Death of a Gardener (Open)

[Mokobo]

Foreword: I originally intended to post this after finishing Æze's origin story. However, as I've been lacking motivation and time for that particular project, and I desire to see the plot I have planned come to fruition, I've decided to change my plans =3 While currently incomplete, the events which take place before this post can be found here.

The bright, cheery morning which broke over the canopy of the Southern Jungle did little to reveal the dark drama which had taken place beneath its boughs throughout the previous night. The sun slowly crept past the horizon, basking the verdant sea with warm rays of life-bestowing light. Indeed, the first hints of dawn brought forth many signs of life as creatures stirred from their hovels and dens to busy themselves with their usual tasks while countless songbirds began to warble their merry tunes. As light further pierced the thickly woven blanket of tree boughs some of the sheltered flowers even began to unfurl their petals, urged to awaken from their nocturnal slumber by the radiance on which they thrived. In a short time the world had emerged from the gloom of twilight to face what promised to be another prosperous day.
Yet in one corner of the grand forest life did not stir with the start of the day. Near the center of the jungle, almost indiscernible from the surrounding scenery of green, was the face of a cliff covered with thick masses of vines and other creepers. A portion of this emerald wall laid in ruins, the rope-like growths having shriveled and turned a foreboding array of browns and black. Behind what had once been a curtain of sorts was a more dismal display showing the extensive loss of  plant-life. A small glade, the sheer walls of which rose to meet the elevated ground above, had once been hidden among the cliff, but now was open to any passing eye which was not deterred by the dark signs which hung about the area. Within this sheltered valley a vast array of trees, flowers, bushes and every other imaginable form of flora had once thrived. However, the garden had been laid waste to, some of the plants having rotted away by the same corruption which had taken those which hid their existence, while others were simply uprooted or torn to shreds.
The birds, animals, and the jungle itself seemed to hold a reverent silence in the vicinity of the ruined ravine. This had once been the home of their greatest benefactor; Vita, the mysterious earth elemental otherwise known as The Wandering Sage. For many seasons the wolf had worked to bolster the growth of the forest, often using his home as a nursery from which many of the jungle's residents had gotten their start. Truly, without Vita's ceaseless work the forest would have perished during the Great War which had ravaged so deeply the rest of the surrounding lands, nor would it hold such a wide variety of flora as it did today. If trees could weep, it was indubitable they would have as the morning light illuminated the scene of devastation which had once housed their greatest friend. For it was not just the once bountiful grove which had suffered from the wave of destruction which had rushed through the night.
Near the entrance to this hidden valley, sprawled across a brown bed of dead moss and blanketed with rotten leaves laid the once lively body of Vita. The bark-like growths which covered his back and underside had once been a vivid, emerald green, but were now a sickly shade of gray similar to the skin of a long gone tree. His still, open eyes had once been a green as bright as a newly sprouted shoot, but now their brilliance had faded and a milky quality had begun to creep toward his pupils. Where the creatures of the jungle showed respect to the Sage in his motionless repose, the insects had no such qualms. Flies, brought forth by the sickly scent of rotting fruit, already buzzed about the lifeless body, seeking likely places to begin their gruesome meal. So ravenous was the hunger of the pests they would not be deterred even by this brisk breeze which swept through the now exposed entry to this near sacred sanctum.
Yet the flies would have to wait for this particular meal. As the sun ascended higher into the heavens, its warm rays began to pierce into the gloomy scene of the ravine. With this illumination further destruction was revealed, as the spring which emerged at the valley's deepest point no longer flowed, what water that remained having grown a thick layer of scum. The grove of fruit trees seemed to have been mysteriously uprooted, some of which laid far from their usual positions near the entrance in inexplicable poses. An entire portion of one of the walls had seemingly collapsed from some force, the rubble of which was piled at its base. Further rot was revealed as the line of light crept closer to the still frame of the wolf, but when the sunlight fell upon Vita a sudden change swept across the forest.
Stretching out for a great distance, the jungle around the grove suddenly grew quite still despite the breeze which now struggled to stir even a single leaf. Even the songbirds stilled their songs, almost as if they sensed a momentous occasion about to take place. Within the valley Vita's lifeless body remained still upon the smooth stones covered in crumbling moss. Yet the curious scales which protected much of his frame no longer seemed as gray as before, and to an observant eye they would indeed appear to be slowly returning to a faint shade of green. Even his motionless eyes seemed to be regaining some of their vibrance, the milky, web-like taint having quickly receded. Like a tree awakening from the slumber of winter, life seemed to be returning to Vita, and it was just as the vast expanse of jungle began to sway in the wind once more that his now bright, green eyes blinked.
Quickly the wolf rose to all fours, gasping desperately for a new breath. Yet he almost regretted the act as his lungs filled with the sickly air of his home. A sickness took a hold of Vita, forcing him to bow his head during a violent fit of coughing. This was followed by a desperate series of retching which succeeded in bringing forth a black blob coated in purple bile. With the offending mass having been removed from his stomach, the wolf was at last able to regain some composure, although he still trembled slightly from the force of this sickness. Tentatively Vita prodded the thing he had vomited, causing the petals of a darkly plumed lotus to unfurl, the dark hues of which were particularly foreboding. Another shiver of disgust trickled down Vita's spine, forcing him to avert his gaze as he muttered to himself.
"Never again."
Yet as he turned from the bile-soaked bloom, Vita's revulsion was quickly replaced by horror and fear as he first noticed the destruction which had visited his home. Once such great loss of plant-life alone would have been enough to elicit such a reaction. He had been especially close with the flora of his home and had spent much time cultivating each plant. Yet these days he had other things to be concerned with, things which were far more unpredictable than trees or flowers. Quickly Vita took the scene in before him, searching for any movement which might avail the hope he still clung to. When no such sign was given, the wolf would call out tentatively.
"Æze?"
No response other than the gentle whispering of leaves was given. In that instant Vita's hopes were dashed much like the ruined wall of his home, and a gnawing anxiety began to grip his heart. As panic began to take a hold of him, reason left the wolf for a moment. Desperately he dashed about the devastated wreck of his home, carelessly tearing through the wilted forms of his former friends as he frantically searched for his young ward. All through these futile attempts he continued to call out the name of the youth. Yet no noise the canine made received a response, nor did any move he made suddenly reveal his young friend. After struggling to calm his rapid breathing, the wolf would call out once more in as loud a voice as he could muster.
"Æze!"
Again there was no response. Vita's mind reeled as he tried to gain a grip on his panic and figure out just what had happened. Clearly some horrendous mischief had visited his home, and the wolf already suspected he knew the culprit. Yet if what he feared was true, then it was unlikely his young friend still lived. The thought once more caused panic to swell in the wolf's chest, a tinge of grief making this sensation all the more gripping. With this second wave of dread came another loss of calm thought for the wolf, and his emerald eyes quickly darted across the scene before him once more. He had last seen Æze resting in his favorite spot upon the warm sands by the natural spring, could it be possible that the youth may be hidden there still? Without further thought the wolf would dash toward the rear of his home, leaping over the many trunks of the felled grove. Yet when he arrived at the side of the spring, which had been corrupted so completely, Vita's fears seemed to be realized. With no sign of his companion in sight the canine could no longer contain the dread within, and he expressed this emotion in a most wolf-like way; lifting his maw to the otherwise cheery, blue sky and releasing a long, sorrowful howl.


