Whispers of Scarborough

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Silence lingered for some time, uninterrupted by wolves on either side. Curiously, the smallest of the three who remained turned to look upon the old grey finisher in silence. Perhaps there was an unspoken question lingering in the air with the way Mekani tilted his head aside, yet he knew better than to interrupt just now. Chatter could wait until more important matters were settled, although it would be a lie to say he hadn't felt tense watching the two Packleaders interact. Amaranth was clearly ruling over a pack several times their size! It was quite unnerving, with only three of them standing before so many to try and gain some semblance of justice for a downed friend. Could they even fend them off if the worst was to come? It was hard to say and truly, he wasn't sure how the other two looked as calm as they did.

That calm disappeared most visibly with the sound of Packleader Amaranth's announcement! Mekani lifted his head in a hurry, with ears that shot up like those of a rabbit. That was... that was positive! Wasn't it? Maybe it didn't matter too much that he failed to look stoic in the moment when his leader stood beside him with a wagging tail! Maybe, just maybe, she was a bit more excitable and doggish than one might glean at a glance.

"You'll have my thanks," Neith said. Her tone became warmer in a hurry, although her head still lowered before Amaranth anew. With the most obvious tensions melting away, she eased her own facial muscles into what was most certainly a smile. "I was hoping we'd find friendly neighbours but I didn't think we'd stumble upon some so soon," she sighed. Not so friendly towards Javier, certainly but... well, one thing at a time. He'd be well-guarded now, perhaps that would allow them to warm up to him, too. Was it too much to hope for to be surrounded by packs that weren't hostile? Really, they'd been fairly isolated upon the mountains... right up until they were not.

"... You're too easygoing," Kuma chided firmly but quietly. His dissatisfaction was easily made evident through the copper eyes trained on Rosehip, yet that was where it stopped. There was no lunge, no bark, no snarl--just a stiff jaw and a disapproving glare from an old-timer who positioned himself between Javier and the Scarborough pack. If one could chance to see around him, then perhaps they'd notice the hound glancing back in surprise-- and summarily being urged onward by the nudge of a herbalist's snout.

"We should be happy everything's been solved peacefully," Mekani quietly spoke from the side, with little mind paid for how Rosehip bristled at the old wolf. The runt too looked merry just now, although he couldn't help but find himself observing Packleader Amaranth when he glanced back at her anew. "... You seem familiar from somewhere," he said with a gently twitching nose. Well, a rogue was bound to run into various packs before finding one to settle in, weren't they?

"You've met?" Neith asked with a few blinks.

"I'm not sure," the lead hunter admitted sheepishly.

She tilted her head aside at that, then glanced back at Amaranth with a look of curiosity. With a pack this size, they were probably here for generations, weren't they? Perhaps he'd seen her siblings or cousins? Ah, but she oughtn't be focusing on that now so she opted to answer the Packleader instead. "Regrettably. We had a densite by the summit," she turned her nose in the direction of the mountains, "I'm told that's why others began calling us whispers, the howls don't make it all the way down." Just enough to be haunting, rendered incoherent by the raging winds.

"... You've heard Kuma mention he came from Sablja, yes? They're a massive pack--more souls than I can count--focused on expanding." She huffed, then glanced back at the old hunter anew. A grumpy, if principled male. "They've been targeting other packs and stealing their territory for years now. We were safe from their reach because they didn't want to brave the weather to find us but the mountains can't feed that many," she said. Naturally, she felt guilty for not being able to do more for her pack but ultimately, weren't there limits to what one wolf could achieve against so many? That was, at least, the thought she tried to comfort herself with. "I didn't want to lose my packmates squabbling over land and scraps of meat. If that makes us seem cowardly," she flicked her tail sideways in what may well serve as a shrug.

"No, it makes sense. I've gathered your pack was large just from your hunting party, a vote seems like the most amicable way to settle it in that case. Every pack functions differently... We don't stick to formalities much, there's few enough of us to know our place without it." No use to such things for them, was it? A few wolves of higher rank, a handful of hunters, a pupsitter, and an abundance of pups-- and a hound, still learning how he fit among them, acting as their sole scout. Would the added formalities not just distance what was effectively a large family?

"Oh, thank you. We're fine on those!" Mekani interjected in an effort to reassure, "if you believe it, one of us was blessed by the spirits, he could make herbs grow even in the frozen peaks!"

Neith found herself nodding in a hurry, "Indeed. Toben's been very helpful. If you run out for any reason, please send someone to find us. We will offer our assistance."

Whispers Den

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: New Densite of the Whispers



Whim, to his credit, seemed undeterred by the abundant energy of the little ones. Although he'd grown in body, a patient and playful nature never quite seemed beaten out of him in the two years he'd lived. He was a social beastie all too happy to wrestle with the little ones, to run circles around them or try and steal the latest item they'd chosen as a toy, be it a stick, bone or pinecone. Little things kept them occupied quite easily! Alas, an adolescent needed more reassurance than that and so Vidra found herself glancing anxiously between him and Gemini.

"... And there's a lot of them," Whim continued on where the veteran left off. He rubbed his cheek gently against the youth's shoulder, an effort to nuzzle and soothe. "Have you seen how big Neith and Kuma are? They'll be fine," he laughed.

