Fireweed Rise The lone wolf dies and the pack survives

It was Greer's confidence that had stayed Kyna's paw until now. Frankly, if someone had told her that Aponi had stolen her child (or even Lila, for that matter), she wouldn't have thought twice about it - but she was not raised in a pack founded by a single family, and her siblings had never shown her the love Greer's had (apparently). She did find it hard to see in her last meeting with Sven, though the jury was still out on Ravenna. Morganna was another matter entirely, as was Niles, but neither were members of the Willow party, and thus not of her current consideration.

The fiery queen moved swiftly, something dark and churning in her gut. Several of her subordinates had already gathered - upon her and Greer's blessing, of course - but unsurprisingly, it seemed Sven had taken it as a direct insult. As if the fact that her missing child wasn't an insult. No concern. No worry that someone would think to blame the wolves of Willow Ridge regardless of whether or not it was true. What did a loner have to gain from that?

(Except to spirit Revon further and further away from her home?)

Kyna's heart clenched, something cold and steely, and she brushed past her mate, lips peeled back in an impressive row of teeth as she pressed her ears backwards - they were matched for size, more or less. She was not afraid.

"Do not speak to my pack that way," she seethed, tail quivering, arched high and elegant above her lithe frame. Especially not little Elias, he did not deserve that. Not her beautiful shadow, she was far too good for the likes of this brute. "You know nothing about family - we have been looking high and low for our girl, and it is only your brother who has kept my paw still from flying down here." And tearing your home apart. There were so many things she wanted to say to this wolf, all his big notions and self-righteousness, all his inheritance and family name leady the way for him. But she had not the time.

And it was Greer still that kept this from becoming an all-out assault - unless Sven threw a punch, or somehow incriminated himself, they would keep looking. They had to. Kyna saw no other way.

"Heights, with me. I believe our point has been made."

And unless a Willow wolf had immediate information on their daughter, well, Kyna could not imagine turning back.

Ravenna is hella angry so please take note there is mature language.

Leotie was the first to arrive and it was by no surprise to Ravenna. She touched her muzzle to the woman's shoulder in greeting and then nodded in agreement. "Yes it is. It's been around for while but I noticed he has quite a limp now. Might have slipped on ice and twisted something." She spoke, her examination of the moose showing through to her medical nature. Elias and two wolves from the Heights joined then, having not taken long to come. She expected they would it least by a few hours out while the Willow wolves kept tabs on the moose but she was happy to see them none the less. That is, until she noticed their expressions, especially that if Elias. By now, Adeltra had joined the group, happy and eager for the hunt, happy to see Elias...

Once Elias said there would not be a joint hunt, Adeltra spoke up about what was wrong. Ravenna grew tense from the stance which the other two wolves held though her ears turned back, expression softer and curious towards her large blonde agouti friend. She needed answers, now.

The moment the woman narrowed her eyes down on Adeltra, Ravenna's attention snapped to her instantly. What the hell was going on? Was the Heights wolves threatening them? "It takes gall?" She growls, taking a single step in warning as her tail lifted high behind her back, hackles raised. "You speak to me like that again, and I'll make sure you never speak again." When she was finished, she turned to the third wolf, another male, the smallest of the group. "I have no idea what your talking about." She spoke, fury welling in her along with worry. There was only one Heights child she knew of - Revon, and it was obvious something happened to her.

Sven arrived then, followed by Lorcan who backed up his members silently. Then Greer, who in little words spoke that a loner had come to them saying that he saw a wolf, Sven in particular, steal the child from the Heights. It was clear that the Willows had made an enemy of some lobe wolf, someone that they had turned away, but they had certainly gone through some lengths to destroy the friendship between these packs. Was the Heights wolves so fickle, they would believe a stranger over their allies? Obviously, there was little love truly held for Willow Ridge. At least the truth was out in the open.

Her eyes locked onto her brother then, hard. Her attention to longer to Abandon, knowing damn right and we'll she wouldn't do a fucking thing unless she wanted to start an outright war. Obviously, the leaders of Aurora Heights were having trouble keeping their subordinates in line. It was not the first time this had happened, ether. "You should have had your scouts and guards out looking the moment you found out and you, my brother, to come to me, your ally, for help before deciding to announce to your whole pack that we could do such a thing. If you don't believe then I suggest you get your lessers in line seeing as they came here spitting threats and accusations." Then Luna came along, telling Sven not to speak to her pack mates in such a manner. Ravenna was beginning to find it funny how the woman felt it was perfectly fine for her wolves to do as they pleased and be out of line, but the Willow wolves could not defend themselves? "Your wolves came here to us. Your wolves threatened us. If you think we are going to roll on our bellies and take it, your horribly mistaken." While Kyna had every intention of collecting her wolves and leaving. Ravenna was not done. Not yet, not with her brother.

