No, no body, no crime

It had been a glorious last few weeks without the drama as Harper carried on with her plans to leave and while she could have -- and probably should have -- left without a word, without a goodbye, Harper had hung back to say her goodbyes to Amaranth, which had turned into one last emotional journey together, and Harper had even taught the girl a nice phrase in their native tongue for something, and someone special. She’d known it was for Valeska; what other russian speaker did Amaranth care about so deeply?

Oh, what would it matter? Harper would be out of everyone’s fur soon enough. Tonight was the night that she had planned on leaving, but not before she visited her home one last time. Her home, which was a cave on the mountain side that she’d found; it had gorgeous cave-plants inside, and most of all? Cute, little rainbow flying sea turtles! Green bodies, orange eyes, and rainbow shells with cute little heart patterns on their shells. They had been the reason that she kept coming back; she loved them, even if they weren’t real. She knew that in truth, they were normal more than a few bats that lived in the caves that somehow looked like sea turtles when she was under certain influences. Together, they came to take the form of a shadow wolf that she’d been talking to, lately; a shadow man that she was in a secret relationship with, because well - he wasn’t real.

It had been a nice, quiet evening until, suddenly, it wasn’t. The temperature dropped and the growls of the wind caught her attention. The sky darkened. Harper was at the edge of the territory, glancing up at the sky with a deep inhale. She always did enjoy the way the air smelled right before it rained. There was a certain calm in the air as she shook her head and headed out for the last time. She could bask in the thrill of the thunder and the rain somewhere else. She needed to leave now before she talked herself out of it.

It was now or never.

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[narrow width=700]She had been thinking about it the whole day. It colored her thoughts, her movements, even the set of her jaw; as she chewed through breakfast with Amaranth, it ground between her teeth like hardened gristle, despite the actual tenderness of the flesh she actively tore apart. How dare she. What was supposed to be a beautiful, touching, heartfelt moment between her and her now-lover Amaranth had suddenly turned sour with the revelation that Harper had seen fit to teach her Russian - specifically, how to call someone a smelly moose. Annika would never dare such a feat, and she knew with every fiber of her being this could be the doing of only one wolf.

Harper.

And, gods forgive her language, that bitch had been avoiding her for days since Rhelenso's introduction into the pack. Valeska could catch faint whiffs of her scent, but rarely did she spend time at her own den; she always seemed to be just out of reach, just far enough away that confrontation seemed impossible.

She loved her sister.

She loved her so much she was ready to light her ass on fire.

With the nose of a woman furious and determined, she pinpointed Harper's location, and glimpsed her having the audacity to look happy and peaceful at the outskirts of their territory as she - what? Was she going to leave? Without so much as a by-your-leave, that would just be it? The little wolf burned, absolutely smoldered with fury. Her sister's treatment of Rhelenso and her sly, misplaced murmurings in Amara's innocent golden ears were too much to bear, and she slithered up through the tall grass like a silver snake before howling her rage nary two yards behind her sibling.

“HARPER,” she bellowed, her thick Russian accent pouring out with a depth of tone she never knew she possessed. “WE NEED TO TALK.”

Squaring her shoulders, tail high over her back, Valeska bristled with anger. “О чем ты, черт возьми, думал, когда учил Амаранта говорить это?!” — 'What the fuck were you thinking teaching Amaranth to say that?!' she snarled, golden eyes flashing their indignation. “Вы оскорбляете Реленсо в лицо, а теперь это?!” — 'You insult Rhelenso to his face, and now this?!'

“Теперь я вижу что ты крадешься, как трус! Объяснять!” — 'Now I find you sneaking away like a coward! Explain!'
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HARPER.

 

Ah, there it was, the screams of her sister. She screamed in such a tone that, for a moment - though brief - Harper was slightly frightened, until the feeling settled, and Harper smiled sheepishly, suddenly now impressed. And then, of course, came the one sentence that every girl hated when it came out the mouth of their partner, yet Harper merely smirked. “No, I don’t think we do.” Harper muttered softly and sweetly, her own accent thick as she spoke carefully and slowly - as if to make sure that her sister could understand her the first time around. Not that Valeska had ever not understood.

