Moonspear moving day

no set post order for this thread because it'll probably be busy, but please don't post more than once per 24 hours to give everyone a chance to post. :)

After weeks of inspecting the rendezvous site to make sure it was still safe and after making sure @Galaxy was nursed back up to her full health, it was finally time. Charon and @Amekaze agreed that they would move the pups and though it was nearly a moon cycle later than intended, it felt right now. He rounded up Galaxy and her siblings @Vela and @Jarilo, of yet blissfully unaware of the tensions between the two sisters (and even if he had noticed anything he would likely just have blamed it on sisters being sisters, remembering his first batch clawing each others' eyes out and then making up the next day too).

"Time to move to the rendezvous site, girls," he called into the den that day, though quickly realising his mistake he corrected: "And tough guy Jarilo, of course." He was so used to having daughters that he sometimes forgot that he had Jarilo, too, especially considering Galaxy had taken much of his time and attention what with nearly dying, and Vela demanding the very same the other half of his time. Spending time with Jarilo happened but not nearly as much and exclusively as with his two daughters.

It helped that they were a little older so that they didn't really need much chaperones, though Charon would welcome @Hydra, @Alya and @Lyra and even @Korei Julia to help them, as well as anyone else in the pack who'd be want to be present. He had informed his older daughters as well as @Terance, @Wraen, @Olive, @Rouge and @Tryphon of the move in case they wanted to be present but also so that they knew the pups would be living at the rendezvous site from now on. It meant that the pups had become the responsibility of not just their parents, but the pack too, and that each wolf in the pack should make sure they were alright and watch and teach them. A step that didn't feel so scary last time around, but this year it was different after Galaxy's fall and Charon hoped the pack'd do their job taking care of his babies when he wasn't around.

The den was located in the lower slopes, in the forested area of Moonspear, and the rendezvous site was a bit further up the mountain, with more elevated territory, less trees, some streams that ran through it for fresh water and plenty of places to hide and romp around in. Charon waited outside the den for the pups to come out (and Ame, if she were in there, or maybe she was just hanging around outside the den; she must be happy to get her freedom back) so that they could get a move on to the rendezvous site.

The pale Omicron stared at the small heap of meat in front of her, biting her lip. After a moment, she turned away and strode from the den, nearly bumping into her father. In her surprise, she forgot all about Vela's awful words, which had a habit of echoing around in the back of her mind, as well as her sudden preoccupation with whether she really was fat and smelly.

"Daddy!" she half-shouted in surprise. She smiled up at him, white tail wagging behind her slim haunches. Charon had called into the den moments ago (while Galaxy was staring at her breakfast ration) but she must not have heard or understood him because she spontaneously asked, "Can you tell me a story? Do you know any about bears?"

Rouge was told prior to this time that Charon's offspring would be emerging from their den and be relocated to a new one. Being new and remembering past experiences with her former pack, she wanted to become more sociable and aquainted with the members within the pack. This event, though maybe small, would give her a chance to meet with new members or at least get to know Charon and his family better. 

She came up to the den site and stood a few yards away from Charon, nodding her head to him in acknowledgement. When Galaxy came out of the den it put a smile to Rouge's muzzle. Always having a soft spot for pups, she couldn't help but be entertained by her surprise and sudden desire to hear a story about bears. Rouge had come across a bear in her past, but nothing too eventful had happened. She waited to see if anyother members of the pack decided to show and anticipated the other pups that would emerge from the den.

He had just begun to settle in at the den for a rest when Charon came calling for them. It was that, paired with hearing Galaxy going outside already, that got him up and going again without very much of a second though. He stretched and moved from the den, out into the warm sunshine.. squinting and looking around. "Ran-day-what?" he asked, then yawned at his papa. He didn't bat an eye about being lumped in with one of the girls, or his father's later correction; in fact, he was quite used to it by now and didn't matter all that much to him anyway--tough guy Jarilo or one of the girls, he was fine with both. He was far more interested in what this move was going to be about and went plodding over to Charon (after eyeballing the stranger a bit first).

