Tears of the Moon (Semi-Lit Wolf Roleplay)

Dances-In-Fire || He/Him || Rapid Evening Pack
Riparian Woodland - Rapid Evening Territory

“Dances is fine,” the wolf responds smugly, looking at his soggy paw to inspect the nails. “And yes,” he agrees, almost too casually, turning to Bianca. “Yarrow is a very capable scout, isn’t she?” He punctuates the sentence with a whimsical sigh, looking off into the distance for a moment. If the insinuations about his love life have hit home, he certainly doesn’t show it.

As she suggests a course of action for him, he just chuckles and glances back to her. “Such hostility today Bianca! I’m hurt.” He puts a paw to his chest. “You wound me Bianca, you wound me with your words.” Then with an obliging sigh, he gets up to all fours. “But yes, I’m sorry Bone, but I have to agree with Bianca here. If the flood flushed you down here, then there could be others as well. Part of being the best scout in the world,” he smirks, “is giving the alpha the best information.”

Dances-in-Flames gives the girl a sad smile, and then begins to make his way back, though he pauses and swivels an ear. The wolf’s eyes stare intently into the distance, before he lowers a bit to the ground and hisses to Bianca, “Who is Jackdaw speaking to? I hear three voices, and one of them’s not from our pack.”

His hackles raise slightly, and he begins to move forward with a bit more intent. “With any luck it’s one of your packmates, Bone. But the woodlands are spooked today, and the flood might have driven the ferals to our territory. Stay sharp!”

Right as he says that, Badger-that-Bite’s voice crashes through the underbrush, and sheepishly, Dances-in-Fire rises to his feet. “Badger!” he calls out with a smile, and then with playful dismissiveness, adds, “Aww, you’d say rabid raccoon was friendly if it looked at you right!” A teasing smile, and he approaches. Quieter, he asks, “How are you and Jackdaw doing, hmm?”

Smoulder || He/Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Den, Way to the Herbalist’s Den

Smoulder’s scarred face smiles warmly at Rue’s self-assessment of her combat readiness. “As your many trips to the healer’s den can attest, yes. In such a short time, you’ve seen nature at its reddest. I know all-too-well that you are no stranger to the ways of fang and claw. You are young, but you’re blessed with the vitality and drive of the young.”

As Tiana shows up, he raises his head, nodding to his other kinswoman. “Noble Huntress,” he smiles, and the fondness in his voice suggests he really means it, even if he’s clearly in on the joke. “Happy hunting,” he echoes after Rue, and accompanies her on the way to the Healing Den.

With morning twilight beginning to break, the shadows of the trees in the deciduous forest throw a sharp contrast to the rim of light blue on the horizon. The stars are still out, and for a while, it’s just the two of them on the path. Once out of earshot, Smoulder lowers his head a bit, and adds, almost as an afterthought to what he’d said earlier, “One day they will see that you are a worthy heir, Rue. I am glad to know you have Tiana’s support. Know that you also have mine.”

Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Territory, Herbalist’s Den

The potporri of herbs and the scent of fresh nesting beds mask that this room has been the site of some of the greatest miracles - and the greatest tragedies - to befall Fire Opal Pack in its history. Smoulder kept the place immaculately clean, thoroughly convinced that bad air and the stink of disease carried with it unwellness. Charms on the walls had been set up to revere spirits of healing and vitality, and to drive off those of war, illness, and tragedy.

The older wolf leans in to grip the handle of a salve container in his teeth, approaching the young packleader. Gesturing for her with a paw to lay down, he leans in and raises a paw, pressing it into the pink substance. This, he begins to work over the wound. It has a floral scent to it, but also something sharp - it always stings a bit going in, but as Smoulder has said in the past, that is how you know it is good.

Once the paste was applied and beginning to set in, Smoulder sets the container back to its place and sits down next to her, giving Rue a reassuring smile. Normally, he would strike up conversation to give his patient something to focus on other than the burning until the treatment was complete - though this time, he has genuine questions of his own.

“… tell me more of these dreams,” he says softly. “I know you are capable, Rue, but the spirits can be unpredictable.” He pauses, glancing to the side. “… I had to help see off my own kin to the next world recently. Please don’t make me send off his daughter too.”

