"Stop nagging me! I told you yesterday I was moving them today. I'm fine." Kyra glared at her father, as he made to protest once more that she should be resting still. It had been two full weeks of bed rest and caring for the little buggers, and being alone on this stupid island. Why in the black moons hell did she decide to sleep on the water that day?

She picked up Silverwing, trying to ignore the instant screeching from the infant and the sorrowful whines of Kalli at their separation. If she could pick them both up at once she would, but Kalli was just too big already and Silvi was just too tiny. She nodded for her father to pick up Kallistrate and she headed down out of the den and towards the water. She couldn't spend an iota of thought about the momentous day and what it would mean for everyone to finally see these babies because of the ear piercing squalling. She nearly ran to the little basket on the shoreline with her red ears plastered to her head.

She had asked her father to find a way to carry the babies over the water and he had known just the wolf to ask. He had commissioned Shimmah with the job of creating a basket that floated on the water to keep them dry. It would also keep them close together and less stressed on the trip. She didn't want them breathing in water while Silverwing screamed like the banshee she was. Her father was right on her tail knowing full well that they would stop once they were placed together again. Kalli was more of a whiner grumbly squall, while Silverwing was trying to break your eardrums. Hopefully the kid would grow out of it.

When they were finally placed together in the basket, Kali first, then Silverwing, the mother took a relieved sigh as they started to settle into each other and grumble their little greetings.

She watched them for a moment, it would be nice if she was the one who could comfort them instead of each other? Hopefully they can find a way to live without each other when they grew.

"Did you tell him I was moving them today?" She asked her father after a moment of taking a breather. He knew full well who she meant.

"No, he was sent on an errand. He will visit you when you're all settled in. He'll want to check in on his favorite patient, I'm sure." Hakan replied, a twinkle in his eye. Alex was on an important mission to gather cottonwood buds, dandelion flowers and stinging nettle. The stinging nettle would be a challenge for the boy, thus keeping him very busy.

Everyone else though was waiting on the shore, Hakan had told nearly everyone else that his grandbabies were finally going to be moved to the castle, though he wanted Kyra to rest longer. He would be grateful to have her closer to the castle as much as she would though. The daily swimming was a hassle on his own health and the isolation was probably more detrimental to her than less bed rest.

She huffed at his answer, refusing to look at him, instead looked up at the mid morning sun.
"Nothing to it then. Here we go." She looked down and saw the gathering crowd on the opposite shore and she was more than a little excited to see them all up close again.  

She pushed the basket ahead of her and waded into the water. She paddled along, feeling strong, leaving her father behind her as she pushed ahead.

It was starting to get harder and harder to push them ahead of her and swim at the same time. She had been out of practice with her training. Panting, she gave them one more big push with a short bark of "Help!" (they were fine, mumbled a little,) and she trusted someone to wade in and grab the basket to pull them in as she veered away to swim on her own and scramble onto shore. She panted and laid down. She was so going to be running every damn day after this to get her stamina back up! This was pathetic! How was she going to be Ursa Major while she could barely swim across the lake without getting winded!?!?

ooc: Open Season!! Come on in Packmates! Except Alex, you're still banned

       The darkness that surrounded the kingdom was something that the she-beast did not anticipate when she arrived. She was a regal sight to be behold with her golden collar and strong form. The rest of her belongings were stored away in a large bag tossed over her shoulder. Every muscle in her body was tensed and all of her senses were on alert. Who knew what could be hiding in these forests?

       A soldier was rarely at rest and never in unfamiliar, unknown territory.

       Her dark and dust form padded stopped at what appeared to be a moat and gazed off into the trees before her. She had seen much in her long life and her extensive military career but the mists of this land and the darkness within was new. How fitting was it for the soldier darkness had taken over to decide to try to call this place home?

       Morrigan remembered her platoon, a pang of regret mixed with anger as she recalled the events that led to her being here. But she had had enough of war with enemies that would keep coming until their life blood was gushing from their neck, from enemies that in retrospect, were no different from herself. She knew nothing but war with blessed moments of peace that seemed too short to be real.

       She wanted peace but every bone in her body was ever-prepared for war.

       The commander lifted her head and let out a howl, a deep dog-like howl.

occ: rusty af . Anyone is welcome to join !


Winter’s icy grasp waned as it fought with springtide. The skies remained clouded over but the ground and the wildlife that wished to sprout from it was recovering. Once frozen, then soaked again and again from melting snowfall, made for a slow restoration. However, this moment was promising. Even in the hush of night, the weather behaved. Even temperatures, soft winds, and unfrozen waters gave way. Basking in this comfort she long missed was Barracuda, toiling away by a river’s edge. 


A shadowy spot in the soil marked where a hollowed branch once sat. Now clamped between tough yellow teeth, the dead wood slowly made its way towards sounds of rushing water. Barracuda struggled with its weight. Winter had changed some aspects of her life as it did for all others. Time in between meals had grown since her trapping had become less successful. She could not remember the last time she got on her paws and hunted something tooth and nail. Now she was reluctant to do so but figured she could establish traps elsewhere in hopes of a better outcome. Her jaws let loose of the branch when she came to the shores and her one eye peered down at the flowing river that was alive with freshwater fish. Examining the course of the water, she searched for something more relaxed. Further down and cast aside was a pool of sorts. Something more stationary for fish. Sauntering down to this spot she eyed it down once more before beginning to dig. Close to the water’s edge her paws quickly worked away the earth to create a deep hole that she would use to capture her next meal. Next, she would smooth down the soil between her deep-seated trap and the pool to channel water into it. Retrieving her branch she placed it where it saddled the in-between. Calm water from the pool coursed through its hollow body and dribbled into the trap. She refined the earth around the branch. If something decided to poke its way in now there would be no way out. 


Barracuda tiredly put herself on her haunches to take a breather. Surrounding her was vast temperate plains with scattered pines. The grounds wished to be ripe with mosses and ferns but needed more time to flourish. It stretched far within the distance, halting where mountains arose. She was used gazing out onto waters that touched the horizon. She felt familiar with coastlines and not so much areas like this one. To say the least, she was homesick. Far from the lands she had been raised and had come to gain mastery over. Be that as it may, she felt winter had forced her to move. Life had given her a new hand. There was good that could come from this change.