Sleeping Dragon kicked my heart to baltimore

For @Wildfire, @Gannet, and @Whip. Post-dated to roughly 3 days from now.

Finally, finally Fox was pretty sure they'd found the right place. The kids had done well enough with the traveling, and although they seemed a bit tuckered out, they also seemed to be in good spirits. Even Whip appeared to be enjoying the trip... as much as he could, anyway. Wifi's scent wasn't the strongest one here, but it was most certainly present. Fox could barely contain her excitement at seeing her daughter, even though she didn't claim any favorites.

With Whip and Gannet close behind her, Fox educated them on proper border etiquette. "Now, we could stand around here and wait for somebody to show up. That's perfectly acceptable. But since we know your sister should be here, and she knows we're coming to visit, it's also fine to call her out specifically." Giving them a prompt nod, she turned her muzzle toward her daughter's residence and called out for her. "And now, we wait." Fox settled onto her haunches, at ease as they awaited Dhole's arrival.

Gotta get these on my threadlog before I forget ;) why do I stay up so late

They'd finally reached the spot where they would be meeting their sister, a wolf who Gannet had seen once before but hadn't really met extensively.  As such, he held a little trepidation - just a little - with the scent of so many strange wolves residing here.  He stuck close to Fox, keeping a bit behind and watching expectantly for someone to come.  Surely they would with his mother's call.

Her mother's timing was impeccable. Wildfire was staring disconsolately at her paws when Fox's voice rose into the gloomy October air, taking her pleasantly by surprise. The Bandrona immediately leaped to her feet, howling, "I'll be right there!" She then zipped toward the borders, grinning broadly when she caught sight of Fox's petite form and two other, leggier wolves beside her. Gannet, she identified easily enough, though she couldn't decide if the other was Whip or Jackrabbit, at least until she got a little closer. She was pretty sure it was the former.

"I'm so glad you're here!" she said to all three of them, sweeping them with her warm amber gaze. "Welcome to Sleeping Dragon. How was your trip?" Wildfire asked, realizing that she was behaving a lot more like an ambassador than a daughter and sister. She chuckled at herself, then moved forward to lick, nip and nuzzle each of her loved ones in turn.

At this point, the scent of a pack was impossible to deny. Though Whip felt safe under the watch of his mother and their trip was on invitation, he instinctually wished to pull away and keep a healthy distance from the border. The boy began to feel antsy as they approached. A skittering, static feeling of apprehension sank into his bones. But Whip was quickly calmed by his mother's instructions on etiquette. Knowing that they were not doing anything wrong by simply being there set Whip at ease.

Once his mother called for Wildfire, the family only needed to wait for a short while. Soon, she arrived with a wagging tail and an amicable air. Whip, having no recollection of his sister felt both caught off gaurd and ill prepared.  Sticking incredibly close to Gannet, Whip remained silent and tense, even as his sister came to greet him personally.

I don't really care about post order as much as rounds, so feel free to go ~wild~ and post once per round. :P

The boys seemed relatively at ease, though Fox was aware of their general discomfort at being so close to another pack. "Good," she thought, "At least they aren't complete idiots." That wasn't to say that either of them was particularly smart, but it wasn't like they were going to go trespassing and get Redhawk Caldera into trouble with neighboring packs. At least... she hoped not.

Wildfire arrived in no time, and Fox felt a swell of pride in her chest at Dhole's demeanor. Sure, she was acting "professional," but she had every right to be. This was her home, and she was a got dam leader here. "The trip was fine. We ran into... an old friend. I took Whip and Gannet to see my old stomping grounds in Swiftcurrent Creek," she said to Dhole, her nose gesturing to each one as she said their names.

He was glad that Whip stuck close, because he took a great deal of comfort from his brother's proximity.  There was a time he might have been a bit more naively enthusiastic about strangers, but now there was an understandable chip on his shoulder.

Luckily the one who came was a familiar face, and while Gannet didn't move closer, he did give a friendly tail wag in hello and return the lick.  He had only met her once, but he knew she was family, so was happy to see her.

Her brothers seemed a little hesitant about her affectionate greetings, so Wildfire just gave them an understanding smile and backed off. She knew it was nothing personal. It probably had to do with being in a strange place anyway. She happily turned and concentrated her demonstrative nature on the more willing Fox, a low chuckle escaping her at her mother's words. They reminded her of her recent and unexpected encounter with Floki. She'd said the very same thing about him and she wonder to whom her mother referred.

"Who?" she asked as much, then glanced at Gannet and Whip. "I bet that was fun. I don't know that I've ever been." But she'd heard all about her mother's life prior to Redhawk Caldera, of course. Fox had loved telling her kids stories when Wildfire was young. She was probably the same way with the current batch of Firebirds. "Is there still a pack living there?" she wondered.