"Right," sniffed Vidra, only to flinch when she felt her tail pulled on by a pup. An invitation to play was accepted quite readily, up until a young huntress came shooting through the woods like an arrow. Alas, Javier and Lurk still had some distance to cross before they might make themselves visible to the rest of them.

"There's--" Omega coughed, then cleared her throat to catch her breath. "There's a lot of them! Like a lot! It looks like they're still talking!" A breath, a wheeze-- she'd settle in a moment, surely. "I don't know if anyone else is hurt," she paused, then lowered her voice somewhat, "I... I don't know what's happening, Neith was bowing back there and more wolves kept coming!" she announced. It was hard for her to make her way any closer with a pelt almost as white as Lurk's,  she was no scout! Sneaking around wasn't normally what she did-- but some information was better than none, wasn't it?

Javier, on other hand, may well be found seated in the shade. The otherwise pale fur at his neck would have taken up a rusty brown at the tips, with a more reddish hue closer to a still bleeding wound. He was not dying by any measure but it would be a lie to call him unharmed, and a tumble that didn't necessarily injure still managed to aggravate existing problems to the point where retreat could not be swift. He needed rest. More than anything, he needed rest-- which is perhaps why the white-furred wolf was not urging him to move faster just now.

"Explain to me," Lurk chided, "what exactly were you thinking running back there?"

The hound huffed tiredly, "I figured they were from Sablja," the scout answered.

"And you'd take... five, six of them on, by yourself?" That was a raised paw, yet not one that came to comfort and reassure. It was used instead to smack the hound upside the head. "No one benefits by having you die out in the wood! If you run into trouble, run back to the hunters so they can support you. We moved back here to make sure we'd not lose anyone, that includes you. Don't go scaring everyone half to death!"

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Ah," the hunter smiled kindly at the foreign Packleader, "I may be remembering wrong. I travelled some before meeting my love but I also took a tumble." Something that brought amusement to him now, no matter how much he and Neith struggled while they were alone. He didn't envy her, looking after a downed stranger alone could not have been easy. Nevertheless, she aided him-- and he was here today because of it. The faces of those who chased him were ultimately still a blur.

Neith, however, took the opportunity to tease. "Are you saying you stuck along with me because you hit your head?" she asked, though raised her head now that a more comfortable mood was in the air.

"It was a happy accident!" Mekani insisted with a laugh of his own. With the tensions eased, he was rather shameless in settling by his packleader and nuzzling into the fur upon her neck. Lead hunter he may be but he was an affectionate thing too,  almost laughably so-- why yes, that tail was placed against one of Kuma's legs with intent, thank you! Far be it from him to leave someone unattended.

"Mmhm," came a mock grumble from Neith, who turned her attention back to Amaranth with a nod-- and a brief bow pointed towards the Packleader's mate by way of greeting. "You've grown an impressive pack in that case, I had thought you were here for far longer. Mekani and I did the same." She craned her head towards the old wolf briefly, to offer him a cheery expression. "Kuma was the second to join us. I can swear he's kinder than he lets on." A statement that brought a huff from the same.

"I cannot say we had any such goals in mind, there's just a good number of us with an open mind. As for pups..." Neith trailed off, with a brief glance back at her mate. She drew a long breath, as if weighing her words, then glanced back at Amaranth anew. "One of ours was born with fur as red as summer blossoms. It's too early to tell if that's where it'll end but it is a sight to see," she announced. A pointed problem likewise, in keeping predators at bay-- thankfully, Whim seemed far more dedicated to the role of a pupsitter than the one who endangered Kuma's pups.

"The one who can conjure herbs is Toben. I'll ask you forgive me if I keep him at bay for a bit longer, I'd like to make sure Javier's tended to." Yes, Lurk kept a good handle on the herbs but... better safe than sorry, wasn't it? "If you will still want to meet him after that, I would be happy to introduce him. Ah... but Neith is fine." She offered a rather merry wag of her tail. "Not even my pack calls me leader, it feels awkward to the ear. I'll be glad if you think of us as friends, we came here aiming to settle peacefully."

Whispers Den

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: New Densite of the Whispers



"Yes!" Omega confirmed with obvious alarm. Packleaders didn't bow! Not unless they were defeated or humiliated somehow, what other reason could there be? It was worrying, especially for a young wolf inexperienced with worldly things-- but credit where it was due, she got quite close unnoticed for one not trained to do so!

"There was a group near Neith and at least five of them off to the side," she confirmed with a swift nod of her head. "I can stay here! I think Katja's still patrolling too, they'll be safe!" the young huntress promised. She felt confident! Toben was... around, somewhere. Looking for herbs, probably-- and Whim was busy with pups, and Vidra was around to help evacuate them if the worst happened... they'd manage somehow. At least they had fair warning this time!

Further away, Javier was still peering at the herbalist from underneath a light grey paw. He bristled and slanted his ears in a firm display of annoyance, yet made no effort to interrupt the seemingly endless stream of chiding. Beyond the frustration, it was... touching, in its own way. That so many reacted on his behalf-- that struck something intimate he'd not known was within him, contesting sharply with the feelings of abandonment he may well have lingered on yesterday. How did a hound cope with being abandoned by his humans? His family? His pack? Evidently, by making a new one to nag at him without end.

