Greyfeather Pack Lore

Early Spring, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

My elder sister Miki came home with a large batch of ticks after a hunt recently. She insists she's alright and even continues to hunt with the team but it's clear to me, and probably everyone else, that she's incredibly uncomfortable. We'll try to help her as best we can--ticks are pesky things and we've never had to deal with them this thick before. Kamakshi thinks the pups might be able to help, since their teeth and muzzles are still just a little smaller than the rest of ours.

I will make the long journey to the Artisan's Hollow to talk to Tikuri, the region's healer, and find out what herbs we need to help Miki and where to find them in case the pack's efforts are not enough. The pups will be grown by the time I return but I know the whole pack will continue to do what they can in my absence.

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• Miki returned from a hunt today with symptoms of a new illness.

• 0 of 1 large hunts
• 4 of 4 medium hunts
• 4 of 5 small hunts
• 0 of 0 critter hunts

Mid-Spring, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

Our efforts have not healed Miki-lorka yet, but we will continue to try. I'm a little embarrassed to say that the pups have made a bit of a game out of it . . . The day will not come soon enough when they can start hunting on their own. My sister-in-law, for her part, seems to enjoy the attention and she certainly laughs as though their game is appropriate for the situation. Perhaps I'm only annoyed that Ákiljöf will be gone when the pups graduate to hunters. It is not too serious a condition so we'll simply continue to do our best. At least when Ákiljöf returns he'll be bringing knowledge of a new cure back with him.

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• Ákiljöf is traveling to the Artisan's Hollow today to seek a cure for Miki's ticks.

• 0 of 0 large hunts
• 4 of 5 medium hunts
• 1 of 1 small hunts
• 0 of 0 critter hunts

High Spring, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

Today's biggest news is that the pups have graduated into full-fledged hunters. We have decided to give them their own team since the five of them have already spent so much time learning together. All of them are trying to act calm and collected about it, but I can tell how excited they are. They have volunteered to be the first to hunt at every opportunity and I expect them to be exhausted before too long. Fortunately they're young, and they can take it.

Myrkur tells me this is the first time in pack history that the coming-of-age of a new litter has not resulted in older siblings being forced out. Ákiljöf never told me that . . . It was my idea that the pups should have their own team--it only made sense to me that we would allow our pack to grow. Perhaps his love for his siblings was why he didn't argue. I believe we are more than capable as a family of supporting each other, though; I have no worries about our pack doubling in size!

Miki'lorka still has not recovered from her tick infestation. The pups have been so excited about hunting on their own they've neglected assisting her recently. But of course their eagerness to hunt has given her a chance to rest and she seems none the worse for wear besides the expected itching and discomfort. Her tension, which I previously assumed was due to the ticks, seems to have abated. I think she expected to be cast out with the pups' ceremony today, even at her age and in her condition. I can't imagine. Had I known the pack's history I might have told them sooner . . . In any case, we continue to work to help her, slowly but surely, and we expect Ákiljöf back soon with knowledge for a cure, if not the cure itself.

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• Ákiljöf is away seeking a cure for Miki's ticks.
• Kaveri, Indu, Khushi, Darshan and Reva became adults today!
• Kaveri, Indu, Khushi, Darshan and Reva are now level 2!
• Kaveri, Indu, Khushi, Darshan and Reva are now level 3!
• Ákveðni and Signý are now level 16!

• 0 of 0 large hunts
• 3 of 5 medium hunts
• 3  of 4 small hunts
• 5 of 8 critter hunts

Late Spring, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• Ákiljöf is away seeking a cure for Miki's ticks.
• Kamakshi is now level 19!
• Sága is now level 16!
• Indu, Reva, Darshan, Khushi and Kaveri are now level 4!

• 1 of 1 large hunts
• 0 of 0 medium hunts
• 2 of 3 small hunts
• 5 of 6 critter hunts

End of Spring, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

I made it back safely from my trip to the Artisan's Hollow and was able to acquire a cure for my older sister. I very nearly ended up short an ingredient, something I later learned I passed by on my way to the Artisan's Hollow in fact, but the wise old bear there had some of the ingredient preserved she was willing to allow me to trade for.

Tikuri passed on just a few months ago--I didn't quite realize how long it had been since my father brought me there and introduced me to the wolves that lived in that strange place. I didn't know her well, but the sense of emptiness her absence left behind was palpable. Her apprentice, Myrica, now the region's new herbalist, is still young but was clearly taught well. Her knowledge very nearly matches what I remember of Tikuri's talent--she only lacks a bit of experience but of course only time can give her that. She knew exactly what we needed for Miki, helped me look for the herbs, helped me barter with the bear when I came up short, and even helped mix the cure and showed me how to do so myself so we might save ourselves the trip back to the hollow should we ever be set upon by ticks again.

The other faces I remember are growing quite old as well. Styrkur was still there, though obviously at the end of his years. His daughter, Lata, has taken up patrolling the area while Styrkur himself seems to spend most of his time resting. Were I not so focused on my task, it might have been nice to lie down and chat with him a while--I'm sure he's seen a great many things during his time. Iðunn is also growing old. She told me she was searching for an apprentice to pass on her knowledge to. I expect the Artisan's Hollow will look very different the next time I visit.

