Quote:Nestled close just above the foothills of Mount Dire, Silent Moon Plateau is a vast expanse of flat greenery. Shadowed by a more ominous slope of the mountain, the plateau is accessible only on three sides. Surrounded in a thick forest of evergreen pines, firs and the rare hardwood tree, a winding creek cuts through the more flat expanse, seemingly flowing from a miniscule waterfall just outside the terrain. Lower elevations keep the seasons ever changing here, and if one looks over a steep overdrop to stare at the moon that enlightens the entirety of the eastern side of Relic Lore, one could easily agree with its namesake.

He had kissed his children goodbye – the last kiss delivered upon Hypatia’s brows as he stared at his eldest daughter with a stern love. She was the one he trusted the most with the three, and while Deneb had proven his worth as well as Aponi and Ace.. she was their blood. They would feel safest with her. He reminded her he would return in a few days if everything went well, and so the ivory male struck out, his large frame swiftly moving past the borders and to the place he no longer desired to call home.


His first desire had been to seek out Red Fern Forest – it was enchanting in its own way, but even still, it was not far enough for the regal. Not from Oak Tree Bend or the shadowed presence of Magnolia Glen. So, he moved westward, toward the mountain, his heart aching to once more cross in to the western regions of Mount Dire and claim a slice of heaven upon the only side of the mountain that had treated him well.


By the time he reached the foothills of the mountain, the sun had begun to lower across the sky, indicating the later afternoon hours. His fiery eyes glinted as they cast upward, and had it been any other day upon his travels, he might not have bothered to look so closely. The jutting rock lured him further than his straight point, and as he meandered further form what he considered his route, it was a stolen moment of peace that fell upon him once his eyes settled upon it.


Vast greenery spread out before him, it seemed, and as his eyes trailed up to the sharp jutting rocks at the edge, he realized he had come upon a plateau much closer to the foothills than he had imagined. His tantalizing thoughts of exploring eastward faded swiftly as he stood there, his shadow dancing upon what appeared to be a rather lush forest of conifers and pines. His eyes fell upon the hint of red and orange – hardwood trees intermixed, and for the very moment, he remained still for this silent descent of reasoning and peace. Was this land sustainable? Could he raise his family here?

His eyes swept over the landscape, taking it in not for its beauty, but for the rising potential he was taking in at that very moment. He was quick to begin moving then as the sun continued to set, his eyes sweeping over the vast forests that seemingly surrounded an open hilly terrain. He could see a creek that trickled through the area – not as strong as Cold Water Creek, but one that looked promising enough to hold its depth as a resource. Where it came from, he was uncertain – but he certainly intended to find out.


Moving forward, his eyes fell upon a shadowed form – a large male, though maturity had not yet reached the yearling just yet. His own ears pricked forward as he halted, his nose quivering as he tested the air – there were no strong scents of pack or wolf here.. he had not trespassed, and so, ushering a bark to gain the attention of the other, he began to trail after him, curious if the other knew anything about this area.


As he came closer, he gave a light dip of his muzzle, his eyes gleaming as they glanced over the youth. He seemed distinctly familiar – though Phineas knew they had never met. He didn’t get to travel much. “’Lo,” he greeted casually, slowing his pace to leave a respectful distance between the two. “You come here much?” There was no point in idle chit chat – at least not to the alabaster regal. He was far too eager to potentially this place out further and have his family move forward from the past year they had endured.

The slip up of words hadn't been missed, and the alabaster regal allowed a small smirk to press to his lips, though dipped his muzzle slightly so it could not be mistaken for arrogance. "Willow Ridge, then?" He mused the words quietly, his mind drifting to Elettra momentarily. Her life had turned out far more decent than his -- had he been more bitter to the beauty, he would have cursed her for besting him. Her mate was tied to her, his was long gone. "Elettra must still be quite knowledgeable in herbs and medicine," he offered in way of explanation to how he knew of the pack's existence.


But he did not want to dwell on the regal queen of the Willows -- the thought was far too depressing, and instead he wanted to focus on the place he (and this other fellow) had just come across. "What do you think of it here," he queried lightly, his muzzle giving an inclination to the vast lands before them -- he hadn't checked closely yet, but thus far, the forest that seemed to filter throughout gave promising resources of prey, while the winding creek offered water.


Was it sustainable? Was it as large as he required? his pack numbers had dwindled greatly, and he did not need too great a landscape. He simply needed to escape Magnolia Glen and the memories that clung heavily upon the sickly scent of the flowers each year they bloomed. "No," he finally answered, pulling himself from his reverie. "But I'm looking to relocate my pack."

He listened to the youth's words, offering a subtle hmm and giving a nod. "There's a creek in that direction," he nodded to the area he had entered, still unsure of what the source f the water was, but noting to investigate it later. The boy mentioned herbal remedies at that point, catching the ivory regal's attention and his eyes drifted over the boy once more. Did he dare try to coax one of Elettra's own in to his pack instead? A healer would have been nice -- and he seemed of the same age as Hypatia.. Perhaps it would keep her from that Oak Tree Bend boy..


But he had seen the wrath of Elettra, and decidedly, he did not want to test those waters, even with the distance between them.


He clucked his tongue once, a slow smile revealing its way to his lips. "Phineas Argyris." There was a small pause as he gave a nod to the heart of the terrain, and with a silent invitation, he began to maneuver his way there, his eyes drifting from his companion to study the lands before him. He was, after all, shopping for some real estate. "Your name sounds familiar.. Thorben. Were you born in Willow Ridge?" He couldn't quite place it -- somehow he knew the answer that the boy indeed wasn't.. Elettra did not strike him as the type to take in a pregnant she-wolf during the season which could hinder her own litter. But there was still something that tugged at him. Something he was missing..


Coming to the edges of one of the cliffs at the plateau, his eyes drifted across the Eastern side of the Lore, taking note of the landscape below. It did not offer the views that higher upon the mountain would have.. but the terrain before him was certainly vast. It was then that the sun began to nestle in to the horizon, and with it.. the moon made its ascent silently. "Silent Moon Plateau," he rumbled quietly, testing the name on his tongue.

If he had known he was losing the interest of his companion, it was likely he would have allowed the boy on his way – afterall, his time frame was strict, and as the wind drifted past his pelt and brushed his fur up, he felt the passionate need to move his family as soon as possible – winter is coming, and thus far, this was the fresh start they needed.


But he refused to place his kids in a land barely explored, and as the voice of the youth caught his attention with his voice, one ear gave a flicker of recognition that he was indeed listening – until Narime’s name was mentioned and his focus quickly snapped back to the ebony male. Given his age, this would have been the boy she had left the Ridge to begin her life anew – and, his father had vanished. It appeared he and Narime had more in common than ever – except Borlla had walked out on her second litter, rather than her first.


Before he could comment, the swarthy youth questioned him regarding the Argyris name, and blinking with mild surprise, the ivory male rolled his shoulders back, considering the question. Where had this knowledge come about? He had never talked about his family to anyone.. not even Borlla. Had he run in to Aeolus or Thanos, then?


“Distant family of mine,” he clarified, offering a small nod. His father had once told him of his heritage and family tree – the Argyris was supposed to be a proud name to carry.. and yet, despite his age, the regal felt he had accomplished little in his life. Perhaps his legacy would be better continued through his children.. though Takis was the only one who would truly carry on the name, it would seem. “Your mother is a good friend of mine, though,” he offered, his eyes drifting back once more to the rising moon.