I am the worst. Sorry for holding this up y'all!

Whip's silence continued even after his sister spoke. Wildfire may have moved away, but Whip's tense and rigid stance did not abate. His knees locked; if a hard wind blew, perhaps Whip would have been blown over like a a poorly secured statue.

Whip looked to Gannet and then saw how loose and lose and relaxed he had become. He didn't quite understand how kindness came so easy to him. A small, ugly part of Whip felt a tad envious. Of course, Wildfire was family -- but to Whip, she was still largely unfamiliar. It would take some time before he was comfortable in her presence.

"One of Dud's other kids," Fox replied, remembering with distinct clarity how Junior had once tried to kill Wildfire. She couldn't possibly trust Saena around her own children after that incident. In fact, Fox was mildly wary about having Wifi visit, but... oh well. Thus far, Dhole seemed to like her younger siblings, something that tickled Fox to no end. No animosity appeared to linger between the different litters of children. Which was how it always should have been.

"No pack living there, nope," she answered with a bemused smirk. "Seems Bazi wasn't much of a leader after all." Pride was not something that Fox had ever tried to cover up. In fact, it was probably the root of at least half of her problems.

"Is your... lady friend here?" Fox asked, unaware that Wifi had tied the mateship knot with her lover.

he'll just kinda hang out in the background so feel free to skip unless he is addressed :)

Gannet also cocked his head curiously at the mention of an old friend.  What old friend? He hadn't seen any.  He wasn't even sure he had any old friends.  All of his were back in the Caldera.  Cept Aunt Finley and Lucy.  And they hadn't seen them.

While they talked, he sat down, leaning closer to Whip. The day was warm for fall, and a nap was starting to sound like a good idea, though he knew he couldn't do that here.  And probably after here they would be off towards home.

Her mother's answer threw Wildfire for a loop. Her father's earlier children were estranged, yet just a moment ago Fox had said an old friend. Granted, she had sounded hesitant. Although very curious about this—especially the identity of said wolf—the yearling glanced at her younger brothers and thought better of dragging up ancient history, especially when she considered that Fox's answer was probably ambiguous and vague for a reason.

In any case, she asked a question that diverted Wildfire's attention quite effectively. She felt the tips of her ears go warm and her amber eyes dropped almost bashfully before they lifted again, shining. "She's my mate now, actually. I think she's here but she may be busy—commanding and all." Wildfire huffed a laugh at herself, then added, "I'll try calling her." She only hoped her family wanted to meet @Thuringwethil as much as she wanted them to meet her even as she tossed back her head and asked the Heda for an audience at the borders.

She’d heard the first call and while it had not been for her, left her curious. The fact it had been for Wildfire specifically only increases it but she does not break from what she is doing, nor does she stop her tracks from heading in the direction it came. It is only when the second call is made, for her, that sends a flutter through her system and an extra speed in her step as she made her way to the borders. There’s no urgency in the call, leaving Thuringwethil at an even pace as she comes upon a rather odd scene.

Heda looks to the strange woman first, then Wildfire, followed by the two young wolves accompanying them. A questioning glance is shot toward her mate as her stature remains tightened and her head square above her shoulder. She nods once but does not sweep up next to the fiery ambassador as much as she likes. Instead, stoic as always, she waits for an explanation to unfold.

decides to make Whip a bigot

Whips attention was piqued at the meantion of his sisters 'lady-friend.' Like, girlfriend? Relationship type girlfriend? But Wildfire was a girl too! Whip's brow scrunched in confusion. Perhaps there was a mistake and Mom had simply flubbed her words. Whip couldn't think of any other explanation, so for now, he kept his uncouth thoughts to himself. Yet when Wildfire flubbed her words too, going so far to even say that this 'lady-friend' was her mate, Whip figured that she must have been mistaken as well. 

When the lady friend finally arrived, Whip could no longer keep himself silent. First he looked to Thuringwethil and said, "You're a girl!" in disbelief. Then, to Wildfire, "and you're a girl..." His jaw hung slack for a moment in confusion. "How the hell does that work?"

Wildfire explained that she and her lady friend were mates now, and Fox beamed a warm smile to her daughter. Still, she wondered if the two were planning on having children (had Wifi asked about that already?) and how they planned on… doing that. Fox vaguely recalled Lasher wanting to give Blue Willow children “just as friends,” but Fox would have none of it, and she would have considered considered the children bastards. Completely unacceptable. Then again, the reasoning for no bastards was to insure that the children had two functioning parents to take care of them. If Wildfire and her mate were together, did it really matter who the father was? He needn’t even be involved, although it would require one of the two to go off and bone a dude.

