Drawn to the Pack {darkest_fate&loneiysong}

[darkest_fate]

The motorcycle stopped outside the one horse town. In actuality, there were several horses in the town; that was among the first things that people were likely to notice. Around one third of Saul's people still kept horses, though they weren't always comfortable around them. As far back as people could remember, they'd cared for horses and the like. The tradition went back nearly as far as the skinchangers, though, in truth, you could claim that a lot of things went back far in the town of Moonwater.

Moonwater; as if the locals didn't chuckle every time they said it. Well, they chuckled when it actually wasn't a full moon. When the pale face shown in the sky, it was time to draw cattle and pets indoors, time to batten hatches. Not that any accidents happened, not even when visitors, rare though they were, drifted into town. Saul and his family had been keeping tight rein on the pack for, well, about as long as they'd had horses. That rein was so tight that even some of the folk of the town weren't fully aware of the pack. Most thought it to be some kind of local superstition, the type of thing that the elders clung on to to remind themselves of some long-forgotten glory days. Saul's sister, his twin, had been among those people, had been kept in the dark. Just thinking about that made him nearly grind his teeth together.

They'd fought, Saul and his twin, his "other half," right before Saul had left. She hadn't understood, didn't know what they needed. Father was dying, it wouldn't be long before the fittest male Palemoon would be Saul himself. The young man knew he could rise to the challenge; he'd been preparing for it his whole life. Yet he wanted, no, he needed to leave, to seek a mate. A leader with a mate was a stronger leader: someone who needed to protect something, someone. The pack had always been led by someone with strong blood; that hadn't dimmed. A mate also showed the leader's prowess, though Saul's mother had often joked about how it was she who showed the real prowess when they mated. Having seen her fight, both in and out of wolf form, Saul was tempted to agree.

But here he was: returned after hearing about Father's death. Returned alone. Not that he hadn't had some luck. Saul was a handsome man. Yes, he was rather thin, almost coltish in appearance, but that came off more as tall than anything. Tall and long of limb, that was Saul. His friends had often jokingly called him Horse-Brother, a term that had spread among a few of the females of the tribe once Saul had fully matured, and not for the same reasons. That was one of the reasons Saul didn't exactly have lady troubles. That his face was handsome, with a roguish tint that threw back to tribal warriors and piercing grey eyes that spoke of some distant non-Native relative. Yet he still looked solid, as though he used that mischief to lead more often than not. Though Saul certainly didn't feel like a leader, not now. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, which he'd cropped short just prior to leaving. It had grown some, but still was nearer to a buzz than anything. Bad enough to be a "brave" straight outta the rez; worse if he boasted the "Injun" hair as well. They'd fought about that too.

"And there's bound to be more fighting," muttered Saul. He began walking up the worn path to the family home. She would be there. And so would Mother. Though, for some reason, it was she that Saul was more concerned with, more eager to meet again, more eager to greet and wrap in his arms. Should the first words out of his mouth be an apology? A request after their dad? Some sort of command? What would Father do?

Saul still didn't have an answer, even as he knocked on the rickety door.

 

[loneiysong]

Sara was working in the kitchen. They were to prepare large quantaties of food for anyone who came to see her father. They had just finished a large plate of fry bread. Her mother ran her hand along her forehead and wiped her hand on her apron and looked at Sara. "Sara, go out to the grill and barbeque some of that meat that Butcher Hank brought by. I am going to go check on your father." Sara watched as her mother walked to the room of her father. She was spending a lot of time with him. Probably embracing him, chanting the ancient tongue to him, rocking him through the worst of his pain.

Would she ever have someone like that. Someone to hold through the good and the bad times? Frowning, she walked down to the basement and grabbed the meat from the floor freezer and stepped out into the warm sun. It was hot today. Her mother would probably wrap her father in a large family quilt and walk him out to the porch swing outside and let him savor the end of a hot day. When you could smell everything in town. The flowers, the grass, the woods. Mother had been trying to get father to go on a run, but he always refused.

Walking out to the grill, her flip flops made the usual slip slap slip slap. Looking in, she lit the coals and set the meat to the side. Walking up, she moved to the sink pouring herself a glass of chilled iced tea. She thought of her brother, he was to be home soon. She swallowed and tears filled her eyes as she thought of the last fight they had. Running her hand over her face, she groaned. She didn't want him to leave. When he left, she woke up crying. A great hole had formed in her heart. Father dying, and him gone. Her mother was proud of him that he was to find a mate. Looking down, she frowned.

That was when she heard the engine of the motorcycle stop. A smile found itself to her lips. Walking to the door, she looked down at her short shorts and her white tank top. She loved to wear white, the way that it showed off her dark skin. Her amber eyes looked at the door. She cleared her throat and opened the door and looked at him. "Saul!" She was expecting so much to just argue with him or say some noble thing about how she forgave him, but all it melted away.

