Devika

If one thing is certain, it is that the man can sleep. Quick to sleep, and hard to wake. With a body as large and demanding as his, it needed to rest each night to the fullest. Once he was asleep, he slept with no issue…but also no awareness. Such is the curse of a heavy sleeper. There was a bit of movement throughout the night, and he was unaware of his actions. Normally sleeping every night with his mother in their den, he was used to being next to her every night.

Duskbreaker awoke with the touch of dawn. The grasp of sleep on his mind was strong, and the confusion it brought was tangible. Molten eyes flickered open, mind immediately assuming the warm body next to him was his mother. He hummed a gentle tune. Not thinking much of it, he moved slightly, then looking to see that it was certainly NOT his mother, but Devika. The haze of sleep quickly dissipated. He was right up next to her. Head still on the ground, he froze the single paw that moved. He didn’t want to wake up, but also didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. Thus, this lead to him simply freezing himself for a moment in dread and silence.

He gulps and slowly pulls himself away. The last thing he wants is to be disrespectful. It was a key tenant in their mission, and at times a difficult one to pull off. He hoped he had not woken her up as he tried to get closer to his side of the den, but the brute was not exactly the most graceful. His back leg slips against the ground as he pushes himself, his paw kicking her…very gently at least. His ears immediately fall back, and his head pushes against the ground like a shamed puppy. She had to be awake now.

Despite the strangeness of everything that had unfolded that night, Devika slept soundly. The painted ghost was surprised by the comfort she found in another’s presence, especially one so near. It was that very comfort that had allowed her to sleep so deeply. But all good things must come to an end, and hers ended with a kick to the back.

It wasn’t hard enough to startle her fully awake, but it did earn a quiet grumble of protest. Cracking open a single blue eye, she focused it on the large oaf beside her. Judging by the shame written across his face, he must’ve felt bad for the clumsy offense.

With a huff, she let her eye fall closed again, stretching slowly in what little room she had. One last deep breath, and both eyes opened, icy gaze meeting his molten one.

Part of her was genuinely surprised to find him still there. It would’ve been easy for him to slip away while she slept. Then again, he didn’t seem the most graceful of creatures. The thought of him trying to sneak out of their makeshift den on tiptoe made her smirk. She couldn’t help but be curious now, surely he was more coordinated when given proper space? She refused to believe otherwise.

To ease any lingering tension, she leaned toward him and placed a gentle lick on his cheek. It was her own way of saying good morning, and forgiving him for so rudely disturbing her peaceful slumber.

Duskbreaker had to remind himself that perfection was not something achievable. Desperately he wanted to do everything just right, but he always slips up somehow. He sees her blue eye open, and his ears pressed back even further. If only he was better at controlling this big body of his.

He stayed still as she stretched, blinking his molten eyes as he tried to keep himself as small as possible. Honestly, he did not know what to do at this point other than freeze completely. He knew not what she was thinking, and thought he probably should have exited to give her space. The male remained still, and feels surprised as she licks his cheek. The warm comfort of her touch given freely melted away his momentary anxiety.

His white, black, and brown tail tapped lightly behind him as a small whine escaped his throat. He pats a paw on the ground, and reached out to lick her cheek in return. Perhaps he simply worried too much.

”The light returns as the stars sleep. Does your body call for more rest, before the day fully wakes?” he asks, raising his head a bit now, tail still thumping behind him. He was ready to let her sleep as he perhaps found something for them to eat.

Another small stretch, followed by a soft shake of her head. She was awake now, no sense in trying to drift back off when it was clear the day intended her to rise. Without giving him any more time to linger and worry, she gave a low chuff and pushed to her feet, slipping out of the makeshift den and into the pale light of early morning.

It was still cold. Still quiet. Still empty. Odd… yet intriguing.

A glance over her shoulder confirmed he was following, and she set off in search of a stream. Unfamiliar with this land, it took the ghost longer than she liked to find a source of water. At least the stream she found ran clear and crisp, the icy air keeping its flow chilled. She lowered her head, drinking her fill as her thoughts wandered.

What now?

The day had begun, and he was still here.

She paused, blue eyes flicking in his direction. Still here? Curious. Truth be told, she had half expected to wake alone, and yet she’d been so kindly roused by his clumsiness. Was he planning to stay? Or simply being a gentleman?

