Whitestone Monadnock although you got beaucoup family

Early morning, the beginnings of heavy snow, 20 ° F, -7 ° C. Open to any packmates!

Almost immediately something felt different about this time than the last few attempts he'd made at pack life. The leaders had shown their authority with decisiveness instead of outright throwing rank and provided him a trust that the stilted male did not intend to abuse. The monadnock itself was something he'd never laid eyes on before - probably the weirdest structure in all of Relic Lore, standing alone like a boulder in the sea that was the vast lowlands. This way of life was certainly different... but different seemed to suit him, so far.

Winter held fast this year, stubborn to the core and too proud to leave. Irritation twisted in his gut as he made his way down the monadnock out onto the base of permafrosted landscape ahead of him that it was still as cold as it was. He was demurely hopeful that Piety's pregnancy could outlast the winter, but they couldn't be sure. Not to mention that prey wouldn't return to the tundra if the snow kept up until June. Even now the sky had gone thick with winter clouds, precipitating a light but constant flow of flakes that threatened to turn worse with any moment. But he had given his word that he would do whatever necessary to ensure the success of this litter, and sitting out the snowfall in the communal den was not an option.

The thick winds that blew across the tundra ensured that the never-ending landscape was not silent, but deafening all the same. His tarnished gold gaze cast about the hazy expanse, blinking rapidly as errant snowflakes attempted to blind him. With a shake of his tall frame to release the layer of cold already clinging to him, he set off head held low to the ground. Dark nose twitched as the Attaya moved at a glacial pace, sweeping the tundra for any scent trail left by prey. He intended to return with something to cache or something to catch, even if it took him 'til sundown. 

Compared to recent days, this morning's weather was practically balmy. The temperature was higher than it had been in weeks and, despite the snowfall, Wraith had the feeling that it wouldn't accumulate much if the pattern continued in such a positive direction. Or perhaps he was just giving in to wishful thinking that Spring might actually raise her sleepy head and banish Winter from the lowlands.

On his dawn patrol, the black brute's ears perked higher as his spine stiffened, spotting a large wolf slinking around up ahead. Wraith relaxed as he realized it was their newest member. Trying to earn his keep already, the leader thought with approval. So as not to startle the man, the northerner woofed a low greeting and trotted over to join him. In his easy way, Wraith  brushed his shoulder with @Rowan in affectionate hello.

"Good to find another who prefers to wake before the sun," he rumbled amicably. "Mind if I join you?" While hunting together was unlikely to allow them to catch anything bigger than perhaps a stray mountain goat, Wraith wanted to take the time to get to know Rowan since he'd left upon the male's arrival the day before.

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

The winter was starting to seem never ending and the snow continuously falling getting deeper around the territory and the tundra.  Cheedo worried for Piety’s litter if the prey numbers didn't increase soon.  Having been through a pregnancy herself she knew what the alphess was going through.  Having grown to care about the pale alpha and her mate the small agouti didn't want her to have to go through what she'd had to.  Even after two years the loss of her children still haunted her to the point she didn't want to risk losing her children again.

To keep the mother-to-be healthy Cheedo knew she would have to eat so she did what she could to bring back as much food as she could.  If she couldn't catch anything she would scavenge any carcasses she could find. That was what she'd done that morning after having no luck catching anything.  She'd happened across a deer carcass that hadn't been picked entirely clean so she taken what meat was left, why let it go to waste when her pack could use it.

Dragging the meat back she was approaching the Whitestone border when the scent of a wolf caught her attention.  It was strange, his own scent she didn't recognize yet he carried the scent of her pack.  She felt that it must mean he was new member which she felt she should become familiar with.  So she followed his scent until she finally came across him and it seemed Wraith had joined him out on the tundra.  The small agouti let out a bark to get their  attention, she needed to try and be more social.

(This post was last modified: Apr 19, 2017, 08:52 PM by Cheedo.)

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

Wraith's voice cascaded across the empty tundra, prompting Rowan to lift his head from the ground and watch the male approach. Though they were both of tall stature the Attaya was sure to shrink as his Leader approached, legs bending to place himself lower. As his black-coated leader brushed his shoulder against him Rowan pressed into the touch, reaching out with his lowered muzzle to swipe his tongue beneath the dominant male's chin. His low-hanging tail gave a wave, only straightening his posture as he was addressed with a comment and a question.

"Not at all," he responded with a quick nod. Truthfully he did want to get to know the leaders better, as well as he could get to know the subordinates of the pack. As a yearling the boy had been contented to live in the shadows, never fully immersed in the action as it had not been his place. At this point he knew better. "I've not been able to pick up on the scent of any prey yet. Seems that even the dumbest vermin haven't been fooled by the long winter. But I'm optimistic... the snow has to end."