Oh, the way Valeska exploded in anger; her tail high in the air, snarling as if the little wolf could intimidate her? HER, the Amazonian woman of Elysium? Bitch, please. Her ears flattened and her hackles lifted; the speak of Rhelenso and Amaranth in a single breath caused her to laugh bitterly with the shake of her head as insults, followed by demands, were shoved into her direction.

She was silent for a moment, licking over her lips as she lowered her face to the ground, making firm eye contact as an obvious challenge to the silver alpha as she spoke all but two words.

 

“MAKE ME.”

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[narrow width=700]The moment Harper's hackles raised in consequence to her own, she could feel the air crackle between them with the furious energy of their unresolved conflict. She, too, felt the tension between them - just as she knew the only way to resolve it. The moment the words 'Make me' left her smirking lips was the moment that her dark sibling sealed her fate, and Valeska sprang forward, jaws parted, snarling fury toward the woman who had shown her and Rhelenso such blatant disrespect. Rhelenso's ill-fated introduction alone she could grit her teeth and try to forgive; but teaching Amaranth to call her a smelly moose was a step too far.

Of course, her sister was also about twice her weight, and in the instant she corkscrewed toward her neck, her sister also twisted away and slammed a paw down against her chest to deter her path. Valeska's jaws only narrowly clipped Harper's neck, catching a scant tuft of fur as she suffered the brunt of her own attack, crashing into the earth with a resounding thud as she scrabbled furiously to her paws to retaliate once more.

“Не принижай меня!” — "Don't belittle me! she snarled, leaping again for her sister, this time aiming her shot toward the scruff. She would never shoot to kill, especially not Harper; as angry as she was, her sibling was still far from the danger of any lethal damage, but it did not negate her fury as she struck forward like a viper.

{rolled 1 from a 1d10; Valeska is at 22/30 HP, Harper at 29/30.}

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This was not the first time that Valeska and Harper clashed forces against one another, though it would be the first time that Harper would fight back. She had always refused to fight her sister in their younger years for obvious reasons, but that was then and this was now. Things had changed since then, and Harper would no longer roll over and submit before the smaller canine.

Valeska’s first attack was weak, and Harper had assumed that the silver leader simply did not have enough fuel or motivation to strike her. That would change. The first attack was a given, as Harper would allow it without consequence. Everything after though? Oh honey, that was fair game.

“Ты меня не заказываешь, ты вонючий ... вонючий ... лось” — You do not command me, you stinky… smelly… MOOSE! She would smile slowly and sweetly, barely even blinking as Valeska’s second attack was… not the most spectacular thing that Harper had ever seen.

An ear folded back and Harper took a deep inhale as she spat and roared her nasty woof breath at her sister. This was meant to stop the girl in her tracks or to confuse her, so that Harper could slap the smaller girl in the face, though with enough strength that it would be obvious to Valeska that Harper was taking it easy on her, for now. It would feel like a gentle pat on the cheek, as if to taunt the girl; as if to rub it in that Valeska could never truly hurt her. 

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[narrow width=700]Valeska bounced harmlessly off of her sister like a cotton ball in the wind. It served only to incense her further, and as she moved to correct her lunge, the larger wolf merely stuck out a paw and deftly swatted her away. She was simply too angry, too upset to coordinate herself in any real way, and the lack of control she felt in the situation stung at the corners of her eyes in the form of burgeoning tears. She snarled and barely managed to nick Harper’s paw with the edge of her teeth.

Valeska turned her head away at the sudden onslaught of foul breath. It would be like her sister to fight dirty when she did. “А ты неуклюжий пещерный медвед!” — “And you are a bumbling cave-bear!” she spat back, fur bristling like quills down her spine. Harper’s jeering laughter hurt. “ Почему ты его ненавидишь? Он больше не верен этому ребенку! Он хотел измениться!” — “Why do you hate him? He is not loyal to that child anymore! He wished to change!”

Referring to Rhelenso, topic number one of this encounter. She had found him, coughing and half-drowned at a river in this new world, weak and in need of help - he had been remorseful, he had said sorry and he meant it. Why could Harper not see his intent?

