Hearthwood River Like Mother, Like Daughter

This is a join thread for Reid, Oksana has brought him home. Takes place after This thread. Backdated to 10/14.  @Reid   @Lachesis 

After realizing that going out to find her mum wasn't the best idea and then Reid getting hurt Oksana decided it was best if she went home and waited for Inna to return. It had been hard turning back knowing her mother was out there somewhere and possibly in trouble like Reid was.  As she lead the red make through the Kingswood toward the border she knew she had to get him home to her uncle Lach so he could help him. The smudge would feel much better once the pale leader said her new friend would be okay.

“We’re almost there,” she assured as she turned back to make sure he was okay. The pup could already start to smell the scent of her pack mates and she'd traveled this way so many times she could tell by their surroundings. Oksana was a little worried what would happen once her uncle Lach found out she'd been outside the territory but she hoped he wouldn't be too upset.

As the scent grew much stronger she knew they had reached the border and from seeing what her father had done she knew what to do.  She stopped, “We have to wait here,” she told before tiring back toward Hearthwood and raising her tiny muzzle into the air. Then like she'd heard others do in the short time she'd been Alice Oksana let out small howl to call for her uncle Lach. When she had finished she turned back to Reid, “He shouldn't be too long,” she announced before sitting down beside him to wait.

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OOC: Going to assume that she mentioned Lach on the way there.

He was still sore but to be honest he didn't mind. After Sana had the idea that he should go back with her to her pack he couldn't refuse her. It hadn't taken much to convince him though seeing as how he wouldn't have left the pup to wander around on her own. If he had what would that have made him? He followed her noting some of the landmarks and how the scent that was on little Sana's pelt was starting to fill the air around them. With a glance Ried noted that he had been in the area before but he had been nowhere near this pack's borders. Maybe that was why the smell on his little friend had been familiar to him.

<b>I'll take your word for it Miss Sana.</b> He responded with a wink in her direction. He could tell that they were close but he wasn't about to burst her bubble. She seemed to know this area if her confident steps were anything to go by. How often had she been outside the pack's borders anyway?

Finally, they arrived and Sana explained that they needed to wait for Lach to come to them. Then she raised her small muzzle to let out a howl that had him grinning. She had the smallest howl he had ever heard and it was adorable. His friend seemed confident that Lach would arrive soon as she sat down to wait. Reid was aware that he should probably move into a more submissive stance but the pup's relaxed position put him at ease so he sat down with her to wait to wonder how this Lach was going to react to one of the pup's bringing someone home with them.

@Lachesis

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

The ghost had noticed Inna’s absence in the Kingswood had begun to lengthen. Worry tightened in his chest as he passed by her den once more, only to discover that her daughter was missing too. Had they chosen to leave Hearthwood without giving an explanation? He frowned. It seemed highly out of character for Inna to vanish without a word. Perhaps she was on a hunting or scouting trip… but why not say anything? Usually the raven Baranski was good with notifying the lanky healer when she wanted to leave the territory for an extended period of time. Why was this time any different?

He almost missed the small howl as he made his way through the Redwoods, heading for a patrol on the south-eastern side. His frown returned as he changed his direction, his long strides cutting through the cold October air with ease. Confusion made a home in the pit of his stomach, and it gnawed hungrily at his insides. What was Oksana doing at the borders? His pace quickened.

As he approached he was greeted by the scent of another—of a loner. His tail arched high over his back, the fur on his neck bristling as he approached the little crow and the tawny stranger. His chartreuse gaze went straight to the little Baranski, his brows pinched together in frustration. “Oksana, what are you doing out here?” His toes curled into the dirt, the tip of his tail twitching in annoyance. “Did you bring this wolf here?” He asked, his pear-coloured gaze flicking over to the stranger. He did not appear to be a threat, as Oksana was still in one piece. Why did she bring him here? It was not her job to recruit wolves—she was too young. Especially since she was not supposed to be straying too far from the Kingswood…

stick with those who stick with you

It had taken them much longer to reach the kingswood than Oksana would have liked. She wanted to get Reid back to Hearthwood so her uncle Lach could make sure he really was okay. She supposed she hadn't realized just how far she'd traveled from home to begin with or maybe they had traveled slower because her new friend wasn't as okay as he'd told her. She didn't really know all she cared about at that moment was getting help. With the search for her mother ending up as a lost cause Oksana tried not to show that disappointment. She knew that if Inna was okay she would come back, hopefully she would soon.

