Antler Ring come across

Antler Ring didn't look like a long trip on the map so Piety is out stretching her legs! @Lenae (others tagged for info)

She had woken up with @Cyril and made sure he was taken care of. A soft kiss was planted on his head and she nudged @Wraith to ask for him to watch the child for a bit. She simply needed to stretch her legs. It wouldn't be a long trip and she had every intention to return back to the Monadnock before her son grew too anxious or hungry. She made sure to inform @Cheedo as well so that the small agouti could act as her eyes while she was out. The women wished to be a scout and while this was an at home job it was still rather scout-like.

The antler ring wasn't a far trip, not even half a day. With her speed and stamina, it was easy to get there. She panted softly as she circled the weird figure that sat atop the hill. Piety never had the chance to fully figure out what it was or where it had come from. It seemed that all the locals were just confused about it as she was. Made her wonder how old it was, who had set it up and how in the world they managed to find so many perfect antlers. Some had chew marks but she assumed that was from passing creatures who needed some relief from travel.

Her tail swayed behind her at an easy and slow pace as she rounded the antlers. The pale mother had every intention of bringing Cyril out here when he was old enough. That was if his adventures didn't lead him to it first. She reclined into a sitting position to relax her legs. Piety loved everything at the Monadnock but sometimes it was good to have time to herself.

# C W T

Lenae's stomach rumbled with a painful ferocity.

In hindsight, she sort of wished she'd accepted Wraith's offer. Not to stay with his pack or sleep in their spare den, but rather to have her fill of their caches before she went on her-not so-merry way. By then she was used to going hungry, but it didn't make the process any easier, it didn't make her want food any less. She couldn't help but wonder if she went to the...What was it called again? A strange word that Lenae had a hard time understanding, let alone remembering.

Anyway, if she went to their borders, would they offer her just a little something to take the edge off? Lenae never used to have any problems with asking for what she wanted and yet....Her Father claimed it was in poor taste and that ' Selwyn's don't beg.' But what else was she supposed to do? If he was willing to offer then surely they didn't mind?

And so, Lenae had ambled along and followed Wraith's scent east, as best as she could.

The whole time her mind flip-flopped this way and that. This was a good idea. This was a bad idea. She should give up and turn around. No, she should continue and preserver. But she was hungry! Would she rather be hungry or dead?Lenae stumbled to a stop and let out a miserable whine. There weren't words to describe how much she hated this, how much she hated being scared and alone and hungry, but unable to do anything about it because the alternatives were all the more terrifying.

Glancing up from her muddied paws, the Broken Maiden belatedly realised she'd wandered across some sort of display, almost like the ones they had at home but made of antler rather than stones. It was certainly an interesting sight, enough to distract her from the gnawing in her stomach. But it was not to be, the universe clearly intended to snatch away any and all semblances of happiness from her. Selwyns were cursed, they had to be.

Lenae stiffened, as her tail curled between her legs. She wasn't alone, there was another, white as the snow with a scarred face and brown eyes. A warrior then, someone to be feared and avoided at all costs. Once again she whined and dipped her head down in submission, she was sorry and her posture said as much. She didn't mean to intrude.

bang bang, he shot me down

Piety Kael

A whine reached her ears and forced Piety to rise. She turned to be greeted by an unexpected company but simply smiled. It had been a good while since she had socialized outside of her own subordinates and family. Her tail softly swayed behind her as brown eyes shined with kindness as she examined the small woman. A bit frail and the other obvious signs of being a loner.

"I'm sorry if I startled you, I didn't mean to." The mother turned her head and nodded at the antler ring. "Are you here to see this?" She asked with curiosity. It seemed to attract all kinds of wolves and Piety couldn't say she was surprised. Seeing something like this had made her instantly move towards it the first time. Now (or really before Cyril showed) she lingered back and forth from it like a ghost. She wondered if she would never figure out the mystery of it.

