Fallen Tree Cove day in and day out.

For the attention of @Namid and @Vespertio please! Others welcome. <3

The fishing had not as successful as Desideria might have hoped. Not only was the forest of Relic Lore a bit further north than where she’d been held for the past year or so, but Lost Lake was surrounded by mountains. Er, a singular mountain, but her point remained. The water was very cold (if not frozen), and it seemed none of the fish were even awake this time of year. If they were, the woman certainly hadn’t seen one, and so she was forced to make due without a scaly gift for her old friend, Namid.

Instead, the older Timber wolf was forced to rethink her plan. So it was with a small marmot that she appeared on the borders of Fallen Tree Cove. It smelled so very familiar, and so very different – nothing like the pack with which she’d been forced to stay, and quite a bit different than the group she’d inadvertently left. Wovles she knew, and wolves she didn’t know. Tagg said the leading pair had had cubs again, and--

Ignoring the knot slowly tying itself in her gut, Des tipped her head up and howled softly, wishing to summon one of the leaders to the border itself. If she was lucky, it would be Namid who appeared, but – if Vespertio say it appropriate to oversee the investigation, Des would simply deal.

I am so ready for this

I have loved the stars too fondly

Flakes fell in a steady flow from the sky, not thick but not as thin as she’d like either. She cursed them as they fell, feeling like the winter this year was dragging on so much longer than it had before. Maybe it was just her blowing things out of proportion, but the sunny woman was certainly not faking her dislike of it. She longed for true warmth to seep into her bones again. Warmth that didn’t require her to be packed between four other wolves. But, that day would not be today and she would just have to make do.

A familiar voice rang out as she had paused to mark a spot along the border, auds slamming forward. Namid had a wonderful memory and she certainly wasn’t likely to forget the voice of someone who had been so important to her. Her tail began to wag before she was off, a splitting grin allowing itself to show on her face as her small body sprinted its way across the territory to where she had called from. She knew that the woman would come back to them. She hoped that she was okay, that she’d made it back in one piece. Even if she hadn’t, Namid would do everything in her power to fix her.

She arrived to find the small form of her missing friend waiting anxiously at the borders, slowing her pace to a trot. The woman was practically vibrating with excitement. A bark left her jaws as she approached, moving to stand right in front of her. “I am glad to see you back,” she said, her tail wagging fiercely behind her frame. She loved that Tagg had come back of course, but out of all the reunions this was her favorite.

To be fearful of the night

me too!

It wasn't real. The dark man told himself as his ears perked in response to the call that rang through the territory for one of the alphas. His mind was playing tricks on him again that was the only explanation for him to be hearing Des’s voice. He'd heard it so many times in the past but the doubt creeped in as he remembered Taggs words.

'It was Des, she's coming back’

He had to know for sure, for his own sanity, was it really her? Quickly he emerged from his den and took off across the territory as fast as he could. So many thoughts running through his head as he ran, would he finally find out what happened to her? Would all of his questions finally be answered? As he neared the border he slowed his pace the scents reaching his nostrils, that of Namid and another. It was so familiar and yet different too but there was no mistake, the scent belonged to her. Slowly he came forward into view of their visitor before stopping, all of the signs had been there that it was her but now as he stood just behind Namid there was no denying that his Desideria had returned to Fallen Tree Cove.

Any thoughts about what she might think about his unkempt appearance and loss of weight left him as his happiness for her return took over. With his tail wagging excitedly behind him he stepped forward chuffing to her in greeting. Kajika came up next to Namid nudging her shoulder with his nose as if to say, 'She’s really here.’

As much as he wanted to go to her and tell her how much he missed her and how glad she had returned to them…him he knew that he couldn't. This was Namid's decision to let her come back but he didn't not believe that his alpha would turn Des away. So he waited next to Namid his ears perked and tail still wagging as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other in his excitement as short whine escaping him without his notice.

(This post was last modified: Feb 13, 2017, 03:49 AM by Kajika.)

Please see OOC Profile for OOC Preferences, Thank you.

OOC! Out of character comments here

She had allowed herself to sleep in just a tad this morning, a luxury she allowed herself once a week. Despite her later rising she was still up before her mate. She paused a moment to take in his sleeping form before giving his forehead a kiss. Quietly she slipped out of the den making her way down the worn path to the lake. Large paws walked easily over the pebble shore making their way to the waters edge. Bending down she drank from the cool lake. The freezing water was refreshing in her throat and allowed her to fully wake up. Once she finished her drink the dark woman stretched her muscles before sitting and taking in the grand lake before her.

