Sooooo I had my surgery on Feb 2nd and I am finally out of the splint and somewhat mobile after a week of being laid up. Hated it and thought a lot about my writing, although I wasn’t really coherent enough to do anything about it (vicodin, yanno) and the #1 decision I made is to finish up Alpha Female. So I had today off from work as well as tomorrow and I decided that since I’m supposed to be resting and bearing some weight on my ankle, might as well get some writing stuffs done.
Opened the AF document and tweaked a few sentences. Reread the last scene and read my last “talking to myself” post. And…went completely numb yet again.
I love the idea of there being an ability that’s the flipside of the Alpha Male madness — the “manipulation” aspect as I’ve been calling it. I also like the two bonds going on. But then I threw myself a curve ball, and I am still puzzling it out. The idea that the Alpha Female can use the ability as Alpha Female but once she ceases being that, she loses the ability/memory of how to use it. Okaaaay. Easiest thing? Change it. Remove it altogether.
But I’ve never been one to go the easy route, or one to ignore something potentially cool that came from the Muse. So let’s run with it, shall we?
And since I haven’t done a character convo in like forever, I think it’s time to do another one. The character in question is Ilene, the former Alpha Female of the Pack and Luke, the male lead’s mother. Natasha, Luke’s Alpha Female and the main character, has shown evidence that she’s possibly gained this ability, whatever it is, and needs to learn how to use it because otherwise her nemesis Delia could destroy her through a mental bond.
With me so far?
Okay, so Ilene doesn’t remember a whole lot about this ability for the aforementioned reason. But I need to know what it is she does remember, and what she’s forgotten, and if this is a viable solution to Natasha’s problem. Kind of big for a single line of text, but it might turn out to be cool. Or not. But I’m gonna figure this out.
*takes a deep breath* *cracks knuckles*
ME: So, tell me about being the Alpha Female of the Pack.
Ilene: It’s an important job. The Alpha pair sets the example and tone of how the Pack will function.
ME: That’s good. I take it you were a good leader. And you’re now the Pack healer.
Ilene: Correct.
ME: So what do you remember of this ability to manipulate your wolves?
Ilene:I know what it is. It comes from the same place the Madness comes from. It’s dark. It’s not for evil Alpha Females, Alpha Females who want to completely control their wolves. Tyrants. Dictators. It’s to keep the wolves in line, but with love and respect and goodness. It just seems like manipulation to some. And then there’s keeping the ones in line that need it, like Delia.
ME: What is with this chick? She really has it out for Natasha.
Ilene: *nods* Oh yes. She was sure she was going to be Luke’s Alpha Female. It’s eating her alive.
ME: Truly. So do you recall how it works?
Ilene: Through the bond. Somehow.
ME: But you don’t recall how.
Ilene: It’s foggy. I don’t believe it was harmful to the wolf it’s used on. It can be if warranted, and that would need to be discussed, but an Alpha Female’s purpose is never to harm her wolves.
ME: What about the golden threads Natasha sees in her head? Do those have anything to do with it?
Ilene: *nods* Possible.
ME: But not for sure.
Ilene: No.
ME: Any other stuff you remember, no matter how insignificant it might seem?
Ilene: Yes. When Tasha saw Deliain her head, it pinged my brain a bit.
ME: Explain?
Ilene: It seemed familiar, as if maybe I’d had that happen to me as Alpha Female. That might be a direction to investigate.
ME: But Tasha was hurt by that, horrifically (and SPOILER ALERT! there’s more coming! END SPOILER ALERT). She can’t possibly have to use that to “manipulate” Delia.
Ilene: It’s a distinct possibility.
ME: What about psychic stuff? Delia’s got something psychic going on. Could this ability be psychic in nature?
Ilene: We as a race aren’t actully psychic, although we do use a basic form of telepathy when in wolf form.
ME: And the healing.
Ilene: Yes.
ME: Could Luke healing Tasha have anything to do with this? Would it give her more ..power, for lack of a better word, in this ability?
Ilene: It’s part of it, but it’s actually because she almost died once and actually died once. It gave her an expanded awareness of her wolves on a totally different level.
ME: Could her dying tie into the ability? Kind of like necromancy?
Ilene: *looks baffled* I don’t think so.
ME: Necromancers don’t just raise the dead. They communicate with the dead and can control the dead. Could Tasha’s ability be a form of necromancy, except…it’s with living wolves?
NOTE: Now we’re on to something.
Ilene: I suppose that could be. Don’t necromancers have an expanded awareness of the dead?
ME: Bingo. So if we could treat this as a form of necromancy (Lupi-mancy?), maybe we could figure out how it works.
Ilene: I believe I might remember something.
ME: Tell me.
Ilene: Well…it’s the mind. Tasha needs to connect with the mind. Delia’s in wolf form, so it’s going to be harder since she’s not. But that connection is key.
ME: I’m still thinking psychic. Perhaps it’s sort of like a separate plane of existence?
Ilene: I’m not sure. Just that it’s the mind. Delia attacked Tasha there, and Tasha can attack or manipulate back using the same channels. I’m almost sure of it.
ME: *smiles* Well, I think we have a good chance of nailing this down. Thank you so much.
So….in summary:
~It’s like necromancy except with wolves who are alive b/c of Tash’s brushes with death. May allow her to communicate with/control/sense her wolves (“expanded sense of her wolves”)
~It’s connected to the mind. That Natasha might be able to use the same channel, for lack of a better word, that Delia used to attack her.
~It might have something to do with the “golden threads” in Natasha’s head.
~It’s not meant to harm any wolves, but it is used to keep wolves in line.
~It’s not for “evil” Alpha Females who want to rule.
Soooooo lots to ponder, huh?
ETA: Notes: The life force or inner wolf could be the conduit for this manipulation. Or something.
Weaver of Words 