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It Wasn't Long Enough [Open]
Topic Started: Sep 2 2009, 11:54 PM (292 Views)
Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:49 pm by Em

Alice Demitrius

Alice had already wandered too far away from Willow Valley to return now. Her aunt had given birth to her first litter of puppies. And Alice was happy for her aunt. She was happy that she had new cousins that would have a wonderful family. She was glad that Lilly would be their mother. Those puppies deserved the world, and that was just what they were going to get. Sarojinn was going to be a great father, too. Those puppies were going to have everything that Alice herself never had, and who was she to feel bitter about something that beautiful? Alice shook the thoughts away. She didn't want to think about how happpy her aunt and uncle were. All she wanted to do was to be alone with her thoughts. And now that her aunt was a new mother, all she could think about was the death of her own mother. All she could think about was the absence of her mother and how her father had moved on with a new mate. He had new children, and then he died. That sucked. Namchuri had what, seven pups before he died? Two mates? Something like that. Good for him. And now he was dead. That was the way the world worked. Brutes had faes, had sex, had kids, and then they died and left their families to pick up the pieces. Typical.

Of all the places Alice had been in Caelum, the Tall Fortress was her favorite second to Willow Valley. The White Sand Beach was pretty and all, but there was something about it that just seemed almost too beautiful to Alice. It made her feel like she was just too ugly to be there. And she wasn't ugly - it was just that she'd never really been told she was beautiful. Alice hadn't really had a mother that was well enough to dote on her and tell her that she could have any brute she wanted because she was that pretty. All she had was an absent father and an aunt that was busy with her own life - but Alice didn't blame her for that. How could she? Alice would have done the same thing. Lilly deserved to be happy. The Gods knew how long she had waited for it, anyway. Alice couldn't help but feel grateful that Lilly had fallen in love and had a family of her own now. But despite her aunt's pleading, Alice would never allow Lilly to become her mother. She felt guilty just thinking about replacing her real mother with her aunt. She knew Lilly was just being nice and trying to look out for her, but it still just made Alice uneasy. Aeon would probably want her to accept Lilly as her adoptive mother, but the whole thing just didn't sit well with Alice. The silent guilt of the thought alone was just too much for her to bear.

Using her long legs to her advantage, Alice bounded on top of a small boulder and lay down slowly to watch the sunset. She crossed her crimson front paws - one over the top of the other - and gently let her head fall on top of them. A small sigh escaped her pure white maw and she allowed her deep emerald green eyes to settle on the setting sun just beyond the tops of the trees.

Rich, vibrant colors cascaded through the gaps and spaces between the large trees that dominated most of the Tall Fortress. As she inhaled deeply, she allowed her mind to wander back to her home in the Willow Valley. Ever since the death of her mother, Alice had been contemplating leaving the Valley. She knew her mother would probably roll over in the grave if she knew Alice was entertaining such thoughts, but Alice still let it enter her mind every now and again. Like right now. Whenever she thought about the Willow Valley, all she saw was her mother's face right before she died. She could so visibly see the gaunt features of her mother. She could see her mother's pale eyes as she cried out in pain. There was only so much Alice could do to comfort her when the pain was so terribly much. The cries of her mother still haunted her even months after Aeon's suffering had finally ended. Aeon's death had been a relief and so incredibly saddening at the same time that Alice had spent months in a confused state, just drifting through the days of her life like she was nothing more than a ghost.

Alice's emerald eyes opened abruptly, sparkling with unshed tears. She hadn't cried since her mother's death. Not even when her own father was murdered in cold blood by someone she didn't even know. Alice blinked the tears away briskly, face flushed beneath her pale white fur. Lying on top of the large boulder, Alice was bathed in an amber-crimson glow from the setting sun. Quite beautiful once you got past the pain behind those emerald eyes.

But all of that scar tissue had sure built up over the past year.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:31 am by Feral

-=Kiahi Stygian=- "Differences Challenge Assumptions..."