She opened her mouth but before she could get it out, Adeltra spoke. She was always a sweet girl, friendly, considerate and even though it was obvious she was irritated to, she had every intention to prove that they had done nothing wrong. Willow Ridge shouldn't have to prove they had done nothing wrong. If Greer truly believed his family had nothing to do with this, then his pack, his wife, should have believed him too. Obviously, there was something missing here. When Adeltra was finished, Ravenna's eyes flickered between her and Kyna. At this point, Ravenna didn't give to Shits about the wolves of the Heights. It was Greer who she cared for. It was Revon. "Whether you believe we did it or not, your mate does - your pack does. So if it's an enemy you wanna make out of us, your doing a good fucking job." Obviously, Greer's sway with his pack was far little compared to that of his mate. She thought the Willow Ridge wolves were responsible, so her entire pack thought so. Let them. In time, they will realize how badly of a mistake they had made. Now, instead of helping one another for the winter, they would be at odds. A bad choice for the mountain wolves who decided to come south off the mountain for food and herbs.

Taking a few steps back, she made a silent suggestion that she was done with these wolves and they needed to leave, now. "If we find Revon, I'll let you know." It was simple as that. There was nothing left she was willing to offer them.

Now a fully fledged pack wolf once again, Blitz was doing his best to settle in and find his niche. Unlike in the past, when he joined the Hollow because he felt obligated, this time he was actually happy with his decision. The Ridge spoke to him in a way that the cedarwood forest didn't and here, he had a friend in Ravenna. He could almost feel the richness embedded in the history of this pack and it pulled at his curiosity. He was quick to learn that the wolves occupying the ranks were a busy bunch. There never seemed to be any shortage of activity or chit chat going on at a given time. He liked that, he decided. Not as it was in Grizzly Hollow, where the rules and politics were looser, where many a time he caught others slacking off. Now that Blitz had decided he was here to stay, he wanted a purpose. To be needed and depended on. A contributor. Not just some other player waiting for their number to be called.

In the midst of getting to know his new territory inside and out while keeping up with maintaining a tight vigil of the borders, Blitz had found he had little time on his paws for more social interactions with the rest of the pack. But he would get around to it. He caught glimpses or whiffs of the others scents from time to time, and he suspected they were busy with their own little tasks themselves. He left them to it, opting to seek them out later, at a better time. Today just might be such a day.

The heavy scent of moose lingered around their borders, stretching beyond into the Fireweed rise. The animal was lingering in the general area, which meant the possibility of an eventual meal for the pack. As it's scent lead him away from the willows and out into the Rise, he found Ravenna's and @Leotie's nearby. The time was right, as his new leader called to rally her wolves. In the distance he could see their silver and agouti bodies. Tipping his inky head back, he answered with his own booming cry, that he was not far away. As he moved in to cover more ground in as little time as possible, it became evident that this was a joint hunt between two packs. His eyes darted between the multiple figures that converged on the meeting site. Most of them were unfamiliar, just like the scent lining their fur. As he neared, a squint of his eyes picked out something odd. Words were exchanged...not of pleasantries, but of accusations and threats. Bodies were poised with tension and hostility. This was not right. Upon his arrival, he caught the tail end of what a black female from the other pack said. His eyes widened in disbelief. The kidnapping of a child?! His facial features hardened instantly, tail low at his heels but lashing in agitation. Who were they to assume when they had no proof? He held his sharp tongue, the muscles in his legs tense enough to show where he loyalties lay, regardless of how little he knew of the situation. Much to his admiration, Ravenna handled the dispute like an experienced veteran, calling off the idea of the planned hunt with these wolves. From what he could gather of the situation, the dark male who was the opposing packs alpha, was related to her. So then, this was more than a simple dispute between neighbors. This was a family affair, and gods only knew he knows how complicated that can get. He turned on his heel to follow Ravenna, but paused long enough to await any additional command from Sven, while keeping a harsh eye on the opposition, in case things got ugly.

