Seeing an Old Friend (Taz and Impala)

Impala padded through Blutwald, soon to enter the main den site to Blutwald and meet Alpha Stallion. It had been quite an eventful journey here so far; seeing her sister and meeting her nieces and nephews, all after she had managed to make it here after... the incident. Impala had been a little off ever since she killed a wolf in self defense, and the encounter with a dead wolf and his grieving mate on the way to Blutwald was too close to home right now...

A familiar scent hit her nose and Impala looked around, perking her ears happily. She had known that Taz had left Kausen to join Blutwald, to Impala's dismay, but with everything that had happened she had almost forgot to look for him. She directed her trail toward her scent. "Taz!" she called into the trees, her deep amber eyes searching the sun dappled forest.


Taz stopped, and looked behind him in surprise. He was just returning to camp with a plump rabbit in his jaws before he heard what sounded like Impala, calling him. He placed the rabbit in between paw as he faced the silver patch of fur, racing through the dense forest towards him. "Impala." He replied, a little loud so she could hear. It was nice old see an old friend, it reminded him that Kausen was still part of him.

Impala stopped before him, her tail wagging in excitement, "I was hoping I would find you! Do you like it here so far-?" she broke off, freezing as she noticed the scars carved into his face, "Oh Taz... what happened?" she exclaimed, her fur bristling in alarm.

Taz bowed his head to her with a small smile. Taz blinked after he realized about his scars. He had forgotten about them for a while, only when they didn't sting when he wrinkled his snout. "It's alright." He reassured her. "I just ran into some trouble, but it looks worse than it feels." He replied. He wasn't entirely sure how true that statement was, it seemed both looks and feeling hurt him equally.

Impala listened to him with her white ears cupped forward in concern. He shrugged it off, and Impala let it go. He was okay now, and that was what mattered. But still... who had done that to him? She could not resist the hunch that formed in her mind, a hunch that had to do with Roman's murderous son who was still roaming these lands... at least, he was according to a loner Impala had run into earlier this season. She had been worried about him during her travels, but she had a job to do and she had no choice but to take the risk. Besides, she knew that she would most likely be fine. "Well, I hope Blutwald is treating you well, and hopefully you won't get into any more trouble." she said with a gentle smile, "But do you like it here? Are you happy?" she asked.

"I'm glad to be in Blutwald. I have a good task as a Ace Scout, and the living here is pretty comfortable." Taz replied, looking back in the forest, the dense greens hugging around the distant camp. He scrunched up his eyebrows in deep thought, like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't tell if he wanted to. He slowly turned to face Impala again with gentle green eyes and asked. "How are you Impala? How well is...Mona fairing?"

Impala nodded,"Great... I'm very happy about that." she said warmly. It always felt good to hear that such a close friend was happy... and after so long of wandering, searching for answers he thought he needed, now he had finally found where he belonged.

Impala paused before answering his next question, "I'm doing alright." she said with a smile, but was happy when he asked about Mona. She didn't want to get in to how she was doing. The sting in her injured paw, which Gypsee had since treated, was nothing compared to the knot of steel in her belly that sent her pacing restlessly each day and laying awake with eyes fixed on nothing each night. "Mona is doing okay." Impala said. Mona had been very sad to see her son leave so soon, after just having seen him for the first time in countless months. But at the same time, to see that Taz was alright at all had taken a load off the female's shoulders, Impala knew. And for them to rekindle their relationship was more than Mona had ever hoped to happen. In that way Impala knew that Mona was okay, even if she would miss her son. "She asked me to send you her love." she told the black male with a happy smile.


Taz nodded his head with a grin, rolling his eyes. Mona always found a way to get her love to him one way or another. Well, at least this time, he wasn't smothered with it. "Good." He replied to how Impala was doing. However, by the looks of it, he knew she could be feeling better. "I don't suppose that you have time for a chat?" he asked, he had no idea if Impala was carrying news of importance that was vital to tell Alpha Stallion as soon as possible. He wouldn't want to keep her from her job.

Impala nodded, her tail wagging slowly. She would love to chat and catch up with her old friend. "I have the time. I was just heading home to Kausen, so I am in no rush." she assured him, sitting down on her haunches and blinking warmly at the green eyed male before her. Perhaps in this chat she could hear more about his "troubles" or maybe even better news about his new life in Blutwald. Either way, she was looking forward to spending this small amount of time with Taz before heading back.

"Nice." Taz replied, relaxing a bit. There was a few moments of silence before Taz sparked the conversation with a casual tone. "So, about your rank, you having fun with it? It's really impressive that you have gotten so far up the ladder of ranks, heh, how are you dealing with it?"

Impala could not help but hold her head a bit higher as they spoke of her Beta rank. The young female was quite proud of her accomplishments, and the hard work she had done to achieve it. She was a trusted adviser to Alpha Gregor and no matter what else was going on in her life, her job was always something she could hold on to as a point of sanity and a reason to carry on.

"Yes, I am. I love seeing other packs and knowing first hand what is going on. Like coming here, for instance. I got to see my sister and her new children, and Alpha Stallion and establish peace between Kausen and Blutwald. And of course I got to see you." she added with a playful wag of her tail. She shrugged her shoulders, "I hope I am dealing with it okay, but you'd have to ask Alpha Gregor. I just... stay focused." she said. Yes, she was happy she had her job to focus on. It kept her mind away from other things.


Taz nodded his head slowly. "Good. I'm glad." He replied. Peaceful silence followed, a loss for words in between them. Taz scratched his head before finally speaking up. "Well, I'm glad to have caught up with you, good to know even though I left, Kausen is still close to me."

Impala smiled at her friend's response. Taz seemed different than she had seen him before. He seemed... content, happy, at peace. It was so wonderful to see him this way.

Impala got to her paws at his words, leaning forward and nuzzling her white muzzle into his dark cheek. "Kausen will always be close to you." she said, backing up to blink warmly at him, meeting his deep green gaze with her warm amber one. "It was so good catching up. I must be going now, to see Alpha Stallion." Impala explained, turning to go. She glanced back one more time at her old friend, flicking her silvery white tail in farewell.