Winging his way past the borders of Shadow Clan, Kiahi's mind was consumed by recent events. The death of the alphess, the disappearance of their pups...t was a lot to swallow. Kiahi's heart ached for their alpha and his brood...he could not shake Ichor's eyes, consumed by grief and hatred, from the back of his mind. He'd witnessed many such eyes in his lifetime...but usually during war. Or, perhaps on the brink of one. There was much to wonder, and too few answers floating in the wake of so many questions...What would become of the pups? How would they cope with the sudden loss of their mother and siblings? It was a hard lesson to learn, so young...

Kiahi dipped his wings and was rewarded with a current of warm air sweeping beneath him, supporting his wingspan as it ruffled his monochromatic span of feathers...salt n' peppered, they were losing the blazing white plumage they had been consumed with weeks before, and were slowly being engulfed by ebony once again. Ever molting, Kiahi's mind echoed, watching a pair of white plumes twirl around one another as the plummeted earthbound...

Watching the feather's dance, his attention was drawn to the land sweeping beneath him. Tall Fortress, his mind supplied him...it was one of the first places in Caelum that had drawn Kiahi...for it's high reaches of stone reminded him much of his homeland. Perhaps that was the very reason he never took up a permanent residence here...for a place too much like his homeland could only spawn ill memories.

A flicker of cream and crimson tugged at his attentions as he spiraled lower...a wolf lay stretched out on a plateau of stone, warming herself in the last rays of the sun as they trickled out over the spread of trees and stone surrounding them. A lone wolf, perhaps? Or something more? Uneasy, Kiahi averted his descent to bring him near the basking fae--for a fae it was, he recognized, drawing nearer--but not above or below her...he chose a pinnacle of stone to one side, of equal height to her own. He was not here to intimidate or subject himself to any potential threats...just to gather answers...

He brought his wings down in a powerful back-sweep as his carmine paws struck the earth...a plume of dust was kicked into the air, but it settled swiftly, unveiling the dark wolf with the patterned features, poised and seated on the stone several leaps away...his mottled wings folded up over his shoulders, and a smattering of white shafts at his feet...His ember-like eyes narrowed briefly, speculatively..."Greetings. My name is Kiahi..." he dipped his patterned skull, his dark ears curling back to half-mast...
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:17 am by Em

Alice Demitrius

Though Alice's head lay on her crimson paws, emerald eyes shut tightly against the final rays that were the day, she did not sleep. She found it difficult to do so in an unfamiliar land like the Tall Fortress. The only reason she had even come here in the first place was because she sought solitude. She needed more than what Willow Valley had as far as being alone was concerned to sort out all that had happened in the most recent weeks. The murder of her father was still fresh in her mind. Though his death hadn't bothered her or saddened her as much as it had for Kate and Jack, she was still disturbed that a wolf had trespassed in Willow Valley and killed someone who wasn't even a member of the Valley anymore. What did this brute have against her father? From what Alice knew of Namchuri, he didn't have many enemies. At least not in the Valley, anyway. Things could have changed when he decided to leave and join ShadowClan. In fact, Alice was almost certain the attack had something to do with Nam's new family. Speaking of which, Alice was surprised that she hadn't seen them wandering around the Valley yet. Everyone had seemed so intent on making them seem welcome and that they were accepted and whatever else. Alice wasn't so sure that the wolves of Willow Valley would welcome them with open arms, however. She knew that she wouldn't be doing any welcoming anytime soon. They couldn't expect that of her. She knew her aunt Lilly didn't, but she wasn't sure about Sarojinn or Kate or Jackson. For all she knew, they probably hated her for not forgiving Nam for abandoning their family after Aeon's death.

