Post-apocalyptic Earth

Siren blushed after the shared kiss and soon after he pulled his scarf up, she pulled it down and gave his lips a soft peck. "It's alright, kind of like one of those cheesy romance movies from the 2000s. Mum loved those, have you seen any?" She grinned a stupid lovestruck grin and leaned against him.

Go away. Evie didn't need special powers to know the look Soel just gave her. So much for trying to bond with her own species. Standing she turned while mutter, "I'll find food." Both Rowan and Sindri look to her but she waved them off. They were enjoying their new company why should she take them away. Stepping out of the cave she stretched and froze. Something wasn't right. It was utter silence where there should be some noises from random creatures roaming around. If Evie had feather they would be raised threateningly. Were they being watched?

Soel looked confused. "What's a movie...?" The only world he had ever known was the natural one. The human world was like an alien planet to him. Well, if he knew what aliens were. Soel put his arm back around Sirene gently.

"Movies are like moving pictures, or living stories, if I ever find some in all this rubble, we'll watch it ok?" Sirene hoped that explained it well, and she sighed. "It's been a long time since I've seen one."

Soel nodded. "Alright..." A small gust of wind blew into the cave, carrying the scent of a rabbit. His eyes widened, suddenly filled with hope. "Snow...?" Soel and Axis raced outside and began searching everywhere, but couldn't hear anyone. Soel looked a little frantic and called out, "Snowy! Where are you?!" He looked around him quickly, trying to find any small sign of the little rabbit.


Snowy heard his brother calling him. But the wolf was still there. She had taken over his home. What if she had stolen his brother too? Snow tried not to cry, but a few tears still traced his small cheeks. He didn't want his brother to leave again. Just as he noticed fear on Soel's face, Snowy ran out of the bushes and hugged him. "P-Please don't leave me again!" He cried out softly.


Soel, realizing Snow was safe, dropped to his knees in relief and held him close. "I won't...I promise..." He couldn't do anything other than hold his little brother securely in his arms. It had been almost two years now. Soel had made Snow stay behind because he would've died if he went through the radiation cloud. But obstacles kept continually getting in the way of Soel returning. Once he had returned and learned that wolves had moved in, Soel had feared the worst. Hence the automatic aggression towards the wolves. Soel pulled away and began checking Snow over from head to toe, checking for anything that could be wrong. "Have you been eating properly? Getting enough water? What about sleeping well and keeping warm?" When he saw Snowy nod to all of his questions, he began to relax. Then he fond cuts, bruises, and scrapes. "Snowy what happened...?" Soel's eyes filled with worry, like a fox who had just found his injured kit.


Snow sniffled and looked up at him. "I-I'm sorry... Th-The other animals in the w-woods w-were a little m-mean too m-me... A-And I w-wasn't strong enough..." His hair was matted and tangled, and his clothes were torn in several places. Snow obviously had it rough trying to live outside the shelter of the den. He felt terrible about it, but he had also been lying to his brother. He was half starved, and dehydrated. He had barely slept because he didn't know if it was going to be safe. Most of the time he couldn't find any shelter and had nothing to make a fire with. He began to cry again.


Soel already knew that Snow was lying. The kid couldn't lie without bursting into tears. Snow was in bad shape. Soel picked him up and took him inside. Then he began taking care of his injuries. Axis carefully carried a small white rabbit inside. Soel smiled at him. "Thanks for finding Bunny, Axis. Now we know both of them are safe..."

Soel ran out in a panic barely registering Evie standing at the entrence of the cave. "Snowy where are you?" The fox man called. Evie cocked her head with her eyes sweeping over the area for whoever this Snowy person was. A young rabbit ran out into Soel's arms in tears. The rabbit was in poor health , even the untrained eye could tell. He was matted and half starved. Even without her excellent eyes she could tell. When the brothers returned to inside the cave Evie remained out to make sure the eery feeling from before was gone. For now it was but she did not trust that no one was watching them.
"Rowan?" She called and waited for her friend to perch on her shoulder. "Please scan the area." her eyes flashed back to Snow for a second. "Make sure those who were mean to him did not follow." Rowan cooed and took off to look at the view from above. Turning on her heels Evie walked over to where the others were. Feeling awkward beyond anything she muttered quietly to both Snow and Soel, "Do you need water?" Playing shyly with the strap of her waterskin.