Starchaser || He/Him || Fire Opal Pack
Deciduous Forest - Fire Opal Pack Den, Way to the Herbalist’s Den

Starchaser watches Rue and Smoulder depart for the Herbalist’s den, and then gives a whimsical sigh. The young packleader… he felt like he’d barely gotten time to know the old one. At least she seemed to like him. (Then what was that dream about?)

He shakes his head and turns to look at Tiana, and all at once he’s on his feet again, approaching her. “Tiana,” he says, with a respectful bow of his head. “Sorry I’m up so early. I had another restless night, but nothing that will keep me from doing my duty!” He tilts his chin up a bit, smiling. “What’s the plan for today, boss? We going for small game? Big game? I won’t slow the huntresses down if we go for a big one, I swear - I have no intention to let the pack down!”

So earnest. Certainly a lot less shy than in day to day! He glances left and right, looking for the other members of their team but - it was only just twilight now. He realises he has no idea what to do with himself until they’re ready. Glancing back, he comments, “You know, those cuts looked pretty bad. You sure Pack Leader Rue is alright…?”

Bianca - Riparian Woodland:

"I'd rather be wounding you with something else," Bianca huffs, but lowers her hackles, pleasantly surprised that Dances had deferred to her. Maybe he wasn't that annoying, so long as one limited their exposure to him. She had only just begun to relax when suddenly Dances hisses to her about another wolf; in an instant she is stiff and alert again, mentally cursing that she'd allowed herself to be distracted.

Ah, but it's only Jackdaw and Badger. Bianca had almost forgotten about them. It's a good thing Dances was here, actually: Let that jester take on the pupsitting, while she handled the more important situation. Her tail swishes slightly, glad that things were actually going her way.

"Another stranger?" she lifts her head, trying to mimic the way she'd seen Druid commands others so effortlessly. "I'll take them along with Bone here, since it seems I'm on feral pup escort duty for the day. Dances-in-Fire, you ought to bring our feral pups back to the dens with you, before they cause more trouble."

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

Rue waved her tail fondly at Smoulder’s praise. She may out rank him in status, but she had never been one to wield her title against him. He had been treating her injuries from puphood after all. He was a trusted confidante, and a good friend. 

“Thank you,” she replied pleasantly. “I am trying to use my gifts more wisely.”

His other words, about her worthiness as heir, meant far more to her than she could say. She blushed warmly under the dark red of her fur. She wished to respond, but she didn’t want to worry Tiana and Starchaser. Particularly Tiana, who was facing similar hardships as leader of her hunting team. Cries of nepotism. How unfortunate. Still, her niece was strong, and so was she. They would prove themselves fit leaders soon enough. 

She followed Smoulder into the Healer’s den instead, instantly filled with nostalgia for the fragrant scene of herbs. She’d like to think she would have been a healer if not for the leadership, but she knows quite well that she would never be able to sit still if a battle came afoot. She settled patiently into a little nest of leaves and feathers as she waited to be treated. It’s never a fun experience, but she’ll take the sting of herbs over the itch of an infected wound any day. She sat as still as she can while he treated it. 

“Well… in my dreams, the forest is structured just the same. So that it is familiar, and yet somehow not. The plants grow in funny shapes, the animals fly when they shouldn’t, or sprout plants or strange frills, and everything glows a pale blue, or violet, or even pink! Last night I was hunting in my dreams… and I came across a glowing blue bear with pale eyes. It had no reason to attack me, but was determined to do so. We fought for a long while. It was too slow to finish me but it got my shoulder pretty good before I killed it. Aside from that… there was nothing of interest.”

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

Tiana gave a good natured chuckle at Starchaser’s profuse apologies. 

“There’s no need to apologize! If you should not be awake, then neither should I,” she told him in quiet amusement, keeping her voice low to account for all the sleeping wolves. “Still, we are many hours ahead of our hunting team, I’m afraid. So if you really think about it, they are the ones holding us back!” 