“ Вы ему даже шанса не дадите! Я прощаю его, хотя моё сердце-” — “You will not even give him a chance! I forgive him, although my heart is-“ she choked on the words, swallowed them back down like bile in her throat. Harper had soiled that moment, too; that tender exchange in Amaranth’s den, of two secret lovers confessing their raw and wild emotion to one another.

She drew her lips back over her teeth and waited.

I rolled a 3, Harper rolled 4. Valeska 18/30 HP, Harper 26/30 HP.

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The nick to her paw was no more painful than a little pinch, but alas, as Valeska's insults came, Harper snorted with the shake of her coat as she stopped a moment to blink at the snarling, though still very stinky, moose, who had just called her a cave bear. She grunted, ears low as she snarled right on back. “'Cuse me. Cave-bur? Am notts!” Harper roared, though her roars silenced as she scoffed.

Oh ho, so the runner up was Rhelenso Salvatore. Valeska wished to know why Harper loathed that man so much, as if she didn't have a pair of working eyes. “О, так ты воняешь И ты слепоN.” — Oh, so you stink AND you're blind. Well, that actually made sense, but that didn't matter right now. She charged at her sister with a snarl, aiming to knock her over with sheer force, as to grab for the silvery woman's cheek tuffs/furs, which she'd gather between her teeth and simply shake her head around to pull at her hair.“Как вы можете так легко прощать, если они и он ничего не сделали для поиска искупления?” — How can you forgive so easily when they and he have done nothing to seek redemption?

And had it not been for Valeska's vision, Elysium would have never come to pass, and they would have been stuck under the clutches of mad men. Mad men that had been invited into the comfort of their home. Where one Salvatore was, the others would surely follow. Or they'd come and take back Rhelenso, and he would abandon them a second time. “Почему ты не видишь то, что прямо перед тобой?” — Why can you not see what is right in front of you? Probably because she was blind, as Harper had just pointed out, though to this, of course, she had meant both her hatred for Rhelenso as well as Amaranth. 

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Valeska: 14/30
Harper: 25/30

She rolled a 1, I rolled a 4. 

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[narrow width=700]Really? Harper didn't see herself as the lumbering, wildly offensive, mean-spirited ursine that she had behaved as lately? Slipping foreign-tongued insults meant to pass from beloved friend to cherished sister, and aggressively snapping her jaws like some craven beast in the face of new recruits? This was not what their pack had been founded on. The smaller wolf flushed with indignation.

And then trying to leave without saying goodbye.

“По крайней мере, от меня не пахнет обманом, и я вижу, когда человек ищет прощения!” — "At least I don't stink of deceit, and I can see when one seeks forgiveness!" she shot back, ears flat against her skull. Even as Harper moved to charge her head-on, she continued to speak, venom and pained injustice dripping from her words. “Он искал искупления - кто мы такие, чтобы быть судьей и присяжным? Кроме того, мы не знаем, что другие Сальваторе пересекли завесу!” — "Redemption he has sought - who are we to be judge and jury? Besides, we do not know that other Salvatores have crossed the veil!"

'Why can you not see what is in front of you?'

Well, she could. It was coming right at her, all 126 pounds of it.

She realized this was suddenly the most immediate of her concerns.

In a surprising show of nimbleness, Valeska leapt into the air and twisted not unlike a cat; Harper's teeth snapped shut around her tail at the same moment Valeska caught hold of the larger wolf's right ear. They both snarled their rage, but remained locked in their ridiculous embrace, neither willing to yield as they turned awkward circles in an attempt to gain the upper hand. If Harper pulled, her ear would have followed suit; likewise with her sister's tail.

“Вы были умышленно агрессивны и неприветливы!” — "You have been willfully belligerent and unwelcoming!" she snarled through clenched teeth, refusing to break her hold as they continued to rotate like some kind of backwards Oroboros. “А потом ускользнуть, как вор в ночи! Вы лучше этого!” — "And then to slink off as a thief in the night! You are worthy of more!"

Her tail was beginning to throb, but she held on with a furious determination, claws gripping her sides for purchase - she wasn't done with Harper, or her ear, just yet.

“А ты - зачем ты поставил Амарант на свой путь войны? Учить ее говорить на нашем языке, но жестоко!” — "And you - why did you bring Amaranth into your war-path? Teaching her to speak our tongue, but cruelly!"

