Wild Cherry Orchard Crocodile Rock

The smaller royal continued to gnaw and play with her caribou rib. The whites of her eyes showed as her gaze went from one to the other... to her brother's limbs and back again. She wondered what she might have been like if Adelard and his lady-friend hadn't pranced right into the middle of her little troop. She was only just starting to get her bearings, and now the other two could see this facet of her personality - her near-willingness to be subservient. Her littermate had a knack for drawing it out of her.

As each one spoke in turn, aside from Adelard's companion, Aubine crept forward and sidled up into her sibling's haunch where her side easily blended in like it was apart of him. She pressed her temple to his forearm, caribou rib still clasped in her jaws. A small chirp in agreement to helping one another survive through the winter was all she could offer. Aubine had found what she had been searching for and now it was her turn to help the others - if her brother would allow...

so I risk it all just to be with you
AUBINE GERAU
and I risk it all for this life we choose

Well if you wanted honesty that's all you had to say

There weren’t any outright protests from any in the group to his suggestion. Saga was quick to say she had no problem with it, for which he was grateful. His silver gaze slid between Rhaegara, Adelard and Aubine as they seemed to deliberate mentally, their communication silent. Then there seemed to be a shift and he saw a resolve in the other man’s eyes, to which he raised a brow as he waited for him to speak. A grin spread across his lips and immediately Hudson knew they’d agreed, to which he gave a thick ‘thwap’ of his tail on the frozen ground and a grin of his own. Adelard asked him where he and Saga had been headed and his attention once again migrated to the silver woman. “Nowhere in particular, jus’ around. East sounds just as good as anywhere else I reckon, jus’ gotta get around the mountain though which’d be a pain in the ass,” he remarked idly.

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider 

She watched the silent communication pass between Rhaegara, Adelard, and Aubine with mild interest. She wasn't certain what their dynamic was, but she was interested in finding out, or at the very least, touching base with Aubine to make sure that everything was.. alright. Especially once she reminded herself how.. odd? No, not odd, but rather, how different the siblings' reunification had been.

She was almost surprised when the group decided to stick with Hudson and herself, though perhaps she should have expected it, given how harsh the winter had already been on Hudson and herself. Saga half-heartedly rolled her eyes at the Maceio's choice of words, before offering, "If we're following the herds, they'll probably take the long way around the mountain. No guarantees, but thus far they haven't chanced the heights."

Sága is currently travelling with Huddy, Aubine, Adelard, Rhaegara, Riven, Maugrim & Hrun

Rhae could have never predicted the turns that her life had taken as of late. Her eyes followed the conversation, focusing on each individual as they spoke or gestured towards their own thoughts. For the moment, she said nothing more. She allowed her travelling companion to speak for the both of them. It was true, they were heading East just for kicks and she wouldn’t be against them travelling with others. It would make it easier to bring down bigger prey which would just help keep their bellies full. Besides, she couldn’t imagine trying to separate him from his sister, who had been travelling with the other pair.

Rhae hummed her agreement. “I think you’re right… they’ll go around the mountain before they risk the dangers of simply traversing it.” She stated with a certain conviction that she had been taught to speak in. She had been raised to not be indecisive and speak in absolutes and so that was what she was trying to do at the moment. “If we follow the herds, chances are it’ll lead us to a safe passage around… and we can keep our bellies full along the way.” All they would have to do is hunt from the herd when it called for it.

Hudson and Saga (with Aubine in tow) were also meandering about. The fact that Adelard and Rhaegara were on their way towards the east neither thrilled or bore them. One thing Adelard hadn't considered was actually going around or beyond the mountain. So far the Mountain of Dire served as a guiding landmark and nothing else.

Saga mentioned that following the herds would lead them in that direction. The masked man had to take a moment to think. He had assumed all along that there were ways to go through the mountain. Underground caverns, tunnels... narrow passages wide enough for a full-grown wolf to slip through.

"I think you’re right…" Rhaegara chimed in, bringing Adelard's attention back to the idea of following the herd. If their prey had been mountain goats, perhaps, it would have been a different story. Caribou were as clumsy as they come, antlers, clip-cloppy hooves and all. As he nodded in agreement to her statement, he could feel Aubine pressing into his side. Guess they were all in this together now...

