Willow Ridge don't close your eyes

RE: Willow Ridge, an uninvited stranger has been to your communal den!
@Nicolò @Elettra @Adele @Sven @Enoki @Ravenna

Attica heard a scary 'monster' coming towards the main communal den while she was playing, and ran to hide in the grass. Once he was done terrorizing their den, she crept back to investigate.

This new home was overwhelming to the Archer's senses. When she had been with her mother, it was just her, Attica, and occasionally Sven -- though the majority of that time was spent alone entertaining herself. Now, there were all kinds of wolf smells, in and outside the large den. A giant improvement compared to the hole that her and her mother had lived in. Wolves came and went and she did her best to stay out of their way, slipping in between cracks in the rocks for adventures, her forced independence the only thing she had known up until now. Sven was the only one yet to have sought out much of her company since the large black wolf had carried her here. Sven was the best. Her thoughts drifted to her favourite chewing stick..

The sun hadn't gotten too hot yet today, and so the cream and black coloured cub was entertaining herself in the tall brushes surrounding the outside of the rocky den. She was on her side, attempting to swim through the grasses with her disproportionate legs, rubbing her muzzle against them as she did so. The smells and friction against her thin fur was a wonderful sensation, and it was turning into a rather entertaining game. Plus, she got to feel hidden and secluded, like she was in her very own cosmopolis island adventure. The blissful ignorance would have been happy to continue had it not been for a change in the sound of her surroundings, as well as a rank, foul smell drifting into her tiny nose.

Immediately, she shot up from her frolicking position and froze in place. Her tiny ears pricked, she weighed the options quickly if this would have been one of those times that her mother would have told her to run and hide. This did not smell like the safe wolves that normally inhabited this area. The unfamiliarity of it all to the new cub caused her to turn and hug the ground as she darted further into the grass, nearer some of the rocks for climbing if need be. Though not so sharp as to mentally note it, the silence that had fell on the forest other than the heavy, methodical crunching of footsteps gave the girl shivers. She would hide, she would hide like she had learned and she would not be found, just like she had been taught.

......

Her body hugged the ground for a long time, and there were a few moments when she thought whatever large creature had decided to scrape around inside the den had found her, the disorienting recent thick pack scents around the den likely being her only saving grace for being sought out. Her fear only trickled away softly after what seemed like an eternity had passed, but the sooty female was unable to bring herself to move. The air still stunk of monster, and he could be waiting for her quietly. Where was Sven? Where was her mother? They would find her, like they always did. She would stay like a good girl; she would not be found and taken again. Her nose remained tucked in between her paws hidden beneath thick brush behind the den, shadowing her into complete camouflage, save for the whites of her eyes showing as she watched through the foliage with fear, hoping she did not see a monster move over her. She would stay, she would not be found.

Sven was a bag of mixed emotions these days, but really the only calm waters in his life had turned rough a while ago. Hecate disappearing like she had stung, for multiple reasons. He tried not to be surprised, but like always he'd put too much faith in a woman who proved only to be a snake. He worried too for Attica, if she would experience everything he had after his mother vanished. He didn't want her to, prayed that something would be different in her life, but then Skoll had taken off and Sven finally learned the only wolf he could trust was himself.

Himself and Attica. It would be them against the world, he supposed.

Heading back to the main den, he had every intention of picking up the little girl to take on an adventure. Father hadn't been gone long, and he wanted to make sure she didn't feel lonely or abandoned. Even in the midst of a pack, this pack specifically, a bastard did not merit attention. He had learned that first hand.

Approaching the communal site, it was odd that Attica's scent emanated not from the den but foliage nearby. There was also, something else... Not at all shy, Sven stuck his big gray-splotched muzzle into the leaves and grinned toothily.

"Found ya. Whatcha doin hiding in here?"

(This post was last modified: Aug 05, 2016, 05:07 PM by Sven.)

