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Post by Ursarius on Apr 18, 2014 18:01:20 GMT -6
The cool wind blew through her winter coat, but the sun was warm on her fur. Somewhere in the distance, birds sang. The breeze whistled through the trees and for a long while, Ursa heard nothing else and she was peaceful. She had been sitting with her back to a tree with her eyes closed, Trying to get a bit of rest. Finally she opened her wistful eyes and the light of the sun flooded her vision. The View of Pan'ti was dull and dank. The Snow had almost melted in a few places, it was brown and muddy, the grass that was visible was wilted and a murky shade of yellow.
Staring out into the woods with nothing to see, She felt a mild relief. Kadain and Urstrid managed to occupy themselves for the better part of the Afternoon, and not one person of the Dauntles Alliance were to be found. Pan'Ti forest was a retreat, and a welcome resort from the Cols Stone walls of Fort Macneil. Back to her roots at last. The Inner Bear had been awake for the better part of a week. A lame excuse for Hibernation, but she felt sort of Detached from her true form, Like the last year in Wildgard was finally beginning to separate her Human Self, and the Bear. She hardly felt like they were the same person anymore...
The Lonliness and the Loss was overwhelming. And it had been coming for a long time. She was in a constant state of grieving, and there was no hope for recovery. Missing so much of her life she often had to remind herself why she was still there. Her family had always been such a big part of her life, Her story. her strength and her determination drew from that. The Only reason she had ever made it this far. but it wasn't enough. Her Father had always told her she was destined for great things, And she had done great things. But never fulfilled her purpose, and she felt so close to the end... more than once. But there was something she was missing. A reason to Live. Over the past year she had such a desire for death, that she sought it almost religiously. but it wasn't meant to be.
The bear sighed heavily. She never was Immune to Lost, In fact the biggest Part of her had always been... Painful. Full of Grief. The end of her snout scrunched up with the thought of it. furrowed brow, Shaking her head slowly. It made her Bitter, Angry. Thinking about her past and all the things she'd been through. It made her blood boil, sitting here without a purpose... After all this time.
'I've come so far, and what do I have to prove?' She thought, the muscles in her chest constricting. '..I'm nothing. All i've done for what?' A low rumble vibrating in her chest. It was gone, almost as fast as it had come. 'At the very least I can say Wildgard has been kind of peaceful... Lack of Evil in almost all it's forms. Even the Barbarians had been behaving themselves'. Other than Billy's random disappearance and raising a Child, Ursa's Winter was almost entirely uneventful. She definitely had more allies than enemies, and people looked up to her. By this Account, Ursa was very Successful. But she wasn't happy, not in the least Satisfied. If it wasn't for Kadain and the way he helped, Ursa honestly didn't know how she held together. The Two of them had even begun to control Urstrid's barbarian Nature. For Awhile they worried the Young Cub would take after her father. Even that Chaotic disturbance had gone from a boil to a light simmer. And The Great Bear Queen began to wonder once again... '
What am I here for?'
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Valourie
Journeyman Roleplayer
Posts: 116 
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Post by Valourie on Apr 18, 2014 18:43:19 GMT -6
Meanwhile, Enjoying the same lull in chaotic Activity, Valourie stepped out of the White Temple with the intent to literally stretch her wings. Being cooped up in Lady Kirstens quarters was giving her the feeling of being a caged bird. The Air was cool, but a blessing in comparison to recent weather. It was finally Spring, And Her Amazons might finally stop complaining about the dramatic Change in climate. Even now Val wore a Thick patchwork Fur Skirt, to keep out the Cold. Her upper body had a gambeson made of her own downy feathers. The Valkyrie closed the temple doors gently behind her and turned to face the expanse of melting snow, browned grass and icy puddles across the way from the temple. Taking a deep breath of the Prairie air, Valourie opened her wings for a long slow stretch. It had been quite a few weeks since she had had a full wing span, and even longer since she had taken flight. being an Empath and drawn to all manner of Extraplanar things, she had been huddled away in hiding for the better part of the Winter. It may have snowed in Asgard, but Wildgardian winters were a forced to be reckoned with.
