Darkwater Rapids Those Who Left

Decided to make it separate from the AW RE thread, seeing as this must remain private to Darkwater Wolves who are grouping up and high tailing out of here.

@Destin @Ash @Hati @Namara @Anastasia @Lachesis @Quil

The first thing that had worried him was the never-ending rain that had fallen the entire week. Thick grey clouds rolling on and on, fat droplets of water cascading from the sky; it seemed like it wouldn’t ever stop, leaving his coat soaked through almost daily. Even the den had begun to grow damp with wet fur and shivering bodies. That alone had him concerned about the rising river levels. He’d walk the banks daily and find himself growing closer and closer to the treeline. Worry had tugged at his gut but he had stood his ground. No need to worry, the rain would pass. They’d be wet and cold and maybe more than a little unhappy but it’d pass. The banks wouldn’t burst. No, it’d be okay. Darkwater Rapids was a perfect haven. Or so he had thought and hoped. The sudden roar of a downpour had him racing along, his heart pounding in his chest with each long stride and his jaw tense, teeth gritted in a snarl. Shit, shit this was bad. This was really fucking bad. He should’ve seen it coming. Damn his stubbornness! Damn him! It seems that Mother Nature was taking revenge on him and the wolves of the pack due to his words to Mace. You could outsmart her. He burst forth from the treeline with a loud roar, almost as if he were mimicking thunder. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Kade! Ava!” Where were they?! Where was everyone?! The kids! <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Mace! Rowan! Quil! Cinder!” For the first time in a long time, panic began to settle into him and his nerves were on edge. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Everyone! Get here now!” Chest heaving and his ears folded back, his hackles raised and spiked in the rain. Maksim Baranski, the guardian and leader of Darkwater Rapids, was scared. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“We need to leave!” Would he be able to save them? How many would he lose? They had to get to higher lands. They had to evacuate the area immediately, lest they be separated by the raging, snarling currents … or worse yet: drowned.<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">

table by mimi, image by hun

(This post was last modified: Oct 08, 2013, 05:05 PM by Maksim.)

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

The downpour was deafening.

All around her the forest vibrated beneath the onslaught of rain, which slipped through the tree tops and hit the ground hard enough to bounce and ripple off the surface of the loblolly that stood between her and what she'd thought was a safe path home. The thunder shook her body and the chill in the gusts chilled the girl to the bone. For days it had rained and for days she'd watched as, little by little, more of her home was consumed by water. A little water never scared anyone, especially not around here where she and her siblings swam all the time; but this was not a little of anything.

The deluge pounded down upon Quil, and no matter how much she blinked or shook she couldn't keep the water from her eyes. If she could just get back to the den she would be safe and warm, but it was hard to see and every turn she took through the thick forest seemed only to muddle her sense of direction. As fast as she wanted to cover any amount of ground, her speed worked against her as her small paws slipped on the slick, mossy surfaces that riddled the ground. Her amber eyes searched for any sign of her father or the others, but there was no one to be found. Eventually panic took her.

Close enough to the rapids to hear their roar, she simply froze. Trembling in fear, covered in mud and cold to her core, she wanted to call for help. Mom! Dad! Anyone. But all that came from her throat was a high pitched yowl that seemed to be swept away by the storm.

(This post was last modified: Oct 02, 2013, 04:22 AM by Quil.)

Not many days had passed since Darkwater had welcomed its newest subordinate. He had already skirted a large portion of the territory and left numerous markings to announce his position as a member of the pack but was forced to cut it short to return to the dens and escape the perpetual downpour that had begun washing the land. Many times, partially due to the driving rain but more so to his ignorance of the territory's topography, the dark male had found himself lost and facing the outer edges of the boundaries rather than a warm den. Likely most of the pack, whom he had not met yet, was comfortable and warm nestled together under their shelter. By this time Hati yearned to put this soppy, miserable journey to an end and join them.

The ebony subordinate lifted his head to the sky and glared with a squinted eye at what he could see of dark clouds through rain. A cut on his front right pad from slipping across sharp rocks slowly oozed blood making the already dismal trip even more so. But he kept going, reluctantly perhaps, never giving up. What would be said of him if, before meeting even one of his pack's people, he died because of a rain storm because he was so weak? Not a chance that would happen. The scarred ex-loner was much too proud to let himself die such a useless death.

A strange, high pitched scream jerked him away from wallowing in despair. Hati slowed to a halt, peering ahead with his gold eye, fruitlessly trying to use his nose to scent out what had made the sound that was barely detectable against the crashes of thunder and pelting raindrops. No noise followed it up but he had heard something that wasn't from the storm, he was sure of that. Now would be a good time to be able to use my voice, he thought despondently. In that aspect he was forever trapped in a hoosgow of silence. As much as he willed it he could not call in answer to whoever had cried out into the wind.

