Hearthwood River [BWP]The Hardest Thing in This World...

Special mention to @Kerberos and @Lachesis for their knowledge of this event. If there are any questions please feel free to contact me. This is a read only one post and I will archive in a couple days. My apologies for this being two days late.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

When Inna returned to Hearthwood it had been a little strange at first to be back and the forest empty. She'd easily found her den which after months of being empty needed to be cleaned out. She'd found a few older signs of the coyotes but nothing so recent she felt she needed to worry. The Raven had set about preparing the den, cleaning out the leaves and old bedding. She then checked the old caches and medical den for anything that could be of use to her. She found a little garlic that helped with her immediate nausea.

Slowly things started to come together as she set up caches close to the den so she wouldn't have to go far. She filled them as much as she could hoping that with just her eating from them they would last until her young ones were ready for travel. She gathered the herbs and plants that she would need the closer that she came to the time when she would give birth. Inna had worked quickly wanting to get everything she needed to done before she would no longer be able to.

As time passed and she grew heavier she started staying closer to her den just in case. She had been lucky as well to have not been bothered by the coyotes. She felt it had been a good decision to return to her childhood home and having the forest to herself, the quietness that it gave her. It was the best place for her to bring her children into the world.

She had awoken earlier than usual and had to hurry to reach the outside of the den before she emptied the contents of her stomach. After ward she buried it before returning to the den but remained restless. She laid on her side panting for awhile before she realized what had happened. Inna at the herbs that she would need to help make sure the birth went okay she then settled down to wait at the entrance of the den to watch the sun through the trees as it passed over head.

Hours she waited until it was nearly nightfall, the last vestiges of light were disappearing into the darkness of the sky. That was when the first contraction came, it was time and there was nothing she could do but let her body take over. Once the first contraction subsided she managed to move further back into the den.

Contraction after contraction came and with it the pain that she'd become familiar with the previous year with Oksana. Finally after what seemed forever the first pup was born, she quickly started cleaning him off. He sorted a coat as dark as hers and Immediately he was dubbed Orionis. Inna nudged him to her her abdomen where he quickly latched onto one of her teats. She thought he would he the only one, after all she'd only had Oksana the previous year. She was so very wrong as another round of contractions started. This lasted just as long as the first round, she wasn't expecting what followed.

It was another pup that she quickly cleaned off but this one didn't cry like her son or Oksana. She nudged the little girl with her nose but there was no movement. Inna didn't have to be told what this meant. Tears slid  down her cheeks as she realized that she'd lost one if her children. A little girl colors similar to her father.  Inna chose to name her Lyra and for a long time she cleaned her and looked upon her mourning her. She lay her little girl to rest in the ethos with her parents as soon as Orionis was as sleep and she been she could leave him for a short time.

Until then she concentrated on her living child to make sure that he was doing well. Ince she was sure she laid her head in the den floor to rest for a time after what she'd just been through.

(This post was last modified: Jul 19, 2018, 07:43 PM by Inna.)

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Please note this is a one time special event post, the coyotes will be controlled by players involved in the thread.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Johan had created what in his most humble opinion was a bad-ass group of burly coyotes who were out for blood and didn’t want to take no for an answer. After all, they had to keep their protein levels up if they wanted to stay the impressive physiques that they were and if they managed that they would all totally score with the ladies next year. The four bros trailed behind him, yipping and generally causing a ruckus but Johan had fallen silent, his nose twitching in overtime on his face. He could smell something intriguing but he wasn’t sure what it was. It smelled like wolf for sure, but it was mixed with blood, death and something else. The bros must have caught on because one by one they quieted down, the loud yips echoed back towards them before falling silent. They had to find the source of that smell.

We Aren't Afraid

Laike Artemieva
is there something supernatural messing with you?

He was pushing his luck scouting this far out with the due date of his children certainly creeping closer. His hefty form moved through the lowlands and eventually, he reached a rather familiar forest. The Artemieva had been made aware of the move of Hearthwood. So why did he bother looking? Was it the memories he had left behind here? Was it the fact that he still deeply loved the forest that laid east of his own lands?

There was not much time to consider these things as he heard the yips that accompanied a peculiar smell. He had entered Kingsfall convinced that he might be the only one here. While he did not typically believe in ghosts, he might have considered it had the smells not been so strong.

He closed in on a familiar place where the scent was the strongest. Awkwardly he stood a few yards away from the entrance. Why? But his temperament had been cooled over the last few months due to his wife's easy going personality. He could not bring himself to be angry with the situations that had been presented.

A low woof escaped him. He should have known better but he closed in on the den and was bold enough to stick his head in, if it wasn't who he was expecting then he'd be in for a shocker. Even if it wasn't he couldn't let a den ridden wolf stay when the coyotes made it obvious they were interested. I'm not letting you stay here.