The sun was shinning and the wind was clam. So far the day looked like it would be a wonderful one. She took a deep breath before turning to head back towards the den. She would stop by the den to see if her russet hero had woken yet and go check on Kajika before heading out to do a patrol. Her plans were soon to change. As she started up the path to the den when an unfamiliar call rang out across the cove. She paused silver ears perking up and head swivling around towards the origin of the call. She thought about going to the call and taking her time until a dark blur rushed past the den. The scent was clearly Kajika and Moons curiosity was perked. What could have him so exci- wait could this be the mysterious Des? The midnight pelted she-wolf was off in a flash but not running near as fast as her teacher had. She didnt know this Des and to be quite honest she wasnt too impressed either. This woman had hurt her teacher and that she didnt like. As she drew closer to the border the scent of Namid became more apparent. At first she thought nothing more than her answering a call at her borders but when Moon arrived it was clear by Namids body language and clear excitement that the alpha knew this woman as well. Dark paws slowed as they neared the trio, a small chuff was given to let them knew she was there but she stayed a length or two back. Silver eyes analyzed the scene instantly causing her to feel like the odd man out. Her dark banner hung just lower than her back as her face remained neutral despite her slight distaste.

OOC! AWWWW YIS!

Honestly Tagg's just coming in so his lady doesn't feel so weird xD

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Word Count: 258

Tagg had just been getting started moving when the beta was suddenly rushing past him.  He hadn’t really heard the call, and as he was still half asleep he didn’t really understand what could have Kajika – who had been so sullen lately – so excited.  He smelled Moon outside, however, so he stretched and went out to join her- but she wasn’t there. What on earth is going on? He wondered with a yawn, slowly trotting after his lovely mate to investigate.  He was too tired to be stung by her decision to take off without him, and it wasn’t as if he hadn’t gone off on his own before either.

It wasn’t until he was nearing the border and starting to grow more fully awake that the scarred man realized Namid was here as well.  He came around a tree and stopped beside his mate.  He grinned happily when he saw Des standing at their border. He resisted the urge to throw an “I told you so” at his friend, who was currently standing beside their alpha.  If Tagg didn’t know better, he would think Kajika was trying to see how long it would take for his tail to fall off.

Tagg glanced at his mate and saw the slight expression of distaste on her face.  Had he done something wrong? “That’s Des.” He murmured, only loud enough for her to hear so they didn’t interrupt the conversation in front of them. “Maybe Kajika will get better now.” He hoped so; his friend certainly deserved every good thing life could give him.

"Speech"  Thought

l

Well, it seemed her call hadn’t gone unnoticed!

The first to arrive at the border was Namid, as the loner had so hoped. Dipping her head down, the small wolf began to nose the marmot towards her old friend – a peace offering, if nothing else – and cleared her throat. What on earth was she actually supposed to say? Sorry, I do a terrible job at being a wolf, came to mind, because maybe if she’d known better, she wouldn’t have fallen. Or even if the slip and injury were inevitable, she wouldn’t have been shanghaied by the pack she’d once so desperately escaped. They meant nothing good with their presence, after all, and—

Before her train of thought could get any further, another very familiar face appeared. Ears strained forward, and then fell back; perhaps more stressful than meeting the alpha was meeting back up with Kajika, and subconsciously, the female began to shrink, lowering herself closer to the ground. Was he mad? He didn’t look that angry – in fact, the tail almost seemed to be wagging the dog – but wolves had gotten the best of her before, and—

Who was that? The female was unrecognized, but Tagg soon followed, and when had this become a pack meeting? Good grief. And here Desideria had been hoping one wolf would show up on the borders of Fallen Tree Cove. It seemed she’d inadvertently summoned most of the adults living here. Great. Ears pressed further against her skull as her tail hung low, and she turned her orange gaze back to the ranking female, a quiet whine slowly escaping from her throat. Now they all got to watch her fumble through this awkward reintroduction. Lovely.

“Erm…hey Namid. Everybody.” Kajika was given a nod specifically. “I was only expecting one so I just…brought one marmot. It took me, ah, little longer than expected to get back here…”

Des’ mouth ran dry and she swallowed hard – what was she supposed to say? That whole story was not something the whole group needed to hear. Namid, yes, as an alpha, and as a friend. Kajika, perhaps, if he asked. If he wasn’t too upset with her for vanishing off the face of the earth. But the other two? She didn’t even know the swarthy female, and while Tagg was an old packmate, they certainly hadn’t been that close. She'd leave it be. For now.

I have loved the stars too fondly

Much to her pleasure Kajika was quick to join them. If there was anyone she wanted there with them it was him, especially knowing what she did. Perhaps this could be the start of them, or it could be the start of his officially healing. She knew that talking to Rook and tying up their loose ends had helped her in the end, perhaps it could do the same to the dark male if he decided he no longer wanted to pursue the red coated woman. Either way she would support him and he knew that. She returned his bump with a reassuring nod as if to say I know, I cannot believe it either.

