Secret Falls like he's supposed to

No reason not to give you guys a chance to enjoy the reunion, I'm guessing you both have muse for it ;) If you want to post between yourselves for a bit feel free, skip Craw unless he's spoken to or another BTP member shows up.

Their dual summons filled the air, two voices which were as different as possible, his rough gravel complemented by her smooth honey. He found he liked the contrast. As their call died out, there was now nothing to do but to wait, and Craw welcomed the opportunity. Taking a deep, rattling breath to re-fill his lungs after the howl, he set about calming his body, still faintly fired-up from all that running. He was built for stamina far more than speed, true, but it had been a while since he'd marched so hard and so fast - if Morganna had been in a less delicate condition on their journey north, he probably would have been pushed that hard then.

He rather enjoyed the after-effects of all that physical effort. It felt wholesome, empowering, and now he waited to see whether his labour would be rewarded.

Celandine was where his gaze lingered most, eager to see her reaction to the wait they would have to endure before the pack acknowledged them. He had no idea how large their territory was, or whether any of their number were nearby. Surely, though, they would not let two wolves stand here for long, drawing such attention to themselves, without being checked.

A moving shape caught his eye, dark-tipped ears twisting around as a grey face approached them, and even from this distance Craw could see the green eyes. His heart thumped heavily in his chest, and as the girl called tentatively to Celandine, all Craw did was smile.

Celandine wasn't entirely sure what she expected Maeve to look like. Maybe the girl would be sickly due to Erebos' negligence, or raggedy with the weight of all that had happened. Regardless of what the yearling looked like, the snowy woman was more than confident that she could nurse her younger sister friend back to health. When the silver form finally came into view, the former princess felt a rush of emotion. Some she hadn't felt in so long that she could have sworn they had never existed. Maeve had filled out, as most cub's do well into their yearling stage, but was unharmed besides. 

Brilliant eyes glanced up at Craw, suddenly aware that they were not in fact alone. He had a smile plastered on his face, and had she had more time she might have considered it to be less genuine, but there would be time for conspiracies later. "Maeve?" Her voice was soft as she mimicked the silver fae's questioning tone. She noticed the tears pooling at the edge of her younger companion's eyes, and stepped forward in response. "It's ok darling, don't cry." Shooting a glance back at the male to make sure he didn't plan on making fun of her little sister friend, she took another step.

Have you seen my OOC preferences?

Thanks ^u^ Maeve will nudge at him shortly, though someone might end up showing before then xD

"Celandine!" Maeve yelped, conquering her bodies unwanted will to stay put and finally pushing forth to properly reunite with her most beloved. "Celandine!" The orphan squealed once more, finding that her vocabulary had temporarily been stunned. She would waste no more time. Burrowing herself deep into the Argyris's neck, the fae absorbed as much of the girls scent that she possibly could. It was different from the last time they'd seen each other, though it was by no means bad.

It was a struggle to pull away from the embrace she'd formed, though Maeve also needed to further inspect the female. It was important to the rogue that she'd been safe whilst away, so she first examined for any visible injury, then took note of the former heiress's weight. All had seemed well, much to her surprise. In fact, it might even be safe to say that Celandine looked better. "Y-Yer.. Where did y' go??" the young fae whispered, still allowing her eyes to tear up regardless of the stark white woman's former request. "I-I missed y'... I.. I tried t' wait... Bu'..." Erebos was so persistent on her accompanying him, though that was a story for another day. "We look'd everywhere..."  

(This post was last modified: Jun 16, 2016, 10:22 AM by Maeve.)

When she had heard the howl go up, the two voices calling to Broken Timber Pines, she couldn’t have been more intrigued. Her shyness tugged at her momentarily, wondering if it was her place to be investigating borders for the alphas; but she had not been too far from their origin so had padded forth. The howl seemed oddly familiar, though she could not say why. Her heart had fluttered lightly at the thought of it being her brother – or news on her brother. But she had not heard his voice, and that alone made her heart settle quickly. Her typical hopeful and optimistic self had taken a toll these last couple weeks of endless searching and ending up with nothing – repeatedly disappointed. It would not break her spirit, but it could damper it so her heart was not broken every single day.

