If Winter Ends

[†Faith Winters†]

‘But I fell for the promise of a life with a purpose,
but I know that that's impossible now.
And so I drink to stay warm, and to kill selected memories,
because I just can't think anymore about that or about her tonight.’

The tune drifted through the tunnels, it’s hallow chords echoing in the empty living quarters. They seemed to be empty quite a bit now. No one seemed to be around often. The slight blonde found herself once again drifting around the tunnels before popping a CD in to listen to.

Faith had poured herself a nice drink, and then turned her CD Player on. Good way to start your day… In the middle of the afternoon… She had one of those restless nights, and hadn’t slept well at all, hence the waking up in the middle of the afternoon. Glancing down, Faith frowned slightly. She wore only a black silky robe, which had yet to even tie up.

Pondering for a second, Faith remembered Rayne telling her she should be used to the ‘natural state’ sense she was a lycan, so decided that the lack of clothing really didn’t matter. Truth be told, she really didn’t care anymore. Before, when she had been at the lake with Rayne, she had been so self-conscious because of being so malnourished, but she wasn’t that bad off anymore. She had gained a fair amount of weight back, and already you could make out the muscles trying to reform themselves on her abdomen.

‘But I give myself three days to feel better,
or else I swear I'll drive right off a f***ing cliff.
Because if I can't learn to make myself feel better,
how can I expect anyone else to give a s***?’

Listening to the words, Faith quirked an eyebrow slightly. Bright Eyes, If Winter Ends. She had always thought of it as a marvelous song, then again, she thought all songs by Bright Eyes were marvelous. “Geez, depressing much,” She muttered under her breath, before shrugging it off.

Walking over to the fire place, she picked up the poker, and used it for what it’s there for. Poking. Placing her drink down next to her on the floor, she poked at the fire some more, or rather the hot coals that were left from the fire that had previously been there.

Taking a step towards the wood that was piled beside the fireplace, Faith had the misfortune of not spotting the red coal that she had accidentally pushed out of the fireplace, and having not seen it, her foot slowly fell on top of the burning ember.

Letting out a yelp of pain, Faith bounced back a few feet, managing to trip herself and fall to the ground, sending the hot poker that was in her hand into the air. Grabbing her foot, and getting ready to blow on it, she didn’t notice the poker stick coming to get it’s revenge for being shoved into a fire all of it’s, er, life. Sizzle “AHH!” The poker landed on her stomach, successfully burning her, causing another shriek of pain to leave her lips.

And I scream for the sunlight, or a car to take me anywhere.
Just get me past this dead and eternal snow.
Cause I swear that I'm dying, slowly but it's happening,
and if the perfect spring is waiting somewhere,
just take me there, just take me there, just take me there.

Pushing the poker stick off of her, Faith grabbed onto a near by arm chair and pulled herself to her feet. Glacial-blue eyes rested on the fireplace and a glare settled on her face. Soon followed by laughter, “Oh, man, I’m freaking glaring at a fireplace!”

Shaking her head, Faith hopped over on one foot to her glass, picked it up, and then hopped over to a couch. Sitting down carefully, the blonde lycaness set her glass on the table beside the couch, and lifted her foot to inspect it. “Owie, owie, owie, owie…” Blowing on her foot slightly, she sighed, no use, that just made it burn more.

Looking down at the burn on her stomach, she poked at it with her index finger, yelped in pain, and then stopped. Sighing once more, she picked up her drink, and took a large gulp of it. Making a face, Faith forced herself to swallow it, “God, I hate this stuff… Why’d I take a glass of it…?” Swirling the dark liquid around in her glass, with a rather grumpy look on her face now, Faith held the glass up to eye-level to inspect it, “Who ever came up with the idea of Pepsi, anyways? The stuff is so gross… I wonder if I have any 7up somewhere…”

Lie to me and say it's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right

Ooc: Yay for pointless threads with no points! ...

