The Storm (Oden and Impala)

A large cracking sound filled the air, a flash of light that lit up the trees around him, followed by a long rumbling thunder. Oden couldn't help but nearly jump out of his skin at the sound and sight; the lightning cast harsh shadows and he could feel the thunder rumbling the very earth around him. Rain was pouring from the sky, pelting his face and soaking his fur as he walked, seeking adequate shelter from the storm. He knew he should have stayed at the main den-site today, but he had underestimated the severity of the impending storm. As if the pouring rain and thunder and lightning weren't enough, harsh winds whipped at his fur and knocked many of the remaining fall leaves from the trees, sending them hurtling down towards him.

This kind of weather always brought back the worst memories for him. It was the same kind of severe storm he remembered as a juvenile when his pack had allowed three loners to seek shelter on their land and those three lone wolves had slaughtered most of them, only sparing Oden as his mother had forced him to flee to safety. Every rumble of thunder, every crack of lightning, and every whistling wind only further amped up his anxiety. He felt his breathing sharpen, heart race, his eyes grow wild as they darted around in the darkness. He knew he needed to find a safe spot to wait out the storm, but he felt too... panicked. He couldn't stop moving. He just wanted to run and run and run like he had that night and unless the storm passed, his mind was too busy racing with thoughts for him to stop.

Impala had headed back to the main den site when she saw the heavy clouds of rain in the sky. She liked the rain well enough, but she figured that it would be best to find shelter until the rain passed. It was getting chilly and she would much rather snuggle with her best friend Oden in a cozy den than have wet fur for the rest of the day.

But Oden was not in the main den site. Impala had then left to go find him, following the trail he had left behind at a brisk trot. The sky was heavy and distant thunder rumbled as she searched the territory, still unfamiliar but getting more like home every day.

A loud clap echoed through the forest and Impala jumped. Rain began to fall and Impala picked up the pace, becoming doubtful that she would be able to find him. Where could he be, she wondered? The wind was buffeting her long silver-blue fur and she had to narrow her eyes against the leaves and debris that blew around. So much for staying dry. she thought.

Impala had lost the scent trail when the rain had started, and now she galloped in one direction, her amber eyes narrowed and searching for Oden or for shelter or any kind. She let out a little howl, hoping he would hear her, but it was most likely lost in the wind.

Suddenly she saw a flash of white up ahead as thunder roared through the forest. It was Oden! Impala took off on swift paws to intercept him. ”Oden! Oden!” she cried, glancing at where he had come from, but nothing seemed to be chasing him. Her orange eyes were wide with confusion and desperate fear for her friend and what could be wrong as he pelted past her with speed fueled by panic. Never had she seen Oden so fearful! She felt fear welling within herself as well. She struggled to catch up to him. ”Oden wait! Please!”

Oden was truly panicked. He found himself breathing heavily, his brows furrowed and eyes wide, scanning the area around him as leaves and debris fell all around him in the wind and rain. He was only slowed when he hit a patch of mud and lost his footing, paws slipping through the wet earth. His white fur was stained with mud and he would have kept running had it not been for the voice he heard in the distance. Someone was calling his name? He heard them again and a flicker of recognition flashed across his eyes. Impala. In his frenzy he had completely forgotten about her (and just about everyone else). His fur was soaked through and looking rather haggard as he spun around to face the direction the voice was coming from.

Impala appeared, a glowing white figure in the darkness, seeming almost ethereal as he stood in a frozen panic now. He said nothing, the rain falling deafeningly loud. He only stared at her, his mind blank on what he should be doing. He had been so busy panicking he had forgotten about his dear friend. He grew upset with himself for forgetting her. How could he forget? That should have been his number one thought! His body began to tremble as his breathing grew rapid again and he shook his head quickly, eyes squinted shut.

Impala felt her heart jump as Oden slipped in the mud ahead of her, and after that, handsome white fur covered in mud, the male whirled around his yellow eyes wide and panicked as he stared at her.

Impala stopped before him and just watched for a moment, her eyes wide. What on earth was wrong with him? What had happened? As she saw him trembling she felt tears gathering in her eyes, nearly unnoticeable due to the rain, but she was filled with anguish nonetheless. To see her closest friend, her constant rock, the one she loved in such a state was difficult for her to say the least. She wanted to stop this, whatever it was.  ”Oden…” She whispered as he lowered his head, his eyes tightly closed. She stepped forward and nuzzled into his thick fur. She could feel his powerful muscles, tensed and shaking, but Impala pressed herself against him, curling her head around his in a passionate embrace as she let her silver curls fall around his full white coat. She could feel his heart pounding in his broad, powerful chest. She murmured softly to him, ”It’s okay… I won’t let anything happen to you, Oden. We can do this… we can do anything… together.” Thunder crashed over them again and Impala forced herself not to flinch, staying strong as she held firmly the wolf she held most dear.

