Hearthwood River the uncanny valley

@Lorcan @Inna and Oksana only. || Evening, heading towards western borders, Fog, 53 ° F, 12 ° C

LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

He had taken up checking on Oksana in her mother and caretaker's (Lorcan) absence. He didn't trust who had been dubbed to watch her but it wasn't like he could shoo the man altogether. Laike just came around when he was not present. Often times he was snagging something for the child to have. A chewing stick, pelt, some extra food. Anything to assure that she would be alright the moment he left.

Laike had been lingering outside of her den dozing on and off, hoping that she was still inside her den doing the same thing. He eventually awoke, though. His legs stretching out in front of him before he stood up. "Oksana?" He whispered softly into the den. With the sun starting to set she could easily be hiding in the dark corners. "I'm gonna be going for a stroll. If you wanna come you're welcome to but you have to stay close." He said sternly before yawning. Slowly he'd began to pad off. The Artemieva wanted to make sure he didn't take off too fast in case the Baranski child wished to follow after him.

He sniffed around the area to look for anything worthwhile. Some food would be nice but it wasn't necessary since it seemed like most of the wolves here had stopped eating since the death of Kisla. He understood they didn't need to fill their stomachs to the brim every day but it was rough seeing them not doing so hot while he was relatively collected.

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It had been much too long for her mother and Lorc to be gone, she missed them both. More and more she was afraid they wouldn't come back like her grandmother. Her mother's scent had faded from the den which only made it harder for her to sleep. Ayti and Laike tried their best for her but she wanted her mum, wanted to know she was okay and coming back.

The tiny pup sat in the den she shared with her mother and pawed at the lavender that had wilted and the scent fading from them as well. She pawed at the dead flowers as if that would bring back her mother or the comforting scent of the lavender. A whimper left her small body just before she heard Laike's voice from outside the den. Her dark head turned toward the entrance of the den, did she want to go for a stroll with him? It was much better than sitting in the den a constant reminder her mother wasn't there.

She walked slowly to the den entrance and found him walking away so she bounded out to catch up to him. A light tap of her nose to his hind leg to announce her presence at his flank. She would walk with her mother often after her grandmother went away and it helped a little, maybe it would this time. She watched as the man sniffed around the area, her desire to join in had long past,she just wanted her mum back.

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Lorcan had been reluctant to leave the lowlands, abandoning any opportunity to retrieve Risaela back from the possession of the rye field wolves. It made the agouti male feel like a failure and as he now traipsed, somewhat sheepishly, between the tall red woods and sequoia trees of Kingsfall, he couldn’t ignore the guilt which gnawed ravenously at his heart.

Dark nostril’s flared wildly to breathe in the crisp evening air as he traipsed onwards towards the western borders of Hearthwood, the dark figure of @Inna like a shadow at his side. The familiar scent of their pack mates greeted them as they drew near, causing the male’s tail to rise and sway with anticipation.

Loping through the maze of trees, with the sun casting its last rays of warm light between their dark silhouettes, a glimpse of silver caught his golden gaze and caused Lorcan to instinctively slow his pace. Meandering off their original path, the agouti male moved in to approach, an excited chuff erupting from his charcoal lips as he realised who he’d found.

Tail curling submissively between his legs and ears pressed flat against his head, Lorcan rushed in to meet his brother – only to become distracted by the smaller dark pup at his heels. An apologetic whine left his throat as his golden eyes looked down to greet his daughter instead, offering her an affectionate lick to her crown.

(This post was last modified: Aug 18, 2017, 03:00 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

It didn't matter that they'd had no choice but to return to Hearthwood. Once it became clear they would not get a chance to reconnect with Risaela or even see her they had made the decision. She still felt like she was failing her mother and her daughter but she felt like she had failed Lachesis as well. Even if she did feel that she and Lorcan had been treated badly. They had been running short on time as they had told Lachesis they would return as quickly as they could. Mostly she was worried about her daughter and wanted to see her child again.

