Turtleback Lake [BWP] Today 4 U

She’d lost them – again. The two elder children of the litter seemed to have a penchant for disappearing and going where they weren’t supposed to. Mak said it was because she was curious, and Leith because he was brave, either way, she needed to find them. She heard a familiar snarl and her son’s voice. Her eyes widened as she broke into a run, reaching the borders just as coyote was lunging at them. Her fur bristled, hackles rising as she snarled, diving around her children to intercept the ‘yote who dares threaten to harm her young. Her teeth collided with its neck and she sunk her teeth into it. It tried to fight back but Lilya refused to loosen her grip.

This was what she feared with her two children’s wandering paws – if she hadn’t been looking for them, that coyote sure would have caught them. She heard another snarl, seeing another ‘yote approach her and she cursed silently. She’d been so focused on the one lunging at her children that she hadn’t noticed the other two. She’d told Lach she was looking for them, and she prayed he had decided to follow her, or was out near the borders looking for them in kind… she was going to need backup.

CRAWL ON MY BELLY 'TIL THE SUN GOES DOWN, I'LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN

This was it! They were going to die! The creatures didn’t look friendly and then Leith started yelling at them and she shook her head. “Leith shut up…” She muttered before one of the creatures turned and started running at them. She turned on her heels, starting to run away but found herself tripping over the awkwardness of her own large paws, falling face first. She scrambled, trying to stand up in time, and that was when she saw her mom dive at the creature, her head turning and watching with awe but also pure horror as her mother fought the beast off.

There were so many questions she had, but she was also scared… like, really scared. She saw the two others starting to lunge at her mom for attacking their friend and she cowered away from them where she was standing. This was why she should never bring Leith on any adventures that she went on! He had gone and gotten them both into trouble with his big mouth and now mama and papa were gonna think she was a troublemaker too! They were so grounded.

"If you listen close, you can still hear the boy in the man"

He supposed it was about damn time. He’d enjoyed exploring the area over the last few months, re-familiarizing himself with the lands he’d once called home, but enough was enough, he’d promised come to visit, and he couldn’t keep putting it off. So he set out towards the southwest corner of the lake, and was almost immediately met by a fierce spout of rain, sharp gusts of wind whipping the drizzle into a miniature storm. Now braving a bit of rough seas was no trouble for the Captain, but it did cause the more religious side of him to wonder about bad signs. But before he could be turned back, the stench of coyote’s hit his nose, followed by the shrill shouting of young voices.

This alone, was enough to awaken the young man’s protective instincts, banishing all other concerns from his mind. He speed up, quickly coming upon the scene to see two pups scrambling to flee a band of the mangy beasts, one already charging as one of the children tripped. There was no time for him to react, but luckily another defender had beat him to the scene; what he could only guess to be a shielding mother jumping into the fray with ferocious speed. Yet she was out matched, the other two beasts turning on her at once, spotting the biggest thread. “Watch out!” Kyrios called, even as he set back into motion himself. Head lowered, he charged the nearest coyote, ramming straight into its side, knocking it off course - and nearly off its feet - tumbling into its other companion who similarly had been making for the preoccupied shewolf.

But their disorientation was only brief, and once they refound their footing they would turn on this newest target; At least the kids will have time to run..!

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"Speech" Thoughts

Edit: anyone is totally free to chuck the 'yotes back at Ky in their posts btw

(This post was last modified: Jul 08, 2018, 10:37 PM by Griffin.)

family reunion~ @Leith

Lachesis knew better than to let his mate search for their missing children alone. He trailed behind, taking a different route through the trees as he followed the scent of the two troublemakers. Legolas was tucked inside their den, ordered to stay put until they returned with his brother and sister in tow. He moved with long, even strides, streaking through the trees like a phantom. The stench of coyotes grew stronger as he drew closer to his children, causing a bubble of fear to thicken in the back of his throat. It was precisely why he had told his children numerous times to stay within the Driftwood borders. He just prayed that he wasn’t too late…

He was greeted by familiar scents and snarls as he burst onto the scene, his chartreuse gaze flicking from right to left. He spotted his youngest children out of harms way (for now), clearly terrified by what was unfolding before them. His mate was fighting off one coyote—presumably the one that had charged at the youngest Starks—but there was another familiar wolf on sight. Kyrios, his eldest son. Well, this hadn’t been the introduction he’d hoped for… but he was still pleased to see his son, even if the situation was undesirable.

