Larkcall Lowlands i can't take a hint

@Craw @Morganna  I'm going with he never got an official invite  xD

Things he had been paranoid about happened. Coming to the conclusion of what exactly took a lot longer. First he thought maybe she was trying to find a den suitable for the pups away from here. Then he thought maybe she had given birth and was holed up somewhere. So began his endless search. Each day he came back empty handed to then again expand it farther and farther from the Ridge. When he couldn't find Craw either he begin to think she was a lot further than he had originally thought. Still he stuck to the places he knew, interrogating others he came across. Holding onto the idea he was just a shitty tracker. After five days it became apparent they weren't the only ones whose scents were fading from the Ridge. She had gone and took her followers. But, where?

It was then he had to make his choice. Follow her, stay where he was, or continue else where. The last of all the options was beginning to appeal to him. Setting himself on a different path, and a clean slate. Care a little less by starting over again.

Clearly, she was making a statement, right? Another bullshit test or something. If he wanted her so bad he would find her. Prove his worth, or love. Whatever. He wasn't necessarily feeling so warm and fuzzy inside. This could this just be her way of telling him once and for all to leave well enough alone.

Too damn bad. She should know he wouldn't. It wasn't just her any more. Despite how choice number 3 could have been a bit easier, he didn't take it. The rogue began to track where she had been last, trying to hold onto that trail she didn't take alone. 

More or less after a shit ton of sun, damn hail, and rain, some measly meals in between, he reached the stretch of land that seemed to go on and on. Even its small hills of rocks did little to tame its endless reach. While its coloring was striking, its expanse made his heart drop. Would he find them? Maybe, he had been wrong...Maybe she was telling him to bug off.

A groan, he padded onward, wondering if he would see something that stood out. Something that might scream she had chosen it as her kingdom. He almost believed this place wasn't about to appear very divergent until his nose noticed the large collection of water somewhere in the distance. A drink would work. Speeding up, climbing up a short incline it wasn't the shallow lake, but the towering light stone in the distance that caught his eye. Struck by the landmark he pressed forward, soon taking note this clearly must be their landing site. There was Craw and Morganna's dominant scent, the marks of Capable and Wraith. While the trail caught his golden gaze he felt it off limits. No, he needed to ring the doorbell.  Raising his muzzle he made the call direct and formal.

(This post was last modified: Jun 09, 2016, 06:21 PM by Renier.)

Minor PP of @Wraith and the other adults in the pack implied, @Greer, @Celandine, @Isuni.

It was a relatively pleasant day, for once. Basking in the security that the plateau offered was a favoured past time, a luxury earned through his diligent serving of the pack. That was not to say, of course, that time spent with his fellow Whitestone wolves was time wasted, not in the least. Craw was laid out by the pale boulders which were their namesake, laid near to the den where Kara and Odin slept soundly. Nearby were others of the pack, enjoying the sun uninterrupted by trees, the pale spider marvelling, as usual, how the veins in the stone glistened in that unique way. He was only half paying attention to the murmurings of the others when the howl came.

Whatever pleasant haze had come over him dissipated instantly, head and ears turned to the sound. He knew that voice. He also knew what that howl meant. Obligingly the heavy wolf heaved himself to warmed feet, shaking the dust from his pelt as he made to turn towards the track which would take him down to where none other than Renier had summoned them.

"How about that," he smirked, coming to a stop next to Wraith, expecting that his Second would have recognised the voice too. There was no need for backup, so he would encourage them all to stay, touching his nose to Wraith's cheek. "If @Morganna comes by, tell her I'm there already." He glanced at the den where the puppies slept, wondering at what might be going on in Wraith's mind, knowing that the subject of paternity was a complex one. Was he here for them, though, or for himself? Surely not on behalf of @Nicolò.

With that, the pale wolf lumbered down the goat track, his paws finding the route pleasingly familiar, quickly spotting the man himself at its base.

"Renier," he rumbled, ears high and forward in curiosity, tail held comfortably high but wagging at the unexpected (but not unwelcome) guest. "What a pleasant surprise."

@Renier

With the children growing so quickly and other bodies she trusted to watch them, Morganna had been afforded a small getaway. She had trekked south across the tundra, taking note of the caribou with their young, no abandoned corpses today, and then she had travelled north and east where she came across a most peculiar sight. She had never seen such beasts before, but they also had young. Even the whiff of a lone wolf was enough to send the herd of great wild woolies into defensive mode, the small ones pushed to the centre of a circle while the adults faced outwards, stamping and blowing while waving those short curved horns about. With a smirk and a shake of her head, not today, she turned about, knowing her free time was almost at an end.

Half way home, pitiful squeaking caught her attention, eyes falling on a small rabbit kit seemingly trampled by one of the larger herbivorous types. When the dark wolf's shadow had fallen across the creature it tried to 'disappear' by holding so still had she not already seen it, she wouldn't find it now. When she reached down to prod it with her nose, survival instinct kicked in and the poor thing tried to hop away, its left hind leg dragging uselessly behind. Carefully she scooped the critter up, a wonderful find with two teething puppies to entertain - and less inclined to maul them than a woodchuck.

