Willow Ridge Willow Ridge Pack Thread

Something was up Leotie could feel it and she didn't like it not one bit. The calm serenity of the Willow's was missing and it put the Agouti woman on edge. It was when she heard Lorcan calling for Nicolo, ‘hmm that was odd,’ she thought. The former leader hadn't been around much and Sven was now leader so what reason did Lorcan have for seeking the sick male out?

She found Lorcan at the den where Nicolo was staying and Sven was there. She looked between the men and it didn't take much for her to realize what was happening. She'd seen it before in the bend. Now it was happen here? The fact that Lorcan was new to the pack and trying to challenge Nicolo who was already going through enough bothered her. She looked to Sven before going to sit next to him, she wanted to see how this played out.

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He had been sleeping when Lorcan arrived. The younger man's voice pulled him from his peace and which his return from conciousness, he felt a steady burn in his chest. Wheezing, the old man rose from his position on the earthy floor, a large cloud of white forming in front of his face. In front of him, the world shifted and Nicolo had to shut his eyes for a moment as he adjusted on his feet. The dull shine of the sun made his ranging headache pound harder and he winced as he stepped out of the den. Pale, cloudy yellow eyes focused on Lorcan and narrowed. What was this? And yet, even as he asked himself this question, the other man's intentions were perfectly clear. There was no way Nico could fight his way out of this one. He thought of his sisters and turned his head to spot Sven and his counterpart arrive. The dark Archer offered his nephew at nod of acknowledge because, really, Willow Ridge would be no where without him and Nico truly believed it had no future without the young man at its helm. Nicolo inhaled the cold air but immediately regret it, as a wet cough enracked his frame. Glaring at the ground, before lifting it up to Lorcan, he felt a flare of answer. When he spoke, his voice was rasky and barely above a whisper, "I see no one taught you proper challenge etiquette." The former leader gritted his teeth together and grounded out his single inquiry, "Why?"

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Cloudy yellow eyes focused on him and narrowed. Lorcan remained still, his limbs grounded to the spot as @Nicolò questioned him. It was clear that the older male had not taken kindly to his challenge and perhaps found it rude given his unfit condition. Russet ears flattened, a small show of guilt from the usually polite male before he spoke up in response.

“I apologise for having to do this right now.” Golden eyes briefly flickered across to glance over at Sven and Leotie before returning to the old male. “But a lot has happened lately—” More than Lorcan would like to admit in front of the growing number of on-looking wolves. “—and I feel it would be best if the pack had someone who was, well, more capable holding your position right now…” 

In his eyes, Lorcan was being a lot kinder than Mittani had been to him when he had challenged. Lorcan had explained himself. This was not a personal attack. He hoped that the old male could see the sense in his decision and agree to back down without the need for physical violence. It would benefit them both if this change in rank remained peaceful.

Tail still curled dominantly over his back the agouti male pushed his ears forwards assertively and waited to see if the elderly wolf would submit.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Early morning, 10th February.

Lorcan had been noticeably antsy over the past week. His recent conversations with both Morganna and Piety about all the drama that had erupted between Willow Ridge and Aurora Heights had made him realise how uncomfortable and anxious it made him feel. He felt torn; his loyalty divided between three wolves whom be both trusted and highly respected. If things continued as they were now he would have to chose a side and turn against his friends. That was one decision which Lorcan would not, could not, make.

Piety's plan to start a pack, in the woods beside the mountain about a days journey north from the willows, offered him a way out of making that decision — and maybe the fresh start and security that he sought out in the willows all along. That was if Piety would even accept him. Whilst he had little reason to think that she was reject him from her ranks, there would always be that doubt gnawing away at the back of his mind. He had not been officially invited to join them after all. His next course of action was certainly a serious gamble, but it was one that he was prepared to place his life on.

Slinking quietly through the territory during the early hours of the morning, Lorcan trailed after @Ravenna, hoping to catch her whilst she was alone. As he spotted her familiar silver figure through the trees, the male lowered his stance and pressed his ears back. His tail swung nervously behind him as he tentatively approached her. "Ravenna, could we please talk?"

    

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

It wasn't the first time that Lorcan had come to her asking to speak with the same manner of display what he held now. His body lowered, ears back, an obvious nervousness in the way he moved into her direction. She expected some information he had obtained from the other pack mates as he had offered her before and she turned around to meet him, silger eyes examining his expression. It had been obvious even so that the dramatics that had been unfolding here in the pack as of lately had made her packmate unsettled. It wasn't something which Lorcan could handle well, it seemed. "Of course Lorcan." She spoke, moving towards him to move her about under his chin and raise his head in a hopes for comfort.

Ravenna's comforting touch just made Lorcan feel even more awkward and he couldn't stop the beginnings of whine from vibrating in his throat. Pulling away slowly, his golden eyes searched for her dominant silver stare nervously. Frowning, he gave a quick submissive lick to his lips, before he confessed his plans.

