---

The sun had just barely been creeping over the edge of the wall when Bellona sauntered up to it, looking up at skulls she became acquainted with nearly on the daily. The lowlands had been a constant place of curiosities but also caution, a place Bellona found herself inching into quite often. Any nearby sentry might not be surprised to see the orange teen, who on the daily managed to wiggle her way through the choke point and down beyond the descending part of the territory. She wasn’t afraid, but she was curious. Something told her things were happening down there, interesting things, and the little warrior child never shied away from learning more about Gemini, more about Saboro….

She remembered what her grandmother had said that day about Saborans and Bellona was almost itching to find one, just to prove she could. Just to prove something. She was old enough now not to be on the overly watchful eye of her mother, knowing that her father had her back every day as long as the sun beat over head.

And so she wandered, for any and all to see.

---

The golden wolf woke peacefully from an afternoon nap. Jaws parted, tongue curling, ears laid back as she let out a wiiiiiiiiiiiide yawn, front legs stretched out, toes splayed. Yeeeeeah.... That was a good nap. Jaws closed with a light click of her teeth sky-blue gaze coming into focus, she hadn't even meant to doze off, she'd only been taking a break from wandering about under the shade of a tree.... Oops. Well, on a bright note, this spoke of how safe and comfortable she felt here in Nardir! She wasn't quite sure where she was but, she knew she'd been following a series of small waterways from what she'd come to learn was Moonstone Lake. Another yawn and soon she pushed herself to her paws, shaking out her fluffy coat. Stella lowered her chest, giving her back a good stretched before taking a step forward as she rose back up, stretching it the other way and in turn, each hind leg, the left giving a little pop. Oof, stiff still, ah well.

The small arctic wolf began to walk along following the water, black tipped ears twitching about as she drank in the sights, scents, and sounds of Nardir. She had noticed an island not too far into the water when she laid down earlier though, now as she walked along, she was sure it'd be easy to cross the river to it! She was curious but, she was more curious about seeing what the waterways connected to, was it a massive lazy flowing river? another lake? maybe the waters vanished into the earth, being swallowed into a deep cavernous pit. A giggle sounded as she walked along, letting her mind wander. Sky-blue gaze drifted upward, looking over the clouds and the position of the sun, she had plenty of daylight left to explore though, she didn't mind wandering about at night either... As Ticon very well knew, she loved to stargaze and honestly, part of her now daily explorations while she settle din was looking for a good spot to do just that. Lay out comfortably and count the stars while relaxing and letting her thoughts wander.

Of course in her wanderings and daydreaming as she looked about from sky to water to the landscape around her, she was bound to have something happen. A cry from some sort of raptor above caught her attention as she walked, the sunny little wolf oblivious to anything other than trying to find the bird when...

Thump!

She walked right into someone and recoiled back, tripping over her paws, landing on her rump awkwardly. She would grit her teeth as that sore leg of hers protested but, swiftly shake her head and blink up at whomever she'd run into. The golden wolf gave a nervous yet, shy laugh, an awkward smile upon her features, ears laid back in embarrassment. “I uhm.... S-Sorry about that, heh... Guess I wasn't paying attention” Well no kidding girly, you knocked yourself on your tail! Speaking of tails, when she got back to her paws, hers was wagging gently in a friendly manner! This was Nardir after all! Surely whomever she ran into wouldn't be too mad at her.

ooc- Stella is heading toward Lake of Rain, she's still within sight of Fisher's Stand. :3

He doesn't... He doesn't remember much. 

Muddle mind spins as the pale fox staggers on unsteady feet, the feel of cold water splashing against his legs and belly with every dizzying step. There had been -- there had been a wolf. Angry or hungry, Oberon doesn't quite remember the creature's face, only the its snapping jaws and the chase that had sent him tumbling down--

"Ah..." He had fallen down a cliff's edge. There is a comfort in remembering what had happened, despite the dull throbbing of his head as blood oozed and framed his pale face with scarlet. 

There is a dense covering of trees and foliage across the lazy river, and the injured fox reasons that it's a good spot to rest. 

