Family Reunion

[Meesh]

It's been several weeks since Nerah and Antares conceived their pod. I wonder when the baby is coming Silva thought idly, watching Shadow proudly pluck the feathers off his first kill, a forest bird he had caught earlier that morning. Silva hadn't been able to spend much time alone with Shadow lately, as she had spent much of her time watching the soon to be newborn's pod with Nerah and Antares. She had been happy, then, for a chance to take a day off with Shadow. And he had certainly been overjoyed at his first catch. The bird was certainly a large one, Silva thought with pride. Wouldn't the others be proud when they saw?

Shadow looked up from plucking his bird. "When will Father and Aunt Nerah be back, Mother?" He had recently switched from saying mommy and daddy to mother and father, a sure sign he was getting older. Well, he was already a few weeks old, older than when Silva and the pack had set off to form Starpack. Perhaps it was just she who was getting old, she thought with a chuckle. "Soon, honey. As soon as the pod hatches. You'll have another mixed to join the family then, won't that be fun?"

[Aries]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #000; -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; height: 600px;border-radius: 15px; background: url(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3481/antarestable.png), bTable]

[atrb=style, height: 300px; vertical-align: top; width:420px; padding:5px;][style=height: 200px; padding: 10px;width:420px;overflow: auto; color: 5f4538; padding: 10px;text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 5px;] It didn't take long to make it through the forest, no snakes were encountered this time around thank goodness. He especially didn't like forest vipers after getting bit on the way home for the first time with Shadow. Seraphi stayed on his back for the entire trip, which also made it much faster. The undergrowth leading into the clearing the only steps ahead, the pack scent was all around him, the scent of home. "Honey, I'm home~" he padded through the undergrowth into the clearing, Silva and Shadow were on the far side of the clearing, so he bounded over to greet them with Seraphi still clinging to his shoulders. He nuzzled Silva lovingly, and gave Shadow a lick on the cheek the moment he made it over to them. At last they'd be able to spent time as a pack together. [/style]

[Deleted]

Seraphi held on tight as she was carried from the orchard to the maple forest. The whole way, she never ceased looking around, taking in her surroundings as they gradually changed. It was amazing that so many different places existed, and something inside her knew that she’d see even more someday. It was exciting. Possibly as exciting as meeting the rest of the pack.

She knew instantly when they entered pack territory. The scent was everywhere, smelling like both parents plus a few other creatures all blended so they were almost one. Would her own scent become part of it, as well? Would she notice if it did? Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t scent herself. Was that normal?

Nerah padded along a few paces behind Antares, keeping a close watch on the pup/kit as they traveled. She trusted the feline, she really did, but it was a mother’s job to worry and be prepared. The worry was needless, though. Seraphi remained securely on Antares’s back for the whole journey.

She stopped and sat down as Antares greeted Silva. She wanted to greet the other canine, too, but it would have been awkward for her to join in now that her two best friends were mates. A familiar ache settled in her heart, but she did her best to push it aside. It wasn’t their fault Arya had left her, and she couldn’t fault them for being together even if it meant leaving her out at times. She would learn to deal, eventually. In the meantime, at least, she didn’t have to be completely alone.

[Meesh]

Silva licked her mate on the cheek, tail wagging. "Welcome back Antares, Nerah, why are you-oh!" In he excitement at seeing her two friends Silva hadn't even noticed the third scent accompanying them until she saw a second set of ears peeping over Antares's back. The young mix's scent was so similar of a mix of Antares's and Nerah's that it made Silva grin. "Hello there, little one" The mix's coat was a perfect blend of her parents', mottled like Nerah's and striped like Antares's at the same time. She seemed a tad smaller than Shadow, but all together healthy. "Shadow" the canine called, turning her head "Come over here. There's someone I'd like you to meet" Without taking her eyes off the newborn Seraphi, Silva called "Nerah, getover here so I can greet you properly, you're pat of the family too, you know~"

Shadow paused in his plucking, looking up to see- was that another someone on Father's back? Silva had explained how Antares and Nerah would be having their own child, but Shadow hadn't really thought about what that meant until now. Another sibling, one who might actually like him, rather than Jamie, who seemed a tad jealous. And- he scented, just to be sure- another mix, like himself. Mother said he was the only one. Did this mean he wasn't anymore? A bubble of hope grew in the no-longer-a-newborn's chest as he trotted forward, leaping onto Father's back to sniff again at the female mix's side. "My name is Shadow" he said quietly, a purr rising in his chest as his tail flicked in an imitation- still not quite perfect- of a wag. "Are you my sister?"