Once she had noticed the moose and the reason that Ravenna had called she was excited for the hunt that was to occur. She'd hunted quite a few things in her time in the lore and the chance to bring down a moose was something she was looking forward to. After receiving her greeting she touched the leaders shoulder with her to nose to return the greeting. “That's lucky for us, make him easier to bring down.” While she was speaking three wolves appeared, two she recognized from the Aurora heights pack but the third she didn't. It was him that spoke first announcing that there wouldn't be a hunt. Leotie looked to Ravenna to see what her reaction was but was distracted when Adeltra appeared and greeted the man who’d spoken. The Agouti woman had also taken notice of their newest member arriving and made a note to interrogate him later.

Then things got completely out of hand...again. what was it with these heights wolves and always coming with some kind of drama to the willows. Frankly the Agouti woman was growing tired of it, the willows was supposed to be a quiet place and it seemed everyone was determined to ruin that for her. It didn't take long for the scathing looks and then the announcement and accusation that one of them had taken the heights pup. Seriously! Leotie couldn't believe her ears. They didn't have to wait long for Sven to show up with Lorcan right behind him (silent as always in such situations) and let the heights wolves know they had overstepped with their accusations but more than that he pointed out some very important things.

Well it seemed the child's parents weren't above coming to the Willows. Greer showed up, she knew him from last time, and his wife the loud mouth. Leotie hadn't liked her then and didn't like her now but she supposed someone had to make up for Greer’s lack of speech. At this point she was seething. How could the believe that Sven had taken Revon. Leotie knew that the pale Archer had done some bad things in his time, some truly horrible but she knew that he wouldn't have done what they were accusing him of. She stepped closer to him and touched his shoulder as a silent, 'I know you didn't do what they are saying’.

Then loud mouth had to speak and throw her weight around just like the last time, blah, blah, blah it was all really boring. She talked out of her ass about things she didn't know as always and then as if she had any authority she felt she could decide when the conflict was over by demanding her subordinates to follow her. This woman was laughable and if the life of a child wasn't at stake the Agouti woman may have started laughing right there. When Adeltra spoke Leotie turned her ice gaze full of sympathy to the girl as she tried to make things better. She admired the young Archer for trying to make things better but it just wasn't the time.

That was proven as Ravenna spoke and it was a rather obvious she was pissed as she should be. Inside Leotie cheered her alpha on the way she defended the willows and she felt she made it rather clear how she felt about the situation. A smirk crossed her maw as Ravenna went on and when she'd finished she made it clear that they needed to leave. Leotie didn't leave yet though, she had something to say even if it did get her in trouble. The words that Morganna had said to her running through her mind. Standing tall with her tail high over her back she stepped forward in a posture that clearly showed her rank. “Your one to tell us we know nothing about family. At least we would have had the decency to come to you and ask you in a respectable way. We wouldn't have sent subordinates to come threatening you. Everytime you come off that damn mountain it's the same thing. Your a child playing at alpha so grow up already.” Her words were directed at the red woman because she was the problem wasn't she?

Elias was already more than a little uncomfortable with this.

Perhaps he should have been the one to explain matters, if he'd put it gently enough then there wouldn't have been a need to spit venom back and forth. Instead, the more people who entered the fray the more aggressive things got till hackles were raised and teeth were bared. As big and beefy as Elias was this was....not his thing. At all. He hated it with everything he had. Every insult, every abrasive word was like a strike, over and over till his sides ached and his ears burned.

So much was said, he didn't even have time to respond to Adeltra, his friend, who as of that moment clearly regarded him as anything but. This had never been his intention, they were only supposed to ask and yet that clearly hadn't happened. Which wasn't to say he blamed the scary black lady or Mr Serious...he just didn't know what to do, or say or even think. This was all far too overwhelming and teetering dangerously close to a situation he wanted nothing to do with. One was painfully familiar with, one that resulted in the lose of lives and his toes. Again, that wasn't to say he was comparing anyone present here to those monsters, beasts that masqueraded as men but... But what? He had nothing, his train of thought always puttered to a stop as panic twisted the rails like tangled branches.

There were so many loud voices, so many opinions tugging him in different directions. Did they? Didn't they? Did it even matter anymore?

The tension was rising, stacking ever higher till it made his stomach curdle, till the muscles in his ears hurt from being pinned to his skull. His fellow pack mates, his alphas, even strangers he had yet to officially meet...All of this could have been avoided if he'd done better, if he'd been braver and said what needed to be said. And why hadn't he? Because he was terrified of what they might think him. Shame. Distrust. Resentment.

It was all a weight he couldn't stand to bear.

A whine passed his lips as his legs buckled beneath him. It wasn't his duty per se....but he had to do something, anything to break the tension. So that's what he did. He dropped to his side and exposed his belly and throat as his tail thrashed behind him. Look look! Please don't be angry! But if they insisted then he was the best target for it, growl at him, bite if they had to just...Make it stop, that's all he ever wanted.