She moved out of the makeshift den, and he blinked as she did so. He wasn’t totally sure what to do, but figured following her was the best bet. His hulky form moved after her, pulling himself out and shook out all of the debris from laying down. By the time he was done shaking, she was already off.

Lumbering paws lurched forward. He followed, not quite sure what she was looking for on this new day. Was it food? Water? Something else…someone else? Should he ask, or should he allow the silence? His hesitation caused him to choose the silence.

The forest was a quiet place on this day, but his paws sure made it less quiet. He would crush branches and kick rocks without realizing it. Most of his time was spent in a meadow type land, although forests lined the edges of the crater of his homeland. He would visit, but it was not his expert land.

He heard the stream up ahead, and is pleased to rid himself of thirst. He followed suit, drinking next to her and taking quite a bit longer to fill to his satisfaction. Once he finished, she looked to him and he honestly didn’t know what to make of it. As much as he wanted to deflate right then, he puffed himself up a bit instead.

”The water has eased this one’s thirst. Do you hold a place you must go? If so, grant this one the honor of guiding you there,” he asked, ears lifted as if he was a determined guardian. He knew not her situation, and did not want to pry, but perhaps this will lead to them getting to know each other better. He barely knew the Kingdom of Avon, mapping out the surrounding areas for now, but it was the first pack he came across that accepted him. Ultimately, he would have to go back to them for his mission, but there was no…dedicated timeline in these situations…he thought at least. He wasn’t the best at remembering all the rules.

His movements left much to be desired in silence and grace. Devika had long grown accustomed to slipping through the land like a shadow, no sound, no trace, no disturbances. If he meant to travel with her, the ghost would have to learn to adjust.

When he asked if she had a place to go, she made a faint face at the question. She knew all too well that she was alone in this world. Unwanted. Unseen. At least, until she met him. He seemed attentive enough, though she doubted how long his attention would last. Pushing that thought aside, she gave a small shake of her head. With a gesture of her paw, she indicated the forest around them. This was her home, silence, reverence of nature. Not fulfilling, but enough for one such as she.

Then she gestured toward him, urging him instead to speak of where he came from. He had a home; she was certain of it. The scent of others clung faintly to him, muted but present. Was she distracting him from a duty? Didn’t he need to return?

Frustration welled hot in her chest at the challenge of their wordless exchanges. If only she could ask outright! Her jaws snapped shut several times in quick succession, a physical display of her irritation. How strange it would be to actually speak…

Her icy gaze returned to him, steady and expectant. She awaited his answers, and, inevitably, his confusion.

He certainly noticed how quiet Devika moved. He felt a tinge of embarrassment that he simply was much more noisy and clumsy. He was starting to try and see how she moved, where her eyes looked when she walked, and what she paid attention to. It was a lot to take in, and he barely learned a thing on their short trek. It is something he will have to observe and learn over time.

Molten eyes watched her expression carefully, knowing no words were to come from the fellow wolf. The shake of her head implied she had no where in particular to go. Did she simply live here? Nothing wrong with that, but he knew he was starcast here and he knew the first wolf he met was also brought here from another place. Eyes furrowed in thought, and then he perked up again with great curiosity.

”Were you Starcast here, as this one was? Only a few suns have passed since this one was torn from his Hollow. Another spoke of many drawn from distant lands… is this the same truth for you?” he asked, wondering if she was going through something similar, although his transportation was a gift from the stars. Dimitri implied there was something else going on, but he knew not what exactly she meant.

He noticed her snapping jaw, and found difficulty in understanding what it meant. Was she frustrated? Was something in her mouth? Was she hungry? He blinked a few times, not wanting to pry, for what if this is a typical gesture among her people and he is simply ignorant?

”Forgive this one’s ignorance… but your jaw — does it fare well? Does it click only when words seek release, or is there some deeper pain?” he said, concern washing over his multi-colored visage.

Starcast? How strange. Devika tilted her head, studying him with quiet curiosity as he spoke. Torn from the land he once knew and cast into this lonely place, his plight was written clearly enough. A faint frown touched the ghost’s silent visage, her brow knitting in thought. She nodded at his question. She was not from here either, yet her own arrival had not been so disruptive. No ties had been severed, no one left behind. For her, it was simply another land to wander, another world to uncover.