In the air above her, Alice thought she heard what sounded sort of like a small flock of birds flying. She disregarded the sound as nothing of merit and shifted slightly, green eyes still shut tightly. The sunlight had given her a headache, and she was trying to control the pounding pain in her head. Her eyes finally snapped open when she felt something light and soft fall onto her muzzle. Alice's eyes zeroed in on the foreign object and she found - much to her astonishment - that it was a rather large black and white feather with a wolfish scent to it. The young crimson and white fae remained still for a moment, contemplating the feather and then opened her mouth, releasing a breath of air that caused the feather to lift into the air and then drift away from her. Alice moved over closer to the edge of the boulder she was lying on and watched the feather drift down to the ground below her. She watched it for a minute or two and then, feeling suddenly homesick, pulled her head back up over the edge.

Somehow, during the time it had taken her to hear the sound of the birds overhead, feel the feather, blow the feather from her nose, watch it drift to the ground, and pull her head back up, a creature had landed on the rock directly across from the one she was currently taking up refuge on. She blinked, shocked. The creature was unlike any she had ever seen before. Alice sat up suddenly, blinking. This had to be a dream. Alice closed her eyes tight and then opened them a few seconds later. He was still there, wings and all. Definitely not a dream. Alice's maw fell open a fraction of an inch as she gazed at the winged wolf. Because she had never really had any parental figures other than her aunt who hadn't really had time to be a mother to her, Alice had never heard the legends of the winged wolves. She had no idea they even existed. Alice forced her mouth to close as he spoke... to her. Stunned, Alice looked behind her and all around her. There was no one else. Yep, he was definitely talking to her. Alice returned her emerald eyes to the winged wolf and opened her mouth to speak, still shocked.

"I- I'm Alice," she said softly, eyes wide with disbelief. She blinked again, telling herself that this was really happening. That she wasn't dreaming. That she wasn't crazy. But she wasn't very good at convincing herself, turns out. Her mouth fell open again and she reached out to touch the winged creature. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. But he was too far away, and her crimson paw touched only air. Embarrassed, she set her paw down and averted her eyes for a few minutes before returning them to the winged brute. "Are... are you... -" Alice let her words trail off, suddenly forgetting what she was going to ask him. It was probably stupid. There was no way he was from StarClan. There was no way he was an angel from StarClan. Ah, so that was what she had wanted to ask. She looked down at her paws, amazed that she was here in the Tall Fortress with a creature of legends, amazed that she didn't know of his existence before. Amazed that she could be so naive.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:39 pm by Feral

-=Kiahi Stygian=- “Differences challenge assumptions…”



Kiahi notched a brow at Alice’s unfinished question. “Am I…?” He was not ignorant of the glazed expression she wore. He knew quite well what his appearance did to some wolves…particularly those who had never heard the legends of such creatures. Though, such wolves were few and far between. Like a convict awaiting the fall of the executioner’s blade, Kiahi straightened and prepared himself for the suspicion and mistrust that would undoubtedly follow her shock and awe… “I am mortal, if that’s what you wish to know,” he nearly grumbled, striking out a ruddy paw to scuff a white plume from the face of the slab he was seated upon, watching as it twirled down below…

There were moments, hours, days when Kiahi wished he had not been born wingbound. It would have vastly uncomplicated his life in most respects…and yet, in others, it would not have exposed him to the true nature of others, nor would it have prepared him for many of the trials he would pursue in life. Though here, staring down the bewildered Alice, Kiahi could not quite decide whether or not the desire for his ‘gift’ was warranted…

“What brings you here, among these high reaches of stone?” …His tone was light, casual…he’d long since decided to steer clear from his Shadow Clan origins…such information could easily clam the fae up, for a lot of drama and misgivings had been brewing between all the clans since the death of Memoir.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:06 pm by Em

Alice Demitrius

The young crimson and white fae raised her eyes at the sound of Kiahi's voice, turning his name over silently with her tongue. Her emerald eyes settled on him and she noted the expression he wore. It was as if he was waiting for something. For her to run away, afraid, or something like that. But Alice was unafraid. The way he straightened up, almost waiting for her to turn away from and escape, vanishing into the thick forest that was the Tall Fortress. It was so unlike her homeland - perhaps that was why she had chosen this place to seek solitude. How strange it was that she had come here seeking a chance to be alone only to find herself homesick and talking to a winged wolf. At Kiahi's statement about being mortal, Alice opened her mouth, but quickly closed it and said nothing, blushing beneath the pale white fur on her cheeks.