Another growl rattled deep within her throat.

“Стыд! Она невиновна!” — "Shame! She is innocent!"

{Valeska rolled 9, Harper 6; Valeska 8/30 HP, Harper 16/30 HP}

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Harper did not see herself as any of these, though perhaps that was because she was just as blind as her moose-sister. Her moose-sister could fly in the air like lightning, because she was smaller and had wings. Harper’s attack on those pinchable cheeks had failed, though not entirely so, as Harper found her jaws around the tail of the viper, and thus, she would have to settle for the attack on the tail; tugging and nibbling in a somewhat aggressive manner as they became a whirlwind of light and dark. Both determined. Both hurt. Both stubborn. How many tugs would it take for either of them to give in?

You are worthy of more!

There it was. There were the answers that Valeska was so blind to see, coming right out of her own damn mouth! “Yes.” Harper would whisper softly; so soft that the only way for Valeska to truly hear her, would be only if Valeska stopped snarling and growling at her. And once (assuming she had quieted) Valeska was quiet enough to Harper’s liking, she would continue. “Yes, you are.” Harper would repeat, but only if Valeska had chosen to quiet down. This would earn her the retrieval of her tail, regardless if Valeska still held her by the ear. 

“Валеска, ты моя сестра. Моя первая сестра и моя младшая сестра. Моя сестра, которая ... Я не была ... большую часть нашей жизни, хотя и не по нашей вине. Я люблю тебя, черт возьми; Я не знаю, что мне нужно сделать, чтобы вы открыли глаза и увидели это. Чтобы убедиться, что да, вы заслуживаете большего, чем может предложить Rhelenso.” — Valeska, you are my sister. My first sister and my baby sister. My sister, who… I was not there for… for a good portion of our lives, though no fault to our own. I love you, god damn it; I do not know what I have to do for you to open your eyes and see that. For you to see that yes, you are worthy... of more than Rhelenso has to offer.

Harper cleared her throat as a strange wetness formed in her eyes and began to roll down the sides of her face as she glanced to her sister with a soft, vulnerable expression. Not an emotion that the Amazonian Cave-Bear often showed - if ever. There were, in her opinion, not many wolves that were worthy enough to care for, but Valeska was her person. 

“Я был так счастлив за вас, знаете ли, несмотря на то, что он и его семья были грубыми, обидными и неуважительными по отношению к нам, я был счастлив - и немного завидовал, но в основном счастлив! - для тебя, ладно? А потом Реленсо, он забрал счастье моей сестры, и он РАЗБИЛ ЕГО без сожаления! Тебе было больно. Я знаю, что вы были такими, хотя вы и поступали жестко, но сначала положите рюкзак, чтобы скрыть свои чувства. И я подвел тебя. Я не знала, как утешить тебя… но Амарант знал.” — I was so happy for you, you know, despite that he and his family were rude, hurtful, and disrespectful to us, I was happy - and totally a little envious, but mostly happy! - for you, okay? And then Rhelenso, he took my sister’s happiness, and he CRUSHED IT without remorse! You were hurting. I know you were, though you acted tough; put the pack first to hide how you felt. And I failed you. I did not know how to comfort you… but Amaranth did.

“А потом вы его простили. Ты заставил меня почувствовать, что то, что я чувствовал к нему из-за тебя ... было недействительным, как будто я не имел права чувствовать. У меня никогда не было разбитого сердца с ледяной камерой, но когда вы поступили так, как будто простили его, и хотели, чтобы мы - я - подставили другую щеку в его обиды, на то, как он уже доказал вам (и нам), что он так готов покинуть тебя, когда ты заслуживаешь и достоин большего, Валеска, я ... я ... не знала, что должна была чувствовать. Ты моя сестра. Я всегда буду ставить тебя на первое место. Раньше у меня никого не было. У меня была мама. А потом она присоединилась к Пятерке, они забрали ее обратно ... а потом никого не было, и я был один. А потом я попросил Пятерку дать мне кого-нибудь, кто будет направлять меня, я нашел вас. Вы - весь мой мир, и я не могу просто сидеть сложа руки, пока кто-то - кто угодно - проявляет к вам такое неуважение.” — And then you forgave him. You made me feel like the way I felt over him because of you... was invalid, like I didn't have the right to feel. I have never had my ice chambered heart broken, but when you acted like you forgave him, and wanted us - me - to turn the other cheek at his wrongings, at how he had already proven you (and us) that he was so willing to abandon you, when you deserve and are worthy of so much more, Valeska, I... I... didn't know how I was supposed to feel. You are my sister. I will always put you first. I didn't have anyone before. I had momma. And then, she joined the Five, they took her back.. and then there was no one, and I was alone. And then I asked the Five to give me someone to guide me, I found you. You are my entire world, and I cannot simply sit idly while someone - anyone - shows you such disrespect.

