Set in Miracle Valley, for Kenzie.

Indris Lonán could not sleep. While this in itself was no great shocker, the reason behind this sudden bout of insomnia differed from the norm, greatly startling its sufferer: Indy couldn’t sleep because he was too happy to consider closing his eyes! The advent of Quicksilver’s litter awoke in him a spark that would not rest even when threatened by the arrival of nightfall. In spite of the gloom it lit his eyes, making them shine like the incandescent lighting bugs that flickered about his head as he lay among the flowers of Miracle Valley, utterly content and at peace with the universe. For awhile he could relax, for in all the hubbub surrounding the pups, there would be little focus on him. Little pressure on him. For the next few days he could go to and fro as he pleased. Already the Beta imagined himself checking up on the folks back at Nova Mountain, visiting Kratina and Ahanu for the first time in several moons, taking the boys on a little hunting trip, checking how Element was doing, keeping a weather eye on whatever ailing canines strayed across his path…maybe even running into Vrash and giving this whole I-think-I-love-you idea another go.

While to some such a busy and pre-planned schedule might have appeared dull and monotonous, the very thought of it made Indris ecstatic. For too long he’d felt listless, restless even, with the way things were going in his life. There was no center, nothing to come back to every night, to ground him fully in what he was doing with himself and—more importantly—why he was doing it. But now the pups had come, and any wolf knew, younglings brought purpose and deliberation to any wolf pack they blessed with their presence. From now on, until they were old enough to hunt and live on their own, the babes would be under the watchful gazes and dedicated guardianship of every wolf in Strawberry Fields, right down to the newest Omega.

Whelps brought with them a sort of kindred vibe that twisted the mesh of their cadre ever closer, inspiring new heights of communication and affection between members. For a moment Indy slipped from his pedestal, considering how any ill wolves might affect the youths. Had he known the cause of the sickness sweeping over the Valley his mind might have ceased its worried spinning, but for now the once-Medic was alive with concern, swinging his head up from its pillow of wildflowers as he wracked his brain for a way to protect his pack-mates—the newest of them most of all.

Up and pacing a bit now, the Lonán wolf tried to calm himself; to expel his anxieties through movement. There was nothing he could do for now, nothing he had to do yet. The threat had not reached Green’s den. And surely the parents had taken it into account? They’d been careful at the birthing—he’d seen the wariness behind their breathless smile, caught the scent of suspicion lurking beneath undercurrents of exhausted glee. It would be alright. There was no need for him to shoulder the responsibility all in one go, hoarding it to himself. No need… His eyes shuttered themselves in relief as the one-and-a-half year old flung his lithe frame down amid the blooms again. As he settled the heady aroma of mingled flora assailed him, almost making his throat catch. A moment later Indy kicked out against a nearby bush—an involuntary movement that ceased entirely and was forgotten as he sat up. Suddenly he was feeling sick…as if he needed to retch. Am I developing allergies? Indy though to himself, choosing to ignore the dreadful knowledge that neasua was a symptom of the current Valley plague. “I’m fine.” The Strawberry man said thickly to a daisy flanking him. And the feeling passed.

But his disquiet did not.

Wee! An Indy thread^^. Sorry for the minor wait lol. And this is me trying to get into psuedo-healthy, inwardly demented Kenzie! *purrs* Sorry, it's a little long :(.

A gentle breeze carried the sweet smell of newborns throughout the Fields, even though it was probably a good twenty-four hours or later after their birth. Perhaps it was due to the natural heat of the day the made the odor resonate to each and every part of the territory, but the shadow of the night also may have helped, in turn, for it allowed everything to cool to a tolerable level. Whatever the reason, the news of the pack's newest joy spread like wildfire across the Valley and evidence lingered a little bit longer for all those who happened to be "out of the loop." It stayed strong even as the blazing sun crested the mountains in the distance and sank back beneath the horizon for a much needed slumber, trading places with the mystic lady. As her pale glow drifted over the sleeping world, the faint chirp of crickets instantly sounded throughout the lands, followed shortly by the far off hooting of a hunting owl. It seemed like all was right with the world again as the natural "quiet" blanketed the Valley in its warm embrace.

At least, that could be said of the sound, but for one such wolf, the commotion of the day's celebration never died. The pure pride and joy still surged through her veins and she could hardly contain herself form bursting with glee. It was like all the pieces of the puzzle had suddenly fallen into place and nothing could get even more glorious then they were now. What more could she ask for, after all? She had a home, a family that loved her, her beloved Radar, her caring Alpha and the birth of three new pups. Life was absolutely amazing. Adrenaline flushed from her brain like she was running several miles from all the excitement that went on and Kenzie was finding it hard to settle down. Warmth surrounded her petite form as she subconsciously pressed gently against another small frame in the darkness. She found herself in a small glen surrounded by a cluster of young aspens, rattling delightfully in the succulent breeze and announcing the happy news to all. The corners of her cheeks stretched out wide when she watched the proud leaves fluttering in the dimly lit sky, set on a brilliant stage of ivory twinkles to brighten up the background.

