Turtleback Lake reflections

@Rayza (to post first please) | at the borders of DS; dated for March 3, early morning
 @Aytigin @Lachesis and/or @Lilya only please

It had taken her a little longer than anticipated to return to the Surge. The delay had been her fault, as she had insisted on doing a quick sweep of the Kingswood to make sure André wasn’t nearby. She had been a little reluctant to return home without the tawny healer at her side, but at least she had returned with someone. It wasn’t the wolf she’d been looking for, but at least she was helping him find his brother. It didn’t feel like a win, but it was as good as she was going to get. She wasn’t even sure the missing healer had gone north, to their previous home. For all she knew he could have meandered west, or further east, and disappeared into the surrounding territories. Maybe he didn’t want to found. Maybe his was injured.

At least she had tried… that had to account for something, right?

A heavy sigh escaped her as they left the snow-covered banks of Turtleback and disappeared into the forest once more. Almost there. Her pace began to quicken, a surge of excitement fuelling her tired legs. The sooner they got to the borders of Driftwood the sooner she could deliver her news and have Rayza see his brother. Er—meet his brother. The whole situation still boggled her mind but she blamed it on her youth. She was still trying to grasp the fact that they could be related with different mothers. It was something she would have to ask her parents about later, once she left the youth to bond with his older sibling.

As soon as they reached the invisible line that separated Driftwood from the rest of the mountain forest Lavender tossed her slender nose to the sky and called for her parents and Aytigin. If her parents were busy she’d seek them out later, but it was important that the ebony Guardian made an appearance at the border. 

Rayza had been impatient to spend any more time dawdling through the abandoned Kingswood forest. He had what he was looking for, and his legs itched to keep moving. The meat dangled so close to his teeth he could almost graze the surface - but the girl pulled his prize away and insisted to keep looking for her lost companion, and though he had quite a number of things he'd wished to say to her, Rayza had bit his tongue in better judgment. Provoking her with sharp words and murmurings would have probably made her leave, and that would have done little to serve his purpose. His future was in her paws, after all, and every hope of finding Aytigin now rested with her.

To his relief she didn't take long, and soon they set out on their way. His legs wearied from the long months he had spent adrift, and his steps hitched with the linger of his poorly healed sprain, but the faintest light spurred him forward, a hope that had long been shrouded by shadows. Soon the forest rose to envelop them, and the girl picked up pace. He could feel the spark of her own excitement - and Rayza found himself quickening beside her - to much less success.

He couldn't keep up, as much as he tried - exhausted yet quickened by the nervous anticipation of what and who he would find after their final stretch. Bushes and low-lying plants snagged and snapped beneath his heavy steps and he took turns glancing at the ground, so as not to trip and sprain his other leg, and peering through the trees, so as not to lose sight or scent of his guide.

Rayza caught up after her howl had left her lips and he settled beside her - if settled were even the proper word. Though he stood with relative composure, the reality finally struck him, and the lingering sound of Aytigin's name made him feel like he was going to throw up. He knew squat about his brother - something he hadn't really cared about when finding him had been a long and distant dream, but now... who would he find here? And if he was anything like Ajay - did he even want to find out?

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

Huh. Almost no one ever called for him at the borders, so this must be a particularly special occasion. Fortunately, the bearlike wolf was nearby when Lavender howled, his ears angling forward. She didn’t sound like she was in danger, but why else would she be calling for him at the borders? Could there be something wrong?

It was times like these he hated being so slow. Long legs meant nothing when one was as bulky as Aytigin Delaney, as he looked more like a squat moose lumbering through the trees than anything else. But somehow, he made it to the borders before Lachesis and Lilya - which was probably for the best, because if there happened to be any danger nearby... it was better it get him first.

”Lav!” he called, skidding to a halt and checking the white pup over before pressing an affectionate lick to her muzzle. There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger, but he needed to check anyway. ”Are you hurt? Is something wrong?”

It was then that hazel eyes flicked over to the yearling at her side, his head tipping to the side. Oh. Was this a potential new packmate? Was that what this was about? ”Hey, there,” the friendly guardian greeted with a short wag of his tail. So there wasn’t any danger at all... but why call for Ayti for just a simple potential joiner...? ”My name’s Aytigin Delaney, but everyone just calls me Ayti. What’s your name, kid?” he asked, looking over at Lavender for a bit of an explanation. ”If you’re hoping to join, I’m sure Lach and Lil will be here soon.”

A sigh of relief came at his daughter’s call—she was home. But, the nature of her call confused him. She was supposed to be looking for André (and his trail); why would she be calling for him and Aytigin? If she had found the healer, or couldn’t track him, the pale Stark would have sauntered into the Driftwood territory without hesitation and sought out her father. Calling him to the borders did not make any sense—not unless she had returned with someone else, or something had happened. Instantly his brows snapped together and he lurched forward, through the trees, his willowy legs pumping furiously beneath him.

To his surprise his bear-like second reached the borders before him, but he didn’t mind. Perhaps the yellow-eyed Delaney had been closer, for Lachesis had been lurking around the surging river that pumped through the mountain forest. His nose twitched at the scent of another—a scent that did not match the tawny healer’s. Lav, he greeted as he stepped forward, his nose briefly touching her forehead before he stepped to the side, his maw angled toward the russet stranger. Who’s this? He directed at both his daughter and the stranger, his lips tightening as he studied the youth.

stick with those who stick with you

The yearling remained silent as he joined her, as expected. She could only imagine how nervous he was to meet a brother he’d never met before. A brother who probably didn’t know anything about his existence. It was still a bizarre situation to the girl but it was none of her business. While she had not found the tawny healer she had found another wolf with ties to Driftwood. She just hoped her parents wouldn’t be disappointed in her for not completing her mission, as she had returned empty-pawed. She couldn’t tell where André’s trail had gone after it disappeared into the Kingswood and she feared something horrible might have happened to him.

Aytigin was first to arrive, earning a smile from the pale Stark. ’M not hurt, she mumbled as she attempted to wriggle away from him, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement. She stole a side glance at the russet yearling, for she was curious at how he would react to the large wolf before them. The guardian was quick to introduce himself and ask the loner for his name. Her tail wagged excitedly behind him as she waited for the yearling to break the news; she did not want to steal his thunder. It was his news to tell.

Her father appeared shortly after Aytigin, his expression soft with relief. Poor Lachesis was likely worrying the entire time she had been away (which did not surprise her). Hi dad! She chirped as she nosed his chin, her ears folding back against her head. I tried findin’ André, but his trail disappeared. Looked all over Hearthwood ’n I couldn’t figure out where it went. ‘M sorry, she explained quickly, her peridots dropping from her father’s pale figure. This is, uh, she started, her the corners of her mouth dropping, well, he should introduce himself. 

(This post was last modified: Mar 26, 2018, 06:58 PM by Lavender.)