Willow Ridge the secrets i keep

Evening.Set about December 29th before @Sven travels to OTB, before Renier has leadership. Leaving marks/patrolling 1/3

Renier Lyall
waking up the ghost

The rogue paused, head cocked to the west. Gold eyes tracing along the blue sky where he noted the sun was drifting closer to the mountain. It would still be a while longer till it slipped away into night, and he had plenty of time to thoroughly patrol. It wasn't like the dark bothered him any way .It just made his lonely walk more cold. What else was new?

With a huff he pushed himself into a slow lope, quick breathes tugging from his open mouth. He made his way to the edge of the territory ready to make another round to mark their borders. He had noticed while the Archers may still roam, they were still grieving the loss of their sister. If he could at least reinforce the boundaries of the Ridge, they would have a little less to worry over.

He raised up, raking his blunt claws along old marks on a great willow. Satisfied the mark was fresh, he took a step back to admire his work. Then heard the sound of another. He stepped away, craning his neck to see the white figure. He didn't have to think twice to know it was Sven. "Care to join me?" He would gladly take his help. There was something he wanted, he needed to tell him.

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 09:58 PM by Renier.)

Adele's death was different than Isolde's had been for the boy, certainly. Yet still, he felt nothing in comparison to the grief that his remaining family was experiencing. What had bothered him most about it all, was the effect that witnessing their aunt's corpse had on his sister. The rest of it? Well, yeah, it had taken a night or two to get used to one less body. Adele had never been an antagonistic presence in his life, but she'd also never been close to him. He'd had wolves that meant worlds more to him leave without notice; by now, whether it was disappearing under the cloak of night or passing out of existence entirely, an absence was an absence and he was all but numb to it.

So while the others experienced their emotions, he carried on his routines. Hunting as the caches and the pack's stomachs needed, and doing rounds across the territory to keep their scent markers fresh and ensure that nothing, wolf nor rival, crossed onto their grounds, were his most typical pastimes. If @Attica was not at his side, he at least had a good idea of where she was and who she was with. Once or twice, he had ventured north alone to visit his horde.

Tonight, he thought to make a lap or two before settling into the main den. His sister was already tucked away with her grandmother and @Ravenna. He hadn't necessarily meant to run into Renier, but he didn't mind the man's presence either. Catching his scent and spying him ahead, Sven jogged to meet him.

"Yeah, sure," he agreed, not bothering to stop as he met up with the man. No use standing around, even for a brief moment. He headed toward the base of the nearest Willow beyond that which the male beta had just marked, and hiked up a leg.

"How's it goin'?"

Marking/Patrolling 2/3

Renier Lyall
you can set yourself on fire

Happy to have company, his tail gave an off beat. While @Sven would leave his own mark on the same tree, he quickened his step to a buck thorn bush to do the same. Feeling it was time to continue, he kept step with the Archer.

"Okay, I guess," he began, catching his gaze from the corner of his eye. He wondered if he found it hard to remain in the territory with the gloom as well. "Figured best to give another round before night. I find it a little hard to sit." He did not mention because of the mourning, even if  it was part of it.

"What about you?" He had taken on a role neither of his parents had, and he had noticed how much he frequented the borders, and kept caches full. Picking up the pace, the next willow tree came in sight, but he did not rush to mark this. Instead he stopped, letting Sven at it. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell him. He had long debated if he should. But, the Lyall felt he would soon be two, and might as well know Attica may not be his only sibling. He could decide what he would do with the information.

It seemed they had another tree down, and trotting to the next he finally spoke. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 10:20 PM by Renier.)

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

Sven guardian dem 2/3

That seemed a pretty honest answer, Sven surmised. 'Okay I guess' was probably the best any of them could be at any given moment, as the misfortune never seemed to really stop around the Ridge. That was their normal, what Sven had learned to settle for. He had thought once that he could change that, make things better. Now, the young Archer had fallen into a lull, and rather than the pack as a whole, he cared mostly for improving the lot of his nonna and his sister. As for the restlessness, well, that was familiar too, for maybe different reasons. Nothing he wished to delve into at this moment.

"Same," was his casual and unelaborated response. Taking Renier's subtle cues, he passed the man by to mark the towering willow at its base. He rubbed each flank against the rough, snowy bark to leave his scent before moving on with the other man.

It wasn't until the Lyall spoke up again that Sven's interest was fully piqued. That wasn't something usual to be said. His pale gaze regarded his company, the boy pausing a moment before asking tentatively, "yeah, what is it?"

Marking/Patrolling 3/3

Renier Lyall
you can set yourself on fire

"Same." It was a single word answer, but it said enough. He'd venture to guess Sven had not been particularly close to Adele either, and they both felt out of sorts with the other's grief. As they walked he noticed how close they were in size now. He wondered how far the line of comparison stretched, and where it halted.

At the next tree he mimicked the Archer's motion, by rubbing along the rough edge of the tree, and then took a seat. He had not planned to go much farther, and since he had his attention now was a good a time as any. He let out a silent breath. "It's about your father." The word felt odd on his tongue, as he didn't feel Skoll had been much of one. He guessed he would be classified as the same even though he believed the circumstances different.