Without warning, a dazzling crimson danced along the grasses at the base of the trees until four creamy limbs swung themselves freely in the open air and a tail thumped just out of reach of the creature's russet caretaker. Everywhere, the fiery balls were painted above, almost as if the lord of the heavens took a paintbrush and splattered the color along the entire canvas of space. Intense green eyes focused on the blinding orbs for all she was worth, as if expecting one of them to fall down from their place and reign into her strawberry home. It didn't take long before the youth's eyes began to cross and make everything turn fuzzy on the edges until forms merged with others and spun teasingly around her head. She grin mischievously then swatted her paw as high up as it would go at the revolving objects. A second later, the cinnamon one was a flurry of movement with her legs striking up at the sky as fast as she could, hoping that the next pass she made would land on the warm, milky spheres playing just out of reach. I'll get you! Kenzoku thought affirmatively, adding a little extra nod to made her decision resolute. The cotton-fluffs couldn't stay glued to the ceiling forever, could they? Of course not! What goes up must come down. So why were they coming down yet?! Fall! Fall!

Then, a stupid little giggle passed between a set of pearly whites adorably, and the dear shook her head just a little in the most delicate way possible. Her long, raging appendages stopped from their unprovoked attack on the stars in a characteristically graceful manner and dropped to hug her alabaster chest lightly. In a moment's time, she looked everything like an inquisitive youngster, studying her surroundings once more and completely unaware of her previous actions. Perhaps it was a dream? Then again, the smile she help on her cheeks, filled with a feminine charm, suggested otherwise. Star's don't fall... they just shoot around from time t'time. Another half of her brain answered the unspoken question matter-of-factly. She seemed completely at ease with this thought too, about to twist back around onto her belly when a glint caught her glistening eye. Was that? She started, scanning the atmosphere overhead wildly for a moment. It moved!! Oh it moved! Fluorescent verdigris locked hard onto a small flicker a short distance away the shown a brilliant lemon in the darkness. It held a long, steady glow for a time as it traveled gingerly through the trees and further away from Kenzie.

Once again, everything contorted before her eyes and she had to wait a few seconds until thinks cleared and made since again. Inverting her vision twice in a very short period of time tended to blur the edges just a little. That was no matter though, for the glittering ball of gas was on the move and without any notice, the red was on the move with it. Then a gasp trickled out of her clenched throat when the object of her fascination vanished without a trace. Where did you go? Her mind wondered. Come out, come out, wherever you are! It occurred to her that in order to stay up so long, the twinkles had to be very wise, so when they fell they learned to high from the earthbound children. Yes, that had to be it, but when another gleam of yellow marred her vision once more further down beyond the strawberry vines, Kenzoku rethought her previous assumption. It's playing with me! She smiled wittily as the wind caressed the soft fur along her face and whistled by her ears soothingly. She did not remember when her paws sank into the soft ground, nor when her gentle pace turned into a fleeting dash, but before she knew it, the scarlet one found herself mingling through the various shrubs and trees that lined her territory after the blinking, fading light.

Peak-a-boo... The near-adult whispered in her mind as her body crouched low to the ground and her tail began to flick to and fro sporadically. Only the shadows surrounded her now with the dazzling beams of the many unmoving stars and their half-full queen, but not her living one. It just had to have a soul. Did she made it real?! After all, when the little one was hardly four months old, she had made an entire river come to life right out of her dreams and Radar had been there to prove it. She slowed slightly, wondering if she blew by it or if it didn't want to play anymore. Casting her gaze about the land, it shifted from left to right until she caught of a glimpse of citrus aloft a rose not too far away. I see you! That sugary smile raced from one cheek too the next almost instantly again, as if she couldn't get happier and she took off after the "same" fire again. This probably went on for some time, the pup switching between small globes until she no longer recognized the scents nor sights surrounding her. Everything was fresh and new, which bit at the eleven month old's desire to explore. Kenzie raised her nose to the air and took a big whiff, her ears twitching in every which direction like some sort of sonar protruding from a miniature head.

I'm fine. The words teased at ebony tipped ears softly, sinking in with a familiar tone, but before she processed it, she could have almost believed it was the firefly talking back to her. Ears perked up straighter and her eyes scanned the horizon once more, but her flashy wasn't in sight. Damn. I lost him. To any onlookers, Kenzie might have looked like any other pup. She was smiling sweetly as she raced through the Valley, innocently causing fireflies and pouncing on them when she got close. Before the flood, she could have played that game for hours with Radar teaching her the best ways to tackle the small insects. It was a lot harder then it looked to pin something that small, but Kenz wasn't trying to capture the living light. Besides, something much better then a little glow ball emerged from the night and this was much harder, though much more delightful to see. Indy! Her adorable note called as the female sprinted towards him daintily, if that was even possible. The instant she closed the distance between them, orange fur pressed warmly against his side as she drew her entire body against his, leaning heavily on him for a moment in the sweetest kind of affection. It wasn't unusual for the pup to be randomly loving or completely unreasonable in anyway, considering Radar was the one that raised her, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. Of course, that was excluding her two months of complete depression, but who was counting? Kenzie continued from her brush to run her tongue long his throat and chin adoringly in one fluent motion and then sat on her haunches in front of his face. What're you doing here?

*loveson* Reading your reply was a (lengthy) labor of love, dear. I can only hope mine measures up.