"My ears will melt before we get there," he huffed quietly.

"They'll match what's between them," Lurk said, yet stepped away at last. "We should continue if you're-- shh," he lifted his head up at the sound of footsteps nearing them, with a slender form tensing visibly where he sat. A moment seemed like an eternity before he saw the Second approaching from a distance.

"Gemini!" Javier was the first to voice a greeting,  though Lurk echoed it all the same. The white male, thankfully, looked unhurt. what blood was around his muzzle was undoubtedly from treating their scout... who must have looked significantly worse, in truth. Little enough could be done about the way pale fur stained with blood, least of all when he made the wound worse by trying to rip himself away from Rosehip's teeth.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Almost the opposite of what you went through then, Amaranth," commented Basil, finally stepping to the front. While not as slight as Mekani, Basil certainly wasn't as strong as Amaranth either. He had a weight to his eyes that suggested he'd seen more than he let on even at only a few years of age, like his soul was burdened with more than it ought to be. He smiled to the couple. "Huntmaster Basil, at your sevice. I'm glad we could end things amicably."

Amaranth, however, remained paused. Something the two had said had caught her attention, and she leaned in, worried. "Red as summer blossoms... there's been many strange things going on." She paused, and glanced to Basil. "Should we tell them about Fire Eyes, hon?"

Basil nosed her back. "Up to you, dear. You seem to be getting along quite well."

The larger wolf nods her head shakily, then lowers it a bit. "... our Dreamwalker Holly dragged in something from the Lunar Realms the other day. A pup with vividly red eyes and strange white markings. She said she just found the pup... wandering the dreamlands. Unattended." Her brow frets. "A pup without any parents she could find... of course she took it in. But it behaves most oddly."

"... We're wondering whether it's actually a wolf," Basil lowered his voice, so that only the four of them could hear. "Or if it is a true wolf, then perhaps also one touched by the spirits. We have two dreamwalkers, we do spiritual rites, but we've never seen-" he pauses. "Never seen anything like this. I'm wondering if your scarlet pup might be related to our crimson-eyed one. Do you think his parents... abandoned him into the dream realm? Or that he somehow wandered there?" His brows were furrowed. "Any other pack that knows what's going on is greatly appreciated... frankly, we're stumped."

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers Densite

"Javier!" Gemini rushes forwards, greeting the dog and healer alike with a wagging tail. It had taken her a good year to get more used to wearing her feelings on her sleeve like that, and her willingness to show affection now spoke to how she'd changed under Whispers. "I'm glad to see you in one piece, though that wound looks unpleasant. Good job getting him separated from the hostiles, Lurk."

Her eyes, silvery, turned to scan the area behind them. Seeing nor smelling strangers - save for the unfamiliar scents clinging to Javier now - she turned to him. "Javier. What's the situation back there? Is Neith in danger?" Then, she adds, quietly, looking at him cautiously, "And which pack are we dealing with?" 



From the worried way she asked the question, it's clear that there's one or two names on a list in her mind, and either one of them would be very much what she's hoping not to hear, but worried that she will.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Mekani was comparatively a rather small thing; neither tall nor wide in his body as his mate. He was a hunter, of course, there was a degree of muscle to be found on him, it just did nothing to remove the impression that a stronger gust of wind might see him blown acres away. Fortunately, he seemed fairly safe just now, completely unbothered with the way the wind played with his thick fur as he offered a lick to his lover's jaw. "We had a swell meeting," he announced, "and it's good to meet you all too. I'm Mekani, the Lead Hunter," he added, perhaps just for Basil's benefit. Who knew if the male overheard otherwise?

"It's a pleasure," Neith agreed with a slow nod of her head.  She listened patiently as the other Packleader explained the situation, although her ears dipped slightly. That was a pointed glance exchanged with her own mate as if to weigh in whether or not she should speak further on the matter. Some of that, at least, bore correcting.

"Ours wasn't found. The one we speak of Mekani's blood and mine," she quietly said, tilting her head sideways for a moment. "I had a very small litter. The first pup was not unusual but the second was a little larger and a very vivid red..." She turned to look at her mate then, to nose briefly at his cheek in an effort to bring attention to him. Mekani was a reddish-brown, certainly, but not the colour of blossoms! "Her eyes are a bright orange too, it really is a sight. I suppose the event may be related but I do not think the pups are-- I'd have noticed one missing," she said with a humourless smile. The entire pack noticed one missing, really... but what could be done about it now? Kuma's little one wouldn't return if she dwelt on it now.

"I don't know about spirits," Kuma spoke with a flick of his ear, "but when I was in Sablja, one of the packs we conquered had an odd pup in its den. It had horns and fins," he huffed. Not... quite proud of his past, no. That he'd grown a moral code with age hadn't really undone the trouble he caused, had it? "Then there's Lurk, who found Toben... Either of them might have more information for you," he sighed. Spirits, ancestors, divines-- it was all beyond him,  though he sought to be respectful regardless.

