Coyote: The Packmind/Chapter 9
Carson has just gone to bed, taking Harry with him into a smaller tent he uses for himself. Two other aassahke have left, the elderly one assisting the tan coloured pregnant coyote to one of the more modern built-up structures. Shelley and Ryan are still sitting embraced by the fire, as the sky has begun to turn to dusk the air has chilled with it and a cold breeze picking up cold even on furred flesh. The black furred pregnant coyote has said not a word, and her protective mate is sitting next to her. A tall male coyote that was with the tan pregnant one has gone on guard duty for some reason on the edge of the encampment. River is busy cleaning out the stew pot using lake water.
Sorien glances over at Spar's tent, then back to the black-furred Aassahke. She sighs, then goes over to her and sits.
Sparhawk is spinning up a simple tent between two trees somewhat farther away from the camp from hir own, humming a variety of showtunes. If someone comes over to help or watch Spar will get embarrassed and try to wave them off until it's done.
The black furred coyote stiffens, her pale blue eyes display both discomfort and fear at Sorien's presence.
Cilan wanders over to River, and places her hand on the aassahke's shoulder, a friendly smile pulling at her lips as she asks, "Hello again... erm... Do you need any help with that? I’d just like to return the favour for the delicious stew from earlier..."
Sorien softly churrs, "Um... Raven, right? I'm pretty sure you know who I am."
The protective large mate says, "She has nothing to say to you." A light growl under his breath hints at a mild bit of anger toward Sorien. "And yes, she knows who you are."
Sorien headtilts. "That's alright. I just have something to say to her. Why are you answering for her?"
A harsh growl errupts from his mouth, "It's your fault she isn't." Atse rubs his scalp with his claws, not sure how to respond for his mate, but Raven takes her finger and makes a slice across her throat with it.
Sorien softly churrs, "I don't understand... So I'll just say my piece. I still don't know fully what happened to me in the dream. I doubt I'll ever fully understand. But... I know I made mistakes, and certainly wronged you. So... I'm sorry. I won't ask forgiveness. But is there anything I can do for you?"
Shelley starts to chat with Cilan and Apostasy, inquiring about Zephyr, if the company was even still bothering to look for her, and how the world's changed in the last eight months. She seems surprised when the name RSX comes up, as does Ryan, who shivers.
Raven glares, shaking her head at Sorien. Atse says, "You've done enough to her, where you tread there is only pain and suffering. Please don't harm our child."
Cilan looks curious most of the questions, her voice stammering as she attempts to find most of the answers for Shelley, but most of which, she remains quite smooth, as she had been around when Zephyr had done most of the tasks she asks about.
Sorien blinks. "Why would I do that? ... Fine. I at least tried." She stands, and heads towards Spar.
The taller male coyote approaches Sparhawk at one point while making his rounds, asking why shi's putting the tents so far out from the camp.
Ryan finally finds the words, "Did... do you know if my girlfriend survived the outbreak? Well, I suppose you wouldn't know any more than Shelley did." He frowns, realizing how stupid the question was. "At the very least I can probably get Zephyr to pay for information on where the shipment I was bringing them ended up, and use the money to find her."
Sparhawk carefully disentangles hirself from the half-spun support going around a tree. "These trees are the right distance, and the ground is soft. Softish. If you're concerned..."
Cilan lustily hisses, "Uh.. I might, do you remember her name?"
The taller aassahke shakes his head, "No, no, it's all right. It just makes my patrol further tonight."
Sparhawk bows apologetically to the man whose name is one of the many things that has slipped through hir mental fingers. "Carson's not doing any educatin' tonight. I can keep watch over my friends, if you would like to share the duty."
Ryan says, "Ariana was her name, she was pregnant when I left her, so she'd have had the child long ago now. Ariana Walscott," frowning slightly in thought.
Sorien glances around, and waits til Spar is alone again before approaching.
The tall man says, "I'll be fine, it's been my duty so long I sort of forget what it's like to sleep at night. Besides I like the forest, it's been home to me long before I grew my current form or fell into the dream."
Sparhawk squawks, "Then say hello to the constellations for me. Much more stars out here than in the cities, even with most of the streetlights unpowered." Shi resumes stringing silk around the trees, blue around the bark.
Cilan scratches at the back of her head in confusion, saying in thought, "Well.. I -do- know of one Ariana.. but, she never did show signs of pregnancy ever since I knew her, nor does she have a child.. well, maybe when you two return to Zephyr I can show you to her, maybe I could be wrong.." shrugging she finishes with, ".. I’m not sure.." with the shrug, she jostles the tags around her neck, showing the hidden third one, the one reading, 'Property of Ariana.'
