Nightingale Palisade Anyway, here's wonderwall

For @Adelayde
Re: A rare freezing rain coats Relic Lore in a coat of ice!

As if the snow and the cold weren't enough to deal with, everything had to be slippy as well. Askan knew that winter was just a part of life, that it was necessary to weed out the weak and enable the strong. But damn it, if he slipped over one more time he was going to hurt someone or something. His only problem being that the only one around he could use as said punchbag was Adelayde, and as good as her training was going he didn't really feel as though it'd be right to take it out on her. As annoying as she sometimes was.

He supposed she could be worse, she could be Castel after all.

The fact that they were out there at all was enough to put him on edge. Percy was still missing and with the recent tumultuous weather they hadn't exactly been able to search all that far, or at least not as far as Askan would have liked. Which, if it were up to him he would have scoured all of Relic Lore by then.

"Hey Ade..." Askan began as his foot slipped from its position on the ice. He paid it no heed and simply frowned in thought. Their search was so far fruitless-just as he anticipated- so he didn't think a break would do them any harm. Really though, he was just tired of hearing his own voice in his head. "Do you think someone took her?"

The idea had occurred to him once or twice before, after all surely if she could return home of her own free will Percy would have. So maybe someone was holding her hostage, ensuring that she couldn't come home. But who would do such a thing? The Whitestone wolves? They had threatened her before, but even this seemed a little too much for them. Besides, if they had Percy wouldn't they have kicked up a right fuss? Wouldn't they have rubbed it in their faces? So who else them? The Notch wolves? Askan was dubious. By no means were they fast friends but it was evident they had better things to do than butt heads with the Rye wolves.

So really, he couldn't help but think that, if someone had taken her it couldn't be a pack. Or at the very least a pack that Askan was aware of, or one that Drestig would expect. But that of course made him loop back to the question of why? What had they done to deserve this, and why the hell did they think Percy deserved this?

(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2017, 11:55 PM by Sahalie. Edit Reason: added a space after the comma in the title<3 )

Perhaps the Rye wolves or some other unfortunate wolf happened to seriously piss Mother Nature right off as if winter wasn't brutal enough right now, she seemed have reared her ugly head and made matters worse for them. Instead of just the deep, exhausting snow surrounding them, a recent strange storm came through with freezing rain blanketing the snow with a layer of thick ice. Which was making border patrols close to impossible in places, though that was about to stop Askan or herself from making sure the borders of the Rye were secure and if there were any signs of Percy outside of them as they traveled to the Palisade.

Baring her teeth in frustration as her paws slipped out from underneath her again for what seemed like the hundredth time as the Rye Field's seconds in command traveled along side by side. For the most part, the two of them traveled in silence, each of them taking turns leading the way through the varying elevation. And it was surprising to hear Askan's gruff voice break the silence between them. Normally, Adelayde wouldn't mind being the chatterbox of the two of them, but her mood was presently solemn and quiet with the recent happenings in the fields. 

Ears twitching towards her burly companion, her mismatched gaze uplifted to search through his daffodil eyes as his somber voice trailed off as he also slipped on the ice below them. Askan was visibly upset, she could easily tell as a melancholy frown crossed his ebony lips. Though it wasn't unusual for Askan to be wearing a frown, this was different. And Ade knew exactly why. 

Kneading his question in her mind, she surely thought it could have been a possibility that someone had truly taken the Rye princess. That possibility had crossed her mind before, but before she still had hope. Time hadn't passed as quickly and she hadn't been gone for that long. But now, Percy has been missing for much longer, too long. So, shouldn't they be looking at other possibilities now?

Being the hopeful and optimistic wolf she was, she couldn't let that possibility be the only one they thought of and concluded upon. She couldn't let what subtle rays of hope they still held be diminished in thin air. "I don't know, but I know she has got to be out there somewhere, alive." She answered, her mismatched eyes catching his gaze as they continued on further with their patrol. "She's a tough girl, she had you around to make sure of that." Askan was such a good figure for Percy to look up to and learn from. If Askan taught any of the things he taught her, no matter what situation she was in, she would surely find a way out of it and return home. 

"And if anyone did, they're going to surely regret it if we find them." She said with a grumble at the thought, her passionate spirit rearing its angry head at the thought of anyone taking any her family out from her grasp. Heaven help them as they were surely going to need it. 

(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2017, 05:12 PM by Adelayde. Edit Reason: i done messed up )

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Askan didn't know why he asked. Was he looking for comfort? Did he want to be proved wrong? Or did he just want to escape the mean whispers in his head? Probably all of the above really. Adelayde was a pest most of the time, but she was all right. Not the worst of the worst, not by far. And right now maybe he needed some chipper, maybe he needed some sunshine to pierce his storm clouds.

