at the turn of the { t i d e }

[Vivien]

"We're floating in the moonlit sky. / The people far below are sleeping as we fly."[/i]

There was far too much pain, too much suffering in this place. Vivien didn't like it. Actually, these days there wasn't much she did like. This city wasn't the only area where people and wolves alike found misery. No, suffering occurred the world-over. It could no sooner be helped than stopped.

But that didn't stop people from trying.

"There is still hope," Vivien would often say. Her father either sighed or gave a stern speech in response -- rarely both at the same time. The sigh meant he had little desire to debate the matter. Sometimes it showed his frustration. It was the speech, however, that caused many to roll over and agree. Vivien did so on occasion, mostly out of respect. He was her father, after all. To others, though, Ezekiel was the alpha of their pack. Some, like old Solomon, simply called him 'friend.' To Vivien, he would always be 'father.' No more, no less.

She often wondered how far the world had fallen. Humans hunted animals (particularly her own kind) to the brink of extinction and beyond. They did what they felt they had to in order to survive. Or so tales of old said. Vivien could not say one way or another. She knew the legends as well as most, but a great many had been lost to either time or humanity's influence. What Vivien knew for certain, though, was that humans had begun the world's destruction. The hunt ceased to be about mere survival. It mutated until it became a 'sport' instead, and there were moments where Vivien wondered why she felt for them.

But felt for them she did. Her emotions often mirrored a mixture of something akin to concern and pity. Pity because they were not so smart as they supposed. Pity because they too would perish. Concern was brought about because of pity. Plenty of humans were as much a victim of their own race as the world. Human being stole from one another. They raped and murdered. Animals killed other animals, but for instinctual reasons. Boundaries were crossed, packs were threatened. Granted, some killed simply because they wanted to, but those types of animals seemed few and far between.

It bothered Vivien. But again, a great many things bothered Vivien. Suffering and deep, honest contemplation was enough to make even the strongest run. Sometimes Vivien wondered why she bothered staying. Wolves were known to pick up and leave in search of Paradise. Why not join them? It existed; wolves were supposed to discern its location. She couldn't do that if she stayed. But Vivien knew why she remained. She knew why staying was so important. Her pack relied on her. Her father and brothers needed her. And for some reason, Vivien couldn't find the strength to pick up and leave. She would miss her loved ones far too much. She wouldn't be able to help others as much if she focused solely on Paradise.

Or would she?

Sighing heavily, Vivien forced herself on all fours. She stared out toward the horizon, her head held high and golden eyes narrowed against the harsh gleam of the sun. A light breeze ruffled her silvery fur, and, in an instant, the wolf was gone. In its place stood a young woman with long strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes, her head held just as high and proud as the wolf's had been. She had come into the city for a reason, and she would not leave until that purpose was fulfilled. It wasn't every day she wandered from home in search of more refugees. It wasn't every day that there were refugees. Perhaps today would be different, though. Raising a slender hand, Vivien fingered the silver and jeweled pendant that hung from her throat as her eyes left the horizon, falling instead to the city below.

The pack made weekly rounds throughout the city. One or two members went and scouted the area in hopes of finding wolves in need of protection. Not each week was successful, but some garnered three or more new pack-mates. That was quite a yield in Vivien's opinion. Doubtless there was some measure of luck to be had on these ventures. Vivien didn't care about wasting her time (what would she have been doing otherwise?), so the less than fruitful weeks did little to aggravate her. She returned home hungry and a little bored, but other than that? No harm done.

No matter the outcome of this week, though, Vivien knew it would be wise to leave the rooftop soon. It wasn't often that humans spotted her true form, but the sight of a young woman randomly standing on a roof could be a little discerning. At least some of the elderly humans wrote it off as some 'teenage rebellion.' Others just found it weird -- at least, that was when they managed to actually catch sight of her. Vivien hoped that wouldn't be the case today. No one had spotted her thus far; maybe she could take that as a good omen.

Maybe.

[kiba]

"Anywhere you go, anyone you meet,
Remember that your eyes can be your enemies,
I said, well hell is so close
And heaven's out of reach
I ain't giving up quite yet,
I've got too much to lose."
----------------------------------------------

‘Find Paradise’ the voice had said.

It had driven him from the only place that had ever been ‘home’ and out into the world on a journey of indiscriminate length, and Kiba had no idea what he was doing anymore. He was fairly sure following disembodied voices in his own head counted for very little among the sane, and no one really believed in Paradise anymore. The world was falling to ruin and Hell, and humans, and the wolves were just trying to survive. He could understand, on some level, why the denied what he knew to be true; he had come across many packs that had enough trouble just making it where they were, and they hadn’t been tolerant of talk about some mythical land they believed could only be found in dreams.

‘Old stories for pups,’ they’d said, and driven him away.

It was more than just a story, though. He felt the pull of it, the call, and the scent of the lunar flower had led him here, to this city.