They had been travelling for days so when the scent and sight of the Kingswood came to her she was relieved. They were almost home but she had to wonder what would await them. Inna had kept pace with Lorcan the whole way only hanging back a little until they came into the forest their home resided in.

Looking beside Lorcan she tried to push the nerves that bubbled up inside her stomach at bay. She had the hope that Lachesis wouldn't be too angry with her for the disaster her and Lorcan's trip had been. She planned to confess everything hoping that her honesty might help the situation. The sun's last rays fell in them as they made their way through the maze of trees. As she looked forward to where she knew the border separated their territory from the rest of the forest she caught sight of silver through the trees.

When Lorcan slowed his pace she did as well coming to walk beside him her shoulder brushing his. He followed as he left the path they had been on a her ears came forward as the chuff left him. Inna worried that they had found Lachesis doing a border patrol and she wasn't ready for the conversation she would have to have with him. There was too much excitement in Lorcan's chuff which lead her to believe it had to be Laike, he was the only other with such a pale coat.

Inna stopped allowing Lorcan to greet his brother. She offered the man a smile before her eyes fell on the sweetest sight. Her daughter at the man's heel. Lorcan had already placed a lick on the black pups crown before Inna moved into greet her daughter. “Oksana, I've missed you so much,” she told the girl as she pulled her child in for a proper hug.

~Table by Jacqueline

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LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

There was movement up ahead and Laike was entirely ready to take a defensive stance in front of Oksana in order to block the path of whatever may be lurking through Kingsfall. Hackles raised and lip gently pulled back until the excited chuff reached his ears. A familiar and welcomed voice that allowed the bulky brother to relax.

The scouting duo had come home, finally, it seemed. He nodded his head to both of them and moved aside to let them reach the child. He had no doubt that she would be as joyed to see them as they were her. He stood aside and let them have their moment. There was plenty he wanted to ask and prod about but for once he believed that business shouldn't come first. It was no secret that with dwindling numbers and tragedy just behind them that their bonds were more important than anything else.

Laike carefully moved forward to nip at his brother's crown with a low rumble. He had not missed the submissive show of his brother's tail and if anything it just further soothed any of his nerves. "You two have been missed." He rumbled towards his brother but the words were spoken loud enough for Inna to hear as well.

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The walk was nice despite having no desire to sniff around and explore along the path. She did as she was told and stayed right at Laike's hip, she didn't want him to get upset with her and not allow her to come along anymore. Periodically she would touch her nose to his hock to let him know she was still there right beside him. She didn't fear getting list anymore, she was older now and knew her way around better and could find her way back if need be. She didn't think that would be necessary since she wasn't planning on getting lost on that day.

Her ears came forward as she caught the sight of movement causing her to stop and look up at the man. She'd never encountered anything like this before and it caused her heart to beat a little faster as she moved closer to Laike. Then came the voice, one she had been longing to hear for days. Her little black tail began to sway uncontrollably behind her before Lorcan finally came into view and placing a lick on her crown. The pup whimpered in greeting before brushing her muzzle and face against his leg.

Then she saw her In a, her mother had returned too. She looked at the men and barked as her mother pulled her in for a hug, “Sana miss you too,” she cooed to her mother, “She scared you not come back.” The little black pup pressed her face into her mother's dark coat as Laike's voice reached her ears.

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Once Lorcan had taken a moment to great his young daughter, rushing in to press a number of tiny kisses affectionately against her crown, he stepped back to give Inna a private moment with their daughter. Observing the pair in silence, watching his Oksana slipped away from his hind leg to meet her mother, a small smile began to pull at the corners of his charcoal lips as his heart swelled with relief and adoration for the pair.

