Grizzly Hollow next on my to-do list

Bella and Duck are at the borders :) Any GH welcome. @Borden @Jaysyek

"Duck, darling? Careful where you tread, those are someone else's trees."

"Sorry, ma."

Bella watched him take a few ginger steps back, taking him safely back into neutral territory. The scent of Grizzly Hollow - or so she presumed, anyway - was thick in the air, the favoured scent markers on the trees and ground clear. Duck had ambled up to one to stick his nose in it, an innocent action, but Bella wished to err on the side of caution. Just because she had met two amiable Lyalls didn't mean the rest of them were, and certainly not if noses were on the wrong side of clearly marked borders.

Duck dropped his head, tail tucking underneath him, eyes averted. "I was just smellin'."

"I know." She looked through the trees, ears pointed forward, alert. Not that anyone would think the sweet boy a danger to look at him, but she had to be careful. Respectful. At least her youngest responded to her warnings without question, for she knew that her others would have been potentially... problematic. Letting them run ahead was stressful but beneficial in this situation at least; their diplomatic tactics tended to take after their father, and Bella certainly would not have thought Wolesh an asset right now.

But her task here was simple - happy, even. So long as this was the right place and the right family. It certainly smelled right, smelled like the siblings who had sheltered them, and the description fit. She had been surprised to find it here at all, to hear Trisden speak of it, but the stars had aligned for them. Taking a breath, Bella let a single, soft note resonate in the forest for a few seconds, unobtrusive, polite. Duck slunk back into the shadow of a bush, poking a dead branch with an unenthusiastic paw. Bella watched him only for a moment, and sighed; she would have thought him to be happier without his siblings, for she was not blind to their teasing. He had seemed even more sullen than usual, and though still obedient, refused to talk about it with her. Just as childish as the others, only in a different way, she mused. If they all got back together without something bad happening, she would praise the sun.

Life was quiet in Grizzly Hollow, which was likely a blessing, given Rook had left them all with false names and the impression that they were in terrible danger. The ebony she-wolf had yet to use her ‘pretend’ name – the word Cinder fell from her lips now with as much rebellion as it did honesty, and she spoke it with an air of pride. Cinder Attaya, the fallen princess of Darkwater Rapids.

Quil was particularly busy with Tomen – who Cinder had yet to even truly meet. For such a tiny thing, he scared her – he smelled of soured milk most of the time, and she found she could barely stand to be at the entrance of the den, for the smell turned her off so much. So, she spent her time becoming familiar with the lands – a shadow among their newly risen kingdom. The others were scarce within the area, and Cinder at times found herself longing to strike past the borders and seek Cut Rock River out.. to find Maksim. He would surely welcome her home with open arms, and perhaps.. perhaps she would finally feel like she had found a home.

But she dare not. To leave Quil would surely tear her apart, and so she stayed.. loyal, in the simplest sense that the raven-hued female could be.

A quick song beckoned her forward. Cinder was not one to greet their visitors at the borders very often, but it could also be argued that they rarely had them. A darker, tawny wolf came in to sight. She stood close to a younger wolf – so pale in comparison. Cinder’s own bright amber eyes would drift between the two, her muzzle lifting a notch to ensure the other knew that this was her home. “Who are you, and what is it you seek at our borders?”

One day, she would make a fine queen. Of that she was sure.

(This post was last modified: Jun 23, 2015, 12:37 PM by Kisla.)

like a black widow, baby

Rachel <3

They did not wait long. As the sounds of an oncomer reached their ears, Bella perked up, finding herself excited at the imminent conclusion to a promise that had lingered in the back of her mind. In comparison, Duck shrunk away, making himself small, though she did not notice, her eyes lost in the forest ahead. When the dark form appeared, Bella's tail swept from left to right once before dropping down in appropriate reverence. The female's muzzle lifted, and Bella lowered her own accordingly. Duck just stared hard at his dry branch.

It was right to business, then, and though Bella was pleased for the prompt response to her call, this pack wolf did not match any descriptions given to her, though she was not close enough to determine whether or not this was a relative. The scent of the pack loomed heavy and overwhelming. "My name is Belladonna Calor," she said, "and this is my son, Duckweed." His stubborn gaze did not move, and Bella quieted tutted at his antisocial behaviour. It was no matter, though; their business here did not require his attention, though she wondered if she would be able to carry out her task as fully as she had been asked. Putting her son to the back of her mind, she looked back at the black woman, and smiled. "I'm here to return a favour. Is this Grizzly Hollow? Do Borden and Jaysyek Lyall live here?"