This pathetic, human-filled cesspool that forced him into a two-legged mask just so he could walk unmolested through the streets. He was not the only one, and every time he saw another one of his kind slipping through humanity so easily, fitting into the mask like it was second nature, it was all he could do to stop himself from snarling and snapping, and demanding to know what they were doing, what had happened to their pride.

Of course, maybe he should hold off on that until he figured out what had happened to his own. He was tired, and the city was rank; even the humans had it bad, here. Everything was dying, and maybe they were all right about the world ending.

It looked like it; smelled like it, too, and Kiba sighed heavily. He paused in his steps, looked up on impulse and blinked at the sight of the girl on the roof of the building. It was an odd place for someone to be; for a human to be, which she wasn’t obviously, and he raised a hand to shield his eyes against the sun and stared up for a long moment. She wasn’t in any way familiar to him, and by all rights he probably should have just kept going about his business except. She was a wolf, and the way she held herself even in the human form, piqued his interest. He snorted to himself, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and turned down the alley to find the fire escape.

He had no idea why he was going up to the roof, or what his reception would be, but the single whiff of her scent that he’d gotten…It was like something inside of him turned over, and he could have sworn it felt like he was being pulled to her. That scent, so like the sea breeze that came off the ocean, proved too much for him to resist, and he stepped onto the roof casually. He was still half-tempted to turn around and go, to get out of this place that felt so much like he was standing on the precipice of some big change, about to leap off head first into unknown territory, but he didn’t.

That scent teased at him, tugged until he was practically helpless against it, and he sidled closer, looking her up and down curiously.

“Who are you?” he asked, coming to a stop beside her at the edge of the roof. He didn’t look at her, keeping his gaze fixed out over the city instead. The humans all went about their business, seemingly unaware that they were being watched by creatures whom they would hunt down and kill the second they heard the word ‘wolf’ attributed to them. Too scared of their own history to truly try to understand; they would never change, and they would suffer for it.

He shivered against the roof-top breeze, so much more exposed up there, and closed his eyes for a moment. It was hard to find any kind of inner peace when he was stuck hiding in this abomination, when he hadn’t been able to just let go and run for days. He was tired of the city, and the people, and the wolves who kept telling him humanity was the only way to survive. That mysterious voice still haunted his dreams, always telling him he was the one; he had to find it.

[Vivien]

"Vivien," she murmured against the breeze. "My name is Vivien." Inhaling deeply, the she-wolf turned, her true form still hidden behind the human mask. It wouldn't bode well for humans to notice two wolves on a rooftop. "And you, stranger? Do you have a name?" Proper etiquette dictated that they at least exchange names. Surely there would be no harm in that. For the briefest of moments, though, Vivien wondered about the white wolf. He looked tired. Had he travelled a long way? Had he eaten recently? Was he thirsty? All three seemed plausible. Most wolves rarely stayed in one area for an extended period of time. Something always managed to force them out. That 'something' being humans.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Vivien's lips as she lowered the hand from her neck. "Tell me something, stranger." Perhaps her search would be successful today after all. "Are you alone, or are you travelling through with a pack?" The pack option seemed doubtful. She would have seen them moving through the city. Unless, of course, they were on the outskirts. Her vision didn't extend that far. Still, it was prudent to ask. She needed to obtain as much information from him as possible, and it had to be given freely. It didn't sound like an interrogation, though. If anything, Vivien's voice had taken on something of a light, curious tone. She wasn't lying to herself; in a way she honestly was curious. Not many wolves possessed a pure white pelt. Vivien couldn't even remember if she had ever seen one in person. Most of her pack-mates were varying shades of grey and browns or reds. No white. Never white.

"I mean you no harm," she said at length. "I'm only here to offer refuge to those who would seek it." There seemed little point in lying. In fact, Vivien had nothing to even lie about. "My pack gives me this task on a weekly basis. Sometimes I slip into the city daily instead. Weekly rounds don't seem like enough." And here she smiled again, though more sadly. Some of those who needed help passed through the city without her pack's knowledge. That was why Vivien had taken to scouting more often. A limping, starving wolf would sooner avoid humans altogether than wait around for another of their kind to make their presence known. Some of the worst cases lingered because they smelled others. They were the ones who either died too soon or were rescued at the last possible moment.

There had been too many close calls lately. Vivien had already sworn to be more diligent. There was nothing else to be done, short of establishing shifts. One wolf could patrol four to six hours and be relieved by the next and so on. Perhaps that would serve to be the best course of action in the coming days.

[kiba]

“Kiba,” he said, and sighed. He forced himself to concentrate until he could shove human hands into the pockets of human clothes, and stare out at her from beneath the fringe of his hair. He hated this form, but at least it wouldn’t draw the wrong sort of attention to them. He walked up to stand beside her, offering only a side-glance before he looked out over the city wearily. All those humans going about their business, and they seemed so innocent down there, but he knew. If they had even an inkling of what he was or that there were wolves moving amongst them they wouldn’t hesitate to hunt them all down, and destroy them without so much as a single thought. His eyes hardened, and curled a lip in a sneer. Humans were the enemy and that would never change.

