We Meet Again - Bloom and Charaka

Charaka

       The deciding moment was soon. Hopefully both Alphas would be able to talk it out calmly and this whole war business could be solved. Perhaps not as well as it could be, but Aryn could go back to worrying about one enemy. But until then…

        Like a bad case of deja vu, Charaka was guarding Bloom at the Tarn, and like always she was in another fighting pose with her eyes trained upon the prisoner before her. In reality, it would be better for herself to take it easy the days leading up to the fight. However, the thought of a battle which cost her packmates’ life made her muscles itch with the urge to do something about it. She could only have a mere restless night’s sleep when she was exhausted.

~~~

Bloom

        Athena liked to torment her. Charaka was once more guarding her. Curled up against one of the walls, Bloom tried to ignore her. The endless feeling of the she-wolf watching her made her fur itch. Don’t instigate anything, she thought to herself. The last time Charaka guarded her, they nearly got into a fight. It was what the older she-wolf wanted. Bloom surely felt worse and looked it since the last time they met.

        Unable to take the thickening silence, Bloom turned her head to look at Charaka. “Why do you look as if I always want to make a run for it?” Bloom asked tiredly, fixing her moss green eyes on Charaka. “Or better yet, want to start a fight?” She grumbled half-heartedly.

~~~

Charaka

        Then all off a sudden Bloom’s eyes meet hers. Charaka merely looked at her with a tired expression. “You’re not going to run. We both know you’d be caught even if I fell asleep.” she said in a monotone. “And I don’t want to fight either.” Although Bloom could probably summon up the energy to engage in a fight with her even in her state.

~~~

Bloom

        Exhaling heavily at the reminder of her failed escape attempt. Rolling her eyes, Bloom sat up slowly. Even if she had the chance to run, she wouldn’t take it. Her body was thin and malnourished. It was remarkable her and Crash even got as far as they did. ”Then, could you relax? Your body posture is making me nervous..” she sighed, watching Charaka silently. Perhaps Athena sent Charaka to punish her for fleeing. No,..she didn’t think Athena would be like that. Adrian had said she in merciful paws.

~~~

Charaka

        “Couldn’t even if I wanted to.” Charaka replied honestly. “The upcoming meeting is making my muscles whine for me to do something.” She did however switch to a simple standing position, but at the cost of having to practice her footwork. Half step forward, full step left, full step backwards, half step right, full step forward….

~~~

Bloom

        The meeting.. Sighing, Bloomed slid back into a lying position. It was only a matter of minutes before Athena came to retrieve them and bring them to the meeting. It made her jittery, she was going to see her mom again! She’ll be going home. Bloom couldn’t help the slow smile spread on her muzzle. Glancing up to Charaka as she fidgeted, ”I do hope Athena and my mom come to a peaceful understanding.” Bloom told Charaka, holding her gaze.

~~~

Charaka

        She watched as a grin slowly formed on the female’s face. A corner of her own mouth turned upwards in an unconvinced and yet encouraging grin. “I do too.” she said softly. “It’s funny really. If things turned out differently perhaps Blutwald and Aryn could have become allies.” Perhaps that would be true. If Bloom hadn’t hunted into Aryn’s territory then Charaka and Gypsee, and maybe even Crash, could have encouraged their Alphas to form an alliance like Lady Athe did with Vale.

        “Did Gypsee and Howl ever tell you guys? Didn’t the information that the herds would be moving towards you guys soon and that you should claim the rest of the uncontested forest south of Blutwald if you guys were having food trouble ever reach you?” she said suddenly, her tone revealing a hurt that Charaka had been ignoring for the past few months.

~~~

Bloom

        At the mention of Howl, Bloom winced and looked away. Heaving another sigh, Bloom stretched out on her belly, resting her head between her paws. “No. We didn’t get information from Gypsee or Howl. Howl left to go find his aunt.. Gypsee fell inside herself at the loss of her daughter..” Staring at her paws, she remembered Howl’s promise to her, that he’d return for her. He never did.. Closing her eyes, Bloom stifled a sob. Everything was her fault. If she hadn’t chased that deer into the Aryn territory, they’d have an alliance instead of a war.

        “I’m...so..sorry. I didn’t want this to happen..” Her voice broke and she cracked open her eyes, but didn’t meet Charaka’s face. She wanted to fix this..

