Mount Apikuni heaven calling

→ set at the base of mount apikuni on the edge of swiftcurrent creek territory
→ NSV and SC members only please! @Raheerah @Anemone @Xi'Nuata @Fox

As Tenzin descended from the mountain, his breath was even and steady. Such a hike wasn't hard on his body, but he couldn't know how the others were fairing. The monk hadn't looked back in some time now as he focused on what was ahead. The sun was arcing through the sky and he assumed it was early afternoon. He frowned lightly. That meant they'd probably get back as evening was setting in. He took the rest of the time to focus on where his paws were landing as he finally made it to the ground. The flat level and soft grass were certainly welcome. The small mountain ahead of them seemed large now that he viewed it from the ground and not from the Vale's high advantage.

"What an ugly mountain," Tenzin chuckled, noting the scarred and burned mountainside. He didn't say it to be mean, but compared to the Vale's mountains, it certainly wasn't a beautiful sight. He turned then to view his companions. He specifically asked the Dragon to come and figured it would be a good opportunity for Xi'Nuata as well. He opened invitations and gestured to the first volunteer. "Ready for your first bit of counselor work, Anemone?" he questioned kindly. Though she mainly would be training to deal with inner pack relationships, he didn't think it was a bad idea to have her come with them on such an important venture.

The monk waited patiently for everyone to settle on the ground and then spoke up again. "I'm not sure what their numbers are like or who leads them exactly, but that's what we're here for. If they turn out to be sour grapes, just remember to smile, okay?" he chimed with a sheepish grin, turning and heading through the small pass that lead toward Swiftcurrent Creek's territory. "Raheerah, could you call them? Your voice is the... er, loudest," Tenzin said, looking toward the Dragon with glint in his eye. He didn't want the Dragon make the call because he was the loudest, but because his voice made the most impact. Sitting, the monk took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he began to scan the sparse horizon for signs of any of the Creek's members.

Once, Raheerah had met a leader. She ruled a pack called Swiftcurrent Creek, whose numbers had come together approximately the se time as the Vale's, if not a little earlier. He met her when the ice was still thick on the ice, and he threatened to break through with the both of them on its surface. Her name was Lethe. Little had been accomplished then - they spoke briefly on packs and Raheerah went his way. Only now did he regret not touching on the subject in greater depth, if only to lord his superior knowledge of the neighboring pack over the monk's head.

And now, there seemed to be change in the air.

They descended along the burnt mountainside, where scorched trees and ash scarred the earth. He moved in time with his warrior, Xi'nuata, careful to keep her within his blind side. She was his eyes, allowing him to scan the surroundings on his visible side with increased caution. Nearby traveled Anemone, and ahead, the monk led them on. They reached the edges of their neighbor's territory before long, and Raheerah dared even closer, stepping past the monk to breathe in the scent marking their borders. It did not hold Lethe's scent. In fact, what he could pick up of the female's markings were stale, replaced by another's, stronger and fresh. "Thheeerre has beeeeen chaange." He rumbled, raising his head from the vegetation he scented. Raheerah glanced back at the monk, then Xi'nuata, and lastly to Anemone before tuning into the command of the monk.

A gruff grunt left his nares, caring not to relinquish a response. He tilted back his head and erupted in a low, hellish howl, beckoning the one that marked these borders. The song rose in octaves and lingered, before ending on an abrupt note. He snapped his teeth and cast his gaze back out to the trees, swinging his tail curiously.

She followed dutifully, her eyes sharp as she watched around them. They were a strong group; two warriors, a cleric, and a monk. She was not worried. Anemone knew that they were more than capable of handling whatever trouble might come, but it was best to know ahead of time that trouble would come at all.

They arrived safely. The question of her leader was met with a smile. I hope that it won't be needed, she responded in earnest, knowing Tenzin was more than capable of getting on any wolf's good side. He was genuinely kind and giving. What could he say that she could not...? But still, in case anything needed resolving, she had offered herself for the trip. Anemone was more than willing to help out the Vale.

Raheerah spoke, and her eyes fell to the dark wolf before she glanced to Xi'nuata. Anemone did not know the leader had passed. In time, they all would know of the change he spoke of she was sure. Meanwhile they would wait. Anemone looked at ease, glad they were not too close to the territory of Lethe.

OOC: Post might be adjusted slightly to fit personal timeline. The jist is relevant to current events. It was not long ago that she traveled the swift waters toward pack borders, but then rather than now it had been with the intentions of learning from a more practiced soul. Since their initial encounter, she had done what was asked, but did not yet feel she was ready to continue their rigorous lessons. Her body was no longer as sluggish, and posture better suited her stature, however her confidence was lacking in the readiness of herself, despite the time and meticulous effort placed in making herself worth another lesson. Perhaps this excursion led by the cleric this day would not breech the unspoken contract of her instructor. Neither had counted on the will of another to spontaneously bridge the gap between packs, but surely such a move would provide a benefit to both. Thoughts of diplomacy were kept well to herself as she traveled in silence by her companion and faction lead. She had not seen in him days beyond the usual passing in and out of their day, but however brief their interaction there was still the familiar calm to ease the worry upon the soul. A brush of the shoulder was all that was needed, or a nudge of bold to proclaim that indeed his light remained at his side. She, the eyes to light his blind path, and ensure that he could walk with ease into the unknown. But as his light, she did not fully believe she had illuminated all for him. Perhaps the subtle changes of herself remained in his darkness… Her own personally glimmer of her light remained shining ahead just beside the elder cleric. The warrior was impressed by the female’s eagerness to volunteer and learn from this experience to better her role within the group. Initiative boasted promise, as did it foster a more fulfilled life within the Vale. And in truth, the autumn wolf was quite glad for the extra accompaniment. Another female did wonders, as she quickly came to learn, to ease the weariness of travel however long of short the road. When catching her eye, the female smiled kindly. As a group their arrival to the borders had been safe, and like her companion, Xi’nuata too noticed a change in the markers. It was not at all like the mature musk she had noticed the first time she crossed into the creek-lands. This scent was too fresh, too new… and dare she assume familiar in some regard. Her brows scrunched in thought- what had happened since last she had seen Njal? Smoothly the question receded from her brows as she turned to Raheerah and nudge beneath his chin gently, once more reminding him of her presence as he called across the borders. She remained standing as they waited, her body relaxed and tail curling at leisure as she listlessly surveyed the grounds for familiarity.

posting from my phone, so please excuse typos!

