Stonewatch Timbers Yesterday Is Nothing

Anyone welcome - Jessie is close by and might drop in too.

- Before noon, Sunny - 48 ° F/9 ° C

Though his trip along the Palisade had yielded nothing in the ways of a home, the run-in with @Kisla meant it hadn't been a total loss to the dark man. Still time continued to fly by and he was left feeling more pressed with each day. Set on continuing north, somewhat drawn by the tall hills which reminded him so of his childhood homeland, he was torn between heading out on his own, covering more ground, or staying with @Jessie. His scouting-mission had meant two nights spend apart from her, and while he had returned to find her in no worse shape than when he left, he didn't want to have to leave her again; I've become so fussy..! But he couldn't help it, she was his everything now, more than that even, carrying his pups! If she was hurt in any way, he would be utterly destroyed. His fears might be irrational, she was more than capable of caring for herself – she'd reminded him so several times already – but he couldn't help his fretting, all his dreams for a new life were clinging to her, literally. And in the back of his mind, a dark voice reminded him that Silver had died because he let her out of his sight.

So they'd settled on moving slower but sticking together, trailing up along the foothills of the mountains, into the northern Timbers. After so many days in the open fields, Drestig felt oddly claustrophobic, surrounded by the towering trees on the tall hills. To ease their travels, they mostly stuck to the valleys, following small waterways between the mounts. It saved both time and energy, not constantly climbing and dissenting the slopes, both things they couldn't afford wasting. But it made him feel blind, stuck in the dim depths like this, a feeling no doubt shared by his once-scout companion. At least there was some shade down here; The days had been growing steadily warmer over the past week, the last traces of snow having melted away. It seemed a turning point had finally been reached in the seasons; Though I'm not sure that's a good thing..! Just another thing to add to the stress, a physical prove of the passing time. Jessie seemed untroubled by her circumstances so far, though Drestig was careful to remind her not to exert herself – yet another reason for her to get fed up with him – But it wouldn't last, she would start to show eventually, get heavy and tired… He wanted so badly to have a home for her by then, a den to keep her and the babies safe and warm; Which means I have to LOOK!

It was this line of thought that had brought him to abandon his partner by a shaded bend of the creek, to scale one of the hills in the hopes of getting an idea of their surroundings. He was anxious to get back down as quickly as possible, and so pressed himself to jog despite the steep incline. It wasn't a big deal, he'd spend the first three years of his life traversing mountains like these, in fact it seemed his legs had missed it. He couldn't keep up speed all the way to the top though, after two months on their own and on the move, the fatigue was evident in his body; Yet another reason to settle down...! He rounded the crest of the hill, stopping to catch his breath before raising his eyes to the surroundings, huffing in surprise at the view.

Word count: 590

"Speech" Thoughts

A far ramble, Kjors thought to himself, but perhaps needed.  He needed space, space to think, space he could not find within the confines of Hearthwood River.  The world was in turmoil, his world was in turmoil, and without a word, the dragon slipped from his den and headed west, in search of open plains and a good meal.  Thoughts of a meal were soon forgotten as he continued across the lowlands, remembering well the pack headed by Gent and his new queen.  Never one to let well enough alone, he continued to move towards the site of Round Stone Crest, surprised to find all evidence of the pack almost nonexistence.  Only the faintest hints a group had ever lived here still existed.

Fascinating.

Tucking that little nugget away, Kjors had half a mind to investigate where they might have gone – instead he came upon a stranger, of similar size, shape, even age, and—

Aaaah.  He knew this stranger.  Shaking out his coat, he announced himself to the woodland wolf with a short bark, tail hung straight behind as he loped over easily.  “Yer far from home,” he greeted Drestig, single brow raised as he drew to a halt a few lengths away.  “If yer lookin’ fer Gent, think th’ entire place is up an’ gone.”

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

Through an opening in the trees, Drestig could see far across the tops of surrounding hills, into a distance where the forest slowly gave way for an open landscape, slopes flattening into wide plains, appearing to glow in the midday sun. It was a breathtaking sight, something about it making his heart speed up, eyes wide and glistening bright as fire. But the moment was brutally interrupted by a sudden call, sending a small jolt through the graying man as he swiveled to face the caller. A wiry, dark form was approaching through the trees, his one eyed face easily recognizable. Shaking off his shock, Drestig struck up a smile, flicking his ears back briefly in a show of embarrassment, then forwards once more. He eyed the bistre man for a moment, considering his answer, before drawling: "Depends on where that home is. Right now all I have is right here." A shrug followed the statement, a perfect picture of indifference. He didn't have the energy to lie, nor did he see any reason, having already informed Kisla of his departure from Oak Tree Bend. As it was, the truth seemed good enough, and that was indeed that he was homeless, or as good as, travelling with everything he had left; He glanced briefly over one shoulder, down the hillside to where Jessie was waiting. All I have!