"I won't drag this out, Ravenna. I-I wanted to let you know that I plan to leave Willow Ridge." Lorcan paused, swallowing anxiously as his golden gaze darted about her face. "I can't deal with the tensions between the packs. I wanted to be loyal to you, but, it's hard when I consider your enemies to be my friends.." He took a deep breath before sighing. "I figured you'd have no need for a subordinate like me who has no interest in taking sides." Falling silent, he looked up to @Ravenna expectantly, awaiting the outburst that was sure to come next.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

He would only whine to her touch and pull away slowly, his submissive gestures increasing. Had he not quickly followed an explanation, Ravenna would have been well aware something was obviously wrong.

He began rather to the point, explaining that the reasoning for this meeting was because he wanted to leave the pack. Ravenna couldn't help but be taken aback, her ears falling against her head, fighting back a whine which caused her throat to tighten in objection. As he finished she was silent a moment, contemplating all she wanted to say. Her toes pressed to the ground, a part of her wanting to yell out at him but decided against it.

"And do you not think it's hard for me, too? When these enemies, as you say, are my family?" The judgement in her eyes are obvious as she looked down at him. "You should probably go then... There is no room for wolves in this pack who 'can't deal' when shit gets hard." She takes a step back away from him, her nose twitching as she fought back a snarl. The mix of emotions between sadness and angry swirled in her silvered gaze. "Make sure to howl out to the rest of the pack before you go. The pups really were taking a liking to you."

Her silence was deafening. Lorcan struggled to hold her gaze and eventually retired his stare down to his paws as he waited anxiously to hear what she had to say. Ravenna didn't yell but her anger and disappointment at him was obvious in her voice.

Lorcan pressed back his ears at her words, his body sinking lower and lower to the ground as his tail began to wrap up tightly between his legs. He couldn't blame her. Lorcan was choosing to leave at a bad time, when she and the pack needed him most. It seemed like @Ravenna was now one less friend he had to worry about. He was betraying her, and breaking yet another one of his promises, and he doubted if the silver female would ever want to lay her eyes on him again.

The mention of the pups was like a fang to the heart, and his lower lip began to quiver as he thought to how badly both Adeltra and Romanov might take his departure from the willows. He couldn't please everybody though. Once again Lorcan had taken the decision to do what he believed to be the best for himself and his sanity.

Nodding slowly in understanding, the male couldn't bring himself to say anything more. Instead he turned away awkwardly, his eyes still focused on the snow beneath his paws as he slunk away towards the northern borders.

He would howl his goodbyes to the pack, but only once he believed himself to be far enough away not to get chased down and attacked.

- Lorcan exits -

(This post was last modified: Feb 10, 2018, 09:16 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

He slipped away from the entrance to the infirmary, shuffling towards the silvery form of his cousin where Lorcan had once stood. The boy did not understand everything but it would become clear soon enough that the other healer was not coming back. For now, he played a supportive shadow role.

The boy's form was held lower than his large cousin's. His tail managed to give a few slow wags as his amber gaze lingered on the ground. If Roman had learned anything in his first months on this world it was that it was not kind nor forgiving. But that didn't mean he had to be the same.

He'd place a soft lick against her chin if she'd let him before he softly mumbled. "Love ya, Rav." It was the boy's first display of affection in a while to anyone but his father yet he felt it was important in this moment.

(This post was last modified: Feb 10, 2018, 09:23 PM by Romanov.)

It's Only Dark.

And so, another pack mate bit the dust. It was something that had happened time and time again and souls continue so. Life was always changing, wolves came and went, entire packs came and went. Although she was upset, Lorcan, unlike many others, was at least leaving by informing that he was going instead of disappearing in the night without warning. It was the best she could hope for under these circumstances and although the loss of Lorcan would obviously make the pack smaller and no longer with a secondary medic, it did not necessarily put the pack in dire circumstances. Willow Ridge had survive with far less members before and eight wolves within the ranks was still an average sized pack.

These statistic put Ravenna as ease when it came to her pack but that did not mean she would not miss Lorcan. She enjoyed the quiet time they spent with one another in the den while he was healing, the effort he put towards keeping the pack strong over the winter and even her memories went back to the more recent tine where she, Lorcan and Blitz laid together in a clearing watching skyfire. He was a valuable member to the ranks and she opened her mouth, only to quickly close it with hesitantance. She had thought to ask him where he was going to be going but then decided better on it. She didn't want to know who he was leaving her, it would just make it worse.

Then, without another word, he lifted and turned away, leaving the pack for good. Her feelings for him remained mixed, knowing how good he had done for the pack in the little time he was here and yet knowing his constitution was his downfall. He had been weak, he had betrayed them. Lorcan had decided to run away north from his problems instead of staying and helping. If he was friends to all sides he could have used this advantage to smooth things over with the packs in the same manner which Adeltra did. But Lorcan didn't. He wouldn't. Not if it meant him taking fire.

Now, Ravenna let her snarl out, her lips quivering, cursing under her breath at what had just happened. Thats when Romanov slunk out of the den, slowly making way to Ravenna's side and offering her a lick to her chin. Ravenna's tail waved weakly, her eyes softening for the boy. She lowers her head, going from fight mode to comforting mother in an instant for the child as she brushed the length of her muzzle through his nape. "I love you to Romanov."