Sunrise Ridge Seven Kinds of Lonely

He didn't want to talk about what could happen to their children. He didn't want to stop looking for them as much as she didn't but eventually they would be too weak to continue their search of they didn't stop and rest. Even have a meal that was more than something they'd scavenged. He knew she wasn't thinking straight, the distress of not having her children with her causing her to not think clearly. He had to find some why to make her see.

That way seemed to be in the form of a physical altercation between the two of them. She wouldn't take his warning and instead forced him to push her to the ground where he pinned her. He hated every moment of it and hoped he didn't hurt her but he knew that it was necessary. She the sound she made caused a tightening in his chest but he remained firm in his resolve. Even as she flailed and wriggled to get free beneath him he didn't budge. Instead he held her there with as much of his weight as he was willing to put on her but it was enough to keep her from moving away from him. When she couldn't free herself she tried another tactic of snapping at his muzzle. This did not cause him to let up instead he let out a growl before snapping back at her muzzle with a click of his teeth.

So involved with the dispute he was having with his wife that he hadn't heard the approach of another behind him. His tail lashed behind him as his icy gaze stared into his mates yellow eyes. The voice causing his ears to turn as he realized how familiar the voice was. Lachesis of all wolves had found them. “No,” he said without taking his eyes from his wife, “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.” Emrys wasn't about to let yet her up for fear she'd run off and he'd have to run after her nor would he take his eyes off her, she was a sneaky little minx when she wanted to be. “Your far from home Lachesis what brings you this far south?” He added letting a note of curiosity slip into his tone.

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OOC: Slight power play given permission via Kai

Arguments such as the one unfolding in the snow laden clearing now were not at all uncommon for wolves. They were noisy and often looked much worse than they actually were. With her temper flared and the stress that was bearing down on her shoulders amplified, it was no wonder the former Notch leader was out of sorts. The year for her and Emrys had been a challenging one to say the least. During the time she had grown into her role as a leader alongside her mate, the russet agouti had developed much more of a backbone. She wasn't just one more wolf who would flop over and submit easily. Even as a loner once again, she still retained some of that assertiveness.

Preparing to counter his sparring jaws with her own for a second time, she nearly missed the crunch of paws against snow. Seemed they had a spectator. And not just a stranger either. Splayed out on the ground on her belly awkwardly, Jynx managed to catch a glimpse of the wolf through Emrys' legs. The stark white pelt and pear colored eyes she would recognize anywhere. Lachesis. Her dear friend and once fellow packmate. Well...this certainly was embarrassing. Her ears flickered down to her skull momentarily, flustered. She didn't much like the idea of being pinned beneath her equal in front of a friend. Lips quivering, she met Emrys' icy eyes again with her yellow ones. "Enough of this." Giving him little choice in the matter she used her smaller frame to squirm her way free out from under him. Snow dotting her pelt, she dashed closer to Lachesis, as if he would somehow be of some use in preventing yet another pin down. Straightening her posture, she did her best to compose herself, stealing a hard look in the direction of her mate. The scent of fir was faded on the hairs of their fur and the fact that they were so far away, out here, was more than enough to raise some questions. "I'm sorry we had to meet again under these...circumstances, Lachesis. We've...hit a few bumps in the road, to put it mildly."

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2018, 04:02 AM by Jynx.)

The ghost remained where he was, his pear-coloured gaze fixated on the pair with mild amusement dancing on his pale features. But now wasn’t the time for jokes—he didn’t want either wolf to lash out at him for getting involved in business that did not involve him. Especially when it came to drama between couples. Lachesis wanted no part of it.

Maybe you can talk some sense into her. He blinked, a quizzical expression rolling onto his pale features as his gaze swept between his blue-eyed friend and his agouti mate. They almost looked relieved to have their disagreement interrupted. He was still confused as to why they were so far away from home. It was strange for both leaders to be absent from their pack at the same time, which was why he had not sent Lilya or Aytigin to visit their southern neighbours in the Edge. He would do that himself once he returned. Something had happened, that much was evident. He knew that Emrys had mentioned their missing daughter the last time they had seen each other—was she still missing? Lachesis had attempted to look for the girl but had not been able to find a trail, which led him to believe she had left the north. And what of White Fir Notch? The scent on their pelts was faint… had they left? Been kicked out?

There were too many questions swimming inside his skull, but they would have to wait as Emrys had beat him to the interrogation. I was looking for you two actually, he confessed, a lop-sided smile tugging at his dark lips. Bumps in the road? He asked, for he did not want to overshadow them with news of Hearthwood’s move. Not yet. What happened?

stick with those who stick with you

It wasn't normal for he and Jynx to be arguing so physically or at all really. They complimented each other so well that they often agreed on things with just a look. Things had changed however and while he still felt they were as close as always they each had their own stresses that pushed them to this. Perhaps it was something that needed to happen. He didn't know and it didn't matter anyway because they were having their disagreement and neither of them were willing to back down.