Their numbers were dwindling, causing just enough concern for Nicolo to worry. Skoll had, once again, run off, leaving Sven the only other male within the Willow ranks. While Nic had, at first, admittedly been wary of the boy, he proved to hold all the redeeming qualities that his father was lacking. Thus far, the dark Archer had not found any reason he couldn't trust him and he hoped that the two could come to a sort of mutual agreement in the future. It had come to a surprise to him when the boy had not left with Morganna and ever since then, he was continuously being pleasantly surprised. The most current one being in the form of a child. It had not been long since Sven brought Attica to Willow Ridge and the alpha hadn't the time to check in on the girl since her arrival. Today he sought to remedy that and he finally made his way towards the communal den. Whenever he passed by, the girl's scent was strong and so if he had any hoped of finding her, Nico thought it best to start there. As he arrived, it became clear that he would not have to travel far at all. Attica's scent heavily permeated the area and he could clearly see his nephew's form poking around the leaves. That was not what bothered him though, another scent was in the air. Not nearly as strong as the wolves that laid claim to the lands but it was still present enough to cause unease. Shifting, he cleared his throat in an attempt to draw the gathered's attention. Nic was still there to check in with the girl and see how she was adjusting to the pack life, if they could even call it that anymore. He would have to make a mental note to check the surrounding areas to make sure there were no dangers. After all, it seemed that Willow Ridge did have a future that had to protect within their borders from now on.

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If the Archer princess knew what a heart attack was, she would have been convinced that she was having one now. She heard another approach above her, this time it seemed destined for her hiding spot. Her heart drummed in her tiny chest and once she saw the monster's shadow encroach, she decided imminently that she would have to run. She had just made a move to bolt when she heard the rustling in the leaves that caused her to look over her shoulder. Her ears pinned back across her head, she had only meant to know what was chasing her, but it only took second for her to recognize her brother, and for her demeanour to completely melt away into a new one. 

"Ven!"

Relief washed over the pup before she was overtaken with affection and excitement that he had found her. She was safe! Her tail wagged a mile a minute, and her figure slunk under him and through his legs over and over. Relieved whines escaped her mouth uncontrollably as she licked and pawed at her brother thankfully. How did he know how to find her? She had thought herself so well hidden in her puppy mind. Well, maybe the monster was too stupid to find her, but not her big brother! He was so brave, he probably scared the monster off! She wiggled and whined over and over, stultifying her image, pining for his affection. He was all she had to hold onto these days in the midst of the unknown, and she would never know what to do if she lost him too.

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Not that Sven had really dwelled on the matter before, he if asked he certainly wouldn't have predicted that getting along with children would be within his bailiwick. Clearly however, he had some kind of proficiency at it, as Attica seemed to adore him. This greeting was a little more enthusiastically relieved than normal though, and with a laugh he bowed down to nudge her affectionately before asking, "what were you hiding from?"

He had to wonder if the scent of badger had anything to do with it. He couldn't remember a bad run in with one of the beasts before, but then he'd never met one at her age. Had it come after her, or maybe just the unknown had triggered her fight or flight instincts? Regardless, he suddenly cared a great deal more that the beast had dared to wander into their camp.

A sound behind him caused his head to jerk up then, pale gaze thrown over his shoulder to land upon @Nicolò. Oh, it was just him. Sven gave him little notice, not particularly inclined to give a hello. The man had protected him when he was in need, but he'd yet to truly trust any of the adults to not treat Attica with the same cold shoulder as they had himself when he was her age. So he turned his attention back onto his sister, to hear her answer instead.

He picked up on the initial conversation, though there was not much to go on. While his nephew looked back to him, he was not acknowledged and it hurt Nicolo's pride slightly. He would have liked to think that progress had been made between the pair since their last meeting. A small frown made its way onto the man's lips but other than that, there was no other sign of the dark Archer's displeasure. He remained silent, also pleased with waiting to hear the small child's response. If there was something wrong, he did not want to make the mistake of ignoring it. When Sven was a child, Nico obeyed the laws and stood clear of him but now as the alpha of Willow Ridge, he could certainly change how things worked within the willows. Perhaps he was trying to make up for his sins in the past, for he certainly felt guilty. After all, Sven was family and so now was Attica. They would need to work together in order to have stability within the pack and within time the Archer hoped that his nephew would begin to trust him. A broken pack could only do so much.

WesternStock @ DA, KYghost @ DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief