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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 3, 2014 15:13:02 GMT
"Don't worry it's fine, we all need to cry sometimes." She said softly, a patch of her russet fur now looking brown from the tears. She licked Sola's nose and sat down, "I'm guessing memories." Ruby stated knowingly but leaving it hanging so Sola could decide the direction of the conversation.
Iris noticed Xoren stop his running and she wriggled to the front of his head and hung down her head to stare at him, her red eyes curious as she geld onto him tightly, "Why are you crying? Are you sad?" She asked sweetly.
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Post by Hypercube on May 3, 2014 16:56:25 GMT
"Yeah..." Sola said with a heavy voice. She sat down next to Ruby, her eyes locked with the faceless ground as she spoke. "Since I started to form memories I was by myself, left as nothing but a destitute child on the outskirts of rogue camps." Sola did not cry as she spoke, but her facial expressions conveyed obvious disturbance as she recounted her troubled past. "Many a time I almost starved to death with nothing to eat but the scraps the cons I was stuck with would leave behind. It was such a lacking existence, that is if it could even be called existing." Sola held her tongue for a moment, waiting for the pain to dull a bit before she continued to spill her soul.
"No Iris," Xoren said in a fatherly voice, "sometimes crying doesn't mean someone's sad." He had some difficulty putting the explanation into words that a child of Iris's age could understand, but he looked into her curious red eyes and continued. "Sometimes we lose control of our emotions when something touches us deep inside," he went on "and that happiness can sometimes force itself out as tears."
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 3, 2014 19:02:33 GMT
Ruby waited patiently for Sola to continue but took the silence as a chance to make a single comment, "You don't need to worry about that now, your mother is here and she's going to do everything a mother does include teaching you to hunt even better than you already could. It was when I was hunting I met your father actually." She said thoughtfully smiling, "And now I get to do it again with my daughter and maybe you'll eventually meet your mate. She teased with a mischievous grin.
"Oh... that's strange I've only known people to cry when they're sad." Iris mused but shrugged dismissively, "Do people cry a lot when they're happy? Why didn't you cry when mummy became your mate, were you not happy then?" Iris frown, still clearly not grasping the context of Xoren's mood.
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Post by Hypercube on May 7, 2014 0:09:04 GMT
Sola looked to her mother with a few bitter tears staining the fur beneath her eyes. "That would be nice," she said with a similar smirk, the sour memories of her painful past slowly dissipating. She looked to her sister who was speaking to their father who responded in the same fashion he had spoken to Sola. "I guess everyone tries to find what they've lost," Sola spoke with her eyes remaining fixed on the duo, "that one empty hole within you that nothing else can fill."
Xoren giggled a bit, intrigued at the young one's curiosity and misunderstanding. "Some people cry more than others and some cry at different things than others. For me, your mother becoming my mate was a beautiful moment, but watching my own flesh and blood find someone to fill the void just as I have... it's a feeling unmatched by anything in the universe." Xoren looked to the cub that hung near in front of him and extended his nose such that it grazed hers in a playful fashion, hoping that she understood the magnitude of his realization.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 7, 2014 0:21:08 GMT
Ruby's lips twisted into a smile and she nuzzled Sola gently, her snout running along Sola's cheek, "Some have it easier than others." The hybrid commented on Sola's last remark, turning her gaze to Xoren and Iris too, "It's strange really, how little things can make us happier than ever before and, like you said, fill that hole." She sent her fiery gaze back to Sola before starting towards Xoren and Iris, "Come on, the sooner we get to a camp, the sooner we can eat." She called over her shoulder with a grin.
Iris giggled when Xoren nudged her before doing a sort of rolly poly down his face and hanging onto his muzzle with her paws, her tiny claws unsheathed and scratching at the fur to hold herself up. "Are you happy that you have to look after me? Am your flesh and blood too?" She asked, her red eyes sparkling with curiosity as she probed at Xoren.
