Willow Ridge neither one of you sees

Roughly two weeks after Piety's disappearance.

The boy was slowly beginning to accept that his mother was not coming back to him. His father's words did little to dissuade his own assumptions on the matter, as for once he was not taking every word the elder Archer said as absolute truth. No, not this time. Piety was still alive, she had to be, and she had chosen to leave them. As he looked back on the short-lived rest of his life, he saw himself as having been selfish and clingy. Sven had always wanted to keep her near, had taken up so much of her time to keep her stuck alone with him while his father had the freedom to go and do whatever he'd wanted. He'd also been difficult, rude and rambunctious at times, and certainly nothing like what she had hoped he would live up to, for he was nothing like the wolves she told him about in her stories.

No, Piety was not coming back, not until Sven became the son she deserved and had wanted.

It had taken a long time to get to this point, to embrace this pseudo truth and accept his onus in it all, but now he was ready for what must be done. Left alone once more by his father, a thing that now bothered him considerably though the shaded man would have none of Sven's clinginess, the boy decided that today was the day that he would begin down the road that would lead him to becoming the child Piety wanted him to be.The deeper he wandered through the tendrils of the Willow trees, the more lonely he began to feel as not a single soul existed around him to greet him. A whine slipped out of his muzzle, before his lips tightened into a thin line. Whining would not get Piety back. Neither would self-pity or negativity.

"Hello?" the boy called, hoping that if he couldn't find someone on his own, maybe he could lure them toward him. "Where is everybody?"

(This post was last modified: Aug 18, 2015, 04:09 AM by Sven.)

Niles was supposed to be listening. Actually, he was supposed to do a lot of things, the most important of all being that he was supposed to be listening to his father and paying attention to what Angier had to say about Willow Ridge's history and what was to be expected of him as he grew older. Really, all the little Archer-Lyall wanted to do was play... Being out here meant that his sisters would not be immediately nearby and that also meant that he would have to make his own fun. It had started out innocently with him leaping in and out of the willow's curtain-like branches, soon leaving him on his own adventure with his father prattling on about how Elettra had pretty much single-handedly established her pack. At this point he figured that he would revisit all those stories or, even better, pull them from his mother's own mouth.. or his aunt and uncle's... maybe... if he ever met them again.

As the cub began to stomp around and gambol about, it had never occurred to him that he would attract the attention of someone else who wasn't his mother, father, his sisters or older brothers, or even the heartening Kiki. "Hello?" a voice called out. "Where is everybody?" It made Niles stop in his tracks and prompted his large ears to cup forward. It sounded like a boy... like him! It was startling - both frightening and exciting at the same time. The fur at his neck and shoulders stood up on end before flattening as he tentatively stalked forward.

I'm here, he had wanted to answer. My dad's... over there... somewhere... but, I'm here. The words felt as though they became jumbled up in his throat, jammed at the back of his skull, and knotted up his tongue. He winced as he drew even closer, highly aware that he would probably meet this other cub at any given second if he kept placing one paw in front of the other. His sisters would probably have a field day if he told him about this.

Instinctively, he dove behind a curtain of willow branches, peering through and scampering from one tree to the other until he saw a flash of white fur. On first impression he had thought that he had seen Ravenna but logical reasoning brought him to the idea that his sister was too far away from the pack den to be here without a chaperone (something which was an absolute no-no). He braced himself from behind his 'screen,' then let his little tail wag upon actually verifying that the voice had indeed belonged to someone about his age. His head poked through the leaves and he let out an inquisitive yip, one that could have been translated to a simple, "Hello?!"

we can say goodbye, just head home, but if we're going to be alone
Chimera is currently traveling with Niles and may hop into this IC thread!

It was not typically like Ravenna to go wondering off on her own. She found herself in the middle ground with this, urged from her den-site with a willingness to see what her brother Niles was up to, though also wanting to keep company to her sister back at the den, where she could listen to @Isolde and her beautiful singing, which only strengthened as they aged. Ravenna loved to explore, though which she did she typically had a guard with her, someone large and powerful to make her feel more at ease, let her know she could and would wonder around without having to watch her back if any bullies came about. Mother had made it very clear that not every creature, even other wolves, out in the world were to be trusted. She listened to her mother very strictly and for the most parts her exploring was at her side (if not @Morganna), going along with her on her missions for herbs. Ravenna enjoyed the different intense smells, the textures, colors and all the odd things they could do which Ravenna honestly did not understand a lot of just yet.

