Secluded Spring stressed out

@Jynx backdated to before this thread

Sometimes XIX felt as though he was the only member of Cut Rock who didn’t mind the unexpected (and long) relocation to their new home. Although he had been terrified of the outside world during his time on the Reserve and for the first few months after his departure, Lachesis had grown accustom to the ‘feral’ lifestyle that he and Anastasia had adopted. Despite his desire to roam and indulge in his loner tendencies, the alabaster healer was fiercely loyal to the green-eyed leader who had given the formerly skittish (and embarrassingly awkward) boy a chance. Under Maksim’s leadership, and the help of a few important females in his life, Lachesis had flourished.

During their travels, the slender ghost often found himself falling away from the group. He would always make sure that they were within sprinting distance, as getting separated from them was Nineteen’s biggest fear. The River wolves were his family; losing them would be similar to losing Anastasia, and that was not something that XIX could go through again.

Although he knew that their relocation had not been planned, Lachesis was trying to embrace it as much as possible. This was an excellent opportunity for him and the other healers to find more plants to add to their inventory. It also allowed him to teach Karina on-the-go and spend more time with his apprentice. With Kisla being due any day now the pear-eyed ghost wanted the river princess to be prepared. Last year it had been Lachesis who had prepared and delivered the appropriate herbs to the mother in order to receive the rank of Healer. Now, it would be Karina’s turn to show her parents how far she has come along with her lessons.

The deer-legged boy had ventured toward a vaguely familiar place in hopes of finding some herbs that preferred the abundance of water. He had left his bundle of plants he had brought from his infirmary with Amisun and Karina so that he could collect as much as possible without being gone for too long. Although the three wolves worked closely together most of the time, the two females were respectful of Lachesis’ space. Allowing his paws to get wet, he stepped carefully at the edge of the spring, his pear gaze searching for something useful.

stick with those who stick with you

Still waters run deep

For the first time since belonging to Cut Rock River, Jynx was now travelling outside of familiar territory. Into lands unknown, lands of which she had never considered exploring before. There was no choice though. The tightly knit pack had been forced from their home turf, under threat from all sides. They could not afford to stay there, not with the Alphas about to welcome a new generation. While the flame coated female had grown fond of the Cedar Wood forest, the hard fact was that the entire region surrounding it was far too crowded. Even upon their very doorstep, the traitorous Rook Lyall had dared to lay claim. Competition for the best hunting grounds would only increase, and with the bad blood between them, confrontations were inevitable. At the beginning of their journey, the young woman had tried to remain positive and optimistic, not just for herself, but for the others as well. She looked at this transition as not just a chance to put the past behind them, but also as a chance to expand her knowledge of the land. She had missed travelling, investigating the unknown, as she was often forced to do in her days as a lone wolf. Moving with the whole of the pack, she was eager to interact with her fellow wolves along the way. All but one, that is.

She had made a distinct point to stay as far away from Karpos as possible. She avoided conversation, remaining tight lipped, and whenever he got too close for her liking, she sent him away with a set of bared teeth. Her friend likely did not have a very good idea, if any, of why she was giving him such a cold shoulder. But he was a grown wolf...he should be smart enough to use his brain and figure it out for himself. That afternoon, she had strayed away from the main group. She was not in a social mood. As the days had ticked by, her upbeat spirit had drifted away, replaced by that nagging memory of the suspicious scent she had picked up on Karpos, after his return some time ago. It pulled her down, soured her mood. She needed time to think, but even better, some answers would be nice. However, if she had any hope of getting an explanation from the male directly, it would have to wait. No one needed the fiercely tempered female exploding in the midst of an arduous journey, when finding a suitable new home was their priority. 

She trudged along, not really paying any mind to where she was going. There was no need for her to worry though, since she knew that the rest of the pack was not too far off. If anything happened, she would be able to rejoin them in just a matter of minutes. She walked slowly, head down, bright yellow eyes trained on the grass and mud at her feet. Any observer would be able to tell just by her body language, that she was not happy. Following the scent of water, she inched closer to the spring, all but ignoring the obvious scent of Lachesis somewhere nearby. A quick drink to re-hydrate herself would keep her energy up for several more hours at least. She wasn't hungry, nor in the mood to hunt down even a small snack. Pausing at the waters edge, she was met with her own reflection. A perfectly proportioned, youthful face of russets, grays and creams, paired with sunshine colored eyes. Her muzzle free of any imperfections or scars. She clenched her jaw, then looked away harshly while swatting a paw at the waters surface to shatter the mirror like image before her. What was wrong with her? Had she just been a fool all this time, opening up far too quickly? She didn't know what to think, and now she was questioning everything. 

(This post was last modified: May 28, 2015, 02:00 AM by Jynx.)

There is a rabbit\'s nest nearby. +1 Health

sorry for the wait :(

As much as Lachesis enjoyed being around his packmates and travelling with them, he was also thankful for the little time he had alone. Occasionally the search for herbs he was accompanied by his fellow healers, as it was important to keep up Karina’s lessons even while they were on the move, but they respected his choice to venture off alone when he felt as though it was needed. Although his paws grew tired from the constant movement, the dull ache comforted the slender male. It reminded him of his time spent exploring Relic Lore with Ana at his side, and the time he spent putting the Reserve as far behind him as possible.

So much had changed since his unintentional and reluctant departure. He had been forced to leave by his brother after their other brother had bailed out. Leaving had never been a thought on XIX’s mind during his life on the Reserve; while things were routine and almost too comfortable, he had been surrounded by his family and never questioned what life was like outside the fence. Despite being utterly terrified when he had first entered the ‘feral’ world, Lachesis had grown to enjoy his newfound freedom and had come to realize how “cushy” his old life had been. There had been no thrill, no excitement; there was always food and they were always safe. Outside the fence there was no predictability – the wolves acted on their own accord and to find food one actually had to look for it, and then hunt it. There was always the possibility of going hungry or not being able to find shelter. And, although it had been a horrifying thought at first, once he grew accustom to the feral world the unpredictability excited the alabaster male. It had taken him a little over a year to get over his anxious behaviour and fully adapt to the world that had been so feared on to Reserve, and now Nineteen could never imagine returning home. He still missed his sister dearly, as she had always been a positive influence in his life – along with his mother – but he could not risk departing to rescue her. He was needed here. He had a multiple roles within the pack and had important relationships with many of the River wolves… he couldn’t disappear… he could not do that to the pack.

As he sniffed around the edge of the water, a familiar scent wafted into the area. It seemed another River wolf was seeking solitude away from the rest of the pack. At first, he continued about his search for plants, his pear gazed focused on the edge of the water for something to grab his attention. As much as Lachesis was a pack wolf, his loner tendencies would always be a part of him – something that the healer never thought would happen to him. After finally locating some skunkbush, he grabbed half of what was available (as it was important to share with other healers) before seeking out the obviously troubled Jynx. Once her russet-coloured figure came into sight, Lachesis mumbled a greeting around the herbs: “Wha’s botherin’ you?”

stick with those who stick with you