Sirene reassuringly smiled at Snowey "So this is your brother?" She waves a little

Snowy peaked up at Evie shyly from where he was hidden behind Soel. He nodded slowly, his small arms wrapped around one of Soel's arms. When Sirene spoke, he literally jumped two feet in the air and clung to Soel tightly. "P-Please d-don't eat m-me...!" he whisper-cried. Then Snow began to cry. Bunny scampered over to him and nuzzled Snowy gently with her nose to calm him.


Soel frowned slightly, but hugged his brother all the same. He nodded his thanks to Evie and gave her a small smile. He seemed to trust her a little more now that Snow was comfortable near her. Soel then turned to Sirene. "I apologize... Snow is the guardian of the last arctic hare... In other words, he's a rabbit..." Soel didn't feel like he needed to remind her that the reason Snow was in this condition was because her wolves took over Snowy and Soel's home. "He will warm up to you eventually... It will probably take awhile though... After all, ever see an alive rabbit beside a wolf...?" Soel smiled gently. To be honest, he didn't blame either species. They simply did what they had to to survive.

"I've never killed a rabbit. I always thought they were cute. I hope he warms up soon though, I hate it when people are scared fir no reason."

Snowy sniffled. "B-But y-you chased m-me out of m-my home..." he whispered.

Soel sighed and held Snow close, cradling him until he calmed down and fell asleep.

Evie smiled back at Soel and frowned at how terrified Snowy was of Sirene. Her tentative friendliness with the young rabbit may be shattered once he realized she too was connected to wolves. Granted Sindri was one instead of a pack and only just got here, but a fear so ingrained would spread to the entire species. She'll have to gently introduce Snowy to her friend.
Rowan flew in right after Snowy sniffled. "B-but y-you chased m-me out of m-my home..." Evie's attention diverted to her feathery friend. The raven clucked and cawed his findings. No predictors were in the immediate area excluding the ones within the party; for the moment they were safe. "Rowan says a storm is will be on us within the next half day." She informed the small group in her low, slow voice. "If we need to find food we should do it soon." Her eyes did not leave Rowan as she spoke. The raven jumped down from her shoulder and hopped over to the newest member of this rag-tag band of guardians. He cocked his head in interest, he had never seen a small human child before and was curious.

"We didn't mean to frighten you, we're really not that vicious, I don't remember chasing you out anyway, it must have been someone else, I don't chase people. And I promise, I'm here to protect you, and so is everyone else."

The second Sirene took a step towards him he jumped and ran over to Evie, burying his face in her legs. He began whimpering again. Bunny cautiously hopped over to Sindri and sniffed him curiously. She obviously didn't trust him yet, but she wasn't afraid either.

Soel sighed. "Sirene, it will take him awhile... His first real memory was a wolf trying to kill him and Bunny... The fear will always remain..." He turned to Evie. "Even though you too are connected to the wolves, you aren't one of them... So I'm guessing that's why he isn't afraid..." Soel couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "Although it seems that Bunny doesn't fear any of you..."

A deep frown graces Sirenes face, but she nods in understanding. She can't help but feel bad for Snowey, and angry with herself for scareing him. To keep any further damage from happening she isolates herself from the group by walking to and sitting in the corner she and Soel previously occupied.

Rowan cried out in surprise when Snowy bolted from where he was to bury his face in Evie's legs. The young woman looked down in surprise and placed a hand on Snowy's head in a comforting manner. She started stroking his hairs as her head turned when Soel spoke to her. "I am glad he is not frightened of Sindri, I feared he would. Are you alright, Snowy?" She knelt down to his height to lessen the fear she could feel him emitting. Her hand still resting on the boy's head.
Sindri sniffed the rabbit the hopped over to him. He sneezed at the scent, memorizing it so he would not mistake the rabbit for a meal. The human and rabbit were friends now, he did not want to ruin it by attacking the creature by mistake.

