Tears of the Moon (Semi-Lit Wolf Roleplay)

Bianca - Riparian Woodland

Bianca is silent most of the way to the lookout, ignoring the sulking pups behind her and focusing on following the nimble scout ahead. Dances, for all his more irritating qualities, was incredibly agile, and Bianca, picking her way after him, finds all her attention occupied by trying not to stumble or slip in the muddy terrain. She hopes it comes off as methodical and dignified instead of inexperienced in the flood's trecherous aftermath.

As they ascend to the lookout, however, Bianca forgets about appearences and gasps aloud at the view from the top. The cold and brackish breeze ruffles her thick fur as she stares, transfixed by the sight below: The white-watered river cutting through its own sodden swath of devastation, like a slowly-healing gash across the woodlands.

Dances directs their attention to the valley, and Bianca is shaken from her thoughts. She looks over at the 'lake', feeling her heart sink as her initial theory is confirmed as fact. A valley in a flood - fills up like a bowl; old Umbra had said something like that once, explaining why he left some old pack or another. She had never paid much attention to the old wolf at the time..

"I'm sorry," she says aloud, almost without realizing it, and then snaps out of her reviere somewhat. "That is - I mean - I suppose those were your packlands..."

Rue || Female || Fire Opal Pack || Deciduous Forest, Healer’s Den

“That she was,” Rue replied solemnly, taking a moment to share in her kin’s mourning.

She staunchly resisted the urge to yawn as he told his story. Not that she was not interested in his words. She was keenly so! But because her rest had been cut short and she would likely be needed to do leader things soon. 

“That is a beautiful way to look at it,” she said reverently. For herself, the leadership was something she inherited. A fluke of luck that she happened to be born with flaming red fur and the youngest daughter to the Great Aaru, who was old and a bit grumpy while she was growing up, though no less fierce warrior on the battlefield. “She sounds very wise.”

She remained very still as Smoulder finished tending and washing her wound, and here at last, she could not contain her yawn. 

“Thank you for treating me at this absurd hour, my kin. I do wish that this had happened a bit earlier in the night. Then at least I could look forward to a bit more sleep. And you could too.” 

Tiana || Female || Fire Opal Pack || Deciduous Forest

Tiana froze mid step on her way out of camp,ears perking in surprise and excitement.

“Baron! Up at this hour? I suppose we were speaking a bit loudly,” Tiana said ruefully. “Oh, don’t be silly! It’s just that it’s before dawn. We were just getting an early start, as Starchaser said. No need to wake the whole team before dawn, but now that you’re here, you might as well shake a tail! Starchaser will stalk and chase, you will chase, and I will chase and finish. We’ll practically be a full team.”

She glances up at the brightening sky thoughtfully.

“We’d better get a move on now though. Or the Torchwood team will take all the best hunting spaces,” she growled playfully, a playful competition. Nothing more. “Grouse is still the order of the day, but if we scent something larger… I’m not opposed.”

Blood  || Male || (Soon to be) Rapid Evening Pack || Riparian Woods

Remains quiet as he and Blood trail the group up to the lookout spot. He doesn’t comment on the way his cousin tucks herself neatly against his side, ears lowered and eyes narrowed at the wolves ahead. He doesn’t want to be on the wrong end of her sharp tongue. Besides. Something told him that she was less worried about these strange wolves, many of whom aren’t much older or bigger than they are, and more about what they would find up there. 

She was right to be worried. The view from the lookout was breathtaking. It was sunny today, clear skies, so all the land was laid before them. Beautiful, but terrifyingly vast. How would they ever find their home here? Blood was startled by the sudden bristling of Bone’s fur. 

“Bone…? What’s wrong…?” he asks, looking first at her snarling face, then following her gaze to the lake at a distance. 

Only… it was no lake. The Weeping Willow, under which the leader’s den had been dug, was just visible above the water. The rainwater… it had filled the entire valley. They could not go home. There was no home to go back to. Ordinarily, Blood is the optimist, but in this case, even he shrunk back a little, pressing his side to Bone’s in turn. This was horrible. What were they supposed to do now?

In response to Dances’ last remark all he could really manage was a, “Yeah, I guess…” He was a little surprised at Bianca’s given condolences, though less so at her hasty correction. “Thanks… We uh… we have some some figuring out to do I guess… Dances….? Is there any chance any of these lands aren’t like… claimed by some hostile pack?”