Attention snapping back to the opposing wolf, Drestig shook his head lightly, signaling that he had no idea what he was talking about. The name was not unfamiliar though, and after another moments thought he mused: "No, I'm not looking for anyone. Though I did meet a Gent down in the Fields a while back." He shrugged, wondering if perhaps his dark opposer had been looking for Gent and his pack, but not really caring either way. While his meeting with the dark alpha, and his less than friendly acquaintance, had been an interesting one, the Avalon's mind was currently fully occupied with his search. Once he'd found a place to settle, making sure that Jessie and their children would be safe, then he could worry about allies and friends.

Taking a deep breath, his nose filled with the other's scent, and he couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "You on the other hand have come quite a ways from the River!" He pointed out in a half-teasing tone, a smirk curving his lips. The mark of Kisla and her family was clear on the bistre man's pelt, especially as it was still fresh in Drestig's memory. It shouldn't be much of a surprise to meet the one eyed chap so far from his pack though, after all their first meeting had been all the way down in the red hills. It was always a joy to throw someone's words back in their face though; Especially THAT face!

Word count: 476

"Speech" Thoughts

(This post was last modified: Jun 10, 2016, 10:01 PM by Drestig. Edit Reason: removed knowledge of WFN location )

“Huh.  Fair ‘nough.”

Home was a relative word.  Home was back in Ered Luin where his father had reigned, where his father’s father reigned before him.  Home was the jagged coastline he’d made a home upon with Urotho, the wind whipping his pelt and the air tasting of salt.  Home, he thought, was very far away indeed.  Perhaps that was why he’d felt the need to run.

But Kjors did not allow himself to linger long in thought, tipping his head to one side as he tucked away the second morsel.  Gent, up and gone, from his home in the timbers to somewhere else near the Secluded Spring.  Good to know, the dragon hummed mentally, tail swishing slowly behind his hocks.  He had to doubt any other wolf was named Gent – and if there was, surely not in this expanse of forest.

“Suppose Ah am,” the advisor drawled in response, recognizing at once what the slyboots had done.  Home rang in his mind, the stark absence of the word evident.  He gave a toothy grin, twisting his head.  “Lookin’ fer space, Ah guess.  Things ‘re weird up in tha’ neck a’ th’ woods.  Needed t’ move.  Thought about stirrin’ some trouble, but-”  He raised one shoulder in a shrug.  Clearly, no such thing came to pass.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

There was something slick about him, that single, piercing eye and quick tongue. Drestig couldn't quite place it, but he would think twice before trusting him; Or crossing him for that matter..! Never the less, he was a member of Kisla's pack, and the aspiring leader wanted to stay on good terms with the River. So he kept on a good face, smiling and flicking an ear at the simple acceptance of his statement; At least he's not digging into it… It wasn't entirely unpleasant either, the bistre man was, interesting, and clearly good at playing the games of words that Drestig was so fond of. Surely there'd be no harm in playing along, he might even be able to glean some useful information from the other, before their conversation was over.

His reply to the same question he had given was similarly straight, and though he couldn't be sure, Drestig thought it sounded sincere. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly, nodding his head at the brown wolf; "Yeah, I get that." Pack life could be taxing sometimes, he remembered that especially from his earliest days in the Bend, when his paws were still itching to keep moving, free spirit feeling cornered by the sudden encirclement of hierarchy. Now of course he was seeking to build one of his own, though of course that would put him at the top, which was entirely more pleasing to think about. The graying man tilted his head a little, wondering what exactly weird meant, but decided not to ask, it seemed more cautious, seeing as Kjors hadn't inquired closer about his own situation; Maybe later… Instead he quirked a silvered brow, looking into that shining gold eye with a glimmer in his own embers; "Trouble can be quite soothing, though I don't know that there's much to stir up around here." He gave a gentle shrug, looking around like he didn't really care much, but there was a smirk on his face; Ain't too old for a bit of mischief!

