Learning Home {C/Kiba}

[Zantalia]

He'd only been here for a few years, but he had been around most of the areas in the city center and on the outskirts, the half Saluki and half Ibizan Hound wanted to visit each and every single place around here.  The city he knew, but the forests and mountain he had not visited yet.  The mountain was for a different day, today, the lean, sleek grayish-black and brownish-tan mixed pelted male wanted to see the forests.  His cocked, feathered ears switched back and forth as he listened to his surroundings, as his dainty paws carried him forward, his feathered tail waved a little as he trotted forward toward the Youngling Forest.  It was a sparse place, thin, tiny trees just retaking the lands that had once been majestically forested.  His bright molten amber eyes were wide as he looked about.  


This poor forest, it had once been strong and majestic, it would get there again, but not in many, many lifetimes, it wouldn't be there by the time Ryse's forth generation was grown and gone.  He paused in a clearing and sat down, wrapping his tail over his paws and looked upward to the sky.  Well, despite it's lack of majesty, it was a lovely little place anyway.  Taking a breath of the air, Ryse got up again and trotted forward toward the Thick Pines.  The big tall, beautiful, pines.  His tail curled into its question mark as he trotted forth again.  He trotted into the Flowing Plains, here the wind picked up and Ryse began to run, race with the wind, chase the wind spirits.  He headed toward Raven's Point, at the mountain foothills, he turned right and slowed down a little, back to a gentle lope.  


Trotting into the Whispering Forest, Ryse paused again, in another clearing and once again sat down to peer about himself, his cocked ears switching and picking up the tiniest of sounds.  With a smile, Ryse began trotting forth again, toward the Dewdrop Meadow.  In the Meadow, Ryse once again race the wind, but he also chased down a hare, he hadn't had breakfast yet and needed something to eat.  He caught it in a few bounds and then, he stopped near the Sparkling Lake, cleaned and bolted down the hare, got a drink and then rested a few more minutes before getting up and trotting to the Cow Field.  The sun was creeping down from its zenith toward evening.  Ryse was pleased with himself, he had visited everything but the mountain and the Thick Pines now.  

On the edge of the Cow Fields, he chased down another hare and carried the body with him as he trotted into the deepening shadows of the Thick Pines.  It was cool here, and Ryse was comfortable, he'd has his daily run and now it was time to wind down.  As he paced through the shadows, he tossed his head up and sent the corpse of the hare flipping before he caught it in his jaws again.  Then a soft sound off to his right captured his ears and Ryse stopped, lowering his head and stepping cautiously toward the sound.  Dropping the hare to his side Ryse gazed upon the tiny family before him.  "Oh dear I hope I'm not disrupting you miss."  He said softly and stepped back a few paces, he knew better than to approach a new mother without being invited to move to her.  He stood with his head and tail low so as not to spook her any worse and earn himself some scrapes and scratches.   



Word Count: 597 
"Speaking" 
Listening

[Kiba]

Lily

The she-dog looked up as a head appeared. She crouched over her pups, both squealing as her belly moved from their mouths. She bared her teeth, trying to look threateningly. Even so, fear was clear in the dog's eyes. Her legs shook as she stared at the brute in front of her. She knew that if he wanted to, he could easily rip her to shreds and kill her pups.

Then he spoke. He jowls lowered over her teeth as she perked up her ears. He took a less threatening stance. He didn't sound like he was going to hurt her. His voice was soft and friendly. "N-no, sir. You aren't. It's just me and my pups," she said, her voice shaking.

She laid back down, nudging her pups closer to her stomach. She was running out of milk. She hadn't eaten in days. She felt weak and was terrified for not only her life, but her pups.

[Zantalia]

The female was quickly on her paws and bared her fangs at Ryse.  He'd captured the soft cries of the little ones as she had moved as fast away from them as she had.  Ryse peered at her, and then tilted his head a little as he captured her lyrics, N-no, sir.  You aren't.  It's just me and my pups.  So he had been right the Stafforshire before him was not alone.  Ryse smiled softly as she lay back down and nudged the little ones close again.  "I'm Ryse by the way miss."  He said as he crept a little bit closer to her, bringing the hare with him.  

"You're all alone miss?  You look the worse for the wear.  If I may, I will not need this tonight.  You need it more than I do, you need to eat for three."  Ryse murmured softly as he lifted the fatter hare and nudged it gently toward the female.  He smiled and sat down as he peered at the little family before him, his pale, molten amber eyes bright and gentle at the same time.  "If you would like as well miss, I could stay with you tonight, keep watch and such.  No lady should be alone when she has pups to look out for."  Ryse murmured softly to the Stafforshire before him as he wrapped his feathered tail over his paws gracefully.  