OoC - Phew this ended up being a bit longer than I originally foresaw o.o I certainly don't expect replies to be as expansive, so please do not feel obliged to do so. Additionally I would like to clarify one point: Vita was never actually dead (I certainly wanted to give that impression though xP) and when I finish typing Æze's origin (which frustratingly I have entirely thought out and noted)  this scene will hopefully make a little more sense. Incidentally this is why I was originally holding off on this plot, but c'est la vie ^_^;

[Relairah]

For as long as he had been near the borders, he had not dared to tread over them. A sign of respect, in part. And also to keep to his own affairs. He was not a shy sort - yet pack business was something he had long left behind. Morning had only just begun, and most of the world showed it from the bright rays of sunshine to the various small critters that bounced about and sang merrily. But this wolf had not failed to sense that something was amiss. Somewhere nearby, the world was heavy-hearted and failed to rejoice in the coming of daybreak. The energy of this part of the world was not merely amiss. It was gone. As if this small part had been sucked competely dry of any energy whatsoever.

This was incredibly disconcerting. And though the wolf hadn't tread there before, he felt more than curiosity. There was something drawing him. Some purpose and need to discover what had happened that had caused such a chaos of destruction. His pawsteps were soft as he moved through the jungle, ears shifting to pick up on any noise at all. It was far too quiet.

