(08/02/24 08:38:36 am) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium Scooby Gang Property- ..:Home for the Carlisle Werewolf Pack and Friends:.. ..Chicago Downtown District.. .City of Chicago, IL. says to ALL: Anna slipped away from the house shortly before dawn, the soft snoring of the women and the gruffer sounds from the men echoing in her ears. Sometimes living in a werewolf pack could be loud. Last night had been one of those nights, filled with raucous laughter and debates.
Having lived alone for several months in Carlisle, Anna had appreciated the silence. She had been solitary for much of her life until Frederick brought Anton back to her...a reunion that breathed life into her lonely existence. Now, both men were gone, lost in the chaos of their pack’s embrace, and she was left to navigate the remnants of her life in the bustling streets of Chicago.
As the orange hue of dawn crept into the city, she felt the urge to escape from the noise that flowed through the walls, filling her mind with longing for the past. The rumble of trash trucks and the sigh of street cleaners vibrated through the air as she began her light jog, her feet dancing over the pavement in a rhythm that mirrored her restless heart.
The riverfront was calling, a sanctuary where she could breathe freely, unrestrained by the expectations of her pack. With each stride, the cool air filled her lungs, whipping away the memories of the night before. Anna welcomed the solitude, knowing that soon the city would wake, but for a few precious moments, it was just her and the whispering waters.
(08/02/24 09:13:06 am) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium ..:Gardens and Parks:.. ..Throughout the City.. .City of Chicago. says to ALL: Reaching the riverfront, Anna didn’t slow but kept up her jog until she’d made the loop four times and the first hint of sunlight broke through the barrier of buildings. Each rhythmic footfall echoed in her ears, a mantra that pushed the worries of the day aside. As the world blurred around her, a lone bird flitted down and rested on the railing nearby, drawing her attention.
She slowed, her breath coming in heavy puffs, sweat trickling down her brow as she made her way toward the railing to look down over the river. It flowed silent and nearly still in the early morning light, a deep, glassy expanse that mirrored the pink and gold hues blooming in the sky.
Anna leaned against the cool metal, her heart still racing, but now for a different reason. The river was a place of solitude, where her thoughts could drift like the scattered leaves on its surface. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the gentle breeze brush against her skin, transporting her back to the summers of her childhood. Memories of laughter and boat rides danced in her mind, and for a fleeting instant, she felt an ache of nostalgia.
But life was waiting—a day full of responsibilities loomed ahead. She opened her eyes, shaking off the reverie. As the sunlight broke free from the horizon, spilling warmth across her face, Anna resolved to cherish these moments, to reclaim pieces of herself, even amidst the chaos of living with a werewolf pack.
(08/02/24 09:31:40 am) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium ..:Gardens and Parks:.. ..Throughout the City.. .City of Chicago. says to ALL: The gentle rustle of leaves whispered through the crisp morning air, connecting with the soft bubbling of the nearby river. Anna tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stared out at the sun stretching its golden fingers over the water. Its light danced along the surface, shimmering like the fragments of her past that flitted through her memories. She had once led a pack of werewolves, a fierce and loyal community bound by blood and instinct. Now, she felt like a visitor in a world that had once been hers.
As she settled onto one of the weathered benches overlooking the river, a man nearby changed out the trash bags, his movements drawing her attention. He was a burly figure, muscles rippling beneath a simple T-shirt, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked. Anna couldn’t help but admire the way he approached a mundane task with the same dedication she had once given to leading. He caught her eye momentarily, offering a brief nod that both startled and warmed her...the simple acknowledgment of two strangers coexisting in a world where connection felt increasingly elusive.
08/02/24 01:35:10 pm) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium ..:Gardens and Parks:.. ..Throughout the City.. .City of Chicago. says to ALL: A moment later, she turned her gaze back to the river, her thoughts flickering to her past. In the early days, she had stood strong beside her husbands... first Anton, in Russia....then Yakov, the formidable leader of their pack in Mexico and California. Together, they’d created a haven for their kind—navigating challenges, facing external threats, and protecting each other against the darkness that so often loomed over them. But with them now gone, she found herself wandering through life like a ghost in her own existence.
“Reclaim pieces of myself?” she murmured softly, her breath misting in the cool air. The thought felt as heavy as the clouds suspended above her. It was easier said than done. The strength she once exuded had been stripped to vibrations of uncertainty and pain. Her identity had been all but dissolved, reduced from a powerful leader to a mere elder, someone who had lost her way, drifting in a sea of memories.
“Are you enjoying the view?” came a deep voice, pulling her from her reverie. The burly man had walked closer, his smile revealing an unexpected warmth in his otherwise rugged features. “I hear the sunrise here can be breathtaking.”
(08/02/24 01:51:52 pm) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium ..:Gardens and Parks:.. ..Throughout the City.. .City of Chicago. says to ALL: She offered him a hesitant smile back, a flicker of her spirit momentarily igniting. “It is beautiful. It reminds me of times that felt… whole.”
He nodded, glancing out at the river, where the water caught the light like quicksilver. “You seem like someone who understands the importance of being in the right place.” He paused, squinting against the sun’s rising glare. “I’m Kyle. I help out with the local cleanup sometimes. It feels good to contribute.”
“Anna,” she replied quietly, appreciating the simplicity of his introduction, even if the casual air was almost foreign to her now. “I used to be part of something much bigger.”
The words slipped from her mouth before she could catch them, revealing a glimpse of the vulnerability she usually kept locked away. Kyle tilted his head slightly, curiosity dancing in his eyes. He didn’t press, allowing her to take her time, to find her own way if she chose to share more.
As moments ticked by, Anna felt drawn to the stranger’s easy presence. It reminded her of the nights spent under the moon with her pack, how they shared stories and secrets under a canopy of stars, laughter mingling with howls. It stirred within her a nostalgia that was both painful and oddly comforting, awakening a part of her that longed to break free from the shackles of her grief.
(08/02/24 02:14:16 pm) || Myth-Fortunes Bride || | Anna | A N Y A | Andreyeva | ]| CARLISLE | WEREWOLF | PACK |[ | SCOOBY GANG | Chicago, The Presidium ..:Gardens and Parks:.. ..Throughout the City.. .City of Chicago. says to ALL: “Being part of something bigger… it gives you purpose,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile atmosphere that had formed between them. “When you no longer have that, you start questioning your place in the world. What do you do when your role has vanished?”
Kyle studied her for a moment, his expression blending understanding with empathy. “Maybe it’s not about reclaiming what you’ve lost, but forging something new,” he suggested.
Anna considered his words, feeling a spark of something bright and elusive flicker within her...hope, perhaps? Hope or not, she felt an unfamiliar sensation coursing through her, a flicker of recognition. They had created a legacy; each member of the pack carried a piece of that history.