Larkcall Lowlands Darkness on the Edge of Town

With permission from Lachesis Inna with Lorcan had been traveling for three days at a quick pace to find Risa only slowing when they came across something to indicate she was there. Once they had checked the area they moved on to the next made sure Oksana was well looked after before leaving, she'd left her with Ayti who she trusted to take good care of her daughter while she and Lorcan we're away. Before they had left Inna had wanted Lorcan to come but been unsure wondering if this was a trip she should take alone. She knew it could he want she needed to deal with a lot of the things her mother's death had brought up. During their travels she was glad she had Lorcan with her, he'd supported her fully as he had promised. Inna hadn't had any doubt that he would keep that promise to her as he had kept every promise he'd made her.

She'd caught small hints that Risa had traveled in the same direction they were heading here and there but nothing solid to say they had found her. She had to wonder what the child had been thinking traveling so far from home at such a young age. She worried how Risa was surviving with no one to catch food for her or help her find water. These thoughts pushed the Raven on, towards Wild Rye Field's. She felt they needed to know of Kisla's passing since she knew the leaders there had come from Oak Tree bend. When they came to where the scent of the rye wolves was stronger and there had been traces of Risaela in the area as well, “We should see if we can find Risa around here before going to the border, what do you think?” She asked turning to Lorcan for his opinion.

Jessie was finally getting a chance to get some rest. The Rye had been more active than usual and it left the Queen feeling quite worn down. To add on to the overall business, the arrival of their ally’s child and news of Kisla’s death left Jessie feeling dazed as she went on throughout the day. She considered the woman family and had watched her grow up since the moment she joined Swift River years ago. Jessie did what she could for Risaela, knowing all too well what it felt like to lose one’s mother.

Her rest did not last long, for a call from the borders shot throughout the Fields. Jade eyes opened, a gentle sigh escaping her lips. As much as she wished she could have ignored the call, she had a duty to the pack and it could not go ignored. Jessie stretched as to not strain any of her muscles before she made her way towards her borders at a steady trot. It did not take her long to reach where the callers were and when she arrived Jessie forced herself not to wince when she realized exactly who it was.

The Hearthwood scent – quite earthy – clung to them and it was hard to mistake if one knew it. Her banner rose to define just who she was within the Rye and took in the two wolves that gathered before her. Jessie’s eyes skimmed over the male before settling on the girl. She would have thought nothing of it if it were not for her orange eyes. Those were Indru’s and Triell’s eyes staring back at her, Tainn eyes. Another one of Kisla’s children? It was rude to stare and Jessie pointedly broke eye contact with the other woman, focusing back on the two of them. Clearing her throat, she finally spoke, “Hello, I’m Jessie Tainn. I’m assuming you’re looking for Risaela?” This was not a conversation she wanted to be having today but it needed to be done.

foxstox @DA & Dawnthieves.de

These days, if it wasn't Drestig or Jessie wrangling the pups, it was Askan and/or Adelayde. He wasn't sure whether it was because he was second, or that he had been deemed the so called 'grumpy uncle' of the pack, but either way more often than not he was chasing the three rascals about in an attempt to keep them out of trouble. Sphinx, of course, wasn't so bad. But her brothers? Ah jeeze. He'd lost count of the amount of time's he'd said 'no, don't do that!'

Not that it was a chore, he didn't mind in the least but he'd been so distracted by their three little ones that he hadn't realised another had slipped into their midst.

When he heard the call at the border, Askan's ears stood on point as a frown pulled at his lips. What wonderful timing. Any other day he would have been tending to the borders, they just had to call when he was being sat on by three rowdy, if not adorable pups. Wriggling out from beneath them, Askan shook off his coat and with a winning smile told them to 'go find Cotton.'

There, that would keep them busy and give Cottongrass something productive to do as well.