Like a silent, black ghost he picked his way carefully towards the place he thought he had heard the sound come from and eventually was able to make out the vague form of a small wolf soaked to the skin and scrabbling for footing not far from the rapids that had given the pack its name. Hati, hoping his sudden appearance would not frighten what appeared to be a five or six month old pup—he could not smell to know that it was of Darkwater Rapids—abandoned the partial shelter of the trees and slowly advanced into the open towards the dark female. She had frozen in place with a wild look look in her amber eyes, and her fur slicked back to her shivering body and sticking out in places gave her an altogether wild appearance. Under normal circumstances Hati would have grunted to announce his presence...yet this time it would likely frighten the poor thing half to death, so instead he circled around her and came head on.

Now everything would be okay, he hoped.

(This post was last modified: Oct 09, 2013, 12:11 AM by Hati.)

He had not been in the confines of Darkwater Rapids for very long, but he knew the area well enough now to notice when there was a new presence. Things were going perfectly fine for him, it was surprisingly mostly dry, until the storms started coming. It was not too bad at first, but when the rumbling thunder overhead caused his eyes to snap open, he took in the flooded area that he was lying in. Cursing to himself, he turned around, hoping to see that @Namara was somewhere near him, but tonight that did not seem to be the case. Just as he was about to go look to make sure that she wasn’t caught in the mud at sharp yowl sounded near him. Immediately he was on his feet, his heart tugging at him to go back and just make sure, but the sense of duty that ran within him overpowered the love that he felt. There was another man there already circling around the tiny pup, water beginning to rise to the chest. Why was the male not picking her up?

Paws thundering beneath him on the water-filled ground, he pushed his body forward, scoping his lady’s child up into his jaws before looking towards the other male. Another voice rose above the thunder and pounding of the rain. Taking that as their cue to make their way towards the other man, Ash mentioned for the other guy to follow him. Looking back once to see if there were any other pack mates in the area, Ash sighed and tucked the girl towards his chest in an attempt to give her some of his body heat. If he carried her they would be able to travel faster and that they did. The Guard did not bother looking to see if the new member was following him, but he plowed on and eventually he came upon another male. Clearing his throat to try and get his attention, he mentioned his head in the direction that Sierra Hills was, asking permission to start moving upwards. It would probably be safest for the young pup to stay with him if they did end up scaling up the rocky hill. He was, after all, use to the mountains and he was mostly sure that he would be the best to scale up the hill with a pup in their jaws, he just needed to command to do so.

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.

PPing Lachesis a little i know arla dont care! >D

Steady as the river, Anastasia had finally felt at peace for the first time in a long while. With her best friend by her side and the handsome Baranski to guide her and make her feel welcome, she felt content to be where she was. Whether or not he intended to eventually leave Darkwater Rapids was unknown but for now, just being in a new place was exciting. It was a new location to explore and make adventures of with XIX. To make new acquaintances and further her experiences while she was still young and able to travel without worry of exhaustion. Unfortunately, the river didn’t quite seem so steady… at least not today. Sleeping cozily in the den with Lachesis, both happily snoozing without a care in the world, the two of them were woken up to the sound of a howling panic. One that automatically made the hair on the ex-Queen’s neck rise in worry, fearing for the worst after she had seen so much. “Nineteen,” she murmured as the spider-legged yearling rumbled to a slow wake and looked at her with a confused expression, “Maksim… he’s,” he stopped for a moment as she heard him screaming names—though hers was not mentioned—“saying… we need to leave.” But, they had just gotten there? Confusion setting in she managed to the boy up and out of the den only to see the beginning of what was soon to be a horrible disaster. “Move!” she screamed, headbutting the boy’s shoulder in the direction of where she had heard Maksim’s voice. With her brain scattered and panicked, she did everything she could to push Lachesis faster and faster so that they could move and escape out of this mess.

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Namara hadn't been away for long, but it was probably one of the worst mistakes she had ever made. For the moment she left the pack the skies exploded. Water poured from the heavens and even she could see it pooling up everywhere and eventually forming what almost looked like a marsh. So she set a slow pack back for home, the rain blinded her but still she carried on. Her eyes were shimmering steel in the slight faltering light that danced off of the water that was pooling everywhere. Suddenly there were cries and rushes of movement ahead. The pack den must be flooded!

Namara set a fast pace for the den site but arrived to find no one there. The water at her ankles now she could see it funneling into various dens. Her fur stuck straight up on her shoulders as she listened for more calls and movement. The rain pored around her as she stared into each hole. Not a sound left her muzzle and her eyes remained steel and alert. Okay Namara, you fell from a mountain and survived, your brother died and you survived, you made it through the disbandment of Poison Path. You can help these wolves. Then through the rain for a split second through the wall of rain, Namara could almost swear, there stood Kamota.

