Chapter Two – Where Do I Start? (The Past and The Chase)
:The Old Forest – March 14 th Thirty-three years later:
04:55 am
It was quiet.
The trees were still, only a light breeze whispering through the trees. Random leaves tumbled to the forest floor with nary a sound. The sun was just beginning to rise over the mountain to cast shadowed light over the land. Sunlight dotted the dewy grass through the leaves, sparkling on the small drops. There was a chill in the air, carrying a hint of humidity that left its marks on the bark of the trees. Birds were still sleeping in their nests and rabbits hiding in their burrows but the larger herbivores were beginning to show. Around the time the sun hits the quaint but prosperous village of The Shire, the deer and elk tentatively make their way into the clearings for fresh grass.
It was the perfect time for a hunt.
A female white tailed deer tip toed into the conspicuously empty clearing and gave a sharp look around before dipping her head to nibble the bright green flora. After a moment, a few other does and bucks made their after her, joining in on the feast. One buck, his antlers magnificent atop his head, kept watch as the others ate. He stared around with more intensity than a deer should have had. But as the keeper of his group, he was the one to stand guard until the rest had eaten their fill. The buck patrolled the area, ears flicking as he listened for any indication they weren't safe. A bush on the far side of the clearing rustled suddenly and he froze in place, eyes staring at the offending flora and ear pointed up in attention. But nothing happened after a seconds and he went back to walking around borders of his group.
All was calm for the moment.
Unbeknownst to the grazing deer, a predator was lurking in the shadows. White fur, dirtied brown by the mud and grime on the ground, shifted behind the large bush. Lithe muscles underneath the leaves and fur moved elegantly as the creature quietly prowled to a different location along the forest line. One bright verdant eye, the other a pale silver, gazed hungrily at the deer feasting on the dew drop grass. Its eyes darted over each deer, calculating which one would taste the best and which one should be killed. A machalite and silver iris rested on a rather plump doe grazing on the west side of the clearing, fairly close to the border of the woods. It would be easy. Merely a step too far and the fat deer would be gone.
White fur seemed to glide as the creature stepped lightly – making no sound at all – crouching low behind a taller shrubbery. It looked through a blank space between the leaves, watching as the doe it set its sights on obliviously walked closer. Blunt teeth tore the crisp grass with a soft 'snap' and eagerly gobbled down more, nearing the line that lead into the darkened forest to eat the untouched green blades. Anticipation was wrought inside the creature but it held its breath until the doe was within range. Then, without warning, an ax flew out of the bush, a mere blur of movement and it landed directly in the middle of the does' forehead. The female deer had only a moment to jerk in shock before she fell to her knees and down to the ground; dead. The sound was muffled by the moss and dead leaves covering the dirt floor, fresh blood staining the green foliage heavily. The stag standing guard heard nothing and was turned in the other direction, eying the forest border on the west.
A pale but dirty hand reached out from the bush, grabbing the fallen doe by the neck and pulled the carcass out of sight. Deep green eyes checked on the still grazing group of deer once more before a wide smile – revealing sharpened canines – appeared on an even dirtier face. Hair, color of the reddest rose, slipped from underneath the white wolf pelt that laid on top of her head and curled every way carelessly. It framed the beautiful two tones eyes that stared at the dead deer with satisfaction and she immediately reached behind her to pull out a long line of rope. She began to bind the does' ankles together for easy transportation and once finished, stood up. She didn't need to disguise herself any longer and the sound generated from the move was loud enough to startle the rest of the group into scattering, hopping away in the opposite direction from fear. The pelt covered girl snickered, the noise echoing in the silence and she walked out into the clearing.
At first glance, she would seem like a small human child of Man, wearing a taxidermy wolf pelt of white for the fun of it. But once in the warming sunlight, brighter as the glowing yellow orb made its was across the sky slowly, it was easy to see she was not a child. Besides the furs she wore – hooked over her head and tied around her neck loosely by the legs – she wore a dark green shirt that she had nicked from a trading cart she had seen passing by Bree-Land and it showed off a generous chest that in no way belonged to a child. In addition to the shirt, she had on a pair of dark brown trousers that ended mid-calf. There wasn't a need for socks or shoes though, seeing as her feet were larger than normal and had leathery soles on the bottom to ease the pain of having a rock shoved into the normally sensitive skin. Little hairs, bright golden red in color but sparse, covered the top of her feet and waved slightly as the wind began to pick up.