They were just about to go another round of sparring with their jaws when they were interrupted. Not by just any wolf but a close friend to both of them, Lachesis. It was a surprise to find him so far from Hearthwood. It was also a little embarrassing to be caught fighting with his wife by their friend. Emrys didn't let Jynx up Immediately as he had every intention of making sure that he'd gotten his point across to her. She in the other hand had other ideas stating that it was enough and before wiggling herself free of him and moving toward Lachesis. The former leaders gaze never leaving her, “This is not finished,” he made sure to let her know before turning to Lachesis.

“Well then it's good you found us though I wish it were under better circumstances,” he said his tone calmer than it had been before when speaking to his mate. Emrys nodded and looked to Jynx his expression softened as Lachesis questioned what Jynx had said. Despite the harshness his voice had when it had been directed to her only a moment ago he wasn't truly angry with her. Turning once again to his pale friend he spoke, “Things in the notch became considerably worse since we last spoke,” he looked to his mate before continuing, “Which is why we decided to disband the pack.” He left it open for Jynx to add whatever she might want.

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She allowed Emrys the courtesy of speaking first, to give the ghost the rundown of what had happened. But the answer she heard, while true, did not exactly satisfy her. "There's more to it than that and you know it." She said in an exasperated voice, golden eyes squinting shut while her brows knitted down in frustration. Looks like it was up to her to fill in the blanks that Emrys missed, so Lachesis would have a complete understanding of the situation before him now.

Taking a breath to steady her nerves, she peeled her eyelids open again and settled on her haunches in the snow. They could be here a while, so she was prepared to sit for drawn out conversation. She trusted Lachesis enough as a friend to understand and even relate to the personal turmoil she and her mate had been through in recent months. He need not provide any solutions to their predicament; lending an ear was more than enough. And should he turn away from it? She wouldn't blame him. He was both a father and a husband too, with his own children and pack to look after first and foremost. The slight rise of her hackles told that in spite of her more relaxed position, she was still very much on edge.

"Arwyn is still missing." She began solemnly, her stomach tightening as the words left her lips. "We've searched high and low for her, but with no luck." Losing a child to the unknown, lost or kidnapped was the worst nightmare of any parent. "Emrys is right though. The Notch began to deteriorate after that. Wolves were slipping away and the added stress of searching for our daughter was wearing us down." Her eyes flicked away from his pale face and down to the snow. Not towards Emrys. "Our situation took a turn for the worse when I returned from a scouting trip in search of our little girl. Our son, Elyan was missing too. With all that had happened we just....couldn't bear the burden of leadership any longer. Finding our children is more important." She heaved a regretful sigh, glancing back up to her pale friend. "The Notch was never an easy place to live." She added with a shake of her head and a pained half smile.

His eyes flitted between the couple as he waited for a response, confusion written clearly across his pale features. Fortunately for the ghost he did not have to wait long for a response. Things had gotten worse… worse than losing a child? … which is why we decided to disband the pack. His brows shot up in surprise. That was news he had not been expecting. He knew that the pair had not always led the Notch, but they seemed capable of keeping things afloat… what had caused the pack to crumble? Jynx was quick to chime in, answering the ghost’s question without him asking. They had not found their missing daughter. His frown deepened, his tail hanging low between his legs. Lachesis knew that feeling all to well, as his own daughter @Atropos was still missing.

Wolves were slipping away… Another thing he had in common with his friends. Up until recently Hearthwood had found it difficult to retain members, as most joined their ranks for a few weeks (and meals) before slipping off into the Kingswood. Our son, Elyan, was missing too. Two missing children? His ears swept back against his crown. It made sense now why the new parents had been squabbling. He could not imagine the amount of stress they were carrying on their shoulders. I’m so sorry, he offered despite knowing his words couldn’t fix anything. It wouldn’t bring their children back, but he did not know what else to say. I do not think Arwyn came east, he confessed, his expression soft with worry, I haven’t seen any wolves that match her description. Neither have my subordinates, unfortunately. And Elyan… he had not heard of anyone encountering a cub by that name, as his children would have told him if they had crossed paths with a packless cub. 

stick with those who stick with you

The pale healer sent an annoyed expression in his wife direction, “I do know that but I thought I'd let you tell him.” After all she was the one who'd brought it up but if he were being honest and he was he would have told had she not. It was better that she told anyway as he wasn't really sure he could list all the ways everything had gone wrong out loud without possibly losing his composure.

Emrys followed his wife's lead and sat back on his haunches waiting for her to go in and explain all that had happened. He watched his pale friend to see his reaction to all that she had to tell. Emrys caught the raise of his wife's hackles and wondered if he should have left it for her to tell. He knew it was just as painful to her as it was to him and more than anything he did understand the stress she was under because he felt it too. As she went on though his gaze began to drop as the shame and guilt that he'd felt about all of it started to weigh on him. As she finished speaking the former alpha rose to his feet and moved toward his wife to place a light kiss on her cheek. Despite their argument she did need to know that he was and would always be there for her.