 She had gone forward without hesitation, a new sureness growing on the two-year-old. She was here to help the pack, she felt it assuredly. As she neared the source, her nose caught scent of Maeve, her adopted yearling sister who did not really like being her adopted yearling sister. Her father had taken her under wing, but ever since they had all settled the girl had been distance, keeping Zeta’s assumed love at an arm’s length. It had been fine recently, her own woe and searches keeping her busy enough to warrant their time apart. Who knew the grey Argyris could be capable of such ~independence~.

 What finally stayed her paws was the sound of voices – happy voices. It was definitely Maeve’s voice, and another female’s. The scent reminded her vaguely of why the voice had sounded familiar. She stepped forward into sight, noticing Maeve and a white female dancing around each other happily. Her ears and tailed flicked curiously at the infectious happiness, curious as to what the excitement was about. Old friends? “Maeve?” She spoke up as she appeared more into their opening, timid to be interrupting the cater-cousins. “What’s going..” Before she could finish her question, the last brush moved out of her peripherals and the wolf from the lake appeared. “…Craw?” Her ears flicked back in confusion and her tail drooped as a wash of emotions fell over her as she made contact with the watchful yellow eyes that had unnerved her. What was he doing here? She told him where her pack was but.. but did that mean he had news of her brother?? Her beryl-lime were sad and hopeful and nervous all at the same time.

the rabbit

Adopt my twin!

It was as though Craw had vanished. As he watched something spectacular happen to Celandine, Craw stood back and said nothing, did nothing to interrupt. He knew little and less about Maeve - save for what the woman had told him, which had pretty much just been the technicalities of their relationship - but he knew what Celandine was normally like. Normally like around Whitestone, anyway. This wasn't the white woman he knew.

Did she believe him, yet, he wondered, in the face of this proof - that he hadn't been lying? Up until the very last moment he had felt the faint tendrils of doubt from her, but here they were, and here Maeve was, and here was Celandine, demonstrating a very different side of herself. She actually cared about someone. How cute.

Feeling almost like a voyeur watching their emotional exchange, Craw had turned his attention back to the forest around them, waiting for signs of anyone else who might answer their call. This state of affairs was fine for now, but he could take a decent guess at what Celandine would want to do now they had found her friend, and Craw didn't fancy becoming - for all the Pines wolves knew - a kidnapper.

Fortunately, Maeve was not the only packwolf to make an appearance, and to Craw's surprise, it was the only one he was likely to recognise. The two wolves stared at each other for a moment, though where Zeta was confused and wary, Craw's expression melted only into calm pleasure. "Zeta," he greeted, and wondered if her lack of sparkling joviality was because she'd found her brother and had no need for him, or something else. Once more, he almost regretted not having something for her. "I'm afraid I'm not here about your brother." A flick of his eyes to the reunited pair told of what had brought him here.

Posting w/ permission.

Craw's raspy voice did nothing to soothe her confusion or worry. She glanced back to her friend and the white female, but only briefly. His words brought her beryl-lime eyes back to his, a large piece of her falling away when he spoke the words she knew she would hear. This was nothing new. In fact, this is what had become the norm for her. Searching and ending up with nothing; searching and ending up with nothing. Zane was gone and she had no explanation as to why or where. Every time she stepped foot outside Broken Timber Pine's border to look around her self-restricted radius, she almost knew that she would come back without headway. She would never be able to find him if she couldn't leave to actually search for her cater-cousin. But of course, she had also made a promise to this place, a promise to prove her loyalty, and she could not bring herself to admitting that she was wanting to turn away their kindness so soon after they had given it to her. 

And so, here she would stay. Empty-handed.

Her body posture visibly wilted under his words. Craw's gaze motioned to the pair of girls beside him, and she understood that he must be some sort of escort. What was that feeling? Something above sadness. Stemming from it.. resentment? She could never feel anger towards her friends like this, but for a brief moment she was upset that it was not news for her. Her sad and innocent eyes turned back to the girls in question, looking between them for some sort of explanation for what might be the cause for celebration. She did not want to seem like the downer of the party, so she offered a softened smile and light wag of her tail, curious to figure out what brought them to the Broken Timber Pines borders.

(This post was last modified: Jun 22, 2016, 01:21 PM by Zeta.)

the rabbit

Adopt my twin!