A quick glance at the sign revealed the slight tinge of dawn light in the sky. She was unsure of what she wanted to do for the moment. She had gotten up mostly to stretch her legs. She was not used to having company at this time of day. She shuffles her paws slightly before Starchaser’s words catch her ear.

“She did not look well, no,” Tiana admitted quietly. “Still, if she did not see fit to tell us what happened, then it is likely already being dealt with. We are hunters after all. We fight only when it is necessary. The scouts handle the rest.”

After all, who better to fight than the wolves sent out to explore harsh new environments, and unknown enemies? 

“What we should concern ourself with is breakfast! I think the pair of us could manage to find some small prey while we wait. Don’t you think? How is your stalking?” 

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

Blood didn’t recognize either of the names she mentioned but, considering how growly Jackdaw had been up until nice, it was pleasantly surprising to see her mood brighten so suddenly. He gave a good natured chuckle as he trotted after her. His nose wrinkled a bit, unable to adjust to the strong mingling of scents, but at least he could smell his packmate among them. 

“Thank you,” he murmured to Badger, blushing warmly at the introduction, even despite Dances teasing. Dances seemed a bit older than they were, so it was a relief that he didn’t seem particularly hostile either. He took the teasing in stride. The moment he saw Bone he rushed over and brushed noses with her* “Bone! You’re alright!” 

He waved his tail eagerly. 

“Jackdaw, Badger! This is my cousin Bone! Our fathers were brothers!”

Bone || Female || (Soon to be) Rapid Evening Pack || Riparian Woods

Bone had to admit to being a little disappointed that Dances is still going to report it, but at least the way he says so isn’t snooty or aggressive. There’s still a chance that she’ll be long gone before he comes back. She stays firmly out of the “playful” banter going on between Bianca and Dances, too worried it’ll turn into a real fight despite the age difference. 

Thankfully, she didn’t have to suffer their bickering long. Her ears perked and she raised her head at the familiar voice. “Blood?” She barely gets out before he bounds over and nuzzles her firmly. She furrows her brow. “Not in front of strangers, idiot!” she growled lowly, though not without its own strange affection. She drew back and shook herself off. “And yes, our fathers are brothers… Unfortunately.”

There was an awkward pause.

“Well, I have my cousin now. I guess we’ll be leaving now. Thanks for the help,” she said flatly, not that these two were much help. If anything, she would have found him sooner without them. But still, she’s glad they didn’t have to fight.

Jackdaw that Soars | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland 

Trudging her way after her two fellow adolescents, Jackdaw growled softly with frustration, tripping over a root and having to stumble forward to catch up. Following Badger into the little clearing that Dances, Bianca, and the second stranger were in, Jackdaw peeled back her lips with slight distaste. 

"Bianca, did you forget that you're... what, two moons older than us?" She snapped back at the wolf, her red coat bristling. "You always act so high and mighty when you're no more than a feral pup yourself!" 

Jackdaw hated being called a pup. She wasn't a pup! She was useful, and she was strong. She had defended Badger from a real  badger once - a big one. She was big and strong enough to be out there on her own! Way more capable than Bianca was, anyway. Definitely.

Badger that Bites | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland 

Trotting over to Dances-In-Flames, Badger bumped against him briefly, then stepped back to watch the cousins greet each other. Her tail swayed from side to side, until she heard Dances, making her fur stand up slightly.

"I don't know what you mean by that," she retorted, swallowing audibly. "We're fine, as always, obviously. Why wouldn't we be fine..? We're best friends..."

She glanced away, watching Jackdaw pick another fight. Oh, Jackdaw.  "Hey! Bianca- uhm, I'm sure she just means we need to get along, you know..? You aren't much older than us, but of course you can still teach us things," she remarked as she bounded over to Jackdaw's side, giving her a hard push with her rump. "Jackdaw, don't be so mean..!" She hissed under her breath, ears flat. "...I know she was mean- okay!! Okay!"

Dances-in-Fire || He / Him || Rapid Evening Pack
Riparian Woodland - Clearing

“Aww, young Badger, I didn’t mean anything by that,” Dances reassures her. “It was only, you know, the woodlands are overturned,” his expression turns to a grin. “Everything’s in delightful chaos, and you never know what sort of spooky critter could be out prowling because it lost a den.”

