Cedarwood Forest your friends of the north

Minka and pups have come to visit their southern allies! @Maksim @Orren @Aleksei @Karina @Noble @Kova

Late Morning, Clear 3F/-16C

They had been travelling for a few days now, leaving early in the morning after bidding farewell to Tokino and the rest of the pack. Minka wasn't worried how the pack would function in their absence as her mate's injury had long since healed and @Inali was a trustworthy second. She was sure everything would be as she left it when they returned back home in a couple of days. This would be the farthest either of her children had journeyed away from their territory and by far their longest journey. Being six months now the mother had decided it was time for them to meet the pack she had the pleasure of calling their allies. Both pups had grown immensely since their birth, in fact they looked to be leggy yearlings at this point, Noble was even taller than Minka herself.

Finally though they had reached the boughs of the Cedarwood Forest which was their destination. Turning to smile at her pups she gave them a serious look, now was the time if any for them to behave properly. Moving forward with renewed energy she followed the markers which led to Cut Rock River's borders, the grass dead and crisp beneath her paws. Reaching the scent markers the fae paused, licking her lips in anticipation of seeing her friend once more before raising her muzzle to the sky. The call was joyous, spoke of visitation and good will, calling for both her friend and his [/ooc]children, it was time they met their friends of the north.

click!

Tiny PP of Minka answering Kova's tree questions. Is okay?

Kova loped comfortably just beside his mother. Excitement had fueled him when they first departed for Cut Rock River, but now that they were long into the journey; Kova was a little tired. He didn't have his usual bouncing enthusiasm. However, the child did still have plenty of questions to rattle off from his head. "What's the pack called mom?" The first question had been asked way back when they had fist set out from their borders to meet with Maksim and his family. "Does Karina live in this other pack?" The next question had been near the middle of their journey as the little group traveled southward into the forest. When they did get to the forest Kova was pretty distracted by the trees, plants, and animals around them. He asked about the kinds of trees and was given prompt answers by Minka. The young male learned about cedar, maple, hemlock, hawthorn, and oak trees as the child pointed out each and asked for their names. He also learned about woodpeckers which never visited their fields because the sharp billed birds needed the big tall trees for food and shelter. Then suddenly they were at a place that smelled heavily of wolf. Kova sniffed at the border and felt his head race as he noted the many scents of multiple wolves. It reminded him of the borders his mother and father had up in Black Thorn Downs territory. "Is this... Their border?" Another question left the young platinum males lips as he looked up from the earth and stared off into Cut Rock River wolf territory. Then the pup began to walk forward across the smelly line of wolf scent. He wanted to see their territory!

SalsolaStock @DA, Eirian-stock & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

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(This post was last modified: Dec 08, 2014, 03:30 PM by Kova.)

A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity

Noble had shared the same excitement as her brother at the beginning.

An adventure! Going outside the borders! Meeting their allies! It all sounded thrilling and just like the adventure the dark girl had been spoiling for. Even without having a full grasp of the meaning of an ally -and consequently, an enemy, she was wild to go.

But that excitement had long since faded away. This was boring. This wasn't an adventure, this was just walking. Long limbs didn't count for much if she couldn't figure out how to coordinate them properly. And she'd gotten tired of crashing after every unfamiliar sound and scent. Although she'd never admit any of this aloud; Kova seemed to have no such complaints. Noble listened to his questions, ears flicking idly. Her boredom worsening as the plant lesson continued. If she couldn't chase or eat it, Noble wasn't very interested. At the mention of woodpecker she stopped in her tracks to appraise it. It was very high, and anyways, Noble had already learned that birds were very unpredictable. As they continued on, Noble gave up on the woodpecker and scrambled ahead on her stilt-like legs to catch up with her mother and brother.

Finally, something began happening. On the journey had been the occasional scent of wolf, either one of their unfriendly Woodlands neighbors or a loner. This this was different and Noble knew instantly this must be the destination. Maybe this would be and adventure, of a different variety. This felt almost a little dangerous. It was unusual for wolves to visit other pack and Noble's heart began to beat a little faster. The black girl trotted up to Minka as they crossed the border. "Mom, what are their names again?"

Edit: (@Maksim) - note to self: tagging doesn't work so well when the bg of your table is the same color as the pack names -.-

He had been chasing a bird, big and plum despite the late season, yet surprisingly light and quick on its wings. What kind of bird it was, Orren didn't care much about, it was alive and moving; And possibly tasty! Hunting was still mostly a mystery to the young boy, sure he had learned about the basics, but he was far from taking down true prey; unless he caught this bird! Crouching low, copper tipped ears the only thing poking out from behind the shrubbery that made his camouflage, the young Baranski crept closer, holding his breath. Just as he was about to pounce though, a high pitched howl rang out over The Cedarwood. The boy stood up straight, frozen in place for a second, while his prey flew off, alarmed by his sudden movement; Oh DRAT! He made a desperate leap, but it was way too late and his paws landed on only pine needles. A small snarl left him in disappointment, but it was soon to be forgotten, because the very call that had scared of his bird, had come from rather close by, and it had asked for him. Well, not personally, but the invitation had been clear enough, Maksim and his family; That means me! Orren quickly made his way through the woods, slowing only as he neared to borders, orange eyes wide as he looked for the visitor. As soon as he caught sight of the group, he dove swiftly behind the nearest bush, panting slightly. There were three of them, one adult and two who looked to be around his own age; who were they? And what were they doing here?! Studying them from his hiding place, the copper coated lad wondered what might have brought these visitors here, and when someone would come to greet them. That was until he saw the grey pup step over the back borders - Orren knew very well where they were, having traced them around the land several times, still nod daring to cross them once more out of fear for his mothers rage - and he knew even better that strangers were not to cross them without specific permission from the alpha. Jumping out from his hiding, the young male shouted in indignation, glaring at the blue eyed pup; "Hey, you can't do that!" Then he remembered the adult and turned to face her, feeling his tail creep down along his leg; "I... uhm... it..." Not knowing what to say, he simply stared at the woman, hoping someone else would show up soon, feeling his heart thumping in his chest. Word count: 434 Thoughts ”Speech”

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

(This post was last modified: Nov 23, 2014, 12:36 AM by Orren.)

PLOT WITH ME!

@Minka @Kova @Noble @Orren @Karina Slap me for taking so long to get to this! ><

Maksim had not been expecting a visitor today, much less from Minka. The woman had come to the River wolves, seeking rest before setting off to find their new territory, and had not been spied since. He was glad to know that she was well, though he wondered briefly what the reason for her visit was. Did she have news? Or was it a simple, friendly meeting?

He stood from his favourite resting spot, tucked between the awry roots of a towering oak. Stretching out, he yawned and shook the sleep from his system. Nudging his children, who seemed to have attempted to take a nap themselves, the agouti regal smiled. He almost didn't wish to wake them. "Come, now," he mumbled to Aleksei and@Karina, despite his desire to leave them to slumber softly, "we have visitors." Turning away from them with the hopes that they would rise up and follow their father, Maksim began to travel through his kingdom to his doorstep that Minka now stood on.

It didn't take long for the king to arrive, spying his middle son leaping out to scold who he presumed to be Minka. He chuckled, a rumble in his chest. He had not expected to see Orren playing guardian! It was then he spied the gangly pup at his friend's side, and the silvery lad who was on the receiving end of his own son's bark. Minka's children. Of course, he should have known! "Easy, son. These wolves are friends to Cut Rock River." Drawing up beside Orren, Maksim offered the boy a gentle nudge of love. His vibrant gaze drifted to the mother at his border with a smile. "Minka. It is good to see you, and your children. I hope all is well with you and your followers?"

