Wild Rye Fields A happy reunion?

 @Sahalie @Jessie @Drestig and @Phoenix too I assume? Backdated to the 11th

Finally, they'd made it. The ragged terrain of the tundra shifted into softer, rolling hills that were now blanketed with several feet of snow. The long rye stalks were smothered beneath and out of sight, but if Askan pushed hard enough he could feel the grass frozen stiff under his paws. Absently, he smiled to himself and the soft, pleasant familiarity that came with the sensation. This was where he belonged. He was home. He felt good. Better than he had in days. 

It then dawned on him that he wasn't alone, that Sahalie was following close behind, so without delay he schooled his expression into one of its usual calibre. Grumpy, bitter and maybe a little bored. He hadn't bothered to howl at the border, as this was his home, there was no need to knock. He assumed the alpha's wouldn't mind it if Sahalie passed into their lands, after all if they did why would they offer the invitation for the Bend wolves to visit? But even so, Askan wanted to give his alphas time to prepare. So as he ploughed his way through the snowy fields he tilted his head up and let out a call, as though to say 'I'm back, bought company.'

It didn't take long for the Rye Monarchy to appear, their dark coats making them stand out stark on the snow. Askan paced to a stop and glanced back at his ward. Job done. Surely the King and Queen could take it from here, and he doubted that though they would want him to stand about listening in. Not that he had any interest in that. He was ready to have a quick nap. Some alone time to cleanse himself of Sahalie's chipper aura. When Drestig and Jessie and trotted to a stop in front of the unlikely duo, Askan finally broke the prolonged silence.

"We'll talk later Drestig. I'm beat." Askan excused himself with a swish of his tail and polite, reverent nod to his alphas.

With that, he cast a quick glance at the Bend wolf and made his way towards the den site. 

Askan exit.

(This post was last modified: Dec 28, 2016, 04:48 PM by Askan.)

Acknowledging that this is after their trip to WM but glossing over it because the thread is still in progress.

It had not been long since their return from their meeting with their neighbors. Surely, it was only a matter of time before Askan returned, hopefully, with good news in tow. Jessie tried not to think too far into his return, not wanting to admit how desperate she was to hear about Oak Tree Bend. While she may have left so many months ago, part of her heart was still on the other side of the mountain. Nothing she could do would ever change that and she was sure that a part of Drestig knew that. Part of her wanted to go over the mountain to talk to them on her own, but she knew that considering what happened, it would be best for her to remain with the pack. After all, she was no longer a traveling diplomat, those times far behind her now. She would also be lying to herself if she said that she had not been staying within the borders waiting for the news. As soon as Askan’s voice traveled throughout their lands Jessie was quick on her paws. On her way, she ran into Drestig. A small smile was directed his way but her mind was somewhere else. They moved together, Jessie picking up the pace as they neared, her heart beating frantically in her chest. Someone was with their subordinate. Emerald eyes fell on none other than Oak Tree Bend’s Sahalie. The woman was quick with a reaction, ”Sahalie! It’s good to see you.” The grey woman did a quick sweep of the area, hoping to see, or better yet scent, Triell. While she did not visibly show her disappointment, she could feel it within her heart. Had something happened? Askan was quick with his departure, acknowledging Drestig. She would surely be present at their talk as well, wanting to know what had occurred on the other side of the mountain. For the meantime, the Bend’s only pup from last year would keep her attention. It had been too long since she had seen anyone from the Bend, but the fact that Sahalie was here and Triell was not stirred her deeply. The Tainn hoped that the man would have come, especially knowing where they were, but deep within she had to admit that as a leader, one could not always take the trips they wanted to take. Jessie dearly hoped that this was what kept him from visiting. Jessie Tainn

feainne-stock & Dawnthieves.de

@Drestig or @Pheonix

Sahalie didn't really understand what made this place Wild Rye Fields. There was nothing exceptionally wild about the gentle snowdrifts that stretched on forever, unbroken to the north except for some strange, lone monalith of stone rising in the distance. She had assumed Rye was some sort of plant, but there was none to be found with all the snow. What a shame, the girl thought, for the land to lose its namesake over the course of the seasons. Oak Tree Bend was always Oak Tree Bend no matter what weather or time of the year, instantly knowable by the great, knotted Oak. She hoped that this field was beautiful in its own way, in its own time.

Askan lead her straight through the borders and she inhaled the comforting scents of old friends, though in her heart she was worried how time might have changed Drestig or Jessie. Would they still like her? They had extended the invitation, but maybe it was not her they wanted to see. But all fears and worried were alleviated the moment her two former packmates crested a hill and she could see the joy in Jessie's step. The grey woman seemed almost weightless. What a change from her somber movements nearly a year ago in their sleepy, misty forest. "Jessie! Drestig!" The girl was wiggling at their feet, bouncing up to lick their chins. They deserved this now: not only did they out rank her in seniority, but they were leaders and this was their home. "Askan was nice enough to show me the way, even when I made him stop a thousand times," she giggled. "I'm glad you've got a wolf like him to rely on." He was strong. She was sure he was a good packmate.

"So much has changed," she said, still breathless even though she had not been running. The girl didn't even know where to start. They had a daughter now. And Oak Tree Bend had a thousand cubs. And, and... It had all flown out of her head.

