The Wildwood my machine heart

for @Leotie only.
Random Event: There is an active change in the Northern Lights! The sky lights up in greens, blues, and even shades of purple.

So much had changed since the last time he had ventured north. Sven had taken his time to mourn, @Attica his only comfort as he otherwise sought solitude from the others that might have tried their best but ultimately had failed Elettra, just as he felt he had. It was a difficult time, and his heart ached with a pain that felt permanent. He couldn't recall if he had missed even Piety as much as he now did his Nonna. Yet as time passed, the emotion began to ebb away, slowly but surely.

There was no guilt in moving on. Sven Archer knew only resolution.

His paws took him farther than the grove as he sought Leotie and her company's scents. No more waiting and wanting; his second birthday was now less than a month away and he would waste no more time in preparing for what was to come. This was a first step, not at all tentative. He would fulfill the promise he had made to the woman before branching out to her pack mates.

A pack, that's what it would seem they now were, he was discovering as he traveled deeper into the Wildwood. Their markers were concentrated and bold; boundaries had been set up. He had already sent up several prayers that their presence proved beneficial to the long-established Ridge. With the Caverns just a relic memory and the Hollow still despised by the pale boy, peace with these new neighbors was deeply wanted, and if they could eventually regard the wolves as allies, all the better to strengthen the Willow pack back to what it once was.

In addition to all this, though? He still had questions for the blue-eyed girl. Personal ones that might require friendship first. Hopefully, his own judgments and reservations would not step into the way.

The sun was all but set, dusk settling throughout the woods and awakening the crepuscular prey he intended to share with his sought-after hunting partner. Above him, the northern lights were already visible, their colors more vivid and varied than usual. Perhaps it was the cold, still air that was allowing the vision to travel so determinedly. The hues danced atop the snow and over the varied growth, slumbering and charred branches alike absorbing and reflecting.

He'd already discovered that elusive warren; he need only fetch the girl and they should have no issues meeting their goal.

Catching her scent trail at last, he zoned in, and once he'd drawn close enough, he chuffed into the air, beckoning for her to meet with him.

Enough time had passed that the injury to her food had fully healed though it did still pain her slightly at times. It might be a sharp pain through it or a full ache that continued and on those occasions she did have a small limp. It was something she could certainly live with instead of something worse that would keep her from her work within the pack. She was still choosing to take it easy so had been keeping her duties light since the incident and resting the rest of the time. She was sure that was best, rest now and make up for it later when she was ready to start doing more. That was how she saw it and as long as she had a goal in mind she would be back to her old self in no time.

Her morning had been a walk along the borders which helped to not only stretch her legs but also to get her strength back. With resting most of the time the last week or so she needed to do a little to get back into shape. In the mornings she usually walked to warm herself up and I'm the evenings slow lopes. It had taken some time to get there but she was feeling more and more confident each day. There were also the walks she took away from pack lands into places she knew to be safe, now that she had faced her fears and we're starting to really get over them she refused to go backwards. The agouti woman would not allow herself to become locked inside the borders once more too afraid to venture away from them.

She loved Charred Ash Draw and everyone in it and she wouldn't want to end up with them like she had at the bend. While she might not have ever in a million moons thought this was where she'd end up when she left with Triell she was more than glad she had made that decision. There were still things about leaving that when she thought about them that saddened her and even made her want to crawl back just to fix them. It wasn't something she could do then but made silent promised to one day take care of it. She did not regret a single day what she had done, she had become more than she'd ever been since leaving and part of her had to think Ruenna.

With dusk coming upon them Leotie was making her last pass of the borders, it was going quickly and she felt her paw was doing better. There had been very little pain in it that day which pleased the agouti woman immensely. She slowed her pace slowed as she noticed the colored dancing across the snow. This drew her gaze up to the sky to see they had originated from there. It was a sight she didn't often see but it sometimes reminded her of her human den and how she could see them there. Her ears flicked back when the chuff reached them a pleased smile crossing her maw. His scent also hit her as she turned to meet him at the border, she crossed the short distance. A chuff in greeting left her as she came into the open and right out to where he stood waiting.

“It's good to see you again Sven, I have been looking forward to our hint especially these last week's," she said smiling and her tail swishing rapidly behind her. This would be her chance to really get to see if her foot was better, could she handle what it would take to chase a rabbit down. Leotie felt she was ready for the challenge and had found herself hoping for Sven's visit. She also wanted to share with him the recent developments that she had not been able to elaborate on before.

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(This post was last modified: Feb 07, 2017, 07:42 PM by Leotie.)

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

She was quick to come to him, face as fresh and bright as he remembered it. That smile, so genuinely kind, was a warmth that threatened to thaw the ice he had become. It didn't manage to do so just yet, however. Straightening his posture, his tail gave a few polite wags as a gentlemanly smile appeared on his own muzzle. It felt good that she remembered him, his name and his promise, and even better that she admitted her anticipation for the event.