[Xavier]

Xavier had been sitting on his bed, leaning against the wall as he read one of his many books. He knew that he wasn't the only being in the Tunnels that night, and he sensed Faith Winters wandering down towards the main chamber. He smiled. At least someone still lived here. As Xavier licked his finger and turned the page, he heard a yelp of pain and some foul language. Xavier marked the page in the book, then put it down and hopped off the bed, swinging open his door and running barefoot down the hall in his underwear. As he reached the main chamber, he found Faith sitting on the couch nursing what appeared to be a few burns. Xavier looked over at the fire and noticed the loose coals and the poker lying randomly in the middle of the room.

"Did I miss something here?" he asked rhetorically.

Xavier walked into the room, then went over to the poker and picked it up by its handle and placed it on the rack with the rest of the fireplace tools. Then the male Lycan took the dustpan and the broom from the rack and swept the hot coals into the pan, dumping them into the fire. The Lycan put the two tools back, then grabbed the first-aid kit off the mantle and walked over to where Faith laid in a significant amount of pain.

[†Faith Winters†]

Well I have been happy the past couple days
Just thinking of the women who’ve taken your place
And every night I think I certaintly won't ever sleep sober or alone
And then suddenly it occurs to me
I've slept alone before you

[/I]

The C.D casually changed songs, this one louder than the last, the words being sang sounding hoarse and deep with emotion. Bright Eyes truly was Emo music. Beginning to fan her hand above the burn on her stomach, Faith felt a pout form on her lips. It was going to leave a definite mark. Whilst thinking of marks that were to be left upon her skin, Faith’s eyes casually sank to the large scar on her abdomen, where she had pushed the dagger into herself.

Running a finger across it lightly, Faith was lost in a daze for a moment, before words snapped her back to reality. Jumping slightly in surprise, Faith was ready to kick some serious butt, when she looked up and saw that it was Xavier. Smiling sheepishly, Faith went back to fanning her burn, “Er… I had a fight with the fireplace and the poker stick… They ganged me, it wasn’t fair… They won…” She said, jokingly.

And so I pour myself the stiffest drink my stomach can stand
And convince myself to lay back down again
I’m gonna lay back down, I’m gonna lay back down again
The drunk kids, the catholics
They're all about the same
They’re waiting for something
Hoping to be saved

[/I]

As Xavier went about doing numerous things, Faith quirked an eyebrow slightly as she watched him. As he brought over the First-Aid kit, she winced slightly. She knew the First-Aid kit well, being a clumsy person all your life guaranteed that you would be very well acquainted with such a kit.

Shifting uncomfortably for a second, having realized her lack of clothing, she mentally kicked herself, reminding herself what Rayne had said. It was true, after all. Running a hand through her hair unconsciously, Faith smiled slightly, “I’m sure I’ll be fine without a First-Aid kit… It’s just a little--OW!” as she was speaking, being the hand talker that she was, she managed to brush her hand against her burn, causing pain to spread across her stomach.

[Xavier]

Xavier ignored Faith's lack of clothing, since she wasn't the first, nor would she be the last, to walk around baring all in the Tunnels. Instead, Xavier attempted to keep a professional attitude about his work and knelt down next to Faith, who blushed at her current condition and he smiled gently. Then as she answered him, he glanced at her wound as her hand brushed over it.

"Umm, Faith, let me just take a look at it, okay?"

The green-haired Lycan opened up the kit, which was a mixture of both muggle and wizarding first aid supplies. Potions, bandages, creams and ointments were neatly organized inside the case. Xavier carefully read through each of the vials of potion, then, selecting one he found most appropriate, Xavier popped the cork to the glass and took out a cottonball from a pack inside the box. Carefully, the Lycan put the cottonball over the mouth of the bottle and tipped the vial so that the potion absorbed into the white fluff. Then, very gently, Xavier took the swab and gently brushed over the burn with the foul-smelling cotton. After a few more cottonballs, Xavier had managed to sufficiently cover the larger burn on Faith's stomach. Xavier then took a roll of gauze and began wrapping Faith's stomach gently, lifting her up when needed with one hand and putting her back down again. Soon the bandage was in place and Xavier moved down to Faith's injured foot.