"Are... Are we just letting this go?" Rosehip found herself whispering off to the side. She looked at her hunting team with disbelief and a tail that still hadn't quite lowered properly. "What if the manbringer brings harm to the pups? I don't like this."

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers Densite

"I'll be in pieces if you leave me alone with this one," the hound joked. He offered Gemini a small wag of his tail in kind, then slowly began rising back to his paws. Another whine-- he couldn't quite help the condition of his hips, though he did regain his composure soon enough. "I'm alright," he insisted in an effort to calm.

"... I about wet myself," Lurk admitted with an uneasy laugh.  He lowered his head, then drew a long breath before looking back. "I wasn't sure what I'd do if they wanted a fight, I was never in one!" Arguments, squabbles, those didn't count. How on Earth was he supposed to know how to take down a wolf properly, let alone a hunting team? The mere thought gave him chills that manifested in a visible shiver.

Javier shook his head at the other male, then regretted the same soon after he felt that sting on his neck. No, no. Maybe don't do that! "I don't think so." He turned to face Gemini with a set of sheepishly lowered ears. "I think... it got resolved? I heard them agreeing but Neith insisted we go. I guess we'd be dead weight if things went South. I'm not sure about the pack though..."

"Scarborough," Lurk offered, "they said the pack is Scarborough and it looks like they're new here themselves,  I don't remember another pack being here." It was why he had suggested they settle in this area! It was calm and isolated after all! "I think the most danger now is Kuma losing his temper, the others didn't look aggressive."

The Meeting
Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.
Location: Scarborough Pack Territory

Packleader Amaranth listened to the strange pack talk about their strange newborn, though her eyes did linger a bit on Kuma as he admitted to having been in Sablja. Once they were done, she nodded her head enthusiastically. "The young one hasn't shown any strange abilities yet, have they?" she asked. "And they're growing up strong and healthy?"

To Amaranth's right, the finisher Thistledown bristled her grey coat a bit. "Did you say Sablja?" she asked. "Bastards were the reason my first pack had to relocate- three times! They consume without end, growing more and more. They're humans in wolf pelts! They're insatiable!" The expression was metaphorical, but one might forgive less experienced wolves for not understanding such.

"I've heard of them too," said Amaranth, her ears flattening. "They're not the ones who drove you here, are they? If Sablja is on its way, then all the packs in the neighborhood need to hear of it!"

Then, turning to Kuma more directly, Thistledown nodded. "I'm glad you schlepped yourself out of that hellhole," she said. "Fuck Sablja! May the mange rot into their bones and fate grind all their ambitions to dust!"

Team Spring

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



On hearing Rosehip's concern, Golden Sunset, one of Team Spring's chasers, nodded her reluctant agreement and crept closer. "I really hope the leadership knows what they're doing," she agreed, voice lowered as she watched the leaders speak. "There's a lot of things we'll accept in Scarborough but a dog? I want nothing to do with this honestly."

"Come on you two!" Golden Sunset's brother, the dusty-pelted chaser Trailblazer, shook his head. "If he's a scout, he's a scout. I've heard of wolves using ravens before - how is this any different? Just cuz he's basically a small wolf?" He looked to Rosehip with golden eyes. "Really just cuz your mom's the strongest doesn't mean you don't have to use your brain too!"

"Trailblazer, that's too far," chastised the stalker Stalwart. He was a slight thing with lots of fur - in a larger litter he might have been called a runt. Like his father Basil, he had that look about his eyes that suggested he was much older than he was, though now those weary eyes were set firmly on Mekani, and showed an uncharacteristic spark of interest. "Did I catch something about him being huntmaster...?"

Thorn flashed his teeth in amusement, glancing over to Rosehip. Eyes half-lidded, he spoke with a smooth cadence. "Rosehip," he said, "if a human sneaks in and eats your bones while you're asleep, I call dibs on your sleeping spot."

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers Densite

The report put Gemini at ease. She hadn't heard of any Scarborough pack either, but knowing it wasn't either of the two who'd given them problems already made things easier. Turning to Lurk, she put a paw on the slight wolf's shoulder, her own strong and firm. "And yet you came to the rescue anyways," she said. "I'm proud of you, Lurk. You're not just a good healer, you also have a good soul."

She let her eyes linger on him, then nosed the healer affectionately before turning to Javier with a nod and letting go of the slighter wolf. "Thank you for the update. I'll be joining Neith to see this new pack for myself. You should get patched up and get some rest." A gentle smile to the hunting dog. "Oh, and inform Omega and Whim about the situation? Omega didn't get a good look and she's very worried, and the pupsitters are completely in the dark. We can begin to relax a little, from the sounds of it."

She sniffed at the earth, and caught Neith's scent. "Alright, I'm going to meet this mystery pack. I'll see the both of you soon. Hopefully this turmoil can end and we can get settled a bit." A soft smile, and she departed, making her way through the sea of ferns and towards a clearing in the distance.

Gemini crept up carefully, just in case things had turned south, but from their tones, they were definitely getting along now - though the trace of Javier's blood didn't escape her nose. Neith and Mekani, Kuma... there were two she-wolves and a male, those must have been-

Her heart froze in her chest. She stared at Thistledown, and suddenly all rational thought left her mind. No, no, fuck! Slowly, she lowered to the ground, grateful she was downwind, and began to back away...