Maybe it was just his mother's teachings coming through, but for some reason, Ryse could not let himself walk away from this female and her litter.  They were in no state to be alone, the pups were newly born and helpless, the mother, was thin and weak, he saw it as soon as he had stumbled upon them.  Ryse couldn't bear the thought of leaving them alone for another night.  He sat calmly before the little family, his feathered and cocked ears swiveled all around to be sure nothing else would creep up and harm the family.  He felt a strong sense of protectiveness creeping over him as well.  

Though those babies weren't his, and though he and the Stafforshire were not mated, he felt like the trio was his family.  Ryse wanted to, with every fiber of his being keep the trio safe, maybe raise the pups as his at some point.  These three seemed far too vulnerable for Ryse's tastes and he wanted to stay here as long as she would let him.  She was a pretty female, brindle with beautiful eyes.  Ryse smiled again and tipped his ears toward the female again as he waited for her response.  


Word Count: 433
"Speaking" 
Listening 

 
  

    

[Kiba]

Lily

She perked her ears as she listened to his name. Ryse. That was a name she had never heard before. It was unique. She opened her mouth to tell him her own name. He continued and pulled out a hare. Her eyes widened and her mouth watered at the smell of fresh prey. Her stomach growled and her fur heated up with embarrassment.

"Oh, no I couldn't. You caught it," she began to say. He then nudged it to her and sat down. She leaned towards it and pulled it closer, biting a leg and ripping it off. She ripped off the meat and nearly swallowed it whole. She was so hungry and the meat was delightful.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you. I will never be able to repay you," she said, tail wagging as she took another bite. She held it down with both paws. "My name is Lily," she added, taking a small break from eating and looking up at him. Her eyes met his and she smiled.

He was definitely handsome. Tall too. Unlike her, she was stocky and broad. Something no dog wanted in a female. Not unless they wanted their pups to be bulky and strong. She shook her head as she focused back on the scenario going on now.

[Zantalia]

Ryse smiled as she responded, Oh, no I couldn't.  You caught it.  He smiled again as he watched her snatch it from before her and he chuckled as his cocked ears tipped toward the female again.  He watched as she bolted a leg and then tore off some more.  His smile remained as he lay down and relaxed, resting his head on his paws.  His ears still switched around them and he heard the female's sweet lyrics again, Thank you, sir.  Thank you.  I will never be able to repay you, his own feathered tail waved a little as his cocked feathered ears heard the last of her lyrics, My name is Lily.  

Ryse smiled as his gaze met hers.  "It's a pleasure to meet you Lily."  He told her with a gentle smile.  "There's no need for repayment Lily, I don't eat that much, and I was just gonna carry that one to the city and leave it.  At least it'll give you something to make sure your babies don't lose your milk, and you don't loose anymore of your muscle mass.  And, I can always fetch us more in the morning."  He told her with a chuckle.  Then he got back to his paws and sidled a little close to the small family and lay down again.  "Your babies are lovely Lily."  Ryse murmured softly and smiled again.  


Evening slowly crept into the trees turning the forest a deeper darkness and Ryse's pale molten amber eyes drifted upward toward the canopy and then he looked back to the brindled female and lifted his head as his eyes picked out the little puppies, one was blue, the other was either black or brindled like its mother.  Ryse yawned a little and then stretched a little as he lifted his head and repositioned it on his forelegs and peered at Lily again.  Sure she was broad and stocky, but she was still a lovely little female, she also seemed like a sweetheart.  

Perhaps that was just because of her thin, weakened state, or maybe not.  Well, whatever it was, Ryse liked it.  That same protectiveness rose up again and Ryse lifted his head and tilted it as he peered at her.  There was something about that female, but Ryse couldn't quite place a paw on it.  Oh well, it might come out later, it might not, well, whatever happened Ryse wasn't going anywhere just yet.  He tipped his ears toward her and smiled again.  



Word Count: 414 
"Speaking" 
Listening

[Kiba]

Lily

She looked up as he spoke some more. She wondered why he cared so much. They had just met. The dog in front of her know her that well. And he was giving her his food and offering protection for the night. Many would leave her and her pups to die slowly, or attack and kill them. Not a lot would help them, she knew that. She was just glad he had.

