Larkcall Lowlands haunted to be wanted

Subterritory discovery!  Welcome to anyone.  In the southeast area of the lowlands, Kjors has found one of the watering holes.  This is a kettle lake, carved out by a glacier previously.  A permanent watering hole, it is almost completely round, save for a miniature cove on one side.  It is about 1.5 km in diameter, and about 30 feet deep at its lowest point.  Tundra grasses line all the way to the lakeside, and not far are waves of fireweed.  It is populated by some shiners, deposited by some foolish birds, and while there are a handful of sunfish as well, it's hard to make a meal out of them.  It is much more heavily populated by frogs and other amphibians.  You can find the image here.

The mien about Kjors had changed in the days following his unsuccessful rank challenge – it was a horribly stupid thing to do, he realized in retrospect.  He'd been propped up by fortune when he'd taken to tooth and claw the first time, and was defeated by his own ego and the forces of nature conspiring against him.  It was not actual need or reason that inspired him to challenge Karpos and improve his standing amongst the group, but the loss of the false sense of security, fueled by his burning desire to reestablish himself and his fighting prowess.  And to who?  The only one who'd witnessed his failure was Naia – the female had suffered an equally embarrassing defeat and was not likely to bring it up in the company of their pack. It was foolish, trying to sooth his own, wounded pride, driven by the dragon's thirst, and what did it leave him with?  Healing scars across his face and his Mother's ire.  While he'd certainly not apologize to the younger wolf, the one-eyed wonder made a point to steer clear of him.  When possible, he would hunt, and all other times he sought only the company of himself.  Usually, he would sulk in the den he'd carved out for himself near Zephyr Rill.  Boredom would urge him on soon, aided by the restlessness of the dragon's wings – healed enough to walk without a limp, he would comply, slipping out of Hearthwood River's boundaries for the space he could not seek when amongst his packmates. Packmates, he thought with disgust.   Joining any group, under the rule of any male, was a stupid decision.  Ears flattened against his skull as the male walked onwards – perhaps he'd be gone for days.  Perhaps he wouldn't return.  What ever would be the point, the dragon asked him bitterly, but the wolf already knew the answer. Karina. He could not leave his treasure there.  Take a day or two for himself, get his wits back together, and then he would go consult with his princess on the matters at hand. The male's line of thought was broken when he realized he'd come across a watering hole – practically littered with ducks and geese, he might have made a hunting attempt if he were in better health.  Instead, he sought only to slither forth, dipping his head to quench his thirst.  As the cool water hit his palate, he offered a pleased sigh, staring down at his reflection.  A blessing.  A small one, but a blessing, all the same. "'s tha' you, Mother?"

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

Tagging @Karina so she's in the know~

(This post was last modified: Jul 05, 2015, 03:10 PM by Kjors.)

She shouldn't have been this far from home. However, the eastern lying lands were becoming all too familiar to her by now, and she was desperate to experience any newness she could find. This forced her to push the boundaries, wandering farther and farther from the shield of Oak Tree Bend with each 'scouting' trip she took. This time, Anneliese had traveled as far north as she dared.

When she had come upon the little resting pool, a glorious sapphire gem amongst an expanse of emerald grass, it was enough beauty to sit and soak in while contemplating returning home. She rest on her side on the crest of a nearby hill, looking down on the watering hole and watch the birds land and take off, usually followed by children just beginning to soar on their own.

Her paws ached dully, calloused paws well used to travel but she had certainly pushed herself this go around. The trip back would be long and tedious, and she wasn't very anxious to begin it. Instead, she remained still and let the wind pass over her blonde fur time and time again, beryl eyes narrowed to the sun. It was a perfect day, one that demanded to be enjoyed.

Eventually, her solitary peace was broken. As her eyes gazed down the hillside and watched the water's edge, they spied a dusty-coated male drawing up to the bank. He spoke, but she was unable to catch the meaning of his words. His scent was much easier to capture and analyze, and she swiftly came to realize that this man was a part of Maksim's pack.

She was hesitant, but talked herself into standing and trekking forward. Anneliese approached the other wolf with a small smile, amiable and open. Her eyes swept over him repeatedly, taking in everything they could about this stranger. Most fascinating was the empty hole where his yellow eye's pair should be; scars made for the best of stories.

"Hello," she greeted, halting as she came within just enough proximity to him to carry a conversation; but not a step closer. "Would you mind my company for a few moments?"

PLOT WITH ME!