Soel gave a small nod to Evie, knowing that Snow was safe with her. Then he walked over to Sirene and sat next to her. His first thought was sadness that he wouldn't be able to be with Sirene. But he soon realized that maybe if he remained close to her then Snowy would cease to be afraid. He gave a small sigh of relief. Soel slipped his arm around Sirene's waist. "It's not your fault you know... His instinct tells him not to trust you... Just like I tend to be wary of a lot of things..." Soel gave her a reassuring smile.


Snowy sniffled and wiped his eyes gently. He looked up at Evie with his pretty ash mauve eyes and reached up to her. "Up, up..."

Aaaah? Evie wasn't sure what to do when Snowy asked to be picked up. Sure she handled a few pups, chicks, and other baby animals, but young children were not her forte. Scooping under the young child's armpits, she stood and picked him up. At first she held him out thinking through what to do next. With slow calculated movements, Evie ended up shifting the boy so he sat on her hip. Afraid she would poke him in the face, she balanced him on her hip and wrapped her arm around his back while pushing her raven head hood back. Her black orbs looked at the small creature in her arms curiously. "I do not believe I have told you my name. I am Genevieve, but please call me Evie. It is a pleasure to meet you Snowy." She smiled kindly. "My companions are Rowan," She pointed up where the raven flew overhead. "And Sindri." Then she swept her hand where the wolf was bent down playfully in front of Snowy's rabbit.

Sirene relaxed a bit when Soel touched her, it was on instinct. He was her rock already and he had no idea. "I know it's not my fault, but I can't help but feel as though it is. I don't want him to fear me, but I don't want to make him like me either." She sighed. "What if he never likes me? You'll have to leave me, I'd understand. Family first, Maybe Evie would be better for you." Her current tone makes it sound as though she's giving herself the worst pep-talk ever, and setting herself up to be abandoned.

Snow looked up at her, wondrous and wide-eyed. "P-Pretty birdy..." He smiled adorably and cuddled into her. His soft, white hair was very much like a rabbit's. Snowy's body was light-weight and seemed frail, like glass. It was impossible to tell whether starvation made him this way, or if he was just naturally doll-like. He rested his head on her shoulder and fell asleep. Bunny touched noses gently with Sindri in a friendly manner.

Soel frowned slightly, but his eyes remained cool and calm. "He will come around... And even if he doesn't, I will still stay with you... He understands that..."

Evie had to physically stop herself from cringing at Sirene's words. She knew the young woman did not mean them in any way other than her feelings were hurt at Snowy's blatant dislike of her, but she had it wrong. Evie did not think there would ever be anything more than friendship between her and Soel, well if you called the relationship that had friendship. Hell they barely knew each other; they just met. Her thoughts were derailed when Snowy looked up at her, smiled, and then cuddled into her. Easily falling asleep in her arms. His soft white hair tickled her face and nearly made her sneeze. While the boy slept she realized how light he really was. Was it from starvation? She wasn't sure, but even if it was it shouldn't have been possible since human bones (she had seen a few in her lifetime) were quite dense, but he weighed about as much as a bird. Perhaps that was one of his mutations from the radiation or becoming a guardian. In all honestly Evie wasn't sure if his lightweight stature was positive or negative. Would he blow away in a storm?
Thinking of storms, Evie walked passed Sindri and Bunny (the rabbit touching the wolf's nose with its own) stopping at the mouth of the cave. She opened her sense to the world, feeling the wind brush against her face changing in pressure and strength. The storm was approaching, it would be here within the next two hours.

Sirene relaxed a little when he reassured her, and she leans over to kiss his cheek. "You sure? I mean I wouldn't want to put you in that position." She pulled the blanket up around them again. "I suppose all there is to do is wait and see, yeah?"

Soel nodded. "I'm always sure of the answers I give... If there was any uncertainty, I wouldn't respond..." He felt the air pressure change and knew the storm was almost upon them. "Evie, when will the storm be here?" The breeze was becoming cooler and the usual sounds of the forest had quieted to a dull chatter. It was going to be a brutal storm.

Snowy also noticed the changes and picked up Bunny. He walked to one of the walls and placed a hand against it before looking to Soel. Once he saw Soel nod, Snow removed a rock at the bottom and jumped back about eight feet. The wall collapsed to reveal a long tunnel that lead deeper into the cave. Snowy took Bunny and walked into the tunnel.