He was doing his best, trying his hardest to deescalate but....it clearly didn't do any good. Nothing he ever did was good enough. His tail curled between his legs at the Fire Queen's demand....And Ravenna (and the white one) clearly didn't want him around. Getting up was easier said then done. He flailed and shuffled, trying to slip away unseen...Which was near impossible considering all the eyes, ears and noses on high alert.

"Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry." He rambled, wanting nothing more than the ground to swallow him whole.

Were they still talking?

Kyna did not so much as glance over her shoulder as one of Sven's subordinates shot her mouth off, rambling away at her back. She needed the last word? Precious. Their insecurity was showing, all of them just barking as loud as they could to get their point across. Family this! Family that! But all she saw was wounded pride. None of them had ever come up to Aurora Heights on friendly terms - Kyna had taken her daughter to meet her cousins, at the very least. She had nothing to prove to Ravenna, Sven, or his loud-mouthed whore.

How quaint.

The fire queen paused only long enough to position herself between the Willow wolves and Elias as he stumbled, leaning down to nudge - and if need be, support (for she was no small wolf) - until the wolf was back on his feet, and the entire group could leave as one. No one would be left behind. That was family. That was pack.

The Mountain Queen moved swiftly.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

His wife was quick to snap back, her venomous words soaking into the air between the two packs. Anger pickled at his spine, causing the fur on the back of his neck to stand on end as his tail arched high above his back. He couldn’t believe how daft his birth pack was being. Searching for Revon had been their first priority—they had been circling the mountain and the base in order to locate her trail. Informing their sour neighbours had been low on his to-do list.

His silver eyes rolled in response to his younger sister, his upper lip curled. Finding Revon more important, he hissed, dismissing her words with a sharp flick of his tail. Forgive Greer for sending scouts to Revon-look, he added hastily, the sarcasm evident in his tone. He had no interest in bickering with the Ridge wolves—not anymore. He had wished his subordinates had been a little more tactful, but tensions were high in the Heights. All their members were out looking for his daughter, which was why not all of them had gathered at the base of the mountain.

His eyes snapped at the blue-eyed agouti, a growl rumbling out of his chest as he stepped toward her, his teeth gnashing together. Nobody spoke to Kyna like that, especially not some bitch who was constantly at Sven’s heels like a milk-sick puppy. And you? Act like alpha when not? Pathetic. His tongue clucked against the roof of his mouth as he turned his attention back to his younger sister, his expression filled with rage. Enemies it is. Aurora-Willow alliance gone. Done here. With his chin and tail still raised he stepped back to join his mate and their subordinates, his teeth exposed. He had nothing left to say to the Ridge wolves. He was not interested in smoothing things over. If they wanted to help look for Revon that was up to them, but he did not want their help. He would send a scout to Morganna to keep an eye out near the lagoon, as she was the only family he could trust at this point.

Greer’s exit unless stopped.

Why was it everytime the heights wolves and the ridge wolves came together it ended in total chaos? The warrior couldn't help but ask himself that question as he stood alongside his packmates watching what was going on. Emotions were high amongst his pack with Revon being missing, they needed to find her. The pale Agouti couldn't help but hope that this experience might have changed the child, time would tell on that. They were however wasting precious time standing here arguing with these wolves. He was well aware now of the connections between the packs and he wasn't so full of himself that he couldn't admit that they could have certainly been a little more respectful about the way they had come at the ridge wolves and maybe they could he leaving now with some real answers.

Instead it seemed they were leaving with a broken alliance. That blue eyed woman didn't help matters, she should have kept her place. He was sure had he done such a thing Kyna would have his hide. He looked to the white wolf and the other female who presented herself as alpha to see if either of them would do something about the woman. His dark green gaze then went to his alpha female and he wasn't sure she had helped the situation much either. There were quite a few wolves at fault her and once again he was thinking he hadn't signed up for this. He supposed he should just be glad that blood hadn't been she'd yet or he might have to take his leave back to the heights.hed left the blood breakers because he was tired of fighting and he wasn't willing to involve himself in a fight amongst family.

And then there was Elias who had actually collapsed making a spectacle of himself because that was going to help the heights wolves look strong. All Pyriel could do was roll his eyes and let the alpha female go collect the heap of a wolf. He had to wonder whose idea it was to accept that “Pilar of courage”.

The second had started toward Kyna and Greer as they started to leave but hung back just in case he was needed. Wasn't that his duty after all?