The whole thing was convoluted, but Fox snapped out of it when Wildfire’s rather stoic mate arrived. To be fair, there were three wolves standing on her doorstep, and Fox didn’t know if Wildfire had explained who they were. Before she had a chance to introduce them, Whip was pointing out the obvious. ”Whip, that’s rude. We’re on their borders. Don’t be an ass.” Fox shot him a warning glance, then returned her attention to the newest arrival with a much more neutral expression.

”I’m Fox, Wifi’s mum. This ass is Whip, and the better-behaved one is Gannet.”

Gannet was confused too when it was brought up Wildfire was mates with the woman. He supposed he'd just never considered before the possibility mateship could be about more than pups.... yet it made a sort of sense too.  Whip asked the question they both were thinking, and he looked at his brother as it was shot down by their mother.  Why was that rude?  It was a question.

He didn't repeat it, not because he was now labeled the 'better behaving one', but because obviously there was no point.  Either they'd answer or they wouldn't, and if they didn't, did Gannet really care?  Nah.  Instead he turned his attention to the large, dark woman who was apparently now mated to his sister.  She cut an imposing figure, and he found himself lowering slightly in posture deferentially, though he continued to stare.

The commander arrived fairly promptly but rather than join Wildfire, she hung back, a slightly suspicious look on her face. The Bandrona threw her a reassuring smile but did not try to coax her closer. She could move in if and when she was more comfortable with the situation. In the meantime, Fox went ahead and introduced herself and the boys—though not before Whip spat out an awkward question and their mother roundly rebuked him for it.

If not for her mate's presence, the Bandrona might have found it sort of amusing. She was still entertained, though mostly she was worried that her younger brother had just insulted the Heda. She shot a worried look at the stoic commander, then looked directly at Whip as she calmly explained, "We're companions, just like any other mated pair." She smiled a little tightly at him. Her eyes, though warm, said, And that's all you need to know.

"Thuringwethil here is the Heda, or commander, of the pack," Wildfire explained. "Her wolves originated in the north. She saved my life, as well as being the best thing that ever walked into it." She shot Whip a sort of meaningful glance, then smiled a little more easily at the accepting Fox and the quiet Gannet. The yearling turned her head, utmost fondness written all over her face as she regarded Thuringwethil through the same lenses her family members must be looking through.

Wildfire isn’t given the chance to explain before one of the children speaks first, announcing the obvious that turns into a question. Her eyes turn to look at him for a long moment, even after he’s spoken his confusion and his mother quickly corrects him. Uncertain what to make of the kid—Whip—she tears her eyes away to rest on Fox as she completes the introduction. Wildfire then offers to explain in as simple a detail as she can and then leads into her role within Drageda and only followed up with a bit that causes her to tense.

“It’s nice to meet you, Fox, Gannet,” she says with a brief flash of a smile as the heat fades from her cheeks, taking a few more steps to close the distance and stand close to her mate. “Whip,” she finishes, giving him one glance before turning to Wildfire. Thuringwethil hadn’t been prepared for their visit, or aware, and so she stifles back a few questions as she looks back upon the little group. “It must have been quite the trip,” she says. She isn’t sure how long when Wildfire’s visits had other things pop up that never gave a direct route. Plus, the woman has two boys to keep track of and that itself seems to be a whole other job.

Skipping Whip with permission.

Whip didn’t make a peep after that, and Fox snorted approvingly at him for not making more of a scene than he already had. Gannet was quiet also, and Fox gave him a passing glance before turning her attention back to Wildfire and her mate. Fox wasn’t even going to attempt to pronounce that name, and decided avoiding saying it all together.

”Likewise,” Fox replied when Wifi’s mate made pleasantries. There was something… well, off about her, but Fox couldn’t quite place it. Maybe she was a little more stoic than the Redhawk was used to. To Dhole’s mate, Fox asked, ”Have you lived here long?”

Wrapping this for us!

The conversation consisted mostly of niceties and platitudes, though Wildfire couldn't complain. Her family—well, several of its most important members—had met her mate and vice versa. They would likely never be more than remote acquaintances, yet everyone seemed to get along well enough, Whip's rude question aside. It pleased Wildfire and left her with a warm, fuzzy feeling in her belly.

"We should probably be getting back to the pack," Wildfire announced after a while, a note of regret in her voice. She made a point to step forward and nuzzle Fox, then Gannet and, finally, Whip. "Thanks for coming all this way. You all take care and I'll try to visit when I can." The Bandrona then backpedaled, standing at her mate's shoulder as their guests turned and disembarked. Wildfire stood there until they disappeared, then a little longer, before finally turning smilingly to the Heda and withdrawing back into Drageda.