The Closed Eyes of the Lord

@M’Jakuna

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A jarring pain. A crushing one that sends shocks down your body. A frozen state, and then the cold chill of the wind.

The wind stilled on his back, ruffling each and every fur that made its home there. It had pushed it upwards, shifting the matts that lay across his pelt. They stuck upwards, like a bedhead after one damn good sleep. It was dark, darker than he'd last seen. He remembered the gentle sun brushing the earth below, now that sun was gone. Upon Vuh'ahluhn craning his head upwards he noticed the clouds dancing in front, taking the attention away from the burning ball.

It was all overwhelming, really. The new scents, the chill, the differences in weather. Yet among all these sudden sensations the scent of wolves busted their way through the wall, claiming an ever so obvious huddle in his nasal passage. Not enough population to be a pack, but the territory marks seemed to be there.
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It'd not been long since he had decided upon the lake to be their new grounds; it reminded him of the mountains where he was born, raised—isolated enough to keep them away from easy access, the fish within the lake and straying deer were plentiful enough he knew they didn't have to wander far if they didn't desire to.

This meant establishment. M'Jakuna would stalk out one evening while he knew Ozai was watched over, a final sweep of their new border, refreshing the scent markers as he saw fit.

Though that would not be all he saw... a pelt amongst the slim foliage, striking not for its color, but for its familiarity. M'Jakuna had to shake his head before advancing, believing briefly it would be too good to be true. "Vuh'ahluhn?" he dared to utter, several feet away from the wolf he so wished to be who he thought. Confirmation would come in scent. And M'Jakuna would perk, hastily moving forward until he could press his nose to the cheek of the other. "It is you, oh, are you alright?" He flicked an ear. "Come on, let me help you upright."

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 A voice arose among the clogged senses of the wolf, breaking forth to a familiar tone. A worrisome one at that, worried for him. A voice that Vuh'ahluhn would only fail to recognize if he was on his deathbed. Which he wasn't, not anymore. He was reborn again, birthed out onto the mildewy ground of plants.

 "Brother?" He spoke, a grogginess to his words, further making him feel as if he had merely awoken from an unpleasant dream. A dream that awoke him with a new feeling of life. A feeling that cleansed his withered soul and body. "One moment, brother, one moment." He huffed out, squinting his eyes to the darkly pelted canine.

 After his 'one moment' was up Vuh'ahluhn had to stand. He brushed off the aid of M'Jakuna, opting to do so by himself. So he arose, pushing his calloused paws into the soft and squishy earth below. The dirt pushed upwards between his toes, nestling itself in the hair between. He stood on shaky legs, but he stood upwards nonetheless. He felt achy. As if he had just been shoved face first into the ground by a herd of elk. Which, almost literally, yes. That happened.

 He stood there almost silently, an brown gaze focused heavily on the figure before him. His brows were furrowed together, almost an angry sense of confusion on his features. He was feeling a slew of emotions, confusion? Happiness? He wasn't mad by any means, but he just felt... off.
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Not a bit of surprise overcame M'Jakuna when his brother refused the assistance, well used to the firm independence even if he wished Vuh'ahluhn was a little more receptive—looking all worn and utterly exhausted, he moved back slightly to allow the other room to move, breathe but remained close enough on the off-chance his limbs gave out beneath him.

M'Jakuna gave his brother all the time he needed, and then some, before he swallowed his own shock and the uncertainty of the look being delivered and said to him, "You're here... I don't—how? Do you know how?" He flicked his ear, shifted his broad shoulders, shaking his head as his gaze dropped for a moment. "I still haven't any clue."

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 The tawny wolf overcame his emotions, holding himself to his usual posture. Despite the other being taller than him Vuh'ahluhn always held himself as high as he could. It may help him in his later years, but it sure doesn't do much for him at this moment. Not any obvious issues... aside from the one that he would need to voice. 'Do you know how?' He has a damn close idea to how. It's as good of a guess as he could offer.

 "An elk." He started. It was fresh in his mind. Fresher than the meat he would have gotten on the hunt. He watched it happen, as if he had no control. One moment he was running. Ahead, as per usual. He stormed himself forward as fast as possible, outrunning the other members on the hunt. Then he was face to face with the buck, staring into its heartless beady eyes. Vuh'ahluhn barely had a moment to react before it was over. All of it.

 He failed to realize his silence. His mind had done the rest of the explanation silently. He forgot to even open his mouth. At the reminder of his brother's presence he cleared his throat. "A mishap on a hunt. That's all I remember before... this." The word dripped from his tongue like a dried up waterfall. A world he was unable to describe, all encompassed into one confused word.
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