It had been foreshadowed to him for a couple of weeks now, and why sometimes he got to go on slightly lengthier trips away from homebase recently. Maybe if he thought really hard about it, he could remember Mama telling him that it would be coming soon.. but as only as abstract concept floating out in the air, it didn't mean much to him. He still returned to the same den each day, so it hadn't affected him any yet. Now though, it was about to change.

Waiting to move the litter had come with its share of valid reasons after all that had happened, but that did not mean the dark alpha was any less eager to finally do it now that seemingly, the dust had settled. They were in a good place to move forward, she believed, and increasing space and freedom ought to do them all a lot of good. Galaxy was back among them, mending enough, no other bears had been seen, and she had been doing small bits and pieces to make sure the pups were capable in preparation. Now that they were a little older, and the rest of the pack solid, hopefully her patience would pay off.

When Charon came to rally them up and out, she had been lounging nearby with a watchful eye set upon the area. She moved to his side in silence, though nudged his ruff with her muzzle, and returned to full vigilance. Amekaze wanted no repeats of last time they had got them out as a collective unit, and although this time there was far less room for trouble, she was taking no chances.

But above all, she was ready to get them settling in.

Could be a cameo - kinda a panic attaack lmao

He was around, as always, being the subdued guardian in the background. One by one the children slipped from their den and met with the adults waiting for them; when Tryphon saw them, he found himself mentally checking them off. He hadn't said a word about the missing child before - the one with three limbs - and the fact that the babe was not among them seemed to be perfectly fine (perfectly forgotten) to the Moonspear progenitors. It had been weeks. He should not have thought about it, but found himself imagining the days where he was so small - and while the memories were vague and foggy things, he couldn't help but wonder about this last child's fate.

Those that were alive and well, the children before him, seemed eager in different measures for the adventure ahead. It occurred to him then - just for a moment, a glimmer - that Tryphon himself had been subjected to quite the journey too. He recalled the scent of a river as if he were standing over it; the sensation of aching limbs, of a growing chill... And he had to look away from the gathering. Instead of watching them, he slipped through the shadows until he could gather his bearings, take a deep breath, and return to the present. The flash of memory did not make much sense to him (just like the others), but he was left feeling oddly.. Vacant.

Charon didn't really notice that he had startled Galaxy, though her question came as a surprise to him. He couldn't imagine why she'd want to hear a story about a bear after what had happened. It was better to just forget. Lucky for him he was there with a mission that day as the pups were rallied out of the den and he said, "No Galaxy, there's no time for that right now. You're moving to the rendezvous site today, away from the den." He looked at Amekaze as she wordlessly joined by her side and he nuzzled her cheek lovingly though briefly before turning back to look at the pups to make sure they understood.

An ear flicked back as he noted Tryphon in the background, though he paid him little mind and therefore didn't notice much of what was going on with him. It was good to know someone was watching and ready to help if needed.

feel free to pop in at any time @Vela (and anyone else wanting to join)! :)

Charon dismissed her request and suddenly there was a commotion all around the den site. Galaxy's lips pressed together as she looked around, picking up on the growing excitement. She hadn't a clue what her father meant by "rendezvous site," though her ears and tail both perked up at the words "away from the den." They were going on some sort of adventure!

"Ran-day-boo!" Galaxy jokingly cried as she abruptly thrust her muzzle into Jarilo's face, touching her nose to his before giggling and scrambling over to where their parents stood. She wanted to ask about Vela but hardly dared look at her sibling, much less address her directly. Galaxy surreptitiously looked around for her but instead spotted two unfamiliar wolves nearby who captured her attention and interest.

"Hi!" the exuberant young child shouted. When the golden brown one immediately retreated back into the shadows, Galaxy began to bound after him, calling, "Hey! Where are you going?"