This was still, firstmost, business.

"Oh? Why the last in particular?"

Maybe things had gotten a bit boring around this forest once they'd decided to settle in it for good. Sven wouldn't know, he wasn't familiar with how it felt to have itchy paw pads. As she answered, he nodded his head in indication that she should follow him and took off at a trot. They had some distance to talk before they would need to be quiet, as the warren was just on the edge of the Wildwood.

The lights above continued their sporadic casting, moving through his pale coat and overtop the snow he punctured with each step. It was easy to get lost in following those colors, but while his moonlight eyes danced with them, his ears were turned and finely tuned toward Leotie.

Having too much time on her paws to think her hint with Sven had been more on her mind so when his pale coat came into view she couldn't help the enthusiasm she felt for their hunt. It felt like it had been so long since she'd had a good hunt. Leotie was glad that her foot was feeling well enough to go in the hunt with him, she would have been disappointed had he traveled all this way and they couldn't go. Mostly though she was glad to see him again and get the chance to talk to him.

Her tail swayed behind her as she approached him his question reaching her ears as she crossed the border. “Well, I haven't been able to do much hunting lately and am glad that you came just as I'm ready for a good hunt.” There plenty more reasons she was happy he'd come but there would be time for that later.

His invitation to follow was gladly accepted, as he trotted of she matched his pace the smallest hint of a limp present in her gait. “Where are we off to?” She asked as he seemed to have a determined path in mind. While waiting for his answer Leotie did take a moment to notice that traveling at their current pace wasn't bothering her foot much at all, this pleased her greatly. The pale wolf beside her had remarkable timing she had to admit.

The agouti woman had also taken notice of how the colored lights danced across Sven's pelt much as it did the snow below their feet. It was a strange sight his temporarily colored pelt that for a moment she watched as it changed colors. What she wanted to tell him however she didn’t want to wait any longer, “Things have changed for the group,” she stated, “But I suppose you figured that out.” Since he had stopped at the border.

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(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 01:33 PM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Not able to do much hunting, hm? Momentarily he broke himself away from the spell of the northern lights to look at her. The bounce in her step was slight but still noticeable, and it took only a cursory glance to realize she had a minute limp. Sven could surmise this was what had kept her, unless it was an old injury she'd always had and he simply hadn't noticed when they'd met. Anyways, if it was something she wanted to discuss she most likely would've spoken of it already, and so he chose not to pry, instead accepting her answer simply as it was.

"I tracked down that warren we were both smelling. It's right along where the Wildwood turns into the Grove."

So they had both been a little bit off, but not by much. If they hadn't run into each other, only one of them hunting the hares, they probably would've ended up finding it. Ah well; this was decidedly better.

Especially when, without prodding, she turned the spotlight back onto the subject of her pack. His gaze bounced to meet hers once more, a wry smile crossing over his features.

"Yeah, you guys seem pretty settled. It's all official now, I take it? How're you liking it?"

While she felt she was ready to get back to hunting chasing rabbits would be a good way to know for sure. She would either regret the decision to go with Sven or she would not and unfortunately she was afraid the only way to be sure was to get back out there. She has been lucky that all she'd suffered was a wound that had fully healed. There was still a small twinge when she walked and especially if she'd been walking a lot but it wasn't anything she couldn't tolerate. She expected that would go away in time so it didn't worry her, she was just glad she could get back to her duties.

As for where they were going, “So it's close to where we met,” she stated, “No matter, I would rather us hunt them together then alone. Hunting is so much more fun with a partner.”

Now that she had a little more information to give him she felt she should especially if there was a chance at a pack alliance as well as a friendship she started the conversation about her pack. Sure that it was okay especially since he had found out when he came to get her.

“Yes we are official now,” she said a smile crossing her features. “It's been a few weeks but we've been busy getting the borders up and a den together. All the work isn't done quite yet but we are getting more and more settled everyday. I like it very much, I feel like it's where I belong.”

Leotie didn't want to talk only of herself and her pack though. “How have you been?” She asked since she hadn't seen him in awhile and she did want to know if all was well with him.

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(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 03:02 PM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

He'd given a small nod as she surmised what he had discovered, that they hadn't been far off the mark that first time. And when she went on to say she'd rather hunt them with company anyways, he couldn't help that another smile slipped onto his lips. She really was quite friendly, wasn't she? He had to wonder what made wolves like her and Sahalie, what vast difference there was that could birth him and them in the same cold world. Maybe it was just nature, not nurture, and he'd never stood a chance to begin with. Ah, but he hated thinking that way. He would continue to hope that his father's blood wasn't the poison it might be.