“I don’t have a pack,” he answered after a long moment of staring out at the skyline, taking in the ruination of everything around them. End of the world, indeed, but not for wolves. Kiba didn’t mind seeing the human structures fall to disrepair, reclaimed by the earth for her true children. Let them fall and die; they had no idea how to take care of the things they’d inherited. He took a breath, long and deep, and made a face at the smell of human and decay.

He was surprised at her explanation, though he did his best not to show it. He wasn’t used to being offered sanctuary, even by other wolves, and the idea of a safe place to rest was tempting in a way. So, of course, was being around others of his own kind. Kiba had been alone too long, and wolves were never meant to be solitary creatures.

“I’m surprised your pack offers refuge to strangers in these times. Food is scarce enough as it is,” he said, glanced side-long at her again and hunched his shoulders in. Of course, what did Kiba know about being in a pack? All he had were vague wisps of left over memories and those were hardly enough to put together a clear image of what that word meant. ‘Pack.’ He snorted to himself and shook his head. Maybe it was normal for them to seek out other wolves and bring them in. It gave him some hope, if nothing else, that not all wolves had given over to humanity.

“I think I’ll take you up on the offer though, all the same,” he added after a moment of thinking about it. He was comfortable enough around other wolves for the most part, and it would be a good way to see how a pack worked. He could rest, too, and that was maybe a large part of the reason he’d agreed. Rest without fearing for his life; it would be nice and he was so tired.

[Vivien]

"So how do you measure the worth of a man-
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come,
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes.

And that's why we share all we have with you,
Though there's little to be found.
When all you've got is nothing,
There's a lot to go around."

[/i][/center]

"I must admit," she said, letting her hand fall back to her side, "I didn't expect you to be here anytime soon." She turned her face and flashed him a small, knowing smile. "Long has your coming been foretold in the stars. My father and grandparents have spoken of you for some time now. Even the pack elder, Solomon, has waited for you." There was a sudden, brief flicker of something in Vivien's hazel eyes as she glanced back out over the city. "Tell me something else, though," she began at length. "Did the Flowers call you here? Does she demand your attention, or are you immune to her spell?" She must have sounded crazy, but the tone with which she spoke made for a convincing argument. It was something altogether light and easy, yet underlain with a hint of sharp aggravation. "Find them if they are what you desire," came the abrupt suggestion. "We all have free will. Take them with you and try if that's the path you seek."

Vivien turned then and moved toward the fire escape, her pace relaxed yet not overly slow. "My pack is expecting me home." She mounted the ladder but stopped short, only to fix Kiba with a pointed gaze. "I know you accepted my offer before, but keep what I said in mind. I don't want you to join us without hearing all your options first. Nevertheless, you would be welcomed with us. All wolves are." There was little else to say on the subject. Vivien refused to beg and plead. In retrospect, perhaps that would have been smart. The world had ended last time. It felt wrong to walk away when the Flowers called to the white wolf. But what could be done? Kiba, like all creatures, possessed free will. She wouldn't take that from him. She couldn't have managed even had she tried.

"But that would require following me instead, and I have witnessed just how strongly the Flowers call." Of course she had. Many wolves searched for those despicable creatures. "The choice is yours, Kiba, and you may change your mind at any time." Some said the future was not set in stone. And since every being possessed free will, it stood to reason that Kiba could leave them for the Maiden at any time and vice versa. That didn't sit well with Vivien, but she accepted it. She accepted it and hoped for a different outcome. Because, after all, that was all any of them could do. "Free will is a powerful tool." It was here that Vivien smiled softly, even as she prepared to jump from the ladder. "In any case," she said, "I was glad to meet you. My patience paid off." And with that she was gone -- off the ladder and on the ground, already making her way toward home.

Returning to the refuge always proved easy for someone who knew the way. To the inexperienced, it appeared nothing more than a trap -- a labyrinth full of many dangers. Yet, like all in the pack, Vivien was able to guide other wolves through the network of tunnels and debris. She emerged on other side, and from there it was a somewhat lengthy distance back 'home.' As always, though, Vivien felt the trip worth such trouble. It was a far cry from the mixed population of the Kyrios Ruins or the desert near Darcia's Castle. Instead, this small, comfortable place was covered with greenery and held steady at moderate temperatures. A stream ran throughout, and it was there that many came to rest. The fresh water seemed to comfort them almost as much as it quenched their thirst.

It resembled a true sanctuary. Paradise and the gods had blessed them indeed, or so old Solomon often said. Vivien was inclined to agree. "This is home," she announced to Kiba, taking a moment to shift back into human form. There was little need of their disguises here, but one could never be too careful. The pack was not so foolish as to believe they would always live in peace. A singular mistake could reveal their little hideaway, and none of them wanted that. That was why they maintained human form on occasion. It also allowed them to be more tactile with one another. Wolves did not have thumbs. Wolves could not hug and kiss -- not really. They could drape themselves over one another. They could nudge one another. They could lick one another. But they couldn't give bone crushing hugs. They couldn't actually smile. There were pros and cons to both forms, and Vivien used each of them often, as did the remainder of the pack.

