Whisper Caverns Homecoming Queen

@Minka, @Ash ?, @Inali ?, Others may join including pups.
.
It is high time I got her back here again.

She was finally home.

The lean tired young mother had made the long journey over and then back from the mountains. Though what should have been a short four day journey had taken her months due to the silver hunters lack of geographic knowledge on the east side of the pass, and the overwhelming storms that slowed her every step. Even now it was still storming. Though the storms had long since changed from rain to snow since the she wolf had left on her mission. Now she trudged through almost belly high snow within the meadow towards the sheltering forest that her pack called home. The snowfall was light though the wind was blowing harshly upon Nari's thickened coat.

Narimé had no knowledge of the harsh times that had descended on her pack. That her mate had disappeared only a day or two before she had told the Kieth and Inali of her mission. Nor did she know that Titan had gone missing for the longest time looking for her. Though she had assumed that Minka the caverns second and Sloane would keep and eye on the pack while she was gone. Nari was in for a surprise once she met up with her pack mates again.

Her steps took her deep into the territory passing over snow covered terrain through the small number of trees that lay in the heart of Whisper Caverns turf. She recognized the hill that hid her cave home behind it and wondered if the den would be a warm place to nap. I want to see the pups before sleep takes me though... Nari thought quietly a flutter of longing in her heart to see her darlings Titan, @Malia, and @Yuka once more.

Traversing the hill's slope down to the opening of the cave Nari paused taking in what she saw. She uttered a loud series of yips from her maw announcing her return to whoever was within the den.

(This post was last modified: Dec 11, 2013, 12:21 AM by Narimé.)

ImapostcauseIhavedamuse

what you don't know, won't hurt you

Tokino Lagina

what you can't see, won't blind you

Titan had been grounded per say by Tokino as soon as he had seen that the boy was back. The dark child was large enough and old enough now to understand that rules were made to be followed and not just guidelines on how to live life. Kino would make sure that the boy was punished for leaving the pack even if the reason for his leaving had been of good intention. So since the previous day Tokino had been keeping a hard eye on Titan while he moped around the den.

Of course Titan had come back way earlier than yesterday. The child had been back for some time now. However Tokino was hard pressed to let the boy off easily and so kept him on punishment by guarding the den.

That was yesterday of course. Right now the light and dark gray man was resting after watching the child all night. He only barely heard the snow crunching paw steps of Narimé when she entered the den. The man's head yanked up after her yips and instantly the Lagina wolf was on his paws, and angry look ion his face.

I SWEAR TITAN IF YOU TOOK ONE STEP OUTA THIS DEN AGAIN I'M GOING TO BEAT THE LIVIN- He stopped his snarling mid sentence when the man's eyes fell on the silver hued figure at the entrance of the cave. The male hadn't realized that Titan indeed had left the cave to get away from the old geezer for a short while. Instead his full attention was on the shape under the giant mouth of the cave.

Marianna? His nose registered the scent as his nieces and immediately made the male shake his head. Narimé? His eyes flowed over her tired form. She wasn't horribly thin but just simply ragged looking. As if the woman had been dragged half way there by a bear. His memories recalled Marianna looking similar to this state just after he had found her living life as a loner.

Rough time I take it? Out on that mission of yours... He wanted to say so much more. To tell her how much of a fool she had been to leave her pack for such a long trip. To leave her pups in order to find a friend? Ridiculous He wanted so much to scream at her, but simply couldn't. Not with the way the young mother looked right at that moment. Like she needed to rest for an eternity.

I suppose traveling through the snow over the mountains was tough on her body... He mulled over quietly at the image of his niece plowing through chest high snow. Sighing softly the male waved his tail a few times in invitation to come in as if she actually needed it. Why don't you rest for a while? It won't make any difference to the pack if they wait a few more hours for you to be in tip top shape when they've been waiting for two whole months for you to come back. He spoke firmly but gently advising the younger female to rest before doing anything else. Though he wondered silently if anyone else knew that she was back yet.

Jeez, the muse flowed in this post xD

Inali had decided to take one last scout trip before calling it quits for winter. This time it was all business. She had taken off at the break of dawn that very morning. Leaving her scent fresh on the borders so the pack would know she would come back, she set off.

