Unforgotten }{ ~open for everyone~

[Kunabee]

Ekshen

Here I found myself, once again, gazing out at the top of a canyon. Sitting there, demurely, seeming effeminate rather than the typical male poses I took. But today I was thinking. I had grown much from the young and reckless pup I was just... When? Time had slowed and steadied. It was no longer the bounding, rollicking days of joy, or the pain-filled hours of Daddy's absence and his betrayal. Now it was just steady, panting to the beat of its own drum, each note clear and knowledgeable.
Was I a child? I had grown in knowledge. I felt more mature, and I was big now. So no, childhood was gone. Pain seemed to be the mark of adulthood - your passage from the joyous to the solemn, quiet times.
My siblings and I, we grew up fast. We had to.
But the past wasn't yet forgotten. I remembered. Mama's smile. And now here I am, referring to them as the childish names of parents, instead of what I called them so long - 'Bidziil' and 'Carska'. What strict regiment dictated that?
I was tired of rules, and regiments. I wanted peace and quiet. I suppose it's why I didn't really stay around Vea Apxn, and I'm sure you could assume I avoided the original pack like the plague.
I felt old, so much older beyond my years. And it seemed my siblings were questioning still. Or falling in love. Alonda and Val. It was a fitting couple, I must admit. And I would be so excited to see their puppies, to see their children. I'd be an uncle. The thought warmed my heart.
I, however, was long tired of questions. Love was questions, at first. I knew it from studious observations and deep, pondering thought.
I laid my head down in my paws, ears pricked as I gazed on the landscape. It was beautiful, especially lit by the setting sun as it was. If I could capture this moment, I'd keep it here forever. In perfect beauty.
No longer sad.
No, I was not happy. But no longer was I sad. Instead I just felt at peace. Quietly, joylessly, at peace. I had never felt at peace before, so I savored the moment.
Here I was, answering my own questions. Skoll and Dio, the god of Falomi and the god of felines. I believed in both. I didn't care for the taste of felines much anymore. I'd seen... so much. Been through so much. And hadn't we all?
My final answer was that I was tired of wandering. I wanted to stop - but I couldn't. There was an itching in my paws even now, though they were tired and I was hungry - I hadn't been eating as much lately - and a wandering sense. I was looking for something.
How I wanted to find it. To finally rest. I was tired of life so young, I knew I was young. Young enough, at least, for my exhaustion of life to be depressing.
But what can you do? With the sun casting its last dying rays over my silver fur, the scenery in front of me gleaming, I chose to feel at peace. To capture the moment in my little mimic of forever.

[I L Y I C H]

Nomad had gone off to play with his clay again. Who knew what he thought he was doing, but I mean kids would be kids right? I wasn't too worried to admit that I liked to shape the stuff sometimes too. But today wasn't one of those times. That black alphess wandered around camp constantly with those judging eyes and it drove me up those damned pine trees. Her stupid little nephew tried to 'reassure' me when Nomad and I first got into camp that this was just what his aunt was like. I didn't give a shit what that little prick thought though, the woman was creepy. So there was no way in hell I was staying in camp with my brother off on his kiddy play time.

Maybe it was wrong of me to have wandered off our particular territory but hey. It wasn't like anyone else paid a lick of attention to boarders. We were folami, original pack folami. No ones boarders mattered but our own. No one could defeat us so why should I give a damn about them? I'd howl if anyone dared look at me funny and we'd tear them apart. Though having a real lack of Nomad at my side was worrying. I was a shit fighter without my brother by my side but no one needed to know that. Especially not when I was off on my own. Ok so maybe this had been a stupid decision, but Nomad had gone off to play with his puppy things! I'd not wanted to be involved with that. I was an adult dammit.

It was in thsi state of mind that I trotted up the leading edge of the cliffs. Sun setting to the west lit the water an odd orangish red. I'd admit it would look better if this stupid ocean was settled under the sun's rays but it was facing south east. At least this cove. I'd assume there were probably other oceans that sat in the west I'd just never seen them because salt water was worthless. Who wanted to go that far to just look at something? That was just wasteful of energy. Setting dark paws on the hard stone I took the last few bounding jumps over rock to reach the top and came to a slamming halt.

A man lay on the solid expanse of rock at the top. His gray fur was thicker then mine, and he was obviously older. Maybe three years, couldn't be much more then that. But that aside he was recklessly thin. Weak then. I could beat him in a fight if I needed to. But there wasn't really any point in just attacking him right now was there? The wind told me strange scents. Loner and Vea Apxn mixed together oddly, but it was enough that this dude had been near the savages to raise my hackles.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

[Kunabee]

Ekshen

I heard him walking before he called out. There was no wind, so it was just a matter of tilting my head and I could catch a scent. Original pack. I nearly groaned, but I stayed where I was. Being interrupted with my beautiful sunset... Urk.

