Sister Talk
Blackfeather
was bored. Hollythorne was off somewhere on a search for something from dreams
she'd had. Blackfeather didn't really feel up to hunting. Lance was well on the
mend, just missing Tam. And Cricket was so lost in his new love for Icebird; he
sure didn't need Blackfeather's unneeded attention. It was sweet that the two
had found each other at last.
She tried to think of something to do. She wasn't in the mood for Redwolf, course she never was in the mood for that one. She was still angry with him over leaving Lance like he had. Then it came to her. She hadn't seen much of Iras of late. It was time she got reacquainted with her little sister. They had grown distant of late, something that needed to be remedied.
She headed over to Iras's den hoping to find her there. Once she got there she called out. "Ahoya Iras, are you home, Little Sister?"
Iras entered her den and spotted Blackfeather. "Sister... what are you..." She didn't complete her sentence and softly smiled.
She kneeled down and laid her dagger on her furs. "How are you doing? It has been a while... since we spoke... even after the bear attack we barely spoke to each other..." She said as she looked up at Blackfeather. ~*I'm glad you are here Feather...*~ Iras sent smiling as she took her sister's hands wanting her to sit down in the furs.
Blackfeather sits in the furs next to Iras. She gives a sigh at Iras’s words, knowing the truth in them. “I know I have been a lax sister of late. I am so sorry.” She gives a sigh. “It seems we’re going different ways now. I don’t know that I like it. It’s bad enough Redwolf has decided his ways and broke our family up even more.” Idly she runs her fingers through the furs they sit on.
"But... Redwolf he helped me regaining my memory of...” Iras sighed and looked down to her furs. "Never mind...” She whispered as she went through her hair. "Feather ... tell me ... why are you so angry with our brother?" Iras asked frowning as she looked up at Blackfeather.
Blackfeather looked down at the furs at Iras’s question, and gave a sigh. “I’m angry with Redwolf because he left Lance at a time when Lance should have had his father. He’d lost Lilyglow too. It’s not like Redwolf had sole claim on her loss.” She scowled at the subject. Deep down she understood Redwolf’s loss and feelings on it, but she couldn’t see how he could leave a cub to go through the loss alone.
"Sole claim? How do you mean Feather?" Iras asked not looking up but just going through the furs. "Redwolf was worried of Lance... he loves him I'm sure of it... he just couldn't bare the loss...” Iras said with a sad voice.
She sighs at her sister’s questions. “He wasn’t the only one to loose Lilyglow. Lance did too. The whole tribe did. But he acts as if he was the only one to loose Lillyglow. Lance didn’t loose one parent, he ended up loosing two. At a time when he needed his father most, his father abandoned him. I can’t forgive that.”
Iras sighed and let the tears roll down her cheek as Blackfeather hugged her. She took a breath as she looked at Blackfeather. "Well... you are right... but isn't it correct that he still is there for him?? In some way?" Iras asked frowning.
"I'm sorry to change the subject sister... but when will Tam return?" Iras asked as she softly smiled. Sad because her friend was gone on a journey but her sister's friend was gone too... Probably she felt the same as she did.
Blackfeather gave a shrug. “Is he though. Really?” At Iras’s question her face saddened. “I really don’t know. I hope soon. Lance misses her terribly, and Cricket’s not much better. Though he does have his new found love in Icebird to help temper his missing.” She gives a soft smile at the thought of the lovebirds.
Iras sighed deeply as she heard her sister's reply. "Oh...” Iras turned her gaze back towards the furs as she felt another tear roll down.
"Well then Cricket is lucky guy because Icebird is really nice maiden ... one of the sweetest I think ..." Iras said smiling bright. "Sister...” Iras looked up meeting with Blackfeather's eyes. "Tell me a story? Of mother perhaps?"
Blackfeather shares Iras’s smile on the two lovebirds. She gives a pause at Iras’s request for a story about their Mother. “A story about Mother huh? Let me think…” What story could she tell Iras about Softstep? She had died when Iras was young, but Feather knew she’d told many stories over the years of her. Finally a story came to her. With a chuckle she looked at her sister. “How about a story of my first tracking lesson? It was Mother who taught me you know.”
Iras smiled and nodded as she looked at Blackfeather. "A tracking lesson?" Iras said raising her eyebrow as she smiled at Blackfeather. "With you and mother... must be interesting Feather ..." Iras said giving her sister a grin.
“Not really, but I’ll tell you it anyway.” Blackfeather gave her sister an impish grin and a playful shove. Then she settled herself to tell the story.