Not th' Mother, after all. Just a wandering bitch – from where, he did not know. Uncharacteristically, he found he really could not bring himself to care. The wounds that took so much time to heal did not poison his flesh, but they did so contaminate his mind. But what sick wolf could look at his reflection and see such? While his ears flattened against his skull, the dragon made no further motion to threaten the female. Unlike himself, she looked the picture of health – perhaps more importantly, she all but dwarfed him in size. Not unlike Urotho, his mind whispered traitorously, and his ears rotated back another fraction. There was no need to give that woman even a fraction of his memories, but the badger invaded his thoughts all the same. Giving his pelt a shake, he forced the ghost back and remained where he stood, tail low and hackles flat. A third fight was not one he could afford – he doubted he could even best Karina or Orren in a state such as this. "lo," he finally acknowledged the other wolf, slowly drawing back from the watering hole. He'd had his fill – if she wished for a drink, he was not in the position to prevent her from having her turn. "Feel free. Jes' passin' through meself," Kjors sighed, allowing himself to relax his injured limb. If this went sour, he was at least close enough to Kingsfall that he felt he could escape. "Don' suppose y'got a name, lass? Y'smell like pack…though naw 'ny Ah know."

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

She watched his defensive and aching posturing with slight fascination in her beryl eyes. As always, her exterior exuded optimism and curiosity, while beneath the surface her practiced muscles rest perfectly poised in preparation for any violence this stranger might barrel at her with. She was doubting any sort of tussle, however, given the look of her company. While his dark fur hid any recent wounds from view, the stiffness of his movements suggested that he wasn't in the best of shape at the moment. More so was the air he carried about himself, cautious and fleeting; lacking the physical confidence she would anticipate from one who seemed to be favorably battle worn.

"Anneliese," she answered him in that amiable and golden tone of hers. "and you smell like Maksim and Naia."

She had run into the River scout, her former friend and pack mate, about two weeks ago, giving her knowledge of the pack's tactical move to Kingsfall and other general facts about the wellbeing of the Baranski clan. Still, she was curious. While she saw herself as a failure to the River pack, Anneliese still felt a strong tie to the wolves who were once her brothers and sisters in arms, and in a very loose sense, this counted the foreigner before her.

"What is your name? And may I ask about your life as a paladin of Hearthwood River?"

PLOT WITH ME!

The male's nose slowly drew back, and he swung in a wide shake. No – he did not belong to @Maksim and he most certainly did not belong to the River scout! While @Naia might have considered herself all high and mighty, she'd gotten into the exact same position he had while trying to suss out the Waterfall wolves. "Naw. I smell of th' Baranskis, Annaliese. Maksim, mebbe, but @Kisla certainly. An' her children, Ah suppose." It was not a position he'd ever expected to find himself in, working for the female alpha of all things. Wasn't it his father he'd loved so dearly? Wasn't it his own mother that had tried to poison him and remove him from Ered Luin. Kisla was no @Avari – there was no mistaking that. For now, for now, he was content enough to work towards the well-being of the Queen and her clan. "M'name is Kjors. Ah am surprised y'know the pack relocated – though if yer a friend a' Naia's…" Leave it to the argonaut to spill vital information such as that. As he understood it, the upheaval from Cedarwood Forest had been a necessity of safety, dictated by warring packs surrounding them. What asylum could they hope for, if the head scout shared that information with everyone who passed? The male sighed, but did not argue the point. It was damage done. "Bu' yes, Ah hunt, mainly. Teach th' yearlin's, when they need it. Naw much of 'nyone, Ah suppose. Wha' 'bout yerself? Where d'ya belong, lass? Naw 'round th' tundra here – Ah woulda noticed, Ah suspect."

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

Anna was surprised to see the man so fiercely opposed to the notion she presented, a simple observation that he carried the River pack's scent. And yet, as he spoke, it became a little clearer to her, though of course she couldn't know just how deeply woven the intricacies of the affair were. All she knew was that his opposition seemed to lie in an association with Naia, he seemed to think she suggested that the scout owned him, and she found that this encouraged a little innocent antagonization within her. Leaning forward, she theatrically wiggled her nose as she took a few more sniffs before confidently assuring,

"I definitely smell a little bit of Naia in there," with a wry smile. "Happily met, Kjors."

She wondered how long exactly the man had been with Maksim, and how tightly woven he truly was into it's fabric. Perhaps it was only the dismissal of her good friend, but Annelise found herself inclined to dismiss the importance of the wolf before her. Catching herself on this, she decidedly began to take the conversation a little more seriously, as should have to begin with.

"I used to serve under Maksim alongside Naia and the others," she informed him, her voice pleasant; he didn't need any clues as to how that term came to its end. "Now I am Triell's subordinate, and call the Spectral Woods home. For them, I rotate between scouting and enforcing the perimeter."

PLOT WITH ME!