As a few more minutes went by more and more wolves came into sight. Another one of the pups, this time a male, came out of the den. A female who Rouge assumed was Charon's mate, and the pup's mother, came into view and to the entrance of the den. The more excited of the two pups then turned away from her parents and in Rouges generla direction and said hello. Before Rouge had a chance to reply she noticed another male that had appeared but not for very long as he began to walk away. She wouldn't have noticed him if it weren't for the pups alarm.

Rouge looked over towards Charon and the female Rouge assumed was his mate. She wasn't sure what message her face would convey other then maybe I'll follower her or I'll keep an eye out. She then trotted and followed after the young female pup rushing after a male member of the pack. Wanting to make sure she didn't wonder off too far if her parents were too preoccupied with however many other pups resided within their soon to be old den.

She watched each and every wolf, from her pack to her littlest pups, and this got her tensing up when Galaxy began to move after Tryphon. Instantly she shot Jarilo a look that suggested he not do the same, which he seemed to catch onto thankfully, and usually Vela was obedient to her father--so Ame had fewer concerns there; still, she loomed over them carefully and watched Rouge move after her (with half a sigh of relief), though she was considering marching after the girl herself..

Apparently, Galaxy would be the one she'd have to mind the closest even still, and after all that had happened already. Amekaze tried not to feel too peeved yet, reminding herself of their painfully short attention spans right now--but she really did want to get them safely from point A to B without catastrophe. "Come on, everyone. It is an important walk to the rendezvous, and I want you to pay close attention to how we get there since soon, you will have to know how to get back to it yourself," she explained to the pups' who she could get to listen, and waited for Galaxy to be one of them so they could go.

After his questioning of what this was supposed to be exactly, Galaxy's snout in his face distracted him plenty, and he offered back an attempted lick when she booped at him--though he was still a little sluggish from sleep, so it was not exactly his best effort. He'd mumbled back something else that ended in a 'woOoOo' sound too before her attentions went elsewhere. Evidently, that would eventually be towards one of the other packwolves--the male that Jarilo was used to seeing around here and there, although he often didn't pay him too much mind.

Jarilo wasn't feeling motivated enough to go after her anyway, and his mama's stare certainly solidified him in place to await further instructions.

Charon watched as Galaxy called out to Tryphon and then went to dart after him. "Axe, stay here," he commanded in low voice that showed the urge in their cause. Having the pups disperse like that would do them little good. He hoped that Tryphon'd simply stop and return Galaxy, but maybe it was too late and he was already leaving.

If Galaxy wouldn't listen Charon would go after her and fetch her back himself and herd her back to the rest from where they could start the journey. Then he watched as Amekaze instructed the pups about the journey they were going to undertake.

Hydra moved alongisde @Alya and @Lyra toward the family den. Alya was excited and eager as ever, and Lyra was in a pleasant mood—Hydra herself was eager to see her family. They'd been tracking herd movements, but now that they had finished Alya chattered on about a boy. Lyra listened, enamored, and Hydra was rapt too... her own brand of "boy crazy" was far more subtle than her sisters, but it was present. 

They arrived in time and Alya and Lyra moved to help out. Hydra, noting Galaxy straying, trotted toward her and attempted to intercept with a nudge to put her on course. Wrong way, she hummed. Hydra was mindful of their surroundings lest Galaxy fall into another crevice. Was she small enough to...? She did look thinner... But perhaps not so small as to fall as she had when she was, well, basically a bean.

But he slipped away and Galaxy gave up fairly quickly, especially when hooked back by the sound of her father's voice. She spun on a milky white heel and rocketed back toward where he stood, slowing when Hydra stepped into her path and gave her an encouraging nudge in the right direction.

"Let's go!" she crowed, bounding toward her mother now and weaving, catlike, between the dark woman's legs.

Luckily is seemed that Galaxy woundn't wonder too far off course as her fathers call her back. Another female, similar in coloration and eye color to Rouge, had come to steer Galaxy back in the right direction. Rouge didn't get a chance to say anything to the pup but she was also glad that she didn't need to chase after her. Galaxy nuzzled against this new female before scurrying off back to her parents. Rouge looked up at this new female and nodded with a slight smile before Rouge turned back to follow the pack.

