Whisper Marsh This Town

@Rook

This town ain't yours, and this town ain't mine

She had never paid the Marsh much mind, if gathering was to be done, Elettra usually did so herself - taking the opportunity to catch up with Narime no doubt while Morganna relished the opportunity to travel further afield and avoid the Thorben brood. Now though, there were no Caverns wolves to come snooping around, and the destruction left in the wake of the swine had her on edge. What if everything beyond their own borders was a barren battlefield of ruts and wallows? Would their meagre store of herbs they had gathered be the last they ever collected?

With the sun low on the horizon she could assume Skoll would soon be rising to handle things in her absence (although she could only hope tonight was not the night he decided to push his luck with Angier again). Leadership was starting to chafe, the borders rising like a wall around her that seemed smaller on every pass. She needed this short breath of fresh air. A chance to stretch her legs, disguised as a reconnaissance run.

She picked her way carefully across the slushy marsh, mindful that the shallow dusting of snow could conceal a watery death if she didn't watch her step. She was so focused on where she was placing her feet, the air so full of wet earthy smells, she wouldn't notice another approaching unless they called out first. It wasn't enough to deter her as she continued her journey north, and west, towards the setting sun.

wolves & arrows

In the evenings, when the world had come to a lull in the darkening hours, Rook's routine had slowed down. It was during these times that he sought isolation and, on occasion, Veho or Quil's company. Tonight, it was Borden's that he wanted and, without his father to curl up beside, he was left to do only one other thing - visit the Marsh. His feet had the path well-memorized by now, being nearly a month since the old Lyall's passing, and he moved through the trees as though he were merely sleepwalking.

His heart was plagued with longing and his head felt heavy, but he knew that as soon as he laid beneath that renegade cedar at the edge of the wetlands, sanctuary and the sense of security would find him. He went on in a daze, abruptly drawn out of his head when the scent of another came to his olfactory senses with a bite of the chilled winds. It was female and quite close; he wondered if he might be able to ignore her but the recognition of the willows in her coat caught his attention. Rook's fur bristled and, immediately, his two-toned eyes darted about, able to pick her out against the dark thicket of trees and underbrush with a slight squint.

Then, it hit him. He remembered her. She had been there on the very night he had attempted to steal Quil away, but that was all. He didn't know her name, didn't know anything of her status within the Ridge's hierarchy, but he had a hunch that this girl - now a woman - was the one who had clung so closely to Renier's side. Bitterness churned in his stomach; against his already unstable mentality, he had to ultimately let it go. He had no energy to spare for anything that had happened when they had first met.

The Grizzly Hollow Leader carefully picked his own way around the marshlands, half-wondering and half-dreading that she might remember him also, "Hello - Are... Are you looking for something?" He figured it was nice to be nice, as it was, he had a 50/50 chance of being able to help her with whatever she was doing and then send her on her way so that he might be able to grieve in peace.

Chances are I have a BEN WHISHAW gif for that.

This town ain't yours, and this town ain't mine

It must have been a measure of her exhaustion that she didn't notice the wolf so close. It could have been her death is he hadn't opened his mouth and spoken instead. Peach eyes narrowed in obvious mistrust and she squared her legs defensively, the one time she wasn't purposefully looking for trouble it found her anyway. "Jus- a bit o' sanity," she cracked with a toothy grin. Either he wasn't aware of who she was, or he didn't particularly care who had been beating up his pack mates when they dared to cross her path.

As tired as she was she was almost certain she would be able to out run him if everything fell into place and he decided to exact revenge on their behalf.

Try as she might she still couldn't remember his name, and if this meeting had taken place mere weeks before she might not have stopped to talk, but she had exacted her revenge on Piety, stepped up to try and fill her mothers shoes (even if for now the arrangement was temporary) and @Renier had come home - choosing her over his own flesh and blood. She supposed the easiest way to get his name was to offer her own first. "Morganna Archer."

wolves & arrows

She smirked at him as she acknowledged his presence; it prompted Rook to return it. Perhaps this sort of kindness would be enough for some chit-chat and the parting of ways (and, hopefully, she would continue on in the opposite direction away from Borden's tree). Almost too soon, his expression mellowed out, the weariness showing through at last. Though, upon hearing her name, the Lyall steeled himself for a second - she, indeed, was an Archer. He wondered now if she might share the same disposition as Skoll, however she might have been related to him...

His paws found steady footing at the edge of the ice around the withered reeds and he looked her over once more. "Rook Lyall," he offered. Why he didn't proffer up "Gaheris" instead was lost on him, but he supposed he still wanted to believe that 'telling the truth' to the wolves of Willow Ridge could possibly yield a result he wanted: one that involved some sort of truce.

He was about to open his mouth to spit out something churlish when he considered the idea that someone might have been watching over Morganna. Frankly, he was old enough now to think twice about his words, and grow out of his juvenile quips and sentiments of sarcasm. "While you're here, could I have a word?" Where he was potentially going to go with this, he was only partially aware. The only thing that was truly certain was this: as a Grizzly Hollow wolf, a true Lyall, there was nothing to be gained unless he took a few risks.

"How is Elettra?" he asked, figuratively taking stabs in the dark at being diplomatic. "I've sent gifts but haven't heard word back from her. I hope she's been well?" A part of Rook was confident that this was how his mother would open up a conversation with them; hopefully it would be enough to appeal to this Lady Archer.

Chances are I have a BEN WHISHAW gif for that.