And as if her words were not enough, Harper would fell to the ground with a series of whimpers as she threw her head back to the sky and cried mournfully into the evening night sky.

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[narrow width=700]Traditionally speaking, her sister had always been a wolf of few words. Nothing was worth saying if it took more than a few terse lines - either the topic at hand being perceived as far overblown, or perhaps Harper assumed the parties involved too stupid to condense their thoughts - but body language and subtle shifts in her expression usually did the job well enough. The most she had ever spoken to Valeska at any one time was the first instance she had begun consuming Special Herbs to boost her English, specifically to announce her marriage.

Still rattling her anger like an agitated snake, she almost missed the childlike whisper that floated up from below.

'Yes.'

Had she imagined it?

'Yes, you are.'

Valeska's irate growling stopped immediately, and some of the tension in her jaw slacked as she slowly turned away to release Harper's ear, though she remained perched on the woman's back. She felt her tail slip out of her sister's teeth. What on earth? It was unlike her to just... give in. Harper was as stubborn as an ox and known to hold grudges for much longer than most folks, much less forfeit a fight.

The little wolf stayed tense as she waited for what came next.

She knew Harper loved her, in her gruff, occasionally misinterpreted way, but against someone whose love language was gentle words of affirmation, Valeska had to work hard to understand it. Perhaps there weren't necessarily degrees of love, but she always thought herself to be the more emotionally inclined of the two. She was all softness and honeyed words, wisdom and sage advice; Harper was hard nuzzles and simmering quietly and protectively nearby. The dark woman wasn't one who told others her thoughts and feelings; she showed them. She showed them by simply being there.

Harper also showed them by being the first to jump to her sister's defense, attempting to ward off the perceived danger re-entering their lives in the form of a man named Rhelenso - while his intentions may have been noble, she did not forget so easily. And she was not wrong - Valeska had waited. Weeks turned to months, yet he never did return to his professed love from the empty tundra as he had promised so ardently after stealing her heart away, all that time spent whispering sweet nothings and making love together in their idleness for... what? All Harper saw was a dead man revived. Her sibling may have seen goodness in his heart and reform in his eyes, but she learned about others through actions.

Love, love, love.

Valeska heard the words, but they sounded far away.

Love, love, love.

For the first time since they were children, Harper was speaking her language - all gentleness and affection and praise, everything she had always suspected but so desperately craved to hear from her lips.

Harper loved her. She still loved her.

As the dark woman fell to her knees with a sorrowful whimpering, Valeska slid off unceremoniously from her back and stood on quiet paws made of stone. She had never known how she would react to something like this from her sister - it was difficult merging the fantastic with reality, the image of Harper collapsing into a mewling heap until she threw her head back and wept to the Gods themselves, her sonorous cry, even in grief, still a beautiful sound.

Valeska hesitated for just a moment, and then very slowly and very deliberately crawled back up onto Harper like a plush white blanket of comfort.

“Это хорошо, сердце мое,” — "It is well, my heart." she cooed gently, licking the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Мне очень жаль, что я причинил тебе боль в своем гневе. Вы имели в виду хорошо; но я не ... Я не думаю, что вы должны так беспокоиться о Реленсо.” — "I am sorry I hurt you in my anger. You meant well; yet I do not... I do not think you must worry so about Rhelenso.

The howling stopped. Valeska suddenly felt very scrutinized, and she held her sister tighter round the middle, muzzle resting stubbornly atop her head as she refused to meet Harper's eyes. If she couldn't see her, she couldn't feel embarrassed.