The man moves away, he walks with a bit of a limp, and makes his way over to a tree where he pulls out a walking stick. Leaning his weight against it he uses it to right himself almost like a cane. Sorien goes up to Spar with the Aassahke's departure. "Hey sweetie."
Ryan looks surprised to see that, "That... doesn't sound like her at all, but it's been so long and Shelley has told me just how horrible the outbreak was for people. God damned fuckers at Zephyr allow shit like this to happen? They knew all along how dangerous it was what they played games with, and yet they -still- chose to sabotage RSX?" He frowns, returning to thought.
Sparhawk pauses again to say in the man's direction, "Who gave you this duty? Oh, hey Sorien. Working on building the tent still, hope you weren't trying to turn in yet."
Sorien softly churrs, "No... Just... Puzzled and not all that happy is all."
Sparhawk walks slowly, trailing a line back to a web bent over the line between two trees. "Making people happy is my mandate. Is there something I can help you with?"
Cilan pats Ryan's shoulder, a low sigh passing her lips shortly after, "Yeah... the world is slowly but surely going to hell, and the fact that the heads of most of the companies being idiots doesn’t help much either... but, we try to make do with what we have.."
Shelley hugs Ryan, "We'll find your girlfriend hon, I'm sure she survived just fine." She hugs Ryan tight and then turns to Cilan and says, "This is what I wanted to ask of you all, we'd like to come back with you to Fairhaven, as we both have unfinished business there, and Coyote set all of us free. We'd stay, but neither of us want to be knocked up and turned into breeding factories though."
Sorien glances back at Raven, or to where she was. "I can understand Raven disliking or hating me... But why won't, or can't, she talk to me herself? I really think I cocked up a lot of the stuff when I was in the dream... I know I can be overly emotional, and I think that made my mistakes worse. It all worked out, kinda, but I feel like I failed.”
Cilan lustily hisses, "Alright, we've got plenty of space on the bus, so I’m certain that if you, and anyone else wants to come, we will let you..."
Shelley smiles, "All of the rest of them are perfectly content to stay with Coyote, even if old Carson keeps telling us to leave. The only other one to leave was Inza, and well... we heard bad things happened to her."
Sparhawk shivers a little, then regains composure. "When Coyote gives a punishment, it is...related to the crime. I wasn't daring enough to ask if she would ever get her tongue back. She was impolite during the last days of the Wellspring, and Coyote took her tongue in response."
Sorien softly churrs, "... Damn it. (Sigh) I'll talk to him, ask him to give it back to her. I didn't want... I don't want anyone hurt." (she hugs Spar) "Can I stay with you tonight? I don't wanna sleep alone."
Cilan nods slowly, understandingly, "Yeah... a sad thing with that poor girl... she even seemed hurt in the dream world, but... I suppose there is little we can do, but... at least she's back up and walking... in a manner of speaking at least..." shaking her head, and dispelling that thought she continues, "Anyways... I hope you find what you're looking for in Zephyr."
Sparhawk lightly says, "That makes this tent easier to finish!" Then shi sobers up again. "Do not ask Coyote to change his mind. It won't work. Only convincing him that it was his idea to start with works, and that is a lot more effort than it is worth most times. Instead ask if there is anything you can do to help a lesson be learned, and remember that you seek Coyote's attention."
Sorien softly churrs, "I'll try. I've an idea that might work; that's the truth. I wouldn't try to fool him though- he's THE Trickster... I wouldn't presume to match wits there."
"I’m at least look forward to ending that chapter in my life for good." Shelley says softly while still comforting Ryan. "Poor Ryan's been finally pulling himself fully together. His time in the wolf pack left him a bit... messed in the head but he appears to have all his memories back. Even remembers where he left his truck. Unlike many of us his time falling into a pack was slow, and terrifying, he hid out in a motel while the infection slowly ate at him."
Sparhawk regards Sorien warily. "Be careful. There was a saying in the army about volunteering. I don't know if Raven would appreciate it either... but you are a good person for trying. I'll get my currently-daughter to scoot over for you tonight."
Sorien softly churrs, "Thanks. I hope I'm not imposing too much..."
Raven and her mate head for the evening into one of the tent-like structures together, the male carefully assisting his mate. River's finished her work and yawns, she moves over to sit next to Apostasy and listens quietly to Shelley, Ryan and Cilan conversing. River even sneaks a hand on Apostasy's large clawed hand.
Sparhawk shakes hir head. "You are not imposing. You are merely undertaking a quest that may prove unwise in the end. I wish you luck, and hope all your choices are well-informed."
