Willow Ridge down there's a world of used cars, and singles' bars

Backdated to March 6th, Clouse has come to join @Avella's group to be with @Rashina. Heads up to @Iseldir and @Daegal as well. c:

Finally, he had arrived. Funny to think this had been his goal to begin with, before something indescribable had pulled him blithely past it and right into @Loach's life. He missed him already, but this was one obligation he could not shake, not when it had come chasing so determinedly after him. Clouse faced the willows and their naked, serpentine boughs with a hard gaze before leaning back his skull to call up into the sky.

He was here, to be a part of whatever this was for so long as his sister needed him. Briefly, he hoped that meant, for the young Archer had very different plans for his spring.

A call sounded.

There had been visitors in the willowed forest a number of times before. Even some which had come directly into the Willow Ridge, the space which they called home. Still, little ever called out to them. None that she could remember anyway. Perhaps it came with the territory, or, lack of...

So Nineve came to the call. She was bigger then she was before when two intruders had come into their home. Bigger meant bolder. She trotted into the dark male's direction, though kept a wide berth. He was a stranger, after all, and she wasn't stupid.

"Who'ere you?"

Where his sister went, he very often went too. Let her be the one to speak strong words, he would be there to listen and back her up, be the ever watchful shadow. The Archer boy was certainly ready to act if needed, but happy to let her have the spotlight. Though what they'd do besides run if this man meant them any harm, was only a fleeting thought. Whatever happened, they'd stick together, that's what mattered.

The recent memory of meeting @Asmund , their terrible flight from his phantom-like pursuer across the open lands and back home, and the trip to return him to his Backwater home had left Iseldir considerably less open and outgoing to strangers than had been merely weeks before. Their wayward relative was regarded with quiet scrutiny from narrowed green eyes, though he let out a huff to announce himself communicate that there was no threat of hostility unless the other made a move first in bad faith. Could he be some one Ra knew? Ears simply tipped forward to catch the answers to Nineve's question, his nose testing the air to make sense of the stranger's presence in their home.

(This post was last modified: Mar 16, 2023, 12:37 AM by Iseldir.)

Of course he was greeted first by children, and rather huffy-looking ones at that. Clouse might have minded were this not typical amongst the myriad of little cousins he'd already met prior to coming to Relic Lore. Rather than take any kind of offense, he merely took the young girl at face value.

"Clouse Archer. Your mom's Avella right? You wanna go fetch her? I don't need teeth in my ass because I didn't 'follow the rules.'"

That was a good possibility among his family as well. He wasn't here to step on toes and knew better than to try and go any deeper than that thin veneer of common ground. In all honesty, he expected these near-yearlings to be used to such casual treatment. He didn't know they'd been raised in a much more mild-mannered setting than he was familiar with.

Figured I would have Ra show up. Might be a one-poster unless she has something else to say.

She came, though she was forced to take her time of course. Ra stayed as deep into the family's claim as she could for the protection it offered. She smelt Clouse (obviously, given his call) along with Iseldir and Nineve. Her legs take wide steps, feeling the earth first before settling and soon she finds the side of her brother.

Facing into the children's direction, "Young ones, my brother Clouse has a thought to stay with us for a time." Eve had met him briefly but for Izzy, this was a first.

                                                                                                   ⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆                                                              
"Moon Mother,
bring us your light, for the night is dark and full of terrors." 

He was running late and his siblings beat him and that was just not cool. Daegal quickly joined them, slowing from his run just enough to avoid skidding into his brother as he came to Izzy's other side. Ra was here, somebody he knew was family but hadn't spent time with. Sometimes their little family felt so big. He liked it better small, but he supposed his mom deserved to have more of her family around.

Daeg caught the end of Ra's statement and cocked his head. "You're family?" he asked the stranger at their borders. He didn't understand the relation, but if mom said so, when she got here...

There was a little lapse between this thread and the other with maybe/maybe not meeting Clouse, so don't mind Eve...

Iseldir arrived, a silent backup for his sister who often did the speaking in her litter. Even if they were both here, it was likely of Clouse tried anything slick they wouldn't be able to take him on, almost full grown or not.

"An Archer?" Her head tilted, ears perking with a new curiosity. "Ra's-" Brother. The white priestess said so as she arrived, making her way to the other's side. There after was Daegal's arrival, his own interest in the newest known family member coming into light as well.

Nineve nods to her brother in silent confirmation. Ra had spoken of alot of family in the 'mother land' that was Torbine. It reminded her of the story of what her mother had spoke, of what Willow Ridge once had been.

"Yes, Avella is our mother." She then answered Clouse, her head turning from one brother to the next, wondering if either would take it upon themselves to go get their mother or if they wanted to stay here while Eve went on.

Fetch was  a fun game with his siblings in summer days long gone, but now the word felt a bit demeaning. Izzy was not particularly keen to go fetch anything at this stranger's behest, especially before his brother and aunt had also arrived. Again he found himself wishing it was either of his parents who treaded onto the scene next, but if someone needed to go find them, then it might as well be him.

He wasn't exactly great at standing around and catching up, or playing diplomat, either, and it wasn't just for lack of words. Izzy found this complication perturbing. With one last long look at the dark man, he flicked an ear as he nodded to each of his siblings in turn before heading off. His aunt Ra was fine, but how many other Archers were there in this Torbine, and what did they want with their little family? He huffed a bit as he went.

@Hagar or @Avella had to be around here somewhere.

Iseldir's exit for now

Final round! This thread is part of pack creation, so I'll be archiving it by the 28th and possibly earlier. HMU if you want to post again but are worried about time!

Her gentle weight was familiar against his side, and he smiled while touching his nose to the base of her nearest ear in fond greeting. Having time with Ra again would be the only perk to this staycation away from where he truly wanted to be. She explained his presence, and the children appeared mildly placated. One even seemed to heed him, taking off without a word to hopefully seek out Avella. He twitched his shoulder, a subtle signal through touch to communicate Clouse was moving. If he had Rashina with him, he was far less likely to be mistaken for an interloper, and so had little qualm following after the children now.

"Well, let's go find her then," he answered the two remaining pups, before addressing his sister, "Have I missed anything?"

Their parents had no come, not yet. As said, with out two capable adults to due all the hunting and guarding, it was hard on the pair. Now, the children were growing and quickly, making themselves jseful as they began to hunt and now, come to visitors calls at their doorstep. The time it took for the children to be useful shown on the thinness of Ra.

Eve nods to this new-found cousin of hers, "Lets." She spoke and began to turn, passing an eye briefly to hee paler hued brother as she led both Ra and Clouse along and hopefully, soon, into the direction of Avella or Hagar.