Soel smiled gently. 'Since when did his little brother begin to think like him?' Soel clicked his tongue twice to get Axis's attention. Axis stood up and went down the tunnel as well. Soel turned to the others. "Please travel deeper into the cave... There are enough caverns for each species to have their own..." He turned and began to enter, but called behind him, "This part of the cavern was a fake home we created to hide our real ones... Please watch your step..." Soel walked through the long tunnel to an underground cave filled with many large caverns. In some caverns, crystals, emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones grew naturally. In others, the roof of the cavern was gone and an entire jungle seemed to reign. There was another with a cool, pure water pond. Soel checked to make sure Snowy reached his room. He entered a smaller cavern belonging to Snowy. The walls were covered in sleek crystal making the room look like it was made of ice. The temperature was a little cold, and the floor was blanketed in pretty white flowers. A small, hollow platform made of crystal was filled with white feathers, and seemed to serve as a bed. Many books that Soel had found for him lined crystal shelves on the walls. Soel smiled at Snow, who was currently sitting in the midst of flowers reading a fantasy novel.

Bunny touched noses with two other arctic hares that seemed to have never left. The two other rabbits greeted him warmly. Snowy smiled at them and giggled as the two new rabbits began to greet him. "H-Hello Astral...H-Hi Gypsy..." Snow said gently. Snow smiled at Soel. "Y-You should probably let Jasper, Shadow, and Axel know you're home..."

Soel chuckled gently and nodded before going to his own cavern. He entered and took a deep breath. It was good to be home. Two more silver foxes tackled Soel, while another tackled Axis. Soel laughed, "It's good to see you too!" He began playing with the four foxes surrounding him. One of the foxes nipped him. "Ahh! Hey! C'mon Shadow I know I was gone for longer than I said. And I'm sorry alright?" The fox, Shadow, nodded her head and sat in front of him. Jasper, Axis, and Axel automatically sat as well. Soel chuckled, "Story time huh? Well Axis, looks like we have plenty to tell." Axis seemed to grin at his remark.

Evie
"Any moment." Evie replied still staring out the mouth of the cave as Snowy woke and went to Bunny. She only looked away when she heard a noise behind her. A new passage way opened revealing a deep tunnel. Soel turned to the others. "Please travel deeper into the cave... There are enough caverns for each species to have their own..." He disappeared through the entrance calling behind him, "This part of the cavern was a fake home we created to hide our real ones... Please watch your step..." A prickling feeling came over Evie causing her to look back out. Nothing.
Looking up she called, "Rowan?" The bird flew down and perched on her shoulder. "Is there anything or anyone out there?" The bird flew out and returned shortly after. He cried a no. "Thank you. Come let us not fall to far behind." Never one to rush, Evie followed behind the others listening to the patter of their feet softly echoing through the tunnel. She didn't make it far before Sindri turned with a growl and bolted back where they came from. "Sindri!" She cried throwing up her hood and running after her friend. She skidded to a halt just behind the wolf who growled menacingly at a soaked hooded figure. He was tall, quite a few inches towering over her if she stood next to him. His clothes were thicker than the temperature demanded and looked like they were sobbing with tears falling uncontrollably to the ground. The man threw his hood back with a splat revealing light blonde hair and mischievous golden eyes. Mouth dropping nearly to the floor, Evie breathed, "Tyr?"

Tyr
Just wonderful. Tyr thought as rain began pouring down on him. He flipped up his hood to shield as much of himself as possible but knowing it was all for naught. He trudged through the muddy grass until he came across a cave that could shelter him until the end of the storm. It was going to be brutal.
Once at the entrance a scent of wolves, birds, rabbits, and foxes hit his nose and he debated going it. Clearly it was something or someone's den. What the hell? The worse that could happen is I run for my life. He stepped in to find the cave empty. Interesting, the scent is too fresh to be abandoned long ago... Where are the inhabitants? He hoped the owners of the den didn't randomly show up and trap him inside. Things could get awkward and dangerous fast. Then again his charming personality could probably woo them over. He chuckled to himself until a wolf's growl caught his ears and it appeared before him like Cerberus out of the Underworld. Found 'em. Seconds later a familiar human dressed as a life sized Raven skidded to a halt behind the wolf that still bared its teeth at him. Flicking back his hood he grinned at his sorta friend. "Tyr?" The woman asked with shock coloring Her voice.
"Raven Queen! How yeah been?" He laughed knowing that she was glaring daggers at him.