His icy gaze turned to Lachesis as he spoke, “Thank you old friend,” he said with a dip of his head. While the words couldn't fix anything that had happened they were some comfort from a man that Emrys was sure understood. As the news of Arwyn slipped from Lachesis mouth he found himself looking to Jynx, “That doesn't mean we won't find her,” he tried to reassure his wife, “We will no matter how long it takes.” He turned back to Lachesis, “We’ve hardly stopped looking for either of our children since they went missing but I'm now worried for the both of us.” He wished everyday for some clue as to what happened to them, something to keep their hope from faltering.

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"Thank you for your condolences, Lachesis. And for asking your subordinates to keep an eye out for our daughter." Now there was another child to track down, but she didn't want to place such an obligation on his family. But she offered a quick description of Elyan nonetheless. "Elyan is hard to miss. Agouti colored, dark mask around his eyes. His left is yellow, the right is blue." She knew their son was not as reckless as their daughter was. He wouldn't just run off without a good reason. Maybe he too had gotten lost or something had happened to him.

As much as it pained her to admit it inside, there would come a time when she would have to move on. To start looking after herself and not focusing all of her energy continuously into searching for their flesh and blood. Emrys was right about that. But Jynx was stubborn and not quite ready to turn her focus away from that. She would need some further convincing. Hell, she hadn't even acknowledged the fact that she and her white mate were loners again, and in the midst of winter no less.

Still touchy, Emrys earned a less than warm reception when he drew close, placing a lick to her cheek. The skin under her eyes quivered, her limbs tensing. "I don't plan to stop now." Her golden eyes refused to lock onto the form of her mate, drifting instead to the mountain in the distance. "It was my intention to head towards the mountain. We haven't checked there yet." A foolish idea on her behalf. Attempting to scour the mountain at this time of year was perilous. Whats more was that she had never attempted to traverse it during her time in the lore. And many a wolf had succumbed to it's treachery. Already slightly fatigued, her body would struggle with the climb. She relented to Emrys' wishes, but not by much. "I'll stay here and rest for a few hours, but then I am on my way."

(This post was last modified: Feb 09, 2018, 04:30 AM by Jynx.)

Agouti coloured. Dark mask. Bi-coloured eyes: one yellow, one blue. He nodded as he committed the information to memory, his chartreuse pools still soft as he observed the troubled couple. Lachesis had been in a similar boat after he’d sired his first litter, as both of them had disappeared. One in the search of strange stories weaved by a one-eyed dragon. The other chasing after the first. Fortunately he had been reunited with the former, but he still did not know where his daughter had gone. He hoped that Emrys and Jynx would reunite with their children—and soon. They had already grown thinner in appearance, which worried the ghost, especially since they no longer belonged to a pack.

It was my intention to head towards the mountain. Lachesis made a mental note to send scouts up to the mountain, to keep an eye out for the missing children. It was possible that the snow had turned them around and they ended up in foreign territory. He just hoped that they had found a pack to bunk with for the winter, until the weather got better.

You’re welcome to rest with us, he offered, his chin tipping to the side, Hearthwood just moved closer to the mountain, a little south-west of the lake.

stick with those who stick with you

Emrys had not wanted to put looking for their son onto Lachesis as he was already keeping an eye out for Arwyn. His wife however gave the River alpha a description of their son and he couldn't help but hope that something might come of it. At that time Lachesis didn't seem to have any information to offer which was expected since he had only just found out Elyan was missing as well.

His kiss was less than welcome as he saw the quiver under her eye but she didn't pull completely away. Instead she let him know that she wasn't stopping their search now and instead declared that she was going to look on the mountain. His gaze went to the loominous mass in the distance. He released a sigh just as she spoke once more stating she would rest for a few hours. He looked to Lachesis before turning back to Jynx, “Love, I know you're worried about the children as am I but we need to rest more than a few hours. We need better food then the small amounts that we have been scavenging. It's winter and if we don't take care of ourselves we won't be here to find our children. Lachesis has been kind enough to offer us a place to rest and I think we should take him up on it. Now isn't the time to be scaling the mountain, we would he putting ourselves at risk. You want to be here for them when we find them don't you?” He then stood tall, “Unless you want to go another round? Please Jynx be reasonable I can't lose you too.” He looked to Lachesis for help this time, “We would appreciate a place to rest. Perhaps you can talk some sense into her?”

It had also not escaped him that Lachesis had announced Hearthwood's move. “What’s it like in your new home?” He asked hoping that maybe hearing about it would help convince Jynx that going with Lachesis was a good idea. “Why did you move?” he also asked out of his own curiosity.

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