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Honestly, she didn't know why she felt the need to go back to visit Hearthwood River. Perhaps a little stroll down memory lane. Perhaps to show Cancer around where she had been born and spent a good portion of her younger months. It was only going to be about a four-day trip, there and back, and Askan had said it was okay for them to go. But it was just as beautiful as she remembered, and she smiled as the redwoods towered overhead. The sound of the river in the distance was pleasing, and she realized just how much she had missed it here.

But with those fond memories came the bad ones, and she decided to skirt nearer to the den where she was born, and near where her mother passed.

This was supposed to be a nice, peaceful trip.

There was blood in the air, and a painfully familiar scent mingled in that Ris couldn't ignore.

Without really thinking of the consequences, the small silver wolf tore away from @Cancer's side and sprinted dead-on toward the scent. Oh, god... were those coyotes she could hear?

"Inna!" Ris called, bursting through the undergrowth and almost right into Laike's side, her silver eyes widening in shock. It seemed she wasn't the only former Hearthwood wolf drawn to this place.

It also seemed that they weren't the only creatures here, either.

Four coyotes were approaching in on the den as well, and Ris couldn't let that stand. Pale fur bristled on end and she turned, taking a few, protective, stiff-legged steps toward the vermin. Her lips curled back in a snarl and she lowered her head, not even taking the time to greet her sister or former packmate, or new nephew.

This looked like it was about to be a fight.

(This post was last modified: May 09, 2018, 06:23 PM by Risaela.)

It hadn't been exactly the smartest idea to strike out now, while the forests teemed with lesser canines, but that was why he'd had to go. Worried that Risaela would strike out on her own regardless, he'd agreed to go with her. The two of them together could, worst come to worst, outrun and outsmart any band of coyotes.

A defenseless woman and her newborn had not been meant to be camping out here, however.

Cancer had torn after Ris, cursing under breath at the jarring turn of events. Now they would have to fight, would have to risk themselves against odds that were not entirely in their favor. They were lucky that the male was there as well (the father perhaps?) but still this could turn messy quick. He made sure to place himself between Risaela and the small pack that was still at a relative distances, showing gums and teeth in a raucous snarl. His black fur bristled and made him seem all the larger, hoping that the beasts could be deterred by posturing alone.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

The Raven watched as her son nursed at her side and though the day had been tragic too she was happy that she at least had Orionis. Inna was more than aware she could have lost both her children and maybe that knowledge made it easier to accept that she'd lost little Lyra. She cried for her daughter and planned a proper burial for her but she had learned through past losses that she needed to move on. If not for herself for her son and Oksana.

She looked forward to the rest that would come soon enough after the exertion her body had gone through. The mother was exhausted from giving birth to two pups only moments ago. That rest wouldn't come just yet as sounds outside the den reached her ears. Fiery gaze was in the entrance of the den her nose moving as she sniffed the air, the scent of coyotes was there when it hadn't been before.

Hackles raised as she moved her children to the back of the den placing herself in front of them. The scavengers would have to go through her before they would get her children. A low growl rumbled in her throat as she waited for one of them to stick their noses through the entrance of the den. This she knew was the best place to be if they were going to attack, they couldn't all fit in the den that was only big enough for an adult wolf and a pup. She would take them out as they entered or she would die protecting her children.

A rustling outside the den caused her dark form to tense as she prepared to strike. Her growls became louder, a warning that whoever was out there should think twice before entering. What she wasn't expecting was the pale head that appeared in the entrance. The scent that followed was familiar to her and in a moment she realized who had come. Before she could speak or even think he stated she wasn't staying there.

Like a angel sent from the ancestors Laike had come and Inna felt relief settle over her. Things only got better when she heard the familiar voice of her sister, Risaela. Along with her family the scent of another wolf was on the air, she didn't recognize him but she did recognize the pack scent that he carried. It was like they knew she was in trouble and had come to help. “Laike, Rissy I'm so glad to see you both,” she said moving forward to brush her muzzle against the Artemieva's. She couldn't afford to be territorial over her pups now, “I have a son and a daughter but she didn't make it,” she told Laike, “I can't leave her here for them to take her.” Inna was firm on that, she would be laid to rest in the ethos if she had to die to do it.

They could take care of the Immediate danger and then she would follow Laike wherever he would take her. With the Coyotes no doubt advancing there wasn't time to figure out what would happen after, where she would end up with her son. The problem needed to get dealt with and as much as she wanted to get out and fight alongside her family she knew she couldn't. It would be suicide and it would leave her son without his mother. “Kill them for me, for my son,” they had ruined his birthday after all, “I will stay here a last defense if need be.” She knew she was in no condition to be fighting the scavengers.