Then, of course, he called out. "What does it look like I'm doing?" I demanded of him, albeit gently, without turning around. I would enjoy this sunset one way or another, damnit. And anyway I trusted that he would be honorable enough not to attack me without reason. Perhaps foolish, but he was from my father's pack. I only wouldn't trust a loner.

I also was glad of company. I was so lonely; but for now I was not. It was a good feeling, having someone around. Even if they were a dangerous stranger. I would not have to enjoy this sight alone; I was alone so much now...

Lonely because I made it that way; lonely because there was no-one for me. Not like my siblings. I wasn't much of a pack member, though I had my reasons with this. The aching in my feet; to not be lonely, someone else had to yearn to travel and wander as much as I did.

I'll admit I made excursions onto the cat's pride lands. Though I always stayed towards the edges, and nobody really bothered with me once they smelled Folami. But it was interesting to spy on them; rather, visit. I never watched, only glimpsed things. I never hunted there, either. Perhaps another time I'd do such things, but I now knew the value of respect.

I sat up now, realizing once more that someone was behind me. I gestured my tail in an offer for the original pack member to join me in sitting at this high point, gazing at the sunset. How it touched all the world in waves and beckoned you towards it; orange-tinged and burning.

What did Skoll feel like, knowing the fickle sun was under his control?

[I L Y I C H]

Lip curling I glared at the beast. Gray and lean. A loner which made him just as much a savage as those idiotic things out to the east. A creature lost to all sense and morality. "Pouting." I sneered crossly. And it did look exactly like that. A man all sprawled out and staring over the water when the sun wasn't even setting in that god damn direction. He was looking south for fuck sake. Standing my ground I glared heartily at the other man. Yeah he was definitely older then me, but he wasn't stronger. Loners didn't eat enough. Made me wonder if he was some kind of weak hearted kittenhugger too. Surviving on fluffy rabbits and shit. God that was disgusting. What was wrong with people? I mean cats were just another food source. Albeit a talking on but who the hell cared about that? Everything talked just because you couldn't understand it didn't make it any more morally right.

Dumb asses. Hackles rippling I stiffened my legs when he sat up. Without Nomad I wasn't much of a threat, or much of a fighter. Dammit I was still obviously more muscular. I'd just knock the savage over when he jumped me. But the thing staid sitting and I frowned heavily at the back of his head. Just trying to put me off my guard then. I wasn't gonna fall for his stupid tricks. If this monster thought I was stupid he had another thing coming for him. Snarling softly under my breath I remained on my feet with my teeth slightly bared. Like hell I was going anywhere near that savage!

The humans knew they were horrible creatures and they told me so I would follow their knowledge. They'd always known more then me so it stood to reason that they knew more now too. That savage was trying to get me close so he could kill me and have the humans at more of a disadvantage. It was disgusting and extremely disgraceful to his species. Where they even still folami? Or had they turned into some kind of altered beast? After all every single one of them were failed experiments all of their own doing. The humans had made them perfect, but they'd gone off and damaged their coding. Well I wasn't going to fall for that shit. Besides he probably had fleas or some shit. Disgusting loner.

[Kunabee]

Ekshen

Ah, he didn't like nor trust me. I scoffed as he assumed I was pouting.
"What you call pouting is really thinking," I informed him. I was slightly insulted by the fact he didn't sit next to me; but then, he didn't like me. I could smell it, sense that his hackles were raised and he was prepared to attack.

"Really, though, the sunset is beautiful if you turn in just the right way. Have you ever stopped to admire the world around you? We are so blessed by these endless natural wonders." I sounded like a fool, but I didn't care. I turned my head at the sun, and my eyes burned like the land burned in color. Closing them, I took a deep breath of the sweet air and let it out again.

"What's your name, stranger?" I asked him. I was hesitant to tell him mine; I was Ekshen, and Ekshen was the name of one of the Princes. Albeit one of the two strangest siblings. Cenzolume with his constant moon-gazing, and me with my distance from the world. I sighed and shook my head. Perhaps this one would not know the name of Ekshen. It was refreshing, being treated as an enemy by a Folami, and not as just a distant stranger. Which, yes, was the more common response because I was around those who knew me - the younger brother to Mahal.

I decided to risk it. "I go by Ekshen," I told him. I wanted to say 'my parents called me' but that may have been too big a hint.

But this Folami? We were strangers to each other. It was fun, really. Sort of a game. Like the ones I played with felines now; am I friend or foe? Who am I? The questions I gave them. In a sick, sadistic way it made me feel better. Because I was always questioning.

As the last rays touched the world, I felt like it was endless beauty.

[I L Y I C H]

I snorted harshly at his pitiful attempts to protect himself. Thinking was done on one's feet with their bodies active. He was moping like a child lost in the past. Lip curled I gave my own scoff. What could one expect from a loner after all? They were actually probably worse then the savages. All alone out in the world of nothing. It went against our kind's very nature. Even the savages staid together even if their weird dynamic fucked with the way it was suppose to be. Loners were just a different breed all together. Twisted and so very wrong as to be more disgusting then even failed experiments. Huffing crossly I took three rapid steps back, tail raising to curve over my back.