Underneath the white pelt, somewhat hidden by the lengthy fur, was a fairly large pack made of tanned hide. It held many essentials needed to surviving in the forest of old; rope and twine to prepare traps or wrap up large prey, axes of varying sizes strapped down tightly on the sides of the bag, her handmade bow with a quiver full of arrows also made by her, and sleeping furs. As she had no fur of her own, it was either learn how to build a fire or freeze to death. And when hunting without her Pack for a few days; freezing was something that happened quite often. Needless to say, her skills in fire making were quickly produced to stave off the chill.
TigerLily, though it was not the name called by her Pack members, hauled the doe over her shoulder and began the trek back to her Den. The clothes she wore, simple and warm as they were, displayed the heavily muscled arms and legs she had. After years of living within the forest, fighting for her right to survive in the Pack and for her own status among those that didn't want her around, her body had changed into one that could carry out any task she wished. The scars on her face and body were evidence of her struggles over the last thirty-three years but she'd won. It had been a long time coming but in the end; she'd won. And she owed all her gratitude to a certain tradition created by her Den Mother's ancestors.
The Maturing Months – where a young cub coming into his or her own would go through a series of tasks for a specific length of time. The set ceremony was harsh and often killed off a larger amount of pups than the number of those that came back; the cubs were to survive in the wilds by themselves for four months and come back to the Den, fully matured. Those who didn't return were mourned for and those that came back too soon – well, they were soon cast out for being cowards. TigerLily had lasted the four months with little difficulty and returned with multiple pelts of every animal, stolen fangs, skulls, and scars in tow. Her Den Mother had been proud beyond measure and she was soon called Otsâna, which meant 'she-wolf' in their language. TigerLily was accepted into the pack from that moment on and even those who opposed her being taken in by the Den Mother hadn't argued since. Not that any protesting lasted very long in the presence of the Den Mother. She didn't make a point of listening to such nonsense unless there was a reason for the whining.
TigerLily, or otherwise known as Otsâna, made sure to walk briskly in the direction of her home. The Den Mother had asked to see her the moment she was finished hunting and no one argued when given an order. Since her mate had died all those years ago, Den Mother had taken his place as Alpha and she had proven herself to be a more competent, caring Alpha than he had been. None of the other Pack members, aside from the more opinionated ones of course, spoke about her former mate in such a way but the general consensus around the Den was just that. The clutch of trees grew denser, thicker and darker as she walked on. The air seemed to become stagnant and stale as the light faded, then was renewed once more as a small clearing appeared just ahead. It was half the size of the one the deer had been grazing in and was circular in shape. TigerLily stopped at the borderline and watched as the young pups, perhaps two to four months old, played in the clearing with each other.
Smiling, she stepped out of the shadows and instantly, the puppies attentions snapped towards her. They immediately charged her in the most adorable attack she'd ever seen and was almost bowled over by them. Laughing, voice raspy from disuse, TigerLily crouched down and grinned as the barks, and growls from the pups translated into a rough language only learned through years of practice.
"Otsâna! Otsâna!" They all crowed, tone high pitched like small children of The Shire.
One pup, the same color as her pelt, was on her hind legs with forelegs on TigerLily's knees, "Did you bring us anything?"
"Yeah! You were gone for a long time." Another pup, a dark brown and gray, whined with her ears flattened back.
TigerLily laughed again, dropping the doe from my shoulder to the ground, " Four sunrises is hardly a long time. But indeed I did, little ones. I have brought breakfast for everyone." She scratched the white pups' ears and ran a hand down the brown pups' back.
"Orla! Riegna! Where have you two little trouble makers gone off to?" Verina, mother of the young pups crowding her, walked into the clearing with her ears twitching in irritation. She saw them with me and gave a small growl that was really a sigh of relief, "Oh thank the spirits. Otsâna, I'm so glad to see you back safely. We were worried for you but I supposed it was an unfounded concern."
TigerLily smiled in amusement, waving a hand to allow her forward. Verina did so and licked her face in greeting, an action done only to high ranking Pack members. TigerLily, after having survived The Maturing Months with scars beyond compare and muscles to match, was given the rank that was a step down to her Den Mother's. Her words held quite a bit of sway over the lower ranking Pack members but she never used her position against them. Even when the ones who had bullied and abused her for so long came for help. She was a caring commander, despite past struggles and differences.