[Aries]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #000; -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; height: 600px;border-radius: 15px; background: url(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3481/antarestable.png), bTable]

[atrb=style, height: 300px; vertical-align: top; width:420px; padding:5px;][style=height: 200px; padding: 10px;width:420px;overflow: auto; color: 5f4538; padding: 10px;text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 5px;] Antares grinned as his mate noticed Seraphi was on his back, and called Shadow over. He was excited for them to finally meet, and for Shadow to have someone his age and species to play with. He took a glance at the bird Shadow was plucking, curious as to if he'd caught it himself, but he'd ask him about it later. "Yeah, get your furry butt over here!" the feline called over to Nerah, who was still at the other side of the clearing. It was a family gathering, and she was family. When Shadow asked Seraphi is she was his sister he nearly answered for her, but he kept his mouth shut. It was important for them to interact without him getting in the way. He laid down so that Seraphi could get off without having to jump, he didn't want to startle erah with her jumping off his back [/style]

[Deleted]

Silva had started to say something, but whatever it was had been cut off when she noticed the little one on Antares’s back. Nerah worried for a moment what she would think, but she needn’t have worried at all. The other canine accepted Seraphi readily, and Nerah’s worries decreased. She worried rather needlessly a lot, lately, it seemed. It really wasn’t like her. Discovering the disease had disturbed her deeply, and she wondered if she’d ever return to her normal self again. She missed being an excitable, carefree pup.

Nerah shook herself and approached the group, since she had been invited. She really didn’t want to ruin their moment, but if they wanted her she’d be there.

Seraphi, meanwhile, was gazing around at the forest, still marveling at how different it looked from the orchard. There were still trees and grasses and things, but they all looked so weird compared to each other. She could smell something she thought might be food, though it was a different scent from the mouse she had eaten earlier. She made a note of the scent, but otherwise ignored it. It wasn’t hunting time, because she wasn’t hungry.

She was greeted by a canine that looked nearly as big as her mother, but was dark like her father. Te dark canine called to another creature, who looked like a slightly bigger – older? – version of her! Well…not exactly like her, no. He had the dark coat and stripes, but not the lighter mottling, and there were different proportions and everything. Still…it was clear to Seraphi that the two were the same breed. Not canine or feline like the other creatures, but something in-between. Then, she understood. She also understood that Nerah was not the other mix’s mother, but Silva was, and that it was Silva that was her father’s actual mate. But…mother and father seemed close, too, and they all lived together in the pack, so did it even matter?

The male mix introduced himself, asking if she was his sister. She tilted her head to the side. It was a complicated situation that she couldn’t quite put into words, but she supposed a simple answer would do, even if it wasn’t entirely true in a literal sense. “I think so.”

Antares laid down, and the ground looked a safe enough distance to jump to. The ride was over, so it was time to use her own legs again. She stumbled off the feline’s back, landing on her paws but collapsing a moment later. She climbed to her feet again and shook herself.

Oh, right, she hadn’t introduced herself, yet!

“I’m Seraphi!” Her tail swished from side to side a few times and she looked around at the group, wondering what she was supposed to do now.

[Meesh]

Silva grinned, glad to see the two mixes making their introductions. She leaned over to nuzzle Nerah, tail wagging. "Nerah, she's beautiful" the canine informed her packmate, nudging her lightly. "Cheer up, this is a great day!"

