it didn’t replay in minute graphic detail the events that she could remember from the ambush. I am truly cursed…

 

Her eyesight, which had improved dramatically in the last few weeks, had found a stand of trees not far from a river that would keep her sheltered from the elements a little. The cold of the night was no comfort. When had been the last time she had spoken? When had been the last time she had heard her name? When the swords had claimed her lover, not since then had she heard them. Cruelly deprived of light and life, she did not care who or what she was, or what happened to her, but something was making her choose her camp with more care than to just sleep where she collapsed now. Her skin prickled with more than the cold and senses augmented by some agency she knew not picked up traces of something in the air that she could not place. What had been her name?

 

Louvete, Louvete Aulare - that was it.

 

When she had started caring again, she did not know, but there was a reason now. A reason to camp away from everyone, if for no other reason than just hiding away from the rest of the world. A reason to try and find out the strange presence in her dreams, which might for all she knew, was connected to Avun. All this made her choose the copse to sleep in, and to wrap up well in her cloak. It was tattered; her clothes were tattered too as there had been no reason to mend them before. The wind pierced through to her skin and she shivered, feeling more alive despite the tiredness than she had done recently. Light! Try to relax… Sleep was difficult in coming, as usual, yet no sooner did she close her eyes and felt herself drift away did she open them again in a dream, clad this time in clothes that were as good as new. Her hair and body were washed, unlike in the real world where her body slept. Such a realistic dream… The eyes caught and held her, bringing her attention fully to the small grey wolf-cub. He seemed to draw Louvete to him, and it was only then that she noticed a woman with braided black hair and travel gear. Louvete could not help but notice the crossbow among her belongings and wondered if she was in danger, and her hand went to her belt where the sword she usually wore lay.

This was so confusing! Such a dream, it was not fair. She wanted to dream of Avun, not of this! Grief overcame her once more and tears rolled down her cheeks, making watermarks on her green jacket. Her head bowed and the waves of autumn hair fell forward obscuring her face while her heart poured out. Suddenly she stopped, curiosity burning in her like a last ember, fanned back to life in the frozen times of winter for survival. Before, there had only been the wolf. What was the woman doing here? What was all this about? Where she had questions before, she had more now; and no one had any answers. She had never run from anything prior to the slaughter; she would not run anymore. Confidently, not caring if this was a trap or a threat, Louvete walked forward to the woman and eyed her openly, taking in the pair of golden eyes that seemed to be a mirror for the pup’s own. She had noticed the way her arm hung at her side, but the woman opposite her seemed to exude patience and calm. The look on her face was enough to tell Louvete that much. Well, they knew she was here now, dream or not, there was no more hiding. Not now. If she remembered this in the morning … IF she remembered, then she would be cautious next time. I’m already thinking of a next time? There might not be a next time, what of Avun? What do I do now? I’m not scared. NOT scared. But what do I do now? Out loud, she spoke.

 

“Hello? Who are you?â€

 

OOC - not sure if this is what you were looking for, and sorry for the delay in replying :) I also got carried away with writing for Louvete...

[Guest Allisa]

Janna gasped and jumped to her feet, sending Silver an angry look. “I didn’t mean bring her here in the Dream, Silver. I meant find her in the Dream and then we could….nevermind.†Janna smiled and held her good hand out towards the young woman, “I’m Janna Telenvar, nice to meet you.â€

 

The girl eyed Janna’s hand warily, “I’m called Louvete.â€

 

The wolf pup bounded forward and Janna only just caught her in time, hauling her up into her arms with a muffled curse, “Light your getting heavy. And this is Silver, my companion, who evidently needs another lesson in patience. No jumping on new Wanderer’s Silver, you could startle them.†She set the wolf down and knelt beside her, keeping one arm around the pups neck. “And you should never bring one into the Dream, it’s too dangerous.†Though she tried to sound reproving she couldn’t help but give the cub an affectionate hug.

 

“What are you talking about?â€

 

Standing Janna tipped her head at the girl and wondered at her control. Her clothes shifted a bit now and then, mostly in color or texture but for someone untrained she was maintaining her image very well. “Louvete, this is a dangerous place for you, this is no normal dream and until you learn how to use your new gifts you should tread very carefully here.â€

 

Louvet looked at her as if she were mad, “What gifts?â€

 

“You can hear the wolves.†It was not a question but a statement of fact, “I can too. Your sense of smell, your sight and hearing are all much more acute than they were before what we call the Howling. And you can now enter the Dream.†Janna gestured to the woods around them, “If you agree to come with me we can teach you how to control this place and make the most of your talents.â€

 

The new Wanderer shifted her feet, clearly undecided and Janna took a step forward, keeping her voice soothing, “There are more of us, Louvet. We call ourselves the Wolfkin and you’ve been traveling towards our home for several days. The wolves told me where to find you but you keep slipping away from me.†The Tracker looked a bit peeved about that, “When you wake seek out my campsite, here, next to this stream.†Janna moved to sit next to the fire, “I’ll be here waiting but for now you should leave this place.â€

 

Silver padded closer to Louvet, overly cautious in her movements. Wake, Storm Flower.

 

Janna Telenvar

Twisted Chime

Head Tracker ~ Wolfsister

Companion to Silver

 

OOC: ;) ask any questions ic or ooc! or PM me or catch me on icq.

