Cedarwood Forest Just a raindrop in a river

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“Naia,” Maksim had begun as soon as she had finished greeting the agouti regal. “I'm sorry for placing this upon your shoulders so suddenly, but there is no other way it can be done. I'm escorting Kisla across the mountain range, to visit her family for a while back in the eastern valley.” He had licked his lips, pausing for a brief moment before he continued. “As you are the second highest ranking member alongside Taras, in our absence your word must uphold the pack. We won't be gone for too long. Several days, perhaps.”

Naia reflected on the conversation from the night before as she drifted across her homeland, still dazed by the turn of events. Her leader’s request had been surprising to say the least—Naia had only just gotten used to the idea of being a second, and now she was in charge of the entire pack? Of course she had Taras to assist her, but seeing as the man never spoke the golden-eyed lady couldn’t help but feel the entire burden had shifted squarely onto her shoulders. She had wondered briefly why the leaders chose to go themselves... did they not trust Naia to deliver news to Kisla’s homeland? She shook her head as she walked, attempting to fling the self-doubt from her mind. Of course Kisla would want to go herself to bid her family farewell in person. If Naia had been in her place, she would have done the same. Once the new generation arrived Kisla would be stuck here, unable to return home to explain her disappearance to her family. They had to go now, before Kisla was too far along in her pregnancy to travel.

The agouti lady turned her face to the afternoon sky, praying to whatever deity governed this land that her leaders would arrive home safely. Perhaps they were only to be gone several days, but in that short window Naia had already failed them. On her latest patrol she had come across the scents of @Athena and @Aeolus leaving the packlands... and the two of them had yet to return. What’s more, Athena’s obliquity was unmistakable from the hormones in the scent she had left behind. She was pregnant, and Naia could only assume that Aeolus was responsible seeing as he had fled with her. It was clever of them to stick to the borderlands until @Maksim and @Kisla had departed, taking the chance to run while the pack was leaderless. Naia dreaded delivering the information to her leaders when they returned-- the two had slipped through the cracks, and it was all her fault. Perhaps she should have been more suspicious of Athena, who had recently been avoiding the communal pack areas—but suspicion did not come naturally to the Timber lady; especially not when it came to her own family.

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Seemed lonely <3 Back-dated to when Quick hadn't yet returned to HK

Bit by bit the female struggled her way back to Hollowheart Keep. Somewhere in her short stay she seemed to have sprung quite the inflated ego, believing herself capable of the incredible feat of scouting out on her own for some food to bring home to her peers. With her white chin in the air she kept going, and going, determined to find something somewhere only to find an ass-whooping by one Mother Nature. Blizzard after ice storm after freezing temperature again, the winter had worn foolish Quicksilver down to almost nothing and pushed her nearly out of the Lore. For a moment she thought she would be dead before the next day, but the sun persisted in rising, and eventually - winter relented.

Though she had nothing to come home with, home became her only goal if she wanted to survive. She didn't even have the decency to feel guilt when she ate whatever frost-bitten scrap of meal she could find instead of taking it back to her Leaders. She lapped at every icy puddle of water, denying death and chugging onward. Thin and disoriented, the Arctic wolf appeared no more real than the ghost she resembled. Her movements were slow, haunting her way through the frosted forests, trying her hardest to recognize a scent. But every time she thought she was on to something, her muscles quivered too much and refused to press on.

Quick had pressed on for hours now, her weary legs crying with the effort while her mind cried over what little distance she seemed to be covering. At times she wasn't even sure if she was in the Lore. The land was defrosting, but her brain was some several days behind Spring. Hardly far into the west-most part of the Cedarwood Forest, her paws turned to lead. Unable to budge on the she-wolf allowed herself to collapse, tucking her legs in and curling her weak body into a ball. This was her strategy, to lay low and small for as long as she could, and work up enough strength to meander a little farther.

From over her white tail Quick observed her surroundings. With a glazed stare her eyes searched the forests, narrowed in slow-processing thought. Had she... been here before? She wanted to say yes, but the deeper into her mind she went, the tired she got. It kind of smelled like something she knew. She intended to explore this idea a little further, but the initiative was just not there yet.

OOC|| I was! Thanks for joining! ||

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Naia shivered as the afternoon sun disappeared behind a cloud. It seemed that the warm weather had departed with her leaders—that was yet another thing for her to worry about. Traveling so far was difficult enough, and he Timber lady hoped that her leaders had managed to reach Kisla’s family before the cold snap set in. The scout knew firsthand how quickly a chilly wind could sap a wandering wolf’s strength… she was reluctant to think about what might have come of her if Maksim hadn’t found her when she was caught in that blizzard. She was lucky to have been so close to home that day.

