Fisher's Split barely commune with the horde

He could not explain why he thought that @Lantana might just...go away. He had invited her, but how odd it felt for somebody to actually want to tag along. Of course, @Llinnea did not count in his mind. She was but a child and he was practically teaching her how to live alone. For Loach expected that the girl would be gone one day. Perhaps soon, even. Maybe Lana would also be a short term face in his life.

He cared not to think about how the thought of them disappearing perturbed him.

As he returned to the split in the river where they had made camp, he let out a low call for Llinnea. He figured she had bedded down somewhere to avoid larger predators and nosy passersby.

However he also figured that Lana might show her face now too that he had called...

She had followed him after all. Or rather, followed down the river after they'd parted, letting her paws lead her toward its fork. Lantana couldn't say whether she would stick around, but if she did run into Loach again she'd stop by for a bit and say hello, see what the hunting was like. There was the matter of the other as well, the kid could be a help or a hindrance, it was left to be seen. But she had decided to see if her luck might be better with them for now. She might as well try, anyway.

When a call hit her ears, Lana paused for a moment before heading toward the sound. It was strange, she hadn't responded to a call like that in a while. She wasn't sure if she liked the feelings that brought up or not.

Caution kept her from answering back, along with the fresh memory that not everyone out and about might be friendly. But she was surprised to find that she was glad to hear him, and see him when she emerged from the trees at the riverbank.

"So this is Fisher's Split?" she assumed it must be, giving the statement along with a nod more as a casual greeting than anything. She could smell his scent and another lingering faintly in the vicinity, and glanced around to take in the place as well as see if she could spot this so-called cubbin.

Currently traveling with Loach, Llinnea, Clouse and Claw.

Llinnea had quickly finished her fish and after a brief rest found a good snowbank against a pair of trees all but connected at the ground and started digging. She'd spent enough time in little shelters over the last few months that she was confident she could scoop out a little den big enough for her at the very least, maybe enough for Loach to squeeze in if he wanted to and she had the time. Maybe he wouldn't want to sleep so close to her, in a little den.

That's okay, she was used to sleeping alone.

She was just settling down for a nap in her quickly-warming makeshift den when she heard Loach's voice, calling out a summons. She popped her head out, relieved he'd returned, when another wolf appeared, asking about the split. Llinnea ducked back down as quickly as possible, hoping she'd avoided being seen. Who was she? Why had Loach brought her back? Had he known she was here? Why was she here? It was supposed to just be the two of them!

But she'd asked about Fisher's Split, like it was new to her. And Loach hadn't threatened her so far. Llinnea slowly peeked out of her shelter again. The woman didn't look all that different from her Mor. Maybe she was safe.

The small girl slipped from her snowbank and hesitantly approached the pair of adults, warily eyeing the woman and stopping a short distance from them, giving herself enough space to run should she need to.

Currently traveling with Loach and Claw

The whole gang was here, it seemed. If two adults and a kid could be called a gang.

This would be it. Good hunting spot. No other predators have popped up to steal our huntin', yet. He drawled out warmly, but he moved his spot. Standing a bit closer to Llinnea. Not exactly defensive, but he figured if anybody needed support here, it might be the cubbin' among them.

Lana, Llinnea. Llinnea, Lana. He swung his muzzle back and forth for the introductions. Gesturing to each other when their names were spoken from his lips.

He had half a mind to declare Llinnea as some kind of...kin to him. Then figured he shouldn't, lest things get real messy real fast. Nor did he feel like answering possible questions about mothers and wives. No, thank you. Llinnea, Miss Lana here is good and the fishing is always better with more. He imagined that was no question between them all. And Miss Lana, well, Llinnea here is real good too. She's becoming a proper fisher, ain't ya? A warm look in his eyes only as he gazed upon the younger girl.

Lantana remained where she stood as the girl emerged, and Loach moved to a point between them. She didn't let that phase her, at least outwardly but it was worth notice. He probably he trusted her enough to invite her back here, but if it came down to it the kid was where his loyalties lay. Well, that wasn't unexpected, they were likely kin of some sort. And what was she, but more trash blown in on the wind?