Night-furred skull tilted on its base as Indris turned to put the speaker of his name into his sights. Not that Kenzoku’s voice wasn’t recognizable; the darling tones brought a smile to his lips before her slender frame came fully within eyeshot. Indris got to his feet just in time, a slight oof! sound slipped past the jigsaw of his jaws when their bodies connected. Laughing away his surprise, the Beta of Strawberry Fields succumbed to her zealous display of affection, nuzzling the crown of her head before she pulled away. It would never had crossed his mind to think that the child’s behavior was in any way out-of-place.

Indris knew full well that Radar had returned to the Valley, and who would dare not to excuse a bit of frivolity from the girl who was now reunited with her guardian and best friend? At her question the older wolf tilted his head and rolled a shoulder back, affecting his own shrug. “Nothing much,” Indy admitted in a purling voice, blue eyes still alight at his Alpha Pup’s fresh attitude of carefree affection and happiness. It thrilled his heart to see her cheerful again; the shift from depression to ecstasy was something the teen could certainly relate to, and he’d been silently awaiting the red youth’s transition for some time now. If anyone deserved to feel so good after such a long time in the darkest pits of despair, it was Kenz.

“Maybe I was waiting for you,” the charcoaled boy grinned, swatting a paw up to brush the oversized ears of the little red. Rolling onto his back (as he had in the presence of his brother Arsenio so long ago), he regarded the distant stars with calm eyes and sighed, whisking his tail gently against the cushion of grasses surrounding him. “I was just thinking about the pups, I guess. Thinking of how good it’s gonna be for them here, and how much this pack is going to change with them around. For the better of course,” added the raven wolf, as if warding off the waiting teeth of Fate, who might even now conspire to wreck his chances at peace of mind. He blew at a firefly hovering near his lips, intent on guessing what adjusted course it might take through the air, wondering vaguely at how it might feel to fly through the air, or shine through the blackness of each summer night making a light all your own. The memory of the way the dying sun had backlit Vrash as the two traveled alongside each other through Wild Fire Fields flew to him off-guard and Indy growled, a low and content sound that burbled over the depths of his throat.

Iced eyes turned themselves toward the ruddy girl nearby, as if looking her over for signs of change, of revelation and growth. Lonán rolled forward to flop down belly-to-the-ground, propping his head on his paws as he met Kenzoku’s double-hued gaze and then avoided it pointedly. “Kenz,” he murmured, observing her now from the corner of his eye, “what do you think of growing up?” He had not expected to ask her such a question, but there it was all the same, a slip of paper breezing through the air for her to catch and consider. Indris expected no particular answer from her; the blue-eyed canine had nothing to prove, no hidden agenda up his sleeve, so to speak. He was simply making conversation in the starlight, wonderingly regarding the young woman Kenz had become while he wasn’t looking. They were all getting older, he realized, thinking back to Chogan and Taigi, and how each resembled their parents more each day. They were all slipping away from him.

Awe, you flatter me. And dang I had a lot of typos. You're post was fabulous, as always^^. And lol, this is weird.

The burnt sienna body streamed through the darkness like a blazing star all of her own. She didn't need any chemicals a flashy rump to create the illusion of luminescence. The art of glistening like a wild, untamable fire was always within her grasp and little to the youth's knowledge, she always managed to take this talent and twist it into an art form. Her fur sparkled against a dark green backdrop and rather then drowning amongst the darkness, those piercing eyes shimmered a neon emerald against it. As the youth brushed along her superior affectionately, her coat drew his charcoal form out of the shadows and sharpened the blurry outline that separated him from the nightly backdrop. Of course, the radiant one was utterly unaware of this fact, the thought that he might want to be alone never crossing her thoughts. That didn't mean Indris wanted to be alone, but it was the sheer fact that Kenzoku didn't even consider it an option. Who wouldn't want to see family on a night such as this?

Her massive ears hung low in a relaxed position on either side of her skull automatically the instant she came upon him, eyes carefully focusing on the male's chest rather then catching his gaze, and continued to stay that was even when she lowered down onto her haunches. This ritual of showing respect to every adult, regardless of if they were in her pack or not, was second nature to her now. She found herself falling into the motions whenever they were around without hardly realizing she was doing it, but it was usually expected of her, so no one ever had any problems. Kenzie beamed up at him with her tail thrashing madly behind her the instant she had semblance of settling down. No matter if she was sitting or not, the younger one could not keep her energies from coursing through her veins and exploding in a wild display of flower crushing power along the black tipped tail. It didn't only attack her there either, for the raw excitement broke through another weakness in her fronts and forced her paws to dance in place, which effectively killed her attempt at being a "lady." It was no matter: Indy knew her since she was an infant, so there was really no fooling him, nor hiding her puppyish mannerisms at this moment. After all, there were new lives in the territory.

The "oof" was completely lost to the female's ears as the happiness continued to take hold of her petite body. She was scarcely three-quarters of the black one's size and already about as "full grown" as she was going to get. Sure, males tended to be larger then females, but even then she was small. At only forty-nine pounds, for a grey wolf she might have been sickeningly tiny, but at least for a red she was of average, slender build. The gentle nuzzle atop of her head filled the girl's entire being with a sense of warmth, almost akin to the feeling she got when Radar was curled around her, sleeping soundly at her side. It made her feel comfortable and safe, emotions that the pup relished at this moment. It didn't take long for him to answer her question, first with a vague response and then followed by one of a playful nature. She grinned at him, her head leaning slightly away from the touch, while her own eggshell paw thrust out to bat at the long tendrils of obsidian along Indy's scruff. For me? You must be psychic. The syllables came, dripping off her tongue like a favored candy. If it wasn't for the jest in her eyes, it might have been a believably adorable, if not naive phrase.