Aleksei and Karina hardly left their father’s side now that he was up and moving around. For Karina, her father’s injury had been a firm lesson about mortality: if a wolf a as strong as her father could get hurt, anyone could. The realization had weakened her already very limited supply of wanderlust, turning her into a Velcro-pup when it came to Maksim. Aleksei also seemed happy to stick by the side of his father and sister, though likely for different reasons. Aleksei was a protector, a rescuer.. the perfect match for Karina’s constant victim-in-distress state. Perhaps he now saw his father as someone to protect too, and not just to worship and emulate. You have to protect the things you care about, Karina reminded herself, thinking about the stores of sweet-smelling plants she had buried all around Cut Rock River.

Her father mentioned visitors, and a dubious look—an expression of hers that her family knew well—formed on Karina’s features. She hated strangers. She had everyone she could ever want or need here in Cut Rock River; she didn’t understand why she had to keep meeting new scary people. Maksim did not allow any room for argument. In fact, he was already gone by the time Karina thought to open her mouth to say something. She cocked her head at Aleksei, her usual nonverbal signal to him that said, ”I’ll do it if you will.” With Aleksei and her father to protect her, what could really be so scary?

All of Karina’s fears vanished when she caught a scent of the “strangers” at the border. ”Kova!” she said excitedly to Aleksei. Proud of her little misadventure beyond the border, she had already told her oldest brother all about the young prince she had met from Black Thorn Downs. Kova and Aleksei would like each other a lot, Karina just knew. Dad was in the middle of telling off Orren, who had gotten there first and seemed to be acting a little mean toward Karina’s friend. ”Hey, stop it! That’s my friend!” she said to Orren indignantly, drawing up next to their father. ”I invited them. They’re here to see me.” Not used to being the one to defend someone else, the blue-eyed girl glanced over her shoulder for Aleksei. While she and Aleksei fit perfectly together as victim and rescuer, their third brother often felt like something of an outsider.

The adults had already started their boring adult talk. Losing interest in Maksim and Minka’s conversation immediately, she looked to Kova and smiled shyly. ”Hi.” she told him, unsure of what else to say until she noticed a darker pup behind him. ”Noble?” she said almost incredulously. The idea of another girl pup to play with had almost seemed too good to be true. ”Did Kova tell you about me? He said we could be friends...” Usually Karina wasn’t so forward with strangers, but Noble was already a friend. She just didn’t know it yet.

Her tentative state of mind was further reinforced by Orren's appearance. Black ears flicked back at his objection, feeling her back push further into Minka's side. His confidence seemed to wane and Noble continued forward with her mother, only daring to give Orren a cautious look as she passed. Certainly her mother had the right place but her dark daughter was suddenly unsure about the whole thing.

Maksim's timing could not have been more perfect. She offered a submissive tail wag to him. The alpha came in, encouraging and reassuring the visitors. He seemed to be in charge and when he reeled in his son in Noble decided it was in her best interest to stay on his good side.

Another wolf arrived and Noble turned warily to observe. Her dark head lifted in curiosity as Karina greeted Kova by name and then proceeded to berate her brother. Noble watched the interaction silently, pleased to see the boy put in his place if not confident enough to express her approval. There was a more relaxed stance as her attention turned back to the adults. They were speaking to each other now, but Noble was uncertain if she should just leave with the children, if it was okay.

Her own name wasn't expected. The other pup was looking directly at her now, and Noble's ears rose in puzzled confirmation. Dark gold flicked to Kova at her question. She couldn't remember, had he? Thankfully she wasn't required to answer, another query had been leveled at her. It was posed in such a tentative manner and sounded so hopeful that Noble couldn't help it. As the statement trailed away the dark girl took a spontaneous step toward Karina. "Sure!" She spared a single glance behind her towards Minka as she began edging away to join the other youngsters.

"Noooo-uh." The growing lad groaned in protest at his father's nudge, the familiar deep voice rousing him from his half-sleeping state. Desperately, Aleksei tried to roll over into Karina, to bury his face in her fur like he was a wriggling newborn in the birthing den again. Yet his sister stirred and the eldest sibling gave a sigh of defeat. Time to rise and shine, he supposed. As one peridot eye cracked open, the eldest Baranski child, who was quite nicely growing into his adult markings, watched his father take off with the expectation and knowledge to know that his children would follow. And he wasn't wrong.