So he began his tale. "Before the pack split there was this terrible storm, and I got caught out in a cavern with a wolf named Ella." He began, hoping in turn that he would sit. Gold eyes fell to him, watching closely. "She's mostly silver, with bright blue eyes from Oak Tree Bend she said. When she realized I was from the Ridge she asked me about a Samual Lyall. Apparently, he was the father of her coming brood and she had a message for him." The little details could prove important, he continued. "No such wolf I told her, and so she gave description. There was no one but Skoll that fit." He did not add more letting him put it together.

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 11:05 PM by Renier.)

Sven guardian dem 3/3

When Renier took a seat, Sven merely stood still, watching the tawny Lyall with controlled apprehension. That it was about Skoll made the teenager's stomach sink, but then again when didn't it all lead back to him or Morganna? Wanting to be nonchalant, he merely quirked a brow as the other man paused. When he carried on, the story gave him a sense of deja vu, and by the mention of Oak Tree Bend, he already could assume where it was heading.

Except, when his aunt had told it, the woman's name had been Catori. They must have both been using false names, it would seem. He wasn't as caught off guard by this as he had been when first told, but Renier having a similar tale to share only confirmed what he'd been hoping might be a mistake, and it felt like ice had settled at the pit of his gut.

'Fucking hell, Skoll.'

As he always did when faced with his father's fuck ups, Sven immediately grew restless. Without a word to his company he moved on to the next tree, and hoisted himself back onto his hind legs to dig at the bark with his dull claws aggressively.

He had to do something now, didn't he? Figure out who the mother was, make sure that she was even still around... what if it was already too late? What if something horrible had happened to his other half sibling while he'd been wrapped up in Attica? He couldn't put it off for much longer. He needed to ask @Sahalie.

Renier Lyall
you can set yourself on fire

For holding the blood of an Archer, Sven seemed to take it rather well. Least outwardly, there was nothing there Renier could see. He wondered if he'd heard such rumor before. He didn't ask, he held his tongue, earnestly watching. It was obvious he had to feel something as he stirred, drifting to the next tree.

The Lyall silently followed, watching as he began hacking away at the bark. Wishing he knew what the youth was thinking. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," he murmured. "I thought he'd be the one to tell ya." He had to refrain from cursing the wolf, and instead let out a rough huff, briefly resting his gaze upward on the branches of the tree. He was aggravated in what had been left behind for Sven. Didn't understand the Archer's absence, but he felt he would never really know what made him or his sister tick.

 Renier imagined the lady still lived there, and must be all right. If they'd kicked her out, he had a feeling he would have seen her again.

"You could take a trip and find out. Don't you have a friend that way?" He dare ventured to say, adding, "It seemed to me if she was going to be thrown out they would have already done so, and she'd be over here some where." He was trying to be helpful, as in Sven's place he had no idea what he would want to do.

(This post was last modified: Feb 09, 2017, 08:29 PM by Renier.)

When he could dig no deeper against the tree's solid grain, he huffed and fell back onto all fours. His eyes remained trained on the white dig marks he'd left behind, even as Renier spoke up again. The apology was strange to hear, but it was the thought that Skoll would've ever shared his indiscretions with his son that made the boy scoff audibly. Anyways, Renier seemed to have hope that the situation could be more positive than the gloom within Sven's mind was willing to consider.

"Skoll doesn't admit to his fuck ups," he clarified briskly, before moving off the subject of his father altogether. He had walked way, chosen not to have anything to do with this, and so Sven wouldn't pretend he was anymore a part of it.

"Morganna told me the same thing y'know, except the woman's name was Catori. Never heard of her or an Ella from Halie."

God, the off-chance that they weren't actually the same wolf and he had two estranged lovers to track down...

"Yeah, I'll check into. Been due to introduce Atty to Halie anyways. Make sure... they're being taken care of."

And if they weren't... ? Sven didn't want to conquer that headache tonight, though deep down he already knew what he would do, despite the consequences. His pale eyes finally regarded Renier.

"Thanks."

Renier Lyall
you can set yourself on fire

His ears did not miss the scornful sound. He wasn't surprised at the displeasure. Skoll had left not only Sven, but Attica, and whatever other children he'd made. Wasn't exactly someone to miss.

The white Archer seemed to want to make it clear on the issue. Renier was only reminded of other Archers who seemed the same. Never finding fault in their actions.  "You're right about that," was all he could say in turn.  He knew the father and son had bond, and it was the only reason he had felt Skoll wouldn't keep it from him. What closeness there had been harshly burned away.

An ear swiveled the mention of Morganna, carrying the same tale. A different name, and possibly woman. Great. Were there more? He couldn't begin to imagine how many lovers the black and silver Archer could have found last spring. He guessed they would soon find out.

Whatever emotion the young man had seemed to fall back. A simple agreement to find out for certain. If he had trouble they'd cross that bridge then. Those silver eyes fell upon him, a single word said. He barely nodded his head in turn, though felt his gratitude was unnecessary. He hadn't done any great thing. He knew whatever trust Sven had had for him had eroded when he had pursued Morganna. He was still trying to gain it back, prove himself.

"You know, whatever happens, you only need to ask for my help." He would do whatever he could for him, and wanted him to know it. Believe it. Who could blame him if he did not? Let down too many times.