“Я не знаю, какое обсуждение привело вас к тому, что вы научили Амаранта этой фразе,” — "I do not know what discussion led you to teach Amaranth that phrase." she said quietly, rolling her gaze up to look at the evening stars just now twinkling into view. For once, she didn't really know what to say. “... Ее произношение было идеальным.” — "... Her pronunciation was perfect."

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It was to the thanks for a ruthless tyrant that Harper had learned pretty early on that actions spoke louder than words ever could. Creatures could lie, and have no trouble doing so, while actions betrayed words and could not be as easily faked. She had been forced to become a canine of action quite early on, in a world where her mere existence was treated far worse than the coronavirus ever was.

She’d never been taught about love languages. Her mother taught her about herbs to hide the pain of being exiled after losing nearly her entire litter, because let’s face it, she very nearly did. Valeska was still alive, and with Dimas, but Annika would never see her again. It had been only Harper, who had cried many nights, only to be told to hush.

Hush, darling; let’s learn about the earth. So whenever Harper was sad, she learned about the earth instead of talking about her feelings. And now, when she was sad, there were Special Goods to take that made her feel like she was walking on clouds, but even then, that did nothing. In the end, her feelings didn’t matter. In the end, Harper felt smaller than the smallest little flea.

And as they fought, Harper could hold it in no more. Actions, to her, were more potent, sure; but sometimes, Harper hurt too much that words needed to express how she felt. And when the words were not enough, she would howl the saddest, yet most beautiful song into the sky.

Valeska licked at her ears and clung to a side of her sister that she had never seen. Yet, she remained there, comforting her in her time of need, instead of judging; instead of laughing. She held Harper tight, and Harper, for a time, buried her face into her sister’s shoulders, perhaps making it easier for Valeska to hide her gaze from her sobbing sister.

She would listen within the silence, only moving away from her sister as she turned to look at the evening night sky. Harper, too, would gaze up at the stars as the evening turned almost romantic. “Почему он тебе вообще понравился? Он не очень хороший любовник” — Why did you even like him? He is not a very good lover. Harper snorted, wrinkling her nose up at her sister as she moved her tail to curl around her sister’s bum. Of course, they hadn’t actually danced, not in the way he had danced with Valeska. Not in the way that she had danced with Crux, the darling.

Ah, just thinking about him and their time together, Harper took a deep inhale. And then, of course, came the speak of Amaranth. “Ах, Амарант. В первый раз, когда мы встретились, вы хотели испытать полет с root-правами. Итак, я подумал, что в последний раз мы полетим вместе с root. И мы полетели. Она не сказала мне, что эта фраза была для тебя, но ха! - Какому еще русскоязычному малышу она хотела бы сказать особое сообщение? С какой еще русскоговорящей малышкой она себя ассоциировала, кроме тебя? Я не сказал ей, что это подлое или жестокое послание. Я хотел быть глупым, мелочным и злобным.” — Ah, Amaranth. The first time we met, you wanted to experience flying, with root. So, I figured we would fly with root for our final time together. And we flew. She did not tell me the phrase was for you, but ha! - what other russian speaking babe did she want to give a special message to? What other russian speaking babe did she associate herself with, but you? I did not give her that message to be mean or cruel. I wanted to be silly, and petty, and spiteful. Harper would lean over to lick her sister’s cheek, nuzzling her from the cheek to her ear as she whispered: “Вы хотите знать, что было ее настоящим посланием к вам?” — Do you want to know what her real message to you was?

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[narrow width=700]The silence between them clung like a veil for eternity. They need not speak, their breaths hushed and quickened, merely existing betwixt each other as opposites; within and without, inhale and exhale. Valeska nourished, Harper fed, the two sisters like a self-fulfilling cycle as they drew comfort from one another. The silver wolf rarely found the opportunity to soothe her hot-blooded sister, but relished the moments between them as she licked the pain away with her soft, reassuring tongue, grooming the fur that so often lay rumpled within her brow. Harper was beautiful. She was, in all respects, the true beauty of the pair; her dark, cinnamon fur and its patterns swirling in an exotic pattern far removed from Valeska's plain, light-coated pelt, more suited to tundra than fascinating woodwork better meant to blend in with the forest.

