Whispering Pines send my baby back to me
Slowly, but surely the distance between herself and whomever this stranger was began to shrink enough that a blurred outline became more crisp which allowed the magpie to make out distinct features, albeit, individual features remained a mystery. From where she stood amber irises could make out the tips of rounded ears, a swaying tail and stark ebony fur upon a large framework that stood out like a sore thumb against the snowy backdrop, but that was it. Nothing more could be deciphered until more distance was covered. So cautiously Enoki pursued further, limbs halting when she noticed the other shifted their position into a prowl. A sense of unease washed over her, mismatched fur gradually beginning to rise from their rested position along her hackles while the skin covering her tarnished teeth twitched in readiness to bare them should this stranger hold threats of ill will. The presence of the thick, obscuring fog doing little to help the situation.
Although the woman of the Ridge remained steadfast to the white painted ground underfoot, a sense of relief soon came to alleviate the unease that plagued her upon noticing another shift in the other's posture. Adopting a more excited stance at full height, banner waving freely at their rump which only served to confused the woman further and her facial features expressed such. Dark brows knitted together in said confusion until a familiar voice sliced the silence and tension that lay just as thick upon the air as the freezing fog itself, a whine escaping her maw when her mind put the pieces together in regards to whom was now standing before her despite the Archer-Lyall revealing his identity already. "Deacon.." A look of utter shock plastered across her marred face from being presented with a familiar face she hadn't seen in what felt like ages.
No hesitation prevented what happened next as excitement of her own overcame the piebald female, white hued hips dancing from the sheer strength that fueled the wagging of her ivory dipped banner before her entire weight was sent barreling for his frame. The two sent tumbling to the ground in a pile of light and dark fur, the sounds of Enoki's whines filling the air between attempts to steal a lick at the boy's; more like a man now, face. Displays of affection continued for a brief expanse of time before the older wolf peeled herself away, taking a slight step back to truly scan the child she had helped raise. My how he had grown into the fitting persona of the 'tall, dark and handsome' man. Such thoughts warranted a chuckle to leave her lips, realizing moments later that she had yet to answer a question he had asked prior to her bombarding of whines and licks.
What are ya doing all the way out here? A little far from home. Smoldering amber irises easily searched for and held the likened pair of his own, a deep frown etching itself upon her stark facial features recalling the reason for her journey out this far west from Willow Ridge. Immediately her throat threatened to tighten and prevent an explanation from leaving her salmon tongue. How could she bring herself to admit what had come to transpire within the Archer kingdom? There was no pleasant way to bring up the mutiny of his older sister Morganna and her followers, the death of his Aunt Adele, their decreasing numbers that very well threatened to end the existence of Willow Ridge all together if they insisted on dropping further. She was trying her damnest, though, to keep the pack alive. Expending any excess energy she had after attending to her daily task to travel beyond the borders like she was currently to try and find wolves to rally for their cause. A woman hell bent on bringing Willow Ridge, her home, back to a state of glory that it rightfully deserved. A pack that continued to strike awe and fear within those that hear its name.
A heavy sigh fell from her dark lips, the warmth of her breath leaving in near transparent tendrils to join the fog that surrounded them. "Honestly, I'm out looking for wolves I can bring back home with me. Willow Ridge isn't doing too good.." She admitted, ears splaying back to rest against the back of her skull. Hopefully, though, she could turn their fate around in time.
Word Count: 735