Breaking out into a gallop, Askan headed towards the borders as fast as he could and- lo and behold, the Rye Queen had beat him to the punch. And she had company. Slowing to a trot, Askan remained silent as he listened in on the conversation. He had no idea who this Risela was but...Wait a second, was that Lorcan? And Aleksei's sister, Inna? His gaze flitted from one wolf to the next, then back again till his eyes began to hurt from lack of blinking.

What was this bastard doing here? If he was looking for trouble, he'd damn well get it. But he was getting ahead of himself no doubt. From their postures he could sense that this was a neutral conversation. No threats had been made, yet. Of course, Askan didn't like having Lorcan at their borders, being the dick-weed he was- but as hard as it was, he kept his mouth shut and just watched. As Jessie so often told him to do.

He'd hang back for now, at least until he understood what was going on.

Askan had subjected himself to puppy duty today, and Reyes, well… Reyes abandoned his lover to his face. Tough shit, mi amor. That’s what he got for making decisions without consulting the larger, more burly, more terrifying part of the relationship. So while the beta played with the Old Man’s offspring, Reyes kept himself busy by refreshing one of the caches – three little kids meant three little black pits that would consume damn near everything they were gonna find. He had just finished burying the store back up when a strange howl echoed from the borders, and Reyes was off like a shot, ears folded back against his head as his tail flagged high above his back.

Said mate had beat him there (somehow!?) and was greeted with an expression that clearly read ‘what the fuck’ before turning his attention back to the pair – presumably looking for Ris, if Jessie’s intuition was on point. He recognized the raven – she was a damn pain in his ass at Hearthwood River when all he needed was some damn help – but not the man with her. But given what he’d learned recently…?

“Names,” he rumbled, pulling up to a halt on Jessie’s other side. No one got Jessie ~~or Risaela~~ without identifying themselves. “And purpose. She asked a question.”

They had reached the border of Wild Rye Fields after too many days of being away from Hearthwood River. She missed it, her home but mostly she missed her daughter and hoped Ayti was taking good care of her. She hadn't been away from her this long ever and this time she couldn't leave Lorcan with her. This time she had needed him to go with her whether she thought she needed to do this alone or not she was glad she had asked him to come along. Now that they had been traveling and looking for Risa she wasn't sure that she could have done this alone. It was going to be hard enough telling them about her mother.

When they reached the borders she asked Lorcan if they should check around but he had other ideas. In a shook her head, “You're right, I guess I wasn't thinking. We don't want to upset them before we even get the chance to tell them what we came to say.” Another reason why she was glad she had brought the tawny healer, he was thinking more clearly that she was. All she could think about was the dreadful news she had to share, finding Risa, and getting back home to her daughter. She stood next to Lorcan while they waited for his call to be answered.

As the woman came into view Inna realized she hadn't yet to meet this rye wolf which it appeared from the way she carried herself that she was in fact the alpha female. She had noticed how the woman was looking at her which made her slightly uncomfortable until the woman spoke about Risaela which cause her tail to wag a few times behind her. She hoped this would be good news. Inna had also taken notice that this woman had the same name as Risa and her mother, she stored that away for later. As she was starting to speak Askan appeared from the trees, she was pleased to see him on his feet and feeling well enough to come to the border. Then the man that had come to the border looking for Lachesis appeared, she hadn't liked him then and as he spoke now she didn't like him. She eyed him for moment but that was not why she was here. Risa and her mother was the reason for her visit.

She looked back to the woman, “It’s nice to finally meet you Jessie, I just wish it was under better circumstances, I'm Inna Baranski and this is Lorcan Artemieva we have come looking for Risaela. Unfortunately that is not the only reason we have come.” She then looked to Askan, “I’m happy to see you’ve recovered Askan, I was worried for you.” Inna then looked back to Jessie, “Have you seen Risaela or might know where she is? Anything you can offer would really help,” she asked about Risa first as it would set her mind somewhat at ease to know that the child had been seen. Whether or not she was still in the area was another matter that would be dealt with if they were able to attain any information.