Once she was certain she was far enough away, her stalk broke into a bolt! Fern leaves slapped her as she rocketed back to the base, cursing under her breath. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"

Nothing to do for it. She set herself in the leader's den, heart racing in her chest. A feeling clawed at the inside of her throat, and it came out as a pitiful creen. Of all the wolves in the wide world, why'd she have to run into her again?

The Meeting
Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.
Location: Scarborough Pack Territory

Neith looked distracted for but a moment with the brief lick Mekani delivered to her snout, yet she let her eyes linger on Amaranth when she leant closer to the male. "No. It may be a matter of age or perhaps her coat will be the only difference... but so far she's shown no signs of anything else," the Packleader explained as she coiled her tail lovingly around her mate, "she doesn't seem to be ailing although our herbalists are keeping an eye on the litter." It was a matter where any notable changes may be already too late to resolve, wasn't it? The young were frail, it was worth it to be a bit paranoid sometimes... especially since a pup had been lost already.

Kuma flicked his own ears upwards at the mention of Sablja. He stiffened where he sat, then turned to face Thistledown. "Yes," he confirmed. It probably should not have caught him off guard to meet someone who'd been hurt by a pack so large and yet he found himself short of words all of a sudden. He woke up with time to see the atrocities the pack was committing, although he held doubt that forgiveness was a thing he could ask or expect of anyone involved in the carnage he wrought.

Neith, thankfully, seemed to have caught on. "We were not followed," she sought to assure Amaranth with a swift nod of her head, "having Kuma around meant we had an idea of how the pack would proceed and our Herbalist, Lurk, is well travelled. The two of them helped us get to safety without drawing their attention." All the same, she looked back towards the mountains with a solemn expression. The peak may not have been their home for long but wasn't it nice while it lasted? It felt wrong, in some way, to leave behind those they'd buried up there.

"... They will still come," Kuma asserted. He sat himself down, then glanced back at Thistledown with a reluctant lowering of his head. "I don't know which pack was yours but you should know better than anyone that they won't be satisfied. Wither's never going to stop, he'll bring them here and they'll come in greater numbers than they've had before. If you have allies among the other packs, you should send someone to warn them before it's too late."

Team Spring

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Why is nobody asking about the puppyharness?" Rosehip whispered with disbelief. She leant closer to Golden Sunset,  using a marble nose to prod at the female's shoulder. "There's something off about this," she flinched, then looked back at Thistledown with alarm. Did she hear that right? "Humans?" she whispered to no one in particular, only to find her attention taken by Trailblazer.

"Quiet, you!" she huffed at him accusingly. "Can't you hear them? They just said Sablja are humans," she hissed her hunting team, "and the big ugly one's from Sablja! And they have a dog! With a puppyharness!" She bristled in a hurry-- not that she'd seen a human before but the tales she heard of them were monstrous! Why wouldn't they be able to change shape? They could shoot thunder out of sticks! "They just admitted more from Sablja were coming here!" Since when did not know a thing about the pack matter? Clearly, others did-- and they were humans!

She looked at her huntmates one by another, puzzled by their acceptance of the manbringer. This seemed like a much bigger deal than any of them were giving it credit for! So much that she may have snapped at Stalwart without meaning to. "Yes, a real prize! Huntmaster to a human and a hound!" she announced, only to flinch when she saw a set of orange eyes glancing back at her. Damn it-- had the large grey one heard her? She had no time to ponder before Thorn distracted her.

"If humans get here you won't have any spot to sleep in!" Rosehip snapped her teeth at him.

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers Densite

"... My job is to keep you all alive and healthy," the healer sheepishly replied. Nevertheless, he did seem to straighten a little under Gemini's eye. Settled by her company, he offered her a slow nod of his head before looking back towards the scout anew. "Of course, that means I need you all not to run towards danger either," he chided. There were many things one could expect to see from the arctic wolf but a telling-off was certainly inescapable.

"I get it," Javier grumbled in reply. He stood slowly in order to approach the two wolves, small as he may be compared to them. At five he was roughly the same age as lurk, though he may have seemed a touch younger by looks alone-- hounds did have a tendency to live longer... when they weren't tied and abandoned in the mountains, at least. "... I'm sorry," he snorted, then turned to look back at Gemini anew.

"Sure. Thank you." The hound lowered his head respectfully,  although his ears may have done the same at the mention of Whim. That was a... tricky relationship, truly. He was not blind to the pupsitter's attention, although the difference in age and species did make him hesitate. Was it not an unkindness to devote himself to someone younger and steal away their chance at happiness with someone closer in age? Javier could be forward with many things but he did find himself lacking the knowledge of how to handle this situation tactfully. "I'll let them know," he promised, "but still be careful out there." Of what, he wasn't sure, but one scare was enough for the day, wasn't it?

"Safe travels," Lurk said with a calm bow, a set of words echoed soon by the hound. Before long, the pale wolf gently nosed the hound's side to encourage him to move. They had a pack to return to, odd a pair as they may have been as they walked. Javier was massive for a hound but that still meant little when he stood next to a wolf,  he was dwarfed easily and easy to pick out at a distance as no wolf carried it's tail curled upon it's back like he. Lurk was a narrow thing in comparison, yet one with longer teeth than may be found on his packmates. Perfect for getting herbs, he claimed-- though his smaller packmate wasn't quite as keen to believe it as the pups had been.