Her great White wings opened to the sky and closed again gently. Running a hand through her flame-colored hair, she exhaled a sigh of relief and turned her eyes to the Sky. A glint of grey in her eyes, reflection from the overcast, gave away the hint of something more in her glance. A small tugging at her heartstrings caught her attention. Her Yellow irises flickered toward the Forest. And her heart Sank. 'Another one.' She frowned. It seemed like every time she turned around there was a soul in need of saving. Without a moment to lose, she reluctantly started toward the opening of the wood. "... it's always life or Death with these people." She huffed, treading through the lightly crusted snow crystals. Crunching across the field, she took nothing with her but her stature. Most times that was all she needed.
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Post by Ursarius on Apr 18, 2014 19:24:00 GMT -6
Knowing she only had a good Hour before Kadain would come to get her, She pushed away from the Tree and rolled to her front paws. Walking on all fours she paced the forest trail before her, with her mind racing. There wa a tension in her chest that she had become so familiar with that she hardly noticed anymore. a nagging muscle ache somewhere behind her breast bone, causing a constant discomfort. It wasn't until days like this that it became really obvious. And consentrating on it only made it worse and harder to ignore. Ursa had always been the Strong Silent type. She always held her head high, smiled when she spoke. Did her best at everything she could, and never gave up until the job was done. never a minute sooner. She drove the Watchers from Wildgard, She helped Sylver drive out the Elves, And Beat back the Demon invasion. Went claw-to-claw with the Red Demon. She saw it through to the end, and Now Destael was a human, working for the Basilica no less. She would have helped Mikal take down the Barbarians of Katan if he'd asked for her Help properly. She huffed, grunting an snuffling at the ground in her frustration. 'Pff Mikal, what an Excuse for a Bear. What an Excuse for a warrior. All his schemes and plots...' She would fight the Barbarians Still, with or without him, or An Army. She never needed one before. but now that House Dauntless had banded together, and survived through the winter, She could hardly Desert them now. It was thanks to Billy and his Skills that saved her From Starfire when Ursa herself had begged the Half-Demon to kill her in cold blood. It it wasn't for her Children and Ursanid Brethren she would have succeeded, but the Dauntless were too many, and too dedicated to thier Queen that Starfire couldn't have killed her even if she was trying. Ursa would never know if he had it in her to kill her. Not now. They were gathering Members, slowly. Friends, Allies and Aquaintences first, And now others were asking to fight for her. To Die for her if need be... but it was still her that wanted to die. 'If anything...' She thought, 'Keep my Daughter safe... take anyone but my Daughter.' A tear began to form in th corner of her eye. The feeling of Obligation overwhelmed her again. A deep pressing feeling of needing to do more. Like the fight wasn't over yet. there were so many people needing to be saved. Too many lives. and if not land, then the People. Wildgard had always been without a leader. How many people tried and failed to Take Wildgard for themselves. How many times did someone lay claim to the lands and get driven out... And again, how many people could have been saved, if there were someone reliable to turn to? the Bear sat again, helpless and disgruntled. What if she had been successful in taking some sort of Wildgardian Throne? Would anyone trust her to lead? Sylver and Mikal both told her, there was too much Drama and instability in her life to rule a People. And on the Other paw, Ursarius couldn't help but think... her Household and Fighting company within the Army have been growing an going strong with a good discipline for over two Seasons... This last winter being the longest. 'If I can lead an Army with Success... I could lead a people. if I can convince a nation to go to war for me after killing thier King and my father... I could earn the trust of Wildgardians...' But was it worth it? Ursa whined quietly. Whimpering to herself. Remembering all of the trials she faced, when all the while... her Goal had always been for the Good of Wildgard. For the Good of it's people. All she ever wanted was to be a Hero... To die fighting for a cause she believed in... And she couldn't even save Starfire from herself. She couldn't do anything about Ezira, or Vija. She was Lucky Urstrid Survived losing her Soul. but it didn't save Billy. he left her and for What? she didn't even know where he was, or if he was coming back. Or if he loved her. The Bear was desprately clinging to all she had left. her Cub, And... Kadain. A Small teary grin stretched across her lips. 'He helps. he really does.' Wiping her eyes with the back of her paw, arching her neck and shoulders to try and see the Sun, the Sky was becoming greyscale again. Clouding over. "I wish there was something, some sort of Direction, Guidance. Anything." She spoke quietly, wishing with all of her heart for her father. He would know what to do. or for her Uncle Longclaws... he always had good advice. "I need help. By the Gods, some... something or Someone... I feel so alone."
