Drooping Willows To thwart reality

Never had a home like this...

It had certainly been awhile since he had laid his paws in the Drooping Willows. The return was wonderful; his mind stirred with memories. At the time of his joining, the man's mind seemed to be laid to rest of all its worries. He had come from a clan far off, anyway. The willows were trees that had claimed a special place in his aging heart. The spirited man drifts along, his russet coat dappled by the sunlight. Light golden eyes flicker to and fro in both a curious and cautious manner. As he comes to a slow, he recognizes the scent of the ebon lady he once knew. His maw twitches; a grin soon adores it. Continuing forth, his hopes to seek the woman out grow stronger.

and the prophet said be careful what you wish-

The older wolf suddenly jerks, his eyes narrowing as he does so. A certain odor stung his nose; it seemed familiar, but being incapable of pinpointing it unnerved him. With a grunt, he lowers the salmon that he carries in his strong jaws. The thick fur along his neck bristles as he releases a sharp growl. A moment after emitting the noise, a russet creature like himself dashes from behind the base of a willow and weaves through the trees in fear. A fox. Reed hadn't seen many of these critters, and he made sure to remember the odor that it carried. Releasing an amused grunt, the western man lowers his head and gently scoops the salmon back up in his mouth. The fish was a gift to the curvy woman.

Never had to think twice

He nears the edge of the territory now. The Acoy's heart begins to thump anxiously in his barrel-like chest, but he takes a moment to settle himself. With a small sigh, he seats himself, bushy tail curling around his right haunch as he plops down. Craning his head downward once more, he places the salmon before him. A moment is taken to clear his throat before he points his muzzle upward, releasing a long and hollow howl.

Always knew my home was in paradise...

Xetor wasn't usually the first one on scene when wolves not of the pack approached the border. However today he just seemed to be the closest member of the pack around. Stepping through the long drying goldenrod stems and skirting over the exposed roots of a willow tree, Tor searched through the underbrush for a certain herb that was a tad bit low in the medical stores.

The howl that sounded extremely close to him startled Xetor into a strong jerk backwards as his head yanked up to look in the direction of the call. His blackish red ears swiveled forward cupping the sound so as to listen more carefully. This guys calling for the leader... Tor thought suspiciously. He could not recognize the call whatsoever and guessed that the male knew about their pack either from a previous meeting with one of his pack mates or rumor spread by other rogues. Either way, the young Archer was curious about the gritty voice.

Starting forward and momentarily abandoning his quest for herbs, Xetor wound his way around the trees until he found a well worn trail. Following it to the border where his grayish eyes spied the older russet wolf, Tor let his tail lift a bit for intimidation purposes.

"A fellow fisherwolf. What's an old man like you doing calling for an audience with the king and queen?" Tor asked sniffing the delicious scent of salmon as he approached with a long confident stride. Those amber-gray eyes darted between the gift Reed had brought and the elder man himself.

As the weeks passed the tides changed, bringing a certain peace to the lands of Willow Ridge and it's inhabitants. Her son, Asriel, eldest of her youth, had left the pack lands in what she could only assume was to explore life on his own before he 'settled'. Adelaide had left the pack for unknown reasons and likely due to this, the Lowest, Jaromir, had followed what he desired from her. Despite these two things, all had become rather well within the pack. Her three youngest pups were healthy and together. @Skoll had taken out those associated with Deacon's kidnapping and alas, an enemy of Willow Ridge was once more vanquished. Various strong members had joined the ranks, showing promise in keeping the pack strong. Alas, other then a few of it's members (which most had still otherwise proven themselves worthy), the pack was truly one of family. The Lyall-Archer pack thrived.

Alas, she walked her homeland with an air of pride, content to fetch up something fresh for her three youngest sons whilst they remain along the outskirts of the pack den. Already they were entering a stage of rapid growth, their milk teeth slowly coming out in order for them to be trying solid foods. The different shades and patterns in their coating was coming to light and they were fully capable of moving about the territory on their own. Their eyes had nearly fully changed in color, as well... With Deacon's as bright as the man's he was named after. Castiel's were as pale of a gold as his father and @Greer held the intensity his mother held.

The smell of food caught her interest, what she had otherwise been seeking and she moved quick into it's direction just as the howl echoed over the land. A howl that she, surprisingly, knew. Despite the vast amount of time that had separated them, living amongst one another where their howls often echoed in harmony would not allow her to forget Reed Acoy. She pauses only briefly enough to howl out in turn until she was able to reach him. When she did arrived, Xetor was here for which she smirks to. Xetor had thus shown himself his capabilities of handling a little bit of everything, where it came to border patrol and pup sitter and more so then the latter, fishing and collecting herbs in the secondary storage den/emergency den. "Dear nephew..." She peeks, her ears perking to the words that had passed his lips but moments before she made her arrival before them. "This is Reed Acoy. A former member to my pack... a founding member." She speaks this as her eyes of pale silver slowly drift from her equally pack mate and family member and onto the russet colored older woman. "Where have you been?"