Running to him, she wrapped her arms around him tightly and gripped him tightly as if he would slip away and run back. Her body was giving off the slight scents of a pheremone. Her wolf would be emerging any day now. She sighed and shut her eyes. "Saul, I missed you so much. Come in, mom and I have been cooking like crazy and there is a whole ton of food on the table." She pulled him into the air conditioned house. She closed the door and walked to the dining room where the table was set up buffet style with all the great foods of their culture.

"I was about to throw a few steaks on the barbeque. But I will serve you and then let dad and mom know you are here. But I think they need some time alone." SHe blushed and looekd down and then back to him and smiled. Sara looked exactly like her brother and perferred riding and tending to the horses on the ranch, reading books, and being alone. Her mother was worried that if she ever changed, she would be a lone wolf without the right mate.

 

[darkest_fate]

There she was, almost appearing as if straight out of his thoughts. Saul didn't even get a word in before arms wrapped about him. The doubts and worried melted away as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. For the first time, however, Saul felt something different as he held his twin sister. They'd always been close, closer even than twins often were. Yet Saul had never felt... this. Something about his twin called to something within. Without thinking on it, the prodigal sniffed. There, just hovering about the edges of the spices and foods: the smell of a she-wolf. It was to be expected; they had started the same, after all. But this late? that was... so rare. Worse yet, Saul knew that with the change came the first coupling, and he couldn't recall any males around their age. Well, they had a cousin, and there was an exceptionally mean young man they'd thought about expelling...

The thought passed as Saul realized that he'd been unearthly quiet. He pasted a smile as he looked up at his sister. "Glad to see you too, sis," he said, nodding slowly. He looked around her, about to ask the questions that she'd already answered. The food called to his stomach, overriding his previous concerns regarding his sister and his momentary surge. He pushed it out of his mind, heading straight for the table, as all young men his age are wont to do. Food came first, even over possible feelings of lust toward your twin sister.

Saul had gotten part way when he remembered some semblance of manners. He turned and offered Sara a quick smile. "Sorry, been a long trip," he said. His hand again went up to rub at his head, letting his fingers run across his scalp. "I'm sorry that I wasn't--- I didn't mean to--" he floundered, giving up and letting his hand fall. He could only give Sara an apologetic look, well, that and feel his stomach growling. He couldn't even smell her any more, so maybe that had just been a passing illusion...?

 

[loneiysong]

Sara couldn't help but laugh as she saw that look in his eyes. He was hungry and he had to eat. He probably hadn't eaten any food. Shaking her head a bit, she smiled and waved him to teh food. Pouring him a glass of fresh tea she set it down within reach of him and then as she turned to go cook the meat, he called her back. Turning, she looked at him and smiled and tehn walked back over and wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed his temple. "Water under the bridge." She said and let him go back to eating.

Walking outside, she put the meat on to cook. After seasoning it, she closed the lid and walked into teh kitchen to the forgotton fry bread and walked back and put the plate down and sat down crossing her legs and took a few sips of her own tea and just watched her brother. She ran a hand along her arm and then looked down biting her lip. Her long black hair fell down to the middle of her back was up in a messy bun.

"I hope you grow your hair back out. It makes you look like dad." Sara smiled. She remembered their sleep over when they both had chicken pox. He held her close as she whimpered in pain wanting so to scratch her skin, but instead, she played with his hair and that got her through. Looking down, she rubbed her hand along her knee and then decided to breach a subject that both of them were dancing around.

"So did you succeed in finding a mate?" She asked. She was not sure why, but she felt so jealous at the possibility of a woman taking her brother away. She looked up seeing her mother come in and wipe sweat on her forehead. Her mother would suffer alone when her husband died. Wolves took the matter of mates pretty serious. Even if they were given permission to find another mate, they rarely did. Her mother was not young anymore, but she went into heats still and she looked at Saul and moved to him hugging him tightly.

"Your father wants to see you when you are finished eating. I am so happy to see you home baby." She sighed and stepped away and looked at her two twins and smiled. "You two used to look so much alike, but I am so proud of you, both of you. Your father and I could not ask for better children." She smiled and then looked down and then up. "Ill go finish the meat." SHe moved to step outside. Sara looked down and swallowed hurting for her mother.

 

[darkest_fate]

Water under the bridge... then again, Saul supposed he shouldn't be so surprised. Bad blood simply didn't exist in this family; they'd always been free with forgiveness, and fully believed that was how people should act in general. He simply nodded, accepted it, and moved on to eating, gathering quite a bit of food on his place. Sara's guess was correct: he hadn't eaten in some time. Worry for home had driven Saul steadily onward, even to the point where he'd considered abandoning his bike and going full wolf if that was what it took. Thankfully, he hadn't needed to, and it was just as thankful that he hadn't needed to go far.

Saul nibbled on appetizers while trying hard not to stare at the steak. Meat always called to the wolf within, which was likely why their family loved it so, especially steak. They had steak at least a few times a month, and it only made sense to try and prepare some now. Yet Saul felt the urge to simply grab it off the grill and eat it then and there, spices be damned. Thankfully, he heard Sara come back, and he turned to look at her. His eyes traveled up her body, again noting the similarities between the two of them. They couldn't be mistaken for one another, though that had been a problem in the past, but there was no denying their relation either. For a while, even their hair had been similar, and the reminder of that made Saul chuckle.

