Hearthwood River The Verdict - Printable Version

She'd been given an order by Wraith to go to Hearthwood and give them the news of Mittani’s banishment from Whitestone. She had left for Hearthwood immediately, it would be her first mission as a scout. Part of her was looking forward to this opportunity but she dreaded it and even more she was still reeling from what had happened. She couldn't believe that her pale knight had done such a thing but maybe she should have known. Not only did he hurt the Hearthwood woman but he had hurt her too so she had made the choice to stay in Whitestone and not follow him.

While she had worried a little about staying in Whitestone she told herself that it was only the self doubt she still carried talking. She moved swiftly across the tundra not wanting to waste any time to deliver such an important message to the Hearthwood. She spent one night out on the tundra before continuing her journey to the border of the river pack. She hadn't ever been to this part of the lore so she worried she wouldn't find the pack.

However, as always her nose didn't fail her. She found the trails of some of the wolves that belonged to the river pack which she followed right to the border. One of those was that of Lorcan, which she recognized from when he had left the gifts at the border. She soon came to the place the markers could not be ignored, the small agouti remained a safe distance away. She even went as far as to employ the lessons that Wraith had taught her.

Cheedo took only a moment to gather herself before she sent a call into the trees of Hearthwood for the Alpha’s. It was a call to let them know she had an important message for them. All that was left to do now was wait and resist the urge to run back to the Monadnock where she felt safe. She could do this, Wraith thought she could do this, she had to go through with it.

Lilya had been in the medicinal den again when the call came out – she’d gone there as soon as her and Lachesis had returned from the meeting with Wraith and Piety. She dragged herself up, forcing herself to trudge along to the edge of her home with icy blue eyes cautiously optimistic. It was the Monadnock smell, and Lilya knew what this was about. Either it was good news and the rat bastard who’d attacked her was gone, or it was bad news and they were here to sever the alliance because of the ultimatum they’d been given. She prayed for the former.

Lorcan was also there, asking a question as Lilya came to the realization that no one else in the pack had been informed. “I certainly hope so.” She responded coolly, her eyes holding an emotionless glaze as she stared at the woman blankly. “Is it done? Is he gone?” That was her primary concern, and she assumed the scout would know since it had been the woman who had called them, rather than them stumbling upon her. She would have personally loved to tear the man a new one herself, but she doubted that the leaders of the Monadnock or Lachesis would have allowed that given her condition. Her heart thumped against her chest, almost anxious of the answer. She wished Lachesis were here right now… and she was confident he would be shortly.

After their conversation with the Whitestone leaders the ghost and the sparrow had returned to the Hearthwood dens, the latter tucking herself away in his medicinal den while the former went for a walk to blow off some steam. His pale body still radiated with fury and while he wanted nothing more to curl up in the depths of his den with the tawny wolf at his side, Lachesis knew his anger would only continue to fester. He needed fresh air and to keep his legs moving; a distraction.

However the walk was short-lived. A call sounded from the borders, alerting the ghost that a message was waiting for him and the wolves of the river. He had not gone too far from the dens, he had started to follow the river south when the howl cut through the trees. Without hesitation the pale leader spun on his heels and headed for the border, his slender body snaking through the redwoods as he picked up speed. A sharp smile worked its way onto his pale maw once he realized he was not the first to arrive. Lorcán, who was proving himself to be a worthy addition to Hearthwood, and Lilya stood before the small agouti as he approached. Lilya’s question hung in the air between them as he sidled up to the blue-eyed sparrow, giving the new river medic a nod in greeting as he pressed his shoulder to the sparrow’s. His tail arched above his spine as his chartreuse gaze focused on the smaller wolf, teeth gritted together. “This better be good news,” he added cooly, a single brow arched as he waited for the blue-eyed Whitestone wolf to answer.

She'd been sent to Hearthwood to deliver the news of Mittani's exile to the wolves there. She still hadn't dealt with her feelings on the whole situation yet. She knew she couldn't be with him as she once had, their time was over but she had cared for the pale man. Craw had left and now Mittani was gone which left her feeling a little lost even if she was trying to carve out her own place on the world. Now as she stood at the border to declare that her Alpha's had dealt with the problem she had mixed feelings in the matter. Unlike the river wolves she wasn't exactly happy about it all but it wasn't her place to be, she was there merely to deliver a message to this group of wolves.

The first to arrive was Lorcan, so this was where he'd gotten off to and the scent that he carried on him was the same as she had smelled the day he'd left the gifts. “Hello again love, it's good to see you.” She meant that, he had been a good sport despite the condition she'd been in when they had first met. She nodded, “With Craw and the others gone I saw no reason to stay on the Tundra by myself.” She had not mentioned Craw to the healer the first time they had met which she'd done on purpose and this mention of him now was on purpose. When he asked about things in Whitestone she nodded, “You don't have to worry love, everything's being taken care of."