She trudged through the snow of her lands, Hush Meadow. Her fur was thick, and held in heat that she so desperately needed. Ocasionally, she would feel a chill of cold, but overall, she was good. Minka was not the only one that noticed the scent of nearby herds diminishing, and it worried the young scout. So her mission would be solely based on trying to find scent trails.

Hush Meadow turned out to be a dud. There was absolutely nothing. The other territories were the same. Nothing in Fireweed Rise, Iridescent Lagoon, Whisper Marsh, nor in Drooping Willows. By the time she entered Cedarwood Forest, she was beginning to lose all hope. She hadn't caught a whiff of neither caribou, elk, pronghorn, or even moose! Cedarwood Forest was her last hope to find something in Southern Eden. She didn't want to think of traveling all the way to Northern Eden, not in the state the pack was in.

Inali's despondent demeanor lifted as her muzzle caught the whiff of something she had been searching all morning and afternoon. A meal. It was the scent of a mule deer herd, but Inali could tell it was very small. But that didn't matter, she had found a food source! If she could wrangle up a pack hunt, they could possibly have enough to the last them a good while, maybe even through the winter!

Her buoyant mood was soon deflated though. It was the scent of pack borders--a pack resided here. Her head bowed in bitter disappointment. The girl had no clue that this pack was Cut Rock River, nor that they were led by someone unfamiliar to her, @Maksim, or that Minka had even made an alliance with them. She didn't know that this was the pack Minka had gotten Titan back.

With a deep sigh, Inali moved away from their borders. She did not want any trouble. Her usual bouncy step gone, she headed home. It was like a dark cloud was over her head, and it was unrelenting as the storm of disappointment rained on her. There was a possibility that her and her pack mates would not survive this winter.

It was late by the time she crossed Whisper Cavern's borders. All the woman wanted to do, was tell Minka of their dire circumstances, and sleep until the next morning. As she pawed over to the den, her ears pricked as she heard voices. Immediately, she recognized Tokino speaking. Despite her sad mood, a smile twitched her muzzle. Wasn't it passed the old man's bedtime?

Entering the den, she was cut short on telling him just that, when a scent so familiar caught her attention. The surprise made her take a few steps back. "Narime?!," she yelped excitedly. Her paws had a mind of their own as they rushed to get to the silver form. Licking Nari's muzzle happily, she couldn't even get words out. Stepping away, she nuzzled her muzzle against the woman's furry neck. As she moved away, her voice was choked with emotion. "Welcome home."

Inali had so many questions. What had taken her so long? Did she find who she was looking for? But the woman stopped herself. Her previous Queen looked exhausted. There would be tines for questions later. And also time to bear the bad news of the past two months.

(This post was last modified: Dec 11, 2013, 02:57 PM by Inali.)

Somebody else please post between Kino and Nari. >< @Ash, @Namara,<--these two only if they are planning on staying @Yuka, @Malia, @Minka

The first to greet the silver wolf was her own uncle. Seeing him after so long made her tail wag even if the male was one of the rudest pack members she had. I guess Titan 's been wandering a little more than usual if it's enough to bother Kino into a rage like that. She smiled as Tokino paused in his snarling and gazed at her. She was thinking that her son had been near their territory while venturing out. Nari had no clue how far her little man had actually wandered.

The gray man's deep rumble held some hidden emotion she could not judge at that time. The questioning in his voice was unmistakable but the woman knew that he was hiding something else. That he wanted to say something else.

She padded forward at the wave of the older males tail letting her head fall lower filled with fatigue. Her shiny black nose twitched and moved as she took in the scents of her pack mates sleeping places all around the den. Minka, Inali, Simaea, Malia, Yuka, Titan, Kino, and even the faintest scent of Kieth still clung to the earthen floors of the cavern. Though there were some new scents as well that Nari could not figure out whom the smells belonged to. She could only hope that they were newer members and trusted pack mates who had come so far into their territory. The families scents calmed the woman for the most part. Though she didn't realize it for a while that Sloane scent was the faintest whiff of smell. Nari thought that her mate was dutifully watching the borders most of the time keeping their kids safe. Maybe he's been sleeping on the edge of the others was her thought process denying the fact that there was little to none of her mates scent around.