"It's lovely to see you as well, Verina. It feels good to be home." TigerLily replied warmly, always pleasantly surprised when she was greeted in such a way, and she caressed Verina's muzzle, "Come, I have brought a feast and I am very sure everyone is as hungry as I am."
She stood up, hauling the doe back onto her shoulder and made her way into the Den. It was quite spacious and was big enough for the entire Pack to fit inside comfortably. As she made her way down, she saw many of the other pups wrestling on the dirt floor while their parents watched on fondly. Everyone's heads turned towards the entrance as TigerLily and all the pups of the new season charged her with squeals of happiness. She was ready for it and dropped the carcass to the ground before a dozen young wolf cubs attacked. With chuckles echoing around the dome, she sat down and accepted the snuggles from them. Orla and Riegna joined in again, simply because they could.
TigerLily sat there for a good minute before she remembered that the Den Mother wanted to speak with her. Untangling herself from the puppy pile, she untied the rope from the dead doe and laid it out. TigerLily brought out a knife from her pack and began to section off meat for herself and Den Mother while the rest ate the remains. She didn't require much to eat and she needed to cook it first; digesting raw meat was never pleasant, despite the years of having to until she could make a fire from rocks and sticks. The Den Mother was not a gluttonous Alpha and she was capable of hunting for herself but her daughter often shared her meat with the older wolf. TigerLily was given the task of hunting for the Pack and everyone praised her for such large prey. Her game was by far the biggest any of them had seen in years and far more prosperous.
Once she was done, she pushed the deer until it was in the middle of the Den, "Eat up, my friends. It will go rotten soon." She walked back out of the Den and smiled as she heard the sounds of happy feasting by her Pack. The young ones were so small but they still needed enough food until another hunt could be done.
TigerLily stepped out of the entrance and immediately sought out her Den Mother, finding her atop the rocks that kept everyone safe. She was regal; her pristine white fur shone like a quartz crystal in the midday sunlight, the soft tufts moving gently in the wind. Her golden colored eyes stared off into the distance, as if she were lost in her thoughts but her ears were perked up in attentiveness. Taking a moment to admire the Alpha she had called mother for so many years, despite the fact they were of different species, TigerLily approached the majestic wolf and bowed in respect.
"I have come as you asked of me, Mother." she greeted softly, not wishing to startle her mother out of her memories.
Custelle, meaning 'majestic' an accurate name for one such as she, turned to look at her adopted human daughter, "Come, Otsâna; join me." Custelle's tail moved, creating a space for TigerLily to rest next to her.
TigerLily jumped onto the towering rocks deftly, hands holding the meat from the doe. She placed the slab of deer flesh in front of Custelle and gently sat down next to her, leaning over to kiss her muzzle in proper greeting. She wasn't a wolf and the thought of licking anything but her own lips was a bit disgusting but her mother obviously didn't mind and a gentle laugh left Custelle.
"Such a strange creature, my little she-wolf." Her mother said fondly, though TigerLily could sense some sadness in her tone and she frowned in concern. Whenever the Den Mother was sad, there was much to be wary of. Anything that could make the strongest member of the Pack emotional, whether it be worry or anger, was something to be suspicious about.
"What ails you, Mother?" TigerLily asked, wondering if it somehow had to do with her. For the last few weeks, she'd noticed the stares her mother had given her. It made her skin itch uncomfortably to see such sorrow in those golden hues. The Den Mother should never be sad; it wasn't an emotion that fit the description of the Alpha of The Old Forest Pack.
Custelle sighed, knowing the moment she'd tried to keep at bay had come, "Otsâna, you know I care for you deeply, yes?" Her daughter nodded slowly, a confused frown making its way onto her scarred features.
"Yes, of course Mother. I care for you as well, if not more so." TigerLily responded, tilting her head. Her hair, glorious in the sunlight, spilled over her face like fresh blood and it framed her somewhat manly jaw well.
"Then you must know that the words I voice will hurt me more than I can ever say." Custelle's tone and chosen words instantly set TigerLily on edge but was willing to hear her mother out.
