Cedarwood Forest Teddy Bears Picnic

@Joan, but also welcome to @Kara, @Ophelia and @Felix

They had spent the night prior, down by the lagoon, and now with the sun beginning to set once again, their mother was out hunting for something for the young wolves to eat. At first, it had been so exciting! They were leaving the Monadnock behind, off to meet their infamous Nonna Elettra, but the spring had quickly left the young man's step. He hadn't realised just how far the journey would be. To be sure, it was more than informative, learning about the loud noises underbrush made when you were in pursuit of a meal, the solid wall of a tree trunk, hurting just as much as the stones of home - if you didn't care to watch where you were going... There were hills to climb and rivers to cross, their fast current almost too much for the young wolves to bare and their mother had gone on to tell them that in the winter, such rivers would freeze, and then swell in the spring. The thought of them flowing any faster was enough to deter the boy from stepping foot in anything he couldn't see the bottom of anytime soon.

And now here they were, the towering Cedar trees blocking their path to Secret Woodlands... whatever that was. Sure it sounded interesting enough but the young Archer could only assume it meant more trees that blocked the stars. He missed his tundra view, how much longer until they got home? Mother had warned them to stay put but of course, they were going to move just as soon as she was out of sight, long legs weaving this way and that. Scents began to criss-cross in a most peculiar way and the dark wolf stopped, lifting his head high to peer past the invisible line. "Hmm..." Well now, wasn't this peculiar?

Coding and image by becuffin

@Odin :D. Also still tagging @Kara @Felix and @Ophelia

She could never place the inescapable feeling that she woke with so often that something was going to happen, that she was on the cusp of something fantastic. It was not every sunrise that she was plagued by the sensation, but for several days now she was wracked with the sensation of impatience even though she did not know what she was impatient for. Often the only way to distract herself was to walk it off, which was not something the girl minded: Ophelia, always barely tolerable, was growing to be completely overwhelming; and her brother was more wrapped up in himself than ever. That left Joan to be the productive one, going out to look at the borders and sniff the scents and learn about the world that they lived in.

But the tips of her guard hairs were tingling now: it was happening. Or at least, it felt like it was happening. But what? The girl lifted her nose to sniff the air, not necessarily catching anything remarkable when she was so deep in the territory. This compelled her to walk outwards, towards the borders, the only regular source of excitement and wonder. She was sure she'd smell something different there.

Instead she smelled a boy. A weird boy.

"Why d'you smell so weird?" she said, one paw draped over her snout as if she wanted to keep herself from inhaling any more of his offensive cologne. "Did you roll in deer poop?" She asked as if these questions would answer the much larger ones she didn't think to ask: who are you and what are you doing here. That the boy looked lost was taken for granted. She thought he only looked like he was out of place, though she had no idea what other sort of place he'd be in.

Joan @ ~8 months: Adult fur and winter coat grown in, eyes are now grey, nearly adult sized. Human age ~11-12

Joannie was acting odd. Ophelia had grown used to the predictable nature of her elder sister and delighted in throwing her off her game at every available turn. But when the gray pup began to head away from the den with a wanderlust that didn't seem suited to her, the pale princess was content to sneak after her, practicing hunting techniques that Auntie Nine was teaching her. Stay low to the ground. Downwind. Don't make any noise.

It was the last part that was difficult for Ophelia. Not that she couldn't walk quietly. Rather, she had a hard time keeping her mouth shut and not shouting out judgements at Joan's decisions for places to explore. That way to the right looked way more interesting, but of course Joan kept to the safer looking path on the left.

When first her sibling spoke up, Opie was sure she'd been found out and nearly barked with annoyance that she didn't smell like poop! Joannie smelled like poop! Except, then she caught the scent as well. It didn't smell all that bad to her. More like...well, she didn't know. But not poop.

Catching sight of the boy, the pale princess's ears flipped up high on her head. Hey, hey! Who was that? Who was that, was he messing with her sister?! That was her job and no one else's! Opie broke free from her hiding place in the brush and raced straight for the boy. He was bigger. And, as much as she hated to admit it, stronger as well. Even tackling at him with all of her might with a fearsome protective growl, she hardly moved him an inch. Still, with her forepaws braced against his chest, she stared at him boldly as if her attack had been something to truly fear. "Don't you hurt my sister, mister, or you'll regret it!"