"Hey, Viv!"

Turning a bit, Vivien came face to face with two young men. Both had hazel eyes and brown hair, though at varying lengths. One was slightly taller than his counterpart, standing at six feet two inches while the other looked to be a few centimeters shorter. Both possessed the same angular features and both had the same lithe bodies. They were quite a pair in appearance alone -- rather statuesque in some grandeur way. Unlike some, though, Vivien was neither awed nor impressed by them.

"Who's the new guy?" asked the taller of the pair as he draped an arm across his brother's shoulder.

"Yeah! Got a new friend, Viv?" questioned the shorter, crossing his arms over his chest. Both twins wore the same amused expression, as if one wrong word would serve as fodder for jokes for years to come. Nothing could have been truer.

A small, teasing smile pulled at the corners of Vivien's lips as she copied the shorter twin's body language. "Ah," she drawled, her voice calm but underlain with a hint of amusement, "my brothers." She uncrossed her arms from her chest and turned, this time to face Kiba as much as the twins. "Amos, Benaiah," and here she outstretched a hand to Kiba, "this is Kiba." Using that same hand, Vivien then gestured to her siblings in turn. "Kiba, these are my elder brothers -- Amos and Benaiah." Amos served to be the taller brother while Benaiah was the shortest. Despite that, however, appearances were deceiving. "Benaiah is the actually the eldest. Don't let his height fool you. He's worse than Amos."

"Hey! I resent that!"

Amos couldn't help but snort low in the back of his throat. "You would," he said, pushing off Benaiah with a flourish. "So~! Kiba, huh?" The amused expression had yet to leave his face as he regarded the newcomer. "Did Vivien use her ~feminine wiles~ to lure you in?"

This time it was Vivien who scoffed. "I did no such thing, Amos, and you know it." She crossed her arms once more and this time her eyes hardened a little. The message within them was clear: No more jokes. "Where is Father?"

"Near the stream with Solomon," Benaiah offered. "They probably heard you from a mile away like we did. Just be patient; they'll be here."

It wasn't long before the small group was indeed joined by the pack's alpha male and elder. The elder, Solomon as he was called, stood at six feet three inches. Silvery-white hair fell down to his mid-back; his eyes were of a deep grey. Taller yet was pack's alpha. Towering over them all at six feet four inches and with long brown hair that reached down past his back, Ezekiel studied the newcomer. He wore robes of blue linen and, like his children, possessed the same hazel eyes.

"My daughter," Ezekiel murmured as he placed his hands on Vivien's shoulders. "You have returned to us safe and sound. This gives my heart great joy." He embraced her and, on pulling back, took notice of the stranger. "And you have brought us a new pack member," he noted, smiling softly. "A joyous day indeed."

Vivien mirrored her father's smile as she moved back to Kiba. "Father, Solomon, this is Kiba." She grabbed his wrist with a gentle, but firm, touched and tugged him forward slightly. It was meant to be a reassuring gesture on her part. Perhaps Kiba stood tall and proud, but how someone felt internally and how they appeared externally were two different things. "Kiba, this is my father -- Ezekiel." She then used her other hand to gesture to elderly gentleman who stood right beside her father. "And this is our esteemed pack elder -- Solomon."

"Ah, yes," drawled the elder. His grey eyes scanned over Kiba for a long moment until his gaze shifted back to Ezekiel. The two shared a knowing look before Solomon glanced back at Kiba. He broke out into a bright grin and nodded, silent in his approval. "How nice to meet you."

Ezekiel's smile was a little more subdued. "You are welcome here, Kiba." He bent at the waist a little and outstretched an arm, gesturing to the stream. "What we have we will gladly share. All that is ours is now yours."

Even Amos and Benaiah couldn't quite hide their glee at the prospect of having another male around. Who knew? There was a chance the three of them would become great friends. And, if not that, they would just settle for teasing Kiba mercilessly.

For her part, Vivien smiled as well. It was small, and there was something hidden within her hazel eyes, a flicker of something mysterious and telling. Whatever the case, the emotion was neither malicious nor deceitful. It lingered for a moment. Then, in an instant, it was gone. "Race you!" she suddenly cried, dropping Kiba's wrist and pushing it back with the force of her change as she ran headlong toward the stream.

[kiba]

Hey hey, what is this place
I hear voices over my shoulder.
Nothing’s makin’ sense at all.

-----

It was a strange thing to see, this place so full of wolves and absent most of the suffering he’d seen elsewhere. He took a moment to slip back into his own human guise when she did, taking his cues from her here, in her own territory. He kept quiet for much of the time, returning greetings when they were given to him, but mostly he felt wary in the presence of so many others. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been so surrounded by his own kind before, and it was…Sad, really.

Kiba studied Vivien’s family curiously, taking in the similarities and differences, and the way they seemed to act around each other. He had only half-remembered flashes of his own family, and the comfort they’d given him as a pup. Is this what it would have been like to grow up with a pack?

