Fireweed Rise at the rim of the sky

Sub-territory Discovery!  Altar of Fire is a pedestal-like stone at the crest of the knoll in Fireweed Rise.  The large stone is a large block, flat on top.  Around it is the famed fireweed, blooming through the spring and summer.  In the month of May, it is positioned just so that as the sun sets, it seems to sit on top the rock for several minutes.  Such a peaceful place is perfect for a rest, to get away from the hustle and bustle of pack life.

Open for one other!

It was her first night alone, truly alone – and it was not nearly as crippling as the honey-spun youth once thought it might be.  She slept under the stars, hidden amongst the rocks that she’d once called her home.  Instead of turning back, returning to Oak Tree Bend after her little camping trip, Kyna continued westward, further than she’d ever gone.  She could have gone to see Greer at Willow Ridge – but something urged her otherwise.  Further and further she went, until she didn’t know where on earth she was, only that it was beautiful.

The sun was hanging low in the sky as she climbed the grassy knoll, perched above a large grey rock.  At its foot were the first of the fireweed blooms in the season, bright blossoms of the most vibrant reds and deep purples.  Breaking into a trot, the girl soon reached the altar to the sky, feeling so delighted for the first time in ages.

How larruping delicious, this first taste of freedom!  Perhaps there was something to be said for leaving packs and staying gone, perhaps this is what Aponi sought when she left Silent Moon Plateau on some mission.  Her mouth ticked into a small smile, gazing back at her altar to the sky.  If only she could stay in this moment forever.

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wanted a thread with ky anyway so this works perfectly w/ the dates :) <3

He was leaving and Kyna needed to know. Many months ago they had promised to inform the other if they would be shuffling around Relic Lore and Greer wanted to stay true to his words. The shadow did not know why the redhead was so important to him; she was the only wolf outside of his family that he cared about. She was Greer’s best kept secret, as only his sister knew about their friendship. It wasn’t as though he was hiding their friendship from the rest of his family; no one, aside from Morg, had asked. Other than maybe Niles, nobody would care either. The Archer’s were very keen on keeping to themselves.

All he knew was that they were leaving soon. Craw and/or Morganna would collect them all when the time came and they would leave the willows behind. Their brother had taken too long to overthrow their uncle and his sister had grown increasingly impatient. Skoll had not thought out the repercussions of disappointing a pregnant woman; she was hotheaded and determined, and would not settle for failure. Which was why she was leaving what was left of the infamous Willow Ridge pack behind and starting anew elsewhere. It was more than just wanting to go; he needed to go. The shadow had put off leaving for far too long and this was his chance. While he was still unsure of the spider-like male who had told Greer of their plan, he trusted his sister’s judgement. There was something in the silver wolf that she had seen — whatever it was, Greer would have to discover for himself.

It did not take him long to the get to the rise. His long legs carried him quickly and efficiently over the terrain as he marched south, wanting to soak up as much of the southern lands before they departed. He was not sure where they were going — further north, perhaps — but he knew that it would not be close to their current home. Initially he had set out to be alone and was planning to see out Kyna in the morning. However, as the fireweed engulfed him, he quickly realized that he had been instinctively following her scent without realizing it. He stopped, perplexed by his discovery. What was she doing out here? A frown creased his lips as he glanced around quickly before falling into step once more, his silver gaze fixated on the rock ahead of him. Of course, he thought, amused by the girl’s resting spot, can’t keep a mountain girl away from the mountains.

Climbing up the altar the boy flopped down beside her as a soft, lop-sided grin rolled onto his dark maw. Words hesitated on the tip of his tongue: was not ready to disturb the peaceful air around them just yet. 

   

A sound came from behind.  Perhaps it would pay the girl to be more aware of her surroundings.  If it had been a hostile wolf (or even worse, a mountain lion), should would find herself in some serious trouble.  Instead, the sudden rush of grasses and the dark form caused her to jolt as it joined her on the altar, and—

“Greer!” she explained, fire bright eyes wide as she realized just who had found her secret little spot.  She’d only just found it!  And here the dark wolf was, as if he’d sensed her discovery and spirited himself down to the fields of fireweed.  This was nonsense, of course – she’d need to ask him what he was doing in this part of the wood anyways – but Kyna still fancied the idea all the same.

