Nightingale Palisade Starlings of the slip stream

His tail wagged at the praise Cheedo gave to the monadnock. Cyril was pleased to hear that the blue-eyed agouti felt at home in the lowlands, even if it was not her birthplace. He understood that not all wolves remained in the places they were born but the little Kael could not imagine living anywhere else. The monadnock was the perfect vantage point; he could see most of the north from atop the giant rock. He shuddered at the thought of living beneath the expanse of trees to the east or among the tall stalks of gold rye in the south. It did not compare to the smooth stone of the monadnock. Nothing would.

The soft pads on the bottom of his feet had begun to grow sore during their travel south but he did not mind. It was part of exploring and it only made him even more excited. “Y’live in lots of places before ‘ere?” He asked, his words dripping with youthful innocence as he cast the agouti a curious glance out of the corner of his eye. There was still a lot he did not know about his adventure partner, but he did not want to pry too much. If she did not want to share he would be a little disappointed but he would not protest. It was none of his business… he was just trying to make it his business.

They were covering the ground quickly an ld from her previous visit Cheedo knew they were getting close to the place where the Lowlands would end and the palisade would begin. In the meantime she and Cyril we're talking about their favorite places. As of that moment Cheedo felt hers had to be the Monadnock because it was the only place that she had felt like she had belonged in a long time. She had achieved more with the Whitestone pack that she had in any other place she had lived in and that was something she wasn't willing to give up.

Eventually they came to a place where there were small patches of green that broke up the gold grasses of the tundra and in the distance Cheedo could see a few trees. They were almost there a smile crossing her agouti features. Cyril's question brought her sea green eyes to land on him. “I’ve lived in a few places before here, yes. Sometimes by myself and sometimes with others. Living in those places was a little different than living here though.” She replied hoping she answered his question. She should have know he would have some curiosities about her since she hadn't really spoken of her past since coming to Whitestone.

While the boy would continue to explore the nearby territories he would never stray too far from the monadnock. Not permanently, anyway. He was not sure if he wanted to take over leadership when his father was no longer able, for it seemed like there was a whole lotta work that came along with being in charge. Cyril did not know if he could handle the workload—not like his parents. They were much more composed than he was; more patient. Leadership—now—did not hold his interest. He just wanted to be of use to the pack. To provide for them once he grew into his lanky limbs and oversized paws. It was possible that his views might change in the future, when he was older and more mature, but that sounded hella boring.

He noticed the shift in terrain as they got closer to the trees in the distance. Patches of green broke up the golden shades that covered the tundra ground. His nose twitched as he immediately lowered it to gather up as many of the new scents as he could while they walked. He listened to her response, his ears curved toward her as he continued along their path. He hummed in response, to show that he was listening, as he immersed himself in his new surroundings. “What’cha like best about it here?” He asked, his voice soft as he kept his yellow gaze fixated on the patches of green as they walked.

It wouldn't be too long before they reached their destination as the landscape changed from the golden tundra to the green of a forest. That wasn't what she had brought Cyril to see, all he would have to do is travel to Kingsfall to see a
forest. She did have to admit the trees there were a lot different than the ones that had started to appear in the land before them. She scented the air for the scent of water that she knew would be there. It was this place they were heading but she also knew that it could be a dangerous place if they weren't careful.

The small agouti didn't mind the pups questions as they spoke about favorite places and the Monadnock. She had finally found a place that she felt like she could call home and she worked hard to make sure that it didn't go away like everything else she'd ever had. “In Whitestone? I like the fact that your parents are supportive and recognize what I am capable of.” With Wraith and Piety she never felt like they only saw her as fragile little Cheedo. That was how Craw and the rest of her old pack had seen her and she realized just how much that had kept her down. It was different now, she could feel the changes on herself as she made great strides everyday to not be the wolf she was.

His tail wagged softly at his companion’s response. The little Kael was happy to hear that his parents were accepting of Cheedo and welcomed her into their family. Although they did not share the same blood the blue-eyed female was as good as family. She had been there since he was born, and she would be there until one of them decided to leave the monadnock behind. From the affectionate way Cheedo spoke of the monadnock and his parents Cyril doubted that she would leave any time soon—if at all. And he was definitely okay with that.

“Ya, they’re okay,” he hummed in response, adopting a joking tone as he flashed the older female a sharp wink. “They’re like that with Evy, too.” A nod accompanied his words, his smile widening. Both Everly and Cheedo were important figures in Cyril’s life and he was thankful that his parents had allowed them to stay (and flourish). He tipped his muzzle to the side as he glanced over at the scarlet female, a single brow arched high into his dark forehead. “Y’gonna tell me where we goin’ now?” The rolling tundra had shifted to shades of green as they entered the forest, an array of trees surrounding them as they made their way further south. He had ventured close to the golden fields before but never this far... this was all new territory to the little Kael.