Today, however, he devotion was placed on her brother. She had wondered where he was, wanted to be with him to play, for their was an itch in bones for a little rough housing. Though when Ravenna was finally able to catch up to him, the sound of another voice that was not at all his (nor anyone else she had heard before) startled her, sending the fur alone her back to stand on end and limbs to stiffen. Who was that?! Taking a few delicate steps closer, she could see Niles now, see where he was looking out to, though for the moment in her placement could not see the other boy which he was referring to. For the moment, the pale girl kept low, awaiting what might unfold.

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

I edited my first post to reflect the happenings with Piety, but Sven's actions and dialogue have remained the same.

For a moment he stood still, listening to his own words disappear as they curled through the wispy curtains around him. Any response, if one was to come at all, was far from instantaneous and this greatly disappointed him. As much as he was trying to be a good, mature cub, he was still just a child and impatience easily consumed him. The spectral boy began to move again, unwittingly passing through a wave of jade tendrils just as his age-mate uncle materialized onto his side of the fickle divider. The other boy caught a glimpse of Sven, but Skoll's son was oblivious to the other's presence as he continued to wade through the sea of leaves.

It wasn't until the other child mad himself known vocally that Sven was shocked into the knowledge that he was no longer alone. Spinning around, his grey eyes settled widened upon Nile's disembodied head. For a moment, the boy merely stared, amazed that someone his size truly existed. As the realization dawned and finalized itself within his mind, his tail began to slowly wag. For the first time since his mother's vanishing, he felt mildly happy. After all, this brought about endless possibilities for him!

Remembering to utilize his sense of smell, he realized that another being was still hidden behind the cascading foliage, a girl. If things had been normal for him, if @Piety had never left and brought this seemingly-permanent darkness into his life, Sven most likely would've initiated game. Circumstances as they were, however, he had not the spirit to think of such things himself. Instead, he opted for mannerly conversation.

"Hello. I'm Sven. Who're you guys?" the question was tentative, hoping that this third presence would make herself known and join them.

"Hello. I'm Sven." the other puppy greeted. "Who're you guys?" The plural in the latter sentence struck out at Niles, alerting his nose that his sister, Ravenna, was actually nearby. It could have been surprising, but something eventually told the little prince that she was bound to come around and try to tag along, even if Dad had told his girls that the little walk he had in mind was for "boys only." Niles' ears swiveled to and fro before returning forward as he stepped out from behind the veil-like willow branches. They seemed to be the same size; visually, though, the other boy looked like the sister that was lingering somewhere in their midst. It begged the question of whether or not he and his litter mates had another sibling. The pale puppy smelled nothing like him or his sisters though.

"Ro," Niles tried to say 'hello' back. It made him inwardly cringe - seeing as he was unsure if this other boy would be as accepting or as lenient as Isolde - and he refused to continue, knowing that he was not as practiced with his words as Sven. "I, Niles." he offered in a huff and a half-bark, waiting to see if his sister might come forward before making a face. He raised his right paw as if to timidly point at Sven before planting it back down on the ground. His head angled curiously to one side. "Rooo?" he asked. You lost?

He then stretched down in something like a play bow but his tail did not wag and he made a sound that was like a sneeze and a loud sniff. It was enough force to make Niles' ears to flop about atop his head. He panted with his tongue hanging over his bottom teeth. Not s'posed to be out here. Dad says.

we can say goodbye, just head home, but if we're going to be alone
Chimera is currently traveling with Niles and may hop into this IC thread!

For the time being, even as the other puppy introduced himself, Ravenna was content to sit in her placement, pale eyes of mixed silvery-blue hues turning away from her brother and finally finding the other child. He was pale, snow white and far lighter then even herself, who was molten in silvers and ashy tones. Her head lifts then with a certain power, a need to make herself seem far more grand then her little stance could allow. She was a princess, after all, and her brother's struggle with his words further made her puff. Isolde was the most shy and yet equally curious of the group it seemed, smaller and delicate. Though Niles was the largest of them (although Ravenna was not far off) he was that strong, silent type. There was a stirring in Ravenna even in her youth to always protect her kin.

It is now that she finds herself moving forward, both towards Niles and this 'Sven', though as she does so she arches more into her brother's direction. Head and body held high, she accesses the other pup, though her little whip-like tail waves eagerly behind her. She had remembered her mother mentioning another pup within the lands, a pup that was born by their older brother (who she or as far as she knew, none of her other siblings had met) though had not the pleasure of knowing him. This had to be the one! He was not Morganna's child, or Greer's, so it was hard really telling where he had come from..."Rav...enna." Her odd name slowly yet steadily creeps from her lips, which upturn in a small smile as she wriggles about closer to her brother, growling as his lower half falls and playfully tugs at his ear.

