homesick // open + 100th post

[melantha]

[align=center][div style="max-width: 600px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;"][color=black]Six months. Six months since she last saw the faces of her family, since she was held in their loving embrace. Six months since that fateful day she was swept away into a large, unfamiliar world. It does not feel like it has been this long, but it has. And the homesickness gets worse every. single. day. It's kind of funny, in a sad, twisted way. The things which she craves the most are the things she barely paid attention to when she had them. Things like the weight of her siblings as they pressed together for warmth during the winter months. Or how beautiful her mother looked in the light of the early morning sun as she hummed to herself during her chores. Mel took it all for granted.

And now, just as she begins to settle into Snowbound, the humans arrive just in time to ruin it all. How cruel of them to poison Snowbound's lands and encroach upon their territory as soon as Melantha finds herself letting go of her old home and embracing the new one. If there was any hope of the young female ever forgiving the humans for all their past transgressions against her, it's lost now. Her sadness over losing her beloved family has transformed into a fierce protectiveness over Snowbound and her people. Melantha doesn't know everyone, and she certainly does not trust everyone, but there is no shaking the sense of duty which has overtaken her.

Melantha thinks about this as she packs up her meager belongings. Nothing extravagant. A couple of gently used books, all fantasy and all filled from cover to cover with delicious romance; a sketch she commissioned from a telepath of her family members, just to keep the memory of their features from fading altogether; and her collection of small trophies from all her hunting successes. Pallid olive eyes gaze upon her possessions with a sort of...detachment. Is this her legacy? All that she has to her name? It saddens her that her den is lacking in the decorations and knickknacks of someone who is well-loved. Someone whose life is filled with friends and family and accomplishments worth remembering. A dull ache blossoms within her jaws, making her aware of how forcefully she grits her teeth. Time to get out of here.

Everything is packed into a modified version of a saddlebag which is fastened about her torso. It makes her look like a pack horse but it does preserve her mobility. Since very little effort was required to gather her things, Melantha turns her attention to the masses of people partaking in the same ritual. Perhaps someone requires her assistance. "Does anyone need help packing their belongings? It's best not to dally too long." The faster they leave, the better. It's safer that way.

[ATBASH CIPHER.]

ATBASH CIPHER

how could you just walk away and leave me here?

For Atbash, it had been, what... three or four months now that she's been without her littermates? Atbash still wasn't entirely happy with that and wishes things were different, but the longing for them to be around her wasn't present so much anymore; Snowbound filled that hole. Snowbound was like one big family to her and she was happy to be here. But of course, just like Melantha, just as she was beginning to get settled, humans started terrorizing the territory. Atbash never had any experiences with humans prior to what was happening now, but she knew a lot of other people hated them - and for good reason, too.

Atbash wasn't going to leave Snowbound despite the conditions. Not because she was completely attached to the place, but because she learned that Caesar lived in The Typhoon and she couldn't go there. Not without worrying about him constantly hunting her down and worrying that he'd kill her in her sleep. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to help anybody pack, that'd be rude. Just because she was staying here didn't mean everyone else had to. "I can help if need be, too." Atbash offered as she came up beside Melantha, her head lowered slightly.

bio | female | flurryhost [shp] of snowbound

© madi

[jacob w.c.]

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — This was far from an ideal situation for Jacob. He felt like a failure. He should've been able to get the humans out long before all this happened but he hadn't. Even with all the pertinence he had with their species, he still couldn't come up with a way to get them out on his own. No, instead he was being forced to move everyone and everything he had left to Typhoon so he could plead with Pincher to help them. He didn't doubt the pirate captain would, their alliance was mutually beneficial and he'd always been fair to them, but the fact he had to do it still stung. Jacob was willing to ask for help because he knew that was what Snowbound needed. They needed help. Yet there was a part of him, the prideful bits that he'd inherited from his Babbo, told him he should've been able to do a better job of protecting the people he'd promised to look after.

What made it even worse was that this wasn't even just a failure of his leadership. No, he was also the doctor here, which meant he should've spotted the infected prey and the rotting herbs long before now. He'd known he was stretching himself thin and he always promised both himself and everyone else, that he'd pass one of his positions off to someone else as soon as he felt confident he'd found someone to take it. He didn't want to keep up the lifestyle of running from one emergency to the next forever. He couldn't keep that up. Not with his own health and with trying to maintain his own family. It wasn't possible. He had seen other people burn themselves out and he'd seen how his Pa and Babbo had delegated their own leadership positions, yet here he was. He felt frustrated and angry with himself but he knew he couldn't keep that from keeping Snowbound safe. His pride could take the fall if it meant they'd all he okay in the end.

He was at least glad for those that were willing to help. He smiled as he saw Melantha, coming up behind Atbash. He settled down, allowing his leg to rest. He'd need lots of that if they were going to make it to Typhoon without too many stops. He knew he'd have to take at least one or two breaks but he wasn't going to try to keep that to a minimum, especially considering he didn't share the extent of his condition with most of his clanmates. The last thing he needed now was for them to be worried about his own health. They all just needed to focus on make sure they were somewhere safe and that, eventually, the clan would be restored to it's original location, or at least as near to it as possible. "Actually, I could use some 'elp takin' the herbs n' medical book I 'ave. I don' need ta' take all my books, jus' the ones I packed into a box the other day. Even with all the prey n' stuff, 'm not too worried 'bout those bein' damaged. I wanna' make sure we have a decent herb supply for the way there too. I already sectioned 'em off into portions, so I really jus' need some help movin' 'em," the husky explained. There was no way he'd be able to carry the box himself the whole way. There were a fair amount of books in there and he couldn't pull that the entire way. —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"

tags

[melantha]

[align=center][div style="max-width: 600px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;"][color=black]Upon the arrival of Atbash, pallid olive eyes flicker over to observe the smaller feline as she moves closer. "Oh, hello." The two of them started off on the wrong foot when Atbash first joined. Well, it was mostly just Melantha being influenced by superstition and paranoia. Although the young huntress does not outwardly express her guilt, it is clear from the cougar's actions that she is doing her best to make amends. Something in her plain visage is softer; apologetic. Melantha is not great at expressing kindness, but at least the intention is there. What is the saying? It's the thought that counts. Perhaps it does not apply to all things. However, it seems relevant to this particular situation. A faint smile tugs at the edges of her lips.

She is about to respond when Jacob arrives next. At first, a warm expression dances upon her features at the familiar sight of her friend. But then she become aware of how he strains to walk. Her maw parts, words of concern balancing at the tip of her tongue. She stops herself. Jacob probably doesn't want yet another person asking him how he's doing and telling him to rest. Perhaps it is just best to help him out in other ways instead of transforming into some sort of overbearing nurse. "Of course!" replies Melantha, immediately moving to help. Although carrying things always poses a problem for a powerless, thumbless creature such as she, Mel already took it upon herself to find a wagon of sorts which she can load with items and pull all by herself. Disability requires innovation. "Is there a specific place that you want them delivered?"