Calmed with the scents of her pack mates Nari nodded at Kino's advice and readied herself to lay her body down. However the call of her name yanked her attention back to the mouth of the cave. Narimé's light blue gaze traveled over Inali's form as the scout rushed forward to greet her. The silver wolf tilted her chin up in a semi dominant gesture to recieve Inali's numerous licks upon her chin then gave her own greeting by lifting her forelegs and pawing at Inali's chest and side. Dropping onto all fours heavily and wagging her tail happily while Inali nuzzled her, Nari smiled warmly glad to see her friend still doing so well.

"I'm definitely glad to be back here and not stuck on those damn mountains..." Nari answered sighing softly. "I guess everyone is well enough that I may rest for a while?" She asked Inali with a small flick of her ears and a tired looking frown dimpling her cheeks. Then the hunter lowered herself to the ground and lay on her side glad to be back.

(This post was last modified: Dec 11, 2013, 04:37 PM by Narimé.)

Look Out!

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

Malia sat, poised, on the cover of snow nearby the den. Her body weighed so little that she had no trouble staying on top of the drift. Any fear of falling through had completely evaporated from the girl's mind. Her eyes were focused on one of the many pools of water that laid frozen at her feet, entranced by the reflection that was distorted by its frozen surface. Not much was on her mind at the moment, other than passing thoughts of her parents. Titan was back, safe and sound, yet under the watchful eye of Kino. Malia specifically left the den to get away from him, since his biting words and quick temper was all too present in the cave. He was nothing like his niece, Narime, yet his visage still brought back thoughts of her.

A sudden commotion caused Malia to look up, straight towards the den that was nearby. A gray furred wolf had just disappeared inside, followed by the loud bellowing of Tokino that could probably be heard from miles around. Rolling her eyes, Malia stood and walked towards the den, peeking her head inside to take a look. Hope furled inside her chest as her amber eyes looked towards the wolves that resided there.

Finally, there she was. Narime, her mother, back from her extended trip. Malia did feel a form of aggravation due to the length of her mother's disappearance, but all that disappated the moment the girl saw her mother's familiar form. Inali seemed to have gotten there first and had just finished embracing Narime. Malia rushed forwards and barreled into her mother's belly as she laid on the ground, pushing her head into the soft fur that waited there. "You're back!" she exclaimed, a delight in her voice. "So much happened when you were gone- Titan disappeared but now he's back-" her tattling words were suddenly stopped short when she raised her head from her mother's side and looked around for a few moments. "Did you bring daddy back too?" she asked, optimism in her amber gaze. "Speech"

what you don't know, won't hurt you

Tokino Lagina

what you can't see, won't blind you

Tokino huffed in annoyance as yet another wolf appeared. This time one of Nari's own blood came crashing into the cave straight past the platinum male and into the gray mother's belly fur. He chuckled a bit at the sight of the tall gangly pup crouched low trying to fit into her mothers embrace. Though the chuckled stopped abruptly when the young princess spoke of Titan disappearing. Then the gray man's face turned to a scowl as Malia asked about her father.

Well now she knows, though I was planning on telling Nari child about her mates absence from the pack later once she had rested. the man growled quietly within his own thoughts. Of course it would be Malia who would come and mess that idea up. Stepping sideways the gray wolf turned his body to the rest of the den. At the mention of Titan's name earlier the elder had been reminded of his duty to watch the boy. Though it seemed as if the young prince had ditched the den after Kino had begun to rest his eyes. Rolling his thin shoulders and stretching the muscles along the graying mans back Tokino readied himself for a patrol mostly to search for Titan.

I'll leave the explaining to you @Inali. I've got to find that little black rascal again and drag him back here to see his mother. Kino woofed to Inali locking his gaze with hers only for a moment and then turning to exit the cave. He knew well enough that Narimé would become emotional after hearing of her mates disappearance. Inali is a good friend of hers. She'll do better for comfort than I would have. He reasoned quietly while stepping out fo the den and disappearing past the edge of the cave's giant mouth.

(Feel free to skip him since he's not in the cave)

(This post was last modified: Dec 16, 2013, 07:00 AM by Tokino.)

The introductions were given and recieved, and Inali could now smile contently as she watched her previous alpha lay down. The woman was clearly exhausted, so Inali decided that once the woman began to doze off, the girl would just quietly slip out the den and spread the news of Nari's homecoming. Her wishes were dashed as one of Nari's brood barged into the den.

The petite fae's eyes closed tightly in slight irritation as the girl's vocal filter didn't take effect and spread the bad news of two months in about two sentences. Sighing, Inali opened her eyes to see the seventh month old trying to cuddle with her mother. At another time, Malia's actions would have brought an amused chuckle from her, but not today.