The appearance of a strange girl caused the boys ears to fold against his skull temporarily. Perhaps he should be getting back? Figure out just where his sister was... but her words drew him in, ears rising once again as a quizzical expression painted itself on his silver ticked face. Well, I mean sure, he had rolled in deer poop (it just smelled so interesting! He wanted to see what @Kara thought), but that was back before their mother pushed them through the Cut Rock River, more 'training' she had said, and if he had still smelled of poo then surely Kara would have told him... wouldn't she?

Just as jaws parted to retort that she was the one that smelled funny, the scent of cedar and crushed pine so sharp it burned his nose, a blur barrelled towards him, colliding with his chest and pushing him back. Once again his ears fell flat, though now lips pulled back to reveal teeth with a warning growl. When no sharp pain followed (the sort he would expect from his own sister with her persistent nips and tugs), he relaxed his stance a little. "Why would I attack your smelly sister?" He finally questioned, "An' you better watch out, my sister is around here somewhere too. She's a whole lot scarier than I am..." Sure it was a bluff, but this little girl didn't know that. He thought of stepping back to let the pale girl drop, then thought better of it. She was the one that ran at him, after all. Instead, he simply leaned back and sat to make it clear to any casual observer that he was hardly the instigator of this little tussle.

Coding and image by becuffin

Their mother had left to go get them some food and as soon as she was out of eyesight Kára and Odin had grinned at each other. They were mostly good pups but even after such a long journey they didn't want to just sit here when there was so much to see! These new forests were the perfect setting for a game of hide and seek, something that was a lot harder to do on the open tundra. There were so many hiding places here that it was much more exciting. The girl had dashed off to hide but after waiting and waiting and waiting she had abandoned her place, where was Odin?

Nose to the ground and tail waving above her happily she did her best to follow his trail, a skill she had been practicing a lot at home. It didn't take too long but the scene she found when she pushed through some thick foliage was enough to make her temper burn. Her brother might be smelly sometimes but he had just taken a bath in the river!

Blood boiled at the sight of that other girl pushing her brother and without a second though Kára ducked her head down and ran full tilt. The goal was to head butt the strangers ribs and send her flying, it worked sometimes with Odin even though he was bigger if she did it right. Her brother may have resigned to sit down and not escalate the situation anymore but the girl wasn't so level headed.

Coding and image by becuffin

sorry about the wait :c I'm gunna try to be better about joan @Ophelia it's your turn. fyi: I am okay with Kara's tackle landing on Joan.

The boy looked a little upset by the question, and the girl's ears folded backwards slightly, realizing that what she had said was actually pretty rude. His smell was just so hard to stomach though, so unfamiliar. The strange boy's mouth was opening now like he was going to push out a retort, however he never got the chance.

As if in a trance, Joan barely flinched as a pale form flew past her shoulder and out towards the boy. Instead she felt a twinge of annoyance: she had to admit she was not surprised Ophie had followed her, but why was her sister always trying to ruin everything? However, Ophelia had not stopped at the borders like Joan had. The wild sister had decided she was going to attack the boy, and Joan was overcome with dismay and confusion, suddenly ripped from her daydream-like state that had dampened the brunt of her emotions, "What? No!" she screeched. The boy hadn't hurt her at all. He'd barely done anything. And he just looked so big compared to Ophie, stupid Ophie, who was screaming in his face. "Ophie what are you doing?"

The boy was calling her smelly now and she rolled her shoulders and shook her coat. But she'd take the insult if it meant preventing the situation from escalating further, though it was sort of ambiguous if whether or not the boy was making a real threat or not. He clearly hadn't thought about attacking her, yet he had this scary sister of his apparently. Was that just a front? She blinked, taking him in again. He was big and well-fed. What did a boy look like if he had a sister? Probably not any different. She frowned.

While the boy was in the process of sitting down and Joan was about to let out a small sigh, the encounter began to unravel all over again: he did have a sister. She was a brilliant sunset color and her head was down and she was—oh no! Ophelia had been so stupid for starting a fight over nothing, but now that there was clearly some real danger here the Flameheart could not just sit back and watch. "Stop it!" she shrieked, throwing herself between the "scary girl" and her sister. "Every body just stop it!!"

Joan @ ~8 months: Adult fur and winter coat grown in, eyes are now grey, nearly adult sized. Human age ~11-12

"I ain't scared'a nobody!" Ophelia declared, her lips wrinkled up as if the insinuation was possibly the most offending thing in the world. Definitely more offensive than his smell. That wasn't all that bad in her opinion. Sure, it was different, but it was new and therefore automatically deserved investigation. Or would have, were the smell not attached to a belligerent boy!