Word count: 337

"Speech" Thoughts

“Naw,” Kjors agreed, glancing around the area.  It quiet amongst the timbers – tall, but not nearly as large as the Redwood trees he made his home amongst.  The sky still felt open here, the canopy not shielding the sun nor the earth from one another.  That another pack had lived here once was no mystery to him.

Drestig’s presence dragged his attention back from the world around them, and the one-eyed dragon met his amusement with half-grin of his own.  “Pack used t’ be here, an’ tha’ alpha was no friend a’ mine.  No friends a’ Hearthwood River either – bu’ trouble woulda been ill advised, Ah supposed, an’ the pack’s well an’ gone, as y’can see.” Shoulders rolled backwards in an easy shrug, his tail waving behind him in a slow wriggle.  There was no reason to view the other loner as a threat – and there was no reason to threaten the man, either.  It was strange, to come across someone he viewed as a relative equal, but there was something enjoyable about the transparency of the situation.

“Y’plannin’ t’ stay ‘round these parts?  Suppose Ah know a few things Ah might be willin’ t’ share.”  His smile was an easy one, the promise of trouble oddly lacking from his bright gold eye.  Kjors tail gave another wriggle. “Fer an exchange, naturally.  But a worldly man such as yerself understan’s th’ way things work, Ah reckon.”

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

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

@Kjors Soorryyy, Drestig muse has been really selective :/

No, trouble did not seem to be in their prospects today. Though, perhaps that was for the better, Kjors seemed to be quite an agreeable fellow, and a good conversation might be a much better use of energy. Drestig looked around as the other man spoke of a former pack, considering it for himself. He could certainly see the appeal, tall trees offering moderate cover, yet letting down enough life to grow a decent underbrush. No doubt prey was quite bountiful here. And the land reminded him of his childhood, though these hills weren't quite mountains; Yet something's missing… He couldn't say for sure, maybe it was simply the knowledge that someone else had lived here before, and chosen to abandonee it. He wanted a place that was their own.

The question brought him back to the present, ember eyes settling on the one-eyed across from him. A silvered ear twitched, smirk growing at how the query echoed his speculations. The offer of information was a welcome one though, it would be great not to go completely blind as they continued north. A brow quirked at the addendum, silent chuckle rising in his throat; Oho! A quid pro quo. Drestig nodded lightly, he understood how the world worked; Something for something. So he pursed his lips for a moment, musing: "I might be able to come up with a thing or two that would interest you. It was a long way up here from Spectral Woods after all, ran in to quite a few wolves…" He tilted his head, looking evenly at the other for a moment, waiting for his reaction. His tail waved leisurely behind him, a mirror of the other's amiable stance; How lovely it is with some civilized company.

After a little while the elder man lowered himself into a seat, taking a moment to stretch out his back before returning attention to Kjors. With a casual smile, he posed: "For the moment I'm moving north, you have any tips on what's up there?" Wouldn't it be a joy to be prepared for a change?

Word count: 348

"Speech" Thoughts

(This post was last modified: Oct 07, 2016, 10:11 PM by Drestig.)

“Movin’ north, huh?”

Kjors hummed softly, rocking back to settle more comfortably on his haunches.  His tail swept across the ground, allowing himself a moment or two to gather his thoughts.  As a collector of information, it was always pertinent to sort through what was relevant, and what wasn’t. 

“Well, like Ah said – a pack called Round Stone Crest used t’be in these parts.  Ain’t never got on with the alpha…Gent Lieris.  Ain’t real sure where he’s gone, now, though Ah’d be real surprised if he went too far away.”  Kjors rolled his shoulders in a shrug, the corner of his mouth twitching at the thought.  That was something he really needed to pursue further, he suspected. “Now, see, Kisla’s mate ain’t alpha a’ Hearthwood River, either, though seems t’me Lachesis is plenty capable himself.  ‘m, there’s a pack south a’ th’ river, too, but ain’t sure yer plannin’ on headin’ east, huh?”

Kjors closed his mouth after a moment, nose wriggling at the thought.  Didn’t care for that pack much, either, but that may or may not relevant.  Besides, Drestig had yet to offer anything in return – and it wasn’t to say he didn’t trust the other loner to uphold his word, but quite frankly…there were few in the world the man actually did trust.  If he wanted to know more, he’d have to offer something up first.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use