The Forest of Rayne
| Almost two hours had
passed as Rayne made her way through the forest. The
quiet padding of her feet, matched the swishing of the
underbrush as she passed by. It was the deepest time of
night now, the ambience by the bugs almost created music
along with the insistent hooting of an owl. A lone howl
went up, but it did not perk Rayne's interest, for it was
the simple yapping of a coyote-like creature, not one of
her den-mates. She had been going steadily on, her trot an easy gate with which to cover the miles. Rythmic breathing showed not a hint of exertion, as Rayne was in prime shape. Before her, between the parting bushes lie a crystal clear pool. Peering around from the edge of the trees that hid her pretenses, she caught the sent of deer around, but it seemed to be a cool sent, not fresh. She snorted disappointedly, for with daylight coming soon, and another hour to go, food would soon become a consideration. Smoothly with the grace only in a wild thing, Rayne snaked her way through the bushes, barely disturbing them with her passing. She stepped out and down to the pool, taking one more look around before lowering her head to drink. An ear twitched, Rayne gave no outward indication of hearing, nor raised her head for a better venue. She twitched the ear again, this time voluntarily. 'Hmm… a follower.' She thought silently, contemplating on who the other presence was. She wasn't even sure she heard a sound, but she definitely knew there was a presence there. Finished lapping up her fill of the refreshing liquid, Rayne snorted once and then hopped a log at the far side of the pool, taking off at a dash in the direction of her travel. If the follower was going to keep on her track, she was not going to allow him the pleasure of refreshing drink. Once a good distance from the pool so she was sure her pursuer would not catch up, she again slowed her pace to the easy trotting of the long-traveling wolf. By this time, Rayne's thoughts had already covered back and again the strange information she had received earlier that night; about the men and her sister's capture. The prey had become scarcer over the last few months, which led the hunting party down to the edges of the Queen's land. She gave them haven in her realm, in exchange for their services as protectors. It was an amicable relationship, though the Queen was another story. What could possess the men of the land (few that there were) to break an agreement which had lasted so long? Rayne could only come to the conclusion that they had become even more honor-less than she thought, or something had changed recently in the land. Of which, no news had reached the den of the Kell's; something which was an even more curious thought. For the Kell's den was the most revered in the land, and the choicest of the Queen's messengers and guards came from within those dens. It had always been so; the proud tradition carried on. Rayne had explored all the possibilities in this situation she knew of, and her brain has begun to tire of her constant 'what ifs'. In this peaceful period, things apparently had been brewing; searching and seeking for a way to exert themselves. She wondered of the rumors last summer, about the creatures of dark legends seeking into the land; the deformed ones, not ones of the wild, but ones of the evil darkness, human-like, but not quite. That possibility made Rayne sick, she abhorred those even more than the humans, for they hadn't the redeeming qualities of the latter, and all the cunning of the same. Now she had a new puzzle to work her mind around - her mysterious follower. But she would find that out soon enough, she was nearing the ravine. From the sheltered forest, the trees suddenly thinned, showing the moonlight shining upon the valley before her. Dim flickering lights could be seen from where Rayne stood, a gentle wind ruffling her fur slightly. She stood proudly there, next to the precipice, and ever-so-briefly, looked down into it. No fear struck her heart, as she had journeyed the cliffs many times, mostly in her youth when she dared the other pups to travel down there. A slight grin curled at the corners of her dark lips. Those were days of her wild youth. After that incident, she was supremely chastised by the pack-leader, but that only encouraged her more. Quietly, only ten and a half steps away behind her, a dark shadow moved out from the darkness of the forest. It was the shape of a wolf, and it's quiet padding was unacknowledged by Rayne until step by step, he moved up to be beside her. A deep chuckle sounded from him as he prepared to speak, he was cut off by a few quiet words from Rayne. "Hello, Rynne" she uttered, not looking over at him. His stance went from one of complete confidence, to one of surprise. She didn't allow the surprise to become complete, as she whipped her body towards him, knocking him over in a playful tumble. Him, laying completely over, a tad stunned, was all the satisfaction she needed. She backed off from him, allowing him to rise and also allowing a great look of satisfaction to play about her face. He didn't move, instead looking questioning even still. "How did? How…" he stammered, almost to himself. Rayne practically bounced towards him, taking a hold of the red and black tunic he wore about his neck and giving it a friendly tug. Her body language was almost that of a playful pup, something she only rarely displayed. "Aw, Rynne, you think I could