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Post by Hypercube on May 7, 2014 0:30:22 GMT
Sola smiled at Ruby's remark, reflecting upon its truth. With her call to the others, Sola began to walk in the direction they were initially headed, smiling at the setting sun ahead as its light played with her eyes.
"Well let's get one thing straight," Xoren said jokingly, "I don't have to look after you, I want to look after you." As Iris climbed to her original perch, Xoren began to move towards his beckoning mate. "And another thing," he continued, "you are every bit my flesh and blood as I am."
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 7, 2014 1:20:53 GMT
When Ruby reached Xoren she couldn't help the smile that crept onto her lips as she reached up to nuzzle him affectionately before turning to Iris, "I hope you're not scaring Xoren off, missy," she said playfully. Iris giggled and made the shape of an angel halo above her head with her paws.
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Post by Hypercube on May 11, 2014 13:48:46 GMT
Xoren returned the loving gesture and answered for his newly adopted daughter, "she was an angel, none the less." He looked to the sky, watching the setting sun as it rapidly passed and began to walk alongside Ruby. "We should find a place to rest soon so that we can go hunting before darkness falls" Xoren said to his mate.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 11, 2014 13:56:13 GMT
"Surely there must be a cave or something nearby." She sighed, squinting a little in a vain attempt to see anything. "If need be we'll have to go hunting soon, eat and then try to find a place to rest." Ruby continued, glancing over at Sola and then back to Xoren and Iris.
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Post by Hypercube on May 12, 2014 21:01:52 GMT
The group walked for a while, Sola staying near the front and Xoren in the rear with his small fuzzball sitting on his back. The sun was falling rapidly now, the twilight slowly creeping over the rocky landscape. "Look over there!" Sola shouted to the others as she halted, "I think that's a cave!" Xoren moved up to her and looked in the direction she pointed towards with her extended snout. Hidden in the mountains, there was a small cave nestled between a passage over the rough terrain that seemed to be uninhabited. "Does that work for you?" Xoren asked Ruby.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 12, 2014 22:16:56 GMT
"Right now, anything works for me." Ruby said wearily, but relief flooded her tone. With that she picked up her pace, a spring appearing in her step the closer they got to the cave.
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Post by Hypercube on May 14, 2014 19:34:07 GMT
Xoren and Sola followed Ruby into the cave and looked around the roomy encampment. "This will work just fine" Sola said, her young voice echoing along the walls. As Xoren slowly lowered himself allowing Iris to dismount Sola walked to Ruby, her stomach forcing her legs to move quickly as she spoke, "Are we going hunting like you said earlier?"
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 14, 2014 19:54:26 GMT
"Sure, Xoren could you stay with Iris and bathe her for me please?" Ruby asked, looking over Sola's shoulder at Xoren and Iris before lowering her gaze back to Sola, "Let's go."
Iris pouted a little and Ruby's words and looked at Xoren, now she was going to test him. Before he could say yes or no, or move she turned and sprinted to the back of the cave, waiting for Xoren to follow so she could bolt again before he could catch and bathe her. She HATED bath time.
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Post by Hypercube on May 15, 2014 21:00:49 GMT
Xoren chuckled a bit at the cub's response before turning back to Ruby, "Of course I can." He turned on his paws, slowly walking to the back of the cave with a calm smile on his face, eager to see what Iris would do.
"Let's go!" Sola said joyfully as she jumped from the cave into the cooling savanna air, watching back for Ruby to follow.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 15, 2014 22:01:52 GMT
Iris peek around a rock at Xoren, waiting patiently for him to get close enough, when her father was just in reach she sprinted through his legs to the opposite side of the cave, swerving a little to roll in the mud just outside the cave mouth.
Ruby smiled and followed Sola, before raising her snout to the air and sniffing carefully, "To the west." She said after a moment. "We should be able to find a herd there."