*edited to close bold code <3

(This post was last modified: Sep 19, 2014, 07:59 PM by Angier.)

Seconds felt as if they were minutes as he awaited the appearance of another wolf. His senses were not as keen as they had once been, but Reed's ears perk almost immediately to the sound of an approaching wolf. With a casual turn of his head, the russet elder allows for his golden gaze to fix upon a darker pelted wolf. His dark fur receives dappled lighting from the canopy of willows; Reed observes rust-colored fur throughout the darker fur. With a smirk now strewn across his face, Reed tilts his head. "Am I but a jester in their court?" He attempted to humor the wolf, but did not know what sort of response was to come from someone he had just encountered.

After a few moments, a howl had met Reed's ears. The familiarity of the tones was unmistakable. Feeling his heart thump hard once more, the wolf grows excited rather than anxious this time. With the appearance of the lovely woman, Reed dips his head respectfully. A calm yet pleased grin rests softly on his features. "Ah, Elettra. It is wonderful to see ya again" He raises his head upward, looking for her gaze "Figured I'd do exploring and perfecting my trade before I got too old." He closes his eyes for a brief moment, allowing himself to shrug before he speaks "I can no longer travel like I could a year or two ago. Time is the devil, I'll tell ya." His thick western accent licks each word he speaks.

"How have you been, Elettra?" The friendly tone in his voice turns to more of that of concern. Lowering his head now, the red man nudges the salmon softly with his brown nose. His eyes go from the younger wolf to Elettra, warmly inviting them to enjoy the gift he came bearing.

(This post was last modified: Sep 17, 2014, 02:58 AM by Reed.)

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Elettra appears soon after his question is voiced to the rugged russet wolf. He lowers his head and lets his tail flick underneath his belly in a submissive posture before the black she wolf as she answered for the red gentleman. Reed... he thought quietly after looking over to the fish again. A perfect name for one who sits within the reeds waiting for fish to come close. Dipping his head in a friendlier hello, Tor then steps closer to Elettra.

Xetor stood stiffly before the man unwilling to let him and closer to the border, but he still held a good natured look over his facial features. He did not feel particularly threatened by the older wolf, and was actually hoping to get a good conversation out of the man. The young Archer had always respected his elders, especially within Torbine. Probably because he thought of them as the best teachers. Despite his lack of trust and sometimes total lack of respect to wolves nearer to his own age, Xetor actually enjoyed and sought out time to spend with elders.

Letting a sly smile push across his muzzle at the males words Tor allowed himself to sit down before the pair. With Elettra looking so calm he might as well get comfortable. Amusement bubbled into his eyes by Reed's answer. Fully relaxed now that Elettra had appeared, Xetor found himself sitting up fully straight paying attention to the older pair of wolves and waiting for his aunt should she need help. There wasn't much else he could do but decline the fish Reed offered. That was done with a small shake of his head before Tor flicked his tail around his paws comfortably.

The air was comfortable here, familiar, without any need to stand on ceremony as time after time she was made to judge those strangers to come to her doorstep to see if they were willing or not to be part of her pack. Mostly, she would give those who came a chance to prove themselves. Many had failed, ether by lack of work or just by simply up and leaving. Some she had turned away... Though this wolf she knew and knew well enough. He was a bit more distant then her other members, where much of his focus had been at fishing though you could always find him along some water source if you needed him. Unfortunately, Reed had up and left without so much as a howl and if so much time had not ticked on since then, it might have still stung the woman. "Might have been nice to let me and Koda know before you went on your little adventure." She mutters, a small snort taking her as she thinks back to long ago, back when Koda was at her side.

For a moment, she side-glances to her young nephew who had otherwise sat down and became comfortable now that she had arrived. She was happy to allow him to stay here, to get to know the male before them. She enjoyed his company well enough and in time, came to a sit as well before the russet colored wolf. "So the old man's looking to settle..." She prods. "Here, I'd assume?" A smirk lingers over her words, wondering if the wolf was deciding to return to the home he had left behind or use his time finding a new, fresh start. Ether way, it was good to know he was doing well and had not gone off and died somewhere. "Life's had it's ups and downs... A lot has happened since you left. Last winter was horrible and we suffered from it up until mid spring... Summer has changed things. Were doing well now, our best, perhaps."

(This post was last modified: Sep 19, 2014, 07:52 PM by Elettra.)