Without further hesitation he flung himself at the remaining coyote, his jaws seeking warm flesh as he threw his weight against the scrawny creature. The pair fell to the ground, Lachesis on top of the mutt as he pushed his teeth deeper into the coyote’s throat…

stick with those who stick with you

If Leith had known the word, he might have been screaming shit shit shit shit as they went. Boy had he really gotten them into it this time. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, just on the heels of his faster sister. The boy glanced back, finding an extra level of speed that he didn’t know he had as the coyote lunged for them. He prepared himself for the end of his young life. It had been too short, he hadn’t gotten to pester the others enough! He hadn’t gotten to cause enough mischief or have enough fun! It wasn’t fair! However, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a tawny body flying over them with a snarl. The sound was familiar and he identified it as his mother. They were saved!

Still, he kept running. Another snarl made another wolf’s presence known, but this time he didn’t know who it was. He was making a beeline for the trees, eyes scanning the line for any source of shelter. Then, he saw it. A little hollow at the base of one of them. “Mak, th’ Hollow!” he called, altering his course. Once he reached it he basically dove right in, wedging himself as far to the back as he could and hoped that his sibling would follow suit.

Excuse mama as she becomes maternal mess

She struggled to keep her hold, pulling back as the coyote’s claws managed to dig far enough into her skin to draw blood, hissing as she stared the creature down – it wasn’t too deep; she’d have Lach look after it later. Watch out! Her eyes flashed to the creature as a wolf rammed into the side of the creature. Kyrios? It looked like her mate’s son, but she couldn’t be sure. He had been hardly more than a pup the last time she saw him, but he was also the spitting image of his father. The coyote he’d rammed turned back on him. Meanwhile, the one she had just gotten into a bit of a grappling match with was bleeding heavily, getting weaker, but it wasn’t dead yet. With another snarl, she lunged once more, going for the neck again and sinking her teeth down until she felt the snap associated with the creature’s death. Lachesis had arrived, tackling the third.

She looked at the other two, and they appeared to have it handled, so she turned to her children, concern in her eyes. She saw just as Mak reached the hollow, and she headed over to both of them. They were in so much trouble… But also, she needed to make sure they were alright. “Leith, Makvala?” She asked, not even minding the bleeding or the fact that her muzzle had red stains in it. She’d deal with those demons later too. “Are you two a’ight? Are ya ‘urt?” She asked as she looked them both over.

CRAWL ON MY BELLY 'TIL THE SUN GOES DOWN, I'LL NEVER WEAR YOUR BROKEN CROWN

Leith kept running but she’d been so caught up with what was in front of her that she hadn’t even noticed until he called out to her. She turned her head, pushing herself back on her paws before she ran after him. Hollow. She could make it. She narrowed her eyes, stumbling but managing to still stay on her paws as she tried to reach her brother and the safety that the small piece of shelter provided for both of them. She dove in, her head hitting the back as she stayed next to her brother.

“We’re in so much trouble.” She whispered to him as she watched what was happening outside. They’d both done it now, and now mama and papa were fighting the ugly creatures that Leith had provoked. “You shouldn’t have yelled at them!” If he hadn’t yelled, then maybe they wouldn’t have attacked! She saw her mom approaching with red all over her maw. What was that? She wondered, a scared look on her face as her mom asked if they were okay. She nodded. “M’fine.” She said nothing more, praying that maybe her parents wouldn’t yell at them for breaking the rules and putting themselves in danger… she could hope, right?

@Lachesis is up - sorry for the hold up <3

"If you listen close, you can still hear the boy in the man"

The impact reverberated oddly along the young buccaneer’s spine, sending a queer buzz rushing all throughout his body. Lifting his head, he shook the length of his back hurriedly, trying to be rid of it before the coyote’s regrouped for another attack. The mongrels were blasted quick at righting themselves, and he had only just time to lower himself into a defensive position, before the first one was on him, yellow teeth snapping and tearing at his ruff. Kyrios made a low, whining snarl, pushing forwards to use his greater weight against the scraggly beast. It would surely only be moments before the second animal made its move, and he could not be left vulnerable.