She had always thought Harper was beautiful.

Her frantic, loving caresses ceased briefly so that she might speak her peace. The cruelty of Dimas had never touched Harper, though the neglect of her true sire had left its scouring mark upon her heart; yet even still, through her gruff way of speaking, it did not sting. It did not hurt. Valeska drank it in as a woman dying of thirst.

'Why did you even like him? He is not a very good lover.'

Valeska opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again quickly, thinking. Is not a very good lover. Had Harper danced with him? Had they... exchanged intimacies, grown close, despite her supposed connection with the war-torn man? Her jaws parted again, but no sound emerged. She could not decide if she was distraught or relieved. Instead, she listened further as her sister's tail curled protectively, soothingly around her.
No.
Harper would not do such a thing unbidden. She... she could not. She could be mean, but she was not cruel.

The silver wolf settled.

As Harper spoke next, Valeska could feel her cheeks flush ever hotter as she understood that Amaranth had come to her dark sibling with a purpose, with intent. Harper continued flippantly, and the little she-wolf heard bits and pieces of roots exchanged, of languages learned, of phrases sought - and she could hardly contain it. Like a bubble it grew inside her, swelling with each word, until finally she could contain it no more and it burst forth in a sudden explosion of emotion and words.

“Я люблю ее,” — "I love her." she spilled forth, still refusing to look her in the eye from her perch. “Она говорила на нашем языке ... довольно хорошо. Это было подло, но... Я знала, что это значит.” — "She spoke our tongue... quite well. It was mean, but... I knew what it meant.

Valeska hesitated, quivering in her nervousness.

“Она говорила на нашем языке, и ...” — "She spoke our tongue, and..."

She gently chomped Harper's ear.

“Спасибо. Ты полный отстой.” — "Thank you. You suck."

The little wolf cleared her throat and stared up at the night sky full of stars.

“Итак ... вы все еще хотели, чтобы на ужин были Крукс и Горизонт событий? Сердце мое, нам нужно многое приготовить.” — "So... did you still want to have Crux and Eventful Horizon over for dinner? We have much to prepare, my heart."

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Who knew the stoic, emotionally detached female could feel so many emotions at once? She had recalled the confusion on Rhelenso’s face; the same confusion she was now feeling in rewards to this emotion that Valeska announced for Amaranth; an emotion that, quite honestly, felt like old news.

She was confused; it was written on her face, though with Valeska not looking at her - she likely would have missed it. Her ears lowered, thinking of Rhelenso, above all else; how confused he was when they danced. How Valeska had more in common with the man of ice than Harper had with her own husband. 

“Откуда вы знаете?” — How do you know? Harper whispered quietly, though it was not to challenge. Harper lifted her head to meet Valeska’s eyes as her ear was taken hostage, once again. 

“На что похожа любовь?” — What does love feel like? Harper asked, though quickly now, as she hadn’t wanted her sister to think that her question and her confusion had anything to do with the fact that Valeska liked girls, or that she loved Amaranth; that, Harper knew and accepted, but rather… she was asking for guidance for herself. 

Now it was Harper’s turn to look away, as she suddenly felt vulnerable and weak. She gave a sigh and a whimper, nodding her head yet still refusing to meet her sister’s eyes. She didn’t like this feeling; she usually had things to hide behind. She’d glance back up at the stars with a deep sigh. “Однажды я надеюсь испытать ту же любовь, что и Амарант, с Круксом. Может быть, ужин поможет мне определить, что я к нему чувствую.” — One day, I hope to have the love you have with Amaranth, with Crux. Maybe the dinner will help me determine how I feel about him.

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[narrow width=700]"How do you know?"

The wild, burning amethyst eyes of her sister rose to meet her own golden pools, holding an expression that could only be described as almost childlike in its wonder. Rarely did Harper allow her prideful façade to drop, presenting always as unflappable and unerring, but it fell away now as the dark she-wolf showed a fresh vulnerability that only their mother had ever seen.

It took her a moment - a few, actually - and in the interval Valeska had to understand what she meant, Harper continued.

"What does love feel like?"

