Post by EbonyPatriot on May 17, 2011 2:05:09 GMT -5
I haven’t written a fic in a few years, so I need the practice and a chance to get a hold on the characters’ personalities again. So I decided to write this quick one-shot and finally finished it.
It’s Kapvik reaction to Waahkuuhtaan’s birth; which means it takes place after the old “Come Out of the Darkness” thread ended but before “When this Perfect Crime Makes History” starts.
___
Kapvik sleepily raised his head. The young wolverine blinked stiff eyelids, still wondering what woke him from his dreams of fighting Troodons.
Suddenly, he saw Sokuyôn leaving the sleeping pack, head down and lips and ears back. The young kit scrambled to his paws and scurried after Sokuyôn.
The tan-pawed female didn’t hear him approach until the kit was at her side. “Kapvik, what are you doing up?” she asked in surprise.
“You woke me up. Where are you going?” replied Kapvik.
“I'm having my kit,” gently explained Sokuyôn, ice blue eyes on him.
Kapvik’s ears tilted forwards. “You mean my brother or sister.”
“Half sibling, yes.”
Kapvik’s ears flattened. “But why are they being born now?”
Sokuyôn smiled a sad smile, her eyes flicking as she thought of the two kits she knew of born in the fall. “Most kits are born in spring, not fall, little Kapvik.”
“But what’ll happen if you die?!” cried Kapvik, running faster.
Sokuyôn ran an assuring tongue over Kapvik’s head. “I’ll be fine. Besides, even if something were to happen, there are more females nursing now.”
“Oh.” The two walk by a large male, sprawled on his side; the dark-brown and gold fur contrasting even in the twilight. Tazer, sire of Kapvik and the kits being born, watched the two pass without much interest, causally closing his dark red-rimmed eyes. Sokuyôn snarled at the male. “Of course, Tazer can’t be bothered to wake up…” Sokuyôn closed her eyes, nervously hoping that Kapvik hadn’t heard her complaints.
Kapvik’s ears pinned back unhappily at how disinterested his sire seemed. Was this Tazer’s response to Kapvik’s birth, too?
“Kapvik,” said Sokuyôn gently after a few minutes. “You really should wait until the kits are born to come into the den. There won’t be much to do until then, anyway. I’ll tell you as soon as they’re born,” she hastened to add at Kapvik’s sad gaze. “Then you can see them.”
Kapvik sighed and wandered off. Ears back even further, he gave a wide berth to the sleeping Storm-stalkers. The young kit feared these pied beasts: feared their size, long fangs, and fierce eyes. The little Wolverine’s stride increased after passing the Arctic beasts as he raced toward the red-and-black bird standing not far away.
“Eh?” Turgor turned his head at the sound of Kapvik’s footfalls, crest raised in alarm. The Thunderbird clacked his beak, illuminating the area (for Thunderbirds cannot see well in the dark). “Patronum!” he hissed, lowering his head. “What do you want?!”
“My siblings are being born,” replied Kapvik, skidding to a stop.
“Bah! Siblings!” scoffed Turgor. “Why are you so happy about that?”
Kapvik’s ears tilted forward in surprise, but that was the only change in the kit.
“They’re stupid pests, siblings. Stealing your food, fighting with you.”
Kapvik sat down, head to one side. “Wasn’t Ring-Of-Fire your brother?” The kit well remembered that this was the Thunderbird that took care of Tazer. “Ring-Of-Fire gave me my name, you know.”
With a screech Turgor beat his wings and stomped talon-studded feet. “You little idiot! What do you care?!”
Kapvik winced at the thunder rolling from the bird’s wings.
“Yes, Ring-Of-Fire was my brother; but I helped your sire cripple that EbonyPatriot. That idiot brother of mine tried to fight me and I…I…” Turgor’s fire-colored eyes snapped shut, his wings slapped against his sides. “I stabbed my brother in the skull.”
Kapvik whimpered. “Was he…”
“No! I only scraped the flesh, didn’t even hit the bone! It was that ugly crest of his- it slowed my claws. But I tried to kill… But it doesn’t matter; if my parents had taken better care of themselves, Ring-Of-Fire would have died anyway…”
Kapvik raced away. “Ring-Of-Fire is fine!” Turgor screeched after him. “If he stays out of my way, I’ll let him live! That goes for Ion and Alkali, too!”
