Larkcall Lowlands wounded and healed

Maybe about half a day out from WRF for @Aleksei

He had slipped away from the forest, feeling unsure that he would be gone too long. The forest and the wolves in it had been rather inviting. Lachesis and Inna had been a kind pair. Of course, there was still plenty to explore. He moved slowly through the Lowlands. There was nothing to block him from the elements out here. The Jonquille man didn't mind it too much. He felt reminded of home thanks to the openness of everything out here.

André stopped his walking to simply stand in place. Pear green eyes closed as he thought things over. He missed home, he missed his mother, he missed all the familiar faces. But he was already four years old and most wolves his age were far from home by now. Did that make him strange? What if Inna had simply been taking pity on him? Surely she had been more genuine with her kindness than that.

A deep sigh escaped him. He was overreacting. Things would be fine for him out here. André was here to help others after all and there was no harm in that.

as of february 19th im not taking new threads with Andre!
im wrapping up current threads before sending him off.

It was odd.

Something wasn’t keeping Aleksei tethered to Wild Rye Field’s borders. In fact, there was something that made him want to press out, head high as he strode through the lowlands. Had there really ever been anything keeping him within the confines of the territory markers? Perhaps Askan and Reyes, yes, but they were long gone now. There was a strange tug at his heart, a pull that made his lips purse into a tight frown.

There was nothing wrong with the fields. He owed a lot to Drestig and Jessie—they had let him in, after all, without knowing if it might upset their alliance with Hearthwood River. He was grateful for their kindness, and their leadership.

Well … no, actually, perhaps that wasn’t entirely true. He struggled with it. Really struggled. Not knowing what to do, or how to treat the leaders when they were so lax with dominance displays. It threw him for a constant loop, and he wasn’t sure how far the line between alpha and simple pack mate could be pushed before it hit a point where it couldn’t be both. It just wasn’t in his nature.

Perhaps he was overthinking things—it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were—and simply needed to relax. Or, maybe a wolf like him would never really belong in the fields, with the lazy golden sun rays and warm summer afternoons. Perhaps a wolf like Aleksei Baranski deserved a damp forest, with little sunlight and eerie winds that caused the branches to creak.

Huffing a sigh, he shook his head. Enough of that, he told himself. You came out here for a breather, not to wind yourself up any more. Lifting his crown once more, he caught the figure of another against the grey of the tundra. Just the kind of distraction he needed from his rapidly spiralling thoughts. He altered his course, slowly approaching the stranger as he called out to them.

“Grim weather, huh?”

Let the roots & soil drink of me
Whispering leaves & pointing branches will tell them where I'm lying

An unfamiliar voice caught his attention, ears and head turning towards the voice. It was a man large like himself but adoring scars across his face. They did not shock him, though. André simply made note of them as a healer. The stranger even had a green tinted gaze. The healer would have thought they could have been siblings if he didn't already know he had no other siblings. At least none he was openly aware of.

A lazy smile tugged at his face as his head slowly bobbed. "Indeed it is. Guess I'm lucky to be packing all this weight." André laughed lightheartedly. It was no secret to any with the gift of vision that he was more fat than he was muscle. Perhaps he never really shed his baby fat and simply kept adding more as he aged. What a concept.

His pear colored eyes looked out across the tundra. He truly hadn't noticed how drab everything seemed until now. It was still a wondrous sight regardless of lacking color. Nothing like the forest to the east, though. The yearn to turn around was still there but it likely always would be for the Gentle Giant. He had met his first friends outside of home there. André couldn't help but feel a little automatically clingy.

as of february 19th im not taking new threads with Andre!
im wrapping up current threads before sending him off.

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health