The Wildwood may i feel in my bones that i am enough

She was practically foaming at the mouth when Tenebrae chided her. Dark ears twitched, but no words fell from her tongue. Instead, she let her tail fall a fraction of an inch, and redirected her attention to the she-wolf still laying in a pathetic heap on the ground. If she needed help she should have asked at the borders. Never mind the overflow of water to wash away the markers. She should have known. She should have been paying attention. If she'd just done everything right then Lana wouldn't be standing her battling her own packmates about what was right, and what was wrong.

Cannon's voice did little to aid the thrum of her heart pounding in her ears, or the bout of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Had Tenebrae not been standing there should would have put him in his place, but instead she felt her eyes narrow, and by the time his big fat treacherous body made it to the strange woman, they were but mere slits. Seething, she let her gaze land smack dab on the woman's face. It was meant to be yet another slight, but instead she noticed that the stranger's dark muzzle was moving. There was no sound, but the intended point was clear. She couldn't tell them. Even if she desperately wanted to, her voice would not vibrate in her throat.

Lana's ears pulled back to lay flat against her inky crown, and her tail fell in line with her spine. There was no way this woman had claimed her brother. Had she just taken a moment to think about it earlier, she would have known that, but instead she let her emotions get a hold of her. She was wrong this time. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. She wanted so badly to have this woman answer for the crime. So badly, that she was ready to kill this woman.

Her face was hot, but she wasn't sure whether that was from the anger, or the grief. She wanted—no she needed—to leave. She needed to run. She had to get out of here, but with everyone there, it was all she could do to keep herself sturdy, lest she crumple onto the ground like the stranger in their borders.

(This post was last modified: Dec 13, 2017, 09:44 AM by Lana.)

Guardian demonstration 3/3

The stranger’s mouth opened, to explain herself Dread thought at first. However, he was somewhat caught off guard when no words actually fell out, even though her muzzle was moving. So she was a mute? It was a strange idea to wrap his head around but that explained why she hadn’t said anything yet.

Watching Cannon move towards the silent woman, Dread curled his lips slightly as his tail flicked in annoyance behind him. He wanted to snap at the boy, tell him he was being foolish - what if it was some kind of act? - and that it didn’t matter if she meant it or not. She was breaking one of the most important rules that a pack had and that was to never cross a marked border. Not that he had never really cared before but that wasn’t something he would bring up.

But while the boy’s parent he was not, both the pup and stranger still needed to learn a lesson. That you couldn’t always be kind to strangers. And this woman, having intending to or not, had crossed pack borders. Stepping towards the woman and Cannon, with his tail raising above his back like a banner and raising his head high, he glanced over to Cannon.

“She may not have meant it Cannon, but that still doesn’t excuse her actions,” Dread told him evenly, his eyes moving over to lock onto the woman’s face. He easily towered over her and some part of him revealed in it. “While her voice doesn’t work, I have no doubt her nose is working. ” His next words were directed right at her, the dark male offering her a way out.

“But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Given the weather, the markers are somewhat faded. However," His stare turned almost harsh as he continued speaking. "You still have to leave. So you can either get out of your own will or I can make you leave. Which is it?”

Though her eyes were squeezed shut as Pip managed to mouth those awful words over and over again, tears somehow still managed to escape. This was awful. Everything about this was awful. She missed her mate, her son, and Kyrios. They took the time to understand. They listened. They didn't subject her to...this.

But then the boy came closer and she was reminded of Aegir all the more. Tearfully, she shook her head in reply. No, she didn't mean to come here. And one thing was for certain - she was never coming back either. If she made it out of here with all her legs still attached, that was...

A quick glance to the female, Lana - the big wolf had called her, at least brought some relief. She no longer looked like she was going to descend upon her and rip out her throat. But where she had calmed, the big male seemed to get worked up again. Was there no end to this bouncing fury that moved between packmates like an illness?

