pawprints:
Post by Earth Hearted on Jul 3, 2016 6:16:48 GMT -6
Thunderspark's Second Chance
Background:
Before Winterspark of Southern Snow, there had been Thunderspark. However, Thunderspark took the reins of the Pack during a dark time: a greencough (potentially fatal throat disease) epidemic had swept through Southern Snow, wiping out around a third of the Pack.
Thunderwood had never been a good leader. Sure, it was his dream, like many others', to be Alpha one day, and to receive the glory and respect that came with it. When he was named co-alpha by Bravespark, he was ecstatic. He'd worked hard to earn that title, but the problem was was that he had never had any experience in leading. Heck, he had only taught one pupil.
For a long time, nothing went wrong. Everything flourished and grew, and puppies were plentiful. Bravespark eventually passed away due to old age, and Ryecloud took the rank of Alpha, allowing Thunderwood to become primary co-alpha and promoting Wintermaple to become the secondary.
Then, all of a sudden, the greencough came, possibly brought by a visiting Transit wolf (they never heard from her again anyway, so she probably died from it, too). Wolves were dying by the day, and Ryespark was powerless against it. He became as weak as the others, and resorted to lying and resting in his den, directing his orders through the co-alphas. Thunderwood was one of the healthy ones, managing to live by using his photosynthetic powers (he was an Earth wolf) to produce nutrition for himself, and to heal himself whenever he was sick.
Ryespark passed away shortly, leaving the rank open for Thunderwood's taking. In pure disbelief, Thunderwood rose to Thunderspark. But the title didn't feel so special anymore. He had gotten tired of having to take care of everyone else and quite frankly Thunderwood wasn't prepared for the leadership at all. Reluctantly, he took the lead. Wintermaple stepped up to primary co-alpha, and Thunderspark more or less selected another one arbitrarily.
The epidemic was getting worse. The nurse wolf ended up passing away and Sparkpool never gave any indication of who should be the next one-- so even worse, Southern Snow lacked a healer. Thunderspark had inherited the responsibility of taking care of the Pack, and he didn't shoulder it well. His confidence in the Pack began to decline, and eventually he neglected his duties altogether. Although he desperately wanted to help th3 Pack, what was there he could do? He was not a good leader, and didn't provide the best comfort.
So eventually he just gave up. Wintermaple should already be Alpha-- he was more of it now than Thunderspark was. So just make it official. There was a raging blizzard that night and everyone was tired, cold, sick, and dying. Even he couldn't last long in this weather. Swallowing hard, Thunderspark made his decision. Walking to the co-alphas, he told them that he needed a break. And so he left, never intending to return again. And that was the last time any Pack heard or saw of him.
Thunderspark carved out life as a loner outside the territory, taking steps each day to avoid seeing Pack wolves. The shame he bore was almost unbearable, but he couldn't go back. And eventually, he died, in his mind a traitor and a coward.
On the way to the afterlife, a figure stopped him. Thunderspark stood on the brink of a road, a fork in front of him. One lead to a forest that got darker and darker. This was the way to the DullPack. The other lead to woods that had a heavenly glow. That would be SparkPack. Thunderspark's heart pounded. Everyone wanted to go to SparkPack, but if one was sentenced to DullPack there would be a wolf or wolves to chase them down that road. Was that wolf here to do that? He didn't think he'd sinned this much. Thunderspark bunched his muscles, prepared to meet his doom.
The wolf stepped forward. He was a large black male with raven-black fur and large wings. His brown eyes seemed to glow.
"My name is Broken Rowan," he said in a gruff voice.
Thunderspark bowed his head. "I am sorry for deserting the Pack," he said, "and if I deserve to go to DullPack, then so be it." He didn't think he could bear the shame again if he did manage to convince Rowan to take him to SparkPack.
Broken Rowan gave no indication whether or not he agreed. "I'm not here for that," he growled impatiently. "I am here to give you a second chance."
"A what?" asked Thunderspark, baffled.
"A second chance," Broken Rowan repeated. "It is true that you turned your back on your Pack when they needed you the most. You were scared and only worried about yourself that day. But I sensed your shame. I sensed a feeling of penitance. You do not deserve to go to SparkPack, nor do you deserve to rot in the DullPack. But if you do not accept this second chance of a life, you must be sentenced to the worse."
"I accept," cried Thunderspark desperately. "Please, give me this chance to prove myself."
"Then I will hold onto your soul until your second life is complete," Broken Rowan said, leading him to a hollow in a tree. "Lie down. There will be other Transit wolves who will watch you to make sure you do not wander. You may not move from this tree until the second life is complete. If you do make any move, even to try to communicate with your second life, your second life will instantly die and you will become separate individuals. Should your second life prove himself to be a nobler soldier, then your soul will be saved. You will be reborn into a Pack. You will have but splintered memories of your past. And you will have one eternal challenge that you must learn to work with."
And what is that?"
"You will be blind. You must truly work to prove yourself. Do you still want to continue."
Thunderspark swallowed. It would be hard, especially since he could only sit by and watch, but it was his only chance to go to SparkPack. If he would have to sit here for all eternity, then so be it. He nodded.
"Then so be it," Broken Rowan echoed, moving forward. A shimmer, and then Thunderspark gasped as SparkPack wolves appeared before them. Broken Rowan moved back for them to do the work. A single wolf stepped forward.
Thunderspark's chest pounded. "Bravespark."
The blonde wolf was emotionless. He moved forward, and the others mirrored his move. Turning his head back to Rowan momentarily, he said, "guide him well."
Rowan dipped his head, joining the SparkPack wolves, his eyes glistening. "We have not needed to do this for many centuries. Good luck, Thunderspark."
THE PLOT:
Thunderspark, former leader of Southern Snow, will be reborn into a Pack (not Southern Snow). This new pup will be blind. He has to overcome this challenge of blindness and prove himself to be a noble, loyal soldier to his Pack. Only then can he and Thunderspark enter SparkPack.
Broken Rowan (played by me) will guide the pup through the course of his life, and basically be his guardian angel. How much memory the pup holds of his old life as Thunderspark is up to the player.
ROLES:
-Reborn pup (does not have to be named Thunder-).
This is meant to be more of a "sandbox" plot that can go anyway. ^^ If anyone wants to claim this role, please comment below, and I will send you the details of the pup!