He shoved the thought down and offered up a half-smile for Amos and Benaiah. He wasn’t feeling quite comfortable enough to participate in the joking, but their affection for their sister was obvious, and Kiba thought he might like them. They were nothing like the wolves he’d come across before, most of them either half-starved and angry or content to give over to humanity and forget themselves. It was refreshing, and he let himself take a deep breath and relax a little more than he had been.

At least, he relaxed until the pack’s alpha and the elder showed. He tensed when they made their way over, regarded them warily, and wasn’t surprised when Vivien announced that the alpha was her father. They had the same eyes, he had noticed.

Kiba tried to hold himself still, and tall; proud, but he found himself jerked forward by Vivien’s grip on his wrist, and stumbled a little before managing to catch himself, inwardly cursing having only two feet. Things were much less steady this way, and he really, really did not like it. He honestly wasn’t sure what to do in the face of their acceptance of him, of the way they welcomed him into their pack so easily. What did these wolves know of him that he didn’t? He wanted desperately to ask, to know if they knew why he had a voice in his head that wasn’t his own, but something told him to keep quiet, to keep his own counsel for now. He’d always trusted his instincts, and he saw no reason to stop now.

He nodded. “I…Thank you for welcoming me here; it’s…It’s been a while since I was welcomed by a pack, and it’s refreshing to be able to rest without worrying over humans,” he admitted, glancing around at all of them, but focusing his words more to Ezekiel and Vivien. She had brought him here, after all, so he figured she deserved some kind of expression of his gratitude.

He blinked, surprised into stillness by the challenge, and her sudden movement, but only for a moment. He shot a brief look towards the others, hesitated only a moment before quirking a more genuine smile and letting himself change back into the wolf shape he felt more comfortable in. It felt good to be himself again, and he took a breath before darting off after her towards the stream, letting himself sink into the playful atmosphere on instinct. He could always find his answers later, if he stayed, and he had no plans to leave just yet. Not when that sea-breeze scent was all around him, overwhelming, and stronger than anything else pulling at him.

“You’re gonna lose!” he barked, close to laughter for the first time in a long time, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d done this. It felt good, though, to give over to what he was and let himself be drawn into play, and it felt even better to be able to just run. He didn’t hold back, did his best to out-pace her using his own longer stride to his advantage, and glanced at her as he passed. “Catch me if you can!” he teased, slowing marginally for a beat to get the words across before letting his speed pick up again.

He was being watched, he could feel it, but he didn’t let it bother him, or interrupt this game they had going. He was large by wolf standards, and his fur was pure white, which he’d never seen before on another wolf, so he wasn’t exactly surprised by the fact someone found him odd, but his mind kept flashing back to the rooftop, and how Vivien had said his coming was ‘foretold.’ Did they all know that?

He snorted, veered sharply left before he could actually trip over the rock he hadn’t been paying attention to, and pushed the thoughts out of his head for now. Those were for later, when they could sit down and talk, maybe. Whenever he felt like asking, or they felt like telling. Either way, it was obviously not the time now, and he had better things to be focusing on.

[Vivien]

(I asked for permission regarding the tackling.)

Rough housing and playtime weren't foreign concepts to her. Wolves grew up by rolling around with each other. It taught them life skills they couldn't receive just by watching. In most ways, though, playing offered stress relief. It was something enjoyable, and rarely were injuries caused. Even when they were, they served as lasting lessons. All the hurts taught them to avoid that particular maneuver, or not to act in a certain way. Occasionally they weren't fair, but life didn't work that way. It never had, never would. Some said even Paradise did not operate in such a manner.

So what was Paradise, then, if not a refuge of perfect happiness? Vivien couldn't say. A large part of her said it didn't matter. The pack had their sanctuary. It wasn't Paradise. Danger lurked around every corner, behind every tree. Nobles and other humans were real threats to them. No such trouble (supposedly) existed in Paradise. But for Vivien, the sanctuary was home. It always had been; it always would be. There was greenery and fresh air. Cold, running water and excellent food supplies were also in abundance. To her, the sanctuary might as well have been Paradise. It certainly seemed to escape the nobles' attentions. Even so-called 'regular' humans had yet to find it. Other wolves who would be their enemies either left them alone on purpose or didn't know about the place. Either option benefited the pack for the better, and Vivien preferred it that way.

No voice called to her. No sweet scent of lunar flower pulled at her senses. It wasn't so much that she didn't believe in Paradise. She did. She just couldn't bring herself to care about or want it. Was that really so bad? Surely not. The rest of the pack operated in a similar manner. Even her father was content to stay and he, of all wolves, should have been the one most willing and ready to leave. Never mind the fact that the world had begun to die. Really, they should have picked up and left. There were no doubts in Vivien's mind as to the outcome of their journey. All of them were strong enough to reach Paradise. Even the elder wolves, such as Solomon and her grandparents, would have easily made the journey. They were all stout of heart and strong in soul. They were also stubborn beyond measure.