He plays up a spooky grin for the young woman, though when Bone announces her intent to leave, it derails his train of thought. The desert wolf lifts his head to glance back to her. He lingers, looking as though he has half a mind to declare it not his problem and make his way back to the leader’s den. Yet he lingers, and the expression in his eyes, for once, betrays more than he intends it to. There’s a look of genuine worry, just for a few seconds before it’s washed away, rinsed out under a mountain of bravado.

“Hey there, you two,” he says casually, all at once all cool and collected again. “Bone and Blood! Very inviting names, I bet your pack braids daisies and sends get-well bouquets to sick wolves. I can’t wait to meet your scouts Fangmurder and Pus!” He gives them a cheeky grin to show he’s joking, and then glances out to the woodlands. The water from the river has swollen dozens of feet past the riverbanks. Calling the Riparian a swamp was hardly inaccurate under conditions like this.

“… before you go, young ones,” he says, his tone sobering up. “… there’s something I believe you should see. An excellent lookout point, both Yarrow and I make use of it all the time.” His eyes waver, facing in the direction of the lookout, and mentally, he’s already plotting out a map. River Valley Pack, River Valley Pack… his paws set into motion. “Tell you what. Why don’t I show you two the spot. You can get your bearings, get sights on the pack territory… and well,” he smiles a bit. “Given your age, I suspect this is the first flood of this size you’ve seen. I’ve only seen a few myself.”

Dances-in-Fire doesn’t let on what he already believes he knows. He’s aware of all the nearby packs. River Valley… isn’t from around here. Not remotely, unless he’s been dreadfully out of date on his intelligence. These poor kids were further from home than they realized. They just… needed to come to that conclusion on their own.

“You point out your territory to me, and I can tell you the best way to get there,” he says encouragingly. “Right this way, come on.”

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

“These do look like bear marks,” Smoulder says, his vividly orange eyes settling on Rue. He lets out a slow breath, closing his eyes. “… what you are telling me, Rue, is that you are drawn into a world of dreams in the night, during which powerful and strange spirits attack you.” His ears flatten. “You do realize that that sounds a lot scarier for us than it does for you, yes?”

He glances to her flank, seeing that the treatment is taking well, then lays down beside her, mirroring her body language. He’d been on his paws for a long time today anyways. “Have they spoken to you at all? The spirits?”

… and then with a pause, he averts his eyes, and the question that’s been burning at the tip of his tongue finally slides out. “… and did you see her?”

Who her is isn’t a mystery to Rue. She was even old enough to remember Scarlet, if only a bit. The old wolf had never found another mate after her, and even now, the regret clings to his voice like sap weeping down a wounded tree.

“Surely, she must be out there…”

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

Well outside the hut, Starchaser stands before Tiana in the heart of Fire Opal’s territory. The wolf sits up straight, his violet eyes alight at the suggestion! “Tiana, yes ma’am!” he says excitedly, though he does match her lowered tone. “Stalker was my fallback option if there hadn’t been a chaser opening,” he admits with a chuckle. “I think the long legs make chaser a better match, though.”

It was still unclear why Starchaser had chosen Sunset Blaze when he’d been hand-picked with two other of the boys to be good enough for the - generally slightly more prestigious - Ring of Fire team. The number of vacancies this season had been unusual, and it would have been a prime opportunity for someone who otherwise took to hunting so eagerly. There were a few whispers suggesting that he was simply trying to cozy up to the leadership's bloodline, but that didn't track - for one, he'd never shown any interest. The truth is he was generally in two modes - either trying earnestly to prove himself to Tiana and the huntresses and hunters of Sunset Blaze, or trying to be quiet and inconspicuous.

“Let’s rustle up some grouse!” he adds with a conspiratorial grin, clearly in the former mode right now. He crouches low to the ground and begins to sniff - of course, this deep into the den territory, almost everything smelled like wolf. “Ready to begin the hunt at your command, Huntleader!”