Baron
{M/1Y/Fire Opal/Chaser SB}

Baron smiled at the hunting leader's surprise and woe, shaking his head with a bit of a chuckle. "I'm not going to miss out on a hunt even if it's the morning! What use am I just snoring away?" He shook the extra dirt from his pelt in emphasis. "Let's get ourselves a nice meal for the pack." Tail lifted in anticipation, he nodded once to Tia as she trotted into the forests, ready for their hunt to commence.

~Timeskip~

Later on in the morning, or afternoon - Baron really couldn't tell the difference -  the three returned from their hunt, a couple grouse captured from the undergrowth of the forest. Though not as impressive as Baron would have hoped to have caught, the fact that they got anything at all would be considered a success. He had to keep his mouth from watering just holding the one carcass he had, walking in beside his two teammates. It wasn't until he set it in its proper space in camp before he could spit out the extra feathers, shaking his head and licking his maw to remove any trace of drool on his lips. "Impressive work, I think we did a good job!" he complimented. "Maybe we should take one of these to Rue? It might help her feel better and get some food in her gut."

Jackdaw that Soars | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland 

"I know we can't go back," the red wolf snapped, her ears flattening. "I just... want things to go back to the way they were." Without this pack. I miss where we used to live... even if it wasn't the best. These wolves took us in, but they aren't family. Not to me.

"Let's catch up," Jackdaw commented, ruffling her pelt. "We're behind." 

She took off at a lope, heading up the rise with Badger just behind her. She ignored the stinging in her heart as she noticed how distraught the wolves ahead looked. Was the flood that bad? Surely some water wasn't that big of an issue..?

It was. Jackdaw had never seen so much water. She knew instantly that animals would have drowned down there, no doubt about it. Her pelt prickling, she pressed close to Badger, clearly unsettled. "Guess you both have no home now, huh?"

Badger that Bites | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland

Knowing Jackdaw was upset was never a good feeling. Jackdaw got upset often, Badger knew that - but 'home' was always a word that upset her the most. Both of them had never really had a home, and here was just... another stop on the way, she supposed. At least, that was how Jackdaw saw it. 

These wolves weren't family. Only Jackdaw was family to Badger - perhaps slightly different than family, but the only one she felt safe with. Even this flood didn't scare her when Jackdaw was by her side - they could do anything together. 

Heading up the rise, Badger nudged her friend's shoulder. I'm here, Jackdaw. I know you're upset. We can talk about it later,  she wanted to say. But she did not.

"Oh..." Badger let out a soft breath of shock as she gazed upon the valley. She nudged Jackdaw at her callous comment, swallowing hard. "There actually are a lot of packs around this area... at least, the area that isn't flooded. And I'm sure they'll be scrabbling to reform and remark their home territory after this flood."

Dances-in-Fire || He / Him || Rapid Evening Pack
Riparian Woodland - Rapid Evening Pack Territory - Scout’s Outlook

The coyote-patterned wolf nods his head in agreement with Badger’s assessment. His tail hangs low, his head remains bowed, and his eyebrows are fret worryingly as he looks off towards their sunken pack’s lands. “… the Riparian is pretty well claimed,” he says, his voice slow, a bit wounded. “… is that the plan then? Sleep rough? Form a new pack? Kid I-“ he chuckles darkly. “I like your chutzpah. But trust me, after being swept that far up river? Your bodies don’t even realize how exhausted they are. What you need right now is shelter. Shelter and food.” He pauses, scuffing his paw agains the rock, and then raises his head in thought.

“… will you let me petition to Packleader Druid on your behalf?” His ears flatten. “At least for one night. You got a lot to process.” And then with a weak, bittersweet smile, he adds, “Besides, I’m the fool of this pack. If she doesn’t like it… I’m willing to take the hit for that. You don’t even gotta face her if you don’t want! I mean, maybe you do wanna, I dunno, I’m not your boss or anything, I just think- honestly my opinion as a scout? Trying to sleep rough without scouting experience, in your condition - it’s a miserable way to die.”

