Drooping Willows Couldn't take the pace of change

Little tag for @Judas and @Ramiel so they know what's up. Tentative tag for @Yuka since that isn't set yet. Set for Oct. 15th. @Nineva and Ellery are at the borders. Tag for @Ravenna @Blitz and feel free to bring Freyja and Ragnar in if you're up for it. I'd love for Ellery to meet her (maybe) siblings!

she smiles like a georgia summer

It had been a long trip, the longest trip Ellery had ever taken. And, honestly, she was exhausted. She couldn’t imagine having made that trip when she’d been but three months old. How naive she’d been, not that she wasn’t still. But, the recent events had certainly been an eye opener to her. She stuck close to her mother’s side, leaning on her when she needed it and the other doing the same. They were each other’s support, though not to say that their little entourage weren’t helpful. She was happy for their company, happy to know that there were some who they could depend on.

After having rested the night before and taken some time to collect themselves, Nineva and the blonde Hervok struck up out the Willows. Their band stayed behind with the understanding that the matter matter was personal, though there we no secrets being kept. They knew what the business was, but it had to be dealt with with the two it affected the most.

They arrived at the borders and the girl looked around. The place was pretty, she’d give it that. She looked over at her mother, taking a deep breath. “I hope they know something,” she said. She wasn’t sure what to do next if they didn’t. Then, she lifted her head and let loose the call.

she laughs like the sound of thunder

At least here, so long as Ravenna was still at the helm, Nineva could have some faith that regardless of whether or not Elias had come to or passed by the Ridge, they would be treated with decency. It felt like too long since she had been in civilized company and honestly, the moment they crossed the mountain back into the West, she'd felt nothing but relief. The air itself was cleaner, calming, and she understood it had been a mistake to ever try and escape the forests she'd been born and raised in. Approaching the well-marked borders, even knowing that they might receive bad news, she did not feel the looming of the storm clouds that had chased her so stubbornly in the East.

Her daughter spoke, and she turned to nuzzle the girl behind her closest ear affectionately.

"So do I," she agreed, for knowing something was better than knowing nothing. ... right? There were so many possibilities, and some of them would leave Ellery hurting with no good explanation why. Nineva didn't want that for her daughter, didn't want her to know how shitty even those closest to you could be, how badly they could let you down; but she supposed she'd already seen more than she should have at her age, her birth pack falling apart around her and everything that had come with it. She couldn't protect her from the world, as badly as she wanted to.

Rather than wait any longer, she tipped her head back, calling for the leadership of Willow Ridge.

@Neha @Aleister @Aytigin too jic <3

It was an unfamiliar voice for him, and he had half a suspicion it was likely a rogue looking to pack up before the Winter hit in full force; a pretty run of the mill occurrence by now. He turned his paws toward the source of the call and trotted off from his present business, which had been herb gathering with Scully to help Ravenna out with her stores. There wasn't much left thanks to the frost, but those hardier plants that did still survive would be put to good use once the snow decided to pile and stay. The boy had argued, wanting to come with his father, but he'd been told to stay and finish what he'd started instead.

When he did arrive, Sven witnessed a woman his age and a girl his children's, and that only reinforced his assumption of what they were here for. Widowed or abandoned, perhaps, by the father; a story that was all too common. Still, he would ask.

"What is it you need?"

It had been just over a week since Ragnar, or anyone else within the ranks for that matter, had laid eyes on Avella Archer. Ragnar was also no fool to the fact that he had not seen Scully return home either from last night. Ragnar would only assume the dark coated pup went off to find his sister in the same manner Ragnar would fit Freyja. While he loved Avella and Scully as his family, his siblings, he held a special place in his heart for the young woman which had shared the womb with him. Ragnar thus could not blame Scully for leaving but that only he did not bother to forewarn anyone to begin with.

Worry touched the youth's features as he heard the call at the borders, beckoning his leaders and yet Ragnar came all the same, eager to hear if someone had come with news of his siblings whereabouts. Quick strides brought him forward before his mother yet not before Sven and he offered his leader a dip of his muzzle before sliding icy eyes over to those strangers gathered here. Family, yet more, it would end up turning out. Ragnar's attention could only settle on the blonde girl, an acknowledgement taking over him even though they had yet to meet. "Ellery, I presume?"

With the pups of Willow Ridge roaming off it was easy to say Ravenna was a bit... Disheveled. Having experienced only harsh winters riddled with abandonment, sickness and death, Ravenna could only expect the worse this time around and yet pray to the gods for mercy all the same. The Ridge was in far better condition then it had been the past few winter's prior with their leadership solid, members faithful and duties fulfilled. There was no reason to think that they didn't have the possibility of making it out all okay. After all, Enoki rarely wondered outside of the pack lands with her duties to tend to cleaning the den area and teaching them lore and different skill sets. The pups were six months old now and we're quite developed, growing into their large paws and ears and accompanying the adults in hunts and small scouting trips. If they had to decided when to go on a little venture it was best now that they were grown and before winter came.

Ravenna would have to keep thinking positively if she was going to keep from loosing her sanity and breaking before the sight of her pack.

Taking a deep breath, she approaches the boarders of her pack and comes to stand out to the side of her pale co-lead. Pale grey eyes dance towards her son and follow over to the other blonde youth. It was Ellery, it had to be. She moved her attention then over Judas with a dip of her muzzle and alas, to Nineva. "Nineva - How are you?" She had not seen her side they had been pregnant and she had spoken of her journey up north to form her own pack. So why was she down here now?