Bianca - Riparian Woodland:

"Watch your mouth!" Bianca snaps, punctuating it with a real snap of her teeth towards Jackdaw - not a real bite, but the sort of warning display - angry at being undermined in front of a senior packmate, not to mention the two strangers. "Perhaps you are too young to remember who my mother was, but you'd do well to remember I have a lineage in this pack, and you are an orphan who has yet to prove yourself in any way."

Calming a bit as Badger mollifies her friend, Bianca swishes her tail and tries to regain some composure after her outburst. "You're lucky you have Badger," she remarks, "Or you'd really get yourself in trouble." She can't help a slight note of fondness from creeping into her voice. Badger always reminds her of Blackie - how he always tried to counsel her to be nicer, and try to smooth things over when she'd pick fights with other pups or intentionally irritate Pythia, back in their nursery days. Of course, she was never as much of an insubordinate brat as Jackdaw was...surely not.

Dances-in-Fire - intentionally or not, Bianca can never tell - further diffuses the situation with his obnoxious jokes. When he mentions visiting the lookout point, though, she pays more serious attention to his words. River Valley...something about that name had bothered Bianca, like an itch beneath her fur that wasn't quite irritating enough to scratch at yet. A valley after a flood...

"I also believe that's a good idea," Bianca announces, refusing to let her charge over the situation slip. "We hardly need you wandering off in a circle, and winding up back here again. Dances-in-Fire, lead us there."

She keeps her eagerness out of her voice, but the young hunter also rather curious to see the view from the scouts' lookout point. This was the first flood she'd ever witnessed, and she'd never seen such devastation wrought by such a familiar, friendly river.

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

“Yes, I understand how that would be troubling to you, Smoulder,” she concedes, though her pride could not help but bristle at the implication that she could not fend for herself. “And if I could change it, I most certainly would do so. But barring refusing to sleep, which I get very little of to begin with, mind you. I’m not sure what could be done. The best we can hope for is that I am not alone in having these strange dreams, which is precisely what the scout from earlier approached me about. It seems that their leader is having odd dreams about this Spirit realm as well. They would like to meet and discuss it on neutral ground.”

Well, truthfully, the meeting had been her own suggestion, but she can’t imagine that the leader of that pack sent a scout all the way to her territory to simply inquire about the existence of such realms. She pauses in her rambling at Smoulder’s quiet question. It is not the first time he has asked, and her tone softens quite a bit as she braces to give a disappointing reply.

“No, my friend, I am sorry. I’ve seen not hide nor hair of another wolf, at least not one already native to that realm,” she says, leaning forward to touch her nose to his shoulder. “But worry not… Those dreamlands are as vast as our waking ones… there is no reason to believe that she is not out there somewhere. I will not stop searching.”

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

Tiana gives a sharp bark of laughter at Starchaser’s eagerness. He was a born chaser alright! So much energy!  She herself was more of a finisher. Patient, thorough, and quite strong. These were the qualities that made her a good leader as well, provided the others would give her the chance to show them. 

“Please don’t call me Ma’am!” she playfully admonishes with a snap above his ears. “I am hardly older than you are! You may call me, Tia, or My Lead. But not Ma’am. Come on, the small prey is probably nearer the river this time of day! And since your stalking skills are more up to snuff, you will stalk and chase, and I will chase and finish! A two-wolf team.”

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

Blood was more than happy to stay out of whatever argument was going on amongst the other pups. He found it curious that despite all the harsh words exchanged, no one had been nipped yet. It spoke to the strength of their bond, he supposed, to tolerate all that teasing. Just as he was thinking that it would be a good idea to get Bone and Bianca away from each other, the adult wolf spoke up again. 

Blood was first baffled and overwhelmed by Dance’s fast talking and teasing, then he broke out in a laugh. “We DON’T have a Fangmurder or Pus. We do have a Fang though! He’s actually really cool, just quiet.” He paused at Bianca’s interjection, letting her take the stage as she seemed determined to. “It’s an excellent idea. We don’t want to get lost again. A few good landmarks along the way will definitely help with that! Won’t it, Bone?”

Bone || Female || (Soon to be) Rapid Evening Pack || Riparian Woods

“Sure,” Bone grumbled lowly. 