But Paradise didn't matter. Somewhere deep down inside, Vivien felt real concern for the current state of affairs. The world would fall to ruin soon enough, and all of them would die. And yet, an older, wiser voice said not to fear. All things died. Perhaps there would even be death in Paradise. It seemed plausible, as some wolves said it did not represent a perfect world. There would be neither great happiness nor profound sadness. They would all merely exist and have a future. But what kind of future? What was the point if they couldn't be truly happy? Paradise needed to be a place where only great joy and ultimate perfection were attainable. No sadness, no grief, no loss, no death -- no destruction.

So what kind of a place was Paradise? It was something Vivien asked herself often, but the topic always fell by the wayside. Even now she found herself focused on something (or, rather, someone) else. It couldn't be helped, though. After all, she was in the middle of a game. Kiba's words were not lost on her as he sped past. Vivien would have smirked had she been able. As a wolf, however, the best she could manage was a set jaw and determined eyes. He had an advantage over her. His tallness afforded him longer legs, which, in turn, made for more distance between them. But she was not as big as him. She wouldn't tire out as fast; she would not be overtaken.

A sudden burst of speed accompanied Vivien's thoughts as she raced toward the white wolf. It was strategy, plain and simple: start out with semi-decent speed but save your reserves. Then, when needed most, go in for the kill. 'Finish strong,' her mother had always said, and she would. Oh, she would. Swift and silent Vivien made her approach. She waited until Kiba was but a few paces ahead and lunged, her long legs carrying her through the attack. Her underbelly came crashing down against his back first, sending them both toppling into the stream as a result. The force exerted remained well within the limits of easy-going play -- not too hard, not too soft.

"I believe I've won," Vivien proudly declared as she pushed off of Kiba. "The rules state you owe me a reward." She playfully nudged her forehead against his own and then moved some distance away, only to plop down on her haunches. There was no point in shaking the water from her fur, not when she had every intention of playing in it for a while.

[kiba]

Kiba yelped in surprise when she tackled him into the water, blinked it out of his eyes and stared up at her after she nudged his forehead. The gesture was a little disconcerting; it had been a long time since anyone had touched him in a way that wasn’t violent. He closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed it. Then he pushed himself up on his paws and shook the water from his fur, padding out of it and sending a very bland look her way.

“A reward huh,” he said, twitching an ear toward her in the same sort of gesture as a raised eyebrow on a human. “Well, if the rules say so, I guess I should abide by them,” he mused, curling his tail around his paws lazily.

He eyed her for a moment. “What sort of ‘reward’ did you have in mind?” he asked, a little warily because he wasn’t stupid. He could already tell he was dealing with a wild one, and well, a little wariness wouldn’t hurt. Even if he was more curious than cautious, and would as likely throw himself into whatever it was without thinking about it. He knew he was reckless; he just didn’t care.

[Vivien]

An amused sort of expression flickered across Vivien's face as she climbed out of the stream. She shook the water from her fur and then padded past Kiba. "Never mind," came the reply -- just as bland as the white wolf's previous stare. "The rules can be bent." And that would be the last of the subject. "In any case," she said, stopping some distance ahead of him, "you're welcome to stay here as long as you like. You have free will. You may come and go as you please." The sanctuary rules were quite simple. Any wolf was given refuge and had the added freedom of staying and/or leaving whenever they pleased. There was just one drawback. "All we ask is that you don't attract any attention unless it comes from other wolves. Even then they must not be allied with the nobles."

She was vaguely aware that they were being watched. But by who? Why? For Vivien the answer was clear: Neriah. "You are one of us until you leave for good. Protect our pack as best as you are able, and we will do the same for you." It was a cycle. The pack protected its own and that same courtesy would be extended to Kiba for however long he stayed. All they asked was for the same treatment in return. And why would it not be given? Their sanctuary held (almost) everything any wolf asked for or desired. It was, in Vivien's opinion, the closest any of them would ever get to Paradise. And if not that, she considered it a more than suitable replacement.

Perhaps Solomon and her father had taken to watching them as well. Granted, Vivien believed most of the pack noticed Kiba. He stuck out like a sore paw. Never mind the legend. To be fair, though, perhaps it spoke of another white wolf. There had to be more than one. Still, Vivien couldn't quite shake the feeling that Kiba held a certain significance. Doubtless her pack felt the same way. If not most of them, at least Solomon and her relatives. "That's all, then," she finished at length, trotting off toward a particularly thick section of woods. "Rest well, Kiba. You are safe at long last."

[kiba]

Wait. What?

That was all? That couldn’t be all. He blinked and stared after her for a long moment before he shook his head and tried to figure out what had gone wrong. Because something obviously had. It was probably his fault. No, he was positive it was his fault, but he wasn’t sure why, exactly. He tilted his head a little, tried to back track the conversation but still came up empty-pawed and sighed. He wasn’t used to social interactions; it probably showed.