He looked upon her, reassuring and strong, as if he were telling her she was going to be okay. A ghost of his voice echoed in her head. You've got this Namara, you're one of the strongest wolves there are. She turned and raced towards the den she knew Ash had been staying in. It wasn't until she was well past did she run into Maksim. "I am Namara Laylani! Where are Kade and Ava? " She turned her head at the sound of approaching wolves to see Ash emerge carrying a small scrap of fur she presumed to be a pup. Relief shone in her eyes, but would be lost in the rains. Namara turned back to Maksim "We must get to higher ground is this every one?" Namara motioned to the few others gathered with them, she could not discern their appearances and did not know many wolves yet.

(This post was last modified: Oct 07, 2013, 04:07 PM by Namara.)

<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#7D9A7B;"> Things had changed rapidly, but Nineteen knew it was for the better. The long-limbed healer was happy at the Rapids, although he still missed the looming pine trees of his former home. He felt guilty for abandoning his ‘nephew’ but there was no place for him among the Trail ranks after Shade’s passing. He knew he did not belong there anymore, and he had been itching for a fresh start. Leaving with Anastasia was the best decision that he could have made – it was a fresh start, something that the pair desperately needed. It was going to be difficult to adjust, but he was not worried as long as he had Anastasia by his side. Everything made sense when they were together – the world grew dark and dreary once she left his side. Slipping in and out of dreams the boy snoozed peacefully next to his blue-eyed companion, his lanky body folded neatly within the den they shared. It was the stirring of his china doll paired with the distressed call that lured XIX from his slumber, pear-coloured eyes blinking slowly as he struggled to regain consciousness. Ana’s voice echoed in the den as she shouted at him to move – for some reason Maksim wanted everyone to leave? Confused he pushed himself into a stand, long limbs frantically moving to push himself out of the den as Ana headbutted him from behind. Something was wrong – really wrong. The voices that filled the camp were muffled by the deafening sound of the rain; as soon as he left the den his coat was instantly soaked, ears flattening against his skull as he watched his blue-eyed dove drag herself from their den. With his heart beating rapidly in his chest Lachesis stepped forward, pear eyes focused on his new leader’s form as he woofed at his companion to follow. They needed to get out, and now! The densite would be under water soon, and while the spidery youth did not mind swimming, he was not so sure his new packmates felt the same. As he headed toward higher ground the youth allowed his gaze to search the area for stragglers – the rain made it difficult to see and the water was rising at an alarming pace. He knew their new pack was home to several puppies and the yearling was frightened for their safety the most. The water level would reach them first before any of the adults – if any of them were still caught in their dens he knew they wouldn’t survive.

stick with those who stick with you

OOC: Set after Astra has been accepted into Darkwater Rapids.

Astra had successfully found herself a new home. Her days as a PICARO had come to an end. Thanks to Makism and perhaps a bit of luck on her behalf, she was now the newest addition to DarkWater Rapids. She could finally put her past behind her and begin focusing on looking to the future. It had only been a few short days since her initiation to the pack and she had been having trouble settling down. Not because she was knew or didn't know any other wolves yet. It was the weather. Astra had been gifted with the unusual, but handy talent of being in tune with the weather patterns. She knew how to read the skies, the clouds and the stars, along with the migration patterns of the animals. She was no psychic. It all came down to rationality and a sense of intuition. And she had a feeling that the torrential downpours such as the one beating down over the territory today, would only increase in intensity and duration. Fat, heavy droplets fell from the sky, water logging the subordinate. Her ears twitched back in mild annoyance as she attempted to shake out her coat, but it was useless. How long had it been since she was this wet? Personally, too long for her liking.

Just one glance over at the rapids was all it took. Storm blue eyes widened a fraction. The banks were almost overflowing! All because of this damn rain. Quickly, she darted away and deeper into the heart of the territory. It was no better there, as her paws were immersed in several inches of water. The rain was coming down in sheets, making visibility extremely difficult. Navigating in such conditions was problematic, forcing Astra to rely more on her sense of smell and hearing rather than her sight. Not far off, she heard the distressed call of a youngster, making her concern skyrocket. Making a beeline for the main den, her heart sped up. What if there were others who hadn't gotten out in time? Peering inside, she was only greeted with the fresh scent of other wolves who had recently evacuated. Sending a glance back over towards the distant river, she squinted, hoping not to find the shape of a body within it's clutches. Pursing her lips, she mentally scolded herself. No! This was an established pack...the members here were surely smart enough not to allow such a silly thing to happen.