Through the haze, Oberon doesn't pick up the scent of others, the telltale mark of a pack land. He's tired, and his head swims with dark spots. Sleep is the only thing on wanderer's mind now. 

He makes it just to the riverbank before sinking slowly into the cool water -- pale green fighting to stay open. Perhaps he'll just rest here for a while. 

The forest was silent around her, silent enough that she could curl up and nurse her wounds. The one that had stalked out from the shadows and taunted her was gone, for now. Or maybe she was hiding back in the brush, carefully watching Shuck as if mulling over the idea of dispatching her. Well, that One would find the task difficult, the storm wrapped in fur would make sure of it.

The sky opened up to shine warm sunlight on a cool, crisp autumn day. The chill in the air made her grimace, curling tighter to her body for the extra, much needed heat. Sunlight dappled its way through the trees, life went on. Happy and blissfully unaware of her.

She still seethed, eyes flickering open unfocused on anything in particular, staring at the ground blankly. Though she lay, unmoving, with a grimace upon her maw, Shuck's mind was moving a mile a minute. Scrapping plans and ideas about how she'd return to that place, or if she would. She still had a job to do and now that hit list? Had grown some since arriving at whatever that place was called. She had to make good on that, her mind just wouldn't let that shit go.

Eyelids heavy, and body tired, she'd almost conk out right there, if it hadn't been for the rustle of grass and the sound of approaching foot steps. One eye opened lazily, but the girl gave little care other than a flick of her ear and a deep exhale that sounded more like a hissed sigh. "Go. Away." The youth said an edge to her tone, flames licking from below. The storm wanted her world quiet for the moment.

She wanted to snap, to scream, but the other had said something along the lines of 'it'll work, just lay there, shut up, and lay there'. Her shoulder and neck still ached, the wound not entirely fresh as it was days ago, but still the pain ebbed in like a tide lapping to shore. Shuck had barked about being hungry and bored, snarled about how impatient she was becoming. Her friend, gave little care, wrapped in the skin of someone with fur of white. I'll show you real fun.

The rumbling in her stomach was hard to ignore, how long would it be before it started sapping the girl of her energy? Out here were she practically had to fend for herself, or 'perish'. She had taken the luxury of being dependent upon her older sister for granted. Whatever, she could learn, right?

The overcast sky gave an ethereal shine to the world below, the forest buzzing with quiet birdsong and a cool breeze that rustled through the trees. Shuck would lay quietly in the center of a path, her friend hidden out of view. The instructions she had been given were stupid, weak shit, but she was promised a reward. Something good. That stomach beasty gnashed its teeth and the stormy youth growled quietly under her breath. For fuck's sake.

Though it wasn't long before an unfamiliar scent was caught on the wind, and a figure was moving towards her in the distance. "It huuurt's, it FUCKING HUUURTS, AAAAH!!" She screamed, rolling in pain at the first sight of the stranger. "h--h-h-hhhhh-ughhh-eeeelp." She nearly vomited trying to say the word, gross. "I got, SOMEONE ATTACKED MEEEE!!" Hoping that this would bring the closer, and once they did finally approach, would they see that glint in the girl's eyes?

Settling into the rhythm of what these lands had to offer, there'd be no place for Him to hide. She stewed in her own thoughts, even if they were singular and numbing, a chanting mantra that order the absolute annihilation of a singular person. It was all consuming, but there'd be something wonderfully sweet about when that pale freak was crippled below her, some versions he was crying, sometimes he was laughing, and other times he was completely silent.

Each version ended the same though, her bashing his skull repeated against a rock until there was nothing left of what he once looked like, no trace that this was that ugly fucking face. She'd always remark, always, without fucking fail, how much better he looked. How well he worn little bits of bone and opened skull, fleshy bits. Red was a better color on him, especially when it was his own red.

It's really no surprise at this point, not for her, that kids just seem to be tripping into her path. However the moment they saw her face flicker upon them it should've been warning sign enough, smeared with red, though she herself didn't have any visible wounds, and yet they KEPT COMING CLOSER.

