Paradise Falls Burning in the skies

@Jethro felt like they needed to catch up <3

The smoke only seemed to be getting worse, and while she had yet to see any fires, there were days she was sure she could smell them on the horizon. Even if the redwoods didn’t burn, the thick smoke still had an adverse effect on the pack, especially the pups. Seeing them coughing and struggling to breathe, lethargic from inhaling all that soot made her heart ache – if things didn’t lighten up soon, she was seriously considering moving everyone away, at least temporarily. It was with such dark thoughts on her mind that the fiery woman sought out her co-lead, wanting to hear news from his recent trip as well as discuss her worries. Night was settling over the Falls, the children were safely asleep, and Flair had to fight her own fatigue to leave the den site and head somewhere more private, but she wanted no one to overhear them, least of all tiny ears that woke up unexpectedly. ”Speech" Thoughts

dawnthieves.de, FairieGoodMother @DA & Lakela @DA

While his trip of nearly a month hadn’t revealed any immediate danger, there were clearly fires still burning somewhere. Smoke made everything harder, from finding food, as he’d learned, to simply breathing and functioning. Some days it got so bad that he’d have almost preferred to have the drought from last summer back over this.

It was harder to sleep at night, too. Often he remained awake despite near-constant fatigue, vigilant, ensuring fire wouldn’t creep up on anyone as they slept, trading off with Colette at times to give her a deserved rest.

He’d wander the territory, keeping tabs on things, checking in on the families and others. They were all struggling, but nobody had quit. They were all still fighting, and he wanted to believe they could get through this, too.

That didn’t stop the concerns, though.


--indeed! ^^

Spotting his dark fur through the smoke, with only the moon to light it was no easy feat, and it didn’t help anything that she couldn’t use her nose either. But eventually she did spot her fellow leader, approaching on quiet paws, only for a sudden coughing fit to break the silence, pausing her advance. It took several moments before she got her breathing back under control, if a little raspy, one leg lifting to rub her runny eyes and nose in an irritated motion. Finally, she moved the remaining few steps, calling out in a hoarse voice: “Hi Jet, y’ve time t’ talk?” She wasn’t expecting him to turn hr away, but a little common curtesy never hurt; Look how I’ve changed… The thought managed to bring a half-smile to her lips, despite their situation, she still had fight left; We’ll figure this out! ”Speech" Thoughts

dawnthieves.de, FairieGoodMother @DA & Lakela @DA

A figure presented itself from the darkness, flaming red, but not fire - at least not in the literal sense. Her cough had him increasing a previously gentle lope to a more concerned trot, closing in on his co-lead as she cleared her throat and eyes. In that moment, Flair seemed to him something she hadn’t previously. Old.

The effects of the fire and smoke had caused everyone some trouble, physically and otherwise, but how much worse was it for the youngest and oldest among them? He tried to blink that thought and concern away, but when it didn’t leave, he chose to ignore it. Evidently she’d sought him about something else anyway, so addressing her health wasn’t a priority, at the moment.

It didn’t appear her spirits had been dampened though, which bolstered his as well. Jethro mirrored her smile, head dipping down in a nod. ”For you, my friend? Always.”