"Never seen anything like it. It's rather nice, though. In a place so open a little mystery is welcomed." She chuckled softly as her gaze flickered back to the rather submissive wolf. Piety wasn't used to perhaps anyone but Cheedo showing her that much submission but even then Cheedo had gotten better. The once timid agouti was blooming into a slightly more confident wolf due to her time in Whitestone Monadnock. Of course, Piety felt pride for this.

She returned back to her sitting position with ease and softly motioned for the stranger to take a seat too, that was if they didn't plan on leaving first. The smile wasn't as prominent as it had been at the start but it still lingered. She was partially glad that the woman was here in the summer and not the winter. Piety really enjoy thinking about what happened to those who couldn't make it but she only wished them well and safe travels to the Otherside.

# C W T

When Lenae had been little, her Mother had told her how important good first impressions were. That depending on how she acted and what she said she could make a new friend or foe. And so from there on out she had always strived to portray herself in the best light, all smiles and kind words that would have surely melted the frostiest heart. And yet now, those teachings, her Mother's words were lost to the wind like specs of dust that had been blown away.

By cowering and whining she had made an awful first impression and yet the stranger didn't seem to care at all. In fact, she apologised as though she was the one in the wrong. It was baffling, so much so that Lenae couldn't help but shed her fear in exchange for a confused head tilt.

"It's... It's okay." Leane responded, softly and as quiet as ever. She wasn't sure whether she was accepting her apology or giving her opinion the ring but either way she was proud that she'd managed to say something.

Before, she'd never been picky about those who kept her company. But these days she was,understandably,a little flighty around the stronger sex. This lady though- well she might not admit it quite yet-was quite nice to be around. Yes she had a scarred face and was missing a chunk of her ear, but once Lenae took in her posture and demeanour it was clear she'd been wrong to assume that this woman was a warrior. She seemed to be anything but.

Kind with warm chocolatey eyes, she reminded Lenae of a mother, perhaps not her mother, but a nurturing figure nonetheless.

Safe.

Shuffling down into a sitting position, Lenae stretched out her legs before her in case she had to make a quick get away. But for now she permitted herself a quick rest and a bit of conversation. After all, it'd make her feel better. She'd always loved to talk, to speak her mind and it had been so long since....

"We used to have a stone ring back home.We used to jump from rock to rock and see who could make the full circle the quickest. It's not the same though, don't think jumping on skulls would be a lot of fun." She frowned.

after the cut comes the blood

Piety Kael

Piety felt relief when the stranger seemed to relax some. She hadn't known what she did to make the other cower. It was a strange first encounter but Piety brushed it off. No need to dwell on it if the female was content to be on a more neutral standing now.

Her good ear flicked softly as her company began to talk. It was a story and one that made the pale leader smile. "Perhaps not but there are a few places with stones around here." She glanced over to the female for a moment before her eyes went back to admiring the ring. "Including my own home. A huge place, very hard to miss since it stands up tall amongst most of the tundra. Whitestone Monadnock." The name rolled off her tongue with more ease than it had months ago. She held pride in the place, loved it, would gladly defend it with her last breath. Even with Morganna gone (a wound that was likely to never heal, even if she wouldn't admit it) the place could still thrive and be glorious and strong.

"Piety Kael." The pale mother announced her name as her brown eyes looked over to the small female by her. "May I ask who my mystery company is?" She made sure to say it with a smile and kind tone as to not startle the stranger back to the state she had shown up in.

# C W T

Lenae didn't expect the stranger to tell her where she lived nor did she imagine that she would run into the very same Piety that Wraith had mentioned just days ago.

It had to be her. Not only did they have the same name, but she claimed to live in the very same place. Whitestone Monnything, or whatever she'd called it. What were the chances? Was this land so small, did so few wolves roam the tundra? Lenae frowned and stared down at her legs extended out in front of her. Was this even a good idea? What if Wraith had mentioned her to his mate? Oh no, what had he said? What if he told her she was pathetic and lowly, not even worthy of stomping on, like a wriggling worm in the dirt.