Oden's eyes were held tightly shut until he felt Impala's embrace and what felt like a jolt of electricity shoot through him. Her touch filled him with warmth and he almost forgot what was even happening in that moment. She spoke to him in a soothing and comforting tone and her voice would have been drowned out by the rain and thunder had she not been so close to him. He pulled away slightly, peeking his eyes open just so he could see her face, and the anguished look in her eyes at his current state clenched at his heart. He went to lean back into her, to feel safe once more in her comforting words, when another loud crack of thunder boomed. He quickly jolted away from her, but this time he didn't run. "Impala!" His eyes darted around the surrounding area, searching. He needed to keep her safe in the way he couldn't when he was a young juvenile with his parents. "I have to get you to safety! We have to- we have to find somewhere..." He sounded so desperate as his voice trailed off and his body seemed stuck in one place as his frantic gaze finally rested on her once more. She stood before him, her curled fur sopping wet and looking at him only with concern. Had she really come out all this way just to find him...? He felt both guilty, for risking her life over his own problems, and awed that she would do such a thing for him. She really cared and he wanted to show her that same level of care in return, but he felt some sort of block in his brain from problem-solving at the moment and it only got worse with every flash of lightning and rumble of thunder. "We can do anything... together." He would have to focus on her words and fully trust her, even in his heightened state, that they would be safe. He gave her a worriedly hopeful look that she had a plan.

Impala still felt fear making her dizzy at the tone in his voice, the desperation, that she could not understand. But she decided then that she didn’t need to understand. Whatever happened, Oden needed her. And she would be here for him, just as he had been here for her since she had lost almost everything. But when the thunder caused that glazed look in his eyes she realized the truth. It is the thunder! How could she not have known until now?? She pushed that aside and focused on the situation at hand.

When you were part of a team, you shared your pain with your partner. You shared your fears, and your hopes, and your dreams. You shared everything, and together you can bear it. Now she would share courage and strength, as he had shared with her so many times. She needed to be his rock now, his constant in the storm, his light in the darkness to shepherd him home. She met his glowing yellow eyes and smiled softly, giving a nod. ”Yes. Come on. I know what to do.” Her voice was calm, it was firm, and it told him that they would be okay. He could depend on her. She would be here.

The she-wolf felt extremely fortunate she had been spending so much time in the territory, for she knew of a small den nearby nestled on a hillside below the tangled roots of a large tree. She would bring him there, and inside they could shelter from the storm, away from the tempest that raged over the land. She brushed past him, and took the lead toward the site, her tail brushing his side as they walked and her eyes falling back to glance at him, to ensure that he stayed by her as she lead him to safety.

Oden felt only a brief moment of relief when Impala said she knew what to do. He didn't say anything; he just nodded once. He felt her brush past him, leading the way to safety. She was a beacon in the night storm, glancing back at him to ensure he was following, and he did, movements a bit jolty as he plodded along after her. Although he made sure to keep close to her, his shoulder always touching her side, he still would survey their surrounding area with a darting eye at each shadow they passed.

Impala had clearly been spending much of her free-time exploring the territory, for she was able to guide him with ease to a den that was built into the hillside, its entrance hidden behind the gnarled roots of the tree above it. He looked to Impala with hopeful eyes once again, awaiting her to safely enter the den first. If she could find a safe shelter for them, he could still be chivalrous enough for her to enter it first, despite his heightened state of anxiety.

Finally they reached the den and Oden, always the gentleman, indicated for her to enter first. Impala smiled, blinking fondly at him, but she did not dally any long as she slipped into the den. She followed the short tunnel as it lead slightly upward to prevent flooding in the rain. Once in the chamber of the den It was still and surprisingly roomy, it would easily house the two wolves, and perhaps one more even if they had been three. She shook off before Oden was inside so not to get him any more wet, and then she circled at the back wall and laid herself down on her side, giving him plenty of room in the chamber to get comfortable.

She watched him approach, seeing his bright yellow eyes glowing in the dimness. Thunder rumbled overhead, but it was muted thanks to the earthy cushions that surrounded them from all sides. It was a quiet place, and safe place. ”Are you alright, Oden?” was Impala’s first question. The most important question. Her white ears were perked and her orange amber eyes were wide and fixed on him as she awaited his answer.

Impala entered the den and Oden let her shake off and get settled before he quickly entered. He attempted to shake off his fur in the entryway of the den, but could only do so much in the space without spraying Impala in the process. He quickly plopped down on the earthen ground and began to feel all sorts of aches and pains in his legs and sides and just... all over. He hadn't realized just how much running he had been doing, how tense he had been, and how many branches he had run into. He kept close to Impala, for warmth but also for comfort. Although the cozy den, and just being with Impala, certainly made him feel much safer, the unsettling storm was still going on outside.