As the Monadnock drew nearer a familiar voice floated to her on the breeze. She attempted to chuff around the rabbit held so delicately in her jaws but the sound was muffled by soft down and shivering kit. Knowing @Craw would waste no time attending to the call she felt no need to rush forth, maintaining her purposeful lope around the shallow pond and towards the narrow path that led to the rest of her pack. Her own tail waved a greeting as she moved to stand by Craw, nose passing under his chin in quick greeting before she turned with a friendly growl and a lift of her chin - the closest she could manage to a greeting if she didn't want to ruin the gift she had found for her children.

(This post was last modified: Jun 10, 2016, 10:52 PM by Morganna.)

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

@Craw @Morganna

Renier anticipated Craw's reaction. Those yellow eyes slid upon him, but there was no sign the pale wolf was about to scold or send him away. Whad did Craw know? Morganna could get a sight of him and give her cue to snap at him. Ren didn't think Craw would hesitate, he surely wouldn't have.

There was faint laugh that hit his throat, at the man's words. Was it really a surprise? Or was his feelings for Morganna less than obvious? If so, then he could see why it didn't matter much to her. So the rogue couldn't help wonder if there was anything pleasant about his presence. Then again, why would Craw feel threatened by him? Morganna had made her choice. "Craw," he politely stated in turn. Until Morg showed up he had little else to say.

Speak of the devil. After a moment of quiet between the two she graced them with her presence. Well she wasn't hiding from him at least. Clearly she had lost some weight. While his golden eyes traced further along her dark coat he could feel his lip twitch. Hell, he wasn't about to smile. In fact, he figured she would be cussing him out. It seemed, thank the gods, her mouth was full of some small creature. Why the way she touched Craw made something under his skin crawl, and hiss, he couldn't miss her note to him. A growl he had heard one too many times, and had missed. "Well then how 'bout I just follow you," he offered, seeing this wasn't anything like he thought.  He took a step forward in confidence, leaving it up to Craw to decide if he was going to block him or follow too.

(This post was last modified: Jun 18, 2016, 05:03 AM by Renier.)

Renier's reaction was curious. The man had crossed Craw's mind a few times since leaving, and indeed had initially been on his list of wolves to consider inviting along. The time had simply never come, with the other being his usual private self, and ultimately Craw had thought that it should be Morganna's responsibility. The two of them had clearly had something, been something, and from the look on Renier's face as Craw's coleader approached and touched her nose to his chin, such a casual gesture, it was clear that Renier was still holding onto that.

Where Craw had been expecting some kind of conversation, because after all Morganna may have been too preoccupied to arrive so quickly, it was clear who Renier was here to see. Craw's warm greeting was met with curt formality, leaving the spider to wonder if he had so badly misinterpreted their relationship. For his part, Craw did nothing to break the brief silence between them, for he had been the one called here, so it was the summoner's responsibility to explain himself. And even though Renier said so very, very little, even after Morganna arrived, Craw thought the man had conveyed volumes.

The spider's brows shot up as Renier decided that the meeting was done. What did he think had just been agreed, exactly? Without hesitation, Craw stepped forward, blocking his path, eyes narrowed as he stared down at the wolf he was now having a number of serious doubts about. His tail twitched higher, a reminder of their relative position, but out of his respect for what had once been a pleasant co-existence, he resisted the urge to posture a little more blatantly. He had thought Renier to be a perceptive sort.

"That's not how this works," he rumbled quietly, the growl kept out of his voice - for now. "What are you here for, exactly?" Or should he ask for whom?

(This post was last modified: Jun 19, 2016, 03:08 PM by Craw.)

@Renier

With her mouth full of rabbit Morganna couldn't very well tell @Renier to hold on just a minute, but she wouldn't have to because @Craw spoke up for her. The set of her shoulders and the crease in her brow should have told enough, Was this just a casual visit or more? What exactly did he want? There had been little secret around her deciding to leave and when he had stayed behind she just assumed that he hadn't wanted to come despite telling her previously that he intended to be there for the children. She was sure she had mentioned it in passing? Or had she...? Baby-brain was a terrible affliction.

She could feel the rabbit shaking violently, if she didn't get it up to the children soon it wouldn't offer them much fun at all before the shock truly set in and it finally died (if the children didn't manage to kill it sooner). Eyes moved from Craw to Renier and back, she would stand by whatever decision her mate made in the end, although she had to question what had made Renier so bold, so foolish. She had never thought him to be the type to push his luck before and yet here he was, too late to save the day. Willow Ridge was in the paws of Nicolo, and here her children were delivered safe and sound, surrounded by a stable pack where each member doted on them in their own way (whether that was with the way they emotionally fostered the children or kept their distance and physically protected them).

She might have relaxed her stance a little but instinctively, defensively her chin dipped a little lower, while peach eyes echoed the question, what are you here for, exactly?