Malia, Malia, Malia, she chanted in her head as she shook it. Her blue orbs connected with Kino's own, and she nodded her agreement as he took leave from the cave in search of Titan. Her gaze connecting with Narime's, Inali opened her maw. "I should probably explain...," she began weakly.

"After you left on your mission, all of us were kept busy trying to store up for winter. I take full blame, since in doing my constant border patrols, I failed to notice that Titan's scent was waning." As she had begun to tell the story, she didn't have the nerve to continue to stare in Nari's eyes. She had failed her ex queen, of that she was sure of. But by the time she had finished her first sentences, she made herself lock eyes with the woman. She would take any punishment that Nari decided to give.

"A couple weeks ago, Titan reappeared. Minka went out and found him, but I don't really know that whole story. Speaking of Minka, she called a pack meeting a while back, and rose herself to be leader. I agreed with her decision, since a pack functions better as a whole with two alphas, then just one. And..a bit after that, Sloane took his leave." In her hesitance of speaking that last sentence, her eyes flickered to Malia, and then turned her attention back to Narime. Her voice had turned soft by the time she had finished speaking.

The woman took a small step forward in the direction of Narime, not sure if to comfort her friend, or take her leave like Tokino had done previously.

He had been trying to get use to the new lands as well as possible and found that they were much more adaptable than Darkwater Rapids had been. Here there were caves within the territory, ones that he could easily pad on when he needed to have the feel (or something related to) the mountains underneath his paws. Nostalgia was something that he would feel often whenever he would step into the caverns, but it never stopped him; it was something that made him feel like he was more at home. Having always lived in the mountains until Poison Path had disbanded, Ash could sometimes understand why he would sneak away for a few minutes, just so he could have a few moments of peace before he would need to attend to his duties. The scent of Whisper Caverns now marked his pelt graciously, and the borders were slowly beginning to obtain his smell. Though he was nowhere close to knowing the borders and territory as well as he had known Poison Paths, he was slowly on his way there.

As he walked along the borders today though, he hadn’t been expecting to come upon a stop, his posture easily lifting to signify his ranking among these lands. Standing a strong step forward, he surveyed those gathered, his mossy green eyes landing on those of the sickly looking female at his borders, the gray fae looked as if he recognized the other wolves, his pack mates, at their borders, and he strode forward more, picking up on the last words that one of his subordinates were telling her. Judging by the look on the gray woman’s face, he could easily guess that this was the Narimé that Minka had spoken of when he had joined the pack. Clearing his throat, he stood next to his three pack mates, his gaze landing on the younger woman in front of him, "And I lead beside Minka…I am Ash Hervok, Nina’s brother. I knew Sloane." Hopefully by some luck the girl at least knew who Nina was. If he had to guess this pack would have had to have been tied to her in some way, because he clearly remembered that Nina and Sloane had been close…so perhaps their packs would have had to been too.

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

Oh gosh this is going to be full of feels (Just you know we are in the cave itself not on the border)

No sooner than she had lay herself down than Malia appeared at the caves entrance. The sight of her sent Nari's tired tail thrumming against the earthen floor. "You've gotten so big while I was gone!" Nari dug her muzzle into her daughters rusted ruff reveling in the girls healthy scent. She loved her so much. It was clear in the way she spoke and held her daughter. A silver tipped ear angled forward as Malia spoke and Nari listened intently. The wagging tail slowed when she heard of Titan's disappearance but no anger showed on her features. Nari had remembered the fresh scent of her son in the den before. As long as he was back and healthy she was not horribly upset by his wanderings.

Then Malia asked if she had brought Sloane back.

Narime's tail stopped immediately stiff upon the chilled ground.

She looked down on Malia confused by the question. Then her light blue gaze traveled to Tokino as he bowed out leaving whatever "explaining" he mentioned to Inali. All at once the mood within the cave turned dark. It even almost seemed as if the cave itself became darker as Inali now held her full attention.

"What's happened while I was gone?" She asked concern full upon her voice.

Then Inali spoke firstly of Titan's absence. Nari had guessed that her son had wandered a bit too far and gotten into trouble back when she had first entered the cave and was snarled at by her uncle. It was obvious Titan had done something wrong and she would have to talk to him about it later. However that wasn't what concerned her mostly because she had scented him upon entering the cave. She knew he was healthy and safe at the moment. That was what mattered to her.