Ignoring the tearing at the back of his neck, the Captain forced his attacker up on its hind legs, exposing the soft underbelly. Then, without hesitation, he struck, teeth sinking in deep, piercing organs and severing arteries indiscriminately, before a final crush of powerful jaws put an end to it all. The coyote grew slack against his shoulders, its own grip loosening and he threw it to the ground, spitting its blood from his mouth with a grimace. Plenty of it had stained his fur too, leaving a red haze at the corner of his vision as he glanced around, trying to discern what had become of the third beast.

To his right, the tawny woman had finished her own battle similarly grimly, turning her attention to the children. The sharp voice with its broken rhythm made Kyrios’ ears twitch, a faint recognition alighting in his eyes as they trailed her towards the huddled pups; Lilya..? He remembered very little from his time in Hearthwood River, having left so young, but he did recall the shewolf now, and if he was not mistaken, she and his father had been quite close. And then his gaze landed on Lachesis, already buried teeth first in the third coyote’s throat; explaining why it hadn’t attacked along with its fellows. “Dad!” He barked, taking a step forwards, but the light was leaving the beasts eyes, its head lolling sideways on the bloodied ground.

It all looked a right mess, the earth and wolves both, but they had won, and from the whining voices of the pups, it seemed everyone had made it unharmed. Kyrios took the last few steps over to his father’s side, rubbing his head against his shoulder; “Guess A’ chose th’ right time t’ come visit, eh?” A crooked smile split his red muzzle, in a rather grizzly manner, head turning towards Lilya and the children; “These lil’ rascals ma’ siblings then?”

word count: 436

"Speech" Thoughts

so sorry for the wait! @Leith @Makvala @Lilya @Kyrios

The ghost was consumed by determination to protect his family, his teeth sinking deeper into the creature’s neck as he pushed his weight against the scrawny mutt. It did not take long for the coyote to fall still beneath him. He gave a sharp shake of his head for good measure before releasing the tawny creature and turning his chartreuse gaze to the other agouti bodies before turning his attention to his eldest son. Kyrios! He stepped forward, a wide smile cutting across his pale features as his son closed the distance between them. Immediately the pale father tossed his chin over the younger Aegina’s shoulder, bringing him in close for a quick embrace before releasing him. You sure have some timing, the Stark laughed as he touched his nose to the ivory male’s cheek, his tail swaying gently behind him. The boy’s timing was impeccable but Lachesis was just glad to see his oldest son so soon after their last reunion. With Lilliana still being on her grand adventure and Lavender disappearing (which was very un-Lavender) Lachesis was over the moon to see Kyrios.

These lil’ rascals ma’ siblings then? The ghost nodded as he approached his mate and the two troublemakers. At least the couple had one child that cooperated and did as they were told… even if it was mostly because they were scared of everything. You remember Lilya…? He stepped toward his tawny mate, his nose brushing against her cheek before he turned his attention to the younger Starks. This is Leith and Makvala, he introduced, pointing to each cub respectively with a soft nod before turning back to Kyrios. This is your older brother, Kyrios. Coyote fighting extraordinaire. He flashed the creamy male a sharp wink as he allowed the news to digest, although he did not know how well his youngest would receive it considering their trembling states…

stick with those who stick with you

As he huddled against the back of the tree he waited to see if his sister had followed him. With each passing second he was convinced that the beasts had gotten her and he was stuck with Lazy Leggy as his sole sibling for the rest of his life. Oh what a boring life it would be. But, then, the girl came rocketing in mouth blazing. ”Shu’ up, Mak! We wouldn’ve been there if you ‘adn’t gone out in th’ first place!” he shot back, trying to hold back quakes of his own.

All the pair heard for a few minutes was snarling and yelping and he clenched his jaws to avoid a whine. Then, Ma was there and despite the blood and scratches he knew that everything was okay. After checking that the coast was clear, Lilya was quick to nudge her pups out and Leith was happy to oblige. It was cramped in there anyways. Upon exiting, he saw his father with a man who seemed to look a lot like him. The boy squinted at the new man, assessing him and just as he was about to open his maw to inquire his father beat him to the punch.

A brother? They had an older brother? The Stark boy’s face opened into a grin and he moved forward easily to the other. ”Ya don’ seem like ah stick in th’ mud like our younger brother,” he commented. After all, coyote fighting extraordinaire seemed like quite the exciting title. “Can ya teach me ta fight ‘em? Lee asked, though there wasn’t a whole lot of question in his voice. More like a smooth confidence that he wouldn’t be completely denied.