A whine threatened to pass from her muzzle but somehow, through some miracle she managed to smother it and instead nodded as though she hadn't heard her name before. Alas, she was a poor actress and just like her brother she wore her heart on her sleeve.

"Umm." She mumbled, her expression tight, almost pained. It was only a name and yet...Once again she felt herself reaching for her mask, her disguise. "Everly."

She was so awful, wasn't she? She was an imposter, a pretender and worst of all a liar. Now, it wasn't as though she was being malicious, after all she didn't have a mean bone in her body. But it felt bad, wrong and cruel to lie to her, to pretend she was something she wasn't. And what was that? Oh it was many things. Brave, beautiful, bright, clever and just amazing.

She missed her sister with all of her heart. Where had she gone? Was she even alive?

Giving up on her pretence, Lenae sighed and closed her eyes as she rested her chin on her legs.

"Wraith told me about you. Said you were nice, he was right."

and this chaos, it defies imagination

Piety Kael

Everly.

Well that was a rather nice name. Piety's tail gave a quick wag before it settled down again. Despite how tense (was that the right word? Perhaps nervous or anxious was more fitting) her company seemed rather pleasant. It was the pale mother's first time outside of her home in a good while so she supposed that nervous company was better than vile company.

Of course, the next part caught her attention. Everly knew Wraith? When had they met? Where had they met? There were many questions springing to mind but Piety was willing to hold them off until she could get her mate alone. It seemed like there was a proper conversation that needed to happen. Although despite her bubbling thoughts, the compliment was not lost on her. A wide smile was given to the tawny female. "Well thank you. I'm glad you think so." Her tail softly beat against the ground below her. "You're rather nice too if I do say so." It was the honest truth. Everly was making for pleasant company so far.

Her gaze lingered on the strange structure between them for a few moments before looking over to Everly who seemed more relaxed than when she arrived. It was a relief really. "Do you have any plans after this?" The pale leader asked in a fairly curious tone. Was the small female going to leave the north or did she plan on lingering about?

# C W T

Lenae was nice.

It had been so long since she'd last had a compliment and in all honestly, she wasn't quite sure what to do with it or how to react. People always used to say the sweetest things, used to tell her how pretty she was- not as much as Everly though- or how much they liked to see her smile. But these days there wasn't much left to compliment. That girl with the sunny smile was gone.

It meant a lot, to hear those words and know that Piety meant them. That wasn't just saying it out of habit, or because she thought it was what Lenae wanted to hear. She wanted to cry but she wouldn't, there was no use crying over good things. And this was a good thing, surely it had to be.

"Um...Thank you." She ducked her head, not because she was bashful but rather out of shame. Surely it'd be rude to get all teary eyed over a couple of words. The last thing Lenae wanted to do was be weird. If anything, she wanted to be good, to be liked and loved and safe. But in a world like this, it all seemed too much to ask for.

As to whether she had plans...Well, no she didn't really. She found that to come up with plans she needed to have hopes and aspirations, and as much as she wanted to want, it was too risky.

"No...I'm not very good at stuff like that. I just do what I have to."

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

after the cut comes the blood

Piety Kael

Everly was a unique one with the way she ducked her head when complimented. Was Piety coming on too strong? Perhaps she had spent too much time around the Monadnock that she forgot not everyone was so...blunt. Her face heated softly with the slightest bit of embarrassment. Maybe she needed to get out more and interact with those outside of her own home. That would have to wait for a bit longer, though. Cyril still needed her and trips longer than this one would likely be stressful on both her son and herself.

"Hmm, well," Piety started off slowly. "If you ever get tired of being alone out in the tundra then Whitestone Monadnock will gladly welcome you." Her tail wagged softly behind her as she looked towards the small tawny female. They could use some more wolves and Everly looked like she might need some company. Of course, it was an open invitation for Everly to do whatever she pleased with. No harm is done if Piety was told no.

Her gaze settled back on the strange circle of antlers. This area always seemed to serve as some kind of meeting place. Maybe it was just the mysterious aura about it that drew wolves from all over in.

# C W T