The little wolf was surprised by the question, but dared not show it on her face lest her sibling retreat back into her hardened shell, frightened and embarrassed - Valeska was not here to judge the inner workings of her heart. She knew little of her relationship with Crux, only that they had met by chance, fallen in love and just as swiftly become husband and wife; it happened so quickly, they hadn't even enjoyed a ceremony to accompany the event.

That gave her another idea; but it could come later.

Valeska let the question sit for a few moments, forced for once to assess her own thoughts on something she had only recently been able to identify and still barely able to understand. What does love feel like? She hadn't thought about it before.
It felt... warm. Comforting. It didn't scorch like an infatuation, all tingly blue butterflies and stomach-knots; it burned with a deeper intensity, glowed like an ember on a warm summer night. How could she say it?

“Я думаю, это как... вернуться домой. Это не кажется маниакальным.” — "It's like... coming home, I think. It doesn't feel manic." Valeska hummed and diverted her attention back to the twinkling sky overhead, as if she might draw more meaning from the vast expanse that sprawled above them. What was it like for Harper? “Это удобно. Мы уже так много времени провели вместе, это как-то легко.” — "It's comfortable. We've spent so much time together already, it has a sort of ease."

She was startled by Harper's dejected whimper, and turned to give her a worried look. Apparently this went much deeper than she'd thought, and without waiting for more, reached over and gave her sister a comforting lick on the cheek. “Это займет время. Вы только что встретились; он кажется хорошим человеком. Мы пригласим его семью на ужин и, с вашего разрешения...” — "Give it time. You have only just met; he seems like a good man. We'll have his family over for dinner and, with your permission..." she smiled tentatively, casting Harper a shy look. “Мы можем, наконец, провести вашу свадебную церемонию. Если, конечно, вы не хотите подождать.” — "We could finally have your wedding celebration. Unless, of course, you wish to wait."

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In the passing moments that it took her sister to speak, Harper was sure that she died. It felt like a million years had passed since she had asked and when her sister finally responded, Harper exhaled deeply; so deeply that she hadn’t realized that she’d been holding her breath.

But her response had left Harper feeling even worse. Her eyes grew soft and her ears lowered. It was like coming home… but for Harper, she’d never had that feeling. She’d never had a home, because she’d been so violently removed from hers that she swore to herself to never feel that comfortable again.

Would she never feel love for Crux, then? He seemed like a good, kind man, though so even if it was loveless, that would be alright wouldn’t it? The lick on her cheek caused Harper to smile softly towards her sister. “Мне бы это очень понравилось.” — I would really love that. Harper whispered softly, leaning over to drape her head over her sister’s nape with a deep sigh. “Мне так повезло с тобой, даже если ты вонючий лось.” — I’m so lucky to have you, even if you’re a smelly moose.

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Valeska couldn't understand the sudden sorrow in her eyes; had that not been what her sister longed to hear? Had she said something wrong? Distressed, the silver woman pressed closer still, urging her muzzle further into the great dark neck that smelled so deliciously of fading smoke and sweet vanilla. She breathed deeply, letting it flood her senses - Valeska had meant it.

Love was just like coming home.

Romantic or otherwise.

“Может быть, мужчины все равно немного другие. Все, что я знаю, это любовь к Амаранту,” — "Maybe men are a little different anyway. All I know is what love feels like with Amaranth." she said, grinning awkwardly. “Дай ему шанс. Мальчики странные.” — "Give him a chance. Boys are weird."

As Harper mused further, Valeska was surprised by the sudden, gentle pressure over her nape - and she sighed contentedly, reveling in the rare display of affection from her oft-stoic sibling. The dark wolf wasn't publicly known to show any feelings besides distaste for certain individuals, and seeing her so open and raw both twisted up her insides and filled her with love for her sister. Once, time had torn them apart, but they would always find their way back to each other's hearts.

“Мне больше повезло с тобой,” — "I am luckier still to have you." she replied softly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “И я не вонючий лось, а ты ужасный пещерный медведь.” — "And I'm not a smelly moose, you horrible cave-bear."

The night had descended in full, bringing with it the sounds and smells of the quiet dark as fireflies flickered to life around them - it was time to return to the dens. They had a wedding to plan.


{Exit Valeska}

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