Still, he couldn’t deny that he was thankful for what this pack was doing for him, accepting him openly as they were. It was a rare thing in this day and age, and he was still surprised, and a little wary because he couldn’t help it. It was a lingering paranoia that he’d never been able to rid himself of, and well, they were all staring at him still. He shook himself, stood a little straighter, and held his head high under their scrutiny. Kiba hated standing out, but he wasn’t going to cower from it. Instead he took half a step forward.

“Hey! Vivien, wait!” he called, waited half a moment before loping after her. He wasn’t going to hang back just because he didn’t know what she was thinking, and well, there was a legitimate reason for him to follow her. She’d brought him here, and maybe she could show him around. And he still had questions; still wanted to know about what she’d said to him on that roof. Kiba was a curious creature by nature, and he wasn’t going to give up on that so easily, even if he didn’t plan on breaking out the questions until he’d gotten a little more used to the place.

[Vivien]

"Hm?" Curiosity got the best of Vivien as she stopped, only to crane her head partway over her shoulder and give Kiba a sidelong glance. "Is something wrong?" He was certainly a strange one, she would give him that. Nevertheless, a small part of Vivien had to admit she felt a little impressed by Kiba. He had somehow managed to ignore the pull of the Flowers. It was almost as if they no longer affected him. Not only that, but he'd chosen to join her pack without batting an eye. Either his desire for food and shelter was that great, or something had urged him to follow her instead. Vivien couldn't say one way or another -- not definitively, anyway.

But there was also something about the way he held himself. Sure of step and proud in stature, Kiba stood tall and strong. Not many others acted in such a manner, especially not within an alpha's territory. Perhaps he didn't respect her father, then. The more she looked at him, though, the more Vivien thought otherwise. Kiba did respect her father. He had shown that much during their meeting. In that case, perhaps he simply felt uneasy around new faces and wanted to exhibit just how strong he was. Or, rather, could be.

"This may seem an impertinent question," she said abruptly, "but indulge me." Vivien began to walk again, but this time kept her pace much slower. She had no intention of running off anymore -- not yet, at least. "What made you follow me? I know you accepted my offer beforehand, but I mentioned your other option." The Flowers. Those terrible, disgusting, man-made creatures. They were nothing more than abominations. "Weren't you drawn here by the scent of lunar flowers?" she asked, tilting her face toward him just so. "Most wolves find their scent intoxicating and will follow it to the very ends of the Earth."

[kiba]

Kiba stopped short at the question, blinking, before remembering his paws. He shook his head, and began walking again, though his head was tilted to an angle, one ear cocked back as he thought the question over. The first thing to come to mind was the obvious answer -- yes, he’d been following the flower-scent, and it was somewhat intoxicating, and eve now he could feel some sort of pull towards it-- but that hadn’t been the only thing he’d been following. There had been the voice, too; the one in his dreams, and the one whispering the occasional advice in his ear when he wasn’t asleep. He wasn’t sure he should mention that, though; even for wolves, hearing voices was a little crazy. He kept wondering if he was finally losing it, but well, he couldn’t think of an actual reason not to follow it because it hadn’t steered him wrong yet. Still, wasn’t it common knowledge that the Flowers would take them to Paradise? As far as he knew, every wolf was driven to follow them.

“I…,” he began, but had to stop again, and think. Why had he followed her? “I was…Curious, I guess. What you said, on the roof-top, about me? I wanted to know what you meant about my ‘coming being foretold,’” he finally answered, glancing over at her with one ear flicking in her direction.

“And yeah, the lunar flower brought me here. I’m following it so I can find Paradise, but I think you already knew that. Why? You don’t heed the Flower’s call?” That was almost unthinkable to him, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Kiba had met many wolves who scoffed at the notion of Paradise, and lunar flowers; some of them grew violent at the very mention of it, and others too, searched for the elusive trail of the scent. He would admit, to himself at least, to being curious about what these particular wolves thought about it all. He was fairly sure they wouldn’t grow violent; they definitely seemed to know more than they let on, anyway. There was also the matter of Vivien’s own scent, so like the breeze off the sea, and something that was, if not more alluring, at least equal that of the lunar flower. It was almost familiar, even though he knew for a fact he’d never met her before in his life; never caught that particular scent before. It was a curiosity, and Kiba had never been known not to investigate when he was curious.

“I’ve heard the Flowers will lead us to Paradise, and peace; someplace we won’t have to hide anymore,” he murmured, turning his head so that he could look around himself again, taking in their surroundings with frank curiosity. It really was a beautiful place which, well, it was surprising, given that it was so close to the city and the humans. The filthy creatures usually managed to get their hands on everything and destroy it. That was why Kiba sought Paradise, why he was driven to it by instinct, and hope, and the need to save his own people; only wolves could open it, get in. It gave him hope that there was a place left for them.

