Riddle Heights living like we're renegades

So many things had happened in her short life, it was almost suffocating to try and process it all. @Aponi had risen to her rightful place at her father’s side – but what did this mean about Maeve’s mother? Where had she gone? And perhaps more pressing, why would her dam so willingly work beside @Phineas when before she’d shown no interest in being so much as friendly with the much older wolf? With a small, distressed whine, the pup began to putter through the pack grounds, searching for a quiet spot to digest her thoughts. There was always someone nearby, full of words, or something happening over a hill. The pack was swelling with numbers – a good thing, by anyone’s standards – but shy Kyna had minimal desire to socialize with her pack mates, much less those older and larger than she.

The princess’ quest for tranquility soon led her across the boundaries scented heavily by her parents and pack members. Here the young girl paused, swallowing around a lump in her throat as she stared down the foothill. This was where she was not allowed to go – her mother had made it clear that good puppies remain within the borders unless accompanied, and Kyna always followed the alpha’s instructions.

Today was different, however. Tentatively, the honey-spun pup took a step over the clearly marked lines. When she failed to immediately and spontaneously combust, the girl took another, and then a third – before she knew it, she was carefully trekking downhill towards the sparse tree line. There, among the scrub pines, she was able to find large roots. One tree had part of the earth washed out from underneath, leaving a natural burrow large enough for a cub to squeeze into. Satisfied with this discovery, Kyna made herself at home among the dried pine needles and closed her eyes.

Time to begin.

hope you don't mind weirdo Greer :)

The shadow was returning to the base of the mountain that had captured his attention many weeks ago. While he preferred the dense cover of tree branches as opposed to the open sky, the change in scenery was welcome. However, as a creature of the shadows, Greer recoiled as he left the safety of the tree line, his mercury-coloured gaze narrowing as he observed his surroundings. As much as the change was necessary, it was also unsettling to abandon the safety of the trees he had grown so accustom to. The shadow prince knew he couldn’t always hide under the cover of branches—especially if he wanted to continue exploring more of the Lore. With a sharp inhale, the long-legged shadow stepped away from the treeline and began his ascent up the side of the mountain.

He wasn’t really sure what he was looking for—he knew there was a pack that resided somewhere on the rock, but he wasn’t so sure he wanted to find them. It seemed as though the older he got, the more desperate he was to be alone. Perhaps there was somewhere on the base of the mountain that would offer him the solitude he so desperately craved.

Nails clicked softly against the stone surface as he continued his climb, his long legs maneuvering him slower than usual as he continued on his path to nowhere in particular. Greer wanted to enjoy the change rather than rush up the side of the mountain—he was in no hurry; he had no plans. All the shadow wanted to do was explore more of the land he called home… and avoid the company of others like the plague. While the shadow prince would prefer to live on his own he knew that it wasn’t possible—especially for a wolf so young; loners did not do so well on their own. He knew it was in his best interest to remain a part of a pack, or else he would have sought out the life of a loner much sooner.

The scent of the nearby pack was heavy in the air but Greer knew that the border was still a ways away. He was not keen on angering potential allies and would remain at a respectful distance from the borders as to not disturb the mountain wolves. Ceasing his movements, the shadow observed the forest he had left behind from his perch. Things looked so different from up high… no wonder these wolves preferred living at such great heights. Could he, too, live up here or was he forever burdened to live among the trees? The forest was safe and it was predictable; Greer did not know what to expect from the mountain. He had never been up here longer than half a day—would he be able to endure any longer than that?

With closed eyes and a steady mind, the Silent Moon princess was blissfully unaware of any other wolf in her general vicinity.  It had taken some time, and some focus, but finally Kyna was able to begin to order her thoughts.  The solitude was something she rarely found at home – it wasn’t as if she minded her mother’s presence, in fact, @Aponi was her favorite wolf to be around – but there were so many others living along the plateau that there was rarely a truly quiet moment.  The puppy had even started to doze off, blanketed by cool earth and shaded by large roots.  She might not have woken at all, had @Greer not begun to climb near her hiding spot.

A loose rock had tumbled from underneath his paws right into her secret den, eliciting a startled jump from the child.  Her honey blond crown whacked against the thick root and a wrung a pained whine from the child.  Ears flat out to the side, she reached up gingerly with one thick paw.  Already the skin was thumping and she wished dearly that she had her mother her to groom her soft fur and make it better.  But when she opened her sunset eyes, slowly fading from puppy blue to the Argyris orange, it was not a familiar packmate but the dark shadow of a wolf.

Kyna peeped softly, eyes growing as wide as dish plates as she quickly pulled her head back into the small dugout, pressing her soft body towards the back end of the burrow.  It offered little protection – if the other wolf came over to investigate, the honey-spun pup would be in plain sight.  Oh, how she wished she had listened to her mother!  Who would protect her from monsters now?

Not at all!  Thank you for joining!

(This post was last modified: Sep 19, 2015, 04:08 PM by Kyna.)

A wild dissertation appears!