His thick fur shifted about his frame with the movements of his muscles, the white streaks that appeared to jut out into his surrounding space oddly out of place for the lifelessness he was surrounded by. As he moved deeper still into the jungle, the knots in his stomach only grew more violent. What was it that drew him so?

He stopped midstep as a long sorrowful howl filled the air, the surroundings, his ears... it even seemed to pierce into the jungle itself. The one who emitted the howl. Could it be? He had known that a companion from a long gone past resided within these boundaries. But to find him and know for certain he had chosen to wait. Perhaps the time had finally come.

Once more, he continued his trek forward, the soft russle of foliage the only sounds after the howl had begun its drift before it would fade. He was almost to the source.

At last, he broke past some remains of the jungle that had once grown quite close together and there was before him a much older version of the friend he had once known nearby the ruins of what the spring had once been. His brilliant golden eyes softened and swirled, a tangle of shades. "Vita," was all he managed to say at that moment.

[Mokobo]

After the last note of the song of sorrow passed his lips, Vita closed his eyes in order to prevent his tears from flooding forth. With shaky breaths drawn in between his teeth, the guardian of the jungle lowered his head against his chest in an attempt to soothe the ache within his heart. The wolf remained in this forlorn pose as dark thoughts began to swim among the usually tranquil pool of his mind. While it was true that he had lost countless friends through out the years, no such loss had ever hurt so deeply. He wondered to himself if perhaps this was because he had no way to fill the gap that Æze's passing had left behind. Often when an ancient tree or wondrous flower passed from the world of the living they left a piece of their being behind, such as a stump, a fragrance or in some happy cases even a seed. Most of the flora which had inhabited his home were the children of long dead friends, carefully preserved until he had found them a new home in which to flourish. Yet there was no trace of Æze to be found, no token with which Vita could remember him, and no children to carry on the youth's memory.
In truth the curious little creature had been but a child, even though his astounding wisdom had never ceased to amaze Vita. His amazement at how quickly the child had been able to learn new subjects was equal only to his surprise at some of the questions Æze posed to him. The child could quickly grasp how a plant used water and sunlight to feed, or why some flowers could take years to bloom, but other concepts such as death had seemed completely foreign. Even the idea of family had left Æze confused and upset. That last lesson had taken place the previous day, and the wolf now replayed it repeatedly in his mind's eye as doubts gnawed at his heart. If he had known the answer the youth wanted could he had prevented this tragedy? While Vita had managed to teach the pup much, their time together had been too brief to be cut short so violently.
As he continued to lay blame on himself, Vita struggled to keep holding back his grief. He was an orphan himself and had never known his own family, and in truth Æze had been the first real friend he had since his own childhood. Vita did not care to associate with the other canines who inhabited these war-torn lands. He was to naive when it came to the web of politics they wove through their society, and through that lack of knowledge he had given aid to the druins of Giaku back when those lands still bore that name. Despite his misgivings, he wondered to himself if perhaps one of the nearby pack might be able to help ease the ache he now felt. However, before he could gather himself enough to venture forth on such an errand, Vita heard a familiar voice speak his name.
Quickly the wolf lifted his head, his emerald eyes snapping open to gaze at the creature before him in disbelief. Due to the effects of the lotus which still lingered in his blood, he did not realize at first just how much time had passed since the last time he and Alacer had met. At seeing his old friend and peer, Vita lost all thought of containing his anguish and simply let it pour forth. "Oh Alacer! It's all my fault! Poor little Æze...That demon- I should have-" For a moment Vita choked on his own words, unable to wish death upon another even when stricken by grief. "Æze just wanted to know about his mother, and he was so upset when I couldn't answer I did the only thing I could think of! The Master knew, somehow, but I still don't!" Here the wolf lowered his head once more before continuing in a subdued voice. "I wanted to help so much that I wasn't able to protect him when he needed it."
After uttering this final, forlorn statement as an end to his tirade of sadness, Vita remained in his former position for a few heartbeats. As he tried to once more collect himself, the wolf realized that he and Alacer had not actually spoken for many years, not since the passing of their teacher. This was just another blunder caused by the influence of the mysterious lotus he had consumed. Through its effects it had felt as though the two of them had just spoken, which in a way they had. Yet as Vita realized his mistake, and that Alacer would have no idea what he was talking about, a small frown would form on his lips. The bark-encrusted wolf would once more lift his misty eyes to look at the other before speaking a voice more similar to his usual collected tones. "What are you doing here?"


