Big Salmon Lake Not all who wander are lost. But I am.

[size=large]Since the group that Julooke is traveling with has grown since I originally posted this, I've edited it to include them, and also made it private for just them. Group includes: Verrine, Julooke, Yildun, Arrakis, Barristan, Beric, Aysel and Aysun

2nd Edit: Sorry, I forgot Aysel and Aysun >_<

The group had been traveling for quite a while. Julooke had long lost track of the days and it didn’t bother her a bit. She didn’t really know or care where they were going, or when they might settle somewhere. Everything was up in the air, but for the first time in her life, Julooke didn’t mind it. That could have something to do with her depression. While she wasn’t totally down and out, she did go through bouts of time where she wouldn’t talk at all. It was like her body was there, but her mind was long gone, off somewhere, trying to find its way back. She still hadn’t smiled, or played, or even felt all that social or outgoing. The loss of her parents had hit her hard. She had even disappeared for a short while just after their passing.

But, not all was lost. Her crush, Verrine, had made a wild suggestion- one Julooke would have said no to just a year ago. He said they could leave, go somewhere else and find a new place to live. It had been such a temping offer not to have to avoid the place that caused her pain, even unintentionally. It was no one's fault, and one day Julooke would have to realize that it was life.

Once word spread that the pair were leaving, others joined in, to Julooke's surprise. Yildun and Arrakis, her younger brothers, had jumped on board. It made her feel a little better, knowing she didn't have to leave all of her family behind to find herself again. And, then, even more had said they wanted to go. Beric and Barristan were here, too. While they weren't blood related, they may as well have been her brothers, too. Then, even more. Aysel and Aysun. They were big enough to be a pack all on their own, and she quietly wondering if that's what they were and no one realized it yet.

They were like a rogue band of wolves, off to who-knows-where to do who-knows-what. She didn't know about the others, but it didn't bother her that they had no idea where they were going. They ate when they were hungry, slept when they were tired, and played when they had bouts of access energy. Well, the rest did anyways. Julooke usually sat on the sidelines and watched out for strangers. She had yet to have any energy in playing, but she wasn't all hard-shelled, either. She was just sad.

The lake they were approaching was rather large, but looked calm. The closer she got, the softer the land got. She paused several dozen yards away from the water line. Her stomach growled, urging her to feed it. She looked towards her band of wolves and said simply, “Fish?” She rather liked fishing, having learned it from her older sister, Youmi.

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For explanation of Aysel/Aysun prior threads mentioning their few short weeks in the area, I'll briefly close up that loop hole in this thread :)

Aysel and Aysun had departed from the group several weeks earlier to scout ahead under the premise that if they found a place that seemed suitable for the group, they call for them. They had done so, and then just the day before met back up with the group. From there, Aysel insisted to Julooke and Verrine that they at least take the group to view the surrounding territories, certain that they would all find them to their liking.

Now, the young female stood quietly amongst the traveling group. Julooke looked to the lake and asked if the group wanted to fish, and Aysel's orange eyes flittered from Aysun to Yildun, and then to the others. Were they hungry? Aysel's stomach was filled with hopeful butterflies, that the group would love the area just as much as her heart felt at home in the last few days of scouting.

But she wouldn't dare voice it. The collective attachment needed to be formed, it couldn't just be that Aysel wanted it. Her mother and father had taught her that there was much more at stake than just her own feelings and wellbeing.

Despite being around the same age as Julooke, Barristan had always felt a little protective of her, especially after her beloved father had died. Everyone had grieved that loss, his family most of all, and Barristan's heart clenched at the thought of his own father's passing. Balon was much older than Liyano had been, and it hurt him to think that his father might pass while he was away. One of his parting promises had been to care for his family while they were away from Seahawk Valley. While he couldn't promise to keep watch over all of them, he had sworn to protect Julooke to the best of his abilities.

So when Aysel and Aysun had returned from their scouting trip ahead, telling them of a grand area that was similar to Seahawk Valley in its diversity, Barristan was glad. Julooke hadn't changed her demeanor at that news, but there was a spark of something behind her eyes that wasn't there before. He didn't mention it or give away the fact that he saw it, but it was there. When they stopped on the cusp of the soft sands surrounding a lake, and Julooke asked for fish, Barristan was only happy to comply. He nodded and nudged her chin softly, before wading into the muddy, murky water. He wasn't sure how well this would work with visibility being so low, but he would try. Turning his eyes toward the others, he wondered which would join him in fishing.