Her leader was incredibly reliable, and Naia wondered if perhaps she didn’t depend a little more than she should on Maksim. She howls, he comes. He always comes. The simple fact that he was unavailable put the Second on edge. Athena and Aeolus’s transgressions aside, she feared she was already in over her head with the Slayer pair showing up. The situation was lose-lose, no matter how you looked at it. On one hand, she would be racked with guilt if she turned away her own nephew, but on the other, it was highly unlikely her leader would approve of sheltering a wolf so fresh out of Hollowheart Keep. She wondered if leadership was always like this; a never-ending barrage of one impossible decision after the other. If so, she was quite content to remain a Second.

The scout caught a whiff of the unmistakable Hollowheart Keep scent, and she trotted toward the source with an edge of concern. Had Karpos wandered away from his aunt and uncle? He was supposed to stay with one of them until the alpha pair returned.. a wolf carrying even a trace of the Keep scent would be in danger traveling these woods alone. Naia halted as a familiar wolf came into view-- not the wolf she had been expecting, but familiar none the less. What was it about Hollowheart Keep that made all their wolves want to flee? First Evann, then Karpos, and now here was Quick; curled up and shivering on her doorstep. Naia took a cautious step forward, unsure if her old acquaintance had spotted her yet.

”Quicksilver? Quick? Are you all right?” The agouti lady couldn’t help herself, she had to call out to the woman. She knew it was best to exercise caution—she wouldn’t put it past the Keep to send an old acquaintance to trick her-- but it would pain her to no end to refuse help to a friend who might need assistance. At the end of their last encounter, Naia had invited Quick to call for her at the border whenever she liked.. perhaps the ivory woman was here to take her up on that. Lucky her, to have been discovered by the only Cut Rock River wolf who wouldn’t attack a weakened Keep wolf on sight.

”You’re at the River border, Quick. It’s not safe here.” Surely she knew where she was? It hadn’t been so long ago that the pair of them had hunted here. Naia had hoped her ghostlike hunting partner might consider joining up with Cut Rock River, but Quick disappeared from the territory soon after their hunt. Naia had occasionally wondered what became of the woman until that midwinter day when all the packs turned up to hunt that one measly bull. There was Quicksilver, fighting for the enemy on the other side of the line drawn in the snow. It saddened Naia, knowing that the artic lady had been so close to true happiness in Cut Rock River, but gave it all up instead for the Keep. Or at least that was how Naia viewed it.

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Her eyes narrowed steadily, at times falling shut without her expressed permission only to flutter rapidly awake once more. Her pale sides expanded and contracted heavily. Quick was near exhaustion no matter how vehemently the wolf tried to deny it to herself. Over and over in her head she repeated how it would only be another moment before she got back up, got back to Hollowheart Keep, and yet she remained curled on the ground with this vague warbling going off in her head. She probably would not have noticed the approaching wolf, nor the voice of her, had it not been for her name. Quicksilver.

It hit her like an attack, The pale female jerked her head upwards, unrolling her body like a malfunctioning machine. She made it up on her sore limbs only to crouch in the pain of it. Her silver stare lacked focus from her constant exhaustion and sudden uprighting. She could do nothing but slick her ears back and bare her teeth while the offender came closer, still speaking things that the Arctic female could not discern in a voice like she ought to have known. River border, Quick. She huffed, trying to force some recognition. The blurred shape slowly came to focus. Yes, she did know this agouti-colored wolf. Her name was Naia. And they had met... someplace. Oh, it had been here.

Quick slid her tongue over her teeth in embarrassment before hiding them from display. She ignored the tremble in her figure as she fought to remain upright, frowning to behold her current state. She was weak, and bedraggled, and only half present as it were. What a piss poor wolf she made. "Sorry - didn't realize--" she stammered, trying to correct her posture and voice at the same time. "Didn't know I made it to the Forest." Besides that, she took her sweet time in recollecting exactly what consequences her presence might provoke. She said not safe... River border... oh, oh no. Hastily she stepped away from Naia, stumbling backward. Wariness present on her face she searched the surroundings, looking for the cavalry that was undoubtedly coming to shred her.

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Quicksilver exploded to her feet when Naia spoke her name, startling the Timber lady into pausing a moment. Her friend was clearly not entirely present; ears slicked back an teeth barred as if Naia intended on hurting her. Slowly, she moved forward again, speaking in a low, even tone—trying to convince the wraithlike woman that she wasn’t safe this close to Cut Rock River. The words sank in slowly, and eventually Quick seemed to recognize her as nonthreatening. Naia wasn’t positive if she could recall exactly who she was, but knowing that she wasn’t an enemy was good enough for the moment. Well.. technically she was an enemy, wasn’t that ironic? But hell if Naia was going to let a silly spat between their leaders stop her from lending assistance to a friend.

