Lurklurklurk. Sent you both a PM, check inbox. <3


          Dapplefur crept farther than intended, likened, and for the sake of her own tail. Not only did the locals have an offset feeling, but the Aniwayan wasn't necessarily feeling all that settled about this region herself. There was a dual mission for herself to fulfill, and whilst on the hunt to gather a clutch of scrub pine, hellebore, and white fir bark, the pristine white female weaved through the trunks of Cedarwood Forest like a lonely ghost. The Cedarwood was spacious, which meant concealing herself was easier said than done. Dapplefur danced from large barked tree to tree, calculating the right steps and the right bodies of objects to shield herself behind. At some moments, the fallen snow proved useful to blend right in if she pressed herself low against the icy Earth. Even her breaths were taken in light puffs, for the natural smoke of warm exhale in the cold of the air could very well give away her presence almost immediately. Actually, the very scent of her presence alone could alert the locals. Dapplefur was no fool; she knew of the consequences that would come if they caught her red pawed deep into territory. That was why beforehand, Dapplefur made certain to roll herself in the most pungent of cedarwood bark shavings and chips she could wedge off the closest tree or find molding in the forest snow. Cedarwood had a distinct woody aroma, far superior and stronger than pine and oak. It masked her natural scent well, but there was a time limit on that, and Dapplefur wanted to be in and out before it faded completely.


          Finding a rare bunch of hellebore (Dapplefur seemed to not get enough of it), the hellebore remained tightly locked into her jaws as her ears flew up at the sparkle of voices and individuals beyond her scope of trees. The Aniwayan dared not to approach too close to the underground den that was this pack's main hub of activity and rest, but found two spirited wolves exploring their own region through the vastness of the forest. Remaining as far back as possible while the two traversed along notable objects they seemed to recognize, her ears only caught several random chatter from the two. "The forest is not normally... this silent?" Was one of the remarks heard. Dapplefur didn't think nothing of the meaning at first, the rest of their conversation drowned out by distance. There was something about the two, whether happiness or the male's enthusiasm for exploration, that spread a small wistful grin on Dapplefur's muzzle as she decided to trail ever so elusively behind them. They seemed to be a happy pair, the two wolves. Unknown if they were siblings, strong pack members, mates... they each had a gist of wanderlust and overall excitement of life about them. Qualities that Dapplefur herself enjoyed to see in others. Both of them wore similar timber agouti colors to their fur, both seemed youthful and healthy. Dapplefur came from a pack predominantly of elder wolves, and there was something within her that missed the enthusiastic spirit of wolves aged as young as she was.


          Unbeknownst were they also giving the white female a mini tour of the region herself. The first location beyond the maze of trees were the bones sticking from the snow, an apparent strong smell of once living animals or frozen over buried ones. Interesting. The choice of landmarks they used to signify this area was fascinating. A hunting ground of some sorts, a storage. Once the duo moved on (Dapplefur falling slightly farther behind at the break requested from the male), they migrated toward a spectacular view. Dapplefur could have cared less for such a view (despite how still and stoic it was in winter), the two pack wolves descended down by some caves that Dapplefur followed right in their paw falls toward. This adventure was turning into an adventure for herself, as Dapplefur was finding herself quite thrilled to be exploring with these younger wolves at the base of the caves. The hellebore in her mouth refused to slip, the stems growing moist and her tongue tasting the bitter taste of herb, but it didn't bother her for her focus was too concerned on if they would have detected her following in their shadow.


          This was where Dapplefur came to a complete stop. She couldn't follow the two in the mouth of the cave, for her presence would surely be revealed. Instead, the Aniwayan wedged herself between a tree bark and unsightly boulder located next to the cave, where she could peek from her hiding from a crack in between both objects. Hesitation, at first, seemed to befall them. Cautiously, she watched as both of them were engulfed by the darkness of the cave. Briefly she casted a gaze behind her shoulder, olive drab eyes scanning the area behind her to see if there was anyone else. Nothing. Not even a song from a bird. It had been strange this place was unusually quiet, but Dapplefur jolted at the sudden reemergence of the two wolves, almost letting out a gasp as she ducked behind her two stronghold protectors of tree and boulder to conceal her better. One olive eye watched as the former spirited young wolves ran out of the cave in terror. As if attending a play and anticipating the next role, Dapplefur was at first confused at what startled them. A bear? A mountain lion? The two wolves took off up the cliffs.


          The Aniwayan's heart nearly stopped, the hellebore finally falling free from her jaws in astonishment, disgust, fear. It was something much feared than an angry mother grizzly or an irritated mountain lion. The scraggly remains of a vixen lurched out, its gaze delusional and full of fire from the two wolves disrupting its meandering in the caves, doing who knows what. Its figure was distorted, patches of orange fur missing, its behavior awry. The smell was putrid and off, a smell that Dapplefur knew similar. Slimtail. Slimtail had been the very first thing that came into mind. No. No, no, this can't be. This can't be why. Shaking her head to herself, this was the reason that brought Blackcrow to his demise. This was the reason Slimtail was following in Blackcrow's paw steps. This would be the reason to be the death of every single one of them. This was where the disease originated from, right in the heart of the goddamned forsaken pack territory, and not even the pack themselves knew. The vixen leered about, looking for the two wolves that trespassed in its diseased cave, but at the same time confused of its bearings. With the two wolves long gone up the cliffs, Dapplefur had to report back to the Aniwayans about her find. She believed she found the reason, and this reason would not bring the Aniwayans smiles and happiness.


          Picking up her hellebore, Dapplefur crept backwards from whence she came. The two wolves might have had a better vantage point from their run up the cliff to see movement of her departing. Stealthily, she kept herself low to the snowed Earth, allowing the fresh powder to blend in with her immaculate coat, and using the tall trees as her shield. Her heart pounded more profusely, her pace a little more hurried than calculating. Adrenaline welled up in her veins, but it was adrenaline of both fear and anger. A meager, pathetic sick fox brought their beloved leader down, and was threatening the wellbeing of every single canine that came in their path. The Aniwayans had to come up with a new strategy. These wolves here in the valley couldn't be trusted. Not even with their land.


          Disappearing amongst a vertex point of the woods to the outskirts of the valley, the Aniwayans would be pleased of her finding despite how it wouldn't be pleasurable news in the long run.

J a y s y e k our time is running out It was that time again when she wanted to split herself into several pieces, and tie them to each wolf. Pieces of her were nothing, and her guards, her mate, her pack would somehow get through this. Really winter, why was it the craziest time of year? When she thought the children would be more mature,less danger, and bam! Everything was happening at the same time. Pups were wandering farther, food was harder to get, it was freezing cold, and there were a lot of strange, grim happenings that did not to the mother's heart well. A sickness. Something she had barely encountered, and knew so little about. Borden and Angier had went looking for answers, she only hoped they found them not brought them home too. Her shoulders fell when Sibyl's voice broke across the rather quiet forest. Jaysyek abandoned her hunt, and began bounding across the territory to see what was wrong now. With her subordinate she could never tell how urgent a matter was until she saw it with her own eyes. Since it seemed it was coming from the heart of the hollow Jayse could only hope it was not something too dire. Arriving with tussled hair, and a questioning gaze she let her eyes fall upon Sibyl and Destin. They looked okay, but something about them was off. The energy they had around them. "What happened?" She asked, her paws twitching beneath her, her mismatched eyes locked with concern. Jaysyek did not fall into panic, no she kept her sense of authority, and her head knowing that was her job.