With her slender tail sweeping in wide arcs behind her, she turned enough to bump the bottom side of her friend’s jaw, delight evident in the smile splitting her face.  Any poor feelings had been lost somewhere among grasses and flowers.  This place, she decided, must truly be special, if friends knew just where to find you.  “I am so happy to see you.  It has been so long.  I did not expect you see you here.”

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A wild dissertation appears!

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

He had not meant to startle the redhead with his approach. A sheepish expression unfolded across his maw as she bumped his chin, his coyote-like ears falling flat against the back of his head. The words that spilled from her mouth caused his tail to thump against the pedestal, and if his cheeks were visible through his obsidian fur, Kyna would have seen them flush a brilliant crimson. It had been a long time since their last visit — too long. Living so far away from each other had its drawbacks, which was why Greer had been so keen on joining Oak Tree Bend prior Craw announcement of their separation from the willows. While he wanted to be a part of the pack that his scarlet friend called home, the shadow knew that he had to be with his family. Puppies were on their way — his own flesh and blood — and he wanted to be there for them and his sister.

“Greer happy see Ky,” he responded after a long pause, his mercury gaze fixated on her as he pressed his shoulder into hers. “Look for Ky.” He paused, a frown pulling at his lips as he turned his attention to his over-sized paws. “Greer have news…” He hesitated, tongue clucking against the roof of his mouth. The boy knew he had to tell her — she was his only friend and he did not want to lose her. The scarlet girl was the only wolf outside of his family that he cared about and was willing to show some kind of emotion to. Greer trusted her — he was not sure if he was allowed to, but he did. 

Look for Ky.

It was the girl’s turn to look sheepish, cheeks heating up beneath her coat of spun gold.  With everything that was happening during the season, the youth hadn’t been out and about much, trapped in her own thoughts more often than not.  Sometimes even she could not understand the automagical machines of her own mind, how she leapt from observation to thought to awful predictions.  That she’d finally gotten away from it all, finally opened herself back up to fresh air and open sky – this was all good.  This was all very good.

“News?” she hummed, reorganizing her position so the pair was sitting side by side.  With her nose tipped up, her light pink tongue flicked out, offering her friend a few getting kisses on the underside of his jaw.  He, she decided right then, was much better than Sahalie’s new confidant Alastor.  Much more handsome – and no matter what the silvery boy had said, Greer was far more the gentleman.

“You can tell me,” she encouraged, a small smile reaching her eyes.  Kyna had no idea what such tidings might be, but that her friend had come to deliver it in person spoke to the importance it held for the smudge.  “You can tell me anything, you know.”

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A wild dissertation appears!

i can never resist replying to kyreer threads first ;___; i love these two <3

He nodded softly, confirming that it was news that brought him here. It was also an excuse to see the petite redhead, for he had not made his way this far east in quite some time. The shadow felt guilty for not being able to see his friend as much as he'd like, and the guilt grew greater when he realized he was going to be moving further away from her. A frown cut into his maw, even despite the handful of kisses she planted against his jaw (although his cheeks flushed crimson a second time). The Archers were not an affectionate bunch so he did not know how to react to the gesture. His paws shuffled uncomfortably as he leaned his shoulder against hers, his mercury gaze fixated on the flowers that surrounded them. Emotions were never his forte.

You can tell me anything… Her words were reassuring, but it did not stop his heart from thumping erratically in his chest. The shadow was unsure of where the group was travelling to, but he knew it would be nowhere near the willows he had grown so accustom to. But he had promised to tell Kyna whenever he planned on shuffling around — he did not want to go back on his word. “Greer tell Ky…” he paused, the words hesitating on the tip of his tongue, “tell Ky Greer leave. Leave with Greer-sister. Some willow wolves.” His throat suddenly grew tight and it became harder to find the right words to spill into the space between them. With his cheek pressed against hers he inhaled slowly, comforted by her warm, oaky scent. “Go north.” Another pause accompanied by a heavy frown. “Greer wanted Ky know,” he added, voice slightly above a whisper as he continued to focus on the flowers below the pedestal. 