Kapvik’s dark eyes were wide with fear as he stumbled past the Storm-stalkers into an open field, whimpering softly.
“You look bummed, kid.” The Wolverine whirled and snapped at the gray-and-white winged beast lazily riding the thermals. “I said, you look bummed, kid,” repeated the gray beast. “And I didn’t even steal your food, not that I remember, anyway. What’s wrong?”
Kapvik watched the gray beast circle lower, not replying- not out of anger but because he could not decide if he should tell this stranger or not.
“Oh I think I know you. Patronum, right?”
“I prefer Kapvik.”
“Oh right right! Dad told me about you- Tazer’s kit, right? Your sire sure messed up EbonyPatriot’s leg and Ken’ichi’s shoulder and…”
Kapvik turned his head to one side. The gray creature landed, revealing herself to be four-legged beast, with eagle-like wings, crested head, tan brows and brown-and-black feet. “What are you?”
“A Vispilio’s Dracovol. Say kid, you wouldn’t happen to know where Rex is, do you? Tanana wasn’t sure either, and I’m having trouble finding the Pack.”
“Rex?”
“A regular Dracovol, green-skinned, goes on two paws, no feathers; he’s a friend of mine,” explained the creature. “Listen, if you find him, tell him Tokala was asking, ‘kay? Rex’s pretty boring but still, I like him anyway.” Tokala spread her wings, the long primaries feeling for a wind.
Kapvik opened his jaws, before shutting his muzzle tight. Perhaps it would be best not to mention Tazer’s siblings, not if this Tokala was one of the Pack. The kit started back, wondering. Were siblings so bad? Turgor seemed to think so, and Balatro and Belladonna didn’t like each other.
“Tokala,” Kapvik said, just as the Vispilio’s Dracovol reared, trying to catch a better wind.
“What?”
“Are siblings that bad?”
“I don’t really remember mine. But my Dad had them; he says they’re not bad. Tanana says that this one brother, Kenai, had his brother Sitka die to save him. Then he became a bear and the other brother Denahi tried to fight him. They’re still friends; they'll do anything for each other,” replied Tokala, finally catching a thermal again. “See ya, Kapvik.”
Feeling better, Kapvik loped back. The darkening sky suddenly became a storm, drenching the kit.
Tazer suddenly stepped out of the mist and rain, lightning illuminating his dark fur. Kapvik hissed in fear. “Kapvik, where were you?” Without waiting for a reply, he continued: “Don’t leave the pack. Apparently, I still have only one back-up kit.”
Kapvik turned his head to the side, hurt by his father’s disinterest. “My sibling?”
“One female. I expected more kits out of her,” snarled Tazer, shaking the rain from his pelt. “No matter. You two will have to do to carry on my legacy.” With that, Tazer stalked back to his bed.
Sokuyôn stood not far off, teeth gleaming white in the dark and gaze fixed on Tazer. Her eyes caught Kapvik and she too shook her wet coat. “Heh, of course the kit would come during the rain. I’m not that fond it myself, despite my name.” She smiled gently. “Come and see your new sister Waahkuuhtaan, Kapvik.”
The kit eagerly followed Sokuyôn’s bushy tail down the den, freezing when the Wolverine guarding the kit snarled at him. “It’s just Kapvik, relax,” Sokuyôn called.
Kapvik gingerly continued down and stared at the squirming white fur on the ground. “A Storm-stalker!”
Sokuyôn laughs gently. “Wolverine kits are born white.”
Kapvik crawled closer. The little Waahkuuhtaan, still blind and deaf, squealed as he sniffed at her. Waahkuuhtaan suddenly started sniffing back; she licked the kit’s jowl with her tiny tongue. She felt no fear of this wet, strange-smelling intruder.
With that, Kapvik’s small circle of loved ones expanded to include this gentle half-sister. Kapvik quickly licked the top of Waahkuuhtaan’s head. “Don’t worry, Waahkuuhtaan,” he whispered. “Siblings aren’t bad. Like that Kenai Tokala mentioned, I always take care of you. I’ll always protect you…”
It’s Kapvik reaction to Waahkuuhtaan’s birth; which means it takes place after the old “Come Out of the Darkness” thread ended but before “When this Perfect Crime Makes History” starts.