"Natural wonder is for lesser species." I sneered back, eyes sharp and disbelieving. What was so wrong with this dog that he could ever be so distracted by his 'beautiful world' to not pay attention to the actuality of his situation. Truly loners were unfulfilled things. They couldn't be any thing more then that. Weak minded things lost to a sunset of all things. A thing that occurred on a daily basis with no care for them or what went about the rest of the world. Stupid damn loner. He was a foe. Had been from the second I had come upon him. Perhaps I was not on my own land, but the humans said all was ours so I had my rights.

Snarling softly in the back of my throat I lifted spotted guard hairs. "Good for you, loner." I spat the title like poison as it surely was. He would die quickly, or at the very least grow ill on his own. A fitting death. A weak death. Disgust pooled into my being and I took another step back. I was once again beginning to feel the lack of Nomad's presence, and the discomfort from my twin's missing body was full and thick in my chest. "I wont give my name to some strange savage sitting on a cliff." Puffing up my chest I stiffened my legs and strode forward, back and behind the beast. Acting as if he was no longer there as he might as well not be. I was in-route to do some hunting in the forest behind this shore and this idiotic savage wasn't going to hassle or distract me any longer.

[Kunabee]

Ekshen

So my name gave him no recognition. I could not stop the smile that curled up. I stood up, stretching. Hm, I did need to hunt soon. The thought came to me just as he refused me his name. I just shook my head.

"Are manners for lesser species as well, stranger? Or have you forgotten how to be polite, little one?" It was a mock, as much as he mocked me with the word 'loner'. He did not understand me, but thought he did. I did not understand him, and admitted it as well.

"You are still a child, and I'd hope Nimrod and Bidziil would teach you well enough to respect your elders." Maybe I wasn't THAT much older than him, but I was certainly older enough to be an 'elder'. And anyway, I'd learned to respect all my elders as a pup, from nearly everyone I knew. It was drilled into me, and I did not forget it. Even felines, I was taught to at least not be rude to - even if they were to be dinner. "Even a loner like myself. Seems to me you're the savage, being all unpleasant." I shook myself off and turned around.

"Going off to hunt, stranger? Would you care for some company? We are pack creatures, after all, and it's always pleasant to hunt with someone else, even if they're rude." I smiled at him light heartedly, following him anyway. It would be stupid and insolent of him to attack him when I'd done little to provoke him. Anyway, he insulted me first. As childish of a thought as that was, it was the truth - and it was every creature's right to defend themselves.

Wasn't that what they all did? And oh, if he went to hunt a feline I'd hunt with him, I'd share the meal. It was in my programming and taste buds - I enjoyed the taste of feline. Just because as a general rule I avoided hunting them, doesn't mean I was against eating them entirely. If something's already dead, why not put it to good use? That was why there were scavengers, after all.

Perhaps I was a scavenger of felines, and a hunter of rabbits. The thought nearly made me laugh, but I kept my composure.

Ekshen, the great hunter of rabbits.

[I L Y I C H]

Lip curled, I paused with one heavy paw lifted to slap to the ground. "I refuse to be polite to a mutt who doesn't deserve it." Sneering I all but turned about face to ignore him. Loners didn't deserve any iota of my respect. Nimrod and Bidzill deserved it. They had earned it. This damnable traitor was starting with massive negative numbers. So I would ignore him, useless pile of flesh that he was. It wasn't as if it would matter. Soon the beast would be killed, and then my life would go on as it was meant to, and his would end as it was meant. Nose in the air I snubbed him with every inch of my body. A worm was all that thing was. A traitor. A betrayer. A savage to the most possible degree.

Dark eyes slither to the side when he spoke and though I wanted badly to turn about and demand he retract his stupidity I did no such things. Voice petulant and icy I mocked instead. "If I were a savage I would be the single most disloyal, mockery of a beast. You, in other words. Going against everything you are just to be hateful to human kind. It's disgusting." Snorting crossly I turned my head back to the wood. "And I am no savage." Padding away I only paused a second time when the idiot went on as if I would show kindness to a beast as wrong as he. "Fuck off Rat. I hunt only with my brother or my superiors." And with that I stormed away. Angry and annoyed that this thing had thought I would let it within a foot of me. Disgusting. If what he had was a disease I didn't want him close enough to pass it to me.

Besides I was hunting feline and I found it doubtful that a creature all alone out in the wilds would feel that moral obligation. Our single duty, forgotten and flung aside by so many. Disgraceful. In all honesty I didn't know what I had thought might happen here. Maybe a new dog. Corbyn had been a loner before he'd come into the pack. But I had been proven wrong the second the thing had spoken. He was no proper folami. Just another betrayer to his gods.

- merchant out -