This would be no different, bright eyes flickered upon a form that pushed out form the brush, eyeing the other with questionable motives, Shuck's expression morphing from blank to a snarl in a matter of seconds. "Did I get you yet?" Accented by a slow forming smirk.

---

Stick together, they said! Don't get separated, they said!

Actually, it might've been what he said.

With a heavy sigh, Caspian wandered Inaria alone. He distinctly remembered trying to talk to his siblings about keeping tight, keeping close, and keeping together, and here they all are. Scattered. Across a big, unknown pack they know nothing about. Except that it's a friendly pack with their current one. It was almost like information overload, and at the end of the day Caspian's biggest concern was his family.

And by family, he meant Shuck, mostly.

He said to himself he wouldn't let her out of his sight again, but man was she good at disappearing. Not only did she disappear, but she took K and Croc with her. Needless to say, the big protective, 'motherly' boy that Caspian was, worried. Quite a lot, actually, as he was concerned for what might happen while they were visiting. In any normal situation, one might say to him, 'Go on, find some friends! Play with some new kids! Learn about Inaria!' Instead? He found himself spending most of his time trying to find the siblings he was going to spend the rest of his childhood with at home.

Except, they were in Inaria now.

After what felt like hours of searching, Caspian came across a hill that he swore he'd seen before. At least once. Probably five other times? God, he was lost. Lost and alone and failing at his job to protect Shuck and his siblings. He was pretty positive he saw that white snake in the pack of when they arrived, which made him all that more distressed.

"Maaaaaaan." He groaned out, plopping his puppy butt down in front of the hill, looking at it sadly. He had no idea the historical meaning behind it, only that it was the point of his sanity being lost as he went in circles. He sat there by himself until he heard a noise nearby, immediately turning toward it and gasping with that handsome, heroic smile.

"Hey! Excuse me!" Not giving them a chance to process, let alone respond. "Have you seen some kids with white... and green, and blue, and tan, uhh, some black in there too? One is kind of got a crazy look in her eyes, I really need to find her especially!" He preserved her name with the last second of intelligence, waiting to see who exactly he was babbling too.

That probably should've been the first thing he did, but, his mouth had other ideas.

Things were beginning to settle down to business as usual in Nardir.  The borders had been secured, and recently, though with stern warning, the curfew and denning restrictions had been lifted.  However, the pack's center of activity remained at the Castle.  Togetherness and interactions were strengthening their bonds, and the Dark Moon Queen was pleased to see the growth.  Tendrils she was carefully cultivating.  There was still much more to be done, but she felt the need to balance work with well... different work.  As a youngster, Mercury had been taught to fish.  A skill that came in handy in the plethora of lakes and rivers that flowed in Nardir.  It was knowledge that had perhaps not been useful in the mountains, but it would do well to pass it along now.  And she knew just where to start.

Descending down from her den high in the Castle, she stopped into the apartment belonging to Buckshot and Sarajevo.  She did not expect the White Dove of the X Clan to be home, not with her cousin/brother still laid up in one of the ground-level dens.  Sara would sleep near her patient.  It was a healer thing.  But hopefully Buck would be home.  The son of the Adolphin line was Nardir's resident Forester, and Mercury had been meaning to discuss his formal position.  But before that, she figured they would go fishing.  She hadn't had time to get to know the newest generation, and was determined not to be an unobtainable, lofty figure.  Once Buckshot was comfortably in his element, she'd broach the subject of his promotion.

"Good morning, Buckshot."  She greeted from the doorway.  "I fancy fish for breakfast. Would you and your pups like to join me?"


When the arrangements had been made and the children were successfully rounded up, The Queen and her little court descended down towards the water.  There was an island just outside the Mother's Hills that had excellent fishing spots.  If one of the pups was open to the idea, Mercury would scoop one up and set them on her back, walking with poise and even strides so they could be seated easily.  If any of the other members spotted them, her wagging tail would make it clear that this was a relaxed, friendly outing open to all.  After all, fish was a Nardir staple.