The ivory lady was wasting a lot of energy trying to appear to be okay, when it was painfully obvious to Naia that she wasn’t. Quick’s legs were shaking trying to support her, and her voice was a feeble whisper compared to her normal tone. What on earth was she doing out here, and in such a weakened condition? The Quick she knew had been a sharp, decisive thinker. She never would have put herself in a situation like this… The Hollowheart Keep woman must have been traveling for some time, her physical and mental state dwindling until she could no longer think straight. A semi-seasoned scout, Naia knew the feeling, though she hadn’t ever quite reached Quick’s current level of degeneration.

Her friend was looking around wildly at this point, as if she expected some sort of attack. At least she finally seemed to comprehend the danger of the situation. ”Shhh, Quick, it’s okay. No one is coming. No one is even—“ She snapped her mouth shut. No one is even here was the wrong thing to tell a Hollowheart Keep wolf, even one as unsteady as Quick. Even a friend. Should Quick somehow make it back to the Keep before her leaders’ return, the last thing she wanted was for the Keep leaders to catch wind of her alphas’ departure.

”Come on, let me take you somewhere safe. It’s not far.” She stepped forward cautiously, offering her shoulder to the trembling woman if she wanted to lean. Quick certainly couldn’t travel in her condition, and there was only one place nearby where the scent of a Hollowheart Keep wolf might go unnoticed—the den she had carved out for Karpos at the border. Since he stilled smelled of the Keep, Naia had stashed him there with Capella and Lachesis until her leaders returned and she could explain his situation. No one disliked the Keep more than Karpos, and it worried Naia just imagining the tension that would result when she showed up at Karpos’s den with Quick.. but what choice did she have? It was a moral dilemma to be sure, and all she could do was what felt right. She had to try.

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Her heart drummed to some errant, frantic beat, reflected in the trembling of her body. Her silver eyes were filled with a hot, hot terror, flickering between the Cedarwood Forest and the Cut Rock River wolf. It was only for the fact that Quick actually did, somewhere down beneath the mess that was her mind, like Naia that she listened to her words. Had it been anyone else, she might have killed herself trying to get away.

In her exhausted stupor the Arctic wolf had not caught the Second's slip, too fixated on the complete sentence with a solid denial. No one is coming. It sounded like lies. But, no. Naia was not a liar... not like Quick. She winced, playing it off as pain in her limbs, but really she winced in recollection - at a time she had thought she could be like the agouti wolf she leaned upon. Kind, dutiful... just good. Now she knew her blood ran darker than this wolf's ever could. Quick was the lawless degenerate, a pathetic pirate, no better than the muck beneath Naia's dainty paws. As the female spoke of someplace safe, not far, the Keep wolf could only turn her face away, baring her teeth in a grimace.

But it was not Quick's pride that lead her to hesitance - her pride had flown out the window somewhere with her sanity in the deepest blizzard - but her carnal need to return home. If she went with the River scout, wherever she intended to take her, she would be spending precious steps in the wrong direction. But as the smaller wolf came nearer, leaning to one side to offer her shoulder, it was instinct that drove the Arctic wolf then. Instinct that told her if she didn't go, she'd wear herself to death in the next day. If she ever did make it to Hollowheart Keep, it would be as a skeleton on their doorstep. Gruffly she muttered the same, "Not far," agreeing to those terms only - and then allowed the River wolf to lead her to this supposed safe place.

@Naia @Karpos @Lachesis @Adsila @Capella - just going to mention that I will wait until whoever else joins to post my reply so no need to wait for me atm :P

(This post was last modified: Jun 02, 2014, 01:58 AM by Quick.)

OOC|| Let's make this interesting! @Karpos and/or @Lachesis please, or even @Adsila or @Capella if you want to join. This is set the day after Karp and Adsi got here-- Maksim and Kisla aren't back yet. Naia is bringing Quick to the den that they carved out for Karpos at the edge of the Cedarwood Forest, where she asked him to stay with either Lachesis or Capella until the leaders get back. ||

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Relief flooded Naia as Quick allowed herself to lean against her shoulder, though the feeling was short lived. Every step they took toward Karpos’s den shot a little pang of panic through her system. It was the only plan she had, but that certainly didn’t make it a good one. She pushed her worry aside for now, concentrating on keeping Quick upright as they traveled. The ivory woman weighed significantly less than Naia would have expected, but keeping her on her feet was still no easy task for the delicately- built scout. Naia wanted to ask her questions—how long she had been out, what she was doing so close to Cut Rock River… why she joined up with the Keep of all packs—but she pushed on in silence, knowing full well that Quick was in no mental condition to give such answers. Murmuring encouragement, the pair struggled on for several minutes before Naia stopped, scenting that her nephew’s den was nearby.