The scent’s of Moonshadow and Tagg along with their pawsteps came upon them, hushed murmuring being passed between them but she didn’t care much about what was said. Des was back and that’s all that really mattered.

It was clear to her that her friend felt bad about what had happened. The lowering of posture and utterly apologetic look in her eyes showed that, the whine piercing her heart. She padded forward and took the marmot in her jaws, dipping her head in appreciation before placing it to the side. The queen moved forward to place her head across the shoulders of her friend in a wolfish hug, her tail still wagging furiously. “Des, the marmot was thoughtful but you returning to us unhurt is the best thing that you could have possibly brought,” she reassured, stepping back and settling her warm gaze back to the ginger pelted she wolf.

To be fearful of the night

The dark man was happier than he had been in months and as much as he wanted to see this as his second chance he didn't want to get his hopes up. He wanted to tell her all the things he'd never had the chance to but so much time had passed and he didn't know how she felt. Namid had returned his bump with a nod and she seemed just as happy to see Des at their borders as he was. His tail continued to move at a rapid rate in his excitement that the woman who meant so much to him was now before him once more. He wasn't sure if it would be appropriate for him to go to her and tell her how much he missed her and that he was glad she was okay so he stayed at Namid's shoulder.

Footfalls behind him and the scents of Moonshadow and Tagg made him aware of their arrival. Their hushed tones were ignored, all that mattered to him was Des and Namid and what happened between them. He wasn't worries though because he was sure Des would be welcomed back into Fallen Tree Cove.

Des’s behavior spoke volumes, the gift of the Marmot, her posture and how sorry she seemed told him she hadn't wanted to leave the cove. He watched as Namid stepped forward to take the offered gift before embracing their lost friend. The words she spoke to Des were ones he couldn't agree with more. Then as she stepped back he didn't want to stay silent any longer, “You've been deeply missed and we're happy to have you home,” he told her with a nod. He felt it important she know that in that moment hoping it would help to ease any worried she might have about returning to them.

(This post was last modified: Feb 16, 2017, 10:07 AM by Kajika.)

Please see OOC Profile for OOC Preferences, Thank you.

Tagg and Moonshadow meant little to the loner at the moment, and quite frankly, she did not care overmuch what they had to say. And while it could be said that Kajika likely did not have much standing on whether or not the alpha would see it fit to allow the woman to return to Fallen Tree Cove, he was considerably more important to her than the average wolf. Whatever feelings she had lingering had to remain on the back burner, however. They couldn’t be addressed if she couldn’t even get accepted, after all.

But it seemed forgiveness was not much of an issue. Desideria had never considered the star dancer to be much of a begrudging wolf, but it had been a very long time, and no matter how hard she tried, the woman could not convince the lizard living in her brain that cowering and fear were not the best answer. She had done wrong, after all. The lizard was not incorrect that bigger, badder wolves had punished her for previous transgressions, either. That was what had kept her away for so long, and—

The loner could not help the massive sigh of relief as Namid took her into the wolfish hug, all but melting against the other female. Despite everything, everything that had happened, she still trusted the woman that had broken her skittish nature in the first place. It was strange how those things worked, wasn’t it?

“I missed it here,” she rasped, a lump growing in her throat. If her eyes stung, it was simply the cold wind. “I came, as soon as I could. I know it’s been a really long time, and it’s a long story, and I’ll tell you but…” Eyes briefly cast over the pair currently keeping to themselves. “Maybe later, yeah? If that’s okay?”

If I can come in?

I have loved the stars too fondly

Des seemed to fold into Namid and she gave her a squeeze, her heart aching for the woman. She looked ragged, like she’d been fighting against something. But, she wouldn’t have something to fight against again. Instead, she’d have something to fight for and others to fight for her. As she moved back Kajika moved forward to reiterate what she’d said. A gentle smile was given to him before her attention was moved back to their long lost member.

The emotion, perhaps it was joy, was evident on the Barreda’s face. Nod’s bobbed her head as she explained, however vaguely, about what had happened. She could understand her hesitance to say it in front of the others as Des had never been a completely trusting wolf. The pale queen had been lucky enough to be someone that she had opened herself to and she was always thankful for the opportunity. “Of course, you have had a long journey. You should have a rest and some food to fill your stomach. Please, follow me,” she encouraged, turning in the direction of the nearest cache. She paused for a moment, turning over her shoulder to look at the woman. “Oh, and welcome home,” she added, waiting for the woman and whoever else she was comfortable with coming to join them.

To be fearful of the night