The white wolf stood up, leaving the piece of meat untouched as she wandered over to the stare off into the distance; where The Shire was located, "When I first found you, hidden in a hallowed out tree and covered in moss, I had no clue what to think of you. You were such a small thing; a mere babe in terms of age. My mate, Arsenio, had wanted to kill you. He didn't think you'd grow up to belong in our Pack, that you would one day try to kill us for our pelts like many humans have attempted but I knew you were different. And you showed such courage and bravery in the face of hardship, of struggle, that he had no other choice but to accept you."
Custelle turned back to face a shocked TigerLily, eyes damp from tears that would never spill, "You have grown so much in these thirty-three years and I am proud to know that I have raised such a brave, and wonderful she-wolf." Her mother walked back and nuzzled TigerLily's cheek, a low groan leaving her throat like it was wrenched from her.
TigerLily felt tears rushing to her eyes, pricking at them like pins.
"Mother, please. You are scaring me..." TigerLily trailed off at the emotion swirling inside the golden eyes she had come to love so much.
"My child, you are not like us." Before she could protest angrily against that, Custelle continued on, "You are my daughter in everything but blood Otsâna, you know this. But there comes a time when we leave for the next adventure. And yours is about to begin. For years I have watched out for you, hoping you would find something in this world that you loved more than anything. I know you are restless and that you are impatient. There is something out there that you need and I am unable to provide it for you."
Her daughter was silent, eyes unblinking as they stared at Custelle. The Den Mother sighed, a growl in her chest, and laid down at TigerLily's feet. It shocked her adopted daughter enough that she gasped in surprise but still didn't speak.
"TigerLily, please listen to me when I say that I love you more than I thought possible. To me, you are not just another human or Pack member – you are my daughter. Adopted you may be but one of my kin nonetheless. But you are also a Hobbit; one of The Shire folk and you belong in their world as well as mine. I foresee a great future ahead of you, one filled with adventure and love." Custelle explained calmly, beseeching that her daughter – her lovely little she-wolf – believe her words.
Years ago, when TigerLily had been just two and a half summers of age, Custelle had been visited by one of the Valar themselves. While she knew only the legends and myths surrounding the mystical creatures, she inherently could tell when one by the name of Yavanna was of god like nature. Yavanna – the Giver of Fruits – spoke in her dreams of TigerLily. Her little she-wolf would become part of a dangerous and time changing quest, then would soon be the center of its being. Blurred images of her daughter laughing, loving and being happy with a very tall human like creature played over, and over in her mind for months. Since the moment Custelle had laid on eyes on the Hobbit child, she'd known there was something different about her; something inside the little Hobbit destined for greatness. And she was determined to give her daughter the life she deserved; despite it breaking her heart into a million pieces.
"My dear little hún vargi (she-wolf), you are destined for greater things and it shall be done; I make this promise to you." Custelle said, voice brooking no argument and the tears welling in TigerLily's eyes spilled over her cheeks. Her mother whined at the pain she inadvertently caused her beloved daughter, nudged her to lie down. She did and was soon surrounded by the white fur she'd come to know as home. She was reminded by the night Custell had taken her as one of her own; the night her own parents fell to the Den Mother as prey.
Yes, Custelle had told her of that terrible night. It hadn't been easy on the elderly wolf, whom didn't wish TigerLily to hate her but the young she-wolf didn't. There was sadness of having her birth parents ripped from her too soon, of course but realizing that the Den Mother could have easily killed her in spite of her momma's efforts and instead chose to take her in was something that weighed heavily in her thoughts. She understood what it was like to be hungry during the winter, cold without any food to fill up her stomach and sending warmth throughout her body as it settled. While the thought of her birth parents dying in such a way was disheartening, TigerLily understood perfectly and could relate to how Custelle felt that night. Hunger, when felt for longer than necessary, could make a creature or person do irrational things.
TigerLily snuggled into the soft fur that was quickly becoming wet from her tears of confusion and sadness. She didn't say anything, only cried silently and wished she didn't have to leave. TigerLily hadn't spoken of the dreams she had to her mother, deciding to keep them to herself as she hadn't a single clue what they had meant.
All the pictures were blurry and diluted, images that had no structure but a dark shadow that vaguely resembled a human. The only discernible feature she had ever gotten from the dreams was the long, thick and luxurious hair the person had. A mane as light as starlight that was speared with streaks the color of the golden sun.