~~~

Charaka

        So that’s what happened. That made sense. Charaka couldn’t imagine Gypsee supporting a war and resorting to spying when they had parted on such good terms. Then Bloom sobbed and Charaka stopped her restless practicing. Unnerved, Charaka scratched her left shoulder before deciding to risk it. It didn’t seem like a farce.

        Charaka sat down next to Bloom awkwardly and cleared her throat before giving her a strained smile. “Yeah. If only you told us that sooner…” Her tone was non-accusatory and was more like the one she used with Varrick and Echo when reaffirming the point of a lesson. “Either way, you’ll see your mother soon even if things turn sour. Ayrn doesn’t hate you or Blutwald, so there’s hope for this to turn out okay.”

~~~

Bloom

        Squinting her eyes at Charaka, her smile faded. Her jaw clenched, “I have said it.” Climbing back to her paws, shaking a bit. With a huff, Bloom scratched at the ground. Her body tensed, “If my dad hadn’t of left,..none of this wouldn’t have happened..” She growled softly, then winced. No, she couldn’t blame her dad.. Well, she could, but who knew if she’d have gone off to hunt for herself and ended up in this territory anyway..

~~~

Charaka

        “But not when it would have affected anything...” Charaka responded. She didn’t move as Bloom got to her feet, weak as a newborn deer. “An apology is always better sooner rather than later.” she said, her mind flashing back to the moment where Charaka pushed Gypsee, her friend, away because she had thought her friend prefered Stallion to her. If Charaka had just stopped being hurt and angry then all those months of estrangement wouldn’t have happened.

        Speaking of Stallion… Charaka scratched her shoulder thinking. If Bloom was going back to Blutwald… If Lady Athe didn’t warn them about the threat… “Your pack may be in danger from something other than Aryn.” she said cryptically. Lady Athe had told her not to mention Stallion’s reappearance to anyone to prevent needless panic and fear. She wouldn't exactly tell Bloom who and what, but it would be okay to warn her Blutwald might be in danger right?

~~~

Bloom

        With a sigh, Bloom sat back on her haunches. “I guess not,..I was just stubborn and stupid.” Shaking her head, she looked out toward the far Tarn walls. Her eyes went distant for a while, as if she think of something. “Now its--” she broke off when Charaka spoke again. Turning her head quickly to face the female, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN IN DANGER!?” she barked, jumping to her paws. “By who? What do you know?” Could it be Ivan’s son? Was he finally going after her mom? Fear rolled off her body in waves, her eyes turned frantic..

~~~

Charaka

        Charaka grimaced at her loud voice and quickly checked behind them in case she could detect anyone nearby. There wasn’t. Turning back to Bloom she started to whisper in a low voice, indicating that Bloom should do the same. “If I could tell you then I wouldn’t have been so beat-around-the-bush about it. Just… Don’t trust any former Blutwaldians, okay?”

~~~

Bloom

        Falling back off her paws, she fall back into a sitting position. What was that supposed to mean? Former Blutwaldians. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember faces of wolves that were once in her pack. She couldn’t place any that might hold a grudge. Well, besides that grey wolf Ivan. His son was out there, her shoulder was torn and beyond full repair could atone for that. She doubted his Father would return..

        Bloom, looked back at Charaka. “Thats not helpful..” She whined softly, “Please, Charaka..if you know a wolf or wolves are gonna threaten us..please tell me.”

~~~

Charaka

        “I can’t say anymore! And It’s no use asking someone else. The rest of Aryn don’t know a thing. It’s not just Blutwald that’s in danger from them…” she urged, trying to get her to understand. Then the muffled sound of approaching footsteps made her get to her feet. It seems like her shift was over. Purposefully ignoring and acting like she and Bloom weren’t just in conversation, she walked out to meet the next guard.

~~~

Bloom

        With a sigh, she stared at Charaka. They were hiding something.. It seemed Bloom wasn’t going to get any more information on what she meant. As soon as pawsteps could be heard, Charaka was up and went to go meet the next guard. With a defeated sigh, Bloom slid back down to her belly. She hoped this new threat wasn’t as bad as Ivan’s son..who could be worse?