Mountain of Dire Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

All are welcome, but special note to @Neha for them to meet up while back dated to a couple days before this thread

Whomever had said that stress was a slow killer had no idea how true such words were. Molten gold irises stole one last glance over an ebony cloaked shoulder to ensure he was not being followed before creamy limbs trudged over the invisible marker that determined his kingdom from that of the remaining mountainous terrain, the weight that was so easily ignored when one's mind was preoccupied with rearing two rambunctious children while also running a pack full time now re-accumulating upon the lakeside patriarch's shoulders as simply as one removed their winter coat when coming indoors. Outside the protection of his territory there was only room for a couple things on his mind and these things only added to the weight he carried.

Brittle pine needles crunch beneath the weight of Vesper's paws with each stride that brought him further away from the sparkling surface of the hidden lake and closer toward the looming mountain that encircled them on all sides. Life was not as blissful as the agouti man would have liked as the months came and went, the seasons on the brink of exchanging greetings once more as Autumn prepared to take the reigns from Summer. Spring was a bittersweet season as the ruling pair were graced with two beautiful daughters, but not without the sacrifice of a third pup that would have given the father another son. Stillborn, the ordeal had taken its toll on his mate and to this day his lover had yet to recover from such a tragic loss. It had affected her so much that she had even forced herself to resign from the rank of lead female, unable to fulfill her duties with her heart so grief stricken. The very reason he was out here now.

With Namid stepping down as leader it left the pack without a lead on the female side and considering their daughter @Neha was still too young to fill her mother's place; on top of being away spending time in Grizzly Hollow to apprentice under her Uncle Veho in the art of healing, and no other female resided within the pack of age since Moonshadow's mysterious disappearance, Vesper's paws were forced to seek out fresh feminine blood. The idea of having a complete stranger at his side easily had the hair along his spine rising, but it was for the good of the pack and he would be damned to let them wither after all the blood and sweat he had given just to keep them from doing so when Athena and so many others deserted them. Fallen Tree Cove would prosper no matter what it took.

Creamy limbs continued their pursuit of the canine variety, head occasionally lowering to sniff at hopeful trails that lingered on the sparse rocky vegetation as the Great Plains brute made his way around the base of the mountain only to be met with nothing worth following. Most scents pointed toward the male gender or became too weak to pinpoint a direction or gender which served Vespertio no good. Sighing heavily, molten gold irises cast their gaze upon the looming mountain while allowing himself a few minutes to collect his thoughts, conjure up a plan and give his aching muscles a break. Surely there just had to be someone, somewhere.

(This post was last modified: Sep 21, 2016, 04:56 AM by Vespertio.)

It felt good to be home. Neha's amber brown eyes sparkled happily, the smallest of smiles creeping to her maw. Laid before her was the great expanse of the mountains which somewhere deep within, nestled her packs sanctuary. The view was nothing short of picturesque; rugged snow capped peaks stretching across the horizon, dotted with the local coniferous trees. Those of other varieties showed changes in the colors of their leaves, now a fiery red or burnt orange. Autumn was no doubt, right around the corner.

Upon her return to her native homeland, the eldest Vuesain daughter welcomed such changes. The cooler, crisp mountain air felt refreshing against her thickening fur. Each step over the rough, rocky terrain like a familiar welcome mat that tugged her closer to her own front door. She had grown up in amongst these mountains; she knew them just as well as her parents. While the forest of Grizzly Hollow had been nice, it just could not compare to the openness and freedom that these majestic slopes offered. Here was where she belonged, high up amidst the craggy peaks just like the bighorn sheep. Home was where the heart is.

Clutched between her jaws, hollow end tilted up, was her carefully guarded turtle shell, and in it, the meticulously accumulated assortment of medicinal plants she had gathered over the months she had been away. Many of these were not native to this more Northern region and would have required several days travel or more, to acquire. Now, should any emergency or patient in need present, Neha would be prepared to put her training to the test, armed with a healthy variety of treatment options. Namid she knew, would no doubt be impressed by her achievements. The thought of her mother, her role model, brought another smile to her lips. She missed her terribly. She wanted dearly to meet her new sisters, having been absent in their early lives for far too long. There was Cernan she needed to re-affirm her sibling bond with, her father to show off to and Draven to share (and possibly warm up to) with even more. It felt so good to be home...there was so much catching up she needed to do.

As her nimble paws took her over yet another rocky crest, a silhouette in the distance caught her eye. The proud stance and tawny fur of the figure were unmistakable. It was her father. But what was he doing out past the borders, and why wasn't Namid, or at least another member of the pack with him? Pushing those questions aside, joy bloomed in her chest, renewed. Setting her body into motion once again, she adjusted her path to intercept him head on. The wolf that he would see was no longer his vulnerable little daughter, but now a vibrant young woman. Emitting a low, excited chuff of greeting, she waited eagerly to be noticed. If only Neha knew that this family reunion was destined to be a bittersweet one.

Neha can often be found close to Aleister's side and therefore may appear in any of his threads.

During his momentary break from searching it was the sudden glimpse of motion just within the corner of his vision that caused his tawny head to drop from its angled posture gawking at the snow capped mountain and settle his golden gaze on the form that was coming barrelling toward him. For a spare moment the bolting silhouette of his daughter registered unfamiliar having grown so much since her time away to serve under her Uncle's care and guidance over yonder in Grizzly Hollow, but the moment was fleeting for every father knew their own offspring and soon enough a spark of his own excitement bubbled beneath the surface after russet ears caught her chuffed greeting. The reunion would indeed be a bittersweet one, but the lakeside patriarch could keep the bitter at bay for the time being in order to enjoy his daughter's return.

Paws adjusted slightly Vesper rose to meet his approaching daughter half way, the point of his muzzle instantly burying itself into the scruff of her neck in greeting before allowing his gaze to give her frame a proper paternal once over to ensure there was no injuries obtained during her trek home. Only once his mind was satisfied that all was well did he take a step back to meet the warm chocolate hue of her eyes with the molten gold of his own, a smile cracking the ebony lining of his lips. "@Neha, it's good to have you home again. We've missed you and no doubt your sisters will be thrilled to finally meet their big sis." A wider grin spread across his inky lips, charcoal dusted tail swaying excitedly above his spine after delivering the news.

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity