Skyfall Glen changes

He rested along the familiar shores of another lake, observing another fiery sunset, idly gnawing on the backbone of a fish he’d snagged out of it earlier. So many things had changed since he'd last visited here.

This place, similar to another, left a bittersweet taste in his mouth and memory. It was around here, quite close to two years ago, where he’d first met and spent a night with Siyet. It’d been the evening that’d been the start of one of his longest and deepest friendships.

Now, like Caspian, he hadn’t seen her in months. Her departure was more understandable, but it didn’t stop Jethro from thinking about her. Wherever she was, wherever she’d ended up, he hoped she had found the happiness she deserved.

Thoughts of Nori, though, were there too. He couldn’t help thinking of her, too. Of where she might be, and of how different things might’ve been now if she had never left.

The reflection of the man that stared back at him was different now than it’d been two years ago. Older, wiser, stronger, kinder. All changes he’d never take back.

But he still missed them. And there were times he couldn't help but wonder.

-one more AW before Jet returns. Probably backdated to around 8/25ish since I'm slow

Cover had taken to exploring the denser thicket in search of some of the more elusive herbs, ones which preferred less sunlight and moist dirt. And as a way to try and get away from the haze and smog of the more open terrain. Two birds with one stone, one might say.

Her search had so far proven to be fruitless, though to be fair she hadn’t been searching as intensely as she could have. Her mind was too full of thoughts of the backwater, and everything that had happened. She felt stretched thin these days.

The musk of another wolf up ahead drew her out of her thoughts. Perhaps a conversation with a stranger would help lift her spirits.

”Hello?” Clover called out, just as a much larger black wolf appeared in her view, resting on the shore of a lake and appearing to be chewing on something. ”I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”

He was never proud to be caught off guard, unaware of his surroundings and of the presence of another until they spoke. The amicable greeting drew Jet’s focus away from the lake and from memories, albeit only briefly. Were it not for the different accent of this voice, he might’ve thought he was looking at his lost friend. It would’ve made sense for her to return here, though.. Siyet, this woman clearly was not.

Jethro wasn’t sure whether he was thankful for or disappointed by that.

”Only my wanderin’ thoughts, so not really,” Jet answered back with a small grin and loose shrug as he pushed himself up into a seated position, discarding the tattered remains of the fish he’d been holding.

”Good evening. I’m Jethro, of Paradise Falls.” The greeting was warm, and accompanied by his typical head nod. He wasn’t at his home, but that didn’t mean manners had to be lost.

A warren of rabbits is hidden under a nearby tree. +3 Health

The larger wolf did not seem put off by her intrusion and so she moved closer to him, reclining back on her haunches a few steps away from the shoreline of the lake. He offered a greeting, and she couldn't recall if his name was familiar or not, having met quite a number of non-Backwater wolves in the years since they had settled at the creek. But she was sure they had never met face to face before.

"It's lovely to make your acquaintance, Jethro," she said with a smile. "Clover, from Dead Empress Backwater." She was sure she had not heard of that pack name before, and it was a wonderful thought that others had settled somewhere nearby. For so long it has just been the Backwater, the Cove, and the Ridge wolves, all nestled close to each other.

"Is your pack close to here?" Clover scented the air, but could not pick up anything more than Jethro's own musk. The pack could not be that close then, but it would still be a good idea to forge a friendly rapport with them nonetheless.

She was polite, in turn, and revealed a fact about herself that he’d only just started to ponder once able to taste her scent. Clover, of the Backwater. It was a place Jet had visited only once, and while his memories of the place were a bit fuzzy, he was pretty certain he hadn’t met her. If he had, it’d been only briefly.

He supposed, as well, that could put them on bad terms. And it put him in a bit of a predicament. Did he share what he knew, what he was? Internally, the dark one pondered it. Outwardly though, he remained smiling.