The River prince stretched as he rose to his 'full' height, shaking his pelt lazily in an attempt to dislodge any forest floor debris that clung to him half-heartedly. He wasn't an overly clean boy, quite far from him. In fact, he loathed baths. Both Orren and himself were still in that adolescent stage of enjoying romping in anything dirty. It wasn't that long ago, whilst in the middle of a good dust roll, that he had 'accidentally' wound up in a little gift left behind by a fox. His mother, @Kisla, had been less than impressed with the result. No doubt, he would grow out of his love for mud and unmentionables with the years.

Eyeing his sister, who had just shot the eldest brother a tilt of the head, Aleksei smiled warmly, poking her with his coal black nose in a wolfish kiss. Of course he'd come, did she really think she even had to wonder? Trotting along beside her, not far behind their father, the boy yawned in a last ditch attempt to get rid of the cobwebs in his head. It was when Karina gave an excited cry did Alek really wake up, verdant eyes wide as he blinked. Kova? The kid she had told him about? It was then that the little princess began to hurry along, and her brother and guardian was quick to take off after her.

He wasn't surprised by what the two arrived to see. Orren being scolded, as per usual. Standing beside his sister, he grinned at her, playfully. "You invited them?" His tail wagged. Perhaps Karina was finally coming out of her shell just a little bit? He looked to Kova, or at least the one he presumed to be, and dropped down into a playful bow, rump in the air. Any friend of his sister's was alright in the prince's book! "You must be Kova? Rina told me about you. I'm Aleksei!"

@Aleksei feel free to start the little play fight or start a game of some kind. :D

Things happened a bit quickly after kova had padded over the border and sniffed around the plants on Cut Rock River land. The first thing that happened was when another boy around his age barked at him. Kova had yanked his head up in attention before curiosity switched into his previously surprised gaze. Not at all afraid of the other prince, the silver lad eye balled him just as much as Orren tried to stare him down. Kova was about to shoot of a retort of some kind when the imposing figure of another wolf coming out of Cut Rock River territory caught his curious blue eyes. Feeling a little more nervous of this big man, Kova stepped back a few paces to stand just to the right of his mother. The silver princes ears lay low along with his head and tail. He'd not seen a wolf this big before. Both of his parents were medium sized wolves, but this guy; he was just massive. Yet, when the friendly words spilled from Maksim's mouth, Kova grinned as his confidence shot right up once again. Both his head and tail returned to their natural comfortable places before Kova stepped forward to investigate the huge man called Maksim. The Downs prince's nose stuck out ahead of him as he scented Maksim from the great man's rear end. It wasn't until Karina's voice spoke up that Kova wheeled around with a big grin and a wagging tail to greet her. "Hi Karina!" He wiggled his back end a little feeling rather excited now. However that excitement and want to play was dashed when Karina lost interest in him and veered right over to Noble. His blue orbs caught the form of another young male around his age. This one, unlike Orren, was not so rusty orange in color. However, unlike Orren's somewhat bad first impression Kova was glad to see friendliness coming off Karina's brother in waves. That prompted a small dip of his head in hello before his eyes went back to the girls. Kova was more than a little dejected by Karina's dismissal of him; so he padded a little closer to the girls to listen for a moment. He saw his sisters gaze flick a little uneasily towards him. He gave her a sheepish grin then listened as Noble answered Karina. Another pup, the male who had come along with Karina, gave him a play bow and introduced himself as Aleksei. Kova brightened immediately turning around to face the boy and look him over once more. He didn't know why, but even after just a simple greeting Kova felt completely at ease with this age mate. He returned the play bow with one of his own, smacking the ground with his forepaws in invitation to romp around. Kova was pretty sure now that the adults wouldn't mind the youngsters making friends.

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