The Ravine of Truth
| Rayne stayed silent for a
full minute, not speaking, not even thinking. They still
sat in the same position as before; but the world around
them had changed. The first rays of light shown across
the forested landscape, bringing with it the truth of
another day from the night which she thought would never
end. It was another day, one like any other to most, but
no, not in Rayne's mind. These last hours had been filled
with more turmoil than she had ever before seen or even
imagined. Her world was destroyed, simply, and completely
destroyed. Soon it would crumble, she just had the curse
of seeing it beforehand. Ignan, would never serve in the
Queen's guard, not like this; not knowing this. She was in simple dumbfoundment. Rayne was trying to map out all the repercussions of this one bit of knowledge in the few seconds since the sun had dawned. She could not accept this as anything but fact. From any other source she would have fought and challenged until she saw with her own eyes. Looking at Rynne, into the eyes so much like her own, she knew she could not doubt him. He was the loyalist of the loyal, firmest believer in the Queen's Reign. From his lips the story was told, and in him she had confidence even over herself. She could not question her dearest companion, yet, how could she accept his word on this? It meant the destruction of everything she had known. "Say something, Rayne, please." He pleaded to her, as not a hint of her inner thoughts shown through into her placid, wild eyes. A simple blank stare was all he had to go on at the moment, and with each passing second his fears grew worse. It was odd, fear was something he had almost never experienced, and now, he had more than his share. Fear for his life, and for the lives of his guard, fear for his den, fear for all in the land beneath the Queen. And the final fear that she would not believe him; turning against him in anger. The truth he be told, but not one to believe it. That thought he almost could not bear to hold, even for a second. "I believe, you Rynne." She intoned finally, not speaking any longer, the turmoil showing in her eyes. Rynne breathed out a long sigh of relief, his fear of her doubt in him, vanished. "This is why I had come to you, Rayne. I came to tell you this, to warn you, to let you take action in these bitter times." He quickly spoke, hope growing with each passing minute after the tension had been released. Rayne did not speak, but turned a quarter turn away, everything entering her mind as if through some thick glass. It echoed around in her mind, but somehow, felt unreal. Like the reality she had been living, had just been proved fake. And yet, she was told she could not escape. 'Take action?' She questioned herself, repeating his words as if they might finally impact if she thought them. 'How can he expect me to act? I have absolutely no idea what to do. All I knew, believed in, thought I understood, is gone. The conflict arises, and I have absolutely no idea on which side to fight.' Her argument within herself built over the next few minutes and then simmered down, leaving only Rynne's voice in its place. "Rayne? Rayne? Are you alright?" he whimpered slightly as she hadn't been responding over the last few minutes. He pressed his nose against her muzzle, rousing her from her self-imposed stupor. "Yes, Rynne?" she intoned deeply without looking at him. "I asked, he repeated… what are you going to do?" Finally, she looked over at him, startling him with a look he had never seen in her blue-amber eyes. It was complete, emptiness; total absence of feeling, utter overwhelm and complete blankness. "I must…" she began "… find Kaya… and find out what happened to the others…" "But, Rayne-" he began to protest. She shot him a look of fire, barely restrained. "I must find out what has happened, Rynne. I cannot betray my pack." He looked uncertain, needing, and feeling certain this was not the right course of action. Quietly he spoke lowering his eyes not to meet hers. "Rayne, I think you need to act on these developments." "ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME, RYNNE!?" She growled with as much fierceness as she had in any battle. "On this issue, I am… asking you." He spoke again meekly, but knowing that she may harm, even kill, him for that misstep. His red and black cloak lay about him, now, more than ever, reminding her of who she was, and who he was. She looked at him, her eyes blazing with all the wildness of her ancestors. She had the right to his life for him questioning her, the leader could be challenged by the pack, and the only way to answer that challenge was to fight. She kept staring at him; his fur seemed to hang limper. His head lowered, accepting whatever she deemed necessary. Her anger cooled, looking at his light tan body, sitting there in such submission to her, but not yielding the point. She turned away slightly in contemplation, then she said something no den-leader had ever said. "What do you suggest Rynne?" His ears pricked up slightly, hopefully, but a little fearfully. He began to speak, but stammered, and then fell silent before gathering himself to speak again. "Go to the Queen, she has lied to us. Challenge her as our leader, Rynne, our protector." "What of the other dens?" she asked, already knowing his answer. "They will follow your leadership, you know the den of the Kells is the most respected and revered. Besides, we are all wolves, all of the same wild. We must be defended, Rayne, and though I do not know what the Queen plans for us, I know it cannot be good. I sensed… great hostility from her during the weeks previous. Assuming it was my work, I redoubled my efforts, but to no avail. Will you go?" he ended hopefully. "Yes." She answered, turning back to look at him. "But not just like you have said. The Queen is clever; I must have a cover. And I do need to find out what is happening among the men. Perhaps this will also give me greater insight into this situation. I will take a detour, heading to the valley Welris reported, and seeing what I find. Then, if all goes as I think it will, I will have a report to take to the Queen. It will make your journey safer, my friend, she will not know if your words to me." Rynne nodded in silent agreement, a quiet smile curling about his lips. He pressed his nose against her muzzle one more time. "And you should know why you are the leader of the Kells, Rayne. You were destined, designed for it." She looked over at him and returned his affectionate gesture. "Thank you, Rynne. Where will you go now?" He gestured to the south. "She has sent me on a task, I will go there, but not at the time she has designated. I will be fleet of foot going, in case she is watching. And even more fleet of foot returning, I will check back with you, Rayne." She nodded in agreement "Wise move, keep with her bidding. Let her know nothing. If she finds and inquires tell her simply. And if she speaks of your words in the throne room, say you spoke in haste and surprise, which is true. But do not lie, she can sense lies… and I am sorry to say, you Rynne, aren't a very good liar." Chuckling deeply, he replied. "I never had that much practice." She stood and leaned over, resting her chin across his neck. "Go now, my friend" she whispered to him. He stepped back, and bowed to her, showing respect as she was his leader. "My life and loyalty are yours, you know how to find me…. Dear Rayne." He ended, less formally than she would have accepted from any other, but he… was a special case. With only that, he turned and shot through the deep underbrush; a blur of tan and silver marking his departure. She smiled, glad he had been here, even with the news he brought. She felt very secure in the knowledge he was out there, and she could depend on him. Then she turned back to the ravine, with the daylight shining into it just past the brim now, she knew she had to get on with her duty. The last few feet to the rim were crossed quickly. As she descended the path down into the shadows where the light had not yet reached, another pair of eyes and ears ran off to tell its master of the information it had just overheard. |
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