Drooping Willows tis the damn season

hoping for @Scully but anyone from the willows can pop in :)

Her time on the mountain had been...something else.

She had been taken care of, patched back up to a healthier status and given a stern talk about...something. Apparently they had dipped into something they weren't supposed to and thankfully most of it went over Nightingale's head. Regardless she was back on the move now. Keen to discover these willows that Punkly had spoken of.

Which didn't take very long to spot when she descended down from the mountainside. The trees far different from all the others, even if the winter stripped them bare. Not to mention she could smell others here, hopefully he was one of the layered scents. Admittedly she felt some nervousness at being here now. She hadn't really had a whole lot of grand tales to share — save for the dazed scare on the mountain top. Maybe he wouldn't even want to see her again. Time had drifted by since they had last met.

It was with a soft, anxious tone that she let out a small call. Full of all the politeness a princess was taught. Announcing herself and kindly asking for his presence.

He didn't recognize her call, and certainly if asked wouldn't have ever thought to attribute the meek sound to the bright-eyed girl he'd met on the opposing side of the mountain. Rampant curiosity drove his legs to meet with his summoner regardless, and when at last he crossed her scent, recognition lit like a flame within him. It was about time the gods brought him some fun.

Scully broke into a run, pouring all the energy he had into pumping his legs until he caught sight of her and cried out:

"Puuuunnnnkkkiiiiiinnn~!"

The pet name was dragged out the length of the distance between them, until he collided with her much smaller frame in his approximation of an enthusiastic hug.

There were still some preparations that needed to be made to the old Denning site of the Ridge. Avella had decided that morning that it couldn't be put off any longer not that their numbers had grown and it wasn't just her and Scully anymore. Most of the morning had been spent clearing the area around as best she could with the frozen ground. She'd also spent some time trying to made it a little cozier so that everyone would be warm on the coldest of night.

She was in the middle of doing just that when she heard the call. Someone had come to visit. Obviously she couldn't let that pass without seeing who it was. Avella left what she was doing to go and investigate. What she found was a wolf younger than she. Scully had beat her to the border and was hugging her. Well she'd never seen him take to another wolf like this before. That was curious.

Anyway.

She offered a smile and friendly wag of her tail. "So, you two know each other?" She asked before her mismatched gaze landed on her brother, "Do you want to introduce me to your friend Scully?"

(This post was last modified: Jan 24, 2022, 01:10 AM by Avella.)

An eagle flies overhead and drops pieces of its kill. +3 Health

And she promptly tumbled down before she even had a moment to process what had happened.

Assuming she could hold him close in their hug, they seemed to become one giant blob of monochrome fur. Both of them as devoid of colorful life as the winter around them. It was perfect, in a way.

She bubbled with laughter before promptly shouting right at him, "PUNKLY!" If you had asked her a few days ago if she thought a reunion would go this well, the answer would have been a firm no. Now she felt foolish for thinking such a thing.

Their private time was short lived though. A woman close to Scully's age (actually exactly, though Nightingale didn't know that) approached with a friendly disposition. They seemed to know each other, though, and she might have pounced to introduce herself properly but...she was a bit out of breath. Not to mention the masked woman had asked Scully anyway.

Scully accepted her affection gladly, nuzzling his cheek against her jaw. He only untangled himself when he heard another approach, and looked up to see Avella. He greeted his sister with a grin, and padded over to nudge her shoulder before circling back around to Nightingale.

"This is the fellow Princess I told you about way back before we crossed the mountain," he introduced his friend to his sibling, bumping his shoulder against the younger girl's playfully and throwing her an encouraging smile.

"Punkin', this is Avella. Glad y'found us."

His tail wagged enthusiastically behind him, emphasizing his words.

(This post was last modified: Jan 30, 2022, 05:25 PM by Scully.)

Avella laughed a little at her brothers grin. When he came to nudge her shoulder in greeting she returned the greeting with a nudge of his cheek with her muzzle. Then she sat back on her haunches to wait and find out who this young newcomer was. She didn't have to wait long for Scully to explain to her who the young girl was.

"Oh, well then welcome to the Willows," Avella said in friendly tones.

The masked woman was rather curious as to what the girls intentions were. Had she just come for a visit or was she planning to stay with them.

"I am glad as well. Perhaps you'd like a tour? What do you think Scully?"

A tour might be a good idea for a few reasons. The masked woman waited to see what her brother and the fellow princess thought of the idea.

To say she felt sheepish...well, that was an understatement. Posed as a princess before Scully's sister, who she had been informed way back when was trying to settle here. The last thing Nightingale had come here to do was possibly step on toes. She imagined if a princess rolled up on her own slice of land, she'd had some sinking feelings.

Except she was greeted with warmth.

She bubbled back to life with Scully by her side. Eyes bright as she offered a polite smile.

"I'd love a tour! If that's not too intrusive?" Her tail swung wide behind her as she awaited whatever the siblings would decide.

It didn't surprise him at all that Avella welcomed Nightingale, for why wouldn't she? Scully nodded at the offer to show the younger girl around, showing teeth once more as Punkin' added in if that's not too intrusive?

"Not at all, us royalty have to stick together, right?" he told her with a wink and another gentle nudge shoulder-to-shoulder before starting forward. They could show her around and catch up, right?

"So what has the wondrous adventurer Punkingale been up to?"

Had she been busy, or had it simply taken this long to cross the mountain and find them? The range could be a nasty thing to tackle, especially inexperienced and alone.

Avella smiled when Scully's friend agreed to have a tour. She giggled a little at what he said in response, "Its no trouble at all and we might have a little something to eat as well. That is if your hungry?" The masked wan didn't want to force anything on the girl. Still she was guessing that she'd come someway before she'd found them.

Avella turned toward the willows to lead the tour. "Please tell us, I would like to hear more." She also wanted to get to know her better too since Scully seemed so taken by her. That thought did raise a little reservation but she pushed it back down. "Come, we can talk during the tour."