She already horribly missed the caves in which the Lagina woman had made her home in for years. Despite enjoying the chance to roam far from the boundaries of the meadow, Nari wanted only to hide back in the caves and watch the world go by. Maybe this was something she had in common with Yuka, and maybe not. Either way, @Yuka loyally followed the silver woman making her more proud than anything to have the Thorben by her side. Her son was doing her proud by sticking with his family through even the hardest times. @Ash was there too keeping step with the tall woman and giving her the inner strength she needed to keep going northwards.

 They were headed to Nina and the woodland wolves. As Ash's sister, and now knowing of Titan's relations to Danica within Secret Woodlands, Narimé could only hope that her alliance with Nina would allow her children if not herself to join the pack and survive. She didn't need to worry about herself for some time, despite being a bit hungry Nari was still full of health. Ash too was healthy, and both would be useful for Nina should she did decide to accept all of them into her ranks. Nari knew that this was an absolute best outcome that she was imagining. More likely they would all be turned away just because there was too many of them, even with their former alliance. Logically an alpha didn't want too many pups in their ranks or other mated pairs because normally that would cause problems in the pack. Even if they were family. However Nari could only hope for a good outcome here.

There were so many other in between outcomes that Nari was also thinking of. That the pack would accept her children but refuse her and Ash. That Yuka would be refused, that Ash would be refused (however unlikely that might be), or that she would be refused. In the end she knew that however hard it may be she had to persuade the pack leaders to take her youngest children at least. Even Yuka could survive on his own now, and it might even be good for him to be on his own, but the small pups needed a pack to get through winter. Even the promise of her pups being safe could help to calm the mothers raging heart.

They walked slowly for the most part, just making sure that @Nineva, @Korrin, and @Rose kept up with them for the long journey. Nari made sure to keep an eye on the skies as well as upon the landscape for predators that might go after her children. She definitely didn't want Nineva being carried off by an eagle again. However the journey was an easy one on well memorized trails. Nari had been here many times before, as did Ash most likely. Even Yuka should know the way to the woodlands by now.

Eventually the little family made it to the borders. It was here that Nari began to raise her head and howl for Nina. She skipped over the alpha males name not knowing who was leading beside Nina, but Nari did call for the "alpha male" as well. Once that was done she sighed, sat down, and waited keeping an eye on her children quietly.

 

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The entire affair had completely broken Nineva's heart. Unlike her sibling, she fully comprehended what this sudden chain of events meant for their family, their pack. Unlike herself, not even Rose's constant nervous state and incessant whining could make it through the thick black fog that seemed to surround her as she trailed behind. When told of what must be done, she had reacted with rash anger, yelling at her parents and attempting to race off. Now, she had all but accepted her fate, and had remained silent through their sojourn.



It was so unfair, the eldest Hervok child was convinced. To be taken from her home, her birthright, and why? Well, really, she wasn't entirely sure why. She could see that sustaining their family had taken its toll on Narime and Ash, yet she couldn't understand why this was nor why her parents couldn't do anything different to remedy it. In her head, they should have been able to fix it and keep her beloved caverns. Instead, they were dragging her from them, accepting defeat. Fueled by her anger, Nineva discarded the faith she had held in her parents.



Instead, she clung close to @Yuka, the only adult left who had not disappointed her. Surely, it couldn't be his fault too, could it? No, even if that was what made sense she couldn't let herself think it. She couldn't let go of all of her faith.



As they arrived, she didn't give any sign of notice other than halting her steps as the group had. Her eyes remained fixed upon the ground, ears drooped, shoulders sagged and tail limp behind her hocks. This was definitely the most horrible time of her young life.

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He had felt it in his soul before it actually happened. Their numbers had increasingly lowered until all that was left was those tied in by blood. He had taken a moment for himself to reflect on this. Ash knew that disbanding Whisper Caverns would have been harder on her. He had gone through Poison Path and Darkwater Rapids. The third time was nothing hard on Ash, especially since he had his family this time. He was sad that his children had to go through this so early in their lives but he also knew that this would teach them valuable life experiences. With a sigh, he gave Narimé the last kiss he would give her in Whisper Caverns before they set out. He watched his children dutifully as they made their way towards Secret Woodlands. There was no doubt in his mind that Nina would accept them. She was a kind woman whom Ash and Nari had grown close to over the years. Though, Ash was sure that if Nina had too many members they would be able to think of something different. His tail wagged behind him slightly at the thought of seeing Nina again, despite the circumstances.

The Hervok wasn’t overtly bitter over the affair. He was trying to see it in more of a positive light for the family. They could have a new beginning, untainted by Sloane’s disappearance and the betrayal of Minka and many others. They would be starting over again with a new era. It was what they needed, it would just take time. Over their journey, Ash noted Rose’s constant whining and Nineva’s isolation towards both of her parents. It hurt him to know that she was distancing herself, but Ash hoped that once she adjusted to where they were going, everything would be alright. Yuka was a trooper through all of it, remaining silent and keeping his trained eyes on their surroundings. Ash was lucky to have been able to train him and the red male was sure that Nari was even more proud of him.

Before he knew it, they were at his sister’s borders. Both former alphas took a moment to reflect in silence before Nari took the first initiative. In some ways, the Hervoks worked in the same manner, ranking the importance of things based on who and when it was. After his mate called, Ash made sure to allow his own thundering voice call for his sister, making it clear that both of the former Whisper Cavern’s wolves were on her territory bounds. He sighed, his emerald eyes looking down towards Rose. His heat swelled in love for his children and he spoke in soft tones, ”Rose, I need you to be good and be quiet while we talk to someone, alright?” Waiting for her answer, Ash looked back up, his eyes directed towards the shadowy part of the thicket, no doubt where his sister would soon be making her appearance.