The Meeting
Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.
Location: Scarborough Pack Territory

"Then Sablja did drive you here." Amaranth's voice hardened, and she stood up straighter. She turned around to Riko. "Thistledown, dear," she said, firmly. "I need you to-" she paused, and corrected herself. "Could you have Goldenrod and Sage sent out to the Pack of Fallen Leaves and Pack Harrowing? Send word that Sablja's been seen to the west, displaced one pack, expect more and get ready for the horde at our borders!" She turned to the strange pack. "I know these aren't the best of circumstances considering we just attacked your scout, but if they're that close we can't take it lightly. Weasel bestow his blessings of vitality and joy upon you. May you be clever and strong." Her paw padded at the ground anxiously, and then she turned around.

Thistledown nodded, but then hesitated. She glanced to Kuma. "... thank you," she said. "For warning us. I could have once more lost my children to them." Then, a shadow over her face, she snarled. "At least this time I'll be ready to rip out their fucking throats before they harm so much as a hair on my kids!" Then, turning to Riko, she added. "I'm going to get the cavalry, honey. Pack Harrowing can come, it'll be a big cheerful bloody family reunion! Won't that be great?" A morbid grin with a good deal of anger behind it. "Always wanted to murder the hordes of hell with my bondmate's brothers!"

With a flick of her tail, she set off back towards the heart of Scarborough Pack, leaving Amaranth without guard detail.

"Basil," Amaranth said. "Team Spring needs to be brought up to speed on wolf-to-wolf combat."

"I couldn't agree more," the long-furred wolf agreed grimly. The weight in his voice was a drag down on Amaranth's soul, and with his next words, she was reminded of what that command meant. "I must admit though, I feel uncomfortable teaching my own son how to murder."

Amaranth's fur stood on end, and she stole a glance to Stalwart. She'd gotten so used to thinking of the hunting teams in terms of their utility that it took her a moment to remember that her own son was in one of them. It took her a moment to process that he was, in fact, old enough to go to war, and her ears flattened. "It's not just him, either," she added quietly. "All of them really. Every single one of them except for Thorn is the kid of at least one of our founders."

Turning back to Whispers, Basil added, "I know it may seem like we're having a strong reaction," he said. "But we've made a point of not waging war with any packs that haven't gone completely to the feral side in this region. If there's a chance that Sablja comes-" and at this, he made eye contact with Kuma. "I would like to ensure that our teams are ready to meet their jaws. Best case scenario, we cause everyone a little stress and the horde moves on. Worst case..." his eyes flick to Neith. He left the worst case unsaid.

Team Spring

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Look, I'm worried too, but what on earth can we do about it?" Sunset asked in a hushed voice. "The leadership has made their decision!"

Stalwart sighed, his eyes closing. "You guys," he said. "Sablja isn't humans, humans don't disguise themselves as wolves! Just listen to yourselves." He pawed at the ground.

"He's right, you know," said Thorn with a shit-eating grin. "They disguise themselves as prey. Crawl into your gut like tapeworms and-"

"Thorn do you take anything seriously?!" Stalwart insisted, instantly seeming almost as old as his father looked. "Weasel above! Lay off it for like five minutes!"

Thorn looked at his claws in amusement. Sunset furrowed her brow and nosed Rosehip. "We should talk to your dad," she said. "He knows his stuff. And my mom's pack is the one who got attacked, she'll be able to tell them why this is stupid!"

Trailblazer for his part hadn't spoken. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, looking at the strange wolf pack, but also past them. "... what do you suppose they saw, out there in the high mountains?" His eyes darted to the others. There was a longing there, something that went unspoken, but clung to every syllable of his voice. "Can they see past the horizon?"

Sunset dropped her head and lowered her voice so that only Rosehip could hear. "Ugh. Brother's being weird again."

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers Densite

"Okay, so it's like this," Gemini said. The old war wound in her side hurt from the hole she'd been wearing into the ground with her pacing paws. Again, she rehearsed. "You know that I was an important wolf, back during my regrettable days in Sablja. I'm not proud of it-" she winced. "No, too much preamble maybe? Or do I need to ease into it..."

She paced back and forth in the leader's den, and she looked up, fearful she might see the Scarborough wolves approaching. Then she sat down and faked a voice. "Oh hello Neith. Yeah that pack you just made peace with? Well I know one of the wolves there! Funny story, I was-" she scoffs and turns her back to the entrance, pacing. "No, no, no! Too casual! Stars above I didn't know she was still around! We conquered her pack what is she doing here?!" She froze. "Is she a spy? No. No, that's not really their style." Her brow furrowed. She paced again. "It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay." She paused, thinking back to the angry she-wolf, and winced. "It's not going to be okay," she hissed.

She turned, looking at the silhouette of her body cast against the back wall. Her contours were too blocky, she was too... square. It was an uncomfortable, aggressive build, at least in her mind. Seeing it cast against stone, she could practically see the blood dripping from the shadow's jowls, and though her shadow was black, she swore if she could open the silhouette's mouth she'd see nothing but jagged teeth and blood.