With most of the attention being focused on the newest additions to the Archer-Lyall family it made it easier for Greer to disappear frequently and for long(er) periods of time. It wasn’t that he did not like being around his family; he just preferred to be on his own. The overwhelming desire to be alone was almost unbearable at times—social anxiety was a fickle creature—and Greer worried that it would eventually push him away from his family. The thought of no longer being close with his family made him just as uneasy as being surrounded by others did. Even though the smudge wanted to explore the Lore further, and potentially find a new place to call home, it did not mean that he wanted tension between himself and his family. They would always come first, regardless of where he was—the last thing he wanted was for them not to treat him like family…

The sound of movement notified the shadow prince of another in the area—but where? If they had not made themselves known yet perhaps they weren’t going to… maybe they were just making their way up (or down) the mountain like he was. Uninterested, the boy returned his attention back to the view as his mercury gaze searched through the forest below. The shift from coniferous trees to weeping willows signaled where his pack’s territory resided—his breath hitched at the sight; it looked so different from above. The beauty of the willows was still there, just minuscule.

Noise came from behind him once more, causing his slender maw to turn around abruptly. Whatever had been there before was still there and had not moved. Discomfort consumed him, instantly making him want to flee the scene. The creature making the noise did not seem to be as large as most of the wolves he (unwillingly) encountered. However, he still was not keen on the presence of another—he had escaped the willows in order to be alone, and this stranger was disturbing that. A grimace appeared on his thin lips as he gathered himself. He was unsure of what his plan was; all he knew was that he wanted to be away from whoever was disturbing him. It was at the moment that he noticed something ‘peeping’ from a crevice in the rock. It was something small and golden-tan… something that wasn’t rock or prey. Curiosity gobbled up his anxiety immediately, his silver pools narrowing sharply as he took a hesitant step forward. Was the creature lost, or hurt? Would he be to blame? With a defeated sigh, the boy offered a small, reluctant ‘woof’ in greeting in hopes of coaxing the creature out. If he was lucky, she would run away and the whole confrontation would be avoided.

Oh no. Oh, no! The shadow wolf was coming closer. Kyna muffled another startled squeak, trembling with terror as the swarthy male slowly made his way closer. She’d never seen a wolf with such a dark pelt – even her mother was more of a silvery color than a true black. What would he do if he found her? Would he want to scuffle? Would it be a donnybrook? What if he just picked her up and carried her away, never to see Silent Moon Plateau or her mother again? Her mind racing, the small girl was almost in tears by the time Greer approached and offered a soft woof. For a second time, the princess squeaked – not nearly as quiet as she was the initially, the puppy tried to peddle further backwards. It got her nowhere, rump bumping against the cool earth and the thick roots that had initially provided her comfort. She had no choice. She’d have to go out, or face being captured in her little hovel. Promising silently to her mother that she would never, ever break the rules again if only she got out of this alive, Kyna poked her little golden face out of her nature made den. Ears folded against her head, the puppy tried to make herself as small as possible, offering only the tiniest of glancing up at the older wolf. Dropping her sunrise eyes as soon as she glanced over the man’s face, she made another quiet noise, feet altogether as she hunched her shoulders. “H-hello,” she murmured softly, voice barely more than a whisper. “Is…this your tree?” KYNA ARGYRIS

A wild dissertation appears!

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

He debated on leaving his position outside the tree and allowing the girl to resume whatever it was she had been doing before he disrupted her. Greer was still keen one exploring more of the heights, and the confrontation with the little princess was just a small road block. It was also one that could easily have been avoided, but curiosity had gotten the better of him. With a small frown pressed to his lips, the shadow waited (patiently) for some sort of response from the hidden gem. After a loud squeak emitted from the depths of the tree-den, the tawny creature poked her little head from its entrance. Her greeting was cautious, the tone of her voice reminding him of his own when he was unwilling to converse. She was frightened, that much was obvious, so Greer doubted that she had similar traits to him. To her, he was just a big, scary stranger—it would have worried him if she hadn’t been afraid of him.

She questioned him about the ownership of the tree, to which he gave a quick shake of his head. “No, no,” he started with a flick of his tail, his mercury gaze focused on the small princess. “Not Greer’s. Your tree,” he added to reassure the girl as he offered an awkward half-smile in a feeble attempt to break the tension in the air. “Girl live here?” He asked, curious as to how far the resident pack was from their current position. The rocky terrain wasn’t ideal for the shadow prince, but it did not mean he wanted to learn more about the wolves who called this mountain home. Were they familiar with the Ridge wolves? Were they seen as allies, or foe? He doubted that the princess would know much about the history between their packs but it was a start.