"Thank you. They're so small and fragile, though. I should have stayed with the humans until my pups were old enough to travel," she said, licking the two. "Oh, I didn't introduce you to them. The brindle female is named Trixie. The tan male is named King," she said, nudging each pup as she named them.

"There used to be a third. He was sickly when he was born, though. A blue one. I had named him Butch, after my brother. He died within a few hours. I'm glad the other two are alive and well, though. I don't think I could have lost all three of them," she whimpered.

[Zantalia]

As he lay under the shadows of the trees, his pale molten amber gaze brightened a little as his cocked ears picked up the female's sweet gentle lyrics, Thank you.  They're so small and fragile though.  I should have stayed with the humans until my pups were old enough to travel, oh, I didn't introduce you to them.  The brindle female is named Trixie.  The tan male is King, there used to be a third.  Was?  Ryse lifted his head from his forelimbs as he listened to her last phrases, feeling a tug on his heart as the words slipped into the air.  

He was sickly when he was born, though.  A blue one.  I had named him Butch, after my brother.  He died within a few hours.  I'm glad the other two are alive and well though.  I don't think I could have lost all three of them.  Ryse smiled gently and moved a little bit closer to Lily and the pups.  When he was a short distance away, Ryse settled himself and wrapped his feathered tail around his dainty paws.  "I can only imagine how hard it was on you to lose him Lily.  I lost my own siblings when I was only a few years old.  We'd been dumped unceremoniously in the park because our mother was a top show dog, our father a lowly stray.  I went out to find food for us and when I returned...my three siblings were gone...gone like the wind spirits."  Ryse slipped into the distance momentarily.  

"I had to learn how to survive by myself, I was lucky enough to be non-judgemental and managed to make friends with a wolf, a wolfdog, a coyote, a fox and a couple other breeds of dogs and we had our own little pack for a little bit.  But I needed to find a new adventure."  Ryse said and then smiled toward Lily and the pups as he settled onto his stomach again and peered toward her.  His tail waved a little and his ears tipped her way as he yawned a little and then lifted his head again.  He couldn't sleep, he had to protect Lily and the puppies.  He had to keep them safe so he didn't fail them like he had his own siblings.   



Word Count: 384 
"Speaking" 
Listening 

 

[Kiba]

Lily

She listened as he explained his past. She saddened at the mention of his own siblings, knowing that its hard to lose those closest to you. She wondered where they had wondered off to and what they looked like. She also wondered if Ryse and them would ever meet up again. Her thoughts changed as she looked back at the handsome dog in front of her.

"I wish I had as much luck as you have had with friends. I really don't have any. I've been on my own for a month. And before that, I only knew other show dogs, many whom have rotten attitudes."

She then leaned down and bit at a flea that was itching her chest. After a moment, the flea stopped and moved on. She didn't like that part of the wild either. So many annoying insects. "I don't suppose you know of any packs? I had heard some were around and would like to join one for my pup's safety," she remarked.

[Zantalia]

Ryse's ears switched as he watched Lily and then listened to her, sweet lyrics flood his mind, I wish I had as much luck as you have had with friends.  I really don't have any.  I've been on my own for a month.  And before that, I only knew other show dogs, many whom have rotten attitudes.  Ryse dipped his head a little.  He knew that all too well.  His ears switched again as Lily chased a flea and then spoke again, I don't suppose you know of any packs?  I had heard some were around and would like to join one for my pup's safety.  Ryse lifted his head and smiled a little, then he dipped his head in a brief nod.  "That must be difficult Lily.  There are a few around here.  I don't know about all of the others, but there's one in particular that I'm fancying joining.  The Kind Pack.  I heard they accept all manner of canine and are non-judgemental.  They seem like just the one for me."  Ryse said with a smile as he shook his head a little as a late fly buzzed around his ears.  

"Whenever I manage to find the Alpha I'll be asking them if I might join them.  You're welcome to come with me if you would like."  Ryse said as he peered toward Lily.  If she wanted a pack to join, that one would probably be the best for her too.  But then came the issue of trying to get the puppies safely to the pack's territory.  He would willingly help Lily carry them to the territory.  Ryse smiled as he thought about that, it would be nice having someone that he knew to join him in an unfamiliar surrounding.  But he didn't think it would take too long for his to acclimate to the pack, when he did join up with it.  He did hope he would be able to take up a leader's mantle once again, whether it be Alpha or Beta.  He smiled at Lily again and crawled a little closer to her.  Really, though, if he did get a rank, he would be focused on the leading, but at one point, he would focus on finding a mate.  