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Valourie
Journeyman Roleplayer
Posts: 116
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Post by Valourie on Apr 18, 2014 19:38:32 GMT -6
The Angel tucked her wing tightly into a fold and ducked into the low hanging branches entering Pan'Ti. A quick stride took her through the woods toward the pull. She could never explain it She just knew. When she was needed it was... an Urge. Like the feeling you forgot to do something important, or forgot something in the other room. Almost Like Dejavu. Her heart was pounding and the sudden sinking in her stomache and She never knew why until it was right in front of her, All of her divinity couldn't prepare her. She reached a small clearing in the wood and she knew she was close. Slowing down to a snails pace, she combed the forest carefully.
'I'm right on top of it... I can feel it. Confusion.. pain... heartbreak.. somewhere very close.' Her eyes Widened at the sight of movement, and quite abruptly, a great shadow rose up from behind some bramble. 'A Bear?' She grit her teeth, hoping the creature would at least harbor some caution or basic empathy. And like most mortals the first thought that came to her mind was; 'A Mother bear? I wonder if her Cubs are nearby...'
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Post by Ursarius on Apr 21, 2014 1:05:47 GMT -6
From the path nearest to the forest entrance, Ursa could hear something stepping through the sodden trail. Immediately her heart skipped a beat, the Darkest things were known to sneak through the forest at times and it could have been anywhere from Wildlife to Balthazar. Her head shot up and ears flickered in the direction of the water, self-consciously, she wiped the tears from her snout with the back of her Paw. And Stood to her full eight feet...
The bear met eyes with a stunning young woman, with fiery hair, yellow eyes and stitches sewing her mouth shut; But the most stunning visual of all was the magnificent white wings on her back. Ursa wore nothing but her plain leather crown. Her mind began to race as she faced down the Woman before her. 'Who is she? What does she want?' Ursa's nostrils flared trying to get some sort of indication. Time stood still for a long while and gradually the bear trembled with a soothing radiance. All hostility within Ursa melted away and the fears she felt went with them. All that was left was a strangely misplaced calmness. The bear stood, caught in the Angels eyes until he blinked and broke the hypnosis. 'What is this? What effect could cause such a strange captivity...' It was a moment longer until Ursa could move. Taking a step backward as the Angels wings opened to the sky, shimmering in white light, Chasing away the deep hurt that she had been feeling for a full season, perhaps two. Opening her snout to speak, she grumbled in a low relaxed voice "I am Ursarius Dauntless, Queen of the Dauntless-" But she was cut off before she could finish. The angel had stolen her speech. And replaced it with her own.
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Valourie
Journeyman Roleplayer
Posts: 116
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Post by Valourie on Apr 21, 2014 1:15:25 GMT -6
"Shhhh..." Valourie held up a hand and placed it on the end of Ursa's snout for a brief moment and the retracted it. " Bear, I know who you are." She responded. "Friend."
Valourie could feel that her divinity had reached the creature, her heart swelled with regret. 'To have felt what she must have felt....' She thought, tears welling in her eyes, she tried to maintain her composure. It was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. Absorb the pain and suffering of all the living things around her. And to swallow them, somewhere deep down inside where the magic of the white light could heal it and dissipate the wrongs. but it always took a moment. Contact with the wounded transferred the memories as well, and Valourie could never turn a blind eye to true pain. "You poor Creature..." She whispered. "Where are your loved ones? Why are you out here all alone?"