forget the foot-falls of my favorite playmate? I spent months memorizing your gait, and your nasty habit of pursuing me." She sat down at this point, only a few feet away, the grin still on her lips. "I learned well." He stood up and shook off, pretending he had some great indignity done to him. Then he carefully rubbed the underside of his chin to the tunic, straightening it in place. "Rayne, Rayne, Rayne, when are you ever going to grow up?" He teasingly intoned back, which was met by some very canine laughter back. "Probably when you stop following me for no reason, Rynne." She returned his teasing, the trouble of the night forgotten for now. Wagging his tail he approached her and rubbed down the right side of her body, in a standard greeting. Returning to face her he sat down again and spoke "I'm glad to see you again, Rayne." She smiled, "And I, you, Rynne." A quiet moment lasted between them, both enjoying seeing each other again, and both wanting to ask the same question. "What in the-" they both began without ending, then Rayne took the upper hand and finished. "…Were you doing following me?" Rynne's demeanor became quieter, more solemn. Fear struck at Rayne's heart. How could she take more bad news tonight? Her voice was dark when she spoke again, demanding and yet held a slight uncertainty "Rynne… what happened?" He did not respond for a moment and only looked at her. His eyes held uncertainly, the likes of which she never thought she'd see in him. He stood, and turned away from her, looking out at the cliffs and at the night sky. "Rayne, my news can wait. I followed you from the den, because I had been watching the developments from the shadows. However, because I could not think of how to ask, I did not stop you." He said, quietly. "I am sorry about, Kaya, I know you two were close." She turned around fiercely, fire in her eyes, anger bristling across the fur on her neck. "She's not dead yet, Rynne! I will not allow you to speak of her that way!" A brief snarl drove her point home; though he did not react to her movement of anger. "Rayne, you know, the men haven't honor, she is as-" he began, but before he could get any further she growled in protest "No! Until I see her body, until I nuzzle her face, I will not accept her as being dead!" And with that she turned away from him, determined to ignore his words. He looked down and shook his head sadly, he knew of her stubbornness, and tenacity. It has kept her alive all these years, but, he feared this time it would prove costly - to them all. He walked up to where Rayne sat, adopting the same contemplative stare off into space. Nothing was said between them, but Rynne could feel the tension and turmoil in Rayne. "If I had died yesterday, I would have died completely content. I feel as though I've lived a day too long." She intoned quietly, breaking the silence. "Rayne, don't say that." He returned comfortingly, touching his nose to her muzzle. "You're strong, and a fine leader, you will survive." A deep sigh emanated from deep within her. "You are right, Rynne, my friend." She spoke at last, her mood lifting slightly. "Why were you in these parts, Rynne? You never did tell me." He looked at her and contemplated telling her the full reason for his seeking her out. "Rayne, trouble is here in the land, the Queen has been making some odd alliances. I had, as the Captain of her guard, warned her of these, but she ignored my advice and sent me on an extended mission to deliver these documents to the Prince's land, down by the sea." Rayne sat up straighter and looked at him curiously. "Strange alliances? Wait, Rynne, the road leading down through Foren pass is far away from here." Her head tilted slightly, curious at this new information. "Rynne did not look up but rather kept staring across to the valley beyond them. "I know. My orders are a farce, the documents are blank. I had a dwarf I met along the way look at them, nothing but blank paper. I came to see you, Rayne." She was puzzled over this information, but the sudden urge to scratch demanded to be met. She sat on one of her hips and dug furiously behind one ear. This sort of behavior did look rather undignified in a wolf and a half smile from Rynne was her reward for the action. Truthfully, she needed the time to think. "What could I do Rynne? I have no further ties to the Queen. You have my job, and have as much of her ear as I ever did." "Ah, but Rayne, you are the pack-leader of the Kells, not to mention a very respected former member of her guard. You were the one to lead the fight against the Berunians, when they came up from their land. You were the one who, while half-dead and injured beyond belief, dragged yourself back to the castle to warn of the coming attack. I have no such feats to my banner." She sat back on her haunches, looking at him. "I still don't see how this connects me to the current, 'strange alliances', of which you have told me nothing." He bowed his head and nodded. "Yes, therefore you must hear my tale." "Very well," she uttered "I will listen until daylight, but then I must return to *my* duties, Rynne." "Yes, you must tend to your duties, but if you are venturing out from your forest, Rayne, you will need to know these things of which I speak." He took a deep breath then sat back on his haunches settling in to tell the tale which would bring so much turmoil upon this land in the coming months. |
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