Today, she told herself, she would get up and do something. She had responsibilities to fulfill and duties to the tribe that she had to complete, especially if she wanted to maintain her ranks as a dove and cardinal. She had to set a good example for Lorcan, after all. What kind of sister and caregiver would she be if she scolded him for being lazy when she spent so many of her days hidden away in her room? A poor sister, that was for sure. Regardless of how she felt, she did everything for her brother. Especially forcing herself to get up and do things, even if her mind and body pleaded her not to.

Though she was the stubborn sort, their pleads falling ignored as she forced herself to her feet the moment she saw sunlight filter through the crack in the wall of her room. She had things to do. Tallies to take, lessons to instruct, herbs to cultivate. She groomed herself, preening her long, green feathers. Then, putting in her amethyst earrings and gold bangles, she sighed as she gazed at the doorway. She didn't want to leave; she was tired and felt like sleeping more. But she had to. Casting a glance at the snake pit, she sighed once again before she grabbed her bag and set off into the world.

She stopped by her personal gardens, eyeing the various herbs and poisonous plants as she checked her stores and reviewed her stock. Everything seemed to be in order, albeit some of her live plants had died in her negligence. She had dug them up, tossing them away before she set off into the territory of Syn Cardys to fetch fresh stalks to start the shoots of new plants. That, and she had to keep a close eye on wild populations.

Departing from the pyramid, the cardinal walked quietly through the forest. She spotted little signs of life--little trinkets and things--and smiled weakly. Plum was still alright. She didn't know what she would do to herself if the fluffy child succumbed to the wilds. Even if the child hated her, though she could accept that. She accepted a lot of things, regardless of if she wanted to or not. Shaking her head, the feathered female let her nose guide her, picking apart the scents of the world in search of specific ones that belonged to herbs she was trying to find.

Eventually, the green Aviari found her prize. Eyes the color of blooming orchids fell on bright amber berries, a smile curling onto her mint features. She stood on her hind paws, putting her front right paw on the trunk of the tree as she reached out her free one toward the vine from which the berries hung. She hooked her paw around them, pulling them toward her until she could catch the vine in her teeth and tug gently. Eventually, the berries were freed with a soft snap. Naerileen dropped back down to all fours, placing the berries on the ground as the cardinal nodded at their condition and mumbled for a moment, eventually reaching forward to put them in her bag.

It wasn’t right.


Not a single thing had been right since he had arrived and a fit of mistrust and self blame was making him wonder if he should stay. The Nardir wolves – his people, he corrected, in his head; he was one of them, now – were quick to get to know one another. There wasn’t much about the geography or the local religion he couldn’t fish a name up from his quick introductory-memory to go ask for more information. He still didn’t quite understand everything.


But, they had magic. And, he’d always been told magic was filled with intention. Was his bitterness polluting the locality, clashing with the locals to create some sort of strife? He hoped not, so he could blame them; he hoped not, so he wouldn’t once again be putting Moyra in danger.


Speaking of which, the skinny brindle male was making his way back from checking Outpost Lake, going along Blackstripe’s Pass. He is a member of the Guild of the Eagle, certainly, but with everything going on, while he’s making routine passes to try to find scarcer and scarcer food that isn’t suspect for how safe it is to eat, he can’t help but check on others. He wouldn’t be any good to protect anyone, he thinks, not with how weak he is, but…. he’s fast. He’s loud. He could get help.


He can always get someone actually useful.


But, regardless, as he walks through Blackstripe’s Pass with a maw full of unfortunate button buck – winter means thick snow and little greenery for a hungry deer; all Doran really had to do was stalk the poor thing until it trembled with exhaustion, and then the deer was his to share with his new… pack? Family… - dragging partially behind him due to his less than noteworthy height. All the same, he spots Moyra.


His first impulse is to avoid her. Take the buck back to The Castle a different way; everyone would like to eat, he’s sure, and he’s not going to deny them their meal even if his weird anxiety concerning his once-friend makes him want to drop the deer and bolt. After a brief second of freezing, he drops the cervine’s neck and speaks.


“You want a bite?”


It’s an old, familiar question. He used to ask it when he chased down hares or got clever enough to steal a fox’s cache. When he ate, she ate; she had been his best friend, and he would have denied her nothing. But, the tone is wholly different. He speaks it questioningly, like he’s not sure she’d bother eating with him at all.