OoC - Bah this took far too long for me to reply to x,.x Also, I'm going to have to edit this later so please mind the dust D=

[Relairah]

Alacer moved toward his old friend, dipping his head as he did so, listening as the other let loose a torrent of emotions. He had known upon first hearing the other's howl that it would not be a reunion of joy and laughter. He had been prepared. Yet despite that, the years that had passed had an effect not entirely anticipated. A miriad of questions circled and were brought on so suddenly at seeing the other's face. But now was not the time.

He stopped his movement, standing close to the other now, though not yet offering physical comfort. He felt a desire to inquire and ask for all the details. But before, Vita questioned his presence. "The energy of this place has gone and its absence was both loud and demanding. But more than that, I couldn't ignore the anguish I heard." For a moment, Alacer's eyes roved about the landscape. Had Vita not shared the truth of his sorrow, Alacer would not have been so surprised to learn he ached for the loss within the earth itself. He realized then that it was possible Vita meant why he was in the area at all. He looked to the other's face once more. "I have been nearby on the outskirts of the territory for some time. My journey had brought me, and I have discovered incredulous things as of late."

He paused, taking a breath and sitting back. "Now, friend, tell me what has happened?"

[Mokobo]

As Vita listened to Alacer's explanation of his sudden appearance, the former would nod slowly to show he understood. He had not expected the effects of the lotus to be so powerful, but luckily he had the foresight to lay down safeguards to protect his life. Such spells, however, had not been enough to stop the wave of destruction which had swept upon his home. While it had been surprising for his old friend to appear at such a momentous time, Vita was grateful for Alacer's presence. In the short pause between Alacer's words, the caretaker of the jungle would survey the devastation about them grimly as well. Slowly he would pad over to a young, felled dragon blood tree. The red sap, which was the tree's namesake, oozed from the iconic canopy sundered in two. The bark-encrusted wolf would lay a paw on the trunk of the tree as Alacer asked his question, closing his eyes and uttering a soft chant before deigning to answer.
For a moment the tree would begin to stir, its branches trembling slightly as its roots struggled to get beneath the trunk. However, just as it seemed Vita's attempt might succeed, a black corruption began to quickly creep across the tree's bark, causing its leaves to shrivel and gray and its roots to crumble. A soft, dejected sigh would escape Vita before he turned away from the rapidly rotting remains of the dragon blood tree. This is her magic. Lifting his gaze to look upon Alacer with sad, emerald eyes. Vita would finally answer in a voice heavy with emotion.
"I found him. Æze that is, or rather he found me, in the jungle. Within minutes some sort of panther, some sort of demon, found us both, but I asked the forest to carry it far away. I couldn't leave such a scared, young creature to fend for himself, so I took Æze home." Here Vita would let a bitter smile break his shroud of sorrow for a moment before continuing. "He disappears when he's scared, and he was afraid of his own tail. I've never seen a creature like him before, Alacer, so naive and pure and yet somehow wise and always full of surprises..." The smile would quickly disappear before Vita shook his head with a sigh. "At first he didn't understand much of the world, didn't even have a name, so I began to teach him, just like the Master taught me, taught us. I couldn't answer all his questions though, and it devastated him, which hurt me. So I tried to help the only way I know how to-" Vita's words halted briefly as he choked back a sob and tears began to trickle down his face once more. "But it looks like that demon came back. I was beyond this realm, and the forest was not enough to protect- to protect poor Æze from-" Here he grew unable to continue, biting down on his lip before quickly dropping his head in anguish.

[Relairah]

Alacer listened calmly, though he lit up with a certain recognition when Vita spoke of the small creature he had encountered. Still, he remained silent until the other was finished. He could sense the anguish lying within his old friend and he truly was not sure how to comfort the other. Perhaps time apart was the reason. Still, he gently touched his nose to the other's face - much as a brother might offer a hug to his sibling. "Vita, I don't think Aeze was the only one of his kind," he said finally, stepping back slightly once more.

He paused, watching the other for a moment before continuing, certain that the earth-wolf would desire more detail. "I also recently discovered a small creature. She was magnificent. I'm not even quite sure what words could be used to describe her. Yet for as the small creature you described was shy, this one was as full of life and curiosity - even I couldn't keep up at times. She also didn't have a name nor much understanding of our world. Yet, she absorbed everything quickly and seemed to know things that were beyond me." He paused. "Her name is Lukari. We travelled together for some time, though were separated near the border of the territories." He paused, a small smile edging its way onto his lips. "I had hoped that I would find her nearby..."