"... I don't know how to say it to you," she said to her shadow. "... I really don't."

The Meeting
Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.
Location: Scarborough Pack Territory

"We've already lost a huntress and a pup before their arrival, I had no intention of losing anyone else," Neith replied with a slight lowering of her head. She caught herself, it seemed, and slowly straightened back up. No. No... it would not do to dwell on lost souls just now, not with consideration for the current situation. Sighing, she turned to look at Packleader Amaranth with what she hoped was a levelled voice. "Circumstances are rarely ever good, knowing how to work around it is important. I'm thankful we could resolve this amicably." Less so other matters but well... weren't solutions that didn't necessitate bloodshed better? Revenge for Javier would not have bought him safety, of that she was sure.

Kuma turned to look at Thistledown with a distant gaze and a set of ears that flattened uncomfortably. He pointed his nose firmly to the side, all too aware that he may well have been among the hordes of terror had he made a different choice not too long ago. Regretting his actions now would not undo the wrongs he'd done but neither did it make finding his tongue an easy matter. "They're scum," he said, "but they're persistent. If your pack means to stay here, now's the time to gather any allied packs you can." It was a different matter for the Whispers, a tiny pack by any measure, one that had not even been named until the word of them spread to the flatlands. They did not have the numbers needed to oppose a pack of Sablja's size, not in any measure-- but the Scarborough seemed larger, even if he was uncertain of it's real size.

"We'll offer whatever aid we can," Neith nodded firmly to Packleader Amaranth.

"Love," Mekani hummed, "I think it would be good to have Toben start preparing herbs in advance," he sheepishly said. The prospect of war was never a fun one nor did they intend to linger but... well, was it not best to be prepared if it truly aimed to chase them down the mountains? To other packs perhaps this was familiar grounds but to the Whispers? This was new! New, and foreign, for all but a handful of their members. How many among them could even claim they'd fought a wolf? Not many, surely, though the few that had carried more experience than one may expect.

"... I'll ask Lurk to speak with him," Neith confirmed with a slow nod of her head. She was one of the few members of the pack who carried obvious signs of battle, from scars to a damaged eye that while not blind, was not as helpful as it ought to be either. There was Kuma, of course,  with Gemini and Katja-- perhaps Javier, yet not unaccompanied by boomsticks. A small pack like theirs did not have much in the way of warriors to spare, even their Lead Hunter was more likely to avoid fighting when such was possible. Mekani was not a violent soul by nature; he'd have preferred to turn tail than sink his teeth into another were he alone... Of course, that no longer mattered.

"No," the Packleader of the Whispers turned to face Basil with a small shake of her head. She flicked her tail towards Kuma, perhaps just to draw attention towards the male. "Several among our pack are from Sablja, I'm well acquainted with the terrors that pack poses. We learned of their conquest and bloodshed through Kuma, it was why we never made the mistake of reaching out to try and settle things peacefully with them. Unaided, I'd have probably condemned my pack in doing so already," she huffed. Feeling frustrated, she dug her claws into the dirt beneath them. "It must look to you like we're taking all this easy but that isn't the case. We're not organizing because there's too few of us to even do so. We're a small pack. Javier led you away from our grounds because we have but one pupsitter there-- we'd see our young slaughtered had he led wolves from Sablja to them. We're well aware of our size."

Kuma, on other hand, sighed. "None of you should get tangled up in this unless you're ready to die--and watch your packmates do the same--doing it," he said.

Team Spring

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"It's a stupid decision!" Rosehip protested in a hushed whisper. She felt a  chill creep up her spine at the mere thought-- how many wolves would have been killed for their pelts to be donned by humans? For a pack so large to form? It was a thing of nightmares!

"Oh, yeah?" She looked at Stalwart with a tail stiffened in indignation. "How would you know? Have you met them?" She lifted a paw to jab at his chest accusingly. "I'm not going to sit on my ears just because it makes you feel safer! We have evidence. They just brought a puppyhound to us! A harnessed one! I bet he's leading Sablja to us!"

She folded her ears back as Thorn spoke up, yet her growl died in her throat at Stalwart's words. Huffing instead, she pointed her nose towards the clouds... for all that her tail still fell between her legs. Puffing her chest out surely masked fear, yes? "None of you are taking this seriously," she quietly protested-- then blinked, and turned her attention to Trailblazer.

No, no. Resist, she chided herself, biting him wouldn't help. "I don't know. Whatever puppydogs like seeing, I guess," she grumbled.

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers densite.

Javier and Lurk had their work cut out for them; they had news to bring, injuries to mend, and hearts to calm. A pack as small as this one may not need many to hear the news but it still needed much reassurance. Whim, of course, was the first to stand when he spotted them from a distance, yet he found himself occupied trying to keep the pups from rushing ahead to greet them. "... Oh, no!" he announced in a tone of mock fright, the same he'd used when one of the youngsters tripped over their tail and began whining. "They had a whoopsie," he spoke with a cheery grin, "let's let them rest first, hmm?"

