Paradise Falls but lately, I've been doin' better

Pack meeting, Finley has called everyone together now that it has been a couple of weeks and Jethro still isn't back and Finley is leading.
Early morning, few clouds, 26F/-3C
Next round to begin February 6th
@Chan @Flair @Miriam @Isla @Galen @Ally

The mother leader, had been dreading this day for a fortnight. She went to sleep every night hoping that tomorrow would be the day she would be awoken by her mate snuffling into her den. Sure, he would probably be a little worse for wear, but he would be home, with her, and their daughter. But, it didn’t happen. Jethro didn’t come back, and she knew that meant she had responsibilities she had to uphold. Finley was sure the whole pack knew by now, but she needed to acknowledge the change formally.

So she had woken up before the sun had come up, and visited the surrounding woods for one last ditch effort to find him. Or her boys. Or anyone. But the day had started anyways, and nobody had returned and Finley had to give up. So an hour or so since the sunrise, the day was turning out to be warmer than most as of late, and better yet the sun was shining with only an occasional cloud to mar it.

She sat near where the falls normally ran, though they were more of a trickle at this time of year and she called for them. She wanted to get this done quickly.

(This post was last modified: Jan 28, 2024, 01:11 AM by Finley.)

Chan had been resting just within the den, relaxing and chatting with those who were still infirmed as he wound down for sleep. Being nocturnal, he had already been awake for his longest stretch, but certainly wasn't so tired as to resent Finley's summons. His ears leaned back with empathy, sure it was about any or all of their recent losses rather than any kind of good news, and dutifully got to his paws to leave the shelter and come to rest a few yards before her.

His haunches lowered to the ground and his tail hugged his right flank, fluffy winter coat doings its job in sheltering him from the cold. In greeting and acknowledgment, he gave a simple nod.

As per usual, Addison had been napping. The deep cold made her even sleepier (much as high heat did), but still she could be found out in it. Her favorite boulder was iced over with a heft of snow upon it, but still she frequented it. There was an packed-down divot in it now, growing harder with each thaw and refreeze, but it was hers and she found it plenty comfortable. Finley's howl woke her, and she took a moment to snuggle in a savor the spot a few seconds longer before forcing herself to unfurl and stretch out her muscles. Long legs pushed out, knocking drifts of snow down off the sunning rock.

Once finally on her paws, she would dazedly walk to her father's side, dropping gracelessly down onto her rump directly next to him. She would lean into his shoulder and yawn, blinking at Finley with half-lidded eyes. Staying awake as best she could as they waited for the entirety of the pack to gether.

Atara grew more despondent each day as she sunk into the reality of now being fatherless. The depression would pass, but it was the first she had ever experienced, and the loss hit hard. Currently, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever feel happiness again. She didn't laugh, didn't play, couldn't rest without anxiety and guilt at not searching for her dad. He had to be hurt, physically unable to come back to them, and there was nothing she could do to help. If the roles had been reversed, though? Nothing would have stood in his way. Knowing that in her gut made it feel all the worse, like she was being weak, cowardly.

She had been moping somewhere that she and Jethro had once walked to together when she heard her mother call. Atara moved quickly to obey the summons, even more considerate of and attentive to Finley than she had been before. If she was hurting this much, what did her poor mom feel like? Atty didn't want to be just another thing weighing on Fin.

When she arrived at the falls, she greeted Finley wordlessly but affectionately, nuzzling her forehead into her shoulder and licking her cheek before stepping back to join the audience. Was this about Dad... ? Atara didn't expect news regarding Jet's whereabouts or condition, there'd be far more emotion to that howl.

Magg was in the den, as she always was. Her temper was building with every passing day, and she had little to no outlet for any of it. The yearling was starting to get irritated quickly with the others, even snapping her teeth at any who passed too close to her injured leg. Anyone instructing her to be more still was exceptionally infuriating. How long was she supposed to wait and do nothing? Why weren't they getting word to the Cove? They were supposed to be allies or something, weren't they? They were supposed to be family.

She heard Finley's voice and scowled. Magg had always been one to keep her true emotions concealed, but she was losing motivation to continue masking her disdain for how things were unfolding. Pushing herself up onto all four paws, she ignored the deep, aching pain in her hind leg and stepped just outside of the threshold. She leaned against the stone heavily, while brown eyes settled upon the pack's new leader, expectant and mistrustful both.

Mar had just finished hunting when the howl rang out, her maw red and wet with blood as it lifted so that her ears might better take in the message. Jethro's sudden vanishing was... odd. Her feelings about it were, in all honestly, rather mild. Rather, it was the effect it had on everyone else that was pulling at her heartstrings, particularly her father and Flair.