”Good to meet ya,” he returned cordially. Jet gave his head a gentle shake at her inquiry. ”Naw. We’re.. a few days out that way. Across the mountains, near a lake,” Jet answered, pointing with his nose roughly northeast, where the falls were. "Was it.. Viorel who was your leader, there? At the Backwater?" That was who he recalled meeting anyway, but a lot could've changed in two years for them as well.

(This post was last modified: Oct 02, 2023, 03:15 PM by Jethro.)

Her head turned to follow his motion towards the falls, and further on the mountain. She had only visited the mountain wolves once, finding the trek itself to be perilous on its own, nevermind going beyond that. Clover had yet to personally explore that area of the nearby territories herself, finding it too far from the Backwater to justify the time it would take, and especially now that she was a co-leader.

Her gaze returned to Jethro as he continued to speak, nodding in response. "Yes, since then I've stepped up to lead beside him," she said, not feeling any need to hide such information. The more open she was, within reason, the easier it would be to foster a good relationship with the wolves of Paradise Falls, especially given the rocky nature between them and the Cove.

"You're quite a distance from your pack, is there anything I could assist you with before you return?" It was simply in her nature to offer to help, though if it was not related to herbs or medicine then she wasn't sure just how helpful she could be to him.

Viorel was still the leader, then. Jet was glad to hear it, glad his memory had been correct. Interestingly, too, Clover had also stepped up to lead beside him. Jethro flashed her an additional little smile and then a nod to acknowledge that. "Good to know. Seems like they're in good paws," he offered. He didn't know much of Viorel, but the man at the time had struck him as cool and capable.

Clover, too, exuded some of that same confidence.

Jet would offer an additional, slow nod to her inquiry. "Any news on possible fires'd help," he requested. That was by far the most urgent concern he had. "Been out scoutin’ north and west of here,  tryin' to make sure there’s no fires near enough to be a threat. Haven’t seen anything yet. But there's a lot of land I can't cover.” Jet chose to offer in addition, explaining his presence and hoping the information might ease Clover and her pack if they hadn’t already sent someone out to do the same.

She beamed at Jethro, taking in the compliment with no resistance. Being a leader was hard work and she tried her best, and though Jethro didn't know her very well - they were still practically strangers - it was nice to be told something good once in a while from someone outside her immediately family. But she knew she couldn't do it without Viorel, he was dependable and steady.

Her expression dimmed at the mention of the fires, brows furrowing slightly in contemplation. It was good to hear that he had not visibly seen any fires nearby. That meant they were still safe in the meantime from their home being burned. "As far as I know we haven't seen any fires further south and to the west, just a lot of smoke and ash blowing in on the wind." Between the two of their packs they appeared to have covered all the cardinal directions, which could hopefully be a good sign for them.

"Are you and your pack managing all right with the effects of the smoke?" Clover had few direct treatments to manage any ill effects, but they were all hanging on as well as they could so far. If it continued she wasn't sure how well the children would hold up, but for now it was manageable.

As far as she knew, there were no fires further south and to the west. Jet didn’t try to suppress a sigh of relief, as he felt some of the tension he’d been carrying in his body throughout the last several.. well, months, fade. They weren’t completely safe, not as long as the air still carried smoke and ash, at least they weren’t in immediate danger either.

”I’m glad to hear that. Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse,” between the both of them, there seemed reason to be optimistic that it wouldn’t. But potentially all it would take was just a few embers..

He shivered at the thought. Clover posed a follow-up inquiry though, and one that was almost as important as concerns about the fire itself. ”We’re.. alright so far. Forest is kinda keepin’ us protected,” though not as much as he’d have liked. ”Seems like it’s mostly our kids, feelin’ the worst of it, though.” There was clear pain and frustration there. Jet didn’t like not being able to do much to protect their growing bodies against the smoke.

”Yours are alright too, I hope?” He inquired, though there wasn’t anything he could’ve really done about it if they weren’t except hope.