She was right. Not only was she out there, somewhere. But Percy was anything but a weakling, she was strong and stubborn and had a sharp mind behind those bright orange eyes. If she were any other kid, she would have surely been a goner by now. But Percy was a lone child, she was independent and Askan had done his best to teach her and show her what she needed to know. She was strong, but in fitness and in will, there was no denying that.

The word's that truly caught his attention came later and Askan couldn't help but turn to look her way, his gaze lingering on her solid form. Adelayde was right. She knew him so well, didn't she? If anyone laid a paw on Percy with ill intent, Askan's rage would be comparable to the burning sun in the sky. Violent and scathing, like a heat that blistered the skin. They-whoever they were- would be sorry beyond all recognition of the word. He would make them pay, over and over until he was content, until they get as though they'd lost a part of themselves, until they too knew what it meant to loose something important.

"That's right." Askan murmured, his voice colder than the ice on which they stood. " I'll kill them. All if I have to. But I might not be able to do it on my own, would you... Help me? If I needed it?

she says beauty is pain

Adelayde didn't doubt that Percy was out there somewhere, she had to be. Or else this entire search would be useless and hopeless. They couldn't afford to be hopeless, the search for Percy would be doomed before it even started if they were. If there was anything that Ade could muster up between them, it was hope and faith that eventually that spitfire child would return to them.  She was strong and willful, just like her parents and Askan even. Independent and self serving, Percy was a survivor just like the rest of them and Ade could feel it in her heart that she was going to be alright.

After her hot words, she could feel his gaze lingering on her as her own stared off in front of them. Adelayde by no means was a hothead unlike her companion alongside her, but she was indeed a passionate woman. Her fiery spirit never letting her become a soft-spoken pacifist. Instead, her anger and protectiveness could control her and make her do things for her loved one that she never dreamed of doing. If it truly came down to it, Adelayde would so anything for the ones she loved.

And when Askan responded coldly, her gaze shifted to find his daffodil eyes. His words stirred her fiery spirit further, her own head nodding along with him. Then his question stirring something deeper with her. Something she couldn't quiet explain or know what it really was. But of course she would help him. "I will always have your back." Her eyes absent of any usual sunshine and innocence they normally held. Instead, they were intense and protective as she stared back at his. "And you, mine?"

and there's beauty in everything

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"I will always have your back."

That's what she said. Whether she truly meant it or not, he would never know. But he couldn't help but feel the weight of her words as they lingered in the air, like specs of floating dust. Something had changed, maybe it was him, or maybe it was her. Or maybe it was simply the gravity of this situation, but in that instance Askan didn't see her as a pest. She was on his side, she was one of the few wolves who were. But why? What had he done to earn such trust? He was grumpy, sour like a lemon and snappy even at the best of times. She was a Rye wolf and so was he, whether they got along all the time was irrelevant, they were on the same team. Part of the same family.

"I'll serve you and your pack till the day I die."

Askan had said those words so long ago, but he still meant them. More than ever. More than he could even say. But that was okay, he knew it in his heart, loyalty flowed through his veins. Loyalty towards not only his elders, but every Rye wolf. Whatever they needed, he would provide if he could. But it was a two way street, and that was something that not every Rye wolf seemed to understand. Adelayde seemed to though

A tight smile pulled at his lips. It didn't quite meet his eyes. "Always."

That was no empty promise, Askan was man of his word. If she needed him, he'd be there. He couldn't think of an occasion off the top of his head, but he had no idea what the future would hold. No one did. For now, he just felt better knowing that if this search was unsuccessful and things went down a dark path, then at the very least he wouldn't have to walk it alone. He was sure that Reyes would join to, if Askan asked.

"That said, don't go around starting all the fights just cause I'll back you up. We have Percy to look for, and like you said, we're gonna find her. Then we'll fuck up the guy who took her." Askan had never heard of such a good plan. If only it were so simple

(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2017, 07:48 PM by Askan.)

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

she says beauty is pain

The Rye second knew this pack would stick together through anything, but that trust and loyalty started with the bond of the higher ranking wolves to reinforce down to the others. If the leaders and seconds didn't trust one another and have complete faith in each other, how could the rest of the pack? Completely loyal to her leaders, her faith never wavered in them and she would never let anyone below her to doubt them. Was her faith extended towards Askan as well? She never doubted him, but it never hurt to be reassured. 

"Always."

His words were not empty, they held the same intense sincerity as her oath did. She was a woman of her word and it seemed he was a man of his word until he proved otherwise. Nobody could ever know what would happen in the future. One could never predict the future. You just needed to live in the present and look forward to the future. Letting a smile cross her lips as he let one slip through as well, she looked on past them toward the horizon again. 

A smirk pressed against her lips as he warned her not to go starting fights, her mismatched eyes glancing back over towards him. Of course she wasn't going to go out and reek chaos just for the hell of it. She learned last time that she needed to know when to pick her battles. A lesson Askan instilled deeply within her now. Percy needed to be found and then if it turned out she was taken. They would take action against those who crossed them. 

