Solera
Legacy Name: Solera

Basics

Credits

Blind

Ven

A blessing or a curse?

Deep in the thick forest bordering the northern half of the subetan arctic tundra spring was slowly creeping back into the world. The snow covered trees dripped globs of slush at an alarming rate at the warmest part of the day and the bright sun was shining brighter and longer. The forest critters that escaped the harsh wintery months in deep and cozy dens had started emerging with their new babies. Tiny bundles of fur that rolled about, still too new to the world to do much else. The parents had one eye fixed on their newborns at all times, the other searching for any predators. This is what kept most of the little ones alive during their first few months, and was a skill needed for survival among the prey species.

The stillness of the awaking forest was interupted by pounding footsteps and harsh panting. A lone Montre the color of steel was sprinting through the forest at a sickening rate, like he was running from something. His crystal blue eyes kept darting behind him as he picked up his pace, his paws numb from the speed at which he was darting through the slushy forest. His louder than normal breathing was due to the fact that he carried an extra burden. A Montre kit, no older than a week at the most was dangling helplessly from his jaws, paws only a foot and a half above the cold ground. Her eyes had only just opened, and they were wide with fear and curiosity. Her eyes themselves seemed to absorb the precious sunlight right into them, they were pupiless and golden in color. Unusual for eyes, and the reason she was being carried away from her family.

War had snuck up on the Ceran clan quietly, but was no less forgiving. The once peaceful Montre clans were fighting for control of the forest, though it could easily sustain them all. It had been three years since the brutal fighting and killing had begun, and while most of the clans wanted it to end and for there to be peace; there were those that wanted it to continue. War mongers, blood thirsty Montres with no sense of peace, kept the wars alive by senselessly killing the kits of rivaling clans. Sometimes even killing their own in an attempt to stir the peace seekers within their own clans to fight. It was horrible, but it wouldn't last. Not according to the lands seer, who predicted the end of the war. One year before the kit in question was born, the seer announced that she had a vision of the end of the war. The clan to which a sun kissed kit was born would win the war, and peace would once again enter the great forest. Naturally this angered many, but gave hope to more. The clans lived in anticipation for the day the spring litters would be born, in hopes that the war would end.

The Montre sprinting through the forest came to a sudden halt, he released the kit in his mouth and let her tumble ruthlessly to the cold ground. His head whipped around while his eyes scanned the dark trees for any signs of life. Unknowingly he had entered the northern Celinox tribes land, and this was a very dangerous place to be. His ears stood on alert as he sneered down at the confused kit. She had taken to balancing herself on his front paws, trying desperately to avoid the cold ground. Leaving her here would surely kill her, she was too young to survive on her own. If that didn't work, the Celinox would definitely get her. With one last glance her kidnapper kicked her off his feet, sending her into a deep puddle of slush. He turned tail and without a second glance began back the way he had come. Now his clan could continue in peace.

The newborn kit cried to herself, not loudly like most. She cried for the warmth and safety of her families den, to be with her siblings whom she wouldn't remember now. It was this crying that attracted the attention of a passing Celonix hunting party.

"What's that sound Rovue?" A snowy colored female spoke softly to her hunting partner. A dark gray Celinox came out of the brush, ears perked. The sound of the crying kit was distant but reachable. As per usual, he set off in the direction without answering the snowy Celinox. She grunted in dissaproval but followed him all the same. It was only a few minutes before they found the source of the noise. The female gasped in surprise as Rovue bent to sniff the dying kit. "She must have been out here for at least an hour, her bodies gone cold." His gravely voice made the kit stir, and she looked up at him with her unusual golden eyes. The female came closer and sniffed the kit as well, pushing her a bit with her nose. It granted a small squeel and paw smack from the youngster, immediately returned with a loud snarl. "She's blind, we should bring her back and eat her." The female began to turn but stopped when she heard Rovue sit. She turned and looked at him incrediously.

"We will bring her back, but we won't be eating her. This one isn't blind, and she was most likely left here to die by those imbecile montres. Most likely a casualty of war as they call it. Foolish creatures." His ranting dwindled until it was just a whisper. He was captivated by the eyes of the kit staring at him. He cocked his head at her before bending no nuzzle her gently. "Don't be afraid little one, we'll take care of you." He gently began licking her, cleaning her of the filth from the puddle, before he picked her up by the scruff of the neck.

"Rovue! You can't, you know what mother will say. You can't go around saving every creature thrown to the mercy of the forest." She eyed him warily when he only smiled. He shook his head as he slowly walked past her, "That's the difference between you and me Leria, I don't condemn others because of what mother says." Leria huffed as he brushed by her, and reluctantly followed behind him. It was a few minutes before she spoke again, this time with curiosity replacing hostility, "Well then, if you're set on adopting her then you at least need to name her." Rovue stopped in his tracks and looked thoughtfully at the sky. "I hadn't thought of that to be honest." With an exasperated sigh Leria trotted to his side and looked at the tiny kit in his jaws, she sniffed her once and her ears laid back on her head.

"Typical male, well if you've got nothing then I'll name her. I'll give her a name to match those gorgeous markings of hers." She too looked off into the distance, as if searching amongst the wakening trees for the name. "I've got it, Solera" She looked down at the kit and nodded once, as if in approval, before taking point and leading the way home. Rovue just smirked at the significantly happier way in which his sister carried herself after giving a name to the kit she had suggested eating.

"Oh sister, you continue to surprise me."

Presently

Solera grew up living with the Celinox, never really understanding why she had been left in the forest on that fateful day. Over the years her hatred for the clans that deserted her only grew, and she refuses to have anything to do with them and their wars. Being raised by Celinox gave her a certain haughtiness and cynical twist to an otherwise calm and peaceful nature. She doesn't look down on others, just doesn't really trust them or enjoy their company.

As fate would have it, Solera became quite the honored member of the Celinox tribe, and was often doted on by the elders of her self proclaimed family. The cubs in her generation watched her with curiosity for being different, and would avoid her when she came to play, so she grew up fast spending most of her time with the more mature and respectful adults. She isn't playful by nature, and has a large personal space bubble which is often invaded by her always persuasive aunt. She pushed Solera to be more friendly and trusting of people, and calls her by her own nickname, Sol. He father figure on the other hand, Rovue teaches her how to live for herself and define her own rules, and could care less if she didn't take to the others her age. He welcomes her company and they often go on walks with each other and discuss the finer topics in life, such as war and the politics of the clans that deserted her. To this day she tries to find the reason for why she was deserted, but never ventures out of Celinox territory. Whether it's fear or uncertainty that compels her to stay, she has no intention of leaving her family.