The size of this crowd was really getting to her. She loathed having rely on her cousin for anything, much less protection, but she found herself crouched and huddled against his side, fur bristling. She had been ready to bolt. She didn’t really like this stranger convincing them to waste their time like this. Walk in circles? All they had to do was pick a direction and keep walking until they got somewhere they could take a good look at the land. Still, it seemed the entire group had already agreed with Dances, so they would be going together.

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

"You heading off without me?"

Baron wore a teasing smile on his maw as he trotted up to Tiana and Starchaser, tail wagging slowly as he stood with the two. His ears were perked to standing, mostly pointed at their leader for her direction. "Don't let me miss out on a hunt on a day like this!" With it being such a nice day, he wasn't surprised that Tiana had chosen to hunt today. Not to mention with the tension floating around the pack, it would be a good way to stretch their legs and provide for the pack's needs. Lifting his head, he enjoyed the small breeze blowing through his darker fur, cream dustings around his eyes bringing out their brightness, the readiness for a chase and tackle. "Did I hear someone say grouse for the target? Can't say I'm against that, they'll be easier." Turkey would be even nicer, but he wasn't sure that it'd be any easier getting one of those. If it was a hunt, that was all he needed. The fresh air would do him some good, and the pack would appreciate it as well. Perhaps it would lift Rue's spirits to bring back new meat too... "But a two-wolf team? You insult me." His smile turned to a grin, making it obvious he meant no harm. "It'll be easier with three. What would you like me to do, miss Tiana?"

At the outcrop

Jackdaw That Soars | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland

Heading up the hill near the rear of the group, Jackdaw stuck close to Badger. Ashamed of how Bianca's comment had hit her, she resigned to sulking beside her best friend instead of snapping back, which was a positive change, at least.  She huffed and bumped her nose against Badger's shoulder, grunting. 

"She was really mean," she murmured. 

Jackdaw knew that she had deserved it, though. She had been rude to Bianca too, after all... but still! Bianca was annoying and she deserved to be put in her place, right?! Snapping her teeth and grumbling, Jackdaw suddenly sat down. "I hate this. I want to go back home."

Her chest felt twisted. It was almost like vines were curling around her, pulling her to the dirt and digging in their thorns. I want it to just be Badger and me. I don't like her having other friends. I don't like being away from what we knew. Everything was fine before. 

That wasn't true, and she knew it. This place should be home.. shouldn't it? Home. As if. She growled softly, glancing up at the group ahead, nearly at the hilltop.

Badger that Bites | Rapid Evening Pack | Riparian Woodland 

Badger comforted her close friend most of the day, so she was no stranger to the red wolf's patterns. Walking close to her to provide support, the grey wolf nudged her back, nuzzling between her ears to smooth down her fur. "I know she was mean, Jackdaw, but... you know that is what you get when you are rude to others, you know..."

Feeling sorry for her friend, Badger glanced up at the group, not wanting to fall behind. "Come on, let's catch up and see what's happened with the flood... you were excited to do that, weren't you..? We can help them! We don't have far to go... home isn't exactly far, Jackdaw..! We're still in our territory! Let's just look up on the hill and go back, okay..?"

She doesn't mean this home. Badger stared at her friend's bristling, sad form. She wants to go back to where we grew up. 

Inching closer to her, Badger rested her muzzle on top of Jackdaw's head. "We can't go back," she murmured. "We're happy here, Jackdaw... this place is better. As much as I wish things could go back to how they used to be..." They can't. How can I say that to her?

"...Come on. It's just a few more steps."

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

The scout smirks a bit as Bianca starts posturing herself as in charge. He doesn’t comment on it, instead fixing his eyes dead ahead. For all of Dance’s bluster and bravado, the wolf was also prone to moments of intense focus. His paws dance along the wet surface of a thin branch. He leaps tall rock faces with almost catlike grace. His footfalls, once out of the water and on elevated ground, become surprisingly quiet for an otherwise not-so-quiet wolf.