The flop onto his back, though, that surprised the Alpha pup. She had not expected Indris to show his belly to her, however casual the setting may have been, but luckily pups bounce back fast. She simply grinned at the motion and followed in suit, her entire body twisting around like a loose spiral of flame before landing on her peppered spine with her body pressed up against her companion's side ginger. Deja-vous tickled her senses ever so slightly as two petite paws marred her vision of the spangled sky, but the seen was different for her now for two reasons. The first was the saplings with their merry leaves were no longer dotting the corners of her world, and the second the simple fact that a sooty paw hung idly off to her left only a short distance from her own. Before she could stop it, a giggle escaped her throat. I'm not the only one whose chasing after the stars. She thought, without really thinking about how true her words could become, metaphorically speaking. She only listened as he spoke, as was her custom, but her jade eyes instantly caught the firefly as it was blown away. A part of her itched to scramble off after it, like a cat who had suddenly spied the moth or fly they had been stalking for hours, the other half just barely held her in place.

Stay Kenz. It actually took her a moment to realize that it was no longer her conscience that was speaking, somehow registering the tone with a little rattle of her head. Weird. She thought, but she didn't let the momentary delirium bother her. A smile placed itself darlingly onto her delicate features just as the female rolled herself over towards the speaker sweetly. For a brief instant, his odd-matched pupils and the icy blue behind it caught her own confident, strikingly dual-colored oculars and it caused her to tilt her head to the side in curiosity. It was strange really, but for some reason she wasn't scared for afraid of what would happen to her. She merely held his almost brotherly gaze for a split second and then let her sights travel off to the side softly. What do you think of growing up? Had Kenzoku been in her right state of mind, she might have a prearranged answer with big plans for herself, or maybe she would have denied the prospect and promised to stay young forever. As it where, his words hit a trigger on her thoughts, releasing a part of herself she kept carefully tucked away. That smile on her cheeks grew wider by the minute and she twisted back around to peer off into the moon all glassy eyed and fluttery. Love. She answered simply, the single word playing off her tongue dreamily and falling into a rolling murr. At just that moment, the image of a grey-furred wonder mingled with the hazy stars and cast a loving glance in her direction. Kenzie melted at the image, not even realizing her feelings until just that moment. Love. She repeated in her mind, feeling dizzy and lighter then air all at the same time.

’Tis my job. =D And I liked your reply, if it you didn’t. (That’s also my job.)

lol, I originally had planned an awesome reply to this that would lead into our plot, but with my surprise trip, I can't remember it for the life of me. OMG, I love the "I love her" paragraphs, though. So hard. Tell me if this is too fast lol... it just kinda fell off my fingers.

Delicate clouds wafted past those blue lined aventurine eyes as her vision blurred with pure, unadulterated bliss once more. Suddenly, pressure thrummed in her ears in rhythmic pulses that almost seemed to chime to silent bells ringing in the distance. The sweet melody played its soundless cords over and over again to a soft, slow beat that soothed her from head to toe. It came in a stream of delightful energy, one that melted through her outer core and flowed gingerly up her weightless paws, down her legs and all about her insides until it filled her heart to brim. The youth even breathed in the power of her recollection, for the charge it carried danced upon the air and absorbed all the moisture along her nose and sinuses, slowing with each passing second it was in her system. After trailing down her throat, It tenderly eased its way into her lungs where each breath brought her a new burst of life and filled her world with stars. Deep, powerful stars that only the mind's eye can see. Its luminescence was so brilliant, Kenzie found it hard to register anything but the brightness: the white.

Yet, even with the blinding radiance of those balls of light, the summer baby registered more then that. She felt her whole body tingle with the sparks left behind all along her form. Each wave of compounded energy sent a series of butterflies fluttering about her muscle and organs in its wake. It was as if the red one was genetically crafted and perfectly bred to feel this kind of raw emotion rippling through her, for she was acutely aware of each and every feeling that took hold of her almost simultaneously. No pain or discomfort accompanied her new affliction, for this was not a disease but a revelation of the truest thing that could possibility make residence in her heart. Love. She repeated softly, trying the word again on her proverbial lips. Never before had she given something inside of her a name, but now she realized that it couldn't possibly be anything else. The only thing to describe it was love. Why didn't I see this before? A distant part of her wondered, but the notion was gone almost as soon as it occurred. In her present state, reality was a far cry from where her own self-awareness had taken her, or lack there of.