Like her stomach wound, Faith's foot was a bright red and was sensitive to the slightest touch. So Xavier repeated the process and then wrapped Faith's foot. As soon as he was done, Xavier gathered all of the used cottonballs and threw them into the fire, which burned a bright purple for a moment before returning to its normal orange hue. Then the flame-eyed Lycan returned to Faith's side, packed up the case, returned it to the mantlepiece and sat down on the end of the couch by Faith's feet.

"Now then, since you're all wrapped up nicely, what were you doing strolling around the room in just your robe there? Not that it's abnormal or anything..." Xavier's voice seemed to trail off at the end of his sentence.

(OOC: Sorry for the crappy post, folks. My muse has vacated its usual spot inside my head...)

[†Faith Winters†]

Just tell us what to fear
'Cause I don't know what tomorrow brings
To light with such possibilities
All I know is I feel better when I sing
Burdens are lifted from me
That's my voice rising

[/I]

Another song, another sound. It amazed the slight lycaness to a small extent how every song sounded so different from the previous song. You could go through nearly all of the songs by Bright Eyes, and they would all sound fairly unique. Needless to say, she was amazed by the smallest of things.

Furrowing her brow slightly, Faith contemplated for a brief moment, “It’s not going to hurt, will it?” Her voice sounded almost like that of a Childs as the question slipped from her lips. She never was good with pain.

Boys keep strumming those guitars
We need a record of our failures
Yes we must document our love
I have sat too long in my silence
I have grown too old in my pain
To shed this skin
Be born again

[/I]

Watching Xavier once more, this time with a anxious look on her face, Faith bit her bottom lip lightly as he put some of the liquid from a bottle on a cotton ball. Not good. As he went to brush the cotton over her burn, the slight blonde let out a small squeak like sound, and when the cotton actually touched the burn, she let out a small yelp and closed her eyes tight.

Opening up one eye slowly to peer at Xavier, she decided it would be best to be completely cooperative, letting him do everything needed without putting up to much of a fuss. Raising an eyebrow at the bandaged wrapped around her, Faith chuckled lightly. That was going to look strange under a tank-top.

Oh it starts with an ending
So thank you friends for the time we shared
My love stays with you like sunlight and air
No I truly wish I could keep hanging around here
My joy is covering me
Soon I will disappear

[/I]

As Xavier finished up on her foot, Faith was near tears. Her foot hurt much worse than the burn on her stomach, and she really was never good with pain. Giving Xavier an appreciative smile, Faith wiggled her toes slightly, making sure the foot was at least still intact, “Thanks a lot, I probably would have just ignored ‘em and made them worse,” She said, grinning slightly.

Scratching the back of her neck thoughtfully, Faith smiled sheepishly once more, “Well, I WAS going to put more on when I woke up… It was really hot in here last night… Not that you needed to know about me sleeping in the nude… Er… Not that I sleep in the nude… I just, er…” Trailing off, her face flushing in embarrassment, Faith shook her head slightly, “Rayne told me I should be used to the ‘natural state’ because I’m a lycan, I’m assuming she was joking around, but she was right… Right?”

(OOC: Nonsense, your post was great ;D ^.^)

[Xavier]

Xavier's smile blossomed as he watched Faith's reaction. Fear, anxiousness, anxiety. He laughed. Such a wonderful person Faith was. A proud Lycaness, yet timid enough to be afraid of the littlest unknown. As Faith inspected Xavier's handiwork, Xavier sat back and sighed, then stared up at the ceiling for a moment before focusing his eyes on the fireplace. Winter had yet to fall upon the grounds of the school, but wintery conditions had already made some nights unbearably cold. That thought brought Xavier's mind into a flashback...


