Grizzly Hollow breathe with me underwater

Oula returns, anybody welcome :)

The full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the cedarwood in an ethereal blue glow that clearly lit Oula's path ahead. It seemed not much had changed, the snow draped forest looking as much as the same as she'd left it a month ago. 

Oula's wet black nose skimmed over the frosted ground, inhaling the scents of her packmates among the perfume of cedar sap.  It seemed that there was a small silver lining to all this, that at least none of the others had been taken away as well. Though the mother noted with bitter disappointment that Joan was still not among them. Her resolve faltered, she'd left and returned empty pawed, earned nothing in return for all the time she'd been separated. Even though it wasn't by choice, guilt gnawed at her. It was her own foolish actions that lead her into the situation in the first place.

But the thought of seeing her packmates and family again spurred her onward, her stout limbs breaking into a run that kicked up snow behind her, glittering in the moonlight. She paused at the top of a crest, stopping only long enough to lift her head, a wavering howl twisting up into the starry sky before she was on the move again.

Feeling like there was something more to do then keep an eye out for Oula, Amaryllis decided to go out of the borders and see if she could find any clue of Oula at all.

But before she even made it close to the borders, a familiar scent caught her nose and a wavering howl rang in her ears. Her eyes widened. It couldn't be-? Whirling around in the snow and hurling herself towards the howl, Amaryllis could hardly believe it when she came across the familiar figure

“Oula?!” Amaryllis barked as soon as she laid eyes on the other’s form, instinctively looking her over in case of injuries. With her tail held high over her back as it swished rapidly behind her in an excited wag, Amaryllis bounded forwards to meet her. “Oh my stars, I’m so glad to see you! Everyone’s been so worried and on the lookout for you, ever since a wolf came and told Veho he had you.”She wasn’t going to say what Veho had said - using her as bait, because she felt like that would make Oula feel worse then she most likely already felt.

“You’re not hurt or anything are you?” Even though there were no outwardly signs of any kind of injury, Amaryllis still felt like she had to ask, just in case.

(This post was last modified: Mar 14, 2017, 09:23 AM by Amaryllis.)

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

It was no small secret that Ophelia was a brat. She prided herself on it, in fact. But she was different since @Oula had gone missing. She was the first to bring up the fact to Daddy and Papa, the first to suggest looking for her. To no avail. Any search turned up nothing and Ophelia always felt like a step behind.

But hearing her mother's howl at the borders had her jolting from a restless sleep in the den and scrambling to her paws to leap over @Felix, accidentally land on @Pip's tail, and stumble over @Rook in her mad dash. Despite the resulting sleepy grumbles, Ophelia didn't slow down as she ran full tilt. In fact, she hardly slowed down at all by the time she reached Mama, crashing in to her with excited yips and nips and whines. Ophelia licked at her mother's face and tugged her ears, brushed her shoulders against hers, every greeting she could think of at once to show her immense relief. It wasn't at all like the last time Mama had returned home. This time, Ophelia made sure it would be different.

Tears danced on her lashes while her tail couldn't keep from wagging. "You're okay, you're okay!"

Startled from sleep by the pup crushing her tail underpaw, Pip sat up and looked around blearily. She felt so tired lately, she didn't understand. Her visits with @Kjell didn't carry her so far that she should be in such a state, but she was hardly in a position to question it. Belatedly, she realized who the howl she'd barely heard in sleep belonged to and understood the reasoning for @Ophelia's hasty departure. @Oula! She was back!

With some effort, Pip stood and shook her coat out before stepping tenderly around Rook, though she did gently nudge his rump with her muzzle in warm greeting. She worried for him. He still seemed to keep to himself and she had to wonder how he even felt about Oula's return in the first place. Was it odd for him to see her and @Veho together? Is that why he left in the first place? She had no way of knowing or asking, so she simply worried and tried to always make him feel welcome and beloved.

The little sea wolf followed Ophelia's trail at a far more sedate pace. By the time she reached the woman, @Amaryllis was already there and the little princess was falling over herself to get closer to her mother. It warmed her heart to see the difference in the pup now. Though she still didn't trust the girl with concerns to herself, it was nice to see the changes she was making for others.

Pip dared not approach Oula while her daughter was so near, but did wag her tail happily and smile kindly. It was a relief to see the warrior woman safe and unharmed at least on the surface. Dipping her head to Oula, the little female then toddled over to Lily and licked at her muzzle in warm greeting as well.

The howl had stirred Veho from his restless slumber, but it was the clumsy flailing that really dragged the man from any dreams he might have been enjoying. (Or loathing, perhaps. It was hard to tell as he blinked stupidly into the darkness, watching his daughter’s fleeting form with a muted sense of alarm. Whatever dread he felt before was failing quickly.) It was without thought that the male alpha followed after Ophelia – though he was much more careful, even as other wolves around him seemed to stir and wake – and despite this, three of his packmates seemed to beat him to the punch. To Oula’s side.

Oula.

His heart thundering in his chest, the monochromatic wolf loped to the woman’s side, careful to step around Ophelia as she greeted her mother. Pale eyes looked the woman over, searching for signs of trauma and injury – but he would wait to ask. It was wrong to ask her to divulge in front of half the pack. “I am so glad you’ve made it back,” he rumbled – safely, he did not, for he could not make the assumption. The stranger that came to his borders still danced across the shadows of his mind, and he did wonder how she’d gotten away. If this man would come after her again.