I LOVE this huge group! How awesome! :D

Their journey had been a long one, but not unpleasant. The days were warm and comfortable, their pace had been slow, and with but a few exceptions, food had been reasonably bountiful. Feeding a group of eight wolves, however, was no small feat, and even when their hunts proved successful, the small game they managed to catch did little to truly satisfy their empty bellies. Still, though, their trip had been peaceful and, for the most part, enjoyable. It was a welcome escape from the grief and pallor that hung over the verdant boughs of their previous home in Sterrenvuur's forest. The death of Liyano and Fatalis had struck all of them hard -- losing the alpha was traumatic for every member of the pack, no matter how lowly or unknown they might be -- but none so hard as the children of the regal pair. Devastation had left little but a somber shell of the vibrant, adorable girl Verrine had slowly but surely fallen in love with in the months since he'd met her. Julooke, daughter of the fallen pair, traveled with him now, for it had been his idea to leave the pack and make this journey to nowhere in particular.

A wonderful surprise it had been when others had volunteered to join, including Julooke's youngest brothers Yildun and Arrakis. Barristan, Aysel, and Aysun had joined them as well, and all of them had become close to one another during their journey. Verrine considered himself the leader of their group, and took it upon himself to ensure their safety and well-being. He hunted tirelessly, with the help of the others of course, to keep hunger at bay, and he scouted their surroundings relentlessly to ensure everyone's safety. He took particular care to watch out for Yildun, who was blind and helpless. Despite his condition, the snowy yearling had kept up with them and had managed the journey with little trouble. Verrine remembered when he had been just an awkward puppy, and he looked back on their first meeting with fondness -- when Liyano had nearly brained him, thinking his handicapped son was in danger. The memory painted a faint smile on Verrine's face, though it brought with it the familiar pang of sadness as well.

The band drew to a halt near a large lake, and Julooke was the first to speak. Fish? she suggested, and Verrine thought it was a good idea. "Definitely," he replied, bumping her gently on the shoulder. Everything he did, he did for her. She was his everything, though he would never say that out loud around her, of course. He knew she was broken inside and it would take her a long time to heal, but he would stay right beside her as her friend, protector, and confidante, no matter how long it took. "It'd feel good to cool off in the water anyway. It's hot." He flashed a grin at Barristan, whom he had come to consider a good friend, and both of them waded into the water. The feeling of the cool ripples soaking through his thick fur and lapping against his skin was wonderful. The area was beautiful and quiet, and as he reflected on Aysel and Aysun's reports of the lands they had seen ahead, he contemplated thoughts of staying.

someday i’ll wish upon a star

and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
where troubles melt like lemon drops
away above the chimney tops
that’s where you’ll find me
[size=3]somewhere over the rainbow[/size]

The loss of their parents many months prior had hit the sightless young male really rather hard. Not a laugh had been heard from him since before it all happened. Not even a single smile had graced his young face. In that time, though, his bond with his big sister had grown. He followed her like a lost puppy every chance he got. When word had reached him that Verrine (whom he was also rather fond of even if he didn’t show it much anymore) had suggested to Julooke that they leave and she had agreed, the sightless young male would absolutely have none of being left behind. Yes, he did very much love the family that would be remaining behind, but he just could not bring himself to be without his big sister.

For the first time in months, since the death of their parents, a smile, small as it was, had graced his muzzle on the day that they were to depart. He wasn’t yet anywhere near being the same boy that he was prior to the death of their parents, but that one small smile spoke volumes. He was never far from her side, save for the times he chose to be near his littermate brother. He hadn’t played in a long time. Hadn’t run to feel the air blowing over his face. Though he was alive, he hadn’t been living… merely existing. For the most part, he hadn’t spoken much, either. He could easily have been mistaken for being mute, but he wasn’t. He merely spoke when spoken to. It was even worse than when his other litermate brother had died when they were little.

When the band had stopped, he moved to be able to remain fairly close to one side of ‘Lookie. Being blind, he wasn’t able to help with things like fishing, though their father had been teaching him to hunt at one point. For the moment, though, he just stood there, at her side, with his tail hanging limply against his hind legs and his head slightly lowered.

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If you had asked him a year ago where he thought he would be today, he probably would have said in Sterrenvuur, of course. Today, however, found him far, far from the home in which he grew up. The three-year-old male still didn't quite understand why the group had set off in search of other lands, but he wasn't going to let them go off without proper guardianship. Especially when they were still grieving over the loss of the leaders of the pack. A loss like that was never easy on anyone in the pack, and each wolf dealt with it differently.