And he couldn't be more excited.

After all the bad that had happened to her in her life before the Monadnock Cheedo felt truly lucky to have found a home with Piety and Wraith. They helped her in ways no one else had and they believed in her which helped her to be a better version of herself. Craw, Mitt they had all kept her down and ruled over her and to them she would always be “Fragile little Cheedo”. Wraith and Piety recognized her talents and gave her opportunities to show what she was capable of. It helped give her a confidence in herself she didn't even know was there. Little Cyril had never known her as “Fragile little Cheedo” and she was glad for that. She was glad that for him she could he someone to show him and teach him things.

The small agouti gave a small laugh at Cyrils jest, “Your truly lucky Cyril to have parents like them. With their support I see you going far.” She didn't mean what she said in a lecturing way or a way that said he didn't know what he had. She meant it in a way that she was happy for him to have such parents behind him. Had she been so lucky to have parents like them she might be a lot stronger. “I expect they would be and I think one day Everly will find herself too like I have because of your parents.” With his next question Cheedo bumped the top of his muzzle with her nose, “Alright, there is a small ravine that is just up ahead and I thought it would be something you would like to see.” She didn't give him anymore than that so that she didn't completely ruined the surprise but she couldn't resist the little Kael anymore.

The boy gave a triumphant nod in response to his older companion, the corners of his mouth curving upward in agreement. His parents were pretty spectacular. They put up with all of his shenanigans, along with his wandering paws. They were patient and caring, doing whatever necessary to provide for him and ensure he was never bored or forgotten. Being the only pup on the monadnock had been a little dull, but the boy had done well in entertaining himself and pursuing his packmates when he felt lonely. He knew his parents were often busy with their duties—they were leaders of a pack, after all—so he was never said when they were out on their patrols. The boy tried to accompany them as much as possible—if he was up early enough to catch them. In between his adventures, of course.

A ravine? His hindquarters wriggled in excitement as he quickened his pace, his shoulder falling in line with hers. The array of green surrounding them was a stark difference to the barren landscape he was accustom to. It was so lush and vibrant—the complete opposite of the deadlands he called home. Nothing could ever top the monadnock, however. This place paled in comparison to the chunk of rock in the north.

An excited yip escaped him as he flashed the girl a wide, toothy grin. This was a good adventure. He wold have to try to memorize the path they came so he could visit this place once more—without supervision.

After traveling from Ritter and then Craw disappearing and not returning Cheedo didn't know where she would be without Piety and Wraith. She figured that she would be the same as she once had been but she could be sure. Maybe she would have tried to find her way back but with the others having gone there wasn't anything left but the graves of her children.

She would like to think that has they lived she would have done the same things for them she did for Cyril. Everyday the boy helped her to move on from that terrible time in her life and while she still missed her pups she was grateful to him. Maybe one day she would be able to be a mother again but for now she was content in her life.

Cyril had weaseled the truth of where they were going out of her but she had withheld some of the details. She could at least give him something to be surprised about though he did seem excited about the ravine. His reaction to the news brought a smile to her face as she was glad her plan had worked out. Ahead of them Cheedo could see the small rise they would have to climb before the ravine with the rushing river running down the center of would be revealed to them. She could already hear the water, “Are you ready for your surprise? It's right up ahead. We will be there in moments."

He continued to be silent through the last leg of their trek. Not because he was tired or didn’t want to speak, but because he was trying to enjoy his new surroundings and attempt to memorize every nook and cranny. He could see the appeal of the place, but it still did not compare to the monadnock. Nothing would come close. It did not make it any less thrilling, though, for he was absolutely enthralled by the foreign sights.

Cheedo’s voice pulled him away from his thoughts, causing his ears to perk up. He turned to her, his smile widening as his tail wagging frantically behind him. He gave an excited, throaty bark in response to her question, his pace quickening as they headed toward the rise. The sound of bubbling water reached his ears, only fuelling his curiosity further. His patience had finally paid off and he could not wait to see the surprise that the blue-eyed agouti had waiting for him.

For the longest time the small agouti had wanted to do something special for Cyril for many reasons. She knew he liked to explore so gifting him a new place seemed to be the best thing she could give him. It brought a smile to her face to see how excited he was for the place she'd brought him. His excitement let her know she had chosen a perfect spot for him and a place that he could come in the future if he wanted to. It was a few hours away but it was a journey he could handle as he had proven on this trek.

As the neared the ravine she announced they were close. Cheedo hoped that he wouldn't bound ahead and get himself hurt. She trusted Cyril though and he seemed to have a good head in his shoulders. He gave her a bark before going a little faster and she picked up her pace too to keep up with him. As the grew nearer the sound if the water reached her ears. “This way,” she told as she turned just a little to travel up the side of the ravine to a place where he could get closer and look down to see the water rushing through. The agouti woman indicated with her muzzle where he should go.