Softstep decided it was time to teach Sniff how to track. She had all the potential to be good at it. Sometimes her constant sniffing of everything would drive Softstep to distraction, but she tried her best to encourage the cub's natural ability. Sniff never forgot a scent she learned, and in one so young it was just amazing, a Blessing from the High Ones.
Sniff was playing with the other cubs at the pools. They were playing catch-me-if-you-can when her mother showed up. All the cubs were laughing, screaming, chasing each other, falling in the water as they lost their balance or tried to tackle who they were chasing. They’d come up coughing, sputtering, and laughing some more.
Softstep watched them play for a bit. Her oldest, Redwolf, was out there with them, acting like a cub himself. It still amazed Softstep how close her two cubs were, especially when Redwolf was 327 turns of the seasons older then Sniff. Maybe it had something to do with him expecting his first cub here soon. Finally she called out, “Sniff, come here cubling.”
Sniff had set herself to spring on Redwolf. She had managed to sneak up on her wily wolf brother. The second before she sprung, her mother had called for her. She must have made some sort of noise, because Redwolf suddenly whirled and caught her in mid-leap. “Ha! It will be many turns, Little Sister, before you can sneak up on me.”
Sniff gave a disgusted snort. “I’da had ya if it weren’t for Mama.”
He laughed. “Maybe, but a good hunter let’s nothing distract them, even unconsciously. Now run along and see what our Mother wants you for.” He set her down, and she trotted through the water to Softstep’s side.
“Yes, Mama?”
Softstep ran her hand over the top of her youngest’s head. “How would you like to learn to track properly?”
Sniff’s eyes widened in delight and surprise. “Really? Right now?” The child was practically bouncing in place.
Softstep chuckled. “Yes, really, right now. And the first and most important lesson is that a tracker is calm and quiet.”
Her words had an instantaneous effect on the cub. She stilled and was quiet as only a Wolfrider could.
Softstep smiled at her daughter, proud of her instant response. “Very good, Sniff. Now let’s go.” She turned and headed away from the Holt, Sniff right on her heels.”
When Blackfeather finished speaking, she looked at Iras with a lopsided grin. "I think that had more of Redwolf and me in it then Mother."
Iras softly laughed as she heard Blackfeather's comment. "Well still had Sof-... mother in it,” Iras said smiling, but afraid to say her mother's name.
Blackfeather looked over at Iras quizzically. “Why don’t you ever say Mother’s name?” While Iras had been really, really young at Softstep’s passing, Blackfeather never did understand why Iras would never say her name.
"Because I...” Iras looked down and she blinked away a tear. Iras shrugged because she did not want to say it, but eventually... "I am afraid... Feather... I am afraid to forget..." Iras looked up at Blackfeather and deeply sighed. "Mother's song is the only thing that helps me remember.. remember her and my father.." Iras looked away as tears started to roll down her cheeks.
Blackfeather blinked. “Oh, sweet Iras.” She quickly reached over and gave her a hug. “Deep love is never forgotten, no matter if it’s a parent, sibling, or mate. There are many in the tribe who remember both, and are more then willing to help you keep remembering them.” She suddenly sent an image to Iras. It was of Iras’ own birth, and how Softstep had been so proud and full of love as she held her newest cub. *Now that is your memory as well.*
Iras held Blackfeather tight and listened to what she said. "I... I just don't want to be a burden to any one of you.." Iras said and she closed her eyes. She opened her eyes again as she received Blackfeather's sending. "Is...” Iras placed her hand on her mouth. ~*Is that me Feather?*~ Iras sent as she looked into her sister's eyes.
Blackfeather chuckled. “Yes that’s you silly. Aren’t we ugly when we’re first born?” She was teasing and it was plain in her voice, but then she turned serious. “You aren’t a burden. Nor is it a burden to share what one remembers of loved ones. Sometimes… sometimes it even helps to share.” She gave Iras a smile. “So what do you wish to do? Care to sit here and share the memories I have of Mother? Or do you have something else planned? Maybe something involving a certain Lovemate of yours?” Her smile had turned impish at that last question.
Iras her jaw dropped as Blackfeather started joking. "Oh ... Feather how can you say that...” Iras said and she laughed. "Still... I feel like one...” Iras said sighing soft and she chuckled. "No...Midnight and I...” Iras blushed and she closed her eyes. "I mean ... he is out hunting... with Icebird." Iras said and she took Blackfeather's hand. "More than enough time for sharing... sister" Iras said and smiled.