At least she wasn't too worried about the girl any more. Not a tiny cub by any means, though not yet a yearling, certainly. She seemed wary, and better yet did not smell anything like the woman Lana had run into before.

Dipping her head with a soft smile, she nodded to the kid. "Is that so? Well, nice to meet ya Llinnea," she could not hope to provide herself a better introduction than Loach's, so she skipped onward. "Thank you for letting me visit you both here," keep things noncommittal, that was good. Lantana had never fished much, being from more arid lands it was rare to see this much water back where she was from. But she was a quick study. And it would be easier for a little while here, hopefully, if they all got along okay.

Currently traveling with Loach, Llinnea, Clouse and Claw.

Llinnea tried not to react when Loach stepped closer, but she had to admit it did help her relax. He'd brought someone back, but he was still with her. It was a savage sort of glee.

She eyed Loach as he babbled, something she hadn't really witnessed from him before. His praise of her fishing skills made her warm a little inside, but otherwise she didn't react, just silently looking at this Lana until she said something first.

Unfortunately Lana was polite, and that meant Llinnea had to be polite too. After another glance at Loach she finally said, "Hi." It wasn't as nice as her Mor would have wanted, but it wasn't mean, either. Just a greeting. Better than nothing.

(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2023, 05:00 AM by Llinnea.)

Currently traveling with Loach and Claw

Well, weren't they all just a bundle of happy clams.

He motioned towards the river softly. Then his gaze gave warmth to Lana, then fluttered to Llinnea again. Prepared to play her hand into being social. She'd need to learn it if she wanted to live.

Why don't you show Miss Lana our best fishing spots? She's a guest. An arch of one brow. Yet he waited not to hear an answer from either one of them, for he already turned his attention upon the river. Prepared to stalk down its sides until he found a good clearing where he could wade in to wait.

Let the girls learn to chat, or let them follow along.

(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2023, 05:06 AM by Loach.)

The girl's greeting was simple, and so Lana sufficed to give her a nod. Not the talkative sort, or just shy?

Lana's gaze swept back to Loach, who was going on. She caught his gaze for just a moment, before he was on straight to fishing. Ah well, sometimes introductions were better when kept short and sweet anyway.

She followed after for a short distance, one ear on the dark man and one ear on the girl. Down toward the riverbank, where the cold water seemed to laugh back at them. To be honest she'd rather have followed him than the kid. She'd like to chat more. But he'd made things clear enough for the moment. She'd have to find a chance later.

For now, Lana turned to the girl again, letting Loach wander ahead to his fishing spot. Now that they had a bit of space, she gave an amicable sway of her tail along with a casual shrug, wondering if the girl might say more if Lana left it up to her to speak first.

Currently traveling with Loach, Llinnea, Clouse and Claw.

Llinnea had hoped Loach would offer more of a conversation starter but those hopes were dashed when he simply walked away to start fishing. She watched him go with a blank expression. Alright then. She could take care of herself anyway. She'd told Asmund she wasn't going to rely on anyone else to protect her, and she was going to stick to that. If Lana wanted to hurt her, then she'd have a fight on her paws.

She looked back at their guest, who was waving her tail amicably. "I like it over here," she said, turning to lead the way to her favorite fishing spot, just a little downstream of the split itself. She could still see Loach further up, close enough that he might be able to step in if she needed - assuming he was inclined to do so. "The water is cold," she warned as she waded in, looking back to see if Lana was following.

One more mouth fishing might not be so bad.

Currently traveling with Loach and Claw

last from me!

He heard the voice of Llinnea say more than she had in her greeting. Which meant his plan had worked, of course.

He smirked lazily as he watched the river wind between his legs. He allowed himself to feel the sharp punch of its coldness, welcomed it entirely. Fishing looks good today! He called out warmly.

Then set his mind back to his task. Prepared to fish until he could no longer. Even if he never caught anything.