Driftwood Surge been a long time coming

Risaela is leaving the Surge. AW but special mentions for @“Lachesis” @“Lilya” @“Mako” and @“Matheo” - backdated to March 27th
Feel free to remove her from the DS ranks

It was too crowded with too many wolves and there wasn’t room for her anymore - especially not when she would be joining the adult ranks soon. She knew there would be spots for five of the six pups in the pack, and that was it. Not to mention Lachesis and Lilya were expecting more children. So it felt natural to her that she would be the one to go - after all, she was the most distant from the others.

The silver girl stopped by the eastern border and sighed, tipping her head back and howling, the steam from her mouth billowing like clouds. She wasn’t a child anymore, she thought absently. Maybe she hadn’t been for a long while.

She called for no wolves in particular, but she had a feeling she knew who would show up for her. The young wolf waited for them before she spoke, her moonstone eyes calm and resolute, if not a bit sorrowful.

”I-it’s time for me t-to go.”

They would know why.

(This post was last modified: Apr 06, 2018, 07:25 PM by Risaela.)

Mako missed Risaela and her sunny disposition. She managed to pull him out of his shell, and without her around to make him socialize, the Coho found it too easy to withdraw into himself. It was quiet with just his thoughts to keep him company, and there was plenty to keep himself busy when the pack had a pregnant mother to feed. It was easy to fall into a routine, running on autopilot in the most soul-sucking of ways.

Mako immediately sought out Risaela's call when he heard it, a pinprick of worry in his heart. Why would she stop at the border, this was her home, was it not? She didn't sound hurt, but he couldn't quite unravel the bittersweet note to her song.

Mako's tail wagged a few slow, hesitant beats behind him as he found her standing on the boundary. Risaela looked so serious, and her words took a moment to sink in. She'd been gone for so long, and now she was leaving? He supposed it shouldn't have hurt as much as it did, he should have gotten used to not having her around by now. He shouldn't be so god damned dependant and needy. He was pathetic, really. He wouldn't hold her back, he wouldn't hold himself back like this. Someone leaving shouldn't have him so rattled. 

If there were words to say, they swirled uselessly in his head and never made it past his throat. Mako had to fight to keep a neutral mask on his face, though he couldn't keep the long sigh from seeping out of his nose. He blinked quickly, chewing the inside of his cheek to distract himself as he turned stiffly and walked away.

The call had been one the ghost had been expecting. @Risaela had been distant—even before her little rendezvous. He had thought the move would help her come to terms with the death of her mother and while it had, at first, Lachesis could tell that she was no longer happy. Not with the influx of wolves the Surge had been receiving since the move south. The silver girl had never done well with crowds, which was why she usually clung to a specific wolf or went off on her own. Even if he tried to convince her to stay Lachesis knew it wouldn’t take. The girl had made up her mind long before.

As he approached the Driftwood borders a familiar face passed him in the trees, away from the silver-eyed girl. His lips fell into a deep frown. Clearly Mako wasn’t taking her decision well—especially since Risaela had brought him to the Surge and encouraged him to join. For a fleeting moment the ghost feared that the yearling would disappear, too, decreasing the pack’s numbers. He gave his head a small shake—he’d worry about that later.

Where will you go? He asked, a wave of déjà vu hitting him as he stopped before her, his chartreuse gaze holding a sadness in their depths. Her presence would be missed—he’d always considered the girl and her brother to be like his children alongside Lilliana and Lavender. But he understood that not every child wanted to remain with their parents, or their birth pack. Her wings were aching to be stretched; he could not restrain her, or any of the other Driftwood children if they wanted to leave.

stick with those who stick with you

He came at Ris’ call, though apparently quite a bit slower than the others she was hoping for. Mako he recognized by sight, but little else. He knew offhandedly that his sister at recruited the silver yearling… And that was it. It wasn’t as if Theo made much effort, these days. And of course, the guardian ghost was there.

The Tainn sighed, ears folding back as he caught the tail end of what Risaela was saying, and what Lachesis was saying back. Where will she go?

Did it matter?

Risaela was always coming and going, always. It had occurred to Theo that never, not once had she invited him along…or told him where she went afterwards. He met Mako because, well, the guy lived here and showed up to pack meetings like a good wolf. Where did she find him? No idea. And Aleksei, no idea, not until he’d come himself to the borders of Hearthwood.

He sighed, green eyes hardening. His jaws set. No, he was not surprised. That was just who his sister was, it seemed. Like all the rest of his siblings. Someone who left. Heck, his chest hurt. It felt like someone was squeezing the life out of him. His ears folded back until they were pinned. A raspy growled rattled in his throat – it was only then he realized he hadn’t spoken in a day or two, at least. His eyes burned.

“Someday,” he seethed, “you will run out of wolves to leave.”

And then, like Mako had, he turned to leave.

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Ow, okay... she hadn’t expected her brother and best friend to react like that. Before she even had a chance to explain why. Hurt flashed across her gray eyes as they both turned to leave her behind, without listening. Her mouth ran dry at her brother’s scathing words, and she took a step back.

There was no room! How could she be expected to stay?

But she bit back any defense or retort that she could have possessed, her body trembling a little as she looked up at Lachesis. At least he didn’t seem to be angry at her for doing this.

She didn’t want to go...

”T-to Kana and R-Rey,” she whispered, tears springing into her eyes as she met Lach’s pale green gaze. Her tail tucked between her legs and a sob tore from her chest. ”Pl-please don’t hate me, U-Uncle Lach...” the young wolf begged in a whimper, her ears lowering. ”I w-want to visit, s-so I’m not gonna g-go far away..!”

Mathéo’s reaction did not come as a surprise to the pale ghost, but the words were harsher as he’d anticipated. His expression tightened with worry as he watched the tawny Tainn disappear into the trees with a scowl sprawled across his dark lips. The alpha made a mental note to seek out the youth later; after Riseala had vacated the area. He pitied the young boy, as he was no stranger to others leaving him—whether it was by choice or force. It was something that the weary ghost and the sullen boy had in common, unfortunately. And it wasn’t just Mathéo that was left with a sour taste in his mouth…

Lachesis knew that he would not have been able to make the silver-eyed girl stay—not when her wandering heart longed for somewhere else. Words sputtered off her tongue as she announced that she was heading south to Reyes and Askan. He nodded briefly in response. He should have known; the Edge Lords had a habit of attracting a young crowd. But the ghost did not hold ill feelings toward his southern friends—he knew Riseala would be in good paws. You are always welcome to visit, he hummed in response as his tail swayed behind him. He just did not know if the wolves of Driftwood would welcome her appearance.

stick with those who stick with you