Drooping Willows gold blood - Printable Version

Greer, too, was summoned by the howl and the stench of blood. The shadow had been with his daughter, patrolling the western border when the call reached the heights. His legs stiffened, silver pools narrowed into slits as he turned to his daughter, ordering her to return to the dens. Greer did not move until the scarlet Archer obeyed. There was no reluctance from her—she had heard the call too; she knew that it was serious. As her slender frame disappeared from sight the shadow dove down the mountain side.

It was not difficult to find the group, for the sound of growls echoed through the trees, beckoning the long-legged shadow forward. The air was heavy with the stench of Archer’s and Heights wolves—his mate, too. He thundered forward, his chin raised and tail arched above his back as approached his mate, silver eyes flitting between Sven (who he was surprised to see) and Summiter. All of this over a cow? Greer understood that with the arrival of winter food would be scarce, but there was no reason for them to spill blood over a meal. The lanky Archer had been under the impression that his pack was on good terms with his birthpack…

the devil is & always will

Art by Marina!

In a flash, someone had joined the man, perhaps the last wolf Sven would have expected. Her actions too were nothing but jarring. She responded aggressively, clacking her teeth at him and defending the stranger. Sven's blood ran cold as he stared down the sister he had raised. In the moments he scrabbled for control of his thoughts, both packs flooded together.

Greer's pack? Attica was a part of it? His silver eyes snapped to Ravenna briefly. How much had she failed to tell him? Had his sister really been so nearby, and Ravenna hadn't thought to mention it? He wanted to say that it couldn't be, but knew far better than to assume the best of others.

Soon they were outnumbered by this pack of Greer's, and it set Sven's skin on fire. Had they all come here to hunt, or were they really that close by? What exactly had been the plan here? Was there an arrangement he didn't know of? Ravenna hadn't seemed to be in the know, or else she would've recognized the first wolf and his intentions. Or had the Ridge truly decided that their lands were freely available to anyone associated with an Archer? That wasn't how it should be. He supposed that @Greer had followed more closely to Morganna's footsteps than he hoped.

"Us behave? In our own forest? Shared blood doesn't give Greer the right to take our prey as he pleases, much less send over complete strangers to do so, and you certainly don't call the shots here."

Where was the respect his grandmother had so easily commanded? It infuriated him that the Ridge seemed to be only a joke even to its own progeny. What happened to the days when they would chase wolves even from the Rise, from any grounds that they hunted? At this point, it didn't much matter if the doe got loose or not. She was likely to bleed out soon anyways, and it was only fall. The Ridge was not desperate for meat. The principle of this matter was far more important to Sven. He was tired of the Ridge being belittled by the very family who had been given life by it.

be a gentleman.

Having come in after all the growling and snarling had started the agouti woman could only gauge the situation by what was before her. She then reacted as she thought she should when it seemed her packmates were in trouble. Leotie stood her ground beside Sven as more wolves started to appear. It seemed that these two wolves that the ridge wolves we're facing off against weren't alone after all but instead part of a pack.

Her ear flicked at Ravenna's order to stop and then a female from the other pack gave the same order as she arrived. Then as Ravenna spoke things started to become more clear to the agouti woman. At the same time however she didn't really understand why a fight was breaking out between family members either. Leotie lowered her hackles and stopped snarling before touching her nose to Sven's shoulder but she did not back down. Instead she stayed at his side ready to back him up if he needed it but she hoped that her touch could calm him enough that bloodshed among family members wouldn't take place that day.

Things only seemed to get worse as the situation progressed and while the pale agouti stood by his pack mate he didn't know what had caused this. The smell of blood was strong in the air but so was the scent of packs borders. Had his packmates accidentally stumbled across the border? Was this over prey? Pyriel couldn't tell.

Both of his Alpha's were doing in the scene as well as Abaddon and he worried that this would soon turn into a war. He did not want to shed blood if it could get avoided, he'd left the bloodbreakers so that he wouldn't have to anymore. With his Alpha's words he backed down.

Then as it came to light that there were members if the same family in with packs the pale agouti stepped away from Summiters side. Yeah would hit get involved in a fight between family, it was not what he had signed up for.