When they finally reached the border the pup called for Lachesis so that he could come and check Reid over. She knew she couldn't bring the man past the borders so they would have to wait. She assured that it wouldn't be very long of a wait. Though she wasn't really sure how long it might take for the pale healer to reach them. Just as she thought it wasn't very long before the leaders pale form came out of the trees to greet them.

It wasn't exactly the greeting she hoped for but he was there and the first question he asked caused her ears to fall. She didn't know what she should answer but she knew better than to lie, “I went looking for my mum, she's been gone longer than she said.” She felt that should explain everything about why she was outside the border. Surely he couldn't be upset with her for being worried about her mum. The next question was about Reid and if she had brought him to Hearthwood. “Yes I did,” she admitted looking back to her new friend, “He was helping me to get water and got hurt and you have to make sure he's okay,” she told, “Please Uncle Lach help him, he's my friend,” she pleaded with the pale healer before moving to lick his chin.

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It didn't take very long for Lach to show up Reid noted, the other male's pale form coming in sight. When he reached them though he wasn't happy seeing as how his fur bristled and his tail rose to show his dominance. Yet his gaze and words weren't directed to him it was directed at Sana. The red male rose not sure how this was going to play out but knowing that he didn't like the tone the other was taking with the pup. However, he kept his expression and body posture relaxed as Sana went on to answer the questions that had been directed towards her. Reid wanted to speak up and ask which idiot of a wolf had been tasked with keeping the eye on the pup and why in the world had the slipped up but remained silent on that subject.

I found Miss Sana wandering around on her own so I figured she might need some assistance. Reid added in as he tried to keep his voice light. He didn't want to get into it with the Alpha especially when the pup was around. Yet, he couldn't help but emphasize that she been without company wandering around in a place where she could have easily gotten hurt or worse.

Even though his friend was pleading with the pale man Reid was aware that Lach could refuse her request. He also knew that he could be turned away with snarls and fangs. It would surprise the red male but it wasn't out of the question. I'm fairly certain its just a scrape and some bruising. Reid added so that if he wanted to Lach could slap something on the scrape, because was there even anything to help bruises, and send him on his way.

If that happened though Reid was going to come back to have a little chat with the pale man but that was likely to happen regardless.

Her response caused the corners of his mouth to fall into a soft frown, though his ears still remained pinned forward and his brows furrowed. He should have known Inna was the reason behind the child’s adventure, for Lachesis had caught her hovering near the borders once before to capture her mother’s attention. The ghost worried about her well-being, for an absent mother led to wandering paws and wandering paws typically resulted in missing, or injured, puppies. Oksana was like family to the ghost; he did not want to see her get hurt or stolen away from Hearthwood. He nodded gently to show he understood, but remained tight-lipped as she explained why she had brought the stranger to their borders.

His nostrils flared as the chocolate wolf spoke up, the emphasize on Oksana’s solo adventure not missed by the irritated Arctic. “Her mother is supposed to be watching her,” he responded quickly, his words dripping with frustration as his chartreuse gaze narrowed. Inna had not come to Lachesis to watch her daughter in her absence—and, as far as he knew, she had not approached Lilya either. Had the raven expected Oksana to fend for herself while she disappeared for a few days?

“Show me,” he instructed, his gaze settled on the blue-eyed stranger. XIX did not want to help the stranger, for there was an air of attitude hanging over him, but he could not ignore the crow’s pleading. Plus, he did bring her back to Hearthwood in one piece, which he did not have to do. He could have eaten her or pup-napped her if he pleased. But he had chosen not to, and accompanied the girl back to the river instead.

stick with those who stick with you

When questioned by the pale leader after his arrival at the border Oksana was truthful even if it could get her mother in trouble. As much as she loved her mother she knew that Inna wouldn't want her to lie to Lachesis and maybe, she hoped, something good could come out if it. She explained why she'd gone and why she'd brought Reid back. The nod that her uncle Lach gave her let her know he understood why she'd done what she did. She still wasn't sure if she would be in trouble with Lachesis but probably with her mum when she found out. All the pup knew was that she'd been trying to do what she thought was right even if she may have gone about it the wrong way.