As she continued on to talk about the newly formed pack, his senses tuned back into direction seeking. He needed to make sure he stopped them both before the rabbits could pick up on their presence, and not just trample right onto the hunting grounds. The talk of it taking so much time was a curious notion who had always known nothing other than what was already established, but he supposed it would be a lot of work starting from scratch. That she was enjoying it all was of course a good thing to hear, but what meant something was her final statement on it: that she felt it was where she belonged.

Was it possible, that someone might find that other than where they were born? He would suppose he would just have to wait and see how long this all really lasted.

Then she had the courtesy to ask him how he had been, and once more he found himself relaxed inch by inch as her kindness persisted. It was a breath of fresh air, and as much as he hated to admit it, he'd missed that dearly since Sahalie had vanished.

"I've been good," he responded with a charming grin. It was a lie; his heart was broken still over his grandmother's death. But he did not want to share that part of his life, and so he wouldn't give her any reason to fuss or pry.

"I'm gonna turn of-age in just a little over a month. I'm pretty excited."

This statement too came off as simple, innocent mirth. He couldn't share with her all the desires that had built up that he might finally be able to realize once recognized as an adult by the pack, but just that was enough to delight in, wasn't it? What teenager couldn't not wait to be all grown up?

"We're gonna be neighbors for the long haul then? Glad to hear it," he redirected. The boy had never been overly keen on discussing himself, after all. Yet not a moment after his words were spoken did Sven realize how close they had gotten. Instinctively his crown ducked and his steps slowed to a sneak. With each step closer, the scent of hare became more and more apparent, and he doubted that Leotie wouldn't pick up on it as well.

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 08:06 PM by Sven.)

Knowing now how close they had been to the warren the first time didn't disappoint her in the way she had thought it might. The warren would be there until it wasn't so it easily could wait till this day. She would much rather wait for Sven and them hunt them together, it would be much more fun that way. It was more than that though, he’d made her a promise and she wanted to give him the chance to fulfill it, it was only fair. Outside of the wolves she called packmate and family she did care to be friends with Sven and Jim keeping his promise led her to believe he wanted that too. While this all could be pack relations she didn't believe that was the case, he didn't have to make that promise in the first place.

Before she had been unsure of what would happen with her group but now with the decisions made it only seemed right to update him,"We call ourselves Charred Ash Draw," she added thinking he might be curious what the packs name was. So as they moved across the snow in the direction of the warren she told him of their work in creating their home. How busy they had all been but most importantly how she felt like she belonged there. Helping to decide on being a pack and setting borders and even starting pack hunts, these were things that were all new to her. It felt right though, like she had finally reached a place in her life she really was capable of the things she hadn't been before. It was only more proof she'd made the right decision.

Kerb was right though blood or not they were family and they needed to take care of each other. For the first time in her life it didn't bother her so much not knowing her own family.

Leotie felt it rude though to keep going on about herself and her pack. It was important to make sure to see how he had been and if they were ever going to be friend he needed to know she did care about his well being.

A smile crossed her maw once more as he told her he'd been good, “I'm glad to hear that you are well.” A lot could happen in a few weeks or even days. It was a lesson she learned over and over with her injury and what had happened at the bend. He spoke about his birthday coming soon, “I would be too, coming of age is a big step in life. If I don't see you before then happy birthday,” she said happily. Leotie hadn't ever thought about when her birthday was, it just hadn't ever occurred to her and like her family it was something else she would never know.

“Yes, it looks like you're stuck with us and I hope we are everything you hope for in neighbors,” she only half joked. If things went well with their packs they could very well become allies. It was only a moment after this that she saw the change in her companion. She took that as her hint to lower herself and slow her pace, the rest of the conversation would have to wait until after the hunt.

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(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 08:16 PM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Sven hunting post 1/3.

Happy birthday. He hadn't gotten one of those before. It felt like a good omen that this year he would, and he imagined once Attica knew of it she would be glad for him as well. Things had gone so wrong, but he was so close to setting them all right, and he had to take pleasure in that. They all had to be able to move on.

Amiable smiles and pleasantries aside, it was time for the hunt. Leotie noticed his body language and fell into line beside him, slowing her own pace. Cautiously he led the way, picking through the bare brambles and winding between the cold tree trunks. Sven had plenty of experience in hunting small prey, often catching something once a day or, at the very minimum, every other. It had started as gift giving, a childish desire to bring his pack back together through good will. Now it left him with well-trained senses and quicker reflexes than one might expect a wolf of his size to possess.

They were white as the snow, but their black tipped ears and beady eyes still gave them away. Sven stopped altogether as he spied them, grouped and meandering from outside of their burrows, readying themselves to utilize the twilight fully. They would just now be coming out of their breeding season, but the left over hormones still had them abnormally active. With a glance to Leotie, the teen gave a nod. He wasn't used to hunting with company, but he had a good idea of what to do anyways, and assumed she would as well.

As he moved in one direction, he expected that she would move in the opposite. If they sprung from opposing sides, they would hopefully startle their prey into one another.