He had felt torn, at first, about leaving the pack or protecting his pack mates who were leaving. His father was getting up there in years and he feared that when he returned home, it would be too late to say goodbye. He was satisfied, however, when Elsan had taken it upon himself to make sure their father would be taken care of. He knew his older brother would keep his word, and so he need not worry. Balon hadn't seemed too upset that the group was leaving, either. Maybe he understood something that Beric didn't. His mother, Elsa, wasn't exactly as understanding in the beginning. It took some convincing that her children would be okay, and in the end, it was sending Beric with them that calmed her nerves.

He paused alongside the group, looking out over the water. Julooke suggested fishing and a few of the wolves readily agreed. He nodded as well, taking a few steps towards the water, past Julooke and Yildun. He gave Yildun a soft nose-bump to his shoulder, and smiled softly at Julooke. He hadn't seen the young princess smile since the death of her parents. What a shame, he thought, for she had been so lively and personable. He knew, though, that one day she would come back to them. [/size]

The small band of travelling wolves was different that what Aysun had been used to. Sterrenvuur had always been something of a legend to her as a child growing up -- Cleto and Asli had left soon after the passing of the Draak, Liyano -- someone that both her parents had looked up to in their youth. The Savas girl had spent most of their travel in silence, her stoic expression examining each of the wolves that made up their motley crew -- Barriston and Verrine competed in their own way, both handsome wolves who were coming into their prime. Aysuns eyes lingered on Barriston a moment, watching as he nudged Julooke and then pressed passed her into the lake.

Cleto, her father, had always had a special place in his heart for the offspring of Liyano and Fatalis and so she had heard of Julooke long before she had actually met her. The woman with the speckled nose was quiet, and Aysun found that she appreciated that. Cleto had a strong paternal cord that was pulled each time a pup was in his presence, and it was no surprise he had taken the pup under his wing.

Yildun was always close to someone, his opaque eyes unseeing. Beric, Barristons brother was large and growing into himself -- as almost all of them were. Aysun's eyes darted from wolf to wolf, finally coming to a standstill at the edge of the water. Her father could be seen in her, the way her pelt lay shaggy across her chest and back... and in her lack of words. She chuffed softly and moved passed the others, coming to a stand still next to her identical sister. It was reassuring to see such similar features peering back at her, and she sat, listening calmly to what the other wolves had to say.

She would join in if necessary, but was happy to relax and watch the other interact with one another. After so much movement it was nice to finally have a chance to stand still.

Although the deaths of his parents had been harsh, Arrakis had not suffered in the way his brother Yildun did. Losing Atreides' at a very young age taught him that death was part of living and, although he'd mourned his mother and father, he was eager to move on with his own life. It pained him to see his litter-mate so obviously aching over the things that had happened in their short lives, but hoped he would soon see their opportunity to start over as something refreshing.

Leaving Sterrenvuur had been hard, but being surrounded by so many familiar faces in doing made him feel better about it. Arrakis had known them his entire life and although his birth-pack would likely be feeling their absence, he was glad to have them along for the trip. They made a pretty good team, and he was rather enjoying the freedom from home so far.

Upon arrival to the unfamiliar lake, Arry lifted his over-sized raven ears and listened to his older sister's suggestion. He was not particularly hungry, but he would eat considering he did not know when he next would. Nodding, he strode forward on nimble paws to wade into the shallows after the others and await instruction.

[size=large]I realize you need the loophole for the plots you have and your timeline, but it doesn't fit with what I said for Julooke and Verrine. So, I figured we might be able to say that for the few weeks Julooke disappeared, Aysel and Aysun could have been scouting out the area, and Verrine could have told Julooke when she came back? Is that okay? It fits your timeline, just has a different viewpoint, I guess.

Posting Order:
Julooke
Aysel
Barristan
Verrine
Yildun
Beric
Aysun
Arrakis

The group seemed to agree with fishing. While she normally would have jumped in with the others, though, she stayed behind on land. She didn't want to leave Yildun on his own, feeling left out. Barristan walked by her, giving her chin a nudge. She wished she could have smiled in return, or even have given him a wag of her tail. But, she just wasn't feeling it. Yet. Her expression, however, did soften ever so slightly. It softened even more so when Verrine nudged her shoulder. Before he could get away, she attempted to nudge his shoulder back. Beric walked by after that, giving her a smile. She gave him the soft look she had given Barristan.

She watched them wade into the water and begin their individual hunts. Getting worried that Yildun was feeling left out, she suggested, "Do you want to go into the water, Yildun? Cool off a bit?" It would be a nice way to relax after their long journey. If he said yes, she would go in with him, making sure he didn't slip in the rocks or get caught in the thick mud by the waters edge.

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