”Karpos?” she called uncertainly, moving herself and Quick a little closer to the makeshift den at the edge of the cedarwoods. She didn’t see or smell the boy, so likely he was inside. Naia maneuvered the pair of them up to the mouth of the den, poking her head inside to call out to its inhabitants. ”Hello, may we come in? There’s someone with me… an old friend. She needs help..” Naia let her words trail off as she peered into the dark, her honey eyes adjusting to the dimness. She struggled with whether she should add, “She’s from the Keep,” but figured they would find out soon enough. Perhaps no one would mention it. Perhaps they would simply help a wolf in need, no matter what pack she smelled like, because that was the right thing to do. She could always hope.

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(This post was last modified: Jun 02, 2014, 04:19 PM by Naia.)

meeeeep <3

For once the slender healer was lurking around the River dens, taking a break from his frequent herb-searching. He had taken a brief walk around the dens to stretch his long, deer-like legs before returning to his large infirmary. All was quiet within the forest, allowing the healer time to arrange his plants and check his stock levels. Lachesis wasn’t a braggart but he was exceptionally good at keeping his den incredibly organized; he took pride in his organization. His stock had grown low over the months of winter, and self-medicating, and with puppies soon arriving in Cut Rock River Lachesis needed to be prepared for anything.

Capella was currently absent from their shared den, and although her presence was missed he was grateful that she wasn’t hovering. XIX preferred to work on his own, as it allowed him to concentrate better, and as much as he appreciated his sunflower-eyed friend, she was also a distraction when it came to his organization. Most of his herbs were placed atop flat rocks and bark that he had found lingering around the riverside and within the depths of the forest, while others were piled up in small holes he had dug for them.

Unfortunately his organizing didn’t last long, as the familiar scent of Naia accompanied by the very unwelcome scent of a Keep wolf wafted into his den.

A deep frown formed across his lips as he emerged from his den, ears pinned forward as he stepped toward the pair perched outside of Karpos’ den. “Why is she here?” The words hissed from between his teeth, staining the air with obvious distain as he took another step in their direction. Why had Naia, a wolf that Maksim and his mate Kisla trusted so much, brought an enemy wolf into their territory? While Lachesis had no personal quarry against the Keep wolves, aside from what they had done to his nephew, the healer would stand behind the pack no matter what and refrain from liking any packs (and wolves) that his leaders were not fond of.

stick with those who stick with you

PM me if this is wrong but since it is backdated to before Quick's return to the Keep then she wouldn't necessarily smell like the Keep? Sorry this is sucky but I wanted to get the post up!

Karpos had been sleeping close to the back wall of the den where he was to stay until he got approval from Maksim or Kisla. The voice of his aunt had stirred him from his sleep and set him on edge when he caught the scent. There was a wolf around and it wasn't him but he knew the scent. He immediately jumped to his paws, his fur bristling with his eyes blazing with rage. He calmed down a little bit once he saw who it was. It was Quick! She seemed kind of nice and she seemed to be good on Chuylin's side. He forced his fur flat and walked towards the entrance to the den. "What happened Quick?" He asked in a curious tone to the wolf, as far as he knew, that didn't seem to have an issue with him. He looked to his aunt for an answer as to why she was like that. "The Keep was worried about you Quick. They had wondered where you ran off to." He said flatly which suggested she was not in the Keep. He wondered what had inspired his aunt to bring a former Keep wolf within the territory. "Is she gonna join Cut Rock River?" So many questions plagued him when his uncle Lach burst in with a 'what is she doing here' and it was hissed. Karp had never seen his uncle act violent at all but Karp understood why. Everyone knew her to be a Keep wolf and she was on the territory.

You're correct! Minimal Keep scent, pre-return.

The closer they got to the den, the more her fur stood on edge. Her breaths were deep and anxious, noting something weird about the smell. She didn't know what it was until the petite lady called a name into the den. Karpos. Immediately she thought something horrible, that he had been taken hostage by these River wolves who hated their wild ways so much - but even her whackadoo mind could put together that it didn't make sense. If he were a hostage, he would be well-guarded and well in the heart of the territory. Not out here in the snow piles they peed on. She could be wrong, she noted, as a spider-legged wolf emerged from the shadows of the den with a questioning hiss. At once Quick pulled back her blackened lips, baring her worn teeth at the male while a low growl reverberated from her throat. Even though in her current state a gust of wind could knock her over, it couldn't blow away her inclination to be pig-headed.

But Naia had not been lying. The dark yearling she had been familiar with indeed came out from the den. He seemed angry in the shadows but less so when her silvery gaze met his. She sheltered her tooth display for now, straining to hear his words and fully respond against the extent of her exhaustion. "Blizzard caught me," she muttered darkly, both of embarrassment and the difficulty of speech in her current state. She furrowed her brows to process the rest of Karpos' piece. Worried meant they noticed her disappearance... meant there was punishment waiting. Oops. But that thought went out the window when he asked if she was going to join Cut Rock River. Again she wrinkled her nose and growled, "No." Then it dawned on her. Why was he asking that question? "Why are you here?"