She looked between the two men as they spoke and could tell they were both rather frustrated. She wasn't sure why until the pale leader said Inna was supposed to be watching her. The dark pup went to Lachesis and placed a dark paw against his leg. Knowing she probably shouldn't Oksana decided she needed to say something. “Mum knew I would be okay while she was gone, she said a couple days and she would come back, better.” A couple days had passed and then a couple more and Oksana was worried, “Something happened to her or she would be home.” The smudge looked up to Lachesis, “Please don't be mad,” she pleaded with him once more. She wasn't mad at her mum because she knew Inna was doing it to make things better for them. Her mother had said as much before she left.

Her pleading for her uncle Lach seemed to have helped as the pale leader told Reid to show him where he hurt. The dark pup returned to Reid's side, “Show him all the places he can help make them better,” she told her friend her black tail wagging happily behind her. Oksana had realized she had forgotten something when she'd been asked all those questions. “His name is Reid and he's very nice,” she said speaking to Lachesis, “He kept me from getting hurt too.” He'd been so concerned about her wellbeing and she wanted Lachesis to know that.

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Ah, so it was the mother who was supposed to be watching Sana. It seemed that this all circled back to the mother who had disappeared on them. Reid gave the pale man a nod of understanding as he noted the frustration in others voice. Perhaps he had been too quick to judge and it, in fact, wasn't Lach's fault after all because it was starting to look like the mother had been the one at fault for this mess. If the mother had vanished maybe the other wolves had thought that she had taken Sana with her when she had gone.

Reid glanced to Sana as she went up to Lach as she tried to explain a bit why she had left. The red male was aware that Sana loved her mother and thought the world of her but Reid's image of her wasn't as bright and cheerful. She had left the pup on her own while telling no one else of her absence. How could Reid think good things of her with that particular black mark against her?

The pale man all but demanded that he be shown the injuries. Sana also turned her gaze to him and the red male couldn't help but give her a smile as Reid held out his right scratched up paw as he sat. He didn't know if it was infected or not but it hadn't been hurting any worse since he had gotten it so that was probably a good sign. It's just my paw and I banged up my upper back and shoulders a bit. His shoulders hurt him more after he woke up, probably because he had been sleeping in the same position all night. Once he woke up and loosened up a bit he was fine. Sore, but fine. Once Lach was done with his paw Reid would lay down to let the other man take a look at his back.

Sana went on to introduce Reid as well saying that he was nice and the red male grinned at her. Well Miss Sana looks like you beat me it. It being introducing himself. Plus I couldn't bring you back all banged up now could I? She had been very pleasant to travel with and he had felt himself getting attached to her on the way. Which he didn't mind in the slightest.

He blinked at Oksana’s feeble explanation, his brows pinched together in frustration. Knew that Oksana would be okay? For a few days? And the raven did not think to notify any of her packmates of her absence—or, most importantly, her leaders? To ask them to watch over her daughter and make sure she was not sneaking away from the river, bringing strays home. Despite the crow’s pleading Lachesis was still not happy about this discovery. No amount of begging and puppy-eyes would change that. Yes, he was worried that Inna’s absence had prolonged, but that did not change the fact that she had abandoned her daughter for a few days without alerting the rest of the pack.

The ghost did not answer the pleading child—not yet. He listened to her introduction, his chartreuse gaze flitting back over to the scarlet wolf. Reid. Stepping toward the younger male Lachesis lowered his nose to examine the wound on the loner’s paw. It was not deep, but due to the position of the cut it risked getting infected. The bruises could be healed with some arnica, and the bark of white fir would aid in healing the cut. Both of which he had back in his infirmary. “I have something that will help with that.” He leaned back, his gaze still focused on the blue-eyed loner. “Thank you for returning Oksana, Reid,” he added with a soft nod, his expression softening. White hot anger still bubbled within his stomach, but Lachesis remained composed, for he could not be mad at Oksana or Reid. It had not been the Baranski’s fault that she had been left without a sitter. She had done what any cub on their own would have done—explored. However, she should have known better. Especially when it came to talking to strangers (and bringing them home).

“I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for a response from either wolf the healer tore off into the trees, his long legs carrying him quickly to the dens. He did not know what Reid’s intentions were—to stay and make a home of Kingswood, or to be treated and leave. If it was the latter, Lachesis did not want him beyond the borders. After almost having a run in with a couple of thieves the pale healer couldn’t be too cautious. 

stick with those who stick with you