"I look forward to it." She grumbled fiercely as images of her and Askan pounding into the kidnapper crossed her mind. He would be in a heap of trouble. With their sizes and skills combined, they would be pretty unstoppable. "We'd make a great team. Everyone would go runnin', " she smirked, her blue-green eyes glancing over at him. What a pair they would make.

and there's beauty in everything

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Askan huffed in amusement and adjusted his footing so he wouldn't slide as much on the ice. It helped somewhat. He wouldn't go as far to say that, but he didn't feel like shooting her down. He would allow her this, a small bit of happiness in this maelstrom of bullshit and concern. He was envious almost. He was reassured that he wasn't alone, but did that make him feel better? Did it strengthen him?  Not as much as he would have liked, not enough to make him feel as strong as he should.

"Yes well, that was a nice chat. Lets move." He announced, after clearing his throat. Enough of that friendly stuff. "The palisade is very steep, she could have slipped and gotten buried beneath the snow."

They'd searched this area before, but looking again wouldn't hurt. It was better than sitting around in the field, moping. Which is what he usually did when left to his devices. At least with Ade here he wouldn't have to go mad with boredom-and loneliness- which he had gotten very close to the other day.But that was in the past, all the pain he'd gone through from missing his friend was long gone, or at least out of sight out of mind. For now.

Taking the lead, Askan carefully skitted along, trying not to slip on the large stones that adorned the riverbank.

Looking for Percy along a riverside, now that bought back some memories. Not good ones mind you, not at all. Shit, he'd been so worried that day, he felt as though he was doing to loose his mind. But she was safe and Lorcan had been put in his place. So all in all, it could have ended worse. He could only hope that this ended the same way too, with Percy brought back home and Askan biting the living shit out of her kidnapper. That'd be nice. He almost sighed wistfully at the thought but managed to pull himself together, just as his foot touched the flowing, ice cold water. Nah, he didn't fancy taking another dip. Not after what happened last time.

"Mind the river, it's freezing."

(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2017, 10:53 PM by Askan.)

she says beauty is pain

Smirking at her companion's comment, she turned to move along with him back to the path ahead. So typical of him. Not that she was truly complaining. They were on a mission to try to locate their lost Percy and they were loosing more light the more they talked. Though the clouds above were blocking most of the light they had left and continued to pour freezing rain down upon them to make matters even worse. However, neither of them were adamant to leave this place unsearched or any nook or cranny unscoured. 

Askan mentioning the Rye princess slipping and getting buried beneath the snow made her inwardly cringe. Not in any of her years on life, would she want anyone to have to go through such trauma as that would be. Let alone it possibly happening to a family member. Getting lost was one thing, then getting practically buried alive with no idea if help was on the way was truly frightening. Almost enough to make her want to stay within the borders of the Rye for all her years. Though, matters like this she would never let herself stay behind and let the others try to find the girl. No would her wild and bright spirit allow her to just sit still. She was somewhere and they were going to find her. 

Following closely behind her burly equal, the tawny woman watched her every step as they traveled along the slippery riverbank. Out of her peripheral vision, she could see the rushing cold water beside them and she willed herself not to look. But of course her bicolored gaze quickly glanced at the rushing river that seemed to trying to grasp at her paws. She couldn't imagine falling into the river and feeling its cold grasp tighten around her. 

Shaking her head, she looked back to hear ask warn her about the river. "I could only imagine." A nervous chuckle followed as she kept her gaze on the path ahead.

and there's beauty in everything

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One more post from you then fade?

It wasn't a nice thought and Ade seemed to agree. So just as he suggested he minded his footing and hurried along, looking for any signs of the missing pup. As much as he wanted to remain positive, he knew it was fruitless. What were the chances that she'd be here, so close to home? He was half tempted to turn them around and head back home. But he knew that Adelayde would protest and then he'd have to explain his feelings and ugh. It'd be best if they just went through the motions, that they searched the Palisade high and low, and inevitably returned home empty handed. And disheartened.

It was too cold for this, he just wanted to find somewhere warm to hide away, to pretend that none of this was even happening. But he knew that he had to put up a strong pretence, that he had to at least act as though he was managing. Ha, how laughable. But whatever.

"If we can't find her by the time the river branches out to the Fjord we should head back." He suggested, though his tone didn't leave much room, if any, for argument.

Not that he expected one really, that was one of the good things about Ade. She wasn't the most argumentative sort, she was reasonable. Though, that being said the Selwyn wouldn't have been surprised to learn that she had no qualms about saying what was on her mind. Fortunately, now was not one of those times. They were working together, trying to search for a lost member of their family. Because that's what the pack was to Askan. They were a rag-tag, patchwork family that worked together through thick and thin.

"Should probably check the Lowlands again after we're done here. There's no way we've searched it all yet." He grumbled, more to himself than his company. He of course appreciated that she was here but...He'd much rather have Percy by his side