Willow Ridge you should be asleep

Early Evening, Cloudy, 53 ° F, 12 ° C

Well, now that he was here he didn't have much of an idea on what to do. He really hadn't been expecting to make it in but he was glad that he had. This places numbers were small from the scents which would likely make any mooching harder but oh well. Deron would make due just like he always did. Maybe he could scrape by for a bit and just use a few excuses here and there. If they accepted that tattered prairie dog he was sure they wouldn't jump his ass right away for being a little slow to throw himself into the line of fire.

He settled underneath one of the many willows that littered this land. Laying on his side with his legs out extended he felt at ease. The elder Selwyn wouldn't be sleeping near everyone tonight but that didn't matter because as long as he was in borders he was safe. He didn't have to worry about something sneaking up on him unexpectedly or a bigger creature attacking him alone. Even if he didn't like lots of company he supposed there were more pros than cons to staying with a pawful of others.

Somewhere behind him he heard a rustle but didn't see anything yet. He simply brushed it off as the wind or perhaps another passing through on their way to the den. Whatever it was wasn't of his concern. Not yet at least.

His mama (@Enoki) had come back from that call with a gift which really made the whole thing a lot better. Romanov really did hate when his parents had to go but he understood that they would always be back for him and his siblings. When they were gone it was usually bestowed upon him - if Ravenna wasn't around obviously - to keep an eye on his sisters. Elle was mostly easier to watch unless Adeltra managed to drag her into something. Then he had to do his best going against the both of them and that was always an uphill battle.

Of course, he had snagged the prairie dog before his sisters could and had promptly run off with the tattered creature. It was his chew toy for now until he decided to either eat it or abandon it. Or maybe if he was feeling really nice, which was usual, he'd toss it to one of the other Willow Ridge pups.

He was dodging behind trees making sure no one was nearby. With the sun setting behind the willows he'd soon have to return to the den for sleep. But there was something more interesting. A strange male he had never seen before but looked a bit like dad was moving about the place. Roman was careful in trailing after the mystery man who seemed to not notice him or was at least ignoring him. As the older male took a resting spot underneath one of the young Archer's trees a small scowl crossed his face.

Without wasting any more time he strode forward, dropping the prairie dog between his paws. "Who are you?"

It's Only Dark.

A boyish voice called out to him in a rather serious tone. A brow raised as he rolled onto his stomach. Selwyn Yellow eyes spotted a white and black boy who smelled heavily of the willows. There was something tattered between his paws as well. A good squint revealed that it was the prairie dog he had brought as some sort of gift. Nice to see that the lead female think its worth was a chew toy for some boy. Some boy. This was likely her son mentioning he resembled her with two white patches of his own.

Ah yes, but the boy had asked a question in a rather bold manner. Had to be the alpha's child.

"Deron." He snorted without much care for the young one's presence. "Shouldn't ya be asleep or something?" It wasn't really that late, in fact, the sun hadn't even fully set yet but still, this was a little kid. Weren't they supposed to be sleeping like all the time or crying about something? He shifted awkwardly but stayed on the ground. Maybe if he showed little interest in playing the young boy would scramble off to find someone more interesting. Then again he had already answered the child and that might be enough to have its interest.

In all honesty, he hadn't really been expecting an answer. Romanov was used to getting answers but this was an adult and a stranger. They didn't have to answer him if they didn't want to. The Archer boy liked to think he likely wouldn't have answered - right away - if the situation was the other way around. "Just wait til Addy finds him." Roman imagined his sister could easily rope this guy into games or adventures. Especially since she usually had more spunk than himself. Deron. Romanov did his best to store away that name. It might be useful later on. Then a question came from this Deron that had the young boy's face grew a frown. "No." He answered rather sternly. It wasn't his bedtime yet for Mama or Dad hadn't called for him and the sun wasn't fully tucked behind the Willows yet. Typical adult - even if Roman respected them there were some things he didn't exactly understand about them. "You know my Mama? Dad?" The Archer boy figured that was why he was here. Or maybe he knew Sven or Ravenna. If Deron didn't then maybe Roman was looking at a real big problem. Stranger danger. Oh, he suddenly wished someone else was here with him. Maybe Adeltra and Elle or one of the adults.

art by crowteeths

 

It's Only Dark.

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

Deron had to fight back a groan. Why wouldn't this kid just run off with his chew toy that Deron had got? Had he not just gotten here and had a good image to keep up he likely would have shooed off the child with a few barks or distasteful words. But he couldn't do that or he'd likely have a lot more problems on his hands like a crying child and an upset parent.

"Yeah, think so. Umm, maybe your mom." Deron was positive he did unless this pack was full of black and white wolves. Which would be really weird and maybe then the Selwyn would have to reconsider his choice to settle down here. Everything was pretty fine until this boy showed up with all of his questions. He hadn't really asked that many now that Deron thought about it but one had been more than enough!