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Post by Hypercube on May 16, 2014 0:41:57 GMT
Xoren snapped his legs together hoping to catch the fleeing cub before she made it under him, but she was too fast. He turned, still calmly and slowly, towards the mouth of the cave and saw Iris creating her own bath. "Iris," Xoren said with a hint of sternest in his voice, "you're just going to make this a lot harder and longer than it has to be..."
"Sounds good to me" Sola said as she began to pad along the ground towards the setting sun. "Hey," she said with her usually inquisitive voice, "how do you know there's a herd to the west? I get that it's the scent, but what exactly are you looking for?"
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 16, 2014 0:45:56 GMT
Iris sat up in the puddle and gave Xoren a smirk, identical to that of her mothers before she started rolling in the mud again, keeping her gaze firmly locked on Xoren, ready to run again when she could get the chance.
"Anything really, if you sniff carefully the scent is a mixture which suggests a watering hole and a variety of animals that we can hunt." Ruby explained wisely.
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Post by Hypercube on May 16, 2014 0:53:39 GMT
Xoren moved closer to the child, holding her stare with intensity. He knew she was going to run, it was just a matter of which way and how. As he moved, he watched her closely for any signs of movement and readied himself to intercept her when she did make a move. "Come on Iris," he said in a pleading fashion, "the quicker you stop fighting it the sooner it will be over."
As she walked, Sola closed her eyes and allowed the air around her to fill her nostrils, her brain picking apart the different sets of smells until a musty mix of fur and dirt was apparent. Stopping in place, she turned in the direction of the scent and looked to Ruby, her eyes now opened again. "Is it this way?" she asked curiously, anxious to know if she did well.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 16, 2014 1:02:40 GMT
Iris remained firmly planted in the mud, her gaze flickering to the right. Slowly she lowered herself onto her haunches, ready to run. Angling towards the right.
Ruby sniffed carefully and her lips curled up into a smile and nodded, "Indeed it is, impressive!" She praised, grinning at Sola proudly.
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Post by Hypercube on May 16, 2014 1:07:01 GMT
Xoren saw Iris as she prepared herself to thrust right, and he did the opposite, preparing a feign to her left. Remaining in this position, he moved closer, his feet ready to switch direction in a split second so that he could catch her.
"Thanks," Sola responded, smiling at her mother. "Well we should probably get over there before we lose the opportunity" she said beginning to jog over the hill that separated them from their prey.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 16, 2014 1:23:24 GMT
Iris grinned, thinking she'd managed to trick him and she raced to her right and into the cave mouth as quick as a flash, her paws pushing her forward slightly.
Ruby followed Sola, her pace matching the younger hybrid's easily before she ran a little further and slowed to a halt at the top of the hill looking out ahead of her, sure enough there was a large watering hole with a wide variety of animals all gathered around, some sleeping, some eating, some drinking and even a few starting to settle down for the night. It was a lovely sight, but her hunger was more important. "So what takes your fancy?" She calls over her shoulder to Sola.
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Post by Hypercube on May 16, 2014 23:17:34 GMT
As Iris bolted in exactly the direction Xoren expected, he shifted his own body, pouncing on her while being sure not to harm her. "Gotcha!" he called out as he looked her in the eyes with a grin of satisfaction.
Sola's stomach groaned as she looked at the valley, its eyes searching for what it wanted most. "Gazelle" she said, her mouth dampened with saliva, "that would be nice." She looked to her mother, waiting for her to make the first move so that she could follow and learn how she hunted.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 17, 2014 11:42:58 GMT
Iris wriggled in Xoren's grip, "Nooooo, I don't want a bath daddy." She whined giving him large round puppy dog eyes, trying to pull out the stops to make him feel guilty enough to say no to giving her a bath.
Ruby settled her gaze on the gazelle before smiling a little and starting down the hill carefully, assuming Sola would follow. When she reached the bottom of the hill she lowered herself to the ground, the plants blocking her from sight whilst she waited for Sola.