[Mokobo]

Alacer's first statement seemed to draw Vita from his well of sorrow almost immediately, causing him to lift his head with perked ears and misty eyes. As the bark-encrusted wolf listed to his friend explain that he too had encountered a similar creature, the former's mind began to spin like a top. So there were others, at least one more, and in Vita's mind they had to be related somehow. That there were two of the same, never-before-seen creature in the same area was too much of a coincidence. A bitter, forlorn smile formed on Vita's lips as he continued to listen to the description of Lukari, thinking to himself that learning of her would have meant a great deal to Æze. Vita did his best to hold onto some small hope that he could at least fulfill his young friend's last wish and ask this Lukari where she came from, but that bubble burst quickly as Alacer mentioned their own parting.
With a heavy sigh the smile disappeared as Vita turned his gaze toward the sky, a great deal of which could be seen through the wilted canopy above them. For a moment the guardian of the forest seemed to lose himself in a train of thought, those emerald eyes of his growing distant. In the vision induced by that vile lotus he had relived old memories, seen once again the awesome presence of the creature who tutored Alacer and himself. The Master had known something of these creatures, Vita was sure of that, and so they had to be known by someone still. A look of determination came into Vita's eyes as he turned his gaze toward his long-lost friend once more.
"We have to learn more about these children. Somehow the Master knew about them, and he felt they were important." Turning his gaze Northward, Vita suddenly thought to himself that he might know just the place to find out more, even though it was the one place he had promised himself he would never return to. "We also need to find your friend, Lukari, and stop-" Here Vita almost choked on a sob once more, but instead caught it in time so that only a lonely tear ran from the corner of one vivid eyes. "And stop her from sharing poor Æze's fate. He wanted to know more about who, what he was, so for his sake we must do just that for Lukari."

[Relairah]

The wolf whose pelt seemed alive with energy quirked a slight brow as Vita mentioned the Master and that they needed to learn more. He nodded his agreement, longing to find a way to bring his friend solace. "Do you have any idea what might've happened to this demon? Do you suspect he is hunting these mysterious creatures, specifically? If so, then finding Lukari is of first priority before going on a quest for knowledge."

Alacer paused, looking around. "I'm not sure how far she would've gotten after we were separated. But as I had mentioned, I do suspect she is in this area somewhere." He once more looked to Vita. "Let's leave this cursed spot and be on our way then," he said. A certain look of resolve had taken his features. His friend mentioning that Lukari might suffer a similar fate to this Aeze had awakened a sense of urgency. He would not allow her to perish alone.

[Mokobo]

As Alacer asked Vita about the demon, the latter surveyed the destruction that had visited his home once more. Despite knowing exactly where each plant belonged and each protective spell he had cast upon them, it was impossible to tell just what had happened. The only thing that was apparent was that demon had torn about in a rage for some time, presumably chasing down poor Æze. A few trees were far from their normal places and an entire chunk of the cliff wall had fallen in a pile of rubble. For the first time Vita wondered how he himself had not been harmed by the panther's wrath, but quickly shoved the thought aside in guilt. Considering the fate which had been visited upon his young friend, Vita felt he had no right to be thankful for his own mortality just then.
As his friend suggested they take their leave, Vita would turn his sad, emerald eyes upon Alacer once more. It was then Vita realized that in his grief he had passed his anxiety on to his peer. Alacer's anxiety for Lukari was practically palpable, bringing a soft, wistful smile to Vita's lips once more. "Don't worry, Alacer, if she's still in the jungle I can find her in no time at all." He tried to speak these words in as reassuring a tone as he could manage, but was unable to fully mask his own grief. "Even if she isn't, we'll still find her. Then we can get some answers." This last statement left him with a certain determined finality before he turned to the wilted curtain of vines which had once concealed the peacefully abode. Purposely he strode to that exit, away from the destruction and sorrow which laid about them, pausing only once to affirm that Alacer followed before passing into the thriving forest beyond.

[Relairah]

Alacer smiled at his companion and friend, nodding firmly. "Thank you, dear Vita. I believe she is within this forest... somewhere. I believe that she will bring some small joy to your heart." He followed after the other as they set out through the jungle and away from the nightmare of destruction in which Alacer had found the other. He would merely follow the other's lead as they traversed. He was not exactly in his element, though he could draw energy from anything around him that had life. It was different. Instead, he trusted the other.