Soon enough, Dances has guided the group of young wolves to the point - a stone that jutted over the edge of a tall cliff. The outlook was good; It must be a 100 foot high, but Dances-in-Fire seems unphased at seeing the tops of the trees below them. He instead carries a worried look, eyes turning to the overcast skies as though pleading the spirits for good luck, before giving an apprehensive sigh and beginning to scan the horizon. A cool wind picks up and tousles his fur.

The muted light of the sun illuminates a section of Riparian wood that has been utterly destroyed. Driftwood floats down swollen rivers that have long since breached their banks. The sounds of animals in the woodland below them tell them that a fox mother is searching for her kits; a bear whose den had been flooded now paces at the water’s edge along the river. The floodwaters have even uprooted a few trees; many more tower strangely out of the water. A distant roll of thunder sounds, and with a heavy heart, Dances-in-Fire rests a paw on Blood’s shoulder, and gestures with his other one in the direction of a recessed valley.

It would be easy think at first that the wolf was pointing out a lake. Though muted through an oppressive layer of cloud cover, the light of the sun still shimmers against a body of water. Except… no. That was no lake - those were are the edges of the valley. It was recognizable by the weeping willow that hangs just so over the cliff’s edge, and the distinctive rock formation that looks kind of like a wolf’s face if you squinted and were perhaps a bit sleep-deprived. Dances-in-Fire lowers his paw. There was no doubt about it. The River Valley Pack’s territory - along with the entire river valley region - had become a flooded tomb. It was all eerily still now, far more peaceful than it should be, far more peaceful than it had any right to be after the force of the floodwaters that had stilled it.

As the punch is still settling in, Dances-in-Fire lowers his head sympathetically. “Chin up, pups. You’re still breathing. Some days, that’s really all the best you can hope for.”

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

The old wolf lets out a breath as his kin noses his shoulder. He noses Rue back affectionately, and puts on a weary smile. “I appreciate you keeping an eye out.” A faint sigh. “She was taken from us too soon…”

He sits there, lost in his own nostalgia for a while. It takes him a moment to recover from his visit to the past, but eventually, the old healer does shake his head, returning to reality. “… another pack leader with the dreams? Mmh. Old Ember Eyes - the herbalist I apprenticed under as a young pup, long before I came back to the old family pack,” he chuckles, “she used to say that the act of being a packleader is a sacred task. That it fulfilled a wolf’s purpose and nourished their soul, so long as they acted with wisdom. If any wolves are likely to find it easy to slip between this world and the beyond, well…”

His eyes turn to watch dawning twilight. He can feel the need to sleep weighing down his old bones. All in its time, however. First, he needed to make sure…

“… that should have set in by now,” Smoulder says with a smile to Rue. “I’ll flush the wounds with water, and afterwards, you should be free to maintain them with routine licking.”

Smoulder reached over to grab another clay vessel by its bite-handle, this one filled with clean rainwater.

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

“Yes, My Lead!” His paws knead the ground excitedly, and he wags a few times - but before he could get all too far, a familiar voice caused Starchaser to stop! It was Baron, one of the other males he’d grown up with. Though Starchaser hadn’t really gotten along well with the other two - who’d gone to the Ring of Fire - he’d found Baron reasonable enough.

“Top of the morning to you, Baron. I suppose our yammering woke you up,” Starchaser chuckles. “We were going to sneak in a cheeky hunt before the real hunts later today, as warm up. And I’m pretty sure,” he pauses, sniffing the ground again. “… that I smell grouse. This trail cuts real close to the den, that wasn’t smart of ‘em.” He grins.

His eyes glance over the still-slumbering dens, bathed in the light blue of morning twilight, and his eyes linger on one of the nesting dens. He’d always made a point of checking in with the nested wolves when he got back from hunt, acquiring fresh bedding materials if needed. It was really more of a caretaker’s job, but he really didn’t mind helping. Again, that one thought crosses his mind, the one that he’d always bitten his tongue about, and again, he pushes it to the side. No need to make things complicated. Today, they were just going to chill and hunt. Everything would be normal and fine.

Sniffing again, he glances up, and then nods to the east. “Quarry headed this way,” he says, gesturing with his head. “Unless you wanna rustle up something more ambitious, Tia.”