Wolves of The Barren Hollows 🐦‍⬛ Lore & Rules

Deep within the outskirts of the Northern Expanse lied an old and forgotten cave once called the Dreamrift Grotto. It used to be well known as a gathering place for wolves who desired a spiritual connection, but now it has fallen to disrepair years after the taiga forest was set ablaze. Many of the wolves that tended to it died in those flames, unable to escape, or were killed by former pack members who went rogue during the fight.

Now it sat in the mountainside, with overgrown plants and bushes crowding the entryway. What may have been a serene feeling when looking upon the cavern from the outside was lost to time, now it was rather unsettling and unnerving. As if you could almost tell something bad has happened here once before.

...

Moving inside now, pushing through the narrow passageway, it opened up into a rather large and entrancing space. Strange glowing lichen and vines clung to the ceiling as the large body of water that was inside the cave looked like an unnatural deep blue. The twinkling vines above gave the water an interesting effect, making it look as if fireflies were perpetually trapped under the surface of the dark water.

As the minutes ticked by, the calm water was slowly becoming disturbed. Strange yellow and green wisps and orbs of light started to slowly rise from its depths until it broke through the surface. The water shimmered with a bioluminescence each time an orb broke through, glowing brightly in the dark space. Although, the longer someone were to stare at the dark abyss of the water, the more it looked as if there was a creature-- A wolf?-- swimming slowly towards the surface. In the cave, the sound of gravel crunching under the paws of an approaching creature could be heard as well now. Yet, the wolf swimming slowly through the water remained unaware of that for the time being.

Another couple minutes pass before two dark paws are planted on the edge of the cave floor where the rocky ground drops off to the water, and a wolf with a black and dark brown fur pull themself free from it. Some may recognize him as Ithelan or better yet, The Watcher, from old stories some wolves would tell their young so they know to avoid the yellow wisps of light. Yet, his eyes open finally and two glowing yellow eyes take in the space as he stands on solid land once more. He looks a bit frail or malnourished but there's still an unnerving presence about him as a few wisps dance and flit around his form, lighting him in an eerie light. The sound of whoever this approaching wolf is hastily stop as they spot the stranger that had just risen out of the pool of water. The dark wolf's gaze focuses on the passageway ahead of himself, his eyes narrowing slightly as he hones on the figure of another wolf that had been making their way into the cave.

The dark black and brown colored wolf's voice rang out finally, his voice was deep and raspy that demanded anyone's attention the second he started to speak. Hearing no response, the wolf closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them and walking slowly and lazily towards the entrance of the cave. If they weren't going to leave on their own, he was certainly going to ensure they knew they weren't welcome at the Dreamrift Grotto for as long as he remained there.

Erebos had been lounging about his usual spot in the Northern Expanse. It was a small clearing in the coniferous just north of the river that separated it from the perilous Barren Hollows, yet despite the stories he'd heard other packs tell this loner wasn't going to let a small rumor stop him from taking a look at it from across the water. What's the worst that could happen?

Unfortunately, Erebos's thoughts were interrupted as he started to see familiar yellow wisps hang in the edges of his vision yet when he turned his head to look at them head on they'd dart away; Hiding amongst the brush. The wolf was concerned now, it'd been a long, long time since he'd ever seen those lights and he knew exactly who they were tied to.

"You were supposed to ensure no one else took up residency in the Hollows." A familiar and unnerving voice spoke up before Erebos could spot Ithelan lazily trotting out of the shadows. "Ithelan, I--" Erebos choked out before a wisp darted above him and he could feel a strange, stabbing pain erupt in his chest as if his insides were being stabbed with an iron hot dagger. He could almost swear something was starting to be torn free from him and that thought alone scared him. "I-I'm sorry but there wasn't much I could do! The other three disappeared and I couldn't take her on without extra help otherwise I'd risk setting the oak tree on fire." He spoke up again, his voice strangled and tense as if speaking was a difficult challenge now that the sudden pain wasn't going away.

Ithelan only traipsed closer, his eyes flicking to look down on Erebos while he loomed over the loner's hunched form. "Her?" He echoed, eyebrows raising in curiosity. "The Matron, Melloria. She's got an entire pack backing her and they protect the Hollows. It's out of my control now."