She took a few steps around the Bear, running pale fingers through her fur as if to inspect invisible wounds that the Bear could not see, nor Feel. She stopped and her long elf ears took a moment to listen to the Forest Speak. And then she turned her attention back to Ursarius. "Come now, let me soothe you."
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Kadain
New Member
Monarch's Guard and Guild-Master of Warriors
Posts: 4 
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Post by Kadain on Apr 21, 2014 21:17:28 GMT -6
Giving Urstrid a break from the rigorous training and having her rest in the Fort, Kadain left
the stone sanctum in search of Ursa who somehow disappeared and has yet to
return. Looking for a tall Bear in the Lomash Plains would've been pretty easy, but for once
the field was empty so he continued into the thicket of Pan'Ti Forest. Searching for
anything in the woodland was never an easy task, but knowing dangers are often
prevalent in these woods he crept quietly...or as quietly as he could at least with
so much deadfall and twigs littering the ground now that the snow has somewhat
dispersed. "Come on, she's got to be around here somewhere..." Kadain muttered quietly
under his own breath while snapping a few twigs under his boots.
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Post by Ursarius on Apr 22, 2014 13:15:47 GMT -6
Ursa flinched as the Angel placed her hand upon her nose, and then her fur, Lowering down to her haunches and shifting uncomfortably. "...I introduced myself, so who are you? A stranger to me, I won't speak until I can call you a Friend." She said, moving away from her hands. Though she was now calm and felt safe and without pain... she was always suspicious. Wildgard was full of enemies and if they were not Dauntless, they couldn't be trusted. Though the fiery woman seemed far more friendly and diplomatic than anyone she'd met in Wildgard for quite some time...
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Valourie
Journeyman Roleplayer
Posts: 116
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Post by Valourie on Apr 22, 2014 13:24:41 GMT -6
She let her hand fall to her hips and her wings folded once again, Staring up at the bear, now nearly eye level, and smiled at her. "I apologize. My Name is Valourie Fletcher. I'm an Angel... As you might have guessed." She went to say more and stalled for a moment, a grin on her faced tugged at thick leather cord which appeared to be painfully strained on her mouth. Yet she continued to smile without a wince. "I have been watching down on Wildgard for quite some time. I Know many wildgardians and few escape my knowledge. You are one of them. Your Family bears quite the favor with the Valkyries of Asgard.... though we have never been able to secure a Dauntless Soul."
The Angel lifted her hand again and silently asked permission to continue petting her fur. Ursa blinked a half-hearted approval and studied the Angel closely.
"You poor Bear. Why do you torture yourself? There are plenty of souls down on earth that love you, that cherish you. Can you not see them?" She asked, the emotion plain to see on her face. The gentleness in her touch was enough to bring tears to Ursa's eyes again. "what would Wildgard do without you?"
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Kadain
New Member
Monarch's Guard and Guild-Master of Warriors
Posts: 4
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Post by Kadain on Apr 22, 2014 16:57:31 GMT -6
Ah Frak it... Kadain thought as he nearly slipped on another branch. "This isn't getting me anywhere and this forest is too big
for me to find her quickly..." He mutters to himself as he finds a clearing to re-adjust his equipment, the sword and shield that has
seen him through many a battle. Well, most at least save for the latest when the whitewalkers came in which most of Wildgard
wasn't better for it either. I won't fail again...not ever again That scene playing over in his head of that day's events as he
continues to look around for his Queen. Focus on the now...That's what I need to do...where could she be?
Kadain stops for a moment to take a deep breath before yelling out a loud search call that rings out throughout
the grove: "Oiii! Ursa! Where are you?!"
