Fallen Tree Cove you're the one I need

May 10th, 2am
RE: Violent thunderstorms

It had been just over two months since his initial injury had occurred and for the most part the yearling was healed. The swelling was completely gone and he could put weight on the limb without pain unless he stepped on it the wrong way. The problem was the weakness. In the months it had taken to heal the muscles around the injury had atrophied and Draven found that leg much weaker than the rest. It was embarrassing for the young male and so he still resided within the medical den during the day and took to walking throughout the night when he blended in. That way he could build up his strength in the privacy of the dark so no one could see him stumble or how hard he had to work just to walk normally.

This of course had been halted by the violent thunderstorms that came in waves over the last week and a half. Draven had laid awake night after night just watching out as flashes of lightning lit the area and thunder echoed off his new stone home. It reminded him of his mother who had always loved the storms. She used to wake him and his siblings up so they could watch them, telling them stories about their widespread family, of her life back on her mountain. On nights like these he could almost feel her here, on this mountain, in these storms.

Tonight he thought the storms had finally broken and he had arisen in the dark to traverse over the slick stone. Puddles lay hapazardly around the territory, pooling in dips in the stone that would have been hidden from the blind eye while dry. It made it slightly easier to limp about, knowing exactly where to avoid the ground for being uneven. That is until lightning lit the sky blue once more and with a rumble of thunder the sky opened up above the Lagina and he was soaked within seconds. Grumbling in frustration the boy scanned around him for some kind of impromptu shelter that could shield him until morning and was met with nothing. Now what?

It had been a solid week now since the birth of his youngest children, two beautiful and healthy girls that no doubt would cause some form of trouble once their older sister Neha returned from her medicinal studies under her Uncle Veho over yonder in Grizzly Hollow. Vespertio could only imagine the look that would grace his oldest daughter's face once she caught wind of such news that she no longer would be the sole princess of the lake, a title she would now have to share. A soft chuckle fell from his inky lips at the thought while creamy paws wandered aimlessly about the night painted landscape as they avoided the muddy puddles that riddled themselves nearly everywhere since the onset of thunderstorms that raged across his territory for the better portion of a week or so now. The hope of a midnight snack while there was a sizeable break in the storm rumbling the inner depths of Vesper's stomach with each step onward into the shadowy darkness.

Albeit all hope was soon lost as the sky alerted the world below that the break was over. A dazzling flash of lightning illuminated the dark navy blue clouds above before a roar of thunder followed suit, the patriarch's ears forced to press firmly backwards to protect his hearing from the sheer volume as the sound seemed to echo off the mountain walls that encircled his kingdom. Then the onslaught of rain began, the tiny droplets of moisture coming down in sheets that wasted no time in saturating the male's pelt and the blanket of soggy pine needles beneath his feet. In the wake of such a turn for the worst in regards to the weather, Vesper had half a mind to turn around and return back to the birthing den to wait out the storm until morning, but the crack of another lightning bolt said otherwise.

Under the ethereal glow of the lightning a dark silhouette could be made out not far in the distance once molten gold irises squinted against the larruping relentless rain, the shape fuzzy from where Vesper stood. Now who else had been foolish enough to be caught up in the storm at an hour like this? Pressing on through the rain the agouti brute released a rough bark in hopes the falling rain and roaring thunder wouldn't drown him out entirely and manage to catch the attention of this mystery wolf.

(This post was last modified: May 10, 2016, 05:40 AM by Vespertio.)

Draven cursed himself as he stepped onto his hurt leg, feeling his weight suddenly giving out. The ground rushed up towards him before he was able to catch his balance again at the last moment. Mud splashed upwards before landing squarely on his muzzle and seeping into his eyes. Gritting his teeth the dark eyelids clenched shut as tears formed and began streaming down his maw. Blinking rapidly the Lagina did he best to clear the earth from his vision, unable to use his paws to aid him as they themselves were coated in mud. Finally he was able to open his eyes without a searing pain, though it took several more blinks before the world came back into focus.

