Kingsfall i am not a stranger to the dark

It had been a piss poor idea to travel farther north in the heart of winter. Pip trembled against the biting cold, her small frame bracing against the driving wind. She paused in the chest-deep snow to catch her breath. She'd broken through the layer of ice on top of the snow a few paces back and already, she was winded. Just a moment more and she'd be ready to try to get on top of it again. Of any wolf, she probably had a better shot of remaining on the surface with her small size as long as she was able to splay her toes enough. But that also meant she had to chew the balls of ice stuck to the fur between her paw pads - and that was difficult to do with the heavy snow that fell overnight.

Without a doubt, she'd not get any hunting done today. Any prey would hear her coming. The forest around her was relatively quiet save for the crunching of ice under paw and the occasional snow dump from trees above onto the ground. What she needed today was shelter. But at least she got to see more prey than usual. This place seemed far richer in life than the previous territories she'd traversed. Ahead, a small herd of red deer watched her curiously. They seemed to sense her frustrating inability to do anything and weren't frightened by a loner in such poor condition.

Pip lowered her head, panting a few more times before straightening. Time to get out of this mess.

The mute leaped up onto the shelf of icy snow in a wide-based stance, but fell through again. Determined, she tried again. And again. And again. Until finally, she remained on top. One hesitant step resulted in her paw dipping through the ice, but she managed to maintain her footing and was able to find more stable footing. Slowly, she made her way through the snowswept forest, sticking close to the trees where roots may provide more solid footing in places where the snow may have been cleared by wind. She had no true destination and was tiring quickly. If she could just find somewhere...some cave...some...something.

Pip's energy chose that moment to flee her completely and she crumpled. A brief moment of helplessness overwhelmed her and she exhaled a silent sob. Things used to be so different. She used to be safe and sheltered and loved. And now she was here. Mattering to no one. Nothing. Just a starving loner in some forsaken woods. The little female dropped her head down to lay it over her paws in the snow. Maybe she'd just lay here for a while.

Things had been rather stale within the Kingswood. Aside from the angry elk that had caused a ruckus inside pack territory, things had been relatively quiet amongst the towering cedars. From her perspective. She was blissfully unaware of the inner turmoils of her parents and did not understand the heavy air that seemed to hang around the river. Things felt off but she did not bother to question it. Her twin did not seem fazed by it; therefore, Lavender did not worry too much. And by that she meant nothing more than usual.

The snow crunched beneath her dainty paws as she padded through the forest, her chartreuse gaze sweeping over her surroundings as she searched for something to occupy her attention with. The adults were always so mopey and whenever she tried to pester one of the other cubs they were always MIA, so Lavender spent most of her time parading through Kingsfall on her own. Not that she minded. Adventures were always more fun when she didn’t have someone else slowing her down. Well, sometimes.

She just liked being able to do whatever she pleased without having someone threatening to tell on her or steering her in the wrong direction.

Her nose twitched as an unfamiliar scent wafted through the trees, causing the fur on the back of her neck to stand. A loner. She swallowed, hard, her steps stopping in place. Should she get one of her parents? Uncle Ayti maybe? Her mouth curved into a frown. No. She could handle this herself; she was a big girl. If she needed help she would call for it.

Resuming her movement the girl changed her direction, her pace quickening as she made her way toward the intruder. Almost intruder. The loner had not yet entered Hearthwood territory, which meant they were safe from a grumpy Lavender. This time.

The figure in the distance did not look well and was certainly not a thread. Her frown deepened as she stepped closer, her steps hesitant. Um, she started as she cleared her throat to announce her presence, for she did not want to startle the resting wolf. Are you okay, ma’am?

guardian dem 1/3

(This post was last modified: Feb 06, 2018, 07:08 AM by Lavender.)

@Lavender <3

And just like that, her pity party had come to an end. Pip jolted awake - she hadn't realized she'd drowsed off - to blink in confusion at the stranger. She was young. Pip could still see tufts of soft puppy fur mixed within her coat, but it was the soft nature of her existence that gave her away as a youth. Pups always had that softness to their aura. They hadn't seen enough of the world yet to be hardened by experience. It took the mute a few moments more to process what the little one had asked her before she realized she should be answering.