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Post by Ursarius on Apr 23, 2014 1:31:30 GMT -6
Staring at the ground in a daze, Ursa tried to listen to the Angel. Though her Voice sounded like it was somewhere deep within a cave and Ursa was sitting outside of it, hearing only distant echoes. Her Body was numb and she was vaguely aware of hunger... But the only thing she was certain of was the feeling of being Lost. She scoffed lightly. 'I'm Immune to all forms of Lost except Emotional.' She thought. The bear took a deep breath and sighed, the Voice of the Angel reaching her more clearly now, something she said caught her attention. "What? What did you say?" Her ears leaned forward hyper-focusing on Valourie. "You know of my Family? The Dauntless? What do you know?"
She was desperate now, 'Watching over us? From Heaven?' She thought, and Immediately she thought of her Father, maybe this Angel, or Valkyrie knew of her Father. There were so many things she didn't understand. Where was her Father Now? If the Angels didn't have his soul? Where doe a Bear go when He dies....? Her eyebrows drew together in a concerned look and her mind was racing a thousand miles a minute, now the Bear Queen couldn't help but wonder how many other Bears and Ursanids died, and where they could have went. Could Ursa even remember the names of any Bears who Died? When was the last time she heard of a Bear not being resurrected? her eyes lit up and her mouth hung open. She remembered... "My Father, My Mother? Short-tail?" These were all Ursanid. and they weren't living on the Mountain anymore. She remembered the Sacrifice of Short-Tail, Her long deceased Childhood love. How he betrayed the Mountain and was slain by his own kind and Turned into... Billy's Coat. How Longclaws Skinned him... And how Archon, refused to have her Father Strongjaw resurrected after he fell in battle... And how Ursa forbid the Elders and Longclaws to Bring Archon back when she defeated him in the pit on Bear Summit. They couldn't have been the only bears to ever permanently die... there would be hundreds of bears on the Mountain if that were the case..
She met eyes with the Angel, who smiled kindly at her. Suddenly Ursa felt something stir within her. Why was the Angel here? why did she come into the forest at just the right time.... She stood up and held her breath. 'No no... I know what you're after...' She grit her teeth and glared.
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Valourie
Journeyman Roleplayer
Posts: 116
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Post by Valourie on May 4, 2014 20:56:08 GMT -6
Valourie couldn't read minds, but it was clear by the bared fangs what the Bear was thinking. And though she wasn't far off, Valourie smiled. "Yes, I know of them, But they are not in Valhalla. Only the bravest and fiercest warriors go to Valhalla... But there is another place." As the Angel spoke, she kept her eyes on the Bear, burrowing into her soul. Delving deep into Emotions that Ursa hadn't shown the world in a very long time. Uncovering hidden truths that only the deepest reaches of her heart could see. "In a place called Folkvangr. It's like Heaven... Good Sould gather there for eternal peace when they die. I was there once, I had the Pleasure of Meeting Strongjaw, your Father."
A white light began to glow from Valourie's hands, healing the bear with each stroke through her fur. "You can go there someday, to meet him again."
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Post by Ursarius on May 4, 2014 21:05:44 GMT -6
"I wish I could see him now." She spoke under her breath. "I would give anything to get out of this plane of existence...." Ursa had spoken without much thought, Saying the first thing that came to her mind. But it was truthful. What was there for her, truly... on this plane? At that very moment she was ready to die.
Her mind drifted back to her Cub, And Kadain, the only Family she really had left... How could she leave them in the middle of the war? And With Drogax trying to propose to her.... If Urstrid died... She could be resurrected, now that she was the owner of her soul again. That was the key to the Bear's Immortality, the Gift of ever-lasting life was the very essence of what it means to be a Bear. Urstrid gave it away without even thinking about it, How could someone-Even a child- do something so reckless, surely they must understand how crucial it would be to Give Away the only thing keeping you alive forever... ursa's eyes widened.
'That's it!' She thought, looking the Angel in the eye. "I have a proposition for you." She said. Clearing her throat. "And this is very Important."
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