Hush Meadow Secret Caverns

He wasn’t exactly happy about the current events…and his unease grew as Elettra went back to the pack to attend the duties of an alpha. It made Guiness uneasy and he dutifully stood nearby, his head dipping in acceptance to the order given by Elettra. He would stay here and attend to the young girl’s needs. A large sigh escaped the man’s mouth when word that Narime had gone on another exploring expedition, did the large russet male nod in Phineas’s direction a signal to say he was going on another hunting trip for the young female and possibly for the two of them if he could find anything. His tail then flicked, his large form disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

He started towards the lagoon, assuming that prey would be found best by water, and hopefully he could find something for the developing yearling. He was truly worried about her…for if she didn’t get out soon, it was a possibility that the water would take her away from them before anything else. It was why he was in a rush, and when he heard an excited yip and a dual howl, echoing the voice of his brother, his hunting mission had taken a turn, for the better. His body turned towards the howl of his brother and set towards his voice, his paws carrying him faster then they had before. If Narime was alright, then it would take much more stress of his shoulders. When he arrived upon his brother’s scent trail he was already panting. What he had in strength he didn’t have in stamina. His nose brushed against the ground, his own tracking skills kicking in, and he quietly followed his brother’s scent trail.

It didn’t take him too long to find the area where his brother’s scent trail ended, and Guiness sent out a bark in greeting to him, his golden amber eyes scanning the area, hoping to see his pack mate some where in the lagoon. From what he could see she was no where to be found, and this worried the male to high extents. He then called out, his voice layered in concern, ”Narime!?”

Pillar of Strength

His own sleep that night had not been well. Though the older wolf had been warm in his snow nest he had not been able to breath right. Every intake of breath was a wheeze while breathing out usually turned to little coughs. So naturally the older wolf was one of the few who had gotten up early unlike most older wolves. Pretty much because he couldn't sleep. Follko had no place else to go. So he had no reason to leave the troubled yearling below behind.

Getting up and stretching the orange eyed male started stiffly padding back to the hole. By the worried looks of the girls two pack mates it seemed as if she was still stuck down there. For a long while there was no sound or movement from down below. So now all the wolves could do was sit, wait, and worry.

"Just tryin ta pass some time..well.... So, you guys are from Willow Ridge pack eh? Have any openings?" Follko avoided their eyes still watching the hole to his right. The elder also lowered his head and body correctly. The guy might as well try his chances with a new pack. Follko knew he would not survive the winter on his own. He waited for an answer and stayed silent keeping the submissive posture. Perhaps I shoulda asked that question while the lady alpha was here? He cursed himself quietly for being the dumbass he was.

.

Noon was quickly approaching. It was around this time that a number of short howls caught the elders long ears. That's the girls voice..hmm.. A smile widened on his muzzle. It seemed she had found a way out. That was the only reason he could think of the silvery yearling yipping in excitement.

As much as he wanted to confirm this for himself Follko would not be able to keep up with the other wolves if they ran to her. So instead he decided to stay in place and wait for those who would leave to come back in this direction.

“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.”
--Edgar Allan Poe  

She heard her name being called from a few different places. It took the dizzy she wolf a few seconds to realize that the two very similar voices were actually two different wolves. Narimé recognized Sloane's voice first, mostly because of how loud it was. I think he's right behind me somewhere? The second voice she noted was Guiness who seemed a bit farther away coming from the same direction as Sloane's worried howl.

Craning her head around Nari looked in the direction their voices were coming. She would have to trot around the cave's mouth to climb up on top of it. On second thought... That might be dangerous.. She imagined herself standing on top of the caves opening and having the ceiling fall taking her along with it. Though it must have been here for so long already..to be such a large cave. Shouldn't it be strong enough to withstand my weight up there?

Hearing Sloane's howl a second time Nari pushed herself up and began to slowly pad around the left side of the cave mouth. It was there that she caught movement above her. Stretching to the tips of her claws the silver wolf looked at the russet form standing on top of the caves entrance. Worry gripped her almost immediately. It was a long fall down to the sandy cave floor if he started running towards her. It was clear from her viewpoint that Sloane had not seen her nor the cave. Raising her muzzle once more Narimé called out to him.

"Sloane I'm down here, but down come down that way you'll hurt yourself. Come down around here I want you to see something.." She made sure he caught her eye then gestured for the male to travel around the hill to his left so that he wouldn't fall over the edge of the cave mouth.

Sloane looked around worriedly. He couldn't see her from here, but he'd been sure that this vantage point would reveal her location. He barely registered Guiness' worried ”Narime!?” Nearly overwhelmed with concern now, Sloane was just about to let loose another howl, when her voice came to him from the side. Relief flooded him as she came into view. She seemed to be all right as she met his gaze. She cautioned him on his route and said that there was something that she wanted to show him. All he wanted to see was her, healthy and in one piece, but he did as she asked since it meant coming to her, of course! He called back over his shoulder to Guiness, "She's here, over to the side!"