"I must seem terribly rude, just staring at you..." Alice said, averting her emerald eyes down to her crimson paws. She shifted slightly, not uncomfortable, but at a sudden loss for words. All of the questions she had to ask had suddenly vanished into thin air. After a short while, she raised her eyes to his, almost wishing she could touch him to make sure she wasn't dreaming. That she wasn't crazy. Alice shook the notion away quickly. There was no way she was dreaming this up. This wasn't like her normal dreams, anyway. Usually her dreams consisted of her mother close to death. The dreams had haunted Alice even before her mother's death. After all, it had been Alice who had stayed there with her mother, comforting her as she died. It had been none other than Alice, only a few months old at the time, who had held onto her mother, soothing her as she passed from this life to the next. And it was none other than Alice herself that was forced to live with the regret of not being able to do more. Of not being able to save her dying mother - the wolf who had given her life and then had lost her own so soon after.

Alice quickly realized that she was staring again, and looked away, embarrassed. Then, unable to avert her eyes for too long, she peeked another look at Kiahi. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said, quickly realizing that this had been said aloud and not in her head. She clamped one crimson paw over her white snout and stared at Kiahi with wide, bright eyes. She wanted to say that she hadn't meant it - that she was lying - but she knew it wasn't true. He was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. And that was the truth. He was even more beautiful than her aunt Lilly, who was perhaps the most beautiful fae in all of Caelum. Kiahi, to Alice, was more beautiful than the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon. His wings in themselves were something that Alice had only dreamed of in her childhood - and were so lovely it made Alice weak with insignificance.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:24 pm by Feral

-=Kiahi Stygian=- "Differences challenge assumptions..."



Kiahi chuckled darkly, averting his burning azure eyes. "No worries, Alice," the last rays of sun flared and died, immersing the world in a gold-kissed twilight that was swiftly being devoured by shades of lavender and gray. "I get that a lot, as you can well imagine..." Kiahi added, almost as an after thought. He was quite used to eyes on him. Due to this, he'd developed a false and stoic air, his expression and voice influx a carefully measured blank slate...for what good would it do him to wear his heart on his sleeve with so many sets of eyes on him at all times? It was always difficult to discern what the winged brute was thinking, or feeling, for that matter...

At her next proclamation, Kiahi glanced to her sharply, thrown off-guard. That was not the typical reaction he harvested from strangers upon sight. Another chuckle burst from him, and his patterned brows shot high. "Well, I don't..." a slow, bewildered shake of his head followed his words..."I don't think I merit that..." His blue-gold eyes swept over her briefly, a grin spreading lightly over his maw.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:03 pm by Nocturne

Devin Lorelei

--

Ebony black was such a contrast of the brightness of the rocks, the heavy white markings could be seen as a snowy blizzard evening; her white socked legs moved with a gentle grace, the long legs carried her with the last remaining bit of pride she had. Long ears tilted back as she scented the air, her eyes turned to glance in another general direction. At long last, Aurelia had made it back to Caelum; her eyes glowed softly as unfamiliar scents traveled through her nose, one was of ShadowClan and the other was the infamous Willow Valley. When she'd lived here, a wolf named Blaze had been in charge; not knowing the situation of Caelum now, the fae kept light on her feet.

As she edged into sight of the two creatures, the fact that the ShadowClanner was winged didn't cause her to hesitate nor did she openly gape. He was stunningly gorgeous yes, and the wings were very wonderful, but she wouldn't show disrespect since he was a wolf just as she was; the other was a little cream and crimson fae, wise emerald eyes. Deciding it was time to renew her life here, she began to speak. "Good tidings fellow wolves." Her voice was soft as she began, and the fae stood at a distance to allow them the chance to tell her to scram if so chosen.