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Post by Hypercube on May 18, 2014 23:31:36 GMT
Xoren knew that her cries were only attempts to get him to feel sorry for her and not do what had to be done, but he was not going to fall for it. "Well Iris," he said beginning to lick his own paw so that it was wet enough to remove the heavy layer of mud, "we all need to learn to do things we don't want to - it's an integral part of life."
Sola followed close behind, keeping low just as Ruby did. When they stopped in the tall grass, she gave Ruby a look of anticipation, awaiting her to pick out the prey they would soon be upon.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 18, 2014 23:37:38 GMT
"But daddy!" Iris whined loudly, stamping her paw in a slight tantrum, "You can't make me have a bath! No one can!" She said with determination.
Ruby's gaze fell upon a particularly large buck that was grazing close by, "That one." She whispered, starting forward carefully before she picked up her pace and bounded forward diving on the creature and knocking it to the ground whilst all the others scattered.
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Post by Hypercube on May 18, 2014 23:47:07 GMT
Xoren did not listen to the little one's pleas as he began to wipe the mud from off her fur so that he could properly bath her. "Iris," he said sternly, "you may not understand this for a while, but eventually you will look back to how your mother raised you and you will be very thankful. These types of things that we force on you are for you own good." Xoren paused for a moment, his brain failing to register his use of "we" until that moment.
Once Ruby had picked their target, Sola ran towards it along side her, letting her run forward for the take down. Once the animal was on its side, Sola raced for its neck, biting hard into the soft flesh until she felt the fresh blood pour out onto the fur that surrounded her mouth as she ripped the skin and muscle from its place.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 19, 2014 0:04:27 GMT
Iris pouted up at him before flopping down and rolling onto her back with her arms crossed, sulking.
Ruby grinned at Sola proudly, "Nice going kiddo." She said happily before licking Sola's cheek where a slight bit of blood had splashed up, "Let's take this back to the cave, see how your dad is managing bathing Iris." She continued with a playful smirk, she knew exactly what Iris was like for bathtime which is why it was the most difficult task of raising her.
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Post by Hypercube on May 20, 2014 1:37:12 GMT
Once enough of the mud was finally off, Xoren looked into Iris's eyes as she sulked on the floor. "Don't sulk like that," he said tenderly, "I hate to see you upset like this, but some things just have to be done." Once he finished speaking, he began to use his tongue to softly remove the dirt from Iris's underfur.
Sola laughed at the thought of her father dealing with a young child, envisioning the frustration he would have when she didn't comply to his logical view. "Alright, let's go" she said grabbing one of the front legs of the carcass with her teeth and waiting for her hunting companion to assist.
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Post by Ruby_Fehu on May 20, 2014 12:46:56 GMT
Iris attempted to roll on her front so he couldn't clean her, her bottom lip still protruding as she pouted, "I don't care. Baths are evil! She whined.
Ruby picked up the other half and started carrying the carcass back towards the cave.
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Post by Hypercube on May 24, 2014 1:58:43 GMT
Xoren couldn't help but laughing as she spoke, intrigued by Iris's young mind's processes. "Well I can tell you one thing about baths" he said returning her onto her back so he could continue, "baths are by no means evil in any way - and I sincerely hope you never have to face anything truly evil - but they are necessary so that you don't catch a nasty sickness from whatever has been floating around in this filth." After he spoke, he continued to bath his daughter leaving his paws around her so that he could stop her from fidgeting without actually holding her such that she felt unfettered.
Sola continued to drag the meal up the hill and back towards the entrance to their shelter when she snagged her foot on a portending rock and tumbled backwards with a small yelp. While it did hurt a bit, she soon began to regain her footing and found that she was not injured, just embarrassed as her cheeks turned beet-red. "Well," she said with a kiddish grin on her face and dry dirt covering the majority of her mane, "that was rather clumsy of me wasn't it?"
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Also added Christmassy snow and banner :3
I'm currently getting some uni work done before heading to the post office. What's up with you?