   

Greer shuffled around, trying to find the space, or the words.  Whatever it was, it did not bother the young woman much – when the black wolf was ready to speak, he would speak.  One of the things she so admired about the older animal was that he wasted speech on nothing, saying only exactly what he meant, and what he wanted to convey.  If that meant he spent a moment or two pondering the words before he gave them life, well.  She figured more wolves could stand to learn such a valuable lesson.

“You’re leaving?”

The announcement came as a surprise, orange eyes blinking as she glanced at her friend.  He’d spoken before of such a matter, not feeling as though he belonged amongst the willows with his large family, but--  She made herself silent as her friend moved in, not wishing to make it any harder on him.  She had, after all, just promised he could tell her anything, and Kyna had no desire to make the dark wolf regret it.

“North.”  She hummed softly, tipped her head in that general direction.  She’d never been north.  Perhaps it would be a good adventure. “Do you know where?  Am I allowed to come visit you, where you are going?”

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A wild dissertation appears!

He nodded softly as the two words fell from her tongue. They remained suspended for a moment, growing heavier as she fell silent once more. For perhaps the first time since he had considered leaving Willow Ridge long ago, the shadow almost wasn't sure if he was making the right choice. The willows were so close to the lands Kyna called home — what if their clan moved so far north he could never see his redheaded friend again? No, they wouldn’t move so far away. Not from mother and father.

Another nod shook his thin body as she spoke once more, repeating which way he said they were going. There was a shorter pause this time as she collected her thoughts. Her words caused his lips loosen over his teeth and curl into a crooked smile. Relief consumed him as he realized how thankful he was that she asked to visit and he did not have to. Their friendship was a peculiar one — especially with Greer being the way he was and completely void of emotion to everyone but Kyna and some of his family. He did not know what it was about the strawberry blonde that toyed with his demeanour, allowing him to open up more, but he did not mind. He might as well have one friend.

“Tundra, Greer think. Leave forest.” He wished he knew precisely where they were going. There was talk about walking until they found something that suited their needs, but how far did that mean? He wrinkled his nose at the thought as he glanced down at his over-sized paws. “Ky allowed. Greer like Ky visit.” The shadow would have preferred it if she joined them but he knew that she had a home here; a home without Greer. “Not far. Greer find Ky after. Tell.” He always looked forward to their little meetings and wanted her to see his new home (whenever they found it). For the first time in a longtime — probably forever — Greer was excited. He had been procrastinating leaving for too long and it was finally happening. He just wished that it was to Kyna’s pack, but this would suffice. For now.

   

“Tundra.  I’ve never been to one.  What are they like?”

Better than a forest, probably.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the yearling felt a hot pang of guilt.  The oak trees had done nothing but shelter her from harsh weather over the past season, something she doubted stone could do quite the same.  And still, the leafy, green canopy felt suffocating at times, and all she yearned for was the thin air and biting chill one could only find atop a mountain’s peak.  Perhaps one day, she would return.

“I will do that, then.  I would like to see a tundra, I think.  And I would definitely like to see you.”  The girl hummed thoughtfully, trying not to dwell on the fact that Sahalie could see many of her friends whenever she wished.  Perhaps this was the downfall of befriending those from far away, or those of like mind.  Either way, she could not quite bring herself to regret the decision to take up a friendship with Greer; now, she had an excuse to travel far beyond what she’d done before.

Turning slightly, she pushed her nose up underneath his jaw.  “My mother is having puppies.  No father.”  She sighed slightly – at least Phineas had been around, even if the pair were not together.  He’d shown interest, and this time…it was only Aponi.  “She wants us to be a family, that’s what she said, but.  If we were not a family before – what were we?  Why now?” Her ears flipped backwards as her words tumbled out, a small flush prickling on her skin beneath agouti fur.  “I’m sorry – it’s been…bothering me.”

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A wild dissertation appears!