Right on time, the boy's sister made an appearance. Immediately, Ophelia had a swelling of interest. The girl's coat was the most unique she'd ever seen before in her life. Born in a pack of mainly grays, the russet color held her peridot eyes in thrall. Not only her appearance, but her attitude as well brought forth a sharp-toothed grin to the smallest Macieo. She liked her. Fearlessly charging after her in defense of a sibling; they were kindred spirits!

And then Joan was in the way defending her from harm, Ophelia knew, but she couldn't help the surge of annoyance that sprang from it. She could handle herself just fine! How many times had she proven that to both her siblings? Just because she was the smallest and the youngest didn't mean she was any less capable! With her sister now in trouble, the pale princess turned her eyes back to the boy whose chest she was braced against with a scowl. Unkindly, she made to chomp on his ear in retaliation for his sister's actions against Joannie.

jfc Ophelia - you're the belligerent one who started all this. @Odin, @Kara, @Joan

@Kara you're up!

Everything happened so fast. His sit seemed to be timed perfectly for his sister to break free of the undergrowth, crashing towards him with her chin tucked, a blaze of light in the oppressing dark of these stinking trees. Knowing just how hard his sisters headbutts hurt and seeing the strangers teeth aimed right for his ear, the boy reflexively tried to shuffle backwards, but with the Ophie one's weight on his shoulders he toppled backwards in a flurry of paws and fur, the sharp sting of teeth unavoidable as the girl gave him a tug for good measure. Eyes were squeezed tightly shut as he tried to turn to land chest down with a grimace, the boy cringed as he waited for his sisters impact but all he could her were scrambling paws. Whether or not she found her mark would be a mystery to uncover later.

He echoed the first one's calls to stop, "@Kara get off!" he demanded reflexively with eyes still tightly squeezed shut, unsure if it was her weight on his flank or if they all had just happened to tumble in a mishappen dog pile with him on the bottom. Paws scrambled, unable to gain any traction in the blasted needles that littered the forest floor. "Oi! Let me up!" he demanded again, now not even sure anyone was pinning him down or if it was simply his own flailing limbs failing him. Peach eyes cracked to glance rather sheepishly at the other wolves that were gathered, paws sweeping aside the needles to try and find some dirt so he could drop whoever might be holding him down (if they even were).

Coding and image by becuffin

@Joan

Kára had been intending to hit the smaller one who had taken her place leaning on Odin but with her head tucked down she didn't have the best vision. The pup came charging in with all her might and grit her teeth as her skull collided with a mass of fur. There was quite a tumble as the pair of them went ass over teakettle before landing beside each other in the dirt. Grinning at her accomplishment the Archer leapt to her feet turning to the girl she had just tackled and declaring, "Stay away from m'brother!" It was then that they grey eyes blinked in surprise at seeing that she had unintentionally pummelled the wrong girl.

Turning in confusion back towards her brother just in time to see the girl she had been trying to hit taking a chomp at Odin's ear. Hackles rose along her fiery spine and her tail flew to attention the way she had seen her mother's do when someone was in trouble. Taking a couple of steps forward she lowered her voice in a way that she hoped would be intimidating but somehow still came off like an upset girl on the playground, "'ey! Get off 'o 'im!" Somehow along the way the girl had picked up her mother's harsh and sloppy way of mixing her words. It might not work well in all situations but in this one it just might come in handy.

Coding and image by becuffin

(This post was last modified: Nov 15, 2016, 04:19 AM by Kara.)

i am trying a phone post so this will be short and awful

Joan shouldn't have been surprised when her command for ceasefire went ignored, but she was. The firey girl hit her like a boulder, sending the silver girl to the ground instantly. Just before her head hit the ground and the lights went out her eyes were jumping, searching anywhere hoping to see that Ophelia was safe. Then everything was black, if only for a few moments. When her eyes creaked back open she could not be sure how long she had been lying on the ground for, but she was awake to hear the strange-smelling cubs demanding for the boys release from-- oh god.

Maybe when she was older, she would laugh about this.

Instead she saw Ophelia with her teeth in the poor boy's ear. Escalation was the last thing she had wanted. She wasn't even sure how they ended up here in the first place. Her head hurt. "Ophie you get off him right now. Or I'll tell mom" and, hoping to show the smelly boy and sort-of rude girl her willingness to extend an olive branch, she turn to them and added, "I'm sorry, she's just a bit wild... ya know."

And, looking around more sheepishly before suddenly finding the courage to ask, brightly, "D'you wanna be my friend?" She'd never had a friend her age before who wasn't Ophie or Felix.

Joan @ ~8 months: Adult fur and winter coat grown in, eyes are now grey, nearly adult sized. Human age ~11-12