She felt for Finley too, though. Marigold had never been in love, and that did make it harder to imagine, but she understood vows. Whether they shared them verbally or just by virtue of the family they'd created, Mar didn't need to be told that Fin had expected her mate to be with her for much, much longer. Perhaps similar to how she had always thought Auburn would be around, reminding her to soften, to take time and enjoy life...

That was the feeling. She hadn't known enough of Jethro to care about him personally, but she knew what it was to lose your best friend, and the reminder tugged at her even when she didn't consciously recognize why.

Marigold sat near Chan and Addy, fur now cleaned and kill deposited in a cache, another wordless but attentive addition to those gathered.

(This post was last modified: Jan 28, 2024, 02:41 AM by Chan.)

Galen couldn't prevent the slight groan that escaped his maw as the beckoning howl rung within the depths of his ears, rousing the yearling from his sleep. His jaws split to let out a loud yawn while his tongue curled out, blinking the sleep from molten gold eyes before finding the strength to keep his eyes open. A glance off to his side revealed the spot where Magg usually occupied had been vacated already, urging him to finally rise to all fours and make his way toward the mouth of the den.

Once his swarthy frame dragged itself out into the snow he was quick to find his tawny friend leaning against the coolness of the stone, carefully slipping over to her open side while avoiding the danger zone around her injured leg. Despite their deeply formed connection even Galen wasn't given a free pass from her irritability lately or the gnashing of teeth if he stepped too close. Perhaps the intensity of her rage toward him was softer, but still there nonetheless.

Swarthy tail wrapped itself around his paws as he sat and waited, attention naturally split between his friend to be attentive of her while also honing in on whatever message Finley was about to discuss amongst those gathered.

Her cough had subsided somewhat, enough that she might rest comfortably, though too much movement still triggered terrible fits. Not that she longed to move about, beyond going for a drink or to relieve herself – the cold air stung in her lungs, her body felt heavy and stiff – and she was so tired, exhausted by even the smallest amount of exercise. So she’d stay in the cave, using her sparse energy to chat with whoever else was around, mainly her family. She was napping when Finley made her call, drawing the older woman out of her sleep. Luckily it was only a few steps from the cave opening to the edge of the falls where the pack was gathering. Flair would settle next to Chan and their daughter with a heavy sigh, turning her full attention to their leader. She tried to strike up an encouraging smile, though she knew it would ring hollow to the younger woman who had had this task thrust upon her after losing so much. ”Speech" Thoughts

dawnthieves.de, FairieGoodMother @DA & Lakela @DA

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

The man she had made a deal with was gone.

Like a thief in the night, he had vanished and she had not heard a whisper of why. Her gut stirred with something vile and she had become more reclusive. Especially with the appearance of faces from the south.

Isla did not feel welcomed here anymore. Granted it was not like she had been so deeply woven in before. It would have been just as easy for her to slip away too. Yet the call prickled curiosity so she prowled closer. Inclined to stay far from the bodies that gathered. As if she was just a visitor instead of a Falls wolf.

She would see how long her curiosity kept her tethered.

Unless something really dramatic happens this round, I will be posting a wrap up fade with Finley on February 22nd. No post order.

They arrived quickly, and the Lennox woman could barely bring herself to look them in the face, afraid of the pity she knew would be there. Instead she focused her eyes on a nearby tree, at ear level just behind their heads so she wouldn’t appear rude but wouldn’t need to register their expressions. Once the majority of them had come, only missing Miriam, Micaden and Ally, she knew she needed to get this over with. It wouldn’t matter much to the cubs anyways, besides Atara.

Inhaling a long slow breath, she held it for a moment before launching in, ”I think you all already know, but Jethro is missing. There were signs of him to the east but he was untrackable.” Her voice wavered on the last word so she took a second to swallow the lump she felt growing in her throat. She couldn’t be shaky, not now. She continued, ”Without Jethro, and with Flair’s illness I will be stepping up to lead - for the time being, I have every intention of stepping aside whenever one of our rightful leaders is ready.” She stopped, and for the first time risked looking at some of the gathered wolves.

They had been strangely quiet, and it wasn’t lost on her how disjointed they all looked. The ties that bound them all were shaky at best and she didn’t know how to fix it - she wasn’t supposed to be in this position, she never had been. She could only hope Jethro would return soon, or Flair would get better. She wanted to step down as quickly as possible.

(This post was last modified: Feb 09, 2024, 01:46 AM by Finley.)