Soel heard the chaos outside. He sighed and sent Axis and Axel. "Just don't hurt anyone... If it's a newcomer then tell him to fight later... The storm is coming..." The little twin foxes nodded and ran out to greet the newcomer. Once they reached the entrance, Axel and Axis realized that Evie knew the man. So they walked over and nuzzled Evie, to show the man that they meant no harm. Then the twin foxes pounced a little closer to the man to get his attention and ran back into the tunnel. That way the newcomer would know to follow. Axis and Axel lead Evie and the stranger to Soel. Soel was sitting in the grass reading a book. He looked up and smiled at them mischievously. "Hello... So you were the one lurking nearby..." Soel stood and, oddly enough being just as tall as the stranger, stared him directly in his eyes. "I implore you to stay... The storm will be a fierce one... But harm any living thing here, and I will kill you..." He smiled in a friendly way, but it didn't reach his eyes. Those silver eyes that only expressed a cold emptiness and a beauty that no one living thing should possess. They carried a warning. 'Hurt my friends, and you'll be dead before your next breath can even be drawn...' Axel and Axis sat on either side of Soel's feet, while Jasper and Shadow eyed the man menacingly. Soel's mood suddenly lightened brilliantly. He showed the newcomer a real smile. "Now that that's out of the way, why don't you get dried off and choose a cavern..." Axis tackled Axel and they began rolling around and rough housing. Soel raised an eyebrow at Jasper and Shadow. Then he turned to Evie and noticed what he hadn't earlier. Her clothes had a few tears in them. Soel smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I suggest letting Snowy take a look at your clothes... He can fix them no problem!"

Evie
She knew Tyr was teasing her. He always teased and called her strange names. "I am no Raven Queen." She crossed her arms in dismay only causing the man to chuckled harder. Axis and a silver fox that looked identical to him scampered in and then nuzzled her. Her tense body relax as she smiled down at the foxes. Then they pounced closer to Tyr and ran off in a 'Come follow' manner.
"Come, Soel probably wants to meet you." She turned and with her companions following close by began following the brothers. Tyr quickly caught up slightly shivering from the cold. Her eyes looked up at the man she knew but wasn't sure she liked. "Do you have dry clothes?"
"I do." His teeth chattered a little. "But they're in my pack and not suitable for this weather." She nodded before standing before Soel who was reading a book with two foxes who did not appear pleased to see them. The young man greeted and warned Tyr all in one swift introduction. With his usual good nature self, Tyr nodded with grin. Changing back to being friendly, Soel looked at Evie and said, "I suggest letting Snowy take a look at your clothes... He can fix them no problem!"
Evie nodded, "I will thank you. I shall leave you to your reading."

Tyr
When Soel greeted and threatened him Tyr decided he liked this young man. "Not plannin' on startin' any trouble. Just lookin' for a dry place to wait out the storm." He grinned. "Thanks for the hospitality." He wondered curiously who this Snowy fella was. Snowy was a weird name but then again who the hell calls their kid Tyr?
"Valkyrie, wait for me?" He called when Evie suddenly turned to leave. He let out a laugh when she half turned to glare at him, but did not slow for him. He was shooed off when she turned to enter the tunnel that Snowy lived in. A scent of rabbits hit his nose causing him to slightly salivate. Although hare sounded delicious he knew better than to hunt that species while in the presence of a rabbit guardian. That was rude.
Finding a tunnel that seemed to be a little warmer than others and had more of a jungle feel to it, Tyr claimed it as his own for the night. His chest mewed informing him that his precious cargo had finally woken. Unlacing the top of his shirt he reached into his shirt and pulled out a Caracal kitten. She was a little wet, but definitively dryer than anything else on him. "Good morning sweatheart." He all but purred lowly. "Let's get some fire wood, dry my clothes, and find dinner." Carrying the kitten in his hand he found a nice place to build a fire. He put Sif down, found firewood, lit a fire, and started stripping. While Sif ran around like the ball of energy she was, Tyr changed into his lighter pair of clothes that were more for desert environments than a cave.