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The boy had significantly aged. In body, yes, but mostly in mind. He was now old enough to understand what was going on. He had seen it with his own eyes. They had steadily lost members, until only his blood family was left. Korrin was not broken, like his eldest sister, or scared and wanting to go back home like his youngest sibling. The growing boy was just...dissapointed. He was sad that the Caverns were no longer his home, but he was not torn about it like his mother or his siblings. Wherever their parents were leading them, it would become their new home. And if they left that place, they would find a new place to call home. But home wasn't really a place, Korrin had come to realize. As long as he was with his family, his parents and his sisters safe, that was where home was.

Trailing behind his sisters, his now green gaze drifted towards Nineva, the eldest of the children. She was unusually quiet, but in the recent days, that had become her normal. Yet, he noticed the simmering anger in her eyes. He had tried talking to her, but she now seemed to only be focused on Yuka. That was fine with the boy, but the brother and growing protector in him wanted his sister to feel better. So his rusty colored form moved towards her slumped figure. He nudged her muzzle, and his tail wagged lightly. Korrin was growing to be not that talkative of a wolf, so he let his actions speak for him most of the time. He gave her a light smile, before turning towards Rose. He had another sister to try and comfort too.

But Rose came to him first. She was clearly scared, and he ached to comfort her smaller form. In these strange surroundings, she clearly felt uncomfortable. He nuzzled her cheek for a short moment, then pawed playfully at her form, trying to bring a smile to her face. They wouldn't be able to play, since this seemed important to their parents and they had to be quiet, but he at least wanted to make her feel safe again.

 
”Speech”

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Slipping through the shadows covering the forest floor like a snake, the black wolf made his way towards the calls that had come from the border. That thick bristling coat and deep growl showed how surprised and worried Tas was as he made his way towards the six other wolf scents that were not of his pack. Why were they calling for his mother? Why did it smell like the six wolves were related to each other? Was another pack trying to take their land? Unitas didn't know, and he was ignorant of the allied packs that his mother kept in contact with. Evading a fallen tree and jumping over a large rotten log, Unitas sprang through the undergrowth agile as a cat. As the scents of the strange wolves increased within the air the dark Hervok began to slow. He made sure to slow enough so that he could pick his way through the thickets and remain silent as a ghost. As he came around a stand of hemlock Tas spotted the family staying just beyond the border. He decided to squeeze between the trees to hide and watch the group. He didn't care so much if they scented him though, just as long as the group didn't see him. Unitas was more interested on spying or intimidating them instead of actually going out to greet them.

I wonder what mom will do with them... There's certainly no reason for a whole family to be at our border... He thought quietly while looking over the wolves gathered before him. There were three pups he was most interested in. One held a coat of bright reddish rust fur which caught his teal gaze. The little girls fur was different than the rest of the pack, though it somewhat resembled the big burly males brownish red fur. Then there was a bronze coated wolf pup, a male by the smell of him, who kept close to the red coated girl pup. Then there was a silver coated pup, who looked very much like the tall ass female that stood looking rather serious at the border. Then his gaze switched the the scarred brute who seemed to be trying to hide at the back. Or maybe it was just the angle Tas was trying to look at him by. Ugly fucker that's for sure... He sneered silently within his head. The sooner the scarred brute and his fmaily moved on the better Unitas would feel about the whole situation.

"Speech"

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She stood still, only moving to look back at her children with an understanding gaze. Much like them she didn't want to leave her home, but things being as they were Nari knew that doing this was the right thing. Though winter had been fair to them last year she had lived long enough to know how bad the cold season could get in this land. She would be risking her life, as well as Ash and the pups, by betting on whether the winter would be easy on them or not. Nari had long since learned to not bet on nature being there for you. It was far more safe to move them, with the knowledge that her kids would hate her for uprooting them, in order to keep them healthy and safe. Nari was sure that they would understand in the future, but for now she accepted Nineva's silence and distancing. As much as it hurt the silver woman on the inside.

The scent of another wolf, a younger male, came to Narimé's keen nose. She tried to spy him through the foliage but saw nothing. Likely the youth was one of Nina's elder children interested in their own presence at the border. Nari shook her head now ignoring the boy nearby and looking out for her friend Nina.

It wasn't long until Nina came to the border. The tawny woman was followed by a pack mate, one that Nair may or may not have met. She looked familiar but Nari's memory was failing her just then.  Her promptness assured Nari that her choice in pack to join was a good one. Her head dipped lower, something that Nari found surprisingly hard to do, as she submitted to Nina. The gray womans tail also arched downwards falling between her ankles and legs. Her eyes averted Nina's hoping to be viewed as nonthreatening as possible. Glancing to Ash to see what he was doing, Nari then turned back to the woodlands queen to answer her.

”I have lived long enough to know when winter will consume my family if we were to try and endure in the caverns. Our former members disappeared, died, got lost, or formed their own packs. Some forming packs and leaving without a word or permission from ourselves.” She motioned to Ash then closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Just telling another wolf, a leader no less, of her pack's disbandment was a harsh blow to her confidence. Even if it wasn't her fault, Nari felt that prickle of failure aching its way through her chest. ”I come to you to ask a large favor. One that I will pay back however I can Nina... With my own life if I must.” Nari glanced upwards only looking at Nina's green eye for but a moment before dropping her own blue gaze. She looked to Ash to see if he would finish her words himself. She could barely get the words past her own black rimmed lip.

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