Smoulder || He / Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Den - Healer’s Den

Smoulder takes in a tired breath and nodded. The tiredness wasn’t just in Rue; he, too, was finding his movements sluggish. If his own worries hadn’t kept him up all night, he’d have already been asleep himself… the older wolf responds to Rue’s yawn by being infected with his own yawn, and then nods, smacking his lips. “She was,” he says, his words slow and drawn out.

“Oh um… before I forget. We do need more redwood sorrel. I worry about the consequences of a pox outbreak if we do not have any on hand, and presently we seem to have run out…”

He gives the wound one last inspection, then nods, sleepily, though seemingly satisfied. “… get yourself some rest, Rue. And pray the night is kinder to you this time.”

Starchaser || He / Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Territory

Starchaser finds himself smiling a bit at Baron’s sense of dutifulness. It was always a bit infectuous, and one of the things he liked about being part of this hunting team. The arctic wolf stands a little taller and prouder as they make their way into the forest - at least until it was time to put his nose to the ground and sniff out a trail.

He’d always forgotten how tense the stalker role could be. While the chase was a game of reaction times and fast thinking, the prowling portion of the hunt was much more subtle. Cautious. He was fearful his light coat would give him away during the approach, but thankfully, they managed to rustle up a few grouse in spite of that. They key bit - wounding the wing to limit the bird’s flight - he manages to get both times, and from there, the hunts proceed as normal, albeit with a few fewer participants and a bit more effort on each wolf’s part.

Returning triumphant to the dens, he smiles over at Baron, giving a little nod when he suggests offering one to Rue. “I think that’s a good idea, actually,” he says. “You just missed it, but she was up super early too - she looked a bit out of sorts, and I saw her heading towards the healer’s den.” His lavender eyes drift over to the leader’s den. “I think she might appreciate a little pick-me-up.”

He runs his tongue over his lips and lets out a contented sigh. The hunts were a good way to distract his mind from… his brow furrows a bit. Again, a shadow comes over his face.

“How- how long til our next hunt, Tiana?” There was a slight note of anxiety to his voice. He knew they hunted in shifts. This wasn’t the first time his mood had shifted on getting back go the dens. Over the course of the month he’d been a full adult, it had almost become a ritual.

“I just- you know, I get restless, is all.”

Bianca - Riparian Woodland:

Bianca's tail swishes thoughtfully as she surveys the area below her, casting a more analytical eye now that she's somewhat recovered from her initial shock.

"Dances is right, I doubt there's any unclaimed lands here," she says, remembering what she'd heard from the older members of her pack. "The Riparian Woodland is a desirable area - the rivers are full of life, herbs grow plentiful, and prey animals will always come here to drink. Even if there's no pack, there will be lone wolves and other creatures - bears, especially - prepared to defend their fishing spots. It's an abundant place, but full of fierce competition. Maybe even moreso after the flood, like Badger said." She nudges the younger wolf, who is standing nearest her.

She glances over at the scout as he mentions their pack leader. "Packleader Druid formed this pack when she was an adolescent - but she wasn't alone, and Goldenrod helped her," she speaks the long-dead herbalist's name with a kind of reverence, having never met him herself. Only his two children, accomplished hunters both. "And besides, that was Druid."

To Dances' suggestion, Bianca adds, "Yes, our pack is hardly starving. You can stay for a while," She announces, as though having made the decision herself. "Pythia will look after you. She's the nice one."

Tiana || Female || Fire Opal Pack || Deciduous Forest

By the time they finish their hunts, the sun has brightened considerably. They return home with two grouse. Small prey, true, but considering that they were only three wolves hunting before dawn she is quite pleased with their work. She doesn’t even yawn as they reach the threshold of camp. She listens idly to the chatter of her hunters for a moment before nodding.

“That’s a splendid idea! The prey pile was pretty dismal earlier, so I doubt she’s had business. Why don’t the pair of you go ahead, and I’ll see if our stalker and third chaser are awake, hmmm?” 

She pauses in her trot as she hears Starchaser speak up and turns to face him with a warm and soft expression, “If the pair of you aren’t exhausted, we can go back out right away. However, if you… need a moment, no one would fault you for taking it.”

Rue || Female || Fire Opal Pack || Deciduous Forest

A pox outbreak...that’s just what we need, Rue thought dryly.