Feeling a gentle nip upon his crown, the father’s attention broke away from mother and daughter pair and refocused on his brother. Golden eyes glinted with gratitude as he looked across to meet his sibling’s fiery orange gaze, returning the affectionate rumble as he moved to step over submissively to greet him. Brushing up against the chest of his larger sibling, keen to coat himself in Hearthwood’s distinctive woody scent, he went to place his muzzle beneath Laike’s in an attempt to re-establish and acknowledge his position within the pack.

Russet ears flickered up briefly at his brother’s hushed greeting before they settled back down awkwardly against his head. “We didn’t plan to be gone for this long.” He admitted quietly, glancing across to Inna before meeting his brother’s gaze. “The meeting didn’t go as well as we expected and–” He voice cut off as a serious frown pulled at his brow. “We found Risaela.” He whispered, face pressed against his brother’s cheek towards his ear, not wanting for his daughter to overhear the conversation. 

(This post was last modified: Aug 20, 2017, 04:30 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Knowing what she would have to do once they returned to Hearthwood she still only wanted to see her daughter. She couldn't imagine the distress her absence had caused the pup. Laike came into view as he daughter's dark coat blended into the darkness if the forest as the light faded. She was surprised that Oksana was with Laike and not Ayti but she wasn't complaining. She knew Lorcan's brother would take good care of her daughter. It was comforting to know that even while she was away there were wolves that she trusted to take care of Oksana.

The Raven allowed father and daughter to have their moment as she looked on proudly at the pair. She tried not the think about how it could all crumble by the end of the night. She didn't know what would happen and that scared her but she focused on her daughter but kept an ear on the two men.

A wide smile was held on her face as she hugged her daughter before bending her head. “You have nothing to worry about Sana I will always come back.” It was a promise that she intended to always keep to her daughter. “And even when I can't be here I am always with you,” she whispered into the pup's ear. She turned her attention to the two men, “It's good to see you too Laike and Thank you for looking after her. We've missed Hearthwood and wish we could have been back sooner.” Had things gone the way they wanted they would have been.

~Table by Jacqueline

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LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

A pale brow raised at his brother's hushed words. "Isn't that always the case?" He hummed softly, being rather serious but not as brash and rough as he usually was. It seemed his brighter hued brother had something to share with them. Usually, the closeness of their faces would have disgruntled the older Artemieva but considering circumstances he let it slide.

"I see." He rumbled back in a hushed tone to keep up the secrecy of the conversation. "So is she...deceased then?" It was the only reason he could think of considering that they had not brought her back. Even then he figured they might have brought the wayward Tainn child back if only to properly put her with her mother.

The large second pulled back from his brother for a moment to offer a smile towards the ebony duo. "My pleasure. Oksana is rather well-behaved but I figured she might not mind some extra company." His fiery gaze looked down to the young Baranski before returning to the mother.

Of course, most of his attention was focused on the healer for Laike was beyond interested in what news he had to share of their scouting trip. Especially about what state the young one might be in. Even if Laike hadn't taken a liking to the girl she was still valued company and a child of Hearthwood no less.

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She'd missed Lorc as much as her mother but it was Inna that she was not used to being without. The larger Baranski was always there until she had gone away and finding a way for her to accept that had been impossible for the pup. She closed her eyes as the tawny man pressed many kisses to her crown. A small whimper of contentment coming from her. Then she saw her mother causing her whimper to change to a whine. At last she didn't have to worry if her mum was okay or when she would be coming back. There she stood only a short distance away.

She was quickly pulled into a hug by her mother as the men talked but her ears were trained in the words that her mother spoke. Words that made her feel instantly better. It was as she had thought. Her mother would never leave her for good. When Inna turned her attention to Laike Oksana did as well. She had learned some more words and was starting to understand what adults spoke of more often but there were some things she still had trouble with.

So she sat pressed against her mother watching the three adults talk. She was just glad to have her mother back. She didn't want Inna to ever leave again, it had been a horrible experience to be left alone even if she did have Ayti and Lakie to look after her and keep her company, they weren't her mother.

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