___
Remember all the places you can hide
Remember we are always on your side
You're gonna see how the best survive
We make an art out of staying alive
If you do just as you're told
These are streets of gold
Kapvik sleepily raised his head. The young wolverine blinked stiff eyelids, still wondering what woke him from his dreams of fighting Troodons.
Suddenly, he saw Sokuyôn leaving the sleeping pack, head down and lips and ears back. The young kit scrambled to his paws and scurried after Sokuyôn.
The tan-pawed female didn’t hear him approach until the kit was at her side. “Kapvik, what are you doing up?” she asked in surprise.
“You woke me up. Where are you going?” replied Kapvik.
“I'm having my kit,” gently explained Sokuyôn, ice blue eyes on him.
Kapvik’s ears tilted forwards. “You mean my brother or sister.”
“Half sibling, yes.”
Kapvik’s ears flattened. “But why are they being born now?”
Sokuyôn smiled a sad smile, her eyes flicking as she thought of the two kits she knew of born in the fall. “Most kits are born in spring, not fall, little Kapvik.”
“But what’ll happen if you die?!” cried Kapvik, running faster.
Sokuyôn ran an assuring tongue over Kapvik’s head. “I’ll be fine. Besides, even if something were to happen, there are more females nursing now.”
“Oh.” The two walk by a large male, sprawled on his side; the dark-brown and gold fur contrasting even in the twilight. Tazer, sire of Kapvik and the kits being born, watched the two pass without much interest, causally closing his dark red-rimmed eyes. Sokuyôn snarled at the male. “Of course, Tazer can’t be bothered to wake up…” Sokuyôn closed her eyes, nervously hoping that Kapvik hadn’t heard her complaints.
Kapvik’s ears pinned back unhappily at how disinterested his sire seemed. Was this Tazer’s response to Kapvik’s birth, too?
“Kapvik,” said Sokuyôn gently after a few minutes. “You really should wait until the kits are born to come into the den. There won’t be much to do until then, anyway. I’ll tell you as soon as they’re born,” she hastened to add at Kapvik’s sad gaze. “Then you can see them.”
Kapvik sighed and wandered off. Ears back even further, he gave a wide berth to the sleeping Storm-stalkers. The young kit feared these pied beasts: feared their size, long fangs, and fierce eyes. The little Wolverine’s stride increased after passing the Arctic beasts as he raced toward the red-and-black bird standing not far away.
“Eh?” Turgor turned his head at the sound of Kapvik’s footfalls, crest raised in alarm. The Thunderbird clacked his beak, illuminating the area (for Thunderbirds cannot see well in the dark). “Patronum!” he hissed, lowering his head. “What do you want?!”
“My siblings are being born,” replied Kapvik, skidding to a stop.
“Bah! Siblings!” scoffed Turgor. “Why are you so happy about that?”
Kapvik’s ears tilted forward in surprise, but that was the only change in the kit.
“They’re stupid pests, siblings. Stealing your food, fighting with you.”
Kapvik sat down, head to one side. “Wasn’t Ring-Of-Fire your brother?” The kit well remembered that this was the Thunderbird that took care of Tazer. “Ring-Of-Fire gave me my name, you know.”
With a screech Turgor beat his wings and stomped talon-studded feet. “You little idiot! What do you care?!”
Kapvik winced at the thunder rolling from the bird’s wings.
“Yes, Ring-Of-Fire was my brother; but I helped your sire cripple that EbonyPatriot. That idiot brother of mine tried to fight me and I…I…” Turgor’s fire-colored eyes snapped shut, his wings slapped against his sides. “I stabbed my brother in the skull.”
Kapvik whimpered. “Was he…”
“No! I only scraped the flesh, didn’t even hit the bone! It was that ugly crest of his- it slowed my claws. But I tried to kill… But it doesn’t matter; if my parents had taken better care of themselves, Ring-Of-Fire would have died anyway…”
Kapvik raced away. “Ring-Of-Fire is fine!” Turgor screeched after him. “If he stays out of my way, I’ll let him live! That goes for Ion and Alkali, too!”