[Vivien]

"I see," she said at last. "It's true, then. You do believe in that nonsense." A low snort made its way past Vivien's throat as she padded forward. "I had pegged you for a fool, Kiba, but now you have proven yourself to be a rather substantial one." Amos and Benaiah would have been quick to point out that that meant 'You're a fucking dumbass' in 'Vivien-speak,' but they weren't around the moment. Ah, well. For all his foolish qualities, Kiba struck her as a sophisticated wolf. He would understand what she meant. Part of her couldn't even blame him. The Flowers possessed an intoxicating scent. Even those who didn't believe in Paradise found themselves drawn to the abominations. Because that was what they were. They were man-made and therefore not true keys to Paradise. Still, that brought up an interesting conundrum. Why did the Flowers seek wolves and wolves seek the Flowers? Why were they so alluring? Why were so many placed under their spell? And yet her pack, and the others who thought like them, were able to ignore the scent completely. Vivien didn't pretend to understand why. It wasn't a lack of belief on their part. Oh, no, they believed in Paradise. They just differed in opinion with other wolves on what it took to get there.

She fell silent for a few moments as she padded onward, but soon felt the need to elaborate further. Doubtless Kiba wouldn't quite understand what she meant. "Many wolves believe these Flowers, given human-esque form by the nobles, are the keys to opening Paradise. They say it can't be opened without their powers." What an irksome belief. The word 'foolish' did little to describe how Vivien and her pack viewed such members of their race. "And yet the legend states that Paradise was made for wolves and only wolves may find it." The smallest hint of an amused expression found its way to Vivien's muzzle as she turned it toward Kiba. "Only we can find and open the true Paradise, Kiba. The Flowers are a trap, made by man to ensnare us." Other wolves would have balked at such a claim. Some would have even attacked her over it. And yet, knowing that, Vivien looked the picture of perfect calmness. "Of course they smell intoxicating. Of course they make you feel like you have the greatest purpose -- as if you could do absolutely anything in the world. Unfortunately, those emotions are lies."

It neither pained nor made her feel guilty to say such things. All wolves deserved to be warned. They deserved a moment's clarity in order to free themselves from the Flowers' enchantment. "Think of them as sirens and nothing more," she stated matter-of-factly. "They were made for the explicit purpose of finding wolves and placing them into a trap." It was here that Vivien turned her head again, her eyes suddenly filled with an earnestness that had been lacking. "They will lead us to Hell, Kiba," she declared. "Not Paradise. Why else would the nobles have made them? To aid us in our quest? The one quest only we can take ourselves to the place only we can find?" She turned then, leading her new-found companion through the trees. "No." Her true form faded and soon she was back to the human guise, a frown pulling at her lips as she waded through the brush. "The Flowers are tools. They may not even realize it and may not be responsible for what occurs in the end, not completely, but they were made to lead us astray." If ever Vivien believed in gods (and she most certainly did), then Flowers fell under the demonic category. Or, at the very least, unwitting servants in an evil plan.

"Do you know the problem with scientific power?" she suddenly asked, wading through the brush. "It's a form of inherited wealth, and you know how humans are -- cheat, lie, falsify. It doesn't matter. They step on the shoulders of giants and do as they please, even if it hurts their own kind." Humans made their race to suffer all the time. Some were kidnapped, others raped and tortured. Plenty were murdered for foolish reasons. Never mind the ones who were left broken and destitute. Beatings occurred frequently, as did robberies. The world was a terrible place. Vivien knew there a status quo existed. No one could be happy all the time. Some were destined to never be happy; some were simply destined to die.

Life was not fair, and no one knew that better than a wolf. "Most kinds of power require sacrifice." What was that saying? Ah, yes. 'With great power comes great responsibility.' How true. "So think of our own innate power as our way of finding Paradise. It appears when the world ends and only we can find it." Vivien gave a firm nod to further cement her argument before continuing. "We will sacrifice everything to just to reach Paradise." And that was certainly true. Wolves died trying to find it. And if other wolves reached it, well, they were never heard from again. Frowning again, Vivien chose to end the debate with a punch, so to speak. She wanted her opinion to make a lasting impact on Kiba, and doing so would not be easy. After all, it was often unwise to tell someone how to think. No. You needed to get them thinking on their own instead. "So why do we need man-made creations, a form of scientific power, to guide us to a place that is the culmination of our own power?" She sighed then and moved forward. "I don't think I'll ever understand why other wolves believe that."

Finally, Vivien emerged from the brush. "It has long been foretold that one wolf and one alone would lead our race to Paradise. They are to carry us to safety." She walked further, her body occasionally enveloped in light as she strode underneath breaks within the forest's canopy. Her pace was slow, measured -- purposeful. And, from the looks of things, she had a destination in mind. "They are to be our deliverer." A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she came to a small hill. It was here that Vivien lingered, her face turned skyward as a means of welcoming the sunlight. "I'd like to think that wolf is you, Kiba," and here she paused, lowering her head, "but only time will tell." It was not so simple as mere belief. There were signs, and it seemed probable that Kiba would ask more questions. Vivien couldn't blame him; she hadn't exactly been too helpful thus far. "After all," she murmured, and, still smiling, turned, her hazel eyes coming to rest on Kiba at long last, "I am not so wise as others."