While some emotions became prominent, others continued to lay low in the dusty tresses of her innermost world, still hiding purely in her subconscious. A disease, one that the poor dear was innocently unaware of, though the inability to see it had a potential to not only cause damage to herself, but others as well. But what did that matter right now? Now was a time for happiness, maybe just to acknowledge that one was alive and one was in love. What a wonderful feeling, love. It filled her with a new found strength that Kenzoku was never capable of before. It was like no walls could stand before her and nothing could hold her back as long as she had love. At that moment, she was free from any chain that attempted to bound her. She enjoyed every minute of it. Even while she thought, romping merrily through the fantasy clouds with the larger, yellow eyed figure of her love, Kenzie realized she would do anything to make her happy. Anything at all. She would run to the ends of the earth and back at only one word. Perhaps it was just her youth and inexperience that drove her, overwhelmed by the heart, but one may not find out until she was placed in that situation.

It actually took the dear a long moment to even register anything more then the raw, simple and blinding factor of being taken by her own pulsing organ and drawn to another's just the same. Slowly, thoughts came tumbling in from the recesses of her brain that almost questioned her resolution on the matter. Does she love you back? The thought almost came at her like a blow, freezing all her inner joy to the spot as she realized her entire world could come crashing down before her eyes all over again like it had with Radar. Instants like these gave even the most sickly creature a moment of clarity. By not only acknowledging but accepting her love for another, the dear gave that wolf power and absolute trust. She was completely helpless to stop whatever was to happen, but the delirium coming back to her told her not to worry about it. Of course she loves you, silly. It goes both ways! Isn't that how it's suppose to be? How could she not love you? Kenzie hardly realized her head was bobbing in agreement as a dopey, genuine smile crossed her maw. That seemed to solve that problem but moving on, Oh, does she know? Do others know? Suddenly, the dear felt the urge to blurt out her awareness to anyone that would listen. This was a joyous moment compounded on an already eventful day. Oh what wonderful news!

Without even thinking about it, the eleven and a half month old rolled over and leapt to her feet, bounding about in circles around Indy as she could no longer contain her excitement. I'm in love; I'm in love; I'm in love; I'm in love... She grinned wide, her tongue lolling out of her maw as she panted for breath and that hidden fire behind her emerald eyes glistened brightly in the starlight. I should go find her! Yes! She thought quickly, still entranced by the moment and hardly groping at reality. I have to tell her. Oh what to say? Kratina, I love you? Her thoughts her wild now, her face twisted into one of blind concentration, enthusiasm and glee. But where would she be? Then she realized, that she had not seen hide nor hair of the Novian in a least a month or so, though the actual number was a bit hazy. Kenzie found it hard to concentrate on anything during Radar's absence, as if the depression was slowly being eradicated from her mind. Then she was slung back into the night, leaping aimlessly around her packmate, superior and friend in Miracle Valley. Oh what a miracle today has been. It occurred to her, then, that Indy might know her secret love and be able to tell her of the girl's whereabouts. Sharing the knowledge with him never passed her mind as dangerous in the least. She did not know that life could be cruel, other then loss. She did not know her type of love was uncommon or shunned. All she knew was that she loved and Indy could help her, for he was family. Family transcended all boundaries, right? Indy, do you know where Kratina might be?. Accidentally in love...

Too fast? Oh no, dear. That “fell off my fingers” sensation is exactly what a writer hopes for, every single day. So feel blessed, and hope that my reply lives up to yours somehow. :D I’m so sorry for the delay.

While the raven-pelted wolf had known many wolves in his life who professed to harboring love for one another, and he knew—or was under the impression he knew—the sensation, he had never witnessed any creature so gripped by her passion as Kenzoku. With spellbound interest he watched her transformation, her realization, as it unfolded within her and engulfed her. The Beta fancied electricity danced in the air beyond her, fashioning an aura that tasted of adrenaline. The strawberry scent that clung to her fur was no long a mark of their home but a badge of the love she had found, sickly-sweet and everlasting, apparent to all who see her, were blessed to see her. She appeared bewitched, entranced, invigorated by the concept of her own adoration.

Without thought Indy’s mind took him back to the night of his personal passions and once more he felt the press of Vrash against him, knew the taste of him and the bucking, virile madness of their love. He ached to have that back now, just for a moment, but his urges to dash away in search of his lover quieted in the face of Kenzie’s glee. She needed him—and he needed to see her acting this cheerful again. So he stayed, grudgingly at first, and watched as her joy turned to somber introspection.

The painful moment passed, though Fate had so laden it with dread that it barely lay within the Lonán wolf’s power to dismiss it entirely. His ears flicked back, concern already scrawling across his features, but suddenly Radar’s ward was on the move again and panting in reaction to her strains. While his worry for the state of the girl did not erode entirely, Indris did manage to release most of it in time to smile winningly back at the lovesick youth before him and attend to her questioning. There was simply one problem…

“I… Kenzoku, I haven’t seen her in a long time.” Vague recollections—snatches of conversations half-forgotten on account of the sickness and the brooding truths in his mind—returned to the older wolf then, and he felt a rock in the base of his gullet, a growing sense of sorrow that threatened to steal his words away. “I’ve heard that she’s left the Valley, Kenz.” Memories of Midas’ disappearance plagued him then, and the wolf scarcely kept his footing. Some demons are never exorcised… “I’m sorry. I know how you feel.” Yes, yes he did. And if she asked an explanation of him, Indris would give it without pause.

Because the she-wolf was right in thinking that family transcends all boundaries.

Wee^^. And no worries, you were on vacation! How was Alaska, btw?