The mere passing thought of who it might be, male of female, had her heart racing like a rabbit being stared down by a terrifying predator. TigerLily was confused most definitely by the dreams and emotions but there was always a voice, light as the wind and just as soft, whispering at the back of her mind. It told her to be strong and that her struggles in life weren't all for naught. It spoke of how love and laughter would soon become everything she'd looked for in life, bringing along with it the one person who she would spend the rest of her days with.
TigerLily had to admit; finding the one she loved – her One Mate – was a thrilling and exciting prospect but she had no idea how long it would take for them to be together. Would it be days? Months? Years? Would it be decades before they eventually found each other, only for her to die of old age. Hobbits didn't live very long, she had heard and what happened if it was a person born of a race that never died? What if they were immortal? What if they had to watch her wither and die while they stayed young, and handsome or beautiful? Of course, spending any length of time with her One Mate was wonderful but TigerLily didn't know if she could handle being ripped away from him or her when their lives had only begun. Just thinking about it caused her heart to ache horribly and more tears to fall from her burning eyes.
It was silent; the wind gently moved through their sanctuary and the sun was warm as it shone down on them. Afternoon had hit and the breeze carried the delicious scents from The Shire a thousand yards to the west, reminding TigerLily that she hadn't eaten yet. She didn't want to eat; any food would just sit like a stone in her stomach. Her Mother was releasing her from the binds of what she thought were unwanted or not needed. But TigerLily had always known they were there and that they could be overstepped at any time. It was her right as the adopted daughter of Custelle; Alpha of The Old Forest Pack to leave if she so desired but she hadn't wanted to. The boundaries set by her Mother, silent but present, were a security pelt to her. It made her feel safe to know that if she wished it, she could have someone to fall back on. To know that someone – it didn't matter if she was a wolf – cared.
TigerLily sighed heavily, closing her aching eyes for a moment before rolling over to stare at her Mother. Golden eyes watched her with worry and sadness; letting TigerLily know that she wasn't the only that felt like dying of a broken heart. Losing kin, even those adopted as she, never became any better and the sting of loss jabbed at her already damaged emotions. And the fact that she was leaving her Mother, the figure that she based everything she knew in life on, was a terrifying and devastating fact. It wasn't that she was concerned about surviving by herself, that part would be pathetically easy – given all the knowledge of hunting, trapping, fire making she had – but knowing she'd be alone. There would be no one to talk to, no one to cuddle up to when it was cold, no one to hunt with, to eat with, to run in the forest with just for fun. Of course, visiting might be allowed occasionally but any visiting members of the Pack that had left to find their own mates were far and in between.
Deciding to dwell on her thoughts at a later time, TigerLily spoke up hesitantly, "Do I have to leave, Mother?" She couldn't help asking the dreaded question and anticipated the equally alarming answer.
"Yes, my child. You are destined for things beyond these forests and that of The Shire. I do not know where you are going but I do know that whatever your future lies; your loved ones and family will always be there to guide you." Custelle replied somberly, closing her eyes briefly as she imagined her little she-wolf going off on an adventure that was possibly life threatening. It frightened her to think such a thought but she knew her daughter could take care of herself.
"But Mother; you will not be there." TigerLily's tone could be considered a small child pouting and Custelle laughed heartily at that, the sounds of barks to any other person's ears.
"No, my little she-wolf but I will still be here. No matter where you go, I will always be here if you need me." she said gently, wishing for one moment she could cry, to release the emotions building inside her chest. Her adopted daughter's two toned gaze – one a beautiful dark green and the other a enchanting pale silver – was filled with immense sadness. It broke her heart to see the expression on her little child's face but when a prophecy was foretold, there was no way in keeping it from coming to fruition. Any and all attempts at hindering it would be fatal.
That and she couldn't bear to deny her brave little Otsâna the life she was entitled to. After all the hardships she had seen and been through; no one was more deserving than her.
"I know it is hard but it will be better." Custelle tilted her head and gazing down at TigerLily, "You do trust me, do you not?"
"Of course I do, Mother." TigerLily's instant reply was welcome and made the regal wolf smile, her eyes shining brightly.
"Good. Now, let us eat and enjoy your last days together."