Sorien giggles. "I should change my name to Don Quixote then?"
Sparhawk raises an eyebrow. "Not unless you want me to start singing about bluebird night lights and confusing everyone within a hundred-meter radius! Now g'wan, I need to finish this before people want to sleep and also test its water-proofness."
Sorien softly churrs, "Okay.” (she kisses Spar, and goes by hir tent to wait.)
Cilan lets out a low sigh, "I’m.. I’m sorry to hear that, but again, I’m glad you're alright now.." noticing River, she gives her a curious look as she nears the dragoness, but says nothing, at least to her, and while still watching River, she says to both Shelly, and Ryan, "Well.. if either of you need help when you return to the city, just look me up, and I’ll gladly do what I can.."
The elder coyote whom Sorien attacked in the dream but never got his name, sombrely approaches Sorien. He says, "Sadness becomes you. Much to be happy for."
Sorien looks up. "Maybe..."
"The dreamer blessed you of all. The raven's cry was harsh and earned silence."
Sparhawk spends fifteen more minutes constructing a tent from scratch, then wanders back to the fire to look at the chaotic dancing that reminds hir of many things. The sound of a dreaming coyote echoes in the back of hir head, unfocused dreams of chasing things that remain shadowy and out of reach.
The elder aassahke then turns, leaving Sorien to herself.
Sorien watches him leave, not knowing what to say.
Shelley says good night to Cilan and Apostasy and then excuses herself and Ryan to bed, taking Ryan into one of the modern structures, leaving Apostasy, Cilan and River sitting by the fire. River's pressed herself up closely to Apostasy.
River eventually quietly gets up and turns in for the night, turning to her own tent alone.
Sparhawk arrives at a fire with none but outsiders present, and chews on something that looks like dried fruit while watching the fire. "Tent's ready when you are. Just don't touch the blue lines, those are the sticky parts. It'll keep the rain off...as long as it's not torrential."
Cilan inclines her head in thanks, and greeting to Sparhawk, "Alright then, thank you.. but I’ll stay up for a little while longer before I turn in.."
Those who want to turn in for the night have tents to do so, and the evening passes quietly, although the cold wind is truly chilling for those who don't take shelter in tents and buildings. The lone tall aassahke with the limp spends the evening walking the border of the forest around the edge of the town, watching over the inhabitants.
From Coyote's tent come some rather lewd sounds, but hardly surprising.
Sorien softly churrs, "Okay, sweetie.” (She lets Spar get comfortable with hir child, then nestles in.
The silence in the night air is interrupted by the sound of a lone cricket, and at one point an owl's hooting. Otherwise the chill air is only accompanied by sounds from the little encampment itself.
Sparhawk whispers quietly to the coyote when shi enters the tent, wrapping her up in arms and legs as normal, explaining how other people find physical proximity and contact comforting. And reminding that comfort is another tool to battle death. Spar dozes, finding silence in every sense.
Sorien has no trouble sleeping, and is out quickly.
Cilan rises from her seat and moves over to the lone aassahke, assisting him in the patrol, the lizardess showing little need to sleep, yet at least.
(Cilan finds the company warranted, Bill, she finds out his name, was a park ranger before the infection. He tells her stories of the history of Crater lake over the course of the night.)
The morning rises early, the tribe already busy. A few head out to collect supplies, foraging for food, others for parts. There's new construction begun on another building. Coyote is still in his tent, making noise when everyone awakes.
Cilan listens intently with everything Bill tells her throughout the night, paying attention to the stories, and occasionally telling him a bit of her own history should anything he had said sound like it mirrored each other.
Sorien gets up when either Spar or hir child stir. She stretches, and heads for the centre of the camp to await Coyote's (likely grudging) appearance.
Sparhawk listens to the sound of people moving about, secretly enjoying having a sleeping Sorien as an excuse to not get up until later. Which leads to the child being the one to get up first, hungry after a long night of chasing phantoms. After hir own stretch Spar says, "Do you know what you'd do with one of those if you caught it?"
Shelley and Ryan are the only two louting about, shirking the duties even the pregnant women are busy doing, displaying their distance from the rest of the tribe. About half an hour after Sorien and Spar wake, Harry emerges from Coyotes tent looking thoroughly pleased, almost beaming. She moves over to Spar's child and licks the small little 'yote on the head before greeting Spar and Sorien.
Sorien softly churrs, "Morning. (Sori yawns, still watching the tent for Coyote.)"
Raven, Atse and River are all off scavenging. Bill has gone to sleep, while the tan pregnant coyote is working on stitching fabric for the new structure.