For several seconds in time, Kenzoku felt simply weightless. Even while the girl was aware of her body bounding up and down in a constant cycle around the charcoal wonder, she did not comprehend it in a physical light. The shift of her center from head to tail faltered only on the corporeal plane, along with the slight sensation of rocking back and forth. In the youth's mind, each step she took brought her closer to heaven, her paws touching base on the earthly staircase that spiraled up and up. The pleasant squish of moist grass and warm soil squeezed between her toes momentarily and then she was airborne again, flying for a pawful of seconds at a time. At some point, she actually stopped running and just took on an unusual kind of leaping that was akin to a fleeing antelope. Those long, russet legs helped in her sharp movements with the muscles rippling wildly underneath to support her and keep her balance for each sudden twist at take off, peak flying and touchdown. Petite and little as she was, that only made the giddy female race about faster to an almost dizzying speed.

She was a creature built for these sharp turns and fast speeds, though if one actually paid attention, her twisting, mid-air maneuvers of nearly straight up and down where much like a fox or coyote on the prow for mice hidden beneath several feet of snow. The wind pummeled not only her face but her ginger sides as she shifted through her incessant left-turns like a NASCAR driver with an extreme urge to win the Winston Cup. Yet, even as she rose to the clouds above and flitted about in their cotton forests, her comrade came with her. Her levity most have been extremely powerful to not only life her own spirits, but that of Indris as well. She went to smile wryly at him, her grin stretching from massive ear to massive ear, but it was hard to keep a clear view of him with all the circling she was doing. Almost as abruptly as it started, the little wolf skidded to a halt and turned about to face the patient, elder male with wild, excited eyes. Light pants streamed out of her maw, though more from the energy of the heart then anything else. Her chest heaved in and own and her paws danced in place as she glanced over at the black one's throat with those deep blue-green orbs, not to mention that banner that flung about like a helicopter propeller at the moment.

If Indy was upset or annoyed with her, she missed it. The only this she could think about right now was the freedom love had granted her. Like the flame that consumed her body, Kenzie was a passionate lover. She devoted herself completely to tasks and at hand and once one entered her very open heart, the dear was fiercely loyal until the end. She burned with the emotion that drove her and feed off of it like a never ending supply of fuel. The only problem with this quality was that the pup was destined to a life blinded by the emotion she sowed. When in these moods, she could reckon with nothing other then what she set her mind, though she could set her mind to several things at once. It was rare to find one who was so passionate in everything they did and that was probably Kenzoku's greatest strength, but also her greatest weakness. While she never failed to give those things she assigned herself to her all, the youngster could simply not do something she did not feel for. She had to feel it and understand it to strive for or complete what was given to her. If her heart was not in it, one might be hard pressed to coax her into something. Fortunately, Kenz had yet to reach one of those points in her life (or so she currently remembered).

Grinning stupidly, the child waited for an answer as patiently as possible. She even forced herself to lower down upon her haunches while she waited, though the tail was still flying a mile a minute and her paws were still wiggling in and out of the flowers. Long ears slanted backwards once more though, both out of respect and the inability to keep everything inside. It was just all so glorious! What could be better then this? Being young, she could hardly imagine anything more blissful then these feelings... touch escaping her entirely at the present time. Then, Indy's face contorted in an awkward way and slow syllables spilled from his maw, almost as if he was pained to say anything at all. ...she's left the Valley.Those were the only four words she registered at first. It took approximately two seconds to bring Kenzoku down from her high and crash to the floor below, feeling something painful clench in her chest. She couldn't describe the unbearable sensation like something was ripping her heart out of her protective ribcage and tearing it into pieces, yet something in the dark, blurry recesses of her mind told her it was familiar.

It felt like this sort of pain had happened before, but she was having trouble recalling the moment. When did it happen? Who hurt me? Why can I remember?! Everything was shrouded in fog, though Kenz was left choking on a few coughs as it became physically hard to breathe. Gone. She frowned gently, her plume freezing in mid swing and her body visibly slouching as her eyes sought to find some hidden demon, bored into the ground below. How could...where'd... why? So many questions smashed her thoughts again and she whined softly. Did she know? She repeated, though with a darker angle then before. Just when she was about to breakdown and mope like a forgotten toy, the girl's spirits rose as hope clung desperately to her insides. She wasn't so easily swayed. Of course there had to be a reason Kratina left and a mighty big one too if the girl ran without telling anyone.... without telling her. Yes. That had to be it. Krat loved the Valley and loved her mountain, she wouldn't have left it so easily, especially being a guardian and all. Maybe the older girl had left to protect them.Kenzoku couldn't believe that her love would leave her for no reason, even if she had no idea that Kenz was harboring such a feeling.

She'll come back. She has too. Then those pleading eyes looked up at Indy once more, as if asking for silent reassurance for her own internal battle. Without a sound, the girl moved a couple steps and shifted her weight, so she rested along the Beta's side, her tongue running along his chin and throat slowly to bat down the feelings of utter loss and loneliness that threatened to trump her "it's all good, she's on vacation" attitude. I'm sorry. I know how you feel. Now she processed the rest of what Indy had said and realized that it was no longer horrible news that her realization had come too late. If only she found out sooner maybe Kr- No! Don't think like that! Don't get all upset right now! It's only a rumor, so far! Give 'er a chance! She smiled weakly, just barely able to stay positive at the moment, for a part of her still felt like everything was fabulous and grand, even though the large part questioned her sanity. You do? Her warm, buttery words asked meekly, almost as if it was a question between siblings. She had no idea what she was in store for, no idea what Indy would reveal. For all she knew, he just understood what it was like to loose and could sympathize with her. Boy was she in for a ride.