He dug his claws into that optimism like a cliff they were all about to bowl over, because truthfully the Attaya was quite done with this shit. Again he scanned the surrounding expanse, squinting against the flurry of snowflakes that were either getting picked up by the wind more, or were getting denser. He held hope for the former but realistically they were headed for yet another snow storm. In the haze of the winter weather he nearly missed the small form approaching them, unsure if it was his imagination playing tricks on him until the apparition barked at them.

Cheedo came in to view, dragging with her a chunk of deer that was old but still good. Compared to Wraith and Rowan the agouti she-wolf was about as teensy-tiny as a wolf could get, but she carried what she could with strength. Impressed by the female's findings he trotted closer to her, dark brows raising. "Nice work, Cheedo. Was there more left where you found this?" He glanced at his two companions. Between the three of them they could certainly scavenge a whole deer carcass.

(This post was last modified: Apr 20, 2017, 02:09 AM by Rowan.)

adopt thea?

Hunting Post 1/?

A rumble of approval greeted the newest member of Whitestone as he showed respect without being overbearing about it. Wraith nodded in understanding, empathizing with the frustration associated with the relative lack of prey of late. He had been on the verge of suggesting they try finding some of the mountain goats a bit farther north near the cliffs, but @Cheedo's bark pulled his attention away. Spotting the budding scout, he woofed a welcoming reply as she dragged her find over.

A quick sniff confirmed that while the meat was a few days old, it kept well in the cold and would suit the pack - and its eternally starving queen - just fine. "Impressive," he added on to @Rowan's comment on her find, offering the small female a gentle smile. She was quickly coming into her own, Wraith realized. Without Mittani around for her to use as a crutch, Wraith was proud with the efforts the shy woman was making towards integrating with the rest of the pack. As for Rowan, he didn't foresee the male having any trouble with the way he interacted so readily with Cheedo.

They were good, solid wolves, he thought with pride. And without the choking weed of the Morelli man hanging around like a threat, they would become stronger still. Only a moon ago, Wraith had been struggling to help Morganna keep the pack together in Craw's absence. Now, he was leading it alongside his mate with a nearly entirely new roster. If he had been told he would be lead even then, Wraith would have scoffed at the idea. While self-doubt still remained, he was getting the hang of it all.

"If there's not," he rumbled, "I imagine the three of us could head closer to the cliffs up north. The small herds that are around like to use them as wind buffers. With the snowfall for cover, I imagine we could manage to catch something." While scavenging was all well and good, he had in mind a more fruitful meal for the day - and days to come.

(This post was last modified: Jul 02, 2017, 11:33 PM by Wraith.)

Hunting post 1/?

It wasn't an easy task dragging the deer meat she'd been able to scavenge from the carcass being a wolf with a very small stature.  She'd managed to get close to her pack's territory but the scents of her packmates caught her attention. Especially that of the new member, she had yet to formally introduce herself. Though the thought of it all did make her a little nervous she thought it was important that she got to know Rowen a little better. Letting him know that he was welcome in the pack was also something she felt was a good idea.

When she'd finally caught up with them enough to see their figures through the falling snow she barked to get their attention. As she drew nearer to them she could see they had stopped to wait for her.  Once she was in front of them Rowen was praising her for the meat she had with her, “Not enough to save,” she told, “It was mostly picked clean save for this.” Being that the deer had been dead a couple of days the coyotes had enough time to take what they wanted.  It was a lucky find and one that would serve the pack well though it would have to be eaten quickly before it couldn't be eaten at all.

Wraiths woof sent her tail swaying behind her and she was pleased that he too seemed happy with her find, “Thank you!” She said in response to his praise.  What interested her more was the idea that Wraith had of catching something on the cliffs.  “I'm in the mood for a good hunt.  I'm sure between the three of us we could more than manage to catch something,” she affirmed looking between the two men. Her hunt that morning had been rather disappointing, the small agouti preferred to have successful hunt especially now with food being so important to the pack.

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2017, 06:07 AM by Cheedo.)

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

minor PP of them all heading toward the cliffs - Rowan smells pronghorns but they're still out of sight. Feel free to PP him in your posts as well for extra smooth RP~

Rowan couldn't help the heaviness in his chest that there was indeed nothing let to scavenge save for what Cheedo had brought back. And she had brought back plenty enough for one wolf. It was just that he'd been so hoping for a miracle to give them the push they needed to ride out the extra long tail of winter. Of course, it was a foolish hope that he was able to quickly bury, opting instead to turn his cheek toward Wraith's suggestion. He hadn't scoped much of the northern cliffs yet but the wiser male's suggestions were quickly noted to memory. This tundra was full of surprises, and he was willing to bet on a happy one if they headed that way. Cheedo as well voiced her concurrence, starting a low and steady wag to set into the Attaya's dark tail. "Shall we, then?" Rowan prompted, and without any dissent he started the group toward the cliffs.