Rose petals covered the floor of Sealla's and Xavier's den. Candles illuminated the darkest corners of the private chamber, in addition to highlighting the beautiful form of Sealla's naked body, simply hidden under a warm fur blanket. Xavier laid next to her, embracing her tightly, his head gently nestled in her bosom as the couple slept soundly together on that chilled winter's night.

The events in the Tunnels in the past months had been bliss for the two of them. Xavier proposing to Sealla, Kage and Amelia together, so many things that seemed to make life cheerful for everyone in the Tunnels.

Xavier's mind wound ahead to another event, this one closer to the present than the first...

Xavier's and Sealla's chamber was chock full of Lycans. Sealla had been pregnant for several months now and it was time for her to give birth. A nervous Xavier knelt next to the bed where Sealla laid in labor, sweat beading on her forehead, teeth gritting tightly in agony. Rogue was there, calmly leading everyone through the process. Kage, Amelia, everyone was once again present...

Later in the evening, only Xavier was left in the chamber, kneeling heavily next to the body that once held Sealla's soul within. Tears streamed down his face, cries of anguish and pain echoed through the halls of the underground cavern. Sealla had given birth to two pups - one male, one female. Only the male had survived the delivery. He was in the care of the other Lycans now. A mourning Xavier held the still-warm hand of Sealla tightly, kissing it tenderly, whispering to her softly. Yet there was nothing he could have done to save her now.

Suddenly, Xavier's mind snapped back to reality. He felt a cold chill fall over him. Around this time last year, he and Sealla had been life partners. The marriage had never been made official, at least not in the human sense. But that was okay by him. Then, months later, she had passed on, and Xavier had been left alone to care for his only blood-related son, Sean. Xavier had never fully recovered from the loss, and the thoughts of that time still tore at his heart.

As Xavier's thoughts returned to the matter at hand, Faith spoke to him and he gave a weak smile and nodded.

"That's what I'm here for, I guess. Making sure that everyone stays at their fittest."

As Faith began digging a hole for herself while discussing the topic of sleepwear (or lack thereof), Xavier chuckled quietly and put a finger over his lips to signal for her to be quiet.

"It's quite alright, Faith. Nothing to be embarrassed over. Believe me, I used to do it all the time. Of course, nowadays I rarely ever do. I don't know...maybe it's due to all of the recent events. I've...become more modest, in a sense, even though as Lycans we don't wear clothes in our wolven forms. But Rayne was right. You should be used to the natural state. Unlike humans, we should not be ashamed to walk around without...sufficient covering. Humans cover themselves because they would not survive otherwise. I'm sure you've viewed students of the school walking about in heavy layers of clothing. They do not possess the survival skills and genetic coding that allows us to act the way we do. They also believe that their earliest ancestors discovered knowledge and then they realized that they were naked. From that moment on humans covered themselves with anything ranging from scraps of animal skins to fancy weavings made of cotton and other materials. We have adjusted ourselves in public to fit this form, but within our own walls, human rules do not apply to us."

Xavier then proceeded to walk behind his chair, fling off his boxers and reappear in the nude.

"See? No problem. Nothing to be ashamed of. Most humans would be either gawking or hiding their eyes in shame if this were to happen in public. Not here."

Xavier then walked over to the wall by the entrance to the room and grabbed a white robe off of the rack of cloaks, putting it on and tying it loosely at the waist.

"The only reason that we wear even the slightest of clothes while in the Tunnels I believe is that sometimes humans wander into our home. They do not know that we are accustomed to a lack of clothing, and as such, robes are often common around here."

Xavier sat down in a chair across from the bandaged Faith and crossed one leg over the other.

"So, you see Faith, don't worry about a thing. We've been doing the same thing for generations and nothing has forced us to change our ways as of yet."

The elder Lycan gave a smile and then got up and placed two fresh logs onto the dying fire, which promtly flared up again.