The Argyris accepted Maeve's embrace better than she'd ever accepted any of Craw's paws-y attempts. Placing her head over the silver girl's neck, and loosening her grip as her companion pulled away, Celandine shushed her. The approach of another Broken Timber Pines wolf was lost in the moment, and went unacknowledged until she spoke. Amber eyes were on the newcomer immidiately, assessing her for any signs of danger. They were at another pack's borders after all. Finding none, the woman was able to return to the young fae before her, whose words were probably dripping about as soon as she was thinking them.

"There will be time for all of that later, darling." What she wanted to say was 'Not here, not now.' She just hoped Maeve wouldn't be offput. There were things that Celandine wasn't too keen on sharing with Craw just yet, or ever. She was entitled to her secrets, wasn't she? The snowy woman also had a great deal of questions she needed to ask, but again it would come in due time.

She only vaguely caught the details of the exchange going on simultaneously, one ear having swiveled back to catch bits and pieces of their conversation. How did this girl know Craw?

Have you seen my OOC preferences?

So I've been yelling at Pinn for days now about her getting a response for this up, not realizing that it was MY turn DX!! I'm so sorry!! The reply is rushed so it might be a little sloppy, I can't believe I let this happen X___X

Zeta's familiar voice had been the only thing able to snap little Maeve back into reality, thereby also bringing attention to a certain individual who had thus far gone unnoticed. Who was he? Celandine's friend? The rogue watched as the two intermingled for a few brief moments before returning her attention back to the princess. "Later..?" she questioned, not fully understanding why there wasn't time to address these things now. Was it because of her strange friend? "I-...O-okay, later then.." She smiled warmly, nuzzling up the the female once more.

"Zeta," Maeve murmured, momentarily preparing herself for an explanation as to what was going on. Did she care to fill the greyed Argyris in? Well, not necessarily. Though the female deserved it regardless, and she was feeling quite generous now that she had her heiress back. "M' friend's name is Celandine, she's er, yer cousin." Returning her gaze back to the princess, the orphan wondered if this was news to her as well. "She showed up right when y' took off, there's 'nother one too, bu' he's been missin' for a while now." she whispered, only intending on Cella hearing. The news was still too fresh, hurting Zeta was not her intention.

@Zeta or @Celandine next, I guess? Still not too concerned about posting order though! Anyone else in BTP still welcome to join! Might be worth another tag for @Eirian and @Iopah <3

Zeta wore her disappointment and sadness openly. Craw observed it with curiosity, as though seeing it on the other side of a plane of glass, kept at a comfortable distance. If he had possessed information to alleviate her hurt, he would have shared it, but not being able to did not pain him. It was not his responsibility.

Unlike finding Maeve - that had been a responsibility. In exchange for her service, Craw had promised to help her find the girl she was looking for, and here she was. The sound of Celandine's soft reassurances of 'later' brought an ear twitching back in her direction, and his yellow gaze slid back to the reunited pair to see Maeve look towards Zeta, acknowledging the presence of her packmate. As the grey girl introduced Celandine, the confirmation of 'she's your cousin' caused Craw to glance straight at his own packmate, a small, smug smile curling the corners of his mouth, an I told you. Would she start trusting him? Did his word mean anything more to her now?

With no sign of anyone else from the Pines, Craw remained silent still, allowing his own introduction to be handled by Celandine if she so chose. Maeve was the only one here who didn't know who he was or why he was here, and she was Celandine's responsibility - for now. With how emotive that reunion had been, Craw wouldn't be surprised if they were loathe to part again - and there was no way he would allow Celandine to stay here. That left only two possible outcomes.

... and here she is!

It was an open ended request, set in a voice Iopah did not recognize. The matriarch grumbled under her breath, watching as the sound send a pair of rabbits dashing for cover. It was just as well - there were plenty of younger, more limber wolves to chase them down. They needed the practice anyways, Iopah reasoned to herself. She followed a well used path under and around the huge downed trees. The damaged forest had been foreign and intimidating at first, but the Pines' wolves had adapted.

She listened to the murmur of voices during the journey to the border, ears flicking at the familiar tones in the conversation. It seemed that several Pines' wolves had already answered the summons, but not one that she would ever had expected to take the initiative. The queen peered at the shifting gray-hued pelts through the trees to watch Maeve. How unusual. Her eyes shifted to catch a glimpse of Zeta's expression and the woman growled lowly, not caring if she was yet close enough to easily see. "What are you doing at my borders?" Her voice called out, enough emphasis to more than indicate suspicion. Good news rarely came knocking at their borders, and this did not look like anything to prove her wrong.