But, later.

He turned to Amaryllis, rumbling his pleasure that she’d returned. “Could you alert the others?”

@Amaryllis

As Amaryllis form sprung from the forest before her, Oula's stout limbs lunged forward, her short tail swaying quickly behind her. She was happy to see the familiar face, and gave a submissive greeting in stepping forward to lick the underside of Amaryllis' chin. Oula's blood froze in her veins at Amaryllis' next words. Though her leader did not give a name, Oula knew immediately who she spoke of. He had found her family, he knew where she lived and would soon discover she had escaped. Would he still pursue her? Oula felt sick to her stomach and dizzy, and she inhaled sharply. It would be okay, she was here to protect her family now, and she knew what danger hid within that yellow-eyed stranger. The wolf could no longer hide behind his sheep's clothing.

Hurt? No, not physically at least, aside from scraped paws and a couple of torn nails. She was tired and hungry, and her spirit was heavy, but she would make it fine. "I am fine, but how is..." Oula was about to say before she heard more paws running towards her, her ears pricked and sage eyes flicking up to see her daughter running towards her. Oula braced herself as Ophelia crashed into her, covering her daughter's face and crown with kisses in return for her exuberant greeting. Oula also noticed Pip's approach, smiling and woofing gently at the mute who did not approach.

And lastly came Veho, a soft sigh she hadn't realized she'd been holding easing between her parted lips. "As am I," She breathed, leaning her temple against the neck of the man beside her. She wanted the stillness to last forever, and hated to break it with more troubles, but she couldn't hold back her question. "Is everyone else safe? And Joan... She still has not returned?" She asked hesitantly.

Slowly, a few others arrived after Amaryllis - First Ophelia with Pip trailing after her in a more sombre tone then the excited pup’s greetings towards her mother’s return. Gently greeting the omega by bumping her shoulder with the other, she turned to watch Ophelia prance around her mother excitedly. The pup was overjoyed at the fact her mother had returned and it almost broke her heart to think how Ophelia might be like if Oula hadn’t returned. But her thoughts were pushed away as she turned towards Veho as he arrived and headed straight towards Oula, as he checked her over, like Amaryllis had done when she first arrived.

Warmth filled her heart at the sight of the family finally reunited, though part of her felt like this should be more of a private affair with the three wolves.. So when Veho turned and asked her to alert the others who had yet to arrive, Amaryllis smiled and nodded. “Of course. Pip, did you want to come and help me?” Looking towards the young girl, she tilted her head towards where the direction of the den, thinking perhaps instead of letting out a howl, they could allow the trio a few moments of privacy between themselves while the others were fetched.

As @Veho arrived as well, Pip's ears fell back in discomfort. His greeting was loving and warm, but it felt secret as well. The little mute saw the way his eyes raked over the warrior woman for injuries and had to look away. With her lack of speech, the girl was adept at reading unspoken language between others that most would completely miss. It felt too much like eavesdropping to continue observing, so the girl politely focused her attention at her paws shyly instead. As curious as she was to know of Oula's misadventures and her unfortunate meeting with that Azar wolf, it was not her place to know until she was told of it. Divesting answers from shared looks seemed an unfair advantage.

So when Veho turned to Lily and requested she fetch the others, the mute leaped at the opportunity the woman provided upon asked her to join. She wagged her tail in gratitude to the woman for, if not sensing her discomfort, then at least reaching out and throwing her a lifeline with which to rescue herself.

Eager to allow them their privacy, Pip actually began trotting ahead of Lily and looked back with a flick of her tail in encouragement to invite the other female into a rare race. It had been a long time since the pair had hunted together and she missed the easy camaraderie they shared back then. It would be nice to have it once more.

Mama's kisses were warm and welcome and all too rare which only made them all the more precious to Ophelia. The girl basked in the female's presence which was an abrupt roundabout to her reaction to Oula's previous return after an extended stent away. This time, Ophie knew her mother had been kept away against her will. Seeing her know was a balm to the girl's hurting heart and she was grateful she came back intact.

As her Daddy stepped around her, she couldn't help but add a playful rump bump to his rear in encouragement for him to share in her elation instead of just staring at Mama with those worried eyes. She was here in front of them, after all! He didn't have to act all misty-eyed and anxious! Her pale green gaze glittered brightly, happier than she'd been in ages.

But that brilliance had to be fleeting. With all the grace of a marmot falling from the crook of a tree, Ophelia's demeanor shifted from elated to snarling annoyance. "Of course she's still gone. She said she was leaving. She's not coming back." Though she tried very hard to not let it be known, Ophie took her sister's departure as a personal affront. Her larger sister, bossy pants that she was, hadn't even bothered to tell her her plans before just up and leaving. Sure, they argued a lot, but they were sisters! She would have told her if she planned to leave. Would have boasted it, in fact.

As Pip and Lily made haste towards the rest of the pack, Ophie stared at her mother with pity and more gently added, "She'll find her own way." Though she was still cross with Joannie for what she did - and crosser now to see how it affected her parents so - she wanted to provide her Mama at least some comfort on the subject.