Her eyes fell to the small girl, there was something deep within those emerald eyes that reminded her so much of herself; the cool smile slid to her maw, then she looked at the winged wolf. Dangerous, handsome, and authoritative were the first things that struck her mind; he must hold a rank of authority, and he was most definitely a stunning male if she had to say so. Too bad he was probably spoken for, no doubt a sweet little angel with wings of her own; of course, the femme knew she could be wrong.

Would they accept her company? Or would she be forced to meet the new Caelum head on?
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:06 pm by Em

Alice Demitrius

Beneath the white fur of her face, Alice was blushing an astonishing shade of crimson. She swallowed and slowly moved her paw over her eyes, more embarrassed than she had ever been in her entire life. She felt like a fool, saying what she'd said. And what was more than that, she had said it to a male. What the hell was that? Alice inwardly scolded herself, wanting to crawl into a cave somewhere and die. She shrank away from Kiahi slightly without even realizing it - something she often did when she felt cornered. Alice had always been the darkest of her siblings - she had always been tactical and calculating - the perfect wolf to take care of her dying mother. Alice shook the bitter thoughts away. She had every reason for being mad at her siblings and father, but for some reason, she just couldn't stomach all of that anger tonight.

When Kiahi spoke again, Alice peeked at him over the top of her paw, exposing one emerald eye. The sun had set, bathing the two forms in a lavender-blue light. Even from this far away, Alice could see that he was just as beautiful as he had been before - if not even more so. Why, his eyes - the most stunning mixture of sapphire and sparkling gold that Alice had ever seen - alone were the most beautiful eyes Alice had ever seen. That, coupled with the fact that he had wings that Alice hadn't even seen on a bird before made him all the more perfect. Alice removed her paw completely, but did so very slowly, almost reluctantly. She didn't want this perfect creature to see her imperfections. She remembered that her mother had once told her that imperfections made someone beautiful. Alice found it strange, though, that she could find no such imperfection on Kiahi. Yet he was still beautiful. What did that make her?

"Oh... well, I do," Alice said honestly. She still felt horribly foolish, but decided that she might as well act like a fool bravely rather than like a coward. She wanted to jump across the gap between their perches and feel the kind of power he had in his wings. She wanted to touch him and make sure he was real - that he wasn't just a figment of her wild imagination. Alice's green eyes slid away from Kiahi's for a moment or two and then she looked back at him, smiling shyly. "So why exactly would someone as wonderful as you be wasting his time chatting with someone as ordinary as me?" Compared to Kiahi, Alice felt terribly plain. Dull as the rock she sat upon. Alice uncurled her tail from her paws and then curled it over them again, fidgeting as she awaited a reply, expecting him to just take off at any given moment - gliding away into the clouds as though he had never even been there at all.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:06 pm by Feral

-=Kiahi Stygian=- “Differences challenge assumptions…”



At the appearance of the new fae, Kiahi dipped his head respectfully in greeting, trading his ember-like depths between the two. It seemed that he could scarcely go anywhere without encountering new faces nowadays… Caelum seemed to have new wolves trickling in on an almost daily basis. The image of a white-winged, petite fae flitted briefly through Kiahi’s mind, encouraging him to wonder whether or not anymore of these new faces would arrive wing-bound like himself…

“Greetings stranger,” Kiahi rose, lunged foreward, his wings plunging outward in a sigh if feathers as he closed the gap between himself and Alice. It could almost be read as a protective gesture…for the arrival of strange, new faces always aroused some suspicion in Kiahi’s case. His wings once again sifted down to encase his shoulders, salt n’ peppered shafts running a velvet caress along Alice’s side as Kiahi brushed past her to place himself between the two femmes…leaving just enough room for a swift take-off should he need it. Several white plumes stirred in his wake, having been tugged free by the sudden motion.