With the wolves gathered and it seeming that no one else was to show Cheedo let her gaze rest on the clearly expectant mother. “I am truly sorry for what Mittani did you, I had no idea that he was capable of such wrong doing.” Though she knew she didn't need to say what she did with her relationship with the pale man she felt she had to for herself.

The small agouti then let her gaze drift across the three wolves that had assembled. The woman wanted to know of it was done and the pale man wanted to hear good news. Though she wasn't a very confident wolf she did what she could to present herself as such. “I have brought the message to you on behalf of my alphas that Mittani is no longer with Whitestone Monadnock due to his actions against your pack member,” she announced with as much confidence as she could collect inside herself. Then she waited for a response from the river wolves and to see if they might have a message to send back to her alphas.

For Whitestone’s sake, he hoped that the white rogue had been removed from the pack. Despite the new ebony leader not knowing anything about the attack the trust between the two packs was broken. He feared that the silver spider had something to do with it, for the timing of his absence was impeccable. The ghost did not know what he had done to anger the spider, or warrant an attack on his wolves, but Craw was no longer around to question. He was just grateful that the attack had not been worse, resulting in more serious injuries. What he worried more about was internal damage, for he feared something may have happened to the children she was carrying—their children.

His toes gripped into the cool dirt as the blue-eyed agouti spoke, announcing that Wraith and Piety had sent her here to deliver their message. Mittani was no longer a member of Whitestone, just as Lachesis had demanded. His shoulders sagged in relief, but the concern was not completely gone. Just because the white male had been expelled from the rock did not mean he had left the north entirely. What if he tried to seek revenge on the wolves that were the reason why he was now packless? XIX hoped that the assailant would leave to pursue Craw, wherever he had gone. Just as long as he did not go poking his nose around Hearthwood.

“Thank you for coming to tell us,” he said finally, once he had digested the agouti’s words, his expression still grim. “You can let Wraith and Piety know that the alliance is still intact and that Hearthwood has no further issues with Whitestone.” For now.

Lilya visibly relaxed when the message was delivered – Mittani was no longer a part of the Whitestone, and Wraith and Piety had upheld their promise to deal with him. She nodded, remaining silent in the matter after that and taking her apology about the man’s intentions in her stillness. She appreciated it, truly, but words could not even begin to describe the panic she felt still grip her own heart. She let Lachesis speak for the both of them – not good with the whole diplomacy aspect of things. You can let Wraith and Piety know that the alliance is still intact and that Hearthwood has no further issues with Whitestone. No, she was beginning to think her issues lied with Mittani… maybe Craw and Morganna too seeing as they disappeared before they could answer for the crimes of their subordinate.

The sparrow knew it was possible for him to still be lurking in the north, waiting to strike against her or the Hearthwood for their actions, which had led to his removal from pack lands to begin with… but at least this time, she knew he wouldn’t have a pack backing the venture for revenge if he chose to take it. She didn’t know who he was, or what he was capable of… but one thing she knew for certain was that one wolf against many did not stand a chance. She felt she could sleep a little easier at night.

Running into Lorcan on Hearthwood’s border was a happy occurance, she’d been curious as to how he was doing since her left Whitestone. She didn't know his reasons but they were his own, she suspected it had to do with Craw as everything seemed to. He also seemed happy to see her. Her mention of Craw brought a frown the the Hearthwood man’s features which frankly didn't surprise her. The name brought a frown to her own face but for her own reasons of course. She wasn't there to discuss the spider but instead the man she'd stood by for so long.

The tone that was used with her next and the question posed to her caused her good ear to come forward. “One of who love?” She returned though she had a suspicion of who he spoke of and she could easily lie but she wasn't sure she wanted to lie to Lorcan, he'd been so kind to her.

They were soon joined by others of the Hearthwood pack which was a little intimidating for the small agouti. Still she did her best not to grow too anxious with the prospect not speaking to them all at once. First she offered an apology by the female for what Mittani had done. She didn't have to but since she'd been with Mittani for so long she felt she should. Then she told them what the decision was that had been made by Wraith. It was the true reason she'd come, an order given by her alpha to deliver the news of Mittani's banishment from Whitestone.

The pale man she assumed to be the leader finally spoke thanking her for coming. He too had a message that he wanted her to deliver, she again nodded. “It's been my pleasure, I am glad I was able to bring you the news that you sought.” As for the message for Piety and Wraith, “I will be sure to give them your message as soon as I return to Whitestone. I think they will be very pleased to hear it.” part of her hoped that Mittani had made a good decision band left the lowlands for good but the other part did miss him even if she had made a choice in not going with him.