Blackfeather smiled. “Then share it is.” They settled into more comfortable positions and spent the rest of the day with Blackfeather sharing all the memories she had of Softstep. Some, she had even forgotten she had.
She tried to think of something to do. She wasn't in the mood for Redwolf, course she never was in the mood for that one. She was still angry with him over leaving Lance like he had. Then it came to her. She hadn't seen much of Iras of late. It was time she got reacquainted with her little sister. They had grown distant of late, something that needed to be remedied.
She headed over to Iras's den hoping to find her there. Once she got there she called out. "Ahoya Iras, are you home, Little Sister?"
Iras entered her den and spotted Blackfeather. "Sister... what are you..." She didn't complete her sentence and softly smiled.
She kneeled down and laid her dagger on her furs. "How are you doing? It has been a while... since we spoke... even after the bear attack we barely spoke to each other..." She said as she looked up at Blackfeather. ~*I'm glad you are here Feather...*~ Iras sent smiling as she took her sister's hands wanting her to sit down in the furs.
Blackfeather sits in the furs next to Iras. She gives a sigh at Iras’s words, knowing the truth in them. “I know I have been a lax sister of late. I am so sorry.” She gives a sigh. “It seems we’re going different ways now. I don’t know that I like it. It’s bad enough Redwolf has decided his ways and broke our family up even more.” Idly she runs her fingers through the furs they sit on.
"But... Redwolf he helped me regaining my memory of...” Iras sighed and looked down to her furs. "Never mind...” She whispered as she went through her hair. "Feather ... tell me ... why are you so angry with our brother?" Iras asked frowning as she looked up at Blackfeather.
Blackfeather looked down at the furs at Iras’s question, and gave a sigh. “I’m angry with Redwolf because he left Lance at a time when Lance should have had his father. He’d lost Lilyglow too. It’s not like Redwolf had sole claim on her loss.” She scowled at the subject. Deep down she understood Redwolf’s loss and feelings on it, but she couldn’t see how he could leave a cub to go through the loss alone.
"Sole claim? How do you mean Feather?" Iras asked not looking up but just going through the furs. "Redwolf was worried of Lance... he loves him I'm sure of it... he just couldn't bare the loss...” Iras said with a sad voice.
She sighs at her sister’s questions. “He wasn’t the only one to loose Lilyglow. Lance did too. The whole tribe did. But he acts as if he was the only one to loose Lillyglow. Lance didn’t loose one parent, he ended up loosing two. At a time when he needed his father most, his father abandoned him. I can’t forgive that.”
Iras sighed and let the tears roll down her cheek as Blackfeather hugged her. She took a breath as she looked at Blackfeather. "Well... you are right... but isn't it correct that he still is there for him?? In some way?" Iras asked frowning.
"I'm sorry to change the subject sister... but when will Tam return?" Iras asked as she softly smiled. Sad because her friend was gone on a journey but her sister's friend was gone too... Probably she felt the same as she did.
Blackfeather gave a shrug. “Is he though. Really?” At Iras’s question her face saddened. “I really don’t know. I hope soon. Lance misses her terribly, and Cricket’s not much better. Though he does have his new found love in Icebird to help temper his missing.” She gives a soft smile at the thought of the lovebirds.
Iras sighed deeply as she heard her sister's reply. "Oh...” Iras turned her gaze back towards the furs as she felt another tear roll down.
"Well then Cricket is lucky guy because Icebird is really nice maiden ... one of the sweetest I think ..." Iras said smiling bright. "Sister...” Iras looked up meeting with Blackfeather's eyes. "Tell me a story? Of mother perhaps?"
Blackfeather shares Iras’s smile on the two lovebirds. She gives a pause at Iras’s request for a story about their Mother. “A story about Mother huh? Let me think…” What story could she tell Iras about Softstep? She had died when Iras was young, but Feather knew she’d told many stories over the years of her. Finally a story came to her. With a chuckle she looked at her sister. “How about a story of my first tracking lesson? It was Mother who taught me you know.”
Iras smiled and nodded as she looked at Blackfeather. "A tracking lesson?" Iras said raising her eyebrow as she smiled at Blackfeather. "With you and mother... must be interesting Feather ..." Iras said giving her sister a grin.
“Not really, but I’ll tell you it anyway.” Blackfeather gave her sister an impish grin and a playful shove. Then she settled herself to tell the story.
Softstep decided it was time to teach Sniff how to track. She had all the potential to be good at it. Sometimes her constant sniffing of everything would drive Softstep to distraction, but she tried her best to encourage the cub's natural ability. Sniff never forgot a scent she learned, and in one so young it was just amazing, a Blessing from the High Ones.