Kiahi tossed a sideways glance to Alice as her question reached him, suppressing the urge to chuckle once again. “I do not see within you anything plain, nor ordinary…And I am merely a wolf, like any other…save for my impediment.” Kiahi’s wings twitched pointedly, shaking free another pair of white plumes…in return, a pair of ebony ones shivered into place, freed from their waxy encasements and shining blue-black and new…Ever molting…Kiahi sighed. His wings were indeed more to him than some handicap…but a handicap they were in the worst of situations…He would never be considered inconspicuous, nor subtle in any way. He was far too…exotic.
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Keno Yasu Kedieo
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:03 pm by Em

Alice Demitrius

Alice watched Kiahi closely, and looked to where his eyes had landed at a new fae that had managed to stumble across the two wolves - one winged, one not. Though her emerald eyes, Alice saw the beautiful black and white fae and dipped her head in greeting, almost feeling as though she was crowding Kiahi and the fae in a certain way. For though Alice was not too much younger than Kiahi was, she felt young compared to him. As if she were only a little fae who had just struck out on her own for the first time. She had every intention of returning to Willow Valley when she was ready to, but not now. No, she wanted to see more of what Caelum had to offer, first. Her family had ruled Willow Valley for two generations. The Demitrius' were a noble family with royal blood that ran deep in their veins. Alice was no exception to this royal blood. It ran thick through her veins as well, even if she had no intention of ruling the Valley. Nashkeen Hailen and Alessandra would have one of their children ruling the Valley someday, and no doubt the Demitrius' would fall altogether. With her father's death still fresh in her mind, Alice tore her eyes from the nameless female for a moment or two, almost wincing as Kiahi introduced himself. She felt the sudden need to leave - to run from this situation. She almost wanted to go home, but then again, she didn't. Alice was every bit a Demitrius - from her long legs to her sharp, high cheekbones and wise, green eyes. But she didn't feel much like a Princess, though she still, technically, was.

"Hello," Alice said softly, raising her eyes to the black and white fae's, dipping her head in a gentle greeting. Her green eyes were filled with an unbelievable amount of sadness and ever-lasting grief. The death of her father had been hard on her, but the death of her mother had been far more difficult for her to deal with. Alice turned her eyes to Kiahi, then, in surprise as he closed the gap that had stretched between them. She shivered as his soft, velvatine wings gently touched her side as he moved to stand slightly in between her and the new fae. Alice watched him in wonder and then looked down at her crimson paws, a tiny, inaudible sigh exited her maw in a small whisp of carbon dioxide, quickly mixing in with the rest of the air and drifting away from her, invisible to her eyes.

Alice raised her eyes as Kiahi spoke, this time, finally, to her. She shrugged at his statement that she was anything but ordinary. That's debatable... she thought to herself bitterly, finally pushing the thought away. How could Kiahi say such a thing? He was so extraordinary with his salt and pepper wings that it almost made Alice weary and weak in his presence. She felt incredibly plain in the darkness of his shadow.

"Hardly an impediment, in my opinion." Alice's voice was quiet, almost hushed. She did not wish for the new fae to hear her. "My name's an impediment..." she grumbled, her voice barely audible this time. She had purposely not told Kiahi her last name for fear that he would realize that she was from Willow Valley and was of royal descent. He might treat her differently if he knew. This fae, though she seemed fairly new to Caelum, might treat her differently as well. She was old enough to have known Blaze and Salacia - Alice's grandparents that Alice herself never had a chance to meet. They had died years before her birth, sadly enough. Alice figured that she had much to learn from them. They were wonderful wolves, she was told. Wonderful leaders. Wonderful parents who had been brutally murdered long before their time. Alice looked down at her paws, shifting them slightly. She was now standing upright, but slightly hunched over to make herself seem shorter than she actually was. Over the past few months, she had grown considerably - already slightly taller than her aunt Lilly and much taller than her father had been when he was... well, alive. She was even close to the same height as Kiahi was, oddly enough. Probably taller than this new fae, although Alice wasn't close enough to her to actually measure herself in comparison. She'd always been self-conscious of her height, especially around wolves that were tall and yet nearly the same height as she was - males especially. Now was no exception, needless to say.
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