Then he gladly made his way carefully over the side so as not to worry her, but as quickly as he could, anxious to see her and assure himself that she was indeed in one piece. When he reached the bottom, he gave her a once over before burying his head in her scruff and murmuring his fears into her soft fur."I'm so glad that you're all right...I'd heard that you were trapped! I thought that I'd lost you!" His voice was thick with emotion, almost cracking as he spoke. He truly didn't know what he'd do if anything had happened to his beloved Narime'. She was his whole world, his heart, his everything.

The last thing that he wanted to do was draw away, but eventually he did by sheer force of will. He didn't want her to think him weak, trembling with relief as he was. Trying to buy time to regain his composure, he cleared his throat and asked, "There was something that you wanted to show me?" He had been so focused on getting to her and assuring himself that she was all right that he'd completely missed the mouth of the cave looming behind him and off to the side.

Knight of Honor

Also her nextpostis going to be her exiting post k? She'll be heading back up to the willows to Elettra. :)

Nudging the russet males shoulder to turn him Narimé tried to pull his attention off her and towards the massive cave mouth.

"Look look! At the cave!" She pointed her nose towards the sanded area of the cavern floor. A sudden breeze stirred the air around them and blew into the cave. Tiny bits of sand flying on the wind soon settled at the caves mouth piling on top of the elevated dirt floor. To their right a small area backed up against the wall had a dip carved into the sand down to the limestone. Evidence that past snow melts had fallen from the roof forming a tiny waterfall. Then the running water had flowed downhill to the deeper area's of the cave.

The two wolves were young so they probably would not realize it at first, but the fact that the floor was sandy meant that flooding did not occur in this section of the cave. If something like that happened on a regular basis all of the sand would have been carried away to the deeper tunnels. Though if a flood were to happen with the marsh being so near and the lagoon it would not be safe for a wolf to venture into the deeper area's of the cave at that time. Anyone down there would be in serious trouble.

Twitching her tail from side to side she snuggled up next to Sloane absorbing the warmth from him. She was a little chilled herself and like always Sloane just radiated heat like a furnace. Narimé stared into the depths that she had climbed out of and wondered if this awe inspiring place had any other secret rooms filled with glittering walls. Perhaps, now that she knew there was a safe way in and out, she would visit it again to check out the rest of the tunnels.

(This post was last modified: Feb 10, 2013, 04:39 AM by Narimé.)

Grumpy brother here to interrupt the love scene! XD

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He felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest, not exactly knowing where Narime was, did not help his case. Though when Sloane called to him, mentioning something about the young female, he immediately headed in the direction of his call. His large red and white paws thundered heavily against the uneven ground that started to slope down. It took him some time, since he did not want to trip and fall straight on his face. That would be embarrassing and make him look as though he were clumsy, to which he was not. When he arrived on the scene, his breath caught in his throat. The cave in which his pack mate had found was beautiful, and Guiness found himself continuously staring at the flowing water, before his amber golden eyes reverted back towards the young couple. Narrowing his eyes, he gave a warning bark to Sloane, a reminder to him of their family traditions and holy ways. Narime was still a yearling and seeing the two together at an age of which she possessed made him slightly uncomfortable and made a small part of him even more protective over the female, even if it was just his brother.

In their old pack. Guiness had always been the dominating wolf over Sloane, it had always been like that, with his younger brother, but Guiness had not really put his rank into action, he hadn’t ever needed to. Sloane did was he was suppose to do and didn’t ask questions or challenge authority. But now, even though their pack from their past had disbanded, the russet brute found himself raising his tail and trying to be highly dominant over his younger brother. He didn’t mean to do so in front of his mate, but the fact that she had not developed yet, made the guardian on edge and his younger brother should have known that. If Tempest were here, Guiness was sure she would have done the same thing…only perhaps with more words added into it.

Pillar of Strength

Once she'd caught her breath, Cali had followed quickly behind the large russet male. It had been quite obvious the way that he'd taken off after hearing Narime's name that her knew her well. She was impressed with the speed that the huge wolf traveled. She wasn't far behind and he was nowhere to be seen. As she neared the meadow, she heard a deep howl fill the air, soon followed by a second. She guessed that the clear call for Narime' came from the red man.

As she moved towards the call, she saw a different huge russet wolf moving down the side of a hill and decided to alter her course to intercept him. When she arrived, she saw the wolf from the river snuggled up to none other than Narime', safe and above ground. She heard the younger woman exclaim something about the cave just as Guiness came down and proceeded to get all aggressive stanced over the unknown male. She didn't hear any words from him, but his meaning was clear.... the taller male was too close to his pack mate.

Hoping to diffuse the situation, Cali approached Narime', her tail wagging enthusiastically and licked the girl's cheek in her excitement to see her safe and whole. "Narime', I'm so glad that you've gotten free!" She then looked at the male by the silver girl's side and quipped, "At least now I know why you left so fast!" and gave him a smile. She looked at the sturdy silent male and gave him a look that told him he was over-reacting to the pair of wolves. Showing affection was perfectly natural under such circumstances!