He hadn't closed an eye all night, the howling winds through the pines like a lullaby compared to the fears tumbling around his mind. How could things have gotten so bad? What had they done that deserved this? All I wanted was peace! Finally he'd given up on getting any sleep, leaving the den to hopefully let Jessie and the others get some rest. Patrolling the borders seemed a proper way of contending his worries, though if it came to blows, a mere line of scent would do little to protect them. Sometime after sun rise, hunger had driven him back into the territory, to seek out a cache; At least those are reasonably stocked… Small victories. Now he was sitting in the shade of the tree line, dozing in the cozy warmth of his winter pelt. Or at least he had been, until a familiar voice woke him, causing a grimace to cross his face. Askan was back, which meant no more postponing of what had to be discussed. Or very little more at least, since the call mentioned visitors; From Oak Tree Bend?! A whole fresh knot of emotion churned in his stomach as he quickly got to his feet, shaking out his fur with a swift motion. Then he set off towards his second's call, and after a few steps he was joined by Jessie, the same nervous excitement radiating off of her. Her smile was returned before they continued, making their way through the snow at a hurried trot. What they found once clearing the last hill send a thrill through the alpha, a bright smile spreading across his face; He couldn't have imagined a better guest. A laugh bubbled from his mouth as Sahalie called their names, her voice sweet music in his ears, and his eyes glowed down at her as she ran to them. Jessie was quickest to greet the girl though, and as she did, Drestig's gaze swept briefly to Askan, a curt nod given to the man as he retreated; "Rest. We'll talk later." Then he had no more mind for the lad, all his attention back on their visitor as he received his own, jubilant welcome. "Halie," He hummed warmly; "I've missed you so much!" His muzzle went to nuzzle her scruff, a new, happy chuckle falling from his lips. "I'm sure it has," He then answered, pulling back to meet her eyes; "You'll have to tell us all about it. Now come, let's go back to the woods, I want you to meet Percy!"   Word count: 425 Thoughts ”Speech”

kuschelirmel-stock @DA & Dawnthieves.de

@Drestig

Seeing Sahalie just reminded her of what was coming. Her comments about Askan brought back memories of their trip to Whitestone Monadnock. Emerald eyes burned in the direction Askan took off in. He would hear an earful from her later but now it was time for her to spend time with Sahalie. The girl, now grown, was quick to greet them. A small smile grew on the Tainn's face, nudging the girl's cheek with her nose. It was good to know that it was not just Triell who missed them. The happiness of their visitor faded with her final statement, her smile flattering. Changed? Before she could make a comment, Drestig was quick to escort Sahalie deeper into their home, desperate to show of their beautiful flame. Eyebrows furrowing, she kept in pace with them, her mind racing. Had something horrible happened after they left? Everyone had stayed there, they had plenty of members, but that had been so long ago and anything could happen within a sort amount of time. Like a tree falling on you. As they made their deeper into the Rye territory, Jessie snuck a glance at the young girl. So much bigger now compared to the small thing that had tried to comfort her during mourning. Surely, there daughter had to be around here somewhere. But she was not around yet and that was valuable time to get some information out of Sahalie. Her voice was hesitant when she finally spoke, not knowing if she wanted to actually know what the answer was. "Is it good change?" The pepper-and-salt colored woman did not dare take her eyes off of Sahalie, watching her for any slight clue as to what was going on in Oak Tree Bend. Sure, she did not deserve to know what was happening but she was still family and cared about everyone's well-being despite being away for so long.

foxstox @DA & Dawnthieves.de

(This post was last modified: Mar 26, 2017, 07:23 AM by Jessie.)

@Drestig

Woods! Sahalie was glad that they would not be venturing out farther into the tundra, the open sky spooked her in ways that she could not explain. But more than anything Sahalie was glad to see that truly they had missed her, even with a daughter to distract them. Percy! Askan had not mentioned the name. The girl's head whipped back and forth between her old pack mates and the comforting embrace of the trees that closed in around them, hoping to catch a glimpse of the cub. She was curious to see what sort of wolf came from the mix of Dretsig and Jessie's temperaments, though she hadn't thought a lot about it until now. Months ago, in the dead of last winter, Sahalie would not have even dreamed of the two wolves being together. They had both been scouts and had both been close, but, she and Alastor were close and—

So much change indeed!

"Uhhh, well," the girls mind rapidly began to backtrack through the paths like deer trails in her mind, back to last winter, "Geez uhm. Some good, some bad, some I'm sure you won't know what to make of. There were a lot of cubs this winter. Spieden had two, Triell had two with Naira, and Aponi ended up having one," though the girl had not dwelled much on the circumstances that had resulted in Aponi's pregnancy—or, really, Spieden's—"And they've been all such a joy to take care of... Uhm.. And then I guess.." After the winter and the spring there was the summer. "Over the summer my dad got hurt in a hunt. Put him out of commission and Serach stepped up. But I think my dad enjoys retirement, and Serach is doing okay as a leader. The pack is just as bustling as ever, we've got so many wolves." Often she forgot how many. "Darrah came and went again, though he brought a friend, one of Dad's relatives, Kinis' daughter." Would either of them have known Kinis? Sahalie was not sure but she did not want to with-hold anything that might have meaning to her old pack mates.