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

"Yes, well, she's everywhere," Kjors grumbled unhappily, clearly displeased by the lead scout's seemingly constant presence. It wasn't as if she were a particularly bad wolf, nor was she poor at completing her assignments (for the man couldn't stand incompetence), but there was something truly grating about @Naia and her constant optimism. Perhaps even more troubling was her closely-knit relationship with Maksim, the alpha he'd yet to truly understand. There was danger in the unknown, and until he could cement himself in Kisla's service, her contempt would remain a threat to his general well-being.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the pale woman had previously worked with the scout and alpha both – no wonder she came to her defense, despite a different loyalty know. Idly, he did wonder what caused her to abandon what was once the Cut Rock River pack. Perhaps she had been in love with the alpha, spurned by his relationship with another female? Perhaps she hadn't been a capable subordinate, though that did little to explain her current standing. Perhaps Anna had been a traitor to the Baranskis – or perhaps she simply got the itch in her paws and moved on. All of it seemed perfectly likely to the one-eyed man, and he silently decided to be very careful with any further information he passed on to the Bend scout.

It go very poorly indeed if he put Karina or any of the other princesses in harm's way with a loose tongue. "Mhm. Much like Naia, then, Ah suppose. Yer Triell's girl, then?" he wondered, noting she did not put a name to a second wolf. While not all alphas took a mate (and not all alphas' mates were their equal counterpart among the hierarchy), he imagined there was still a lead female somewhere in the forest. "Curious, tha' Kisla never mentioned this group. Ah suppose, wi' yer old ties, th' Bend does naw consider the River wolves an issue then, mhm?" The male paused, brow furrowing as something suddenly occurred to him. "…y'know 'nything 'bout the Waterfall wolves? They settled somewhere between our groups, Ah do believe. Ran 'nto them once before, will scoutin'. Unfriendly lot."

The man before her continued to strike her more and more as odd, especially given the next question he put forth to her. Triell's girl? It was incredibly difficult for the woman to understand why he would think this a viable option, for her current pack was the first she'd known in which the king and queen were not mates. Even then, as she had understood things, Spieden had been forced to step up in Nayeli's absence. As far as Anna was concerned, the Coho woman was her queen, but the explanation for the lack of affections between her and Spieden were still understandable.

"No," she responded, only the mildest amounts of confusion allowed to enter her voice. "Our queen is Spieden, though she isn't his mate."

He had continued on about what his queen did and did not know, and Anna found that as curious as it might be to him, it didn't strike her as odd at all, and certainly didn't concern her. Whether or not Naia spoke to the River regents of her run in with Anna was unknown to the blonde woman, and honestly a part of her hoped that she had not. Not yet. But she wouldn't have brought herself to lie to this man, and from the sounds of him she knew that if a secret had been kept, it would now be dispelled. Would it even be important to the Baranski pair?"No," was again the answer to yet another of his questions. "your pack has nothing to worry about from us, we keep to ourselves."

He didn't need to know that @Spieden and @Triell were unaware of her past connections to the river pack, and f course, she didn't know that Kisla's maiden name was Tainn; hell, she didn't even know that Triell carried that particular surname. Their relation was completely beyond the scope of her knowledge, otherwise things would have been handle much differently by the blonde lass."We've only had interaction with the mountain packs in my time," she answered, not quite ready to give any more of the information that Des had entrusted to her but also aware that she would need to give some equal amount of vague knowledge back to the man before being able to ask her own questions.

"I've scented them, though, around the red ferns yes?"

PLOT WITH ME!

Ah, how strange! A pair of alphas, but not mates. Presumably, they were not related, either, or Annaliese would have mentioned it. He'd heard of such things before, but the swarthy male had never actually witnessed the strange practice in a functioning pack. The male wondered idly after the circumstances for a moment – was Triell's mate dead? Or perhaps the other had challenged up. Regardless, these were thoughts for another time, and the injured male shifted his weight uneasily before taking the information with a slow nod.

"Yes. Near th' red fern forest," he confirmed, exhaling sharply through his nose. That group, however large or small, stood between him and this pack…and vice versa, he supposed. Such rowdy neighbors could not bode well for the River wolves. "Careful 'bout them, though. Real aggressive. Got jumped from behind by one while talkin' t' another," he drawled, grimacing at the memory. It wasn't entirely true, but close enough – it was a boon that he gave the Oak Tree scout any sort of warning about the dangerous group at all, really.

This could go on, he supposed, but it was obvious to him that the female either did not have the knowledge to share, or simply did not wish to engage in the information trade. In either case, Kjors had neither the patience nor the stamina to play his usual games with the woman. He was tired, sore, his mind was dulled by the throb in his leg and constant surveillance now made necessary by his injuries. With a huff, he took another step back, and glanced in the general direction of his forest. "Ah best git movin'," he sighed, starting to turn in the other direction. "'less y'have 'nythin' else t' say?"