TigerLily was unwilling to think of such a thing but more so unwilling to leave without being with her mother for the last time. Together, they ate in a solemn silence and TigerLily didn't care that her meat was still raw.
The days that remained passed too quickly.
Her mother had said a week would be the right amount of time for TigerLily to make her goodbyes with the young pups and other Pack members. During those days she carefully crafted each one of her family members trinkets so they would remember her. For her mother, she created a necklace that had every fang from the creatures she had felled herself. For the little ones, each had small anklets bearing a small feather of varying colors. They would not be in the way during a hunt or running in the forest and the pups loved them. And for the elder wolves, she made each a necklace that was adorned with feathers as well but much larger and had small fangs from wargs she had met on her travels. Those beasts had been interesting to say the least; while half the population of them were morbidly horrific and dastardly, yet the other half was somewhat kind in their own way. From the ones she had met, both evil and kind; she still had no idea what to think of them. She hoped that where ever she was headed that the land catered to the more pleasant creatures.
All of the young pups, Orla and Riegna especially, spent almost all their waking – and of course sleeping – moments with TigerLily before she had to leave. Despite not being of the same species, every single one of the Pack felt a connection towards her. And it wasn't just because she could understand them.
For that week, every hunt was done together though the young ones had to stay home in case of a larger and more dangerous predator found them. Nearly every minute, a wolf of the Pack was by her side and while TigerLily enjoyed those moments; it made leaving all the more difficult. How could she when her family so obviously needed her? And wanted her to stay? It was cruel making her abandon the only family she had ever known and over some ridiculous prophecy she had never heard herself? She didn't see the point but then she was reminded by what would happen during her adventure. She would find love and laughter with her One Mate – something she hoped would outweigh the loss of her kin very soon. The images of her pale haired love-to-be kept her from weeping like a small babe that week.
The morning she was to leave arrived happily; the sun shone over the trees with a chill on the winds and humidity in the air. Dew drops clung to every blade of grass, shining in the pale sun rising over the mountains. It was quiet as daylight broke and it knew not the sorrow it caused with its warming light.
TigerLily, down the depths of the Den, was caught in an overly warm wolf pile. Nearly every member of the Pack had claimed a piece of her to cuddle with, her mother at her head. Dreams of shadows, the figure that had such beautiful hair eluded her and caused her heart to pound erratically had plagued her the entire night. She had no idea why they were happening every night but she supposed it had something to do with her One Mate. He or she might be leagues away or in the same town a thousand yards over but whatever was going to happen during the adventure; her love would be the fruit it bore. Whenever they were meant to meet – it would happen soon. She stared at the ceiling, eyes tired yet her body was strangely awake at such an early hour. It was the morning of her departure and never in her life had she feared something more. Not when Arsenio had challenged her to a fight that would either see her dead or bring her higher in the ranks. And not when that bear had caught her unawares while she had been away on The Maturing Months, resulting in the wicked scars along her face.
'I do not wish to leave.' she thought privately, feeling tears leak out her drying eyes as she relished the heat her family gave off, 'But if I must, I will. My One Mate is out there and even if I have to tread the highest mountain or deepest grove; I shall find them. They are out there somewhere.'
Her stomach growled suddenly and it startled all the wolves on top of her as it echoed around the rock Den. The pups groaned, each one stretching and trying to snuggle back into her warmth. The older wolves stood up, whining slightly at the early hour but knowing it was TigerLily's time to leave. Custelle heaved a loud and tired sigh, a sound that seemed to resonate throughout everyone. Moans of agreement were sent back and even the pups couldn't ignore that it was time to wake up as TigerLily moved. She sat up and stretched until her bones cracked back into place. Sleeping on the floor was never comfortable, no matter how many years it had been. Then again, she had never really known what it was like to sleep on a bed like most Hobbits did. She couldn't exactly miss something she had never owned. But perhaps she'd be able to buy one soon, if she could figure out where she could get one.
TigerLily sighed and looked around at her Pack members, trying to summon up a smile for them but failed spectacularly. Tears spilled over her cheeks and she didn't bother wiping at them, as her family had already seen them. The pups whined sadly and cuddled up to her legs, laying their heads on her thighs. She pet all of them and let the tears drip off her chin down into their fur. After a few moments of silent crying, she heaved a great sigh and brushed the wet lines on my face. TigerLily gently pushed the pups off of her legs and stood up gingerly, wincing as her knees cracked. She messaged her legs, hoping they wouldn't cramp on her journey to find a new home and felt her heart crack even more at the thought.