Shadow hopped down from Antares's back as well when the feline moved down to a sitting position, albeit a bit more steadily than his half-sister. Wow, she definitely was another mix like him! This would be so exciting! "Are you hungry? Do you want some of the bird prey? I caught it myself!" he bragged, trotting over to his now-plucked kill and nudging it towards Seraphi. "But you can have it, if you want, seeing as you're my little sister" he glanced over at his parents, remembering the thing they had done to him when he was born and reached up to lick Seraphi between the ears, a little bit clumsily as he was only slightly bigger than she was. "Father, Auntie Nerah, how was your trip back?" he asked politely, respectfully as he had been taught by his parents. "Father, wanna go on a hunt later? I'll show you how I can catch stuff now!" he batted playfully at Antares's ears

[Aries]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #000; -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; height: 600px;border-radius: 15px; background: url(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3481/antarestable.png), bTable]

[atrb=style, height: 300px; vertical-align: top; width:420px; padding:5px;][style=height: 200px; padding: 10px;width:420px;overflow: auto; color: 5f4538; padding: 10px;text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 5px;] Antares sat up as soon as the two mixes jumped off of him, almost wincing when Seraphi stumbled and fell, but let out a sigh of relief when she got back feet unscathed. He abruptly got to his feet and trotted to his den when Nerah padded over, remembering what he intended to give her when they got to the den to ease her anxiety. He had trouble getting to his chamber but managed, snagging a bundle of white creepers and few stalks of dried lavender blossoms. It only took him a few seconds to get in and out of the den, thankfully not missing any of the conversation. "Eat these," he set the white creepers down at Nerah's paws "And crumble these into your bedding" he put the lavender blossoms slightly to the side. The feline didn't want his packmate to be stressed, and the plants would calm her significantly. He just hoped she would actually use them. "Excellent job, and you plucked it very well too~" he smiled at his son's kindness towards his new sister, kindness was an important trait to have and he was glad his son had it. Antares chuckled when Shadow gave Seraphi a lick between the ears just as he had the moment Shadow hatched from his pod. "The trip was quick and easy, no vipers this time around, but if anything happened I've discovered a plant that neutralizes the venom." he nodded, cure or not he still hated vipers, they were among the only creatures he'd kill upon sighting. "Absolutely, I have to gather some things from around the forest anyhow." his whiskers twitched in amusement as Shadow batted at his ears, and used his paw to bowl him over onto his side playfully. [/style]

[Deleted]

Nerah returned the nuzzle. “I know. I guess I’m just worried, you know? How long do we have until…never mind.” Now – with the newborns nearby – was not the best time to be discussing that worry. “You’re right. Sorry.” She then turned to Shadow as he asked his question. “Uneventful, which is a good thing.”

She watched the newborns until Antares approached with herbs. She listened to his instructions and nodded. “Thank you.” She ate the herbs, managing to keep from cringing at the taste. Some plants she liked. Most herbs she didn’t. When she was done, she nuzzled both her friends and took the lavender to her nest, crumbling it into the bedding as instructed. She then padded to the stream for a quick drink before rejoining the two. “I do feel a bit better.”

Seraphi blinked when the other mix licked her and clumsily attempted to mimic the action. Shadow had asked if she was hungry and nudged his bird toward her, and she stared at it. She wasn’t hungry, really, but the bird smelled delicious. She at least wanted to try it. She sniffed the kill, poked at it for a moment to try and find the best place, and then bit into the flesh. She purred - it was just as good as it smelled! She’d eat more if she thought her stomach could handle it. It couldn’t, though, so she stepped back. “I had a mouse earlier, but I wanted a taste. Thank you, but you can have the rest. It is good, though.”

[Meesh]

Shadow's tail wagged for real now, as the lick was returned and the bird, tasted. At this rate, I'll be a real hunter! he thought proudly, picking up the bird and offering it to the three older ones of the pack. "Do any of you want a bite?" Silva's tail wagged and she bent over to nibble at the bird. "It's delicious" she assured him, licking him between the ears before turning to the others. "He did an amazing job catching it today" She glanced over at Nerah curiously, seeing the worry in the canine's face. "Shadow, do you want to show Seraphi the den? She'll probably be pretty tired after her first day" Shadow nodded solemnly and poked Seraphi lightly with his muzzle, turning and bounding towards the den. "Sera, this way!" he called.