If Ryse had anything to say about it, he'd want someone like Lily at his side.  The thought brought a gentle smile back to the mutt's lips as he gazed up at the canopy overhead.  It was to be a full moon tonight, Ryse would have liked to see it, but the canopy over his head made it a bit hard to do.  And really, the company here was much more comforting than what would likely be outside this security of the trees.  Plus, it was calm back here, just a few night calling birds and a couple of insects making any noise around them, it soothed Ryse, relaxed his body and he smiled again as he gazed softly toward Lily and the pups.  He'd only just met them a few hours earlier, but Ryse already felt an attachment to them all, as if they were his own.  The feeling sent a brief pang of pain through his heart for his lost siblings, but as fast as it had come, the serenity was faster and wrapped around the male again.  This was a grand end to his morning.    


Word Count: 562 
"Speaking" 
Listening 

         

[Kiba]

Lily

Her tail wagged quickly as he said he knew of a pack that he thought about joining. Then he offered for her and her pups to go with him to join. Oh, that would be fantastic! It'd definitely make it a lot easier on her to get her pups to a pack, with the extra mouth and all. That is, he would carry one of her pups.

"Thank you, Ryse. I would definitely be joining with you, if they will accept us," she stated. She didn't think they would have a reason to no accept them. After all, the pack was non-judgmental, weren't they? She hasn't done anything wrong in her past. She wondered if Ryse has.

She didn't ask, though. She had no right to ask. Instead, she just laid her head on her paws and let out a yawn. The rabbit was half eaten and he pups were curled up against her stomach, already asleep. She hadn't slept in a few days. And within a few seconds, she was out cold, her chest rising and falling steadily.

[Zantalia]

Ryse smiled as he watched her tail wag as she listened to what he'd said. Ryse's ears switched forward as he looked to her and smiled as her words filled his mind, Thank you, Ryse. I would definately be joining with you, if they will accept us. Ryse smiled as he peered at Lily and the pups, quietly curled up against her stomach, fast asleep. As Ryse watched, Lily lay her head down on her paws and in the blink of an eye, she was fast asleep. Ryse smiled and got to his paws, stretching out his limbs and back as he looked to her again.  

He padded quietly past her, resisting the urge to reach out and gently nuzzle her as he passed, he didn't want to wake her up, she'd fallen asleep so quickly that he was fairly certain that she had not been sleeping much the past few days.  Ryse couldn't really blame her either.  Trying to keep the pups safe all on her own could not have been a very easy task.  Finding a raised pile of fallen trees, Ryse sprang easily onto the pile and looked back to Lily.  He smiled calmly and then, he scanned the surroundings, though it was pitch black, he could still make out shapes.  

In the distance the screech of an owl made Ryse lift his head and peer about in slight confusion, but then he shrugged and scanned the surroundings once more.  Only once did he leave his post and that was when a snapping branch had been followed by the appearance of an opossum.  That thing would have taken and hurt Lily or the pups in seconds.  Ryse chased it off, he returned to his post shortly before dawn, the night life was quieted and Ryse felt safe enough to disappear for a little bit to bring back more food, though Lily had half the rabbit left yet.  

He darted into Shadow's Dip, snagging another rabbit and a pheasant.  Carrying both in his slender jaws, Ryse returned to Lily and the pups just as the sun began to rise, heralding the awakening of day.  Today was promising to be a good day, and with that promise the promise of he and Lily finding a permanent home, in Shadow's Dip, he'd heard from another canine that the Kind Pack leader had called from the Affordable Housing part of the city.  Not too far from where he and Lily were now.  Settling comfortably nearby, he dropped the fresh catches to the ground and sat, calmly waiting for Lily to stir to give her the good news.  


Word Count: 436 
"Speaking" 
Listening 

[Kiba]

Lily

It had been a peaceful night. One where she hadn't woken up once. One where she hadn't need to worry about her pups or other things getting to them. After all, Ryse was there to protect her and her newborns. Heck, she hadn't slept like this since she found out she was pregnant.

Still, the scent of prey hit her nose, waking her up. Her amber eyes opened slowly, fluttering as she tried to blink the sleep away. After another moment, she sat up and yawned, showing her spotted tongue. After another moment, she licked her jowls as she smelled the fresh prey again. She looked at Ryse, whom also looked happy about something.