She wasn’t certain what to do in this situation – Rook had encouraged them to take on fake names in which to give to those outside of the pack – and now, a she-wolf and her rather reluctant son stood on their very borders, requesting the presence of Borden and Jaysyek. Her eyes gleamed as she studied them, as if attempting to decipher whether the woman was trustworthy or not.

The simple answer was no – no one was trustworthy.

Cinder was not about to play coy, however. The smile that was flashed in her direction did not do much to elicit feelings of trust among the two women, but it certainly didn’t hurt. “They do. How do you know them?” Her tail gave a gentle flick in the air, and when the mother would drift her eyes back to her rather despondent son, Cinder attempted to catch his eyes and offer him a rather wolfish wink, if only to see what reaction she might receive in turn – could she make him feel even more awkward?

Shifting her weight, one ear flickered back, as if waiting for Rook or another Hollow wolf to come up behind her. She was tempted to call for her sister’s mate – he had delved them in to this scenario.. he could make a decision on what he wanted to do with their perfectly polite guest. And given Borden’s state, she was not certain he was well enough for company. Jaysyek, however, would likely come in a heartbeat. Instead, the swarthy she-wolf waited for more information, her slender muscles tautening.

like a black widow, baby

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

The casual distrust visible in the dark woman's mannerism was not unexpected, and as such Bella did not question it. She was a stranger to this forest, after all, her name meaning nothing. There was no reason for her to be welcomed warmly. Some suspicion was healthy. An open kind of creature, though, had Bella smiling more freely at the news that she was indeed in the right place. That made what could have been a long-kept favour very simple to return.

Her happiness at this was enough distraction for her to miss the brief wink offered Duck's way - who, in comparison, had chosen that moment to glance over at the conversation, his eyes meeting with the dark strangers for that singular instant. The playful wink was met with a hot face and flustered composure, his eyes widening before desperately averting themselves again. The dead piece of wood in front of him would, he decided, be more interesting than anything else.

Oblivious to her son's embarrassment, Bella considered the question. "We've been travelling from the far west, to reach the mountain. On the way I met a Lyall who offered me her hospitality. I offered to carry a message to her family, if I found them." It was her turn to be somewhat ambiguous, unsure as she was whether the woman in front of her was a Lyall or not - and Trisden had been insistent that the words carry directly to the ears of her family, not trusting in whatever random loners the pack was bound to pick up. The dark woman matched no description given to Bella, but she wasn't sure whether or not Lyalls-by-mateship counted. She would have to receive a name in turn before making that decision.

A salacious smirk crept upon her muzzle from a stolen moment as the boy’s eyes widened – and he abruptly turned his eyes from her. There was something addicting to a random flirtation with a boy. Receiving the response she so desired, the inky female would allow her smile to disappear just as quickly from her slender features as they had come – so as to not elicit a reaction from the boy’s dog walker.

“I see,” she mused then, debating whether or not she should simply take the message and deliver it herself.. or, simply call a Lyall form the woodwork of the forest. It would be much easier for her – and Cinder played the messenger for no one. “Hold on, then.”

With a flick of her tail, Cinder tilted her muzzle up, allowing a short, beckoning howl to release to the sky, calling for either Roo or Ryvet – both Lyalls, and yet not asking for the leaders. Borden was sick – of this she knew, and even she was not so selfish as to tear Jaysyek away from her mate if they were busy.

With her song fading, the she-wolf relaxed, though her posture remained that of dominance – something she found she could get used to. Her eyes darted back to the she-wolf, ignoring the boy completely now. She did not bother to make small talk.. it bored her. Instead, they would see just how much patience their visitor had.. and even more so, if the message was so important that she could wait.

like a black widow, baby

While it had been a few days since he and Veho had met, all he could think of was that alluring rogue and the way he had spoken. Even in the hours when he and Quil were cozied up together with Tomen between them, he could not help but wonder if the the following day would bring him back. He supposed a little patience would be worth it and if he did not go actively seeking out the Macieo man, he would continue on with his responsibilities as his parents' subordinate. It was a good thing he did not stray far, too, for not long after he had decided to stray from his brother's trail through the wood, a beckoning call came from Cinder.