“Red Sorrel… I think I can manage that today. I’ll be sure to let the hunting teams know as they head out as well. Thank you, Smoulder,” she replied with a gentle stretch, so as not to pull at her wounds. “You get some rest as well. As much as this pack will allow anyway!” 

It is a gentle dig at their pack’s tendency to turn up with every injury and illness under the sun. The healer role is not for the easily overwhelmed for certain. They are lucky to have Smoulder, a reliable and steadfast wolf, who is always up to the task.

She left the den too late to catch Tiana and the others as they headed out for their hunt, but she did manage to catch Madison, the leader of Torchwood Party, on her way back to her own den, from where, she did not know, and asked her to keep an eye out for the desired plant. Before returning to her own den. She managed to doze dreamlessly for an extra  hour or two before dragging herself back into the clearing and examinint the fresh prey pile. Still empty. Perhaps she can hunt for herself while she explores?

Blood  || Male || (Soon) Rapid Evening Pack || Riparian Woods

“No,” Blood replies to softly Jackdaw. “It seems that we don’t.” 

Badger’s words, while not very comforting, were helpful. There was no sense in sugar coating it. If any of their pack survived at all, they would be scrambling to find a place to stay as well. There was no sense in walking all the way to the valley and waiting on someone to come find them… Especially not if the packs around it would try to move in.

He finds the continued silence of his cousin more upsetting than having her lash out. She is tucked firmly against his side, and her ears are laid back fully. He wants to reassure her, but now and here are hardly the time or place. He turns to Dances and considers his words as carefully as he can. He’s still in shock at the lost of his home, but even he can follow the older wolf’s logic. Right now, he should just be relieved that they’re offering… and Bianca, surprisingly, seems to agree.

“Thank you…” Blood accepts on behalf of his cousin. “We should at least rest until we know what to do next. And we’ll repay the kindness… somehow.”

He didn’t know how. They weren’t great hunters or fighters. He couldn’t imagine that they’d be anything but a terrible burden on this pack. But Bianca’s reassurance that they had food to spare helped at least. 

During the walk to the Rapid Evening Pack’s camp, Blood fell about as silent as Bone, smiling and nodding from time to time at the words of the other pups while offering silent comfort to his cousin who seemed to have been rendered mute with shock. The exhaustion and hunger of their journey were just starting to set in as they crossed the threshold into camp. He hoped this leader of theirs wasn’t terribly long winded, or they might collapse on the spot.

Baron
{M/1Y/Fire Opal/Chaser SB}

Lifting his tail at Tiana's praise, his attention briefly went to Starchaser, who had sunken back into anxiety once past the outer pack border. He wished he knew how to help him, but there never seemed a way through to understand how to. The wolf didn't deserve to suffer on the inside. But, perhaps giving him a job and another hunt would lift his spirits. "Thank you Tiana. I will take something to Rue, once I get some water I wouldn't mind another hunt! With more participants we are likely to get a well-fitting meal for the pack." Nodding in satisfaction of his plan, he picked up the grouse he had and carried it further into camp. Shockingly, Rue was sitting at the empty hunt pile, though she seemed solemn.

"My Alpha," he greeted after setting the grouse down, bowing his head low with a brief wag of his tail. "Tiana, Starchaser, and I went on a hunt and I figured you would like some sustenance after not feeling well." He nudged the bird slightly closer to her with his nose, smiling all the while. "We will likely go on another hunt here soon to get some larger prey as well, that was we have enough for everyone. But I wanted to make sure you had something in your stomach, as it would help you feel better."

Dances-in-Fire || He / Him || Rapid Evening Pack
Riparian Woodland - Rapid Evening Pack Territory - Scout’s Outlook

A soft smile appears on the scout’s lips when Bianca falls firmly on the side of taking them in, and Dances-in-Fire makes no move to indicate that it was anything but her decision. If anything, he seems grateful that she’s come on board too. He does his best not to make his expression seen, staring off towards the flooded valley for a good bit before taking a deep breath, pushing back up to his legs, and making his way towards the dens.

Riparian Woodland - Rapid Evening Pack Territory - Leader’s Den

The path to the dens wound past a swollen riverbank, through muddy patches of rain-soaked earth and through a cluster of tall reeds that swayed as the wolves rustled through them, but eventually Dances and Bianca are able to bring the new pups into the unfamiliar dens. “Coming with guests!” Dances calls out, for the last thing they needed was for the unfamiliar scents to alarm any wolves. A stray huntre and then makes his way outside of Druid’s den.