"She's alive?" Ithelan said before flicking his ear and the wisp that had hung closely to Erebos darted away to the shadows once more. Erebos gasped for air finally, coughing and sputtering as he collapsed to the ground although he was relieved the pain was gone now. "Perhaps I'll need to pay her a visit. Carry on, Erebos. And if you see the others, do make sure to send them my way." With that, Ithelan turned and started heading back into the shadows, disappearing as one by one his lights darted after him before fading away. The loner was left alone with a flurry of thoughts and some worry for Melloria now. He knew just how dire things could get if Ithelan was after her.

...

A few hours later, the coniferous forest was dark as night had finally reached the Shrouded Valley. Erebos was about to turn in for the night before he spotted a dark figure swimming across the stream. Melloria was finally checking in on him it would seem. She shook the water from her fur before approaching him with a certain gracefulness to her stride, her eyes seemed to quickly size him up before narrowing. "Is everything alright, Erebos? You're never this quiet when I visit." Erebos only shook his head a little to dislodge the thoughts he'd been worrying over and put on a charming smile. "Never better. I've just been dealing with the occasional pack chasing after my heels, you know how it is Melloria." Erebos said smoothly, quick to hide away anything that was bothering him. "What can I do for you, madam? It's been awhile last you'd stop by."

Melloria didn't seem like she fully believed that he was fine but, she didn't press the matter any further. "Well, it had been awhile since I heard from you and I was growing concerned one of these northern packs were up to no good. They can be quite harsh at times from what I remember." Melloria said with some mild disdain in her voice. She clearly had no love for the wolves that called the Northern Expanse their home. "Rest assured, Melloria, that I am safe and well as always my dear. No pack out here could best me even if they tried." The loner said with a scoff, although it held no real threat only amusement instead as if the mere thought entertained him in some way.

Melloria and Erebos continued catching up like old friends throughout the evening before eventually settling together, nestled and hidden away from the rest of the world inside a den Erebos had dug out under a fallen tree. By dawn, Melloria left to return to her lands leaving Erebos by himself once more. He let out a sigh before shaking his fur out, ridding himself of his thoughts and continued on his way as he always did.

...

Months later, Erebos had returned to his usual spot only to nearly jump out of his fur when he heard the grass rustle next to him before three small heads poked out from the tall grass. "What in blazes?! Who are you? Where's your mother?" Erebos said, half yelling at the trio of pups. One was a male, that had a striking resemblance to Melloria and the two others were female. One female pup was a deep gray and black with brown eyes as for the other, this pup was a lighter gray with black undertones and striking blue eyes.

"Mom said to wait for a wolf that looked like you." The boy spoke up first, taking a bit more of a bold and defensive stance in front of his sisters. "I think she said Ebos was the name?" The light gray female pup said nervously before hiding behind her siblings again. "Ebos?" The lone wolf said, sounding a bit offended by how poorly his name was said. "It's Erebos. Who's your mother then? Don't tell me who I think it is..." He said as he somewhat scolded himself mentally for a few seconds.

"Mom carried us here from the Hollows." One pup said. "She's got a cool raven! She let us play with him before she left..." Another said. "I miss her." The final pup said much more quietly than the rest. Erebos looked concern but he knew deep down that if Melloria had left them here for him then there was a good reason why she couldn't have kept them. After all, he knew just how strict her and her pack could be at times. The loner let out a tired sigh before moving to join the pups in the taller grass. "I'm sure she'll be back. I apologize for my harshness however, I wasn't expecting this. Please, make yourselves at home." He said, his tone much more gentle and warm now than it has ever been before.

The pups looked reassured at that. "I'm Ominis." The boy introduced himself and his sisters perked up a little at that. "I'm Morrigan." One female said and the other looked a bit more shy before speaking up finally. "I'm Sable." Erebos gave the trio a warm smile. "Nice to meet you all. Now, how about some food? I've got some rabbits I can share with you all." And just like that, Erebos got to work ensuring the little ones were comfortable and most of all safe.