"What are you so happy about?" she asked, glancing at the prey. She felt her pups stir a bit as they continued to suckle. They had apparently woken up before her to get their breakfast.

[Zantalia]

As he watched, Lily stirred.  Ryse stood and stretched as he watched Lily yawn and slowly awaken.  Ryse's cocked feathered ears switched forward as Lily's sweet lyrics filled them, What are you so happy about?  He saw her glance at the fresh prey and nudged each pice toward her, she could have whichever she liked.  "I have good news Lily.  Great news in fact.  Remember that pack I was telling you about?  The one I'm fancying joining?  The Alpha's calling a meeting tonight, not too far from here, in the old Affordable Housing district.  Think you and the pups'll be ready to move tonight?"  He asked as his tail waved and he sat back down as he glanced to the Staffordshire before him.  

He hoped they would be, the allure of safety, happiness was almost too much for the Saluki Ibizan to stand, he wanted to pick up and run right now, but he knew one with pups would never be that fast to be ready, the family had to be in the right state of mind.  Ryse smiled as he stretched out on the pine needles.  He was in great spirits, he and Lily were quite ready to get to safety with the babies.  He yawned a little and peered toward Lily, his pale molten amber eyes bright.  "Before we get too gung ho though, the Alpha is a wolf.  But he's a gentleman...so I've heard.  Eat please, if we head out later we'll need the energy."  Ryse said to Lily as he lifted his head and looked toward the prey, both looked yummy, but he wanted Lily to choose first, he could eat after.  

So close to safety, so close to a forever home, Ryse wanted to get up and run as fast as he could to get there but, he also had a lot of patience.  His feathered hooked tail waved the tiniest bit as he lifted his narrow, pretty head up again.  Lily and the pups had been safe, save for that one opossum.  He smiled and glanced toward Lily, then toward the edge of the pines and the city, salvation was close at hand, safety, love, protection...home.  His smile broadened a little and then he relaxed a little and looked back to Lily.  Everyone was still healthy and happy.  Life was good.  




Word Count: 389 
"Speaking" 
Listening 

[Kiba]

Lily

She picked the pheasant. "I'll take this and eat the rest of the rabbit from last night," she barked, digging into the bird. Her ears perked at what he said. She hesitated when she heard that the Alpha was a wolf. She hadn't been expecting that, especially since the pack supposedly didn't judge others. She wondered what made this wolf think differently.

She continued to eat. "Yes, we'll be ready to move. I've rested enough and have eaten. It'll be a little hard for the pups, but they'll be fine. Maybe a little grumpy when we get there," she explained, licking her bloody chops. Her tail wagged, thumping the ground lightly.

She had an incredible amount of luck over the past day and a half. She was glad Ryse had stumbled upon them and not some dangerous dog. She wasn't sure what she would have done if someone had attacked them. She would die trying to save her pups, of course. But her pups wouldn't be able to survive without her milk. She shook her head. That hadn't happened. She had no need to worry about that now.

"Ryse, why did you decide to help me and my pups?" she asked, looking up at him with curious brown eyes.

[Zantalia]

Ryse watched as Lily chose the bird and he smiled as he dragged the rabbit toward himself and began plucking the fur off of it to clean it before he ate, his ears twitched toward Lily as she spoke, I'll take this and eat the rest of the rabbit from last night, Yes, we'll be ready to move. I've rested enough and have eaten. It'll be a little hard for the pups, but they'll be fine. Maybe a little grumpy when we get there, Ryse smiled as he'd cleared a patch of meat and began to eat it his ears fastened on Lily as he watched her eat her chosen breakfast and ate his as well.  His hooked, feathered tail waved as the realization of Lily's words wrapped around his mind.  They were going home!  

As Ryse pulled off another chunk of his breakfast, his pale molten amber eyes met Lily's and he saw the curiosity in her brown eyes.  Ryse, why did you decide to help me and my pups?  Ryse swallowed his bite as he pondered this question.  He smiled as the simple answer came to him, "I saw something in you Lily...a strength, a willingness, and then I saw the pups, and I was shot back to my own younger days, I had failed my family back then, I didn't want to do it again.  I guess you could say I wanted to wipe the slate clean, redeem myself of my past mistake.  Start a fresh life."  He said and smiled, "Plus, I don't like seeing anyone have to face the world alone, particularly someone with pups to look out for."  He said and pulled off more fur, to clear up some more of his breakfast.  


Word Count: 290 
"Speaking" 
Listening