He turned his back to the young boy and laid back down again. Selwyn yellow eyes closed with hopes that ignoring the child would send him away. Surely it would be easy enough when the piebald boy already had a toy to entertain him. One that Deron had caught. Selfish little brat. The thought was enough to really keep him from looking back at the Willow Ridge pup.

The day had been boring for the youngest Archer. She's done her usual shenanigans of scaring birds from low-hanging Willow branches and bugging the adults with ceaseless questions. When she'd had her fill she'd decided to take a nap, and because of this she'd missed the call that had gone up. It was likely a stroke of luck for her parents who could finally get their jobs done without a little black-furred pup hanging between their paws. Yet, whenever she woke up and was told by her sister of what she'd missed she'd grown very sad. Along with irked. How could Rom take the gift without waking her and asking her if she wanted some to play with! She would have asked him...probably! They were siblings born in the same litter, how rude!

She'd gone off in search of her brother to explain to him out this whole sibling thing worked(much like marriage in her mind. What was hers was his, as long as he begged, and what was his was hers). She saw the back of the dark furred boy and she paused, stalking forward with her body low to the ground. Once she was close enough she lowered herself, zeroed in, then sprang. She tackled him from behind, batting at his shoulders and nipping at his ears. "Why didn't you tell me momma br---," she began, then her muddy blue gaze settled on the back of the stranger in front of them.

She clambered off her brother, looking between his sour face and the tensed shoulders of the one before them. Her brows rose and she took a big sniff for good measure to make sure that he was one of them. Sure enough the smell of willows clung to his pelt, so faintly that she almost missed it but fresh all the same. He must have been the new wolf! "Why're you guys so mad?" she asked curiously.

It should come as no surprise that being so young Romanov Archer had no experienced all the world had to offer - nor all the emotions that came with them. Something bubbled in his gut as the Deron guy turned his back to him. Completely ignoring him! How dare he! He was talking to him and then..then...then he went and did this! The Archer boy wasn't sure what this feeling was but it was not a good one and was aimed directly at Deron. "I -" Thud. Romanov met the ground with his sister's familiar voice in his ear. He did not appreciate that right now. Any other time he would have gave a good tussel back. It seemed she cut herself short though as she noticed the new guy beneath the willow tree who seemed like he was sleeping off this whole thing. He didn't wanna speak outloud and have this outsider hear the conversation with his sister so he gently tugged on her ear before whispering softly. "He's real rude, Addy. I was talking to him then he just...just rolled over." His voice was filled with disbelief. Surely his sister would understand why he was so "mad" now. "Said he thinks he knows Mama, though." Roman was willing to give his sister the full run down on this guy and his awful presence.

art by crowteeths

 

It's Only Dark.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh dear heavens no.

There seemed to be another childish voice asking more questions. Deron kept his back turned and his eyes just seemed to squeeze shut tighter. He had not wanted another to be around. He had wanted to first one to take its chew thing and leave! It seemed the boy was whispering something that couldn't be heard by Deron but that was fine. Maybe they would just sit there and whisper so their presence wouldn't be so noisy.

Then something struck him. What were they talking about? He tried to brush off the feeling. Why would their childish thoughts bother him so much? "They don't." The elder male told himself. They were just children and whatever they talked about couldn't be that important. He rolled his shoulders softly and kept up his silent, ignoring them game. If it was getting under the boy's skin then maybe it would get under the other child's skin too. And then they would both just leave him alone! Oh, what a joyous moment that would be for him. When the tired man could finally get some sleep under this tree. Just a little bit longer and his victory would surely come.

Rom pulled her closer by the ear and she leaned in, too curious about what was going on to be annoyed by his tugging on her ear. If her brother wanted to keep what he was about to say a secret between them that was perfectly fine. That was, until she heard what he had to say. Just ignored him? Her muddy blue gaze turned to glance sideways at the man, a soft frown marring her maw. Romanov could be protective of them and their territory, this she knew, but she couldn't imagine him saying anything to make the other mad. Besides, if he did know their mom that would be even more of a reason for him to not be so rude!

She turned and looked at her brother. Just as he could be protective of her she could be just as protective back. She'd get to the bottom of this! Meeting his eyes she lifted her chin and gave a strong nod before getting up and meandering over to the man. She moved around until she was at his front, then immediately flopped to the ground. "Hey mister, are you okay? My brother says you're being a little grumpy. I know you just got here and everything but my momma told me that good manners are when you pre-re....," she paused, brows pulling together as she fumbled with the right word. Her head perked when she remembered. "Respect one another. Or something like that. It's not very respectable if you just ignore us without telling us why," she said, her tail swaying behind her frame.