Dully, the little agouti nodded though the movement appeared frail as she felt. In truth, she was not okay. Nothing about her was okay. She was exhausted, physically spent, and slowly starving despite the meals she'd been finding. They weren't enough even for her small frame and were too far apart. Mentally, she'd never been at a lower point. She missed her family. Kjell, Aegir, Kyrios. They'd become vital to her happiness, and without them, she found herself scarcely able to find even the beauty of ice and snow inviting. Right now, it was just another mountain to climb. The cold was as much a part of her problem as her hunger. She missed the warmth of others at her back or even just in her vicinity. But the pack wolves she'd come across so far had either been absolutely hostile or neutral to her presence.

She didn't matter anymore. Did her mate worry about her? Did he think all was well? Out of sight, out of mind? What about Aegir? Maybe he was happier without her around. He'd been so angry with her the last time they'd spoken - and she with him. But her anger never stuck around with concerns to her son. She hoped he knew that. That she would forgive and love him always. Always and forever.

The little mute, wordless as she was, could be very skilled at hiding her pain, her emotions. But she was too exhausted to keep trying. Though she'd nodded before, she shook her head now. No. No, she was not alright. What the pup would do with that knowledge, she couldn't begin to guess.

A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity

The pale Stark kept her distance from the stranger, for while the lean creature looked docile Lavender couldn’t be sure. Loners were unpredictable, especially hungry ones, and Lavender did not want to upset the female. Sure, she was within shouting distance of her packmates, but that didn’t mean the stranger could get a few nibbles in before back-up arrived. She swallowed as she began to second guess her decision to rouse the resting wolf when she jolted awake, her tangerine gaze falling onto her pale figure.

Instead of answering verbally the lone female gave a soft nod. A frown creased the girl’s usually chipper features, her nose falling to the side. You don’t look so okay, she countered, her voice soft as she analyzed the stranger’s battered body. Something was definitely not right. She definitely was no threat—not to Lavender or the Hearthwood wolves. But she wasn’t as okay as she portrayed, and it didn’t take an adult to figure that out.

A whine escaped her as she took a hesitant step forward, her ears falling against her head as she sniffed the air around the silent loner. Are y’hurt? Hungry? M’dad’s a healer, he can help you if y’need it, she offered as she slumped to the ground in an attempt to make herself look less threatening. She did not know how her father would react to the female so close to pack territory but she knew he was no cruel man. He would not leave a wolf in need stranded out in the cold.

guardian dem 2/3

(This post was last modified: Feb 06, 2018, 07:09 AM by Lavender.)

@Lavender She's such a sweetie. Lead the way~ c:

When the girl laid down, Pip's ears pricked forward with interest. She was being awfully kind for a pack wolf. And to offer such things? Should she even be offering those things? Was it true her family would be willing to help? Pip could just picture following the pup home and immediately being chased off by an overprotective pack. She was weary enough already without that happening...

But she was hungry and exhausted and colder than she'd ever felt. Was it worth the risk if she could fulfill even one of those needs? Pip didn't have to think long on it. Yes. Yes, it was.

Weakly, the mute stood. The action caused the icy crust to give way under her paws and she sunk down into the snow again. She sighed heavily, head hanging low. No doubt she looked as pitiful as she felt. The sea wolf gave a subtle nod towards her new companion. If she really thought her family would grant her sanctuary, even if temporary, she would be grateful. Pip lifted a paw from the deep snow and carefully replaced it on the crust to start heading towards the pup. It held her weight enough for her to lift herself out of the drift.

While she longed to introduce herself, to express her gratitude with words the young one could hold on to, Pip had only her actions. When she made it close enough to the pack wolf, she bent to gently touch her nose to hers. She could only hope such gratitude was a universal language.

The tawny female continued to be silent, which only worried the girl further. What if she had gotten her tongue ripped out?! What if she had been chased into the Kingswood and was hiding from the wolves that tore out her tongue?! What if she had been born without a tongue? Puzzled, the girl narrowed her brows softly, a determined expression falling onto her dove-like features. She didn’t appear to be wounded… a little thin and tired, but not injured. So why wasn’t she talking? A low whine escaped her as she took a hesitant step forward, her nose tipped to the side. Perhaps her father would understand better… he always knew what to say and do. Especially when Lavender did not.