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Laike Artemieva

A sharp frown cut into his features at the news of her daughter. He was left with little options in this moment. Slipping away wouldn't be easy when the band of coyotes was still at large. Nor did he trust a yearling Risaela and whoever her companion was to fight off the coyotes by themselves.

His orange gaze locked onto Inna with a sternness. You will stay here and guard your children until we ward them off. Then I'm taking you elsewhere and we'll properly deal with your daughter. Understand? Laike was leaving her very little wiggle room as he was already set in his plan. The Artemieva figured if she truly valued the lives within the den (her own included) she'd follow his words.

It was with a hesitancy that he turned his back to the den of the Baranski to help deal with the coyotes. He let out a few heavy baritone barks as he raised his hackles. As he moved closer to the band of coyotes he snapped his teeth sharply with snarls to follow. A few of the coyotes seemed to be somewhat deterred by the aggressive displays the guarding trio gave but there was one in particular who seemed especially bold.

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Cancer was quick to catch up with her, but at first she didn’t like that he put himself in front of her. It wasn’t so much that she wasn’t afraid and didn’t want to be protected, but moreso that she didn’t want another wolf risking their life - and possibly actually dying - for her. She had only a handful of wolves in this world who she genuinely loved, and she didn’t want to lose any more of them. Because even though she had been young when her mother died, the images and emotions were still fresh in her memory. That wasn’t something you could just forget.

That’s why she had run so fast toward Inna. In spite of their disagreements and fallouts, she adored her older sister, and she couldn’t leave her alone there to die.

Not to mention that Cancer’s life was becoming increasingly more important to her the longer she knew him. Though she couldn’t honestly put a paw on what the feelings entailed, she knew she cared for him a great deal. He simply could not die for her.

For a few tense moments, it looked like they might actually get out of this without a fight. But the boldest coyote stepped forward, and Ris scolded herself for thinking it would be that easy.

Being the furthest back and closest to the den, Ris caught on pretty quickly that one of the four coyotes was using the boldest one as a distraction. The brown creature was slinking around the outskirts of the clearing, brazenly heading toward Inna’s den. That same swell of protective instinct that had driven Risaela there in the first place returned full force, and she turned to bolt toward the vermin that threatened her sister.

It was when she slammed into the coyote’s side and they went rolling together across the floor of the clearing that Ris realized she had no idea how to fight a coyote.

Working on instinct alone, the girl used teeth to try and fend off most of the coyote’s own snaps and nips. This thing was big. Not as big as her, but much larger than almost any other coyote she had ever seen. All four of them were, actually - thick muscle that was hard to sink her teeth into when she snapped at the animal’s shoulder.

A sharp yelp escaped her when the coyote managed to bite down on her flank and shake viciously, snapping and snarling. Despite the size difference, this was a difficult fight, and Ris hoped that Laike and Cancer were doing better than she was.

You'd think it would've worked, but apparently this plus-sized band of vermin had a confidence that would undo them. It took only one of them to dare step closer for the rest to take courage. It wasn't intentionally that Cancer distanced himself from Risaela; those few strides forward were meant to match that cocky coyote's, but when he'd heard her yelp and his blue eyes snapped round to find her, she seemed to be an eternity away. It clicked somewhere in the back of his mind that she had taken off after the beast, but all he could really focus on was getting to her rather than understanding all that was happening.

His paws twisted and took his body with them, but before he could take a single bound in her direction the burliest struck. It grappled him at the flank and stole his balance, effectively sweeping his legs out from under him. From there it was all snarls and teeth, punching paws and soon enough, ripping flesh.

He couldn't get to her.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Inna had thought she'd been alone in Hearthwood, for the past weeks as she'd prepared for the new life inside her to be born she'd been certain of it. A wave of relief washed over her when first Laike appeared and then Rissy. Despite everything her sister was still there ready to protect her and that was something Inna couldn't ignore. She knew they weren't out of the woods just yet but she couldn't help but feel that things might be okay.

It was clear that Laike had every intentions to make her situation safer. He gave her an order to stay in the den and assure her that Lyra would he taken care of. The tone he used was no nonsense and she wouldn't argue with him. “I understand,” she stated before moving toward the back of the den and tucking her son under her.

Laike left her alone in the den with her stillborn daughter and Orionis. Her eyes were fixed on the entrance ready to attack any coyote that thought it would be a good idea to enter. Though she was exhausted from just giving birth and still in a lot of pain she had to be ready to protect her children if need be.

The sounds of Laike’s barks and then she heard Rissy yelp made her want to go to them and help them but she remained. Waiting silently for a sign that it was all over with.

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