No, I'm sorry to make you wait lol. I promise my next posts will be faster^^. *licks* Alaska is on my list of places to visit in my lifetime, but I dunno when I'll get there lol.

Crimson fur melded slowly into dark ebony, the two stark colors providing great contrast to each other, yet tapering off in the areas where both coats of the pair merged ever so softly. The pup's petite body was like a glowing candle in still frame with the smoke and ash billowing from her side in copious amounts, so much so that the charcoal patches across the nightly sky almost doubled the vibrant red. The female's ears helped the facade, for they were tipped in black and linked the two very different wolves nicely. His startling blue eyes to her vivid jade ones, cast towards each other for only a moment, were the only things that countered the fiery image and added surrealism to it all. For long moments on end, the girl did not move. Dare one say it, she hardly breathed. It was like watching time stand still, only the Beta lived on. He leaned forwards, breaking the stationary painting in the same movement, and rested his cranium gently against his Alpha pup's forehead in a gesture of comfort. At first, Kenzoku did not respond, for she was too absorbed in her own thoughts to register the real world, but then a flicker of movement came from the whiskers on either side of her nose.

She snorted once before wiggling her muzzle rapidly a few times, as if to fend off a terrible itch and then let out a sigh. In one fluid motion, the girl leaned to her side and settled most of her weight against her companion with her nose burying into his throat and her tail coiling around her paws, protectively. When she cast her gaze up enough for him to see them again, those emerald green eyes with slate blue rims were a bit brighter, though they still held that deep questioning pain that lingered on. Even though she coped well and was very mature for her age, Kenzie was still very much a child. She needed to be guided and on occasion, she needed to be told everything was ok. She was still dependent on her elders to teach her in areas she could not possibly know or has yet to learn and unlike most teenagers, Kenz was always a willing pupil. Even in times of great pain, the dear sought approval from others. Ever the wolf pleaser she was, it pained her even more to disappoint those she looked up to, almost as if it was not ok to be hurt unless someone let her fall to pieces. Contrarily, the pup also sought help from those around her when she struggled to grasp a concept. Everyone wants someone to be there to catch them when they fall. Likewise, everyone secretly wants someone to not only tell them it will be ok, but show them as well.

Under the very same conditions, Kenzie's eyes asked Indy's for that small comfort now, even if her brain did not comprehend it. She must have been a fairly pathetic creature at that moment. An image of youthful grace and innocence, with everything she has to loose, yet still struggling to remain positive through it all. Little did she know that she had experienced this before, though last time her heart shattered across the valley and took months to mend. Perhaps this time, with the unknown bliss lurking inside of her, she would do better. Indris's paw against her shoulders, pulling her close, and the mellow, comforting sounds vibrating onto her skull soothed the child some. Some of her muscles relaxed without the red even remembering when she tensed them, while her tail gave a half-hearted swing or two. At that moment, even in the silence, Kenzoku felt safe. It was akin to being pressed against Radar's side and smothered with his affectionate kisses, but different. The silent acknowledgement of familial affection through raw closeness was just something that fit Indy. He did not need to be loud, yippy and kissy about it to get the message across and though different from what she was use too, Kenzie still welcomed it.

They hovered like that for several long moments until the adult pulled back a little to whisper in the juvenile's ear, sharing his deepest secrets with her at last. She naturally perked up that ear without noticing it and listened silently while his story ensued. Never once did she stop him in any why or show nothing but complete attentiveness throughout the entire story. In fact, the only hit of her responding to him at all was the faint smile on her cheeks as he introduced himself in third person and a grin when he mentioned those silly girls. Throughout his pause she breathed quietly into his fur and slowly took back some of her own weight again, allowing him to continue in his own time. Then he shifted in front of her rather suddenly, causing Kenz to almost fall over, though she saved herself quickly and twisted to gaze upon him in a rather elegant fashion. It was the sophisticated pose she always strived for as an infant, but never got right until just that moment with her dazzling gaze upon his own, unafraid to stare into them at the moment with a deeper understanding then she realized.

For a long moment, the young Fielder was still, even after Indy poured his heart out and silence hung between them. Then a deep smile graced her cheeks and she pressed forwards onto all fours to nuzzle his cheek and nip at his ear. I'm sorry he left you, Indy, but I'm glad you have someone that makes you smile. It's a rare thing to see you smile. I hope it happens more often. She froze for a moment, tears threatening her eyes once more even though a smile still covered her cheeks. That tentative glance returned and this time it was harder for her to quell. She went quiet, dropping her pitch to a low whisper and slanting her ears back nervously once more. H..how did you move on? It was rare to hear the girl stutter, though it seemed like she was at odds with herself just to spit out the words. Perhaps, in her mind, Kenz was factoring in what would happen if Kratina did not return, like Midas did not return for Rayen or Indris. She was too sheltered to understand that it was not common practice for two wolves of the same gender to love each other or become mates. It could actually be questionable if Kenz even knew that there -was- opposite sex love. She knew of mateship, but her idea was so convoluted that it could hardly be considered knowledge. And deep in her overly expressive features it read again: How does one cope?