Silva straightened and turned to Nerah. "Nerah, is something wrong? Is the - the young know what - getting worse?" Silva asked quietly, the image of the sickening Annab Tree clear in her mind

[Aries]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #000; -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; height: 600px;border-radius: 15px; background: url(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3481/antarestable.png), bTable]

[atrb=style, height: 300px; vertical-align: top; width:420px; padding:5px;][style=height: 200px; padding: 10px;width:420px;overflow: auto; color: 5f4538; padding: 10px;text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 5px;] "I'm fine right now, though I'm sure someone else will eat it. Thank you anyhow~" Antares gave him a quick lick on the cheek, and turned back to the two canines. "That's fantastic~ He'll become a wonderful hunter like you." a purr rose deep in his chest, it was good his son was learning to hunt so early. He'd have to teach him about some herbs when they went for a hunt, being well-rounded in both would serve him well. Silva sent the two pups off to the den, so he turned back to Nerah who'd just come back from a drink. "Good, you can eat the white creepers whenever you're feeling stressed, they'll calm your nerves." after evolving, medicinal and eatable plants would often come to him in dreams. It came in handy in these situations to know how to use the resources that were all around him. "Also, I'm sure what's happened was a mere temporary setback, the plagues around the lands seem to be clearing up from what I've heard. I'm sure the Annab Tree will heal itself. Everything, including plants, is are bound to get sick sometimes, but with time and care they heal just as we do." he felt a little bad for bringing the topic up again, but the pups were off to the den anyhow. The feline curled his tail over his paws when Silva asked if Nerah was okay, looking up at her with concern in his eyes. [/style]

[Deleted]

((Sorry for the shortness, you guys.))

Seraphi blinked when her father suggested she be taken to the den. Already? But t felt like she’d just been born. She wasn’t tired ye—

She yawned.

Well, maybe she was a little tired… She returned the poke and followed her brother toward the den, her gait clumsy.

Nerah nodded when Antares instructed her on the herbs. “I’ll try to remember that.” She listened as the other two discussed the tree ad sickness. “That may be true, Antares, but the orchard trees have never fallen sick, and so many young ones died before they could even get a chance at life…” She shivered and shook her head. “It hasn’t gotten worse. From what I can tell, it’s stayed the same. I do hope it manages to recover and no more pre-lives have been lost…”

[Meesh]

Silva listened silently, eyes narrowed in concern. “If we could just find a cure, some plant or herb that could be planted in the Orchard and drive the disease out..” She growled helplessly, before a thought occurred to her. “Wait a moment” she said thoughtfully, glancing over at Nerah. “What you just said-about this never happening before. We don’t know that, right? What if it has happened before, only, before we all hatched? We’re the oldest three around, but that doesn’t mean nothing happened before I was born”
“come to think of it, someone must have been here before we hatched. I mean, the entire first generation – we must have parents somewhere, right? Where did they all go, I wonder?”

Shadow grinned when Seraphi yawned, trotting inside the den. “Here’s where our father sleeps” he said, pointing with his tail. “Our mothers sleep outside, they don’t like it in here. And here’s my nest, and here’s where yours is. Only, at night, it’s much more fun to crawl in with one of the big ones” He lowered his voice “They’e more snugglier”

[Aries]

[atrb=cellSpacing,20,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #000; -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888; height: 600px;border-radius: 15px; background: url(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3481/antarestable.png), bTable]

[atrb=style, height: 300px; vertical-align: top; width:420px; padding:5px;][style=height: 200px; padding: 10px;width:420px;overflow: auto; color: 5f4538; padding: 10px;text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 5px;] "Exactly what Silva said, we're the first generation that we know of, but not the first generation that could have ever existed. All of the trees could have been sick one time or another before we were born." he sat and pondered for a moment before speaking again. "I wonder about that sometimes too, but most of the newborns in the Orchard simply come from the trees, no parents required. We were the same. Maybe all of our predecessors had to sacrifice themselves for some reason all at the same time, to give us the knowledge we all have when were born." his face grew serious in thought. [/style]

[Deleted]

Nerah frowned as she considered what the other two said. “I suppose…we have no way of knowing what happened before we were born, do we? If everyone in the before time is gone…” She shook her head. “I hope whatever happened back then doesn’t now, if it requires so much sacrifice to keep the world going. I know it’s selfish, but I like living and I don’t want to die anytime soon.” Her intent was to live forever, but even she knew that probably wasn’t possible.

Seraphi followed, looking around inside the den. It was dark, but she could see well enough to tell what was what. She frowned at what he said. “Why don’t they like it down here? It’s cozy.”