How long had she been here? The days had blurred together until she’d lost count. It didn’t matter. She knew, deep down, she was here to stay.

At his questions about her jaw, warmth flushed through her. She had grown so accustomed to wearing her emotions freely before the empty land that it hadn’t occurred to her how peculiar it might seem to someone else. Glancing aside to steady herself, she turned back to Duskbreaker and answered with a small shake of her head, then a nod. No pain—only frustration. And frustration was a tiresome thing.

A soft sigh slipped from her as she returned her gaze to the stream. The crystalline waters flowed on, steady and unshaken, their path sure even beneath the weight of the cold. She admired that, its certainty, its quiet resilience. For a moment, she wondered what it might be like to move as the water did: calm, soothing, unhindered. A strange thought indeed.

He was not easily distracted. The forest was quiet, and there was not much to try and distract him anyway, but he ensured that his full attention was on Devika. He caught every movement, and tried to take in any subtle expression on her face. He was not used to interacting with a wordless one, but it was just another experience in life that the required his attention and learning.

All he could take away from the situation is that she was also taken here from another place. It was an interesting thing to think about, and he wondered if everyone indeed came here the same way. Were they all Starcast? Was there other forces at play here? He knew stories of other powers of the world outside of the stars, and he wondered if the wind had blown Devika here.

He lowered his head a bit when she confirmed that her jaw movement was due to frustration. There is a certain amount of communication that is lost without being able to talk. It is a different way of life, and he felt a weight in his heart knowing she wanted to speak but couldn’t. There was no way for him to help her, as much as he wished he could simply give her his own voice.

He suddenly felt a little nervous again. Doctrine determined that he should go back to the Kingdom of Avon, but he did not want to leave Devika alone either. He felt his toes wiggling, and he hummed for a moment as he thought, moving the weight of his legs back and forth a bit. She was looking at the water, and looked rather peaceful here.

”To be Starcast is to be sent upon a journey, such is the way of this one’s pack. The elders, or the stars themselves, choose who must walk beyond and learn of other kind and their ways. The stars chose this one, and so cast him here. The doctrine speaks: the first pack to take this one in is where the learning begins. Thus did this one came upon the Kingdom of Avon,” he said, taking a deep breath at the end, wondering if he is speaking too much. Yet, he wanted her to know and understand him. He looks towards the sun, and turns his head to point in the direction of Avon with his muzzle.

”This one must return to the Kingdom, for the task set upon him. Yet… if it is your wish, this one would walk that path with you, Devika, at my side,” he said, straightening up again, perhaps almost comically with his chest puffed out. He tried to mentally prepare himself to whatever answer Devika may give. She may deny him, and although that would hurt, he would not blame her.

Painted ears flicked forward, and her icy gaze found the gentle giant once more. Hearing him speak of his original pack was… intriguing. What a fascinating way to see the world, placing such weight upon the stars and their stories. Doctrine, he called it. What else did it proclaim? Would she be able to witness his path as he walked it? The thought warmed her. She liked the idea of learning from him as he grew and discovered, of offering her own insights in return. A fair exchange, she thought.

But then he spoke of a pack, and a faint frown tugged at her maw, her tail swaying behind her with unease. Packlife. It had never been kind to her. Too many lacked the patience to tolerate her silence, to endure the clumsy gaps in her communication. Her voice was lost, leaving her far too easy to overlook.

Still… he had a path to follow, and she would never keep him from it. The question was whether she could walk it beside him. Could she endure the discomfort of packlife if it meant staying at his side?

She stared into his molten gaze, her own unblinking, as the questions swirled inside her. Was he worth it?

Her mind wandered briefly to her only other choice: remain alone, wandering endlessly through strange lands. Was the sting of packlife heavier than the weight of solitude?

Devika chewed her bottom lip, considering. She could always leave if it became unbearable. But if she turned him away now, would the chance to join him ever come again?

Resolve sparked in her eyes. She gave him a firm nod, then moved toward him with deliberate steps. Circling him, she pressed herself along his side, rubbing her scent into his fur—claiming him as hers, and in turn, binding herself to him. Together.

A playful nip found his broad shoulder, her blue eyes lifting to meet his, alight with both amusement and a lingering unease.