He stole a glimpse at his sister and the rib she still clutched in her teeth. At this point, it didn't feel right if he straight up took her from the pair of friends she had made. After all, taking down a large caribou as a collective unit did say something about the five of them.

"So, I guess this means we'll stick together then?" he pitched with a small smile. "Maybe see where it all takes us in the morning?"

heat stroke, bring the fire
ADELARD GERAU
black smoke, I take it higher

Her heart was fluttering. Not only was she thriving this well away from home, but she had found others like her - along with her twin brother to boot. Small world...

Her eyes continued to dart from one wolf to another, and she became wrapped up in the idea of traveling together. The five of them. Like a pack. When Adelard honed in on the idea of following the herd and sticking together, Aubine beamed up at him. She had nothing else to add but she was excited about it all. Even if they were together for only a fleeting season (and, really, she hoped this agreement would be honored longer than that), she knew the adventure was going to be worth it.

so I risk it all just to be with you
AUBINE GERAU
and I risk it all for this life we choose

Well if you wanted honesty that's all you had to say

His eyes turned to Saga as she offered her own words of wisdom, a nod of his head given in agreement as she mentioned the way the herds would go. Rhaegara added in her own confirmation and, in the end, it seemed to come down to Adelard. The other man seemed thoughtful about it, contemplative really, but as soon as the smirk began to curve onto his lips he knew they’d snagged him. “Alright then, guess that settles it. Happy t' be workin’ with ya’ll,” he said with a grin before a yawn began to gape his jaws. “If anyone wants t’ help, I’m gonna bury what’s left of th’ meal 'n turn in fer a nap. I’m too old fer this shit,” he half-joked before rising to his paws and giving himself a swift shake. Then, he set to work ripping off large chunks of what he could and carrying them closer to their nesting grounds to bury so they could keep a close eye out for scavengers.

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider 

(This post was last modified: Mar 21, 2021, 12:58 AM by Huddy.)

Rhaegara was quick to agree with her and add in her own bit of wisdom. Saga was happy to hear that they had had the same idea. Great minds, and all of that. From there it seemed as though all five were in agreement. Hudson offered a final word before making his exit, and the matter was settled. They'd stick together and follow the caribou herd until spring. Now that the whole will they, won't they situation was finalized, the monochrome woman was able to get back to the very important task of cracking open the bone between her paws.

Sága is currently travelling with Huddy, Aubine, Adelard, Rhaegara, Riven, Maugrim & Hrun

They all seemed to find agreement, and Rhaegara hummed with a surprising amount of contentment. She was quite pleased, if she were honest. She snorted softly at his joke and rolled her eyes just a little bit. “Don’t discredit yourself.” She teased with a light air about her. “Isn’t it what the old lack in youth, they make up for in wisdom?” If they were all going to travel together, then they were all going to have to get used to the humor she sometimes harnessed. She moved to help him bury the meal so they might return for it later and she admittedly felt as if she could use a nap herself. Hunting was exhausting, a rush of endorphins and dopamine that was followed by a drop.

Hudson was quick to endorse it all, to work as a unit to wait out the rest of the winter. But first, he was going to cache away the remaining parts of their kill and then take a well-deserved nap. He punctuated it off with a statement about being old. It tugged a smirk onto Adelard's face. His nannies and mentors had always told him he had an 'old soul'. Adelard assumed that sympathizing with Hudson's weariness was what they had meant...

Rhaegara humored Hudson further and, one by one, he watched as their little band settled down. Bellies full, muzzles bloodied, and legs well worked out. The Gerau gave a playful snap of his jaws on the caribou rib still clasped in his sibling's jowls. The cartilage was almost gone on both ends anyhow. In jest he gave a low growl, tugging as he pleased before letting go and following Rhaegara and Hudson's lead. The next steps, as laid out, were simple: hide the morsels that would feed them in days to come and call it a day. After that, it was up to chance and fate to decide what was to become of them all...

heat stroke, bring the fire
ADELARD GERAU
black smoke, I take it higher