Heh, I'll get better... I swear! And thanks, I like poiple lol. I love Indy.

A faint wind rustled through the grasses and various bushes that lined the meadow, causing the moonlight to shudder across the landscape in an odd and dazzling display for several moments. The beams danced off the grasses like a joyful, silvery glow and reflected off into the distance in such a way that it made the underside of things brighten for a few seconds. Here and there creatures glistened through the darkness, such as the soft, smooth back of a hopping toad, the stark sheen of a rodent's large round eyes shrinking back just as they noticed the two massive wolves lingering near their nesting or foraging sites. A closer look would reveal tiny crickets with their wings arched over their backs, akin to an instrumentalist playing his fiddle, making sweet music until the moon no longer took prominence in the sky. This same breeze that shifted the light patterns affected the two lupines as well. The silvery haze bounced around their coats like lightning chasing storm clouds and caused the orangey fur of the smaller one to gleam radiantly in the night, her eyes two vivid lime pools that glowed like a crocodile's for several seconds and then faded into the more gentle olive twinkle they possessed before the Lady's rays hit them just right.

The she wolf smiled softly as she allowed her gaze to dance around their surroundings for a moment, if only to soften the mood. She had a giddy sense within her that screamed to race about the dandelions aimlessly for the rest of the evening without a care in the world and to perhaps coax Indy into joining her for a thrilling game of chase. This part of her knew naught of heartbreak and only felt the simple pleasures of pure freedom and the exhilaration of life. Hell, there were new puppies on the way. It was a time to rejoice and be merry!! The heat of the summer, even in the dead of night, was also lost to her. An innocent, dazed expression found its way to the child's physique as she slouched upon the grasses and waved her long, black tipped tail nonchalantly in such away that it subtly suggested the girl was not entirely there. Perhaps like a hippie chillin' out on some type of narcotic was she. She even took a moment to admire how the moonlight made Indy's pelt appear like satin, at least to her temporarily deranged mind.

Then a little bit of clarity came back to her as the male spoke. Do you think so? It's because I only smile for the ones who deserve it. Kenzie grinned proudly at that statement, allowing the darling smile and the slight bliss to take her away with a few quick thumps of her tail. If her fur was not red, he might have even caught the faint blush that rose there for a second, but like all of the emotions the pup was experiencing currently, it was ephemeral. Quickly her ears feel back into gloom and the frightful demon called doubt coiled his ugly fists tightly around the girl's heart once more. She felt her entire body drop a few inches as she fought to breathe against the vicious war inside of her. Everything racing through her head made her guilt and confusion come to an insufferable level and her comprehension plummeted just as fast. The poor dear could hardly think straight when she asked her question of Indy and waiting in near agony for him to respond, almost as if her life depended on it though the red wolf tried not to appear so. In fact, Kenzie attempted to look casual and slightly nervous, just as before. She did not hide her worries and fears, but rather downplayed them. Her posture remained erect, albeit a little lower than before, and her ears slanted casually off to the sides with her tail wrapping elegantly around her paws.

She did not study the grasses, but she did not keep his gaze either, almost as if it would be poisonous to gleam into them any longer. The relaxed confidence inside of her dwindled once again as her roller coaster slid down the tracks after a temporarily glorious trip to the skies. Perhaps the real reason she peered at his chest now and not into his face was because she feared what her eyes would tell him, knowing full well they were capable of betraying all of her secrets. Of course the dear was hurting and of course she'd but hurting for some time, but a part of her didn't want him to see her puddle before him. A part of her wanted to be strong and so she struggled to remain that way. When a cold, tingling sensation pressed against her cheek and then the warmth of fur pressed up under her chin to lift her gaze back onto those mismatched blue eyes, Kenzoku smiled softly. Soft words followed that beckoned her ears to perk up once more in silent attention without the female even realizing it. His words that entire evening were from one family member to another. Beta and pup meant nothing at this instance. Sure, tomorrow they would wake up and ranks would return, but there would always be those moments when they could relate as two kindred spirits traveling down similar paths without any of the other complexities of social life getting involved.

The Beta's message was that life does go on, even though it hurts and even though one might feel like the pain is too much to bare, life and love will always go on. The girl pondered on it silently and then let out a gentle, exhausted sigh from one who had gone through too much emotional stress in one night to dwell on it further. She simply nodded in response to his advice and slouched against his side once more with her head burying gently into his shoulder. A few seconds later, the youth's body seemed to completely fold in on itself, for her head slid down his side until it rested on his hind paws between his legs and her paws tucked neatly underneath her lithe form. Thank you, Indy. She whispered in an honest voice that was both alert and tired at the same time. I love you. The last three words trickled out of her maw in she a quiet and subtle way, they might never be heard at all, but if they were one would note that the tone rang with an odd note that spoke nothing of attraction or romance. It was a more basic, pure use of the phrase that served to show how much all her family members meant to her.