At the entrance, the scout makes an almost exaggerated play bow, wiry limbs stretching out before him. “Pack leader Druid,” he says, loud enough to announce his presence. “Yours truly has news to report. Two young wolves of another pack were washed down river, and have arrived hungry and cold at the edges of our territory.”

“Bianca and I would like to petition you for their shelter, wise pack leader. Left to the elements without training, they shall certainly perish.” He does his best to remain formal at the last bit, but the note of pain in his voice makes it clear - he’s always had a soft spot for refugees.

“We have brought them to you that you might speak with them and pass your wise judgment, Pack Leader.”

---

Smoulder || He / Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Den - Healer’s Den

At the mention of the pack’s tendencies to get sick and injured, the old wolf gives a good-hearted chuckle, curling into place and closing his eyes. “I do it for the love of the work,” he says, yawning again involuntarily. The sleep was creeping into his old bones, and he looked over at his kin from the floor fondly. “Fare thee well.”

With that, he curled up in his corner of the den, face turned from the entrance and the already breaking twilight. There was no rest for the virtuous, and as he curled up, he found himself pawing at the air in front of him, as he tended to do when he’d been snuggling up against Scarlet.

His paws find empty air.

Smoulder lets a deep breath out from his hefty lungs and curls up a bit tighter. One day, my love, he thinks. But not for many moons yet.

Curled up, he falls asleep to the sound of songbirds waking.

---

Starchaser || He / Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Territory

The white wolf’s tail begins to wag a bit at the notion of going out again right away. By all rights he should need rest, but- well, either way, he earnestly nods. “You can rely on me, my Lead. I’m ready for another hunt as soon as the team is.”

He takes the second grouse into his mouth, and makes to follow Baron to the food pile, but pauses as he catches the whiff of it again. Earthy, masculine, with a note of stone to it, the sweetness subdued under thick winter fur. It was his own scent, but in his nose, it felt like the scent of a dangerous stranger.

He hated that scent.

Shaking his head, Starchaser gathers himself and takes hasty steps to catch up with Baron, who has presently greeted Alpha Rue. He sets his own grouse down where the pile goes, behind the offered grouse, and then sits up straight, at attention, not adding anything verbally, but letting Baron do the talking for them.

Druid (and Bianca) - Riparian Woodland

Hearing the call from outside the dens, Druid's ear pricks. So, the scout was back - her other scout, as she's taken to considering him. She rouses herself to her feet, gives a quick shake, and then emerges, meeting Dances-in-Fire at the entrance.

"Spare me the sycophantic posturing," she dryly admonishes him. "So, you found some orphaned pups, did you? I suppose that's hardly surprising, given the intensity of the storm last night. Every pack in the area must be encountering sodden refugees. And you and Bianca have already grown attached, is that it?" Here Druid shoots a glance at the young hunter, who balks slightly but does her best to return her leader's gaze with dignity and due respect.

She turns back to Dances, an idea slowly forming in her mind. "Very well. We have not had a litter here in some time, and so there are fewer mouths than we could be feeding, and fewer pups leaves our dear Pythia rather bored." To those familiar enough with her to spot it, a hint of affection could be heard in Druid's voice when she mentions the pack's matriarch of a pupsitter, and her left ear twitched as it often did when she was amused. "Bianca, take them to the nursery. Dances, you will come with me."

The tone of her voice makes it clear she considered the matter of Blood and Bone settled, and that there would be no inquiry into what she wanted Dances for. Bianca glances at Druid, and then back at Dances, a burning curiosity in her eyes, but she obediently turns to the four younger wolves in her wake. "You heard the pack leader. Follow me, this way. Yes, Jackdaw and Badger, you too!" She pauses before her pack leader and gives her a deep nod of respect, before turning to herd her charges towards another part of the dens.

Druid surveys Dances for a moment, as though sizing him up for a fight, and then says, "Dances, I am due for a meeting with a neighboring pack leader this evening. I would like you to accompany me as my escort. I am not asking for your muscle nor your diplomatic behavior, else I would choose someone else. What I am asking is for your shrewdness and observational skills. And your discretion. Think you can manage that?"