Impala spoke and he quickly turned his head to her, his yellow eyes growing sad at her question. "Of course." He quickly glanced away, lowering his head to the ground. It was obviously not the truth and he looked back up at her again guiltily, his ears falling back. "I'm sorry."

As soon as Oden was settled in the soft earth Impala shifted forward to press her side against his and put her head on his heaving side. She curled her tail around him as well, anything to let him know that she was with him, and that he was safe now.

Impala lifted her head with perked ears as he spoke. She blinked doubtfully at his words. That was typical Oden. He never wanted anyone to worry about him. He wanted to stay strong, even if he clearly was not okay. She smiled sadly at him as he apologized, leaning forward to give his broad muzzle a gentle lick. ”It’s okay, Oden.” The silver-blue she-wolf withdrew after a moment and let the silence spread as the white male calmed down. And then she said, ”I am the one who should be sorry. You are my best friend, in yet I never knew you had this fear… what happened to you?”

Oden's eyes closed during the silence that fell between them after Impala gave his muzzle a reassuring lick. This was never how he wanted Impala to see him... So weak... It was a side of him he never wanted anyone to see. Alas, it had happened and he would have to come to terms with that.

He opened his eyes and looked up at her again, his head still hanging somberly. "It just... reminds me of a bad time." He paused to gather his thoughts. He was certainly calming more as they spent more time in the earthen den. "This is the same type of storm that occurred when my pack was... murdered." In the mental state he was in it was harder to get the words out. He always thought he had come to terms with what happened and then a large storm would hit to knock him back. "It's been so long I don't know why it still affects me like this... but it does." He quickly looked up to her now, his eyes sad. "Impala, I'm so sorry. You came out to find me and I just put you at risk of the storm." The thought that if anything had happened to her while she was out searching for him made his chest tighten.

Impala lowered her gaze at his words. So that was it. These storms transported Oden to a time long ago, when he had lost everything. She looked back up at him. He looked ashamed, and it made Impala’s heart ache. She did not want him to feel bad about his fear. The world knows Impala had plenty of fear in her heart as well, fear that she had certainly sought comfort from Oden for. She wanted him to be comfortable doing the same, ”Don’t be sorry. I came out here because I care about you. You would have done the same,” Impala pointed out.

Impala rested her head against him, cuddling into his thick mane. She wanted to help fix this. ”From now on, you’ll never go through another storm on your own. We will make a day of it! We will take some food and find a nice den and we can relax and hang out the whole time. Make you new, good memories.”

Impala was right, as always, and he gave her a small smile. Oden would no doubt have gone out to find her in the storm if the roles were reversed.

Impala rested her head on his neck and he felt that familiar warmth emanate through his chest; a feeling he always got at her touch. He lowered his head to the ground so they could rest comfortably beside each other. With her head draped over his neck he was beginning to feel truly safe. At her new plan for the next storm, an amused yet genuine laugh rumbled through him. He glanced back at her as best he could, a wide smile on his muzzle now. "I think that's a great idea." Impala certainly knew how to make him feel at ease. He paused a moment to reflect on the entire situation before speaking again. "You're really incredible, you know that?"

Impala smiled in return, her tail thumping against the earthen wall as he agreed to the idea. She could hardly wait for the next storm now. She would search the territory for a nice deep cave and prepare it with soft nests and catch something delicious to eat and perhaps find a game to play. Oden was older than she, and was a very dignified and noble wolf. But perhaps she could entice him in some fun. She could feel his heartbeat slow into a steady rhythm as he let himself relax. She, in turn, relaxed as well.

She felt her chest burst into flutters at his words and she closed her eyes with a sweet smile. ”Only because you are,” she answered quietly, realizing the truth to her words as she said them. Oden had seen Impala at her very worst, and he, far more than any other wolf in the world, had been responsible for picking up the pieces and building her back up to the wolf she once had been, and then more. If she were incredible in any way, it was all thanks to Oden.

Oden was certainly flushing pink under his white coat at her words. He was glad that they were positioned in a way that she wouldn't be able to see the sheepish expression on his face very well. Impala was always so sweet and nice and pretty... His heart began to race again, but in a different way and he used a paw to wipe his face as if to clear the thoughts from his mind. Were these feelings sudden and new or had they been brewing for a while? He would keep his mouth shut about it for now. This wasn't the right time. He had just been through a lot out in the storm... and he'd hate to jeopardize his friendship with Impala. Their friendship was something he truly treasured. Instead, he decided to settle in further beside her, a wide and content smile on his muzzle. "Thank you, Impala." He said, his voice completely genuine. He couldn't ever thank her enough for what she did for him tonight and he couldn't be more glad that it was she who found him in the storm. "For everything."