For the first time, Pip wanted to snipe right back at the big male. Of course her nose was working! But that didn't mean their markers were clear! She'd stopped as soon as she realized. Either way, the mistake certainly hadn't granted her any friends. It was clear now that there would be no extended olive branch of peace, no offer to join them for the night until the weather improved. Veho would have, she thought. He would have chose kindness. Knowing it, her heart ached. Had her mistake been leaving Grizzly Hollow?

When given the option, it was a no-brainer. As Pip's legs were working still, she'd get going on her own before she was made to go. However, as she shakily lifted herself up, Pip gently touched her nose to the boy's in thanks. Cannon, his name was. She offered a small, shaky smile and a grateful nod before turning to flee with tail tucked tight. Orange eyes settled on a snowy mountain ahead. There. That's where she'd go. Away from these forests and angry, unwelcoming packs. She'd find no solace with them during winter. She'd have to make it on her own.

Pip exit! Feel free to close up with posts of your own and archive when you're ready. <3

His sister had seemingly calmed down now. About damn time in his opinion, she should of never over-reacted like that in the first place! However, Tenebrae was apparently going to be another story. His rudeness and lack of empathy stirred something in Cannon that honestly was much better off without being stirred. The boy wanted desperately to call him out on his behavior, but again this just wasn't the right time or place to egg on further fights.

Getting the hint that Tenebrae so heartlessly sent out, the small woman stood up to leave. But before turning to make an exit, she touched her nose to the Tainn's and offered up a sort of nervous smile. He offered one up in exchange. "I'm so sorry.." He mouthed to her, though he wasn't completely sure she managed to see before taking off. He wanted to chase after her, make sure she was going to be okay, but he knew the two accompanying him now would never let it slide. Especially after that fiasco.

"I think I need some time alone now." The boy bluntly spoke, turning to make an exit of his own. He had a hunch he wouldn't be able to look at Lana too well for a while now. Better to just get her out of his sights while he calmed himself down. And Tenebrae. Well.

-Cannon Exit.-

(This post was last modified: Dec 14, 2017, 08:12 AM by Cannon.)

Lana watched the rest of the scene unfold, no longer an active participant. Things were happening around her, but it was like she was stuck in limbo. Her eyes didn't move towards Tenebrae as he spoke, or the woman as she bumped her nose against Cannon's. Instead they remained fixated on the empty stretch of forest ahead of her. What happened? How could this have gone so wrong? It was her fault, wasn't it? It was always her fault.

She was aware that Cannon had moved away from the borders, but it was a subtle awareness. Like her mind was too far away to truly process it, or the things that he said. As if acting of it's own volition, her body turned, and she was off. Dark limbs pulled her across the Draw, faster and faster until she was running. Instinct allowed her to dodge the trees, but the rest of the world was lost on her. Even the squelching of mud from the overflow beneath her paws didn't seem to reach her ears.

-Lana exit-

Yellow eyes watched as the woman shakily stood up, he was grateful that the option of actual force wasn’t needed to get her to go. His hackles raised slightly when she touched noses with Cannon but that’s all she did before fleeing towards the mountain. Good, maybe she could find another pack up there to annoy. Turning towards Cannon as he spoke, Dread shrugged as he left. The boy was a pup. He’d learn sooner or later why you didn’t trust a strange wolf straight up.

It was Lana he was slightly more concerned about, so turning back around to her with an idea to ask if she was alright, he saw her already turning away, as if she was wanting to escape..

“Lana -” But the girl was already gone, quickly melting into the trees like her brother had.

Letting a sigh dropped from his tongue, Dread glanced around at the now empty area. Pack life could be so...stupid sometimes. Even if the mute woman had meant no threat to them, what was he meant to do? Let her stay? It was winter, for crying out loud. Though their caches were alright, or so he thought, that didn’t mean they could give food out to every wandering stranger that passed by.

Rolling his shoulders, the large male figured he’d go back to his original plan of checking markers. So he continued onwards, purposefully brushing up against a nearby tree that was on the borders before moving forward.

-Dread Exit-