As they moved, he debated whether to speak though the Master had trained them well to be able to use their abilities with or without distraction. He had no doubt in his mind of Vita's own strengths in his magic. "Would you like to share more of Aeze, Vita? Or, tell me of your life since our parting. How many years has it been, now?" He paused, frowning slightly as he tried to remember. Truly, it had been too long. "Bah, time is of little consequence. I have truly missed you, friend."

[Mokobo]

Little by little, with each step away from the ruin of Vita's home, the sorrow they were leaving behind faded from the wolf's demeanor. With a determined look etched upon his face, he strode forth in a swift gait, barely speaking or  taking note of the surrounding jungle for the time being. When Alacer had thanked the bark-encrusted wolf for his help, the latter mumbled that thanks were not necessary before entering his current somber silence. What laid behind them was not only a source of personal grief, but also a killing field now almost entirely devoid of living flora. Vita knew he would need to draw deeply from the jungle if he wished to use his magic to try and find Lukari, something that would be difficult to achieve among so much desolation. Yet this wasn't the only reason for the determined march upon which Vita lead his long lost friend. He needed to get away from all that loss, all that death.
When Alacer next spoke, asking his questions, Vita did not answer at first. The wolf's ears lowered slightly at the mention of Æze, but his earlier, melancholy mood did not return. While he did not respond to his companion's final, heartwarming statement, a small smile did make a brief appearance on Vita's lips once more. Quite suddenly the chocolate-pelted wolf came to a halt, casting his emerald gaze upward to the dense canopy above them. Here the layered blanket of leaves, vines, and other various plants was thick enough that the mid-morning sun could only pierce through in sparse shafts of faint light. This seems as good a place as any. With a soft, preparatory sigh, Vita would turn to face his friend and take a seat before finally answering the earlier inquiries.
"After the Master-" With this reminder of an older, yet equally painful loss, Vita stumbled for a breath's moment. "Passed, and we eventually parted, I set off in search of this place. You remember the tales the Master told of an ancient, mystical forest? Well here we are. I saw many wondrous things on my journey, and learned many valuable lessons, neither compare to what I've experienced here." As old memories took hold a distant quality came to the wolf's emerald eyes, and his gaze shifted slightly as he recalled his first day among these lands, a day full  of apples and bones. "I arrived in the wastelands to the North of this jungle. The creatures who dwelt there were- troubled. Food and water were scarce, over which fights were common. They were ruled by a powerful and- persuasive leader. I used the powers the Master taught us to heal the soil of their land. Just a small garden really, but enough to be a start. I thought I had planted a seed of hope and prosperity, if only I knew then how wrong I was.." Vita's voice drifted off as he shook his head and bowed it for a moment before looking at Alacer with eyes full of conviction and emotion. "I learned I had not found the pack the Master had spoken of, but their enemy. I witnessed horrible things Alacer, senseless loss of life. I could not bring myself to flee, I was too afraid, so I did my best to avoid attention. Eventually a chance arose and I ran, I ran for days. I could not bring myself to join the wolves I originally intended to, not after everything. So I came here-" With a wistful smile the wolf cast his gaze about in a wide sweep of the area before continuing. "-And made myself as much of a part of this forest as it has become a part of me."

[Relairah]

Alacer listened in silence as his old friend told him of life since they parted. His paws barely made a sound as they entered thicker, denser jungle. He glanced toward the other now and then, meeting his gaze and listening to the tones of his voice. How terrible indeed, thought Alacer, that Vita had stumbled upon the wrong place. Or perhaps there had been a purpose that fate had intended which was not yet foreseen. Whatever the case, Alacer looked around and smiled as Vita finished. “Well, you’ve done a splendid job of it, Vita. This forest is magnificent and I’m sure the Master would be proud of you.”

He continued to search the thick underbrush, looking for the familiar light he had grown accustomed to having beside him. Where was she? Was it possible that she was long gone by now and he was too late? Where else could she have gone? Although, it did occur to him she could have made it past the jungle and into the heart of the wolf territories they tread on now. He released a soft sigh. Perhaps he was wasting his friend’s time and efforts.

There… was that a glimmer?

Alacer quickened his step, hope lurching into his chest. He broke free of a bush and some low hanging vines. She was nestled against a tree, her form but a dim glow beneath the darkness of the canopy. Alacer dipped his head, and she leaped forth toward him. “Vita,” he motioned for his companion to come closer.