Sorien softly churrs, "Anything I can do to help?"
Harry says happily, "The old dog will be out eventually, he's just gone down to check on Dream for a little bit."
Sorien softly churrs, "Okay. ...Where's Dream?"
"Lo, Harry," Sparhawk greets the startlingly energetic lass. "Every day I think more and more that you'd fit in with my family back home."
Harry points downward at the ground with one of her partially transformed fingers, the thick dog nail emerging from where her fingernails once where. And then her ears perk at Spar's question, "I'm quite happy here with Carson, as long as he continues to let me stay." Her tail's wagging awkwardly from her partially furred human buttocks.
Sparhawk nods to Harry. "Dream is in a safe place, so I'm told. So many people here know more about what happened than I do, heh." Shi leans over to scritch Harry behind the ears. "You're welcome if you ever want to visit! Lots of hugs to go around, but I wouldn't ask anyone to leave a place they want to stay."
About an hour after Harry emerged from the tent Carson strides out, jeaned and dishevelled as always. His thick worn workboots untied and the tongues hanging about. He looks refreshed despite his uncared for look. By this time Raven, and Atse have both returned with more supplies, although River is still off and about. Shelley and Ryan entertained themselves listening to stories of Zephyr from Apostasy. The unnamed tan pregnant aassahke has finished her weaving, and moved on to stitching.
Sorien sees him and approaches. "May I talk to you about something?"
Carson raises an eyebrow at Sorien and says, "For the favours ya did for my other self, ya have my ear." He says while pulling her back in the direction of his tent.
Sorien follows, barely glancing to see where Raven is.
Shelley can be heard cackling with glee behind, Raven's got a basket of foodstuffs she's dropping off near River's tent.
Sorien enters the tent behind Carson/Coyote, waiting til he indicates whether she should sit or not, then speaks. "I wanted to say... I made mistakes when I was in the dream world. I think that in my anger and fear, I reacted... Poorly, at best, in dealing with the people in there. I certainly wronged Raven badly.”
Carson chews his lip while sitting casually, making no motion to instruct Sorien of proper etiquette. He has his feet underneath is legs sitting crosswise, after listening to her explain he says, "Ya know, ya aren't telling me anything I didn't know already." He pauses for a bit before saying, "Ya have guts to try to admit ya wronged her, but ya are in fact wrong, she wronged ya and disrespected me, and will learn ta control her anger and temperaments that have always upset me about her if she wants her voice back."
Sorien nods. "I understand. I still feel badly about it. And... I'm concerned that her anger could feed upon itself, and feed our opponent that way. I have to admit, too, I've ulterior motives; I don't like... Being hated. By anyone. I want to mend that. She doesn't need to LIKE me, just... Not hate."
"Child, have ya considered perhaps it's not ya she hates, but herself?" Carson chuckles a bit, "Her anger is inward, and it just radiates outward around her." He scratches his chin after finishing up his throaty and raw laugh and shifts his weight a bit forward over his lap, eyeing Sorien's expressions, "I notice ya aren't wearing my skin, any particular reason?"
Sorien softly churrs, "I've considered that, yeah. But it still bothers me. And I'm not being a Coyote because it’s... Well, this is me. It feels right. I can't describe it better than that. It'd be like you trying to be the Great Bear; it just wouldn't fit."
Sorien grins. "I just can't quite see you sharpening your claws on Devils Tower.” (giggle)
He chuckles again at her response, his eyes aglow, "I only ask out of curiosity child, I hold no ire towards ya for choosing your own shape." He sighs, "I have ta get back to Raven soon on his complaint. He always seems to want ta talk when I'm busy. Annoying pain in my ass." and then at the mention of Devil's Tower he grins, the smirk wide and knowing and his eyes aglow with Coyote's power, "The story behind that will remain a secret to me alone."
Sorien softly churrs, "Okay. But the fireside is where a tale like that one day belongs. (she grins) Thank you for hearing me out."
Carson says, "Aye, that's fine if you'd like. If you want to try to work with Raven at all before you all leave, but I'm fine with everyone packing up and going when you get outside the tent."
Coyote says, "Now, before you talk my ears ta dust, be off with ya. I have ta talk with Raven, and I can only take so much of his cawing before I feel like strangling his little neck."
Sorien nods, and impulsively hugs Carson. "I hope we can make the world right. Don't hold them too far from you; they love you. And thank you again." She exits the tent.
Outside the tent, It appears Spar, Apostasy, Cilan, Shelley, Ryan and Spar's child are all ready to leave.
Sorien joins them, and they head towards the bus, and home.