As the frail loner pushed herself into a stand Lavender’s bottom jaw dropped in surprise, her brows shooting up into her forehead. Her paws vibrated, ready to spring into action if the female was to fall. She remained where she was, uncharacteristically silent as she watched the loner step toward her, one feeble step at a time. At least she was walking, that was a good sign. She just needed to out of the cold and have some warm food in her stomach. She knew her father didn’t approve of charity wolves, but this was a special case. Lavender couldn't leave the small wolf on her own—not with the weather being so dreadful.

At the touch of the stranger’s nose against her own the girl flashed the sparrow-coloured wolf a bright smile, her plume wagging slowly behind her. She sort of felt warm; another good sign. I’ll call m’dad, she breathed, her voice soft as she bumped her nose against the loner’s, returning the gesture, he’ll know what to do. Without further adieu the girl tossed her nose to the sky, a call for her father echoing through the towering cedars. Please come quickly!

guardian dem 3/3

(This post was last modified: Feb 06, 2018, 07:09 AM by Lavender.)

Fortunately for his daughter Lachesis had not gone far for his patrol.

He had gone west, hovering between the trees and the tundra. It seemed strange that the lowlands were now packless, for the Whitestone wolves had been around for nearly two years. They had been the second pack to form a home in the north—Hearthwood being the first—and Lachesis had always maintained a good relationship with the pack. Even after one of their members (Craw’s subordinate) had attacked his mate. He had toyed with the idea of moving the pack further into the tundra, but the ghost was fond of the forest. Ever since arriving in the lands of Lore he had always made a home beneath a canopy of trees. It had been five years since he had lived on open tundra—he did not know if he could go back to it after living among towering giants.

His daughter’s call had pulled him away from his patrol, confusion and panic quickly settling in. It had been urgent and required just him, which made him worry immediately. It was possible that it was just a loner at the borders, for Lavender had not yet encountered one (as far as he was aware). Or maybe it was something worse… His mind raced as he took off, his long legs weaving effortlessly through the cedars as he plunged deeper into the Kingswood.

The lanky leader was greeted by the familiar shape of his daughter as he approached, but she was not alone. A small tawny coloured wolf stood before her, looking weak and not at all like a threat. A sigh of relief escaped him, but he was still curious as to why his daughter had called. Was this wolf seeking a home, or merely requiring some medical attention. Lavender, he greeted warmly, his nose brushing against her cheek as he stepped up beside her, who’s this? He motioned toward the smaller wolf, his chartreuse gaze soft as he studied her.  

(This post was last modified: Jan 18, 2018, 01:59 AM by Lachesis.)

stick with those who stick with you

The girl's smile carried with it a warmth that Pip could feel even in her half-frozen bones. Her voice, too, had such a sweet timbre to it as she called for her father that the mute couldn't shake off the familiar feeling of affection she'd shared with previous packmates. Had she been so out of touch with others for so long that the pup's kindness could nearly bring her down in an emotional ball of tears. Despite her fears, Pip maintained and lay near her new companion as they waited together.  

She hadn't expected to feel comfortable enough to sleep near a pack wolf ever again, but Pip was surprised out of a doze by the sound of approaching paw steps crunching through the snow. The little female stood hesitantly. In the back of her mind, she reasoned she probably should move away from the pup so her father didn't think she had any ill intentions towards her, but such an action seemed like far too much work if she were honest.

She watched with an averted gaze as father greeted daughter and felt that familiar pang of grief for the absence of her own child. Was Aegir doing well? Was he eating enough? Was he still angry with her?

Pip managed a soft, tired wag of her tail towards the Alpha and kept her head bowed down in respect while she waited for some sort of verdict.

Her lips were drawn tight as her father greeted her and questioned who her guest was. As she glanced over at the injured agouti she almost expected the female to respond and introduce herself, but she was not surprised when nothing came. Huh. Maybe the female couldn’t speak? Lavender didn’t even know that was possible! … Was it possible? She’d have to confirm with her father; he knew everything. Um, she started, lamely, her ears falling flat against her skull as she turned back to the older Stark, I don’ think she can talk, Da. A frown graced her delicate features. But she doesn’ look right ’n she’s out here all alone. Her eyes began to widen as she spoke in hopes that her father would catch on to her non verbal cues. She needs food! Rest! Warmth! Her father was a healer, surely he would know what to do… even if it meant housing a loner for a few days, he couldn’t ignore a wolf in need… could he? Can we help her? Her voice was small as the question tumbled off her tongue, her chartreuse gaze still fixated on her father. Please.