“…m-my…my tree?” For a moment, the princess forgot her terror entirely, the idea striking her as something quite strange. She glanced around at the small little home carved from the earth by wind and rain – she’d only found it, not crafted it herself, but thought the cozy little nest to be quite comfortable. If allowed to keep the private spot as her own, a place to think and clear her head, the princess would be more than happy to label the nook as her spot. As her pale fire eyes turned back to the shadow, he was met with more curiosity than he was fear – perhaps there was even a hint of interest as the girl began to climb further out of her spot. This one was smart, she felt, and clever, and kind? He must be kind. He did not try to take her tree. No longer feeling the need for a barricade between herself and the older wolf, she pulled her entire body out from underneath the mess of roots, pausing for a moment to shake the dust from her honeyspun coat. “You’re…Greer?” she asked, thinking back to the strange way the boy had spoken a few moments ago. She’d never heard of a Greer before – it must be his name, she decided. Quickly remembering the lessons Aponi had pushed upon her not so long ago, she cleared her throat. “I’m K-K- I’m Kyna,” the princess introduced herself, determination flickering in her eye. She could do this. She had to do this. Far from the ridge, no one would be sweeping in to rescue her anytime soon, and how tragic would it be if she could never return home. And speaking of home, had he not asked if she lived here? Kyna shook her crown, casting a single, longing glace back at her comfortable nest. “Not here. I was hiding,” she admitted quietly, expression quickly becoming bashful. Obviously, it wasn’t much out of sight if the yearling had found her so easily. Perhaps if given more time, she could find a way to cloak it, so that no one else would ever know it even existed. But such a thought was for a later time. “Up there,” she explained, pointing her nose up the incline. “On the pla-- plat-- pla—toe?” she sounded out, face scrunching in confusion. “My parents-- They’re in charge.” KYNA AQUILA-ARGYRIS

A wild dissertation appears!

With a quick nod he responded to her first comment: “Yours,” he added to reassure her with a soft, unfamiliar smile creeping across his lips. Greer had no interest in the tree—he was also too big for it, whereas the russet princess was just the right size. It was almost as though it had been created just for her… it would be a perfect hideaway for when she needed it. As she climbed out from within its depths, the deer-legged yearling remained where he was. He did not want to make the princess uncomfortable by being the one to determine the distance between them. The shadow was merely here to observe the rocky terrain and perhaps gain a little knowledge about the mountain wolves; he did not want to stir up any trouble, especially with the mountain’s princess.

Another nod followed as she questioned him about his name; for being a secluded wolf, Greer spoke his name far too much. Despite his method of speaking annoying him most of the time, he did not try to change it. Sometimes he would be speak slower, to concentrate more on what he was saying, but it did not happen often. He had grown accustom to his broken speech and he did not care if others were not fond of it. “Yes, I Greer,” he answered softly, his silver gaze fixated on the tawny girl as she introduced herself, her quiet determination dripping off her tongue as she spoke. “And you Kyna. Pretty,” he commented absently, repeating the name so that he would remember it. Due to spending most of his time alone, and silent, Greer had become very observant and his memory was almost impeccable. However, he would only remember what he deemed was necessary—perhaps the girl’s name would come in handy in the future. “Greer live in forest. Down there,” he quipped, motioning with his maw to the sea of trees below. “Parents in charge too,” he added with a soft roll of his shoulders.

“Why Kyna hide?” He asked bluntly, his head cocked to one side as he observed her. Did she like life on the plateau, or was she just seeking some privacy like Greer frequently did? She had enticed the long shadow with her quiet and cautious demeanor; in a way, it reminded him of himself when he had been that age… but far more talkative. When he was her age Greer hardly said two words—to anyone—which was partly why his speech was so broken.

THERE IS A CASTLE ON A CLOUD

Were she not covered in delicate agouti hairs, Kyna might have flushed a brilliant crimson at the absent-minded comment. While her new companion might not have thought much about dropping such a word so casually, the little girl could not much remember receiving many compliments at all. Phineas simply wasn’t the type to bestow praise easily, and if she were honest with herself, Aponi really wasn’t that type, either. It came so easily from the shade, as if it really weren’t a big deal at all, and she ducked her head, trying to disguise the smile that begin to turn the corners of her lips. Oh, she didn’t want him to her rude – or worse, that she was so confident in herself she automatically thought herself worthy of such kind words.

(She knew he was gracious, she thought a bit victoriously. She had seen it in him, and this only let strength to her theory.)

Following the older wolf’s gaze, she peered down into the forest that seemed so very far away. Perhaps one day, when she was bigger, she would venture further that way. If Greer’s parents lived among those trees, the wolves there couldn’t be that bad, not if they’d raised a good wolf as her son. Before she could comment, ask about the leaves and plants, the older man had another question. Head jerking up, the girl’s ears flattened out and she huffed softly, the shame already welling up in her chest.

“I wanted quiet,” the pup admitted, staring back at her earth spun den for a moment. “There are lots of wolves. It’s very loud. I can’t think.” Bashfully, the princess lifted her head, studying the swarthy yearling with sunset eyes as she exhaled softly. Would he understand? A degree in alexithymia seemed common among her playmates, especially Wren. Licking her lips nervously, the little girl shook out her coat. “I like here. Nobody shouts or talks to loud, not in my castle on a cloud.” It was like a dream, and all a girl could ever ask for. After a moment, a spark of courage caught light, and she lifted her chin, finally watching Greer’s face.

“You’re quiet. And nice. You can come here too. If…if you want.”

A wild dissertation appears!