Lukari was overjoyed to see her teacher once more. The orbs of light that flickered from her black outline grew in brilliance until her entire form was radiant light. "Alacer!" she squealed.

[Mokobo]

Alacer's words brought a wistful smile and a small tear to Vita's visage. The two of them were the only ones who had truly known the Master, and such praise warmed the Wandering Sage's heart. Softly the wolf muttered his gratitude before bowing his head deeply. With his conviction to reunite Alacer with Lukari was strengthened exponentially, Vita exhaled deeply before closing his emerald eyes. For several breaths the bark-encrusted canine pondered how he would call upon the jungle to find such a small creature. Yet his mind soon wondered if such a spell could find Æze, or at least what remained of that poor, pure soul. This thought brought a fresh tear forth, which Vita fought against. Deciding it might be best to clear his head before attempting to focus on the task at paw once more, Vita raised his head to observe Alacer's progress.
Just as Vita's gaze fell upon his friend, the latter suddenly dashed forth into the brush and out of sight. Instantly the wolf thought of the demon which had brought such devastation to his home, and had taken a dear friend. An unfamiliar sensation grasped his throat and set a fire within his chest. Without thought as to his next action, Vita tore off after Alacer, skillfully dodging brittle ferns and leaping over soft flowers in a headlong dash. He did not have to go far, however, and soon came upon his friend before a small, glowing figure. Alacer then beckoned Vita forth, who obeyed cautiously with his heartbeat still drumming in within his ears. His wide, bewildered eyes fell upon the very creature that they were searching for, and for one fantastic moment Vita wondered what benevolent force was aiding them.
The first thing Vita noticed about Lukari was how vastly different she appeared from Æze. Where the latter could quickly become hard to see, the former seemed to glow like a beacon. As she became aware of their presence, the light emanating from the small, fox-like creature grew in intensity, causing the wolf to shield his eyes for a moment. After his vision adjusted to Lukari's excitement, the bark-encrusted wolf was finally able to see the similarities. Both of the youths seemed to have a similar stature, while one was masculine and the other feminine. It was the eyes, however, which was the most obvious clue that they were indeed the same specie, and could perhaps even be related. Despite all the questions he was eager to ask, Vita patiently observed the warm reunion from a polite distance with the same small smile upon his lips.

OoC - This took far too long to respond to because...>.> reasons.

[Relairah]

As soon as her excitement was not so intense, Lukari seemed to shift her focus from her friend to his companion. Her light dimmmed just enough so that her form was distinguishable, and she looked at Vita with intrigue. She tilted her head to one side, one of her large, triangular ears drooping slightly in the process, and pointed one paw in Vita's direction. "Alacer... who-?" she stopped.

Alacer chuckled at Lukari's antics. "This is Vita." Life-child, he said in her own tongue. "He helped me to find you. He has a friend much like you, actually, whom he lost." Alacer glanced toward his companion then, a smile of sadness and gratitude both in the same expression. "I wouldn't have without you, dear friend."

"Another..." she paused, her brows furrowing. "More like me?" she studied Vita, the light making up her fluffy tail expanding.

[Mokobo]

As Alacer made introductions between Vita and Lukari, the former bowed his head slightly. The chocolate brown wolf opened his maw to refute Alacer's claim that he had been instrumental in the reunion, but quickly halted his voice before the first words could pass his lips. Now was not the time to discuss that particular anomaly, as it would only serve to take away from the otherwise joyful occasion. Vita instead observed Lukari's reaction to the mentioning of another creature similar to herself. Where he had hoped to see recognition, there was instead a confusion which dashed away any hope that the two youths were from the same brood. Vita could not repress the soft, disappointed sigh which escaped him before he managed to put forth a friendly smile directed to the kit.
"He was very much like you, but at the same time very different. I don't know where he came from...or where he went-" After managing to utter this white lie for the benefit of the child, the Wandering Sage paused to direct his emerald gaze toward Alacer in a meaningful glance. "We're going to try and find out though, and I know a good place to start." As his voice drifted off to be muted among the surrounding trees, Vita directed his gaze to the North. Despite the leagues of foliage and overgrowth, he almost felt as though he could see the wasteland of bad memories which awaited them. When he next spoke, the wolf kept his gaze trained in that direction while addressing both Alacer and Lukari. "Do you two feel fit to travel?"