It was then that a rough bark rang out across the territory and Draven froze other than his ears swivelling backwards. Turning slowly he couldn't help the embarrassment that ran up his cheeks, making his whole body feel hot an uncomfortable. The form was still blurry in the storm but the scent was unmistakable, @Vespertio. While the yearling had not spent much time with the male the alpha had come to check on him occasionally when Draven had been confined to the medical den.  

It was the sight of the man that rubbed salt in his wound. If anyone was going to see him at his weak point he did not want it to be the alphas when he had already spent so much time being a waste of space. Dropping his head and tail in shame the teen waited for the man to approach, afraid that if he was the one to make the steps that he would fall once more.

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

No direct answer came in response to his call leaving the man to at first think that the rain had acted out as a thief and stole the sound of his bark long before it could reach the ears of the swarthy figure in the mud, but a small wave of relief washed over the agouti patriarch as the figure eventually turned to face him. Brightly lid green eyes the only indication Vesper needed to remove the mysterious veil around whom had been caught up in the storm. Draven, and this only led to a crescendo in his ever building curiosity. What had led to the boy venturing out this way when firstly there was a storm brewing and secondly when his injury was still on the road to recovery?

Standing there in silence wouldn't reward the lead male with any proper answers thus mud splattered limbs began to trudge through the slippery mess underfoot, posture kept neutral the entire expanse of time it took for him to cross the distance separating himself from the boy. Only once Vesper felt he was close enough to have his voice heard did he manage to speak up over the sound of the pouring rain, another flash of lightning illuminating the landscape around them. "Draven, come let us find some shelter from the rain." Shelter first, talk later. There would be no point in possibly injuring the boy further by keeping him out in such nasty weather and Vesper was already growing annoyed with the constant downfall. With a nod of his head toward the path back to where the communal den lay, creamy paws brought his muscled frame to saddle beside that of the dark boy in a silent display of support. Nose twitching at the tempting scent of blood mingling in the air.

(This post was last modified: May 27, 2016, 02:24 PM by Vespertio.)

As Vespertio began to approach him the dark head drooped lower and his tail tucked between his leg. If possible he would have crouched until his belly pressed into the mud but as it was he didn't trust his ankle enough. It was mostly shame that wanted him to crawl into the mud and disappear but also respect for the man that caused his green eyes to remain firmly planted on the mud before him. The words that reached him caused his stomach to sink, all he had wanted to was to retreat back to the infirmary until his pride recovered.

This however would not be possible. The yearling was not the type to disobey any kind of request from an alpha, especially not one he did not know well. Draven knew more than anything that he had more to prove than anyone else that had been accepted into the pack. He had been brought in as a charity case, the broken child who needed help. Now as he made his way back to health he needed to prove that he could be a hardworking yearling who deserved the place within the pack that he had been given.

Instead he nodded silently, following a couple of steps behind the Vuesain man more careful than ever at where his pawsteps fell. While the mud crept up to his knees and occasionally his paws sank into soft ground he managed not to fall on their way to their destination. When the green eyes finally lifted from the ground when their pace slowed his stomach twisted. Blanching he came to a complete stop, "Here?" The word left his mouth before he could control it. Swallowing hard he realized his mistake and glanced away before sputtering, "I mean of course here, I...I mean... right." Closing his maw firmly he felt the heat creeping up his neck and waited for Vesper to duck into the den so he could follow.

The resistance created by the mud only made walking that much harder for the duo. It took a little longer than Vesper would have liked to reach the safety offered by the communal den and its dry interior as the weight of their steps caused them both to sink to some degree into the softening soil that was better described as a mucky mess by this point from the unrelenting pelt-age of rain from above. A copper hued ear pivoted sideways once their footsteps slowed by their own doing and Draven's voice broke out above the wailing weather with a Here? that sounded far less enthused than the regal patriarch would have expected. Turning his head toward the boy a brow quirked toward the stormy sky above as the boy went on to sputter an attempt at correcting his former statement. Now what was that all about?