[Winter Mist]

~Louvete~

 

How did she know my name? What was that the pup called me? Storm Flower? Oh, Light, what is going on? I can talk to wolves? Her thoughts must have been obvious from the patient expressions on the woman, Janna, and the pup’s faces. It was strange; Louvete knew that the pup had meant more than the two words she had been named for. Indeed, it felt more like a series of images rather than a tropical sounding blossom. A wind to start, increasing in tempo and ferocity, with rain pounding grass to promote the heavy scents of a tempest. The clouds overhead rent with steel and silver, opening to reveal torrents that left the grass bent and withering in its wake, and after, subsiding to quietly grieving tears; the anger passing as soon as it had arrived, leaving the grass and flowers to cope with the aftermath. That was how she had been sensed, and described. She had an ineffable and inconsolable grief that flickered between crashing heavy tears and anger and vulnerability – a desperate need to protect and to be protected. A tear rolled down her face as she tried to comprehend what she had seen.

 

What am I? Is this what has been in my dreams? Am I still dreaming? Oh, Avun… I miss you…

 

The thought made Louvete think of her lover and how they had said they would marry when things calmed down. Tears fell anew as she remembered seeing a dress she would have worn for the wedding; so fancy and fine, and so expensive, but he would have bought it for her. No! She had to find out what this was. Avun… Oh, Avun… She didn’t realise her head had made the image of herself appear to be wearing a fine woollen dress in a shade of red, her hair unbound around her shoulders and freshly washed. On seeing it, she cried aloud and collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

 

“What is happening? You say I can talk to wolves – why? Why me? Where is your camp?â€

 

OOC – sorry for the short post :)

[Guest Allisa]

Janna felt her own eyes fill with tears as she watched Louvet’s suffering. Kneeling beside the girl she embraced her awkwardly, making nonsense soothing noises as she rocked her back and forth. Best get this over with quickly for she feared she might have to force the new Wanderer out of the Dream, which could prove painful.

 

“We’re just north of you, Louvet. Follow the stream and you’ll find us come morning.” Janna tipped the Louvet’s face up and gave the girl a gentle smile, “I’ll have breakfast waiting and I’ll answer all your questions.”

 

Janna glanced uneasily about the shadowed forest. She often had the feeling in the Dream of being watched but tonight it seemed stronger than usual. Was it her own nervousness or something more tangible? Deciding to err on the side of caution she sighed, “This may hurt a bit but I’ll try to be gentle. I’m going to push you out of the Dream, Louvet. When you wake remember this was real and come to me and Silver.”

 

Janna Telenvar

Twisted Chime

Head Tracker ~ Wolf Sister

Companion to Silver

 

OOC: Same! Sorry for the lateness and shortness of the post! Holiday! :P

[Winter Mist]

~Louvete~

 

She did not know what to expect. So unprepared for anything that had happened to her, Louvete had stopped crying and her clothes had changed back from the strange woollen dress she had been wearing to the normal garb she remembered putting on before collapsing into sleep. The answer lay to the north. Go north; follow the stream until she saw the strange woman that had comforted her. Louvete thought it would be relatively easy to remember, as the first thing she would likely do when she woke up was plunge her head right into it to sober her up. It was enough to turn even the hardest alcoholics into sane, rational members of society. Talking wolves? But it had definitely spoken to her … he had definitely spoken to her – it was a definitely male voice in her head. As for the woman, Janna, Louvete did not know what to think.

 

To be forced out of the dream… Was it painful? Was it going to hurt any more than the gut-wrenching sorrow she bore day in, day out, out of love for Avun? There were so many new and different things. Lifting her tear-stained gaze to the cub, Louvete felt a tendril of curiosity in the silver muzzle and, in spite of herself, she smiled, the first smile she had given in too long. Feeling somewhat easier, Louvete did not really notice everything shifting around her. She blinked, and was in her blankets staring at a cloudless sky, with dawn a fair ways off yet. It was as clear in her mind as Avun’s still, lifeless form held in her disbelieving arms until the blackness claimed her. Time to move on…

 

She gathered her scant possessions. They made a meagre bundle tied in a square of cloth that dangled from her belt. It contained some small artefacts and things she had found but not known the use for, and of course, her sword still hung at her waist, untended and uncared for, and the blade in dire need of honing. There was a whetstone in the pouch. When she stopped again, she could take care of that then. Weary feet given hope and renewal stood and eyes fraught with tiredness and worry scanned the horizon in the dark. Somehow, it didn’t seem to matter, the darkness. Somehow she could see as clearly as though it were mere daylight. Louvete did not give it another thought and set off to the stream to follow it northwards.

 

Her eyes picked up the sight of the woman, and surprisingly, the wolf. Had her dream been real? This was even more confusing than she had first thought. No doubt wearing a puzzled expression, she walked up to her. She did seem to be the woman from her dream, complete with dark hair and an arm held closely to one side of her body. Janna, if it was her, was cooking some thin slices of meat over a subdued fire that pricked Louvete’s appetite to a sharp point, sharper than when she had first smelt the waves of delicious cooking smells mingled with smoke from more than a hundred paces away. Standing there, Louvete stared blankly at the woman and announced herself simply.

 

“I’m Louvete.”