Sniff was playing with the other cubs at the pools. They were playing catch-me-if-you-can when her mother showed up. All the cubs were laughing, screaming, chasing each other, falling in the water as they lost their balance or tried to tackle who they were chasing. They’d come up coughing, sputtering, and laughing some more.
Softstep watched them play for a bit. Her oldest, Redwolf, was out there with them, acting like a cub himself. It still amazed Softstep how close her two cubs were, especially when Redwolf was 327 turns of the seasons older then Sniff. Maybe it had something to do with him expecting his first cub here soon. Finally she called out, “Sniff, come here cubling.”
Sniff had set herself to spring on Redwolf. She had managed to sneak up on her wily wolf brother. The second before she sprung, her mother had called for her. She must have made some sort of noise, because Redwolf suddenly whirled and caught her in mid-leap. “Ha! It will be many turns, Little Sister, before you can sneak up on me.”
Sniff gave a disgusted snort. “I’da had ya if it weren’t for Mama.”
He laughed. “Maybe, but a good hunter let’s nothing distract them, even unconsciously. Now run along and see what our Mother wants you for.” He set her down, and she trotted through the water to Softstep’s side.
“Yes, Mama?”
Softstep ran her hand over the top of her youngest’s head. “How would you like to learn to track properly?”
Sniff’s eyes widened in delight and surprise. “Really? Right now?” The child was practically bouncing in place.
Softstep chuckled. “Yes, really, right now. And the first and most important lesson is that a tracker is calm and quiet.”
Her words had an instantaneous effect on the cub. She stilled and was quiet as only a Wolfrider could.
Softstep smiled at her daughter, proud of her instant response. “Very good, Sniff. Now let’s go.” She turned and headed away from the Holt, Sniff right on her heels.”
When Blackfeather finished speaking, she looked at Iras with a lopsided grin. "I think that had more of Redwolf and me in it then Mother."
Iras softly laughed as she heard Blackfeather's comment. "Well still had Sof-... mother in it,” Iras said smiling, but afraid to say her mother's name.
Blackfeather looked over at Iras quizzically. “Why don’t you ever say Mother’s name?” While Iras had been really, really young at Softstep’s passing, Blackfeather never did understand why Iras would never say her name.
"Because I...” Iras looked down and she blinked away a tear. Iras shrugged because she did not want to say it, but eventually... "I am afraid... Feather... I am afraid to forget..." Iras looked up at Blackfeather and deeply sighed. "Mother's song is the only thing that helps me remember.. remember her and my father.." Iras looked away as tears started to roll down her cheeks.
Blackfeather blinked. “Oh, sweet Iras.” She quickly reached over and gave her a hug. “Deep love is never forgotten, no matter if it’s a parent, sibling, or mate. There are many in the tribe who remember both, and are more then willing to help you keep remembering them.” She suddenly sent an image to Iras. It was of Iras’ own birth, and how Softstep had been so proud and full of love as she held her newest cub. *Now that is your memory as well.*
Iras held Blackfeather tight and listened to what she said. "I... I just don't want to be a burden to any one of you.." Iras said and she closed her eyes. She opened her eyes again as she received Blackfeather's sending. "Is...” Iras placed her hand on her mouth. ~*Is that me Feather?*~ Iras sent as she looked into her sister's eyes.
Blackfeather chuckled. “Yes that’s you silly. Aren’t we ugly when we’re first born?” She was teasing and it was plain in her voice, but then she turned serious. “You aren’t a burden. Nor is it a burden to share what one remembers of loved ones. Sometimes… sometimes it even helps to share.” She gave Iras a smile. “So what do you wish to do? Care to sit here and share the memories I have of Mother? Or do you have something else planned? Maybe something involving a certain Lovemate of yours?” Her smile had turned impish at that last question.
Iras her jaw dropped as Blackfeather started joking. "Oh ... Feather how can you say that...” Iras said and she laughed. "Still... I feel like one...” Iras said sighing soft and she chuckled. "No...Midnight and I...” Iras blushed and she closed her eyes. "I mean ... he is out hunting... with Icebird." Iras said and she took Blackfeather's hand. "More than enough time for sharing... sister" Iras said and smiled.
Blackfeather smiled. “Then share it is.” They settled into more comfortable positions and spent the rest of the day with Blackfeather sharing all the memories she had of Softstep. Some, she had even forgotten she had.