The other boy seemed to easily comprehend Sven's statement and eagerly spoke back... if that was what you could call it. The pale Archer could tell that he was being communicated with, that was easy enough with the other child's animated gestures and pointed gaze, but the rest was entirely lost on him. Never before had someone tried to 'speak' with him like this, lacking siblings and unable to recall his own intermittent babbling from his first attempts at talking. He hadn't lasted in that phase long anyways, embarrassed by his own inability. Overall, he lacked any kind of empathy that might help him infer Niles' intentions.

Taken aback by all this, Sven merely watched this other child with something akin to horror creeping its way upon his countenance. It wasn't until the girl pressed forth from behind the curtain of willow branches that his eyes were torn from the crooning boy to fix upon her with something of question in them. He noted her excessive fluff, and her little chin being held high, and when he understood exactly what she was doing he felt himself compelled to stand to his own full height and put his nose a little higher in the air, too. He wasn't entirely sure what these mirrored creatures were supposed to be, but he was an archer heir and would not be outdone.

Still, she seemed happy enough, and when finally intelligible syllables left her mouth, relief washed over him. Given that she was the one who could speak, the little girl suddenly held most of his attention.

"Rav Enna?" he repeated the name just as she had spoken it, before he was able to piece it together fully. "Ravenna," a moment's thought, and then, "That's kind of long." Kind of like Morganna. Was this his aunts baby? No, couldn't be. She was his aunt, not anyones mother!

"What're you guys doin' here?" he asked, before his paling eyes returned to Niles and he realized the boy wanted to play. Tentatively, Sven assumed the same posture. "Ya wanna wrestle?"

It didn't seem like the other boy understood him, leaving Niles suddenly uncomfortable in his own skin. He could have growled, angry and displeased with Sven for his own inability to communicate with him, but before he could do much else than stare in disgust, Ravenna was upon them. She didn't even have to touch him to make the fur about his nape and shoulders flatten. Just by being there with him was enough to soothe the anxiety that was starting to creep up along his limbs and into his underbelly.

"Rav...enna." she announced herself and Niles made a sound to acknowledge her and the pronunciation of her name. When the other kid, Sven, parroted her moniker back to her, the Archer-Lyall boy made a face, especially after he mentioned that her name was long. The expression was discarded soon enough, however, as the conversation moved along. By the looks of it, Sven seemed to want to play.

If Ravenna hadn't been around, he might have accepted the invitation, wanting to see for himself if the pale Archer was a likely playmate as his own sister. As it stood, he didn't want his siblings to be or feel misplaced. Niles withdrew his invitation to play and stood up straight. He hummed a note that clued his sister in on his judgement over Sven, seeming to be somewhere in-between judging their age-mate as trustworthy and outright casting him out. The fact was, most of the time, he sided with his sisters' decisions; the other part of the time, he didn't much like talking to anyone outside of his own family.

His head canted over to Ravenna with a sneer and a "Mrrrr." which could have been translated into something like, "I don't think I like him that much. Should we leave?" He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be with Angier. A grimace was cast in her direction, a silent look that could be assumed to say: "Should tell Mom and Dad about him, too."

we can say goodbye, just head home, but if we're going to be alone
Chimera is currently traveling with Niles and may hop into this IC thread!

He mimicked her, something which she could not find herself understanding. Usually Isolde never bothered to hold herself so high and when she did, it was a manner of play and so light and happy that it did not at all make Ravenna question. Whenever Niles felt a need to be 'boss', Ravenna was quick to give her brother a run for his money, winning many times, but failing just equally. Going head to head with her brother seemed all too natural, though the feeling of Sven doing the same left her uneasy. She felt the need to fight him, to knock him over as she did her brother and 'pin' him down from under her, though she held herself back in caution of the stranger. Surely, if he was any threat to her family, their parents, the Leaders, would do something about it. <Br><Br>
Just as Ravenna was about to comment that Willow Ridge belonged to her parents and she could go anywhere she pleased, Sven changed the subject, directing to Niles action of play which her brother quickly retorted. Ravenna's eyes searched, shifting from Sven to her brother, who's expression showed a feature that might suggest he was 'on the fence' about this one. Though Ravenna had no intention yet of cutting the party short, not until she at least knew something of this boy and more importantly, what he was made of. A small growl echoed from her mug then, a growl that would suggest she was not playing around and he needed to back off, though the smirk on her lips and the way she lowered her front half was contradicting. If her brother wasn't going to take this Sven for a spin, then she was.