The booming voice of Makism echoed through the forest, demanding that each and every pack member gather around him. They had to leave immediately. The weather conditions were just too dangerous here. Turning on her heel, Astra sped off in his direction, taking care not to slip over the slick, mossy ground. Somehow, through the torrential rain, she had found him. And others. A dark male who had plucked up a child...the one who had most likely been distressed. Another gray and brown female and a cream colored yearling and a white female. Along with a multi colored male with green eyes. She recognized none of them, but their familiar scent was comforting. Eyes filled with concern, she sent several unsure glances around. Astra wasn't about to panic, but being unfamiliar with the area, she looked to Makism and the others for direction. "Which way to higher ground? This place will be flooded within a few hours." As much as she hated to leave, she was not yet attached to this place. Now a new adventure was to begin.

Thank you all for responding! Because @Destin is away, I'm going to respond now seeing as everyne who needed to has done. Alanna, if you want Destin wants to track down the DWR wolves at a later date, you're free to do so.

Round 2 ends on the 13th of October. Not much time, I know, but one more round after that to wrap it up and we can hopefully start the claiming thread.

Maksim stared into the lashing rain, trying to see if the inky figures of the Attaya family would emerge from the darkness. The water was rising, steadily, and he could feel it pooling past his ankles. The river’s banks would break, the foaming currents free to sweep away whatever and whoever it could. He stood his ground, though, grit his teeth and waited for those under his command to show their faces. He would have to be brave for them; he would have to show he would keep them safe from the hell of the storm. You could outsmart mother nature. The first blotchy figure arrived, clutching something in their jaws. His heart lurched forwards at the prospect of Kade, Ava and their offspring being safe, yet it sunk again when their features came into shape; brown and russet, spiked fur with green eyes that mimicked emeralds. This was not an Attaya, this must have been one of the newer ones Maksim had not met yet. His verdant gaze widened as he spotted Quil in his jaw’s and, as Maksim knew nothing of his friendship with Ava, a slither of distrust ran down his spine. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Quil,” he barked to her, letting her know that familiarity was here—he was here. A silent warning was shot to the Darkwater subordinate, regardless of the dire times. He would trust him with the girl for now. Whoever he was, he gestured towards Sierra Hills and the Baranski shook his head. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Those hills are steep and the rain will be there, too, so it will simply be an accident waiting to happen—a natural disaster waiting for its trigger! We must travel over the mountain.” Behind him came Taras, silent as always, and the Baranski was glad he was okay. He hadn’t known the one-eyed male for long but Maksim was desperate for the safety of all his followers. Still no sign of the Attaya family, though, and the Darkwater leader couldn’t help but feel that maybe they were separated. The river was a vicious one, after all, and this extra load of water was simply going to make it even more difficult to traverse. He could only hope that Mace, Rowan and Cinder were safe with their parents. But little Quil … she was here. A woman ran in this time, a brief introduction—Namara Laylani—and then a question that hit the pit of Maksim’s stomach like a bullet through his gut. Introductions could wait until later. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“I do not know, but as soon as everyone is here we are leaving.” It wasn’t long after Namara’s arrival that Anastasia and Lachesis emerged from the darkness, instantly soaked by the horrific flash flood’s wicked downpour. Thank God, they were alright, that everyone was alright. The final wolf emerged from the trees: Astra Sellix. Newest arrival, already uprooted from her new home. She, along with Taras, Anastasia and Lachesis, had no connection to the land, to the founding wolves but Maksim found himself suddenly horrified. They could not wait any longer. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Over the mountain,” he called over the rain, addressing not just Astra but all wolves present, <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“we cannot wait any longer. This land will be beneath water for a long time.” We start anew elsewhere. Those who were not present—Destin, @Lily, @Isadora and even the Attaya family themselves—would find them elsewhere, back in the western valley from which Darkwater Rapids had migrated from. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#d8ddcf;">“Now, move!” Maksim turned, trying his best to be assertive and courageous, and began to push on, expecting all the wolves gathered to follow.

table by mimi, image by hun

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

Anastasia rushed frantically with Lachesis at her side finding that nothing was more alarming than knowing that the others around her were in immediate danger. Although this place was fresh and new to her, this place had been a home to many for so long and now they had no other choice but to relocate. It was a disheartened feeling to know that all of these wolves had to say a forceful goodbye to a place they were so familiar with. Even as the fear struck out she was following every word Maksim spoke, leaning against Lachesis with heaving breaths. Panic had surely taken the wind out of her and the race to move as quickly as possible had barely begun. Not knowing anyone of the wolves here she focused in on Maksim and even though she would have felt safer at his heels, she followed towards the end of their trail—wanting to make sure that no one was left behind by the fast movement of relocation. Perhaps it was a good thing that Maksim was planning on relocating and making his own pack anyways because now was as good a time as ever. Though, she wasn’t really sure who the previous leaders of the Rapids were aside from Maksim and wasn’t sure if the leading lady was here or not. Only thing Anastasia knew was to keep herself focused and look to everyone to make sure that they got out of this safely. Fear and panic still lingered within her, numbing her insides and making herself almost sick but she persevered so that she could keep everyone safe.

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