For what seemed like several moments, he waited for that familiar, uneven gait that announced his father's approach and Jaysyek's hurried steps that followed after him. Even after a number of minutes, still no one came. Rook sighed and set off at something like a gallop, slowing only when he could fully scent his sister-in-law through the evergreens. Here was when he started peering around the ancient tree trunks with his ears up and eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. Once he found Cinder's stark black frame, he straightened up, appearing from around an old cedar some five wolf-lengths away.

The strangers she was entertaining were not Veho, and this alone made a frown pull down on his masked face. It didn't keep for long once he realized that the lighter of the duo was a still just a cub - a yearling, rather - and for a fleeting second he was taken by a wave of pity. Rook had just about been his age when he had first come into Relic Lore. There couldn't be any danger here and, obviously, Quil's sister had come to no harm. He came to stand at Cinder's left flank, a slight smile on his face as he regarded the party before him. He especially studied the youth before casting his eyes upon the rogue woman and holding his age-mate's gaze, "Yes?" There would be no need for names just yet and the Lyall was not just about ready to use either of Cinder's aliases. Not only had he vowed to not use the name Caelia if he could help it, but he was not willing to release her true name if she hadn't introduced herself.

Chances are I have a BEN WHISHAW gif for that.

I'm not 100% on what your series of events for the Lyalls are, so if anything goes against your canon let me know, I'm happy to change anything <3

What to do in the eventuality that she either never found Grizzly Hollow, or was turned away, had occasionally been on her mind. The promise was little more than an evening of scores, though her debt to Trisden was greater than she could repay by simply speaking a few words to her loved ones. It would have been different if the message had been one of urgency, but then it would have been carried by someone more important. Bella's patience was great, but she was beginning to wonder at the casually guarded nature of the dark woman who was still yet to offer her name. It was all a sign of their imbalance of power, Bella mused, and she could understand that.

The call was made, though, and her explanation must have been enough. Waiting with a smile, Bella noted how the summons did not include the leadership, and could not help but wonder why. It was not her place to make demands, and instead she was grateful for receiving any time at all. The dark, nameless woman then fell into silence, and sensing her avoidance of chatter, Bella did the same. Duck still refused to shift his gaze, and together the trio waited for someone to answer the call.

Ears perking at the sound of oncoming footfalls, the man appeared, and Bella's expression lifted at the sight. The resemblance to his sister was incredible, and as he came closer, standing with solidarity next to his dark packmate, Bella looked into those mismatched eyes and smiled wide with recognition. "You must be Rook," she said, completely oblivious to their use of secret identities. Then she composed herself, aware that such a declaration would need explanation. "I met Trisden at the Reach. She showed us kindness when she didn't have to, and in return I said I'd try to find you in the Lore, send news. It's not very exciting, I'm afraid: they're doing well, the pack is stable, but she misses you all. Says it's not the same. Says she hopes you're looking after your father." She tried to convey the weight of that last particular snippet, though Bella had never asked why their father would need special treatment. That was not her business. Hopefully Rook would take from it what he could.

I am terrible!

They waited, then. Her initial interest was only spurred on the hope that @Ryvet would answer her a call – a rather dashing male who she had yet to actually have the pleasure of meeting.. and not to be outdone by her sister, Cinder was not opposed to snagging a Lyall boy of her very own. They were hard to come by, however, and while Cinder was not one to be daunted by any form of task, she found her heart was not in much these days.. games or no games.

But it was Rook who answered her call, and the swarthy girl allowed a nod to the male as he sidled up beside her. She did not have a chance to explain the strange duo before them – instead, the female launched in to her reasoning, and Cinder found herself shifting her weight restlessly. Once more, her life was brought in to the history of the Lyall’s – her own having vanished the day Darkwater Rapidss had flooded.

Cinder made no further comments, and with Rook at her side now, she allowed the boy in the background to his own devices rather than torturing him. Instead, her amber eyes would drift to the features of the man her sister had taken as her own, wondering what he thought of this news – and even more importantly, wondering how she could slink off from this share of stories from home. It did not include her, and so she found it not worth her time.

like a black widow, baby