The howl of some beast that was not her own caused Fox to turn from her current task of digging around in her den. Her red ears swiveled toward the sound, and she assumed it was a loner seeking acceptance. That would be good. The more bodies the creek could add to their numbers, the stronger they would be. Pausing only to sit and scratch an itch that had been bothering her, Fox made her way toward the sound of the call. Although her strides were short, they were quick, and she was soon near the edge of her home. She kept close to the ground, hidden in the trees until she could make a visual assessment.

What she saw displeased her. Not one, but four wolves stood near her precious claim. Fox had never considered herself to be especially bright, but she was no fool. She knew she could not fight off four intruders. (She did not care if they were not technically trespassing or not. Bringing four wolves to her border was clearly an aggressive power move.) Fox bided her time for a moment, considering her choices. She could "play nice," but she did not think that they would. She could call for her followers, but that would mean any chance of a surprise was out of the picture.

Fox chose a third option.

Making herself look as big as possible, which wasn't all that big at all, she strode out to them with her tail curled upon her back and her ears thrust forward in a clear display of dominance and distrust of her neighbors. A growl rumbled in her chest, and she flicked her tail. “Leave now, before I call my brothers and sisters to chase you off.” Her tone had no room for humor or question. They had exactly two choices. Her body remained tense, ready to call for the others and defend herself if needed.

Fox wondered if anybody else had heard and heeded the call.

Hope you don't mind me responding! I just have some free time & a lot of muse right now. :)

The perimeter of Swiftcurrent felt like the only safe place as she patrolled alone with a certain lackluster posture, all the while purposefully omitting the heart of the territory to prevent further conflict. Her reception had been met with brazen disdain by more than one pack member, and Tuwawi felt it in her best interest to not cause more waves among the group. Biding her time would be the smartest strategy -- appease her superiors for now and fold to their whims to avoid being cast out or exiled. Njal had threatened with his dismissal, but even then their position was quaky. It would be wiser to appear humble like a small ember or glowing coal, and catch fire when the moment was right.

She rubbed an umber cheek against a pine to acquire its aromatic perfume, but was interrupted by a bellowing howl. The enigmatic voice boomed, laced with hissing undertones. It was both a summoning and an announcement, and although the firey Kappa was loathe to purposefully seek out the irate Fox, she would do so out of obligation. Swiftcurrent was her home now, despite its unsavory inhabitants, and her duty was to protect it.

Her strides were short, but they carried the red dressed woman across the rocky terrain with unmatched swiftness. A jagged outcropping of stone provided good cover when Tuwawi approached the Western border, the scorched Mount Apikuni visible beneath a thin veil of mist in the distance. As she crested the bouldered hill four wolves, waiting at the treeline, came into view. Her ears cupped forward to listen inquisitively. The distance and height of her position offered a good place to act as a lookout, observing the vagabonds with a discerning steely gaze. They appeared to be in good health, but two of the group seemed unusually large and well fed which presented a threatening facade. Tuwawi's muzzle twisted while she attempted to understand their purpose with a shrewd eye, until the golden alpha emerged from her hiding place with an inflated swagger.

Their voices were faint at this distance but Fox made no secret of her agenda when she addressed the group with a brassy tone. Without question she ordered them out, nipping any parlé before it could bloom, and threatened them with the hounds of Swiftcurrent. Tuwawi took some small pleasure watching her squirm before the four horsemen, finding the composition metaphorical and schadenfreude irresistible.

Despite this, the rouge wolf revealed herself as a silhouette against the dusky sky. It would make her presence known before she descended to where Fox stood, providing needed backup albeit at a reasonable distance. It wasn't her place to participate in diplomatic exchanges (were these wolves even aware Neverwinter was no more?), and so Fox's Kappa remained silent yet vigilant as she inspected the features of those who had knocked on their doorstep, her posture open yet calculating, cool gaze falling on the eldest wolf of the strange posse.

I'm going to close this out, since it's been languishing for awhile. I've PM'd Tenzin a few times, mentioned in several posts in the Rough Drafts forum, but haven't heard anything back for awhile. I don't want the outcome of this thread to drastically change timelines, so I'm making a lot of assumptions. Feel free to PM me if you find this outcome unfair or unlike what your character(s) would do.

It seemed that Fox's words were heeded, for although the band of vale wolves hesitated, they soon broke free from their threatening stance and headed back to their own territory. The yearling, though young and naive, would not tolerate such behavior from her neighbors. In fact, she was perfectly happy just leaving them to mind their own business. The coming weeks and months would prove the relationship between the vale and the creek rocky at best, but Fox assumed such things were natural occurrences when two bands of wolves lived so close to one another.

Once the vale wolves had vanished from sight, Fox turned to find Tuwawi standing behind her. The yearling gave her a thankful glance, and then headed back to the heart of the creek.