He almost hopes she doesn’t, just so he has proof that the little grudge he’s been nursing has been justified.

ooc did i listen to delta heavy's "white flag" on repeat for this? perhaps.

Nolerium sighed as he trudged across the grass, his head lowered and his ears flattened. The wind was blowing harshly into his face, his eyes were shut tightly to prevent any dust from harming them. He slowly made his way into a slightly dense forest, the tall, thick trees kept most of the wind out, making it a safe and comfortable place to stay while he rode out the oncoming rainstorm. He made a temporary nest out of soft and young leaves, he settled himself down, his paws placed neatly in-front of him, and he lowered his large head down on his forepaws. He let out a tired yawn and started to close his eyes, but was quickly awoken when a deafening blast erupted from the sky and a blinding flash came after. He yelped and stood upright Its just thunder..its only thunder he sighed and laid back down as the freezing drops of water began to fall down on his pelt.

ooc

Jaws slathered as the beast held the rabbit in his jaws. He'd been traveling for a long time, which was apparent by the way his legs shook when he stood. He'd told her that he'd return, and finally, he did. Last time he'd been here, he hadn't breached the borders. She'd found him out here, but told him that they couldn't go any further. He hadn't been ready to settle down then, but perhaps he would be now. He didn't know. All he knew was that he wanted to see what the pack was all about, and maybe...maybe see her again. She had been kind to him.

No one had been kind to him in a long time.

Approaching the border, he dropped the rabbit in the grass, swallowing against the hunger that consumed his stomach. He hadn't eaten in a long time, only stopping in his relentless pursuit of the borders to grab the rabbit. But it wasn't for him. He'd always known how to charm others, and the key to someone else's heart was usually their stomachs...plus, it didn't hurt to bring an offering.

He shivered against the wind. Mavi had hoped he'd get to the pack before night fell, but he hadn't made it. There was very little he could do for that though. Sighing lightly, he fell to his haunches, long, thick tail wrapped around his forelegs. It did little to keep him warm as he sat, exposed. The parts of his body covered in the thick fur that marked him as part hellion were warm, but the rest of him shivered against the cold wind. Odd. It hadn't been windy before. Licking his nose, he wondered if he should howl. There was more than one way to make his presence known here, but not all of them would be welcome. Finally he threw his head up and let out a long, strong howl.

They'd come soon. And they'd find him.

The wind of midwinter bit into her fiery red pelt just as the sun sunk under the horizon. She bit her lip, shaking her head, she should have known...

Kyra blinked up at the darkening sky... she had been dozing, floating in the lake after her evening walk around it.

She wasn't going to make it back to the castle, she was floating too far away from the shore... She should have stayed close to her den. She should have known...

Her bi colored eyes were alight in a panic as she looked around for the closest shoreline, breathing through another wave of pain starting from her back and rippling into her thighs. Ahead of her she saw by the light of the rising moon the dotted dens in the clifface of the Castle... much too far away. Behind her though, an island had seemed to rise up from the gathering mists, offering her a respite, only a few strokes away.  It had trees, and fog, and rocky outcroppings. It spelled safety, away from prying eyes... privacy. There was no prepared den though, no soft landing place made just right.  

But Kyra could not wait. She swam the rest to the rocky shore.

She pulled herself out, heavy and soaked, shaking her fur to rid it of the dampness as much as possible, hissing through her teeth as a stronger contraction shook her body from the shaking and from feeling the sudden weight.

The full moon rose higher, larger than it usually was, and illuminated a path carved into the soil a short distance away leading into the mouth of a small cave. Step by gasping step she pulled herself onward into the strangely warm embrace of the rock. It felt very much like it was carved similarly to the dens and passageways of the castle, but it stank of fox.

She didn't care, it was warm and dry and just large enough. It was actually a perfect denning place. She grunted as she collapsed, her body shaking from the chill clinging to her wet fur and the pain of the rippling contractions forcing her body to push. She could barely get a breath in as she braced herself against the wall of the den and screamed as her body threw an epic tantrum she had never felt before.

The moon began to dim as it rose higher into the sky, a hint of red casting over the face of The Mother...

ooc !!!!