"Every pup wanders and gets lost sometimes. Heck even adults do. If anything Titan probably gets that wanderlust from me. You guys did your job finding him again and bringing him back to safety. Hopefully now he has learned that it is safer to stay within our borders than to stray away from them." She tried to ease Inali's fear of her being angry at the scout. Unfortunately pups were pups, and Nari knew the feeling to want to go to new places and explore them. That was how she found this cavern, and though it was dangerous to wander there were certain things one could only learn by being on their own. I just hope he's learned enough to satiate that desire to travel for a while. At least till I allow him to travel with me someplace so that I know he's safe.. Her thoughts were mostly of Titan but turned to her other pups as well. Each one had a curiosity about their land and what was beyond it now. It pained her to see each of her own wanting to stray further and further from her.

Turning down to look at Malia and nuzzle her Nari hummed warmly in her ear. "Please don't wander outside the borders without me. I'll gladly go with you so you and your brothers can see the world, but just do go out there alone..." She held back tears while asking her daughter to do this one thing. Am I too soft? she wondered quietly still doubting her role as a mother. Should I be more angry about Titan's leave of absence?

The thought of absence brought her back to thoughts of her mate.

Narime turned to the last sentence Inali had told her. The one that the rust hued scout had clearly been hesitant to speak about. The silver wolf went quiet thinking of some reason why Sloane would up and disappear. "Did he not say anything to anyone about his departure? Or was he just gone..Is he...gone.." She mumbled the last part unable to hold tears back anymore. Her face remained stoic but three tears, two in the left and one on the right fell down her silver hued face.

"If he didn't say anything then he must be hurt or injur-" She paused in her worried words as another male appeared. She recognized one of the two stranger scents that mixed with her pack mates smells on the cavern floor. He... must be new.. She thought quietly turning a tired tearing gaze upon Ash as he spoke. She realized a little too late the way he held himself a a leader would. Never noticing until he introduced himself.

"And I lead beside Minka…I am Ash Hervok, Nina’s brother. I knew Sloane."

It took her a minute to register his words.

It wasn't until a breeze came in through the entrance of the den and broke her gaze with the male in front of her.

She picked herself up shook her ruff a bit and stood full height unafraid of the snarls that might come from this male who thought he was taking Sloane's place. Her tail stuck out stiffly behind her while Nari looked over the male as if he were a piece of meat. Her mind was devoid of anything now. No emotions clouded her eyes. They were hard pieces of blue glass looking over this "Ash" fellow. Seeing if he would be a good leader figure until Sloane returned. He's large, not quite as tall as Sloane, but well defined, and healthy. She gazed at those Hervok slanted eyes for a moment taking in what she saw within them. Almost the same green that Nina and Eva had, and the emotions that might have been running through them at that moment.

Averting her gaze as Nari knew her current position was not the one to be judging the male, but for the male to be judging her. She looked over his stance once more, the high held muzzle, lifted tail, and his calmness intrigued her. In her heart Nari thought that Minka had made a good choice in promoting him or adding him to the pack, whatever. It was a good thing he was there. But only until Sloane is back... She thought darkly while beginning to pace around the male lowering her silver crown as she did so.

"So you are Nina's and Eva's brother? I've heard about you. Been wanting to meet you. " Was all she could growl out. Nari felt as if it had started raining inside the den. She felt cold, depressed, an certainly was in no mood for any of this right now. Never in her life did she feel so confused, uncertain, and angry all at once.

"My name is Narime Lagina Thorben; Sloane's mate..." She put emphasis on the Thorben. "...and I am one of the founders of Whisper Caverns pack. " She knew that for the moment Minka was still leader. However Nari was hard pressed not to find the woman right now and straighten things out on her own. Right now all she wanted to do was search for Sloane. The reason for her mission was now far from her mind. Her pack came first.

"You and Minka have been doing well while I was gone. Thank you for protecting my pups and our land from danger. " She finally fully submitted to the male lowering her tail, head, and body beneath his. Cautiously she edged forward to give a small lick of thanks on his chin if he allowed her to do so. Truthfully Nari wasn't sure he would allow her this close after her earlier dominating stance while looking over Ash's physical ability and presence.