"I know," he admitted, reaching up as if to touch it before remembering the food. He opted to lower it slowly, instead using it to grab more food. He'd just risen a handful to his mouth when Sara's question came. Saul lowered it, staring down at his plate. The question nearly killed his appetite. Mating was just... so serious. Not fucking, not the actual act; wolves were expected to do that nearly every moon. But the actual act of selecting a mate was... involved. Saul shook his head slowly, just finishing the gesture as Mother arrived.

"Father...?" repeated Saul, his eyes going wide. He rose from his seat, looking over to Sara with wild eyes. "You mean he's---" he looked back to his mother. "But I heard--- is he still ---?" Saul was quite confused now. The message had said that their father had passed on... yet he wanted to see him? Was this some kind of joke? Or was Saul forgetting some kind of custom in his exhaustion or...

 

[loneiysong]

Sara reached out and grabbed some of the fry bread. She pulled it apart and began to chew on it and watched him eat. She saw the look on his face after she had asked teh question. Leaning back, she raised a hand to her mouth and shook her head gently. "Oh, brother, I am sorry, I didn't mean...I am sorry." She looked down.

Their mother frowned adn then looked down. "He is not very conscious, he has been holding on to speak to you." She frowned adn looked at him and saw from his eyes that he had heard that his father had died. She raised her hands so frustrated. "But I think that he will die when in your presence." She sighed. "Your being present will allow the alpha in him to rest." She said gently. Walking out, she turned the meat and continued to cook.

Sara frowned. It was odd adn the subject of death was serious. "Who said dad was dead? Who contacted you?" She said and then looked down. Mom and her had contacted him to let him know that he was sick, but neither one of them had told Saul that dad was dead. Just the thought of someone lying to Saul made her angry. Raising her hand to her hair she looked down and then to him.

"Hey, Saul, he has missed you. He is very sick, and I just wanted to warn you." She stroked his arm and then turned. She went to help her mother with the steaks. They were all put onto a heaping platter and she set it out on the table and the smell made her mouth water. But she waited for him. She wanted to eat steak with Saul. It was their families version of breaking bread.

 

[darkest_fate]

Now that did sound like their father. Holding on till the very last minute, just to make certain that he could see his entire family. Knowing Father, he was likely in pain throughout every second of it, yet his stubborn hide wouldn't allow him to let go. The moment Saul heard all this, he sprang from his seat, moving almost as quickly as he would have had said seat been in fire. Within seconds he was standing next to Mother, giving her a sympathetic look. Saul laid his hand on her shoulder for a moment, but she'd already turned back to the meat.

"I don't know for sure," admitted Saul, turning back to look at his sister as she questioned. "I got the message at the campsite I'd been crashing in. Said that Father had died and that I needed to get home quickly. Was a letter or something. Typed," he added, his eyes flicking toward his sister, "I would have recognized your handwriting. Or Mother's. I figured that your hands were unsteady or something," he shrugged. Honestly, how deeply did you think about it when someone gave you a notice that your father had passed away? Saul had known Father wasn't feeling his strongest; that had been part of what spurred him toward seeking a mate so diligently. So it had almost been expected; there had even been some slight relief in that the fight was almost over.

"I'll go see him. Now," said Saul, nodding. "Honestly, if I had known..." he would have done a lot of things differently. He certainly wouldn't have stopped to eat. He gave the food a guilty look before turning, hurrying back toward the house. At least Saul knew exactly where Father was likely to be: their bedroom, and he knew that he had to hurry. The sooner he spoke with Father, the sooner they settled what they needed to settle, the sooner Father could pass on. Though Saul did wonder if anyone would be too eager to eat while their father struggled with death in the nearby house. Then again, that was probably what Father would have wanted...

 

[loneiysong]

His mother smiled and looked to him andn odded once.

Sara shook her head. "I doubt that mom or I would type out a letter. It is so impersonal." She shook her head adn then frowned. She nodded. "The food will still be here." Sara smiled and then gave him a gentle push towards the master bedroom. As Saul got closer adn closer, the smell of death was heavy in the air. Death and sweat. He was struggling to hang on.

His father used to be a mountain of a man, but due to his sickness, he was now weak and thin. His once thick black hair was mousy and falling out. Leaning his head back against the pillows that were fluffed up constantly, he looked at the door waiting for his son. He groaned in pain as his body begged him to stop the fight. He was so tired with teh pain. He swallowed and tried to breath. He could almost smell his son and loked once again to the door.

Meanwhile, Sara got up and made sure that his room was prepared with fresh linens and everything was ready for him. She went out to his motorcycle and grabbed his things and moved him back into his room the way he liked it. Sitting on the bed, she held one of his jackets and pressed her nose to teh collar inhaling him. He smelt so good. She stood up holding the jacket, not sure what had come over her. Moving to her bedroom, she stuffed the jacket under her pilows and made sure that it wouldn't be seen and went back downstairs his scent caught in her nostrils and doing wierd things to her brain.