"Whim..." Vidra anxiously spoke from a short distance away. She stepped towards the pupsitter with a horrified expression, only to wipe away the same when he nuzzled into her side. The grown male leant enough of his weight upon her to make her stumble sideways, but more importantly, to break her line of sight from the bloodied hound.

"He just needs to be looked at," he assured her, brushing a tongue against a black forehead as if it might soothe her.

"It's not serious," Lurk insisted with a look of delight. He was fond of pups, truly-- far more so than one might guess at a glance. Little Vidra was no exception to that rule just because she arrived here as an adolescent!

"I'm--" Javier tried and failed to break the sound barrier that came in the shape of a white huntress.

"Oh my goodness you're back!" Omega exclaimed, having bolted towards them from a distance to find herself skidding to a halt in front of them. "Are you alright? Where's Neith? What pack is that? There was a lot of them!" she said.

Lurk bristled at her approach and swiftly found himself lashing out to offer her nose a gentle nip. "You're scaring the pups," he chided, "they're just talking. Gemini went to see them too. Now, Javier needs some rest," he huffed, "he's been running all day."

Of course, there were more than youngsters worried just now, and for a change, more than shadows there for Gemini to speak with. Katja was still on patrol when the Second came rushing through-- she thought the female chased but no, that didn't seem to be the case. Absent of any danger that might need to be fended off, the huntress quietly, sheepishly made her way towards the den to peer inside it.

"Gemini?" the chaser called to her gently, "what happened? Is there word from Neith?"

The Meeting
Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.
Location: Scarborough Pack Territory

Amaranth turned to face Kuma now. The she-wolf walked towards the older male and passed him over with her eyes, appraisingly, before nodding. "I've heard the tales. Even our pack alone would not stand a chance against the pack with more souls than all the ravens of the world could count." She leans in and smiles furtively. "But we're not alone. Pack Harrowing is an accomplished pack with deep roots in the prairies, and the Pack of Fallen Leaves are some of the stealthiest, most slippery wolves I've ever seen."

She squares up her shoulders and stands taller. "I don't long to see death," she says. "I saw enough of it in my home pack. But Sablja picks us off one by one because it's larger than any of us alone. The only way to push the horde back - another direction, away from here - is to present an obstacle they cannot overcome. One pack they can conquer. But two? Five? Ten packs, standing shoulder to shoulder?" Her eyes darted to the side, catching Neith's. "So what I would propose is this: We get together a leadership council. Local packs and more distant allies. And we decide together whether we present a defensive front - or fall back." She pauses. "However, it's not my place to make decisions for your pack. If you wish to keep moving - my wolves will be under instruction to let you cut through our territory to put some more distance between you and them. I sympathize with a desire to not fight."

Her gaze lingers. "... but do please consider it. You're capable of more than you think." Her brow furrows. "But I think Kuma and Thistledown are right. Sablja is insatiable, and I would not rule out that they're on their way."

Team Spring

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"I can't believe the snake said we're compatible." This was Stalwart, who'd put a paw to his face. "Humans aren't shapeshifters! Spirits protect me. I'll die by my third year listening to this."

"Well, there's not a fight happening," says Thorn with a shrug, "so I'm gonna go hang out with Nettlebriar." Rosehip's littermate, a pupsitter with a sense of humor that was - infuriatingly - similar to Thorn's. The brown wolf turned heel and then paused, looking back at Rosehip. "You could really stand to loosen up a little," he said gently. "We all die in the end dear. Nothing's forever! Don't take it so seriously, yeah?"

Thorn let out a frustrated huff and started making his way back. Stalwart glanced over. Trailblazer was still staring out in the direction the other wolves had gone. Stalwart glanced to the two girls and let out a slow breath. "I'll be at the lake," he said, turning to leave as well. "Team dismissed for the evening, less Basil says otherwise."

"I'm taking it seriously," Sunset protested meekly. If she were shrunk any lower she'd practically disappear into the grass.

Whispers Outskirts

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Just outside the Whispers densite.

Katja's voice made Gemini freeze. Not for any harshness on her part - Gemini knew the huntress to not be very confrontational - but for its unexpectedness. She sat there, one paw raised, swearing she could taste the rot of wolf blood on her tongue - she shook her head and turned to face the huntress. "... the pack is not Sablja," she says. "They seem to be getting along, which - thank the stars, a hostile neighbor is the last thing we need -" she lowered her head. "But I recognize one of the wolves, and I suspect it best I laid low. I must speak with Neith, in private."

She paused, and then seeing that the vagueness wasn't sufficient, added, "... it's from before I knew who I was."

She sighed and laid down in the dirt, looking up at Katja. The gesture had always made her feel... weak, vulnerable. Not holding her own and projecting strength had been seen as weakness in her old position. The ability to do it sincerely and wear her heart on her pelt was like an ointment on her soul, and so she laid back, making herself vulnerable. "... she was a finisher for a pack we fought several times before we... before Sablja conquered them. She must have left after Sablja's first fight with them, before they had the pack pinned against the cliffs."

"The thing is this, Katja," she said softly, looking up, her voice low, smoky, sad. "... I recognize that old huntress who was playing bodyguard. And I know that if she finds me here," her ears pin back, "there's going to be blood."