Kapvik’s dark eyes were wide with fear as he stumbled past the Storm-stalkers into an open field, whimpering softly.
“You look bummed, kid.” The Wolverine whirled and snapped at the gray-and-white winged beast lazily riding the thermals. “I said, you look bummed, kid,” repeated the gray beast. “And I didn’t even steal your food, not that I remember, anyway. What’s wrong?”
Kapvik watched the gray beast circle lower, not replying- not out of anger but because he could not decide if he should tell this stranger or not.
“Oh I think I know you. Patronum, right?”
“I prefer Kapvik.”
“Oh right right! Dad told me about you- Tazer’s kit, right? Your sire sure messed up EbonyPatriot’s leg and Ken’ichi’s shoulder and…”
Kapvik turned his head to one side. The gray creature landed, revealing herself to be four-legged beast, with eagle-like wings, crested head, tan brows and brown-and-black feet. “What are you?”
“A Vispilio’s Dracovol. Say kid, you wouldn’t happen to know where Rex is, do you? Tanana wasn’t sure either, and I’m having trouble finding the Pack.”
“Rex?”
“A regular Dracovol, green-skinned, goes on two paws, no feathers; he’s a friend of mine,” explained the creature. “Listen, if you find him, tell him Tokala was asking, ‘kay? Rex’s pretty boring but still, I like him anyway.” Tokala spread her wings, the long primaries feeling for a wind.
Kapvik opened his jaws, before shutting his muzzle tight. Perhaps it would be best not to mention Tazer’s siblings, not if this Tokala was one of the Pack. The kit started back, wondering. Were siblings so bad? Turgor seemed to think so, and Balatro and Belladonna didn’t like each other.
“Tokala,” Kapvik said, just as the Vispilio’s Dracovol reared, trying to catch a better wind.
“What?”
“Are siblings that bad?”
“I don’t really remember mine. But my Dad had them; he says they’re not bad. Tanana says that this one brother, Kenai, had his brother Sitka die to save him. Then he became a bear and the other brother Denahi tried to fight him. They’re still friends; they'll do anything for each other,” replied Tokala, finally catching a thermal again. “See ya, Kapvik.”
Feeling better, Kapvik loped back. The darkening sky suddenly became a storm, drenching the kit.
Tazer suddenly stepped out of the mist and rain, lightning illuminating his dark fur. Kapvik hissed in fear. “Kapvik, where were you?” Without waiting for a reply, he continued: “Don’t leave the pack. Apparently, I still have only one back-up kit.”
Kapvik turned his head to the side, hurt by his father’s disinterest. “My sibling?”
“One female. I expected more kits out of her,” snarled Tazer, shaking the rain from his pelt. “No matter. You two will have to do to carry on my legacy.” With that, Tazer stalked back to his bed.
Sokuyôn stood not far off, teeth gleaming white in the dark and gaze fixed on Tazer. Her eyes caught Kapvik and she too shook her wet coat. “Heh, of course the kit would come during the rain. I’m not that fond it myself, despite my name.” She smiled gently. “Come and see your new sister Waahkuuhtaan, Kapvik.”
The kit eagerly followed Sokuyôn’s bushy tail down the den, freezing when the Wolverine guarding the kit snarled at him. “It’s just Kapvik, relax,” Sokuyôn called.
Kapvik gingerly continued down and stared at the squirming white fur on the ground. “A Storm-stalker!”
Sokuyôn laughs gently. “Wolverine kits are born white.”
Kapvik crawled closer. The little Waahkuuhtaan, still blind and deaf, squealed as he sniffed at her. Waahkuuhtaan suddenly started sniffing back; she licked the kit’s jowl with her tiny tongue. She felt no fear of this wet, strange-smelling intruder.
With that, Kapvik’s small circle of loved ones expanded to include this gentle half-sister. Kapvik quickly licked the top of Waahkuuhtaan’s head. “Don’t worry, Waahkuuhtaan,” he whispered. “Siblings aren’t bad. Like that Kenai Tokala mentioned, I always take care of you. I’ll always protect you…”