Soon, the Willow Ridge pack was outnumbered. Easily enough to happen, granted their small size though she did not think so much of the Aurora wolves would be so close by. When the redheaded woman came it did not take long to figure out exactly who she was. Her expression softened, tail waving just a moment. She was happy to finally meet Kyna, despite the circumstances. After all, when she had come upon her brother's land the first time, she had been openly invited into the pack to meet her and their daughter. Kyna had been off, perhaps in her rounds and @Revon had been deep in slumber. Ravenna had been concent enough to lay down in the presence of her little niece and catch up with her brother.

The situation would not smooth over easily, however. 'Her side' did not back down easily and the sister on the other end snapped right back. Then the first wolf who Ravenna happen upon. No one was playing nicely though it seemed more of a feud now between the siblings then anything else, likely spurred by Attica and Sven loosing touch with one another after being so very close.

It was hard to decipher the emotions of others, though through the conversations with her cousin, she could understand where his rage came from. His family, the ones he had trusted most, continued to over and over again disappoint him and not only that, some felt as though they were free to waltz all over Willow Ridge as though they had never left - when they had. They all had. Sven's pain turned to anger and Ravenna knew this because she had been so angry for so long herself, still was, in some ways. @Niles left her dead, frozen father at their doorstep. @Morgana and Greer left their elderly parents do Ravenna, so young, was left for the burden. Skoll had abandoned not one, but two children... It was an awful mess, though something Ravenna was trying to push forward from and hoped Sven could learn to do the same. After all, they did but need to rely on Greer any longer. Did not need to rely on Morgana or Renier or any of them. Those wolves were not responsible for Willow Ridge anymore, they lost that right and Ravenna, Sven, Enoki and Nicolo were more then capable of it, though that did not mean they could still not befriend them as allies and love them as family.

"Attica," She spoke, directing her attention to her niece. "There is no war here." And if there was, Ravenna had no intention of being a part of it. She had been more or less successful in not taking sides, but if @Nicolò or @Enoki did not grab the reins soon she knew she may have to, if not because of her family, but for the survival of her own pack. Though she wanted to keep the peace with her brother and all her family members in it, they would not be there to revive Willow Ridge should it fall.

"It seems to me like a meet is in need to set out some ground rules and catch everyone up..." Ravenna had hoped to get with her leaders in forming an official alliance with her brother, to hopefully hold the bonds in which Willow Ridge once had with whisper caverns. It had not happen yet, Sven was obviously completely unaware of the situation and Ravenna was growing impatient. This had to stop.

Her attention tossed between both Sven and Attica then, the disappointment in her features clear. "Feel free to stay here and bicker amongst yourselves. I have an elk to catch." A look was tossed to her brother, wondering if he, or anyone else, might shut up, get it together and join her. Then she turned and made way down the trail of blood.

She appreciated Summiter’s willingness to stand up for his alpha, truly – but the effort was unnecessary. There was a grave difference between her and the white wolf, despite their similarities in age; she had grown up, and he was still a boy, barking angrily at ghosts in the woods. When Ravenna did not immediately put a halt to her packmate’s bad behavior, then Kyna knew that all bets were off. They could not be trusted for a joint hunt, not now. Who knew what the fool boy and his friends would do?

She fixed her sunset gaze on Sven, lifting her chin as Attica and Summiter had their piece. “Rights? What rights do you have, wolf?” she replied icily, ears rolled halfway back. “These are not your woods. Should I not bring my child here to see her cousins because it offends your delicate sensibilities so? Should my wolves not make themselves known amongst the willows because Greer’s success grates against you so sharply?” Her eyes narrowed further, well aware of the bristling tension. Clearly, Ravenna had no interest in things simmering down, or she might have actually reprimanded the white wolf for speaking out of turn. If he had any regard for family, it was only the power to wield it over others – Greer nor Attica seemed terribly impressed.

Kyna slunk closer. “Perhaps if you got your head out of your ass, you might find the Aurora wolves are no stranger to those of the Willows. If you wish to be so involved in matters of pack and family, best you open your ears.” She clicked her teeth before rearing back, moving to heard her packmates away from the remaining Willow wolves. “We will not hunt today. Summiter, Pyriel, Abaddon, with me.” She paused, glancing between Attica and Greer. It was clear there may be more for the yearling to work out with the mouthy ghost. Her eyes settled on her mate. “Nothing happens to her.”

Whatever Greer wanted to do else wise, she did not care. It was his family. His life.

She woofed softly, and moved away, summoning the other wolves alongside.