He would question the hiccup later but for now his main concern laid in getting them both inside and out of the nasty storm, molten gold irises scanning the boy's face for just a brief moment before slipping into the welcomed warmth and dryness of the communal den. After shaking the unwanted water from his pelt gingerly Vesper's paws maneuvered their way about the slumbering bodies of his other subordinates and children, avoiding outstretched limbs and tails that easily begged to be tripped or stepped on. "Over here." His voice just a few octaves above a whisper directed at @Draven once his eyes adjusted enough to the darkness to spot an opening near a cavern wall large enough to support both of their frames while being secluded just enough to give them some privacy to talk.

Draven's flushing only got worse as he caught sight of the quirked brow and the way that the alpha scanned his face. Green eyes dropped and remained firmly planted on Vespertio's mud soaked paws until he saw them move into the den and the yearling followed obediently. While the older man walked with confidence to a relatively uninhabited spot the dark boy was much more cautious. Each step was placed carefully so as to not step on anyone who might be slumbering nearby and as quietly as possible. Still every time his weight shifted it seemed like his paws made an awful squelching sound as the mud smeared across stone beneath him.

Vespertio's voice broke his concentration for a moment as Draven's gaze rose, taking a second or two to truly adjust to the darkness of the den. Finding where his frame lounged he increased his pace slightly, though still timid about not only stepping on someone but also of splashing mud or water all over them. The yearling took his place next to the patriarch in silence, doing his best to appear comfortable even though he would have been much happier in the seclusion of the infirmary. The green eyes looked about hopefully, even the sight of Namid or Neha would do something to calm her nerves. Unfortunately it was too dim to truly make out the forms of who was who and his nose was still too full of water to distinguish. Awkward silence it was then.

"Do you enjoy it here, @Draven ? Fallen Tree Cove?" Vespertio wasted no time in beating around the bush, aiming straight ahead to address the concern that had began to sprout within his mind. The young male was a mysterious character to the agouti patriarch, outwardly knowing him to be respectful, but knowing so very little of his newest member. Something that needed to change. Despite the unrelenting rain and streaks of lightning across the navy blue sky, Vesper knew what he saw out there and the signs of one uncomfortable and to have a member possibly feel uncomfortable among pack mates that should be viewed more as family left him feeling unsettled.

Pale eyes focused on the dark silhouette of the boy at his side, the dimness within the communal den making it hard to pinpoint just what type of expression would come to rest on Draven's facial features. The boy; from what he had noticed in passing, had grown fond of his daughter Neha enough so to appear more comfortable around her than him. While it was true the power the tawny man radiated could come off as threatening, there was not an ounce in his old soul that wanted them to feel so threatened they couldn't come to him. Even for something as small as a casual conversation.

@Vespertio feel free to pp Draven falling asleep to fade the thread!

Draven's eyes raised in surprise, looking Vespertio dead in the face before remembering his manners and looking away politely. Tilting his head slightly he paused for a moment before nodding, "I like it here very much sir, I'm just... not used to sleeping in such tight quarters with everyone else." The yearling paused, stealing a glance towards the tawny expression to see how this would go over, silently praying he wouldn't dig any deeper. The last thing he wanted to explain was his mother's death that tore apart his family and his pack, separating everyone into pairs and small groups. The Lagina couldn't remember the last time he had spent the night so close to so many.

Deciding instead to change the subject on his own he continued, "Namid has been very kind, so has everyone here. I hope I can be as helpful to your pack as I possibly can be." He might have continued rambling on and on in an attempt to steer them from their previous topic but his words were cut off with a yawn. Walking was still an exhausting task for Draven and tonight it had been even worse with the mud holding him back. Realising he couldn't very well make it to the infirmary now he settled his maw upon his large paws, fighting to keep his eyes open.