Inwardly trembling, TigerLily began the process of gathering her items. Many of her things were collected already but her pelts and rope had been taken by the pups. They had played with them and tried to hide them in the crevices of the rock Den but TigerLily had keen senses after living with wolves all her life. Trying to hide anything from her was difficult.
Her eyesight was near to any of her kin's in efficiency and she had something was as near to night vision as possible. TigerLily's hearing had gotten keener as well and it helped quite a bit when listening for prey or other predators. Her nose was sensitive as well, which became a problem at times but was excellent when she needed it most. Her taste hadn't exactly been changed but she was able to tell if something was going rotten or not. Of course her reflexes had gotten quite the work out from the hunts she'd endured and The Maturing Months soon after. The few times she had seen a Hobbit, they had been slight and pudgy. She'd looked at herself in comparison and agreed she would be nothing like them in appearance. TigerLily was nothing like the well tended to Hobbits of The Shire or even the village next to the quaint town. While they were small and charming folk; she was larger than usual and intimidating for a Hobbit.
Her scars definitely didn't help in trying for a calming demeanor, sadly.
Finally, her things were packed into the bag she'd made and she stood at the entrance with a despondent expression. Every Pack member was sitting in front of the mouth of the Den with equally sad eyes. If wolves could cry, every one of them would weeping. As it was, the pups couldn't stop whining and their ears were flattened against their heads like they had been pinned there by a seamstress. TigerLily managed to muster up a weak smile at them all and hugged each one tightly. When it was time to bid her mother goodbye, the floodgates opened without her meaning for them to and she wrapped her arms around Custelle's neck. It would be the last time she would hug her mother or her Pack Members. She never wanted to let go.
"I love you, TigerLily; so much." Custelle whispered into her adopted daughter's wild blood red hair and nuzzled her wet nose against her cheek, "And we shall see each other again. Do not worry."
"I will miss you, so much." TigerLily mumbled into the white fur on her mother's neck and closed her eyes as new tears dampened the beautiful fur.
"I know you will. But your One Mate is out there somewhere. They will watch over you and love you until they can no longer. You will find them; this I promise you." Custelle said softly, voice displaying such conviction that TigerLily had no choice but to believe that her mother was saying. Even if she was still sad to leave.
Taking a deep shuddering breath, TigerLily stepped back and stared at her Pack. They were only twenty strong, including the five pups that sat in front of their parents. Her heart couldn't bear the thought of leaving them yet she knew it was meant to be. There was no turning back from a prophecy given by one of the Valar, despite not being present to hear it for herself. And her One Mate was calling out for her; her heart could feel it. They night not know it yet or at all but they would be together soon.
Swallowing, she hesitantly addressed her family.
"I... I will miss you all." she said, her voice wobbling no matter how strong she tried to make it seem. The whines grew louder and sadder, if possible, "But I know we will see each other again... Please take care of each other. I love you all." Before the tears could spill, she bowed deeply and threw her head back to howl at the sky.
Her Pack joined in, the cries not ones of a beginning hunt but of sadness and regret. They were seeing her off for the last time and it pained all of them to see her go. The situation surrounding her departure was explained but none could imagine why she couldn't find a mate within the Pack or a Rival Pack. Her status would no doubt generate many suitors, as would her scars of triumph but what they didn't understand is that she was human. No wolf would find her attractive, despite the rank and scars. It was out in the world, one she had longed to explore the moment she could walk, that she would find her One Mate. It might take a year or an eternity but she would find them. Eventually.
Until then, her mission was to find a home of her own and learn as much as she could in that time.
Their howls echoed to the skyline, startling birds from their perches and scaring many a prey that lived in the area. Tears streamed down her cheeks and with one more bow, she turned on her heel and left the clearing. She felt eyes on her as she was swallowed by the grove, darkness shrouding her form until she was gone from their sights. Small sobs tore themselves from her throat, a harsh and terrible sound, as she walked through the trees. TigerLily had no idea where she would go or where she would settle but she did know the pain in her heart would never be lessened, never be eased until she found her One Mate.
…Maybe.
End Chapter Two