Upon closer arrival he slowed his pace, narrowing his gaze as a flood of heavy snowflakes blew toward the group. Though their sight was somewhat compromised, their snouts were still golden - and that wind brought with it more than just the precipitation. Hidden in the wet smell of snow was a tendril of a scent of prey - something warm blooded and hoofed, further ahead. The smell didn't suggest a large group, but even one would be a welcome accompaniment to Cheedo's deer. Golden eyes glancing between Wraith and Cheedo, he murmured, "Did you catch that, up ahead? We should stay close until we can just spot it - or them." Then they could pick a target and come up with a plan.

adopt thea?

Hunting post 2/? Click here for plan. <3

A hunt would do them good and always, Wraith found, told him a lot about his packmates. He recalled a time back in Willow Ridge when he hunted alongside Craw and Enoki. The three of them had worked together seamlessly despite Wraith having not spent much time around the piebald female before that. His golden gaze tracked towards Rowan as he wondered just how much experience the male had before falling then to Cheedo. She had proven herself a capable hunter before, and if everything went well, they would eat well tonight.

He couldn't help his smile as Rowan led on. Pleased to see the newest member willing to step up, Wraith followed at his shoulder at an easy pace. As the scent drifted to him, the black brute had to choke back a laugh. Talk about coincidences! He'd just been thinking of a pronghorn hunt and there they were up ahead. It couldn't have been more perfect.

Knowing well their behavior and the quick ways in which their prey could escape - especially right up against the cliffs - Wraith paused. His eyes traveled towards eastward along the mountains, narrowing when he spotted an outcrop suitable for his plans. Looking to his subordinates, Wraith smiled. "Pronghorn," he informed then, uncertain if they'd come across them before. Cheedo likely would have considering her previous back resided so far north, but he was uncertain where Rowan had been before and what he might have been exposed to in the past. "They're too fast in an outright run across the lowlands and they can scale a cliff if they're frightened enough. Come at them from the west," he advised. "And run them parallel to the mountains if you can. There's a spot up ahead where I can hopefully catch one as they run by and slow it down long enough for you both to catch up."

With no objections offered, he nodded encouragement to send them on their way and dashed off to climb up rock and stone to reach the shelf he'd spotted before. While he waited, he found he sorely missed Craw. The spider would have had no doubts about his intentions and he wouldn't have had to explain it at all. He would have seen the same shelf and nodded with no more said between them.

One day, he promised himself. With patience, he could have as close a relationship with the others as he had with his brother in arms. Silently, Wraith settled to the ground on his high perch, head ducking low to prevent any of the herd from spotting him too early. There, he waited.

(This post was last modified: Jul 02, 2017, 11:34 PM by Wraith.)

Hunting post 2/?

Their newest member Rowen seemed nice and despite his large size Cheedo didn't feel very intimidated by him.  His friendly demeanor helped to put the small agouti a little more at ease. With Wraith he had already made her feel comfortable with his warm, welcoming attitude.  It also helped that he'd helped her get started with her training to be a scout.  That time spent with him had made her feel a little more confident around him so when he suggested a group hunt she didn't feel too out of place voicing her opinion.  The fact of the matter was she was looking forward to a good hunt since she hadn't had one yet that day.  Scavenging a carcass was hardly ideal when it came to bringing down prey.

When they set off side by side Cheedo went with them at first she stayed behind unsure if she should travel beside them or not.  It was what she had always done as it wasn't in her nature to be so bold.  Maybe this was just another chance for her to gain some confidence and break out of what kept her so low.  The decision was made as she quickened her pace and came up to travel on Wraith’s other side, they were all in this hunt together.

As they moved toward the cliffs Cheedo scanned the air for any scents of the prey they sought, any number of beasts would work for a take down. Anything they would find on the cliffs would require the three of them.  With the shift in the wind she caught the scent of a creature she hadn't hunted in a long time.  Rowen seemed to have caught the scent as did Wraith but he was the one to put a name to it, Pronghorns.  “They will be a nice change from the usual.”  A pronghorn would also make a nice addition to the cache.  Wraith told them his plan, of how they were to run the animals to allow him the chance to catch one and hold it long enough for her an Rowen to catch up and help finish the creature off.

Cheedo looked to Rowen, she was confident that they could do this, hunting was what she was good at.  Her small frame allowed her to have speed which she felt would help them in this hunt. She dipped her head to Wraith before turning to head off in the direction she and Rowen needed to go.  She moved across the ground quickly to get into position.  Now was the time for patience so that everything could fall into place and they could strike at just the right moment. Once in position she waited for Rowen to join her.

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2017, 06:08 AM by Cheedo.)

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