I also return to see my pups grown. It is strange to be a father already with pups grown enough to hunt on their own. They clearly love it, though I haven't seen them bring back anything substantial yet . . . all in good time. They rejoice in every small critter they find and I can see the experience is broadening their knowledge quickly. Their enthusiasm is giving Miki and Myrkur a much deserved rest though I'm not certain that my litter mates appreciate the down time quite as much.

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• Ákiljöf returned with a cure for Miki.
• Indu, Reva, Darshan, Khushi and Kaveri are now level 5!
• Miki'lorka and Myrkur are now level 20!

• 1 of 1 large hunts
• 3 of 3 medium hunts
• 1 of 5 small hunts
• 4 of 6 critter hunts

• Tick Remedy: x1 Garlic, x1 Cedar Bark, x1 Tobacco

The veil separating our world from the Lunar Dreamlands grows thin . . .

Start of Summer, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

The sun had not risen yet but the sky was lightening, promising the early dawn of summer. The air was cool as Kamakshi came awake; the scents of their current rendezvous and her pack mates rose slowly and comfortingly into her awareness. Though summer had just begun, it never got too warm here and she was hesitant to stir from her warm place next to Ákiljöf. He was breathing steadily, still curled in a dark ball, eyes closed peacefully against the day. The pale highlights of his fur seemed almost to glow against his jet black coat in the dim light.

Kamakshi yawned, her lips and ears pulling back as she squeezed her eyes shut and gulped the chill air, pulling her further toward consciousness. With the smallest movements she lifted her hips and rested down on her other side, her belly favoring toward her mate now and making him easier to reach with her muzzle. She licked under his ear, meaning to rouse him gently awake, but he did not stir. Only then did it occur to her that it was strange she was awake before he was. He had made no hard journey recently, nor suffered any difficult battles. Ákiljöf was always the type to rise with the sun–often ahead of it.

Her ears folded sideways and she smiled slightly, meaning to tease him for this slip and win some groggy affection from him while he was too sleepy to resist. She pushed her pale muzzle into the thick fur at his neck and gave him a quick but firm nudge to wake him. Before she could measure his response, however, a strange scent filled her nose–it was an incomprehensible mixture of dust and ice and mold. This was not Ákiljöf's scent, but it was familiar.

The Dreamlands he had once called them; called so before him by his father, Grárfax, who had established the pack and first experienced the strange place. A place visited only by an alpha, of Grárfax's bloodline it seemed so far, and only in dreams. A place filled with familiar but strange creatures and places–a mirror land infested by the light of the moon. It existed, it seemed, only in dreams, but it was real enough to leave strange objects behind in their world and to leave scars on the dreamer.

Kamakshi pulled her muzzle away, snorting out the scent in displeasure as she swung her head away from Ákiljöf and out toward the western sky. There, lingering behind the line of thick pines still just tall shadows in the dim morning light she could just make out the moon peaking between the trees. She never would have noticed if she didn't know to look for it–when the dreamlands were close the moon seemed to hover perpetually in the sky.

Ákiljöf stirred beside her and Kamakshi let out a small surprised whine, whipping her head back around to nuzzle her mate again, disregarding the smell now. He unfolded himself a little, pressing his front legs out in front of him in a half-hearted stretch even as Kamakshi threatened to roll him on his side with her persistent nuzzles.

"You're up early," he yawned, his tail beginning a lazy wag of greeting across the ground.

"You're up late," she countered as she lifted her head again to look at him.

Kamakshi sneezed despite herself and Ákiljöf folded his ears back in surprise. His gaze shifted away from her and his nose twitched subtly, picking up that strange scent as well. The memory of his dreams drifted slowly back to him.

"Ah," he said slowly, "I think it's . . ." His words faded as he turned his eyes toward the western sky.

Kamakshi watched him seeking out the moon just as she had. "It is," she confirmed quietly. "Please be careful."

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• The Lunar Dreamlands are close once again.
• Kaveri, Reva, Darshan, Indu and Khushi are now level 6!

• 0 of 1 large hunts
• 2 of 5 medium hunts
• 0 of 4 small hunts
• 3 of 6 critter hunts

1. Tick Remedy: Garlic, Cedar Bark & Tobacco

The veil separating our world from the Lunar Dreamlands grows thin . . .

Early Summer, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

Current Greyfeather Pack Members:

• The Lunar Dreamlands are close once again.

• 0 of 0 large hunts
• 0 of 1 medium hunts
• 1 of 4 small hunts
• 5 of 6 critter hunts

1. Tick Remedy: Garlic, Cedar Bark & Tobacco

The veil separating our world from the Lunar Dreamlands grows thin . . .

Mid-Summer, Year 9

Year 2 of Ákiljöf's Reign

Current Greyfeather Pack Members

• The Lunar Dreamlands are close once again.
• Khushi, Indu, Reva, Darshan and Kaveri are now level 7!

• 0 of 0 large hunts
• 1 of 1 medium hunts
• 3 of 6 small hunts
• 3 of 4 critter hunts

1. Tick Remedy: Garlic, Cedar Bark & Tobacco