Cali decided that she was perhaps butting in a bit and that it might be better if she gave these wolves some space. After a few moments, she bumped Narime's cheek affectionately with her nose and said, "I should be getting back now, since I can plainly see that you are in good hands! I hope to see you again soon, Narime'." She gave each male a stern look that told them not to stress the young fae and then took her leave, gratefully heading back to her beloved Swift River.

Never Underestimate a Heart of Fire...

Phineas’ lips curled distastefully at the attraction of wolves Narime’s accident seemed to gather. The ivory she-wolf who had been here upon his arrival made to disembark from the group, but within moment’s a male of ebony came upon them. Even before the scarred male made his intentions known, the Argyris wolf swung his muzzle lower threateningly, his hackles bristling as he would come to stand at the side of Elettra in a protective stance. His glowing orange eyes did not leave the newcomer, even with the distance Guiness felt fit to put between himself and the others.

The Ridge Leader did not seem perturbed by the stranger, Follko’s, presence, and Phineas finally allowed his eyes to drift back to the hole in which Narime had fallen, though his large figure remained tense.

Elettra took her leave within a few moments, and with the unneeded orders of staying, the ivory male crept closer to the hole now, his figure settling down to his haunches in rest as he awaited for night to come. Guiness gave him a silent signal of leave – to which the male knew meant he would be back shortly, for the large tawny brute was not one to simply disappear – and for the time being, Phineas remained alone with the grizzled looking loner.

Night would pass, and Phineas only stirred slightly from his post when the other spoke. His fiery eyes swept over to the other wolf, not so far in age from himself. “You’d have to ask lady Elettra,” he murmured in response, his eyes holding the others now – challenging him distinctly. “Why are you here?” What concerns did this stranger have with Narime?

But before he could await an answer, the rise of voices and howl’s caused Phineas’ ears to flick back, his focus shifting to what might be stirring away from the two wolves. Had they found Narime..?

The thumping of his heart had slowed somewhat with the realization that she was somehow free, but when she snuggled into him after turning him to see the rather amazing sight of the cave behind him, it began to race once more with her nearness. Enjoying her company he leaned slightly in her direction to solidify the light contact and to warm her. She appeared quite chilled and he could only imagine what it had been like for her below the frozen ground. Returning his attention to what had her so excited, he felt the raw beauty of the rock formation with it's sandy floor and an area that was dry, but strangely worn smooth along one side, as if by eons of water polishing it like a precious stone.

It didn't take long for Guiness to make his way down the hill. He gave Sloane a disapproving bark and tried to assert his dominance over him. Always before, he had submitted to his older brother, but he was a strapling no more and Narime' was his mate, albeit she was still a month shy of full adulthood. Sitting close to her after her ordeal was hardly a trespass of their traditions. He would never dishonor the Thorben name or Narime' in such a fashion. Guiness was overreacting and Sloane took exception to it. He did step away from his lady, but only to stand and raise his own head and tail to match that of Guiness. He would not try to assert dominance over his burly brother, but neither would he submit when he'd done no wrong.

Before it had a chance to escalate into something more, the white fae from the river appeared and came forward, greeting Narime' brightly, with great affection. Then she turned and spoke to him in a slightly teasing tone and gave him a smile as well. Sloane relaxed a bit, not wanting to overreact himself. Guiness had gotten the message. Sloane considered Guiness and himself equals and would not be intimidated, especially when it came to Narime. The white fae took note of all of them and then turned to absent herself, claiming a need to get back home.

Deciding to ease the tension that had built and before the smaller fae got out of earshot, Sloane said, "You can hardly blame a man for greeting his mate affectionately when she has rescued herself from danger, big brother!" Since she hadn't even given him the chance to thank her, at least now she would know exactly what her running into him had meant to he and Narime'. He considered himself in the snowy fae's debt, whether her actions had been intentional or not. Keeping his distance to keep the peace between he and his brother, Sloane softly nuzzled Narime's cheek for the briefest of moments, but the look in his golden amber eyes as he drew away spoke of his fathomless love for her.

Knight of Honor

Follko was pretty sure that the girls howls and those of her other pack mates meant that she had gotten out. It was a small relief to him, to see her avoid death. His own probably being imminent. Every night the winds seems a little colder, even if the temperature was actually getting warmer on occasion. The dark man could only endure it until his body could no longer.

"I knew the girl when she was younger and shorter than she most likely is now. She had long legs back then and I'm guessing she's grown into them..." He wheezed a few times then gave in to the dry cough that pained his throat further. Since the girl was safe and Follko had nothing else to do he decided to head back towards better known hunting grounds. I might at least have a chance of catching something in cedarwood forest where I know the area. his voice sounded logically in his head. Of course he stayed quiet knowing that he wouldn't be able to catch anything with his bad ankles.

"I don't know about you but I'm going out to hunt some.. You might wanna go check on your alpha or your young pack mate. I'm sure she's a little weakened from being down there.." Follko smiled to the white wolf then dipped his head goodbye and began padding slowly away. Not likely to come back to this place again. Especially if there were hidden holes someplace that he could trip and break a leg on.

(Exit Follko)

“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.”
--Edgar Allan Poe