The pepper-and-salt colored woman hardly had time to answer the man’s inquiry to settle their minds on Risaela’s whereabouts. Her Boys arrived on the scene before either parties could utter another word, but Jessie’s sharp emerald gaze was drawn to the brown, silvery male. The way his eyes narrowed on Askan didn’t sit right with her and the feeling only increased once Reyes arrived. It probably didn’t help that the dark man was being his usual brash self but the Tainn thought that it would have been polite for the male to at least try to mask his displeasure. Jessie’s lip curled, the only sign that she was irritated.

Before she could make any comment, the girl that originally held her attention spoke. Jessie drew her gaze away from the man to look towards the dark woman. A flash of recognition lit in the gray woman’s eyes at the names that Inna offered her. Her emerald eyes darkened for a moment as they slide towards Lorcan before settling back on the River wolf that was speaking. I doubt it’s a coincidence that this Lorcan that rudely stares at my subordinates is the same Lorcan that Askan always bitches about. It seemed as though Lorcan wasn’t the only one that knew Askan though. He was certainly getting around – she wondered what Reyes thought of that. A sly smirk made its way onto her face at the thought.

The overlying look of sadness in the two wolves in front of her reminded her of why they had come and Jessie felt any remaining sparks of anger die in her chest. Ears flattened upon her head. “Yes, Ris is here actually. Resting. She stumbled in a day or so ago and I thought it best that she remain here for the time being.” A frown tugged on the woman’s lips. I don't know how I'm going to tell them she doesn't want to leave. Looking towards Inna, her tone softened, “I am very sorry to hear about your mother, Inna. Kisla is family to me and if Hearthwood needs anything during this time, please don’t hesitant to reach out.” She huffed out heavily when she was finished speaking. Not only was Kisla a mother to Inna but a leader to the River wolves, who were no doubt worried sick about their lost child and grieving the loss of their matriarch.

foxstox @DA & Dawnthieves.de

Askan had held his tongue and kept his scathing thoughts to himself, but it seemed as though it was a waste effort as Reyes soon made it plain and clear how he felt about their- or rather Lorcan's- presence at their border. He might not have said as much, but he didn't need to. Still, Askan felt a little bitter over the fact that when he used to get all pissy at the borders Jessie would always tell him off. Reyes on the other paw got off scotfree and didn't even get a sharp reprimanding look. He doubted it was favouritism at work, maybe she was more accepting of that sort of behaviour these days? Less inclined to look as though she wanted to rip off the ear of anyone who uttered a rude word in her general vicinity.

Whatever. It didn't matter, nor was he bitter about it. He had to focus on the here and now and with Lorcan lurking at their borders he wasn't going to let his guard down.

At first Askan had no idea what the problem was, but as the conversation progressed it became clear. A Hearthwood pup had come all this way and taken refuge in the field? Askan couldn't help but scoff in disdain. What sort of wolves were they, to allow a pup to wander off so far from their borders? What were they doing? And why had it taken them so damn long to find her?

If she was around the same age as the Rye pups, well they should be all the more ashamed of themselves. How could they have allowed this to happen? Yes Kisla died and it was all-probably- very sad. But damn it, it was their responsibility to look after the children through thick and thin. You couldn't just pick and choose when you felt like looking after them.

Finally deciding to respond to Inna's well-wishes, the Selwyn made very little effort to sound genuine.

"Yeah...Thanks. Tell Lachesis I said hi, would you?"

Back to the matter at hand, Askan side eyed his mate to see that he was just as frowny as he had been before. Good, they were still on the same page then.

"How come it took you so long? She's only little, those legs can only take her so far."He rumbled, his voice ladened with a thinly veiled accusation.

Unaware of his Queen's predicament, Askan waited, ready to go and look for the pup at her command. He didn't know where she was, but he assumed she would be with the other children. Maybe at the main den?