(This post was last modified: Jun 20, 2016, 07:34 AM by Morganna.)

Ren didn't exactly do what I thought, but as we went over this it became clear. This is his exit, he doesn't see any other reason.
 Siki if @Craw wants to do the whole chase him out. Nip and run after him till he's so far that's fine, but like I said this is Ren's last post here.

He was stupid. So blind to what he didn't want to see. He hadn't been here for small talk. He had been here to see if staying was even an option. He had thought it obvious, but there he went assuming again since she wasn't staring daggers thinking everything was good now.

His intuition had been right. Craw would stop him. Immediately Renier froze, struck with the idea of fighting him. Until he looked at Morganna who looked just as taken back. Now he imagined he could stay here as some punching bag, but for what?

Nothing. The word seemed to echo in his head.

Like a flick of a switch, his posture shifted to that of defeat and submission with tipped ears, and a loose tail. He backed up like the lone wolf he was. "No, it isn't," he murmured, dropping his head a few more degrees, shuffling backward. He understood why he hadn't been told. He had come for nothing. The pups might as well have been Craw's if not they certainty were now. Just like Morganna.

"I came here for nothing. I...I get it now. I'm not wanted here. It's why I didn't know in the first place." Out of submission, and perhaps the throbbing in his head he kept his eyes downcast. No, he hadn't come expecting her to love him, or to persuade the pups they were his. He had come to be part of her life, theirs. To try to keep good on a promise that probably had long faded from her mind. Now, he could see she was her mother's daughter. He wondered if he would go as mad as the ginger man. They're not yours the words gently came to reinforce.

He had to forcefully swallow it all back, why he realized he had made more than one mistake, he felt he could only do something about one. Whatever light and pride had been in him diminished completely. He bowed his head to the white leader. "Sorry Craw, you're just trying to do what any good mate and leader would. I didn't see that, till now."  Then he didn't want to exist. "I'll leave you to it." He bowed out, not looking back as his cream limbs picked up beneath him.

{exit}

Something profound happened, clearly, but Craw was entirely blind to it. @Morganna said nothing, too concerned with the rabbit kit she was obviously bringing back for Kara and Odin. Craw didn't even have to look at her to see the way she shifted in the corner of his eye - he felt her reinforcement of his question. Which, Craw felt, was an entirely fair one. Was there some hidden conversation here which he just wasn't privvy to?

At first, he'd seen @Renier droop and thought good, he understood what was happening. All he needed was a straight answer (which wasn't disagreeable, of course) and some respect, and he could have forgiven whatever strange little assumption had prompted the man to act in such a way. Craw would not have been half as patient with a loner, but he had liked Renier. Hearing his voice... Craw had also thought this would go very differently. Had it been their mistake not to make sure he knew they were leaving? Was that was this was about?

Renier crumpled, looking about as fragile as a wolf could, and Craw just stared at him. A gentler wolf might have interrupted to tell him that he was getting it all wrong. A softer wolf might have reassured him that what he was saying wasn't true. A sweeter wolf might have explained that it wasn't a competition, that there was always room for another loyal wolf, especially one with such an amicablehistory.

Craw said nothing.

Renier turned to leave, and the spider moved about as much as he'd spoken, which was to say that he didn't shift an inch. It was quite obvious that Renier had not found what he came for, and from his rather heated, emotional blatherings, Craw roughly guessed what those hopes had been. Not that he had given either of them much of a chance to contest it, though, and instead at the first sign of this being anything other than a tearful reunion had decided that it wasn't good enough.

Craw watched Renier leave, a frown having settled itself neatly on his face, and after letting himself process the events a little, shifted his attention to Morganna. "The fuck was that?" he grunted, in much the same manner as you saw that too, right, that really just happened? As the humour of it all finally started to seep through the bemusement, so the smirk spread on his face. "Did I just... win you? I didn't realise we were fighting."

It wasn't that she didn't want him here but she wasn't going to encourage open insubordination from the get go. This wasn't Willow Ridge, and he might have noticed Skoll was absent too - for that very reason. She watched the tawny man closely then unable to answer his accusations around the trembling rabbit clutched so delicately in her jaws, certain that the windbreak her mouth provided was the only thing keepings it body temperature regulated enough to keep it alive. A heavy huff of air escaped her nose as he left, a shake of her head offered to his retreating form, only ever more grateful that she always knew exactly where she stood with Craw. None of the uncertainty. None of the deer shit.

She swung her head around, trusting that Craw would follow. Renier was clearly intent on showing himself out, he hardly needed an escort. In answer to his question she snorted and rolled her eyes, intent on dropping the rabbit where the children could 'play with it' a little, a lick given to each of their small heads before she rounded back on her mate. "Naw he'd never fight fer me..." wasn't that much obvious already? "He must'ave been here fer th' kids." But then why be so blasé? What had made him so certain that he would be excused from the formalities expected of everyone else? It was too much to consider, more drama than she was willing to deal with.