Without incident, they were back on track and heading in the right direction -- plus with the company of a few more faces, which the dark mother deemed as even better for their cause with the relief it'd bring her. She nodded a last glance over her shoulder to the others, ending with Charon. Then she leaned down to nip Galaxy's shoulders gently when she threaded through her legs into reach, and next Jarilo's rump got a pinch to get him focused and moving too. "Stay close," the mother reminded them. She went striding forward now that she was confident in her puppies gathered up for the time being and headed for the most direct route from here to the rendezvous.

Questions were sure to follow soon enough when they realized more about this next step in their lives, so she didn't distract them with explanations quite yet; it was important to her that they take this in themselves, however they needed to for best success. So long as they were moving forward and on their way, she was happy.

After gathering the pups together and instructing them it was finally time to set off. While they walked Charon talked to the pups about this and that, keeping them busy while they made their way to their new home — the rendezvous site, which ranged from the lower slopes with forests to some of the more mountaineous territory (a thing that terrified him considering what had happened to Galaxy before). With an excited smile he explained to the pups while they travelled, "The rendezvous site will be your new home. You'll stay there and the whole pack will help take care of you instead of just mama." Well, and him, of course, but not as intensively as their mother had.

He yipped softly and knew it was time to get going, so he did just that and fell in line with his siblings. Careful to mind himself, since he got the sense this was pretty important already (and if he didn't, he'd get way worse than that small pinch), he attempted to be the picture of an obedient, attentive little dude—even with the tiny touch of growing nervousness he had pooling in his gut over a big change like this that was becoming more real by the minute now that their paws were in motion.

The steely whelp still had relatively mixed feelings about the rest of the pack, but much of that was born out of not knowing them that well.. not like his little family unit that he saw day in and day out, especially. It would get easier with time, so, to what Papa told them about living there and not being mostly under Mama's jurisdiction, he still felt a little more watery at the notion suddenly. Something about less of her made his stomach clench weirdly just then. Despite his furrowed-up face, he did manage a nod, and peered at the back of her legs wide-eyed when he wasn't gawking at his sisters, the trees, and rocks instead.

Everyone else still seemed very excited about this. It wasn't easy to keep that funk he was feeling around for long..

A bunch of pawprints later, and he began to move past that to just find himself entirely distracted by it all. So much newness bringing so much to see, and anticipation was building awfully fast in the meantime thanks to what awaited them at the end of this walk. A new homebase could be fun.

Galaxy traipsed along with the rest of her family, excited to see their new home. It wasn't long before they arrived at their destination. It looked a lot like the den site, yet it was different at the same time. Soon, she would realize its true breadth, which was much vaster than the small dooryard where the pups had grown up so far.

Her ears tipped toward Charon's voice, yet she listened only absently. She looked around, then paused and looked questioningly at her parents. "Where do we sleep?" Galaxy asked with a slightly puzzled look, having seen no sign of a den.

Charon filled them in more, and they were there soon enough. She watched them take in their new surroundings quietly, studying them as she did. "Anywhere. You can curl up wherever suits you, basically," she explained to Galaxy's question with a gently sweeping gesture to the general expanse of the rendezvous. Personally, although her den was nice, she well preferred not being bound to a den at all. There were trees, roots, and nearby thickets to take advantage of, or even small caves none too far away. The options were quite vast outside of the whelping den. "Maybe when the weather is sour, beneath a tree. Or on a clear night, someplace with the stars overhead. There are many other sorts of cover than just the den, you know," she chuffed lightly, trying to not make it sound too unappealing overall, despite how different it would be from what they were used to.

She was convinced they'd get used to it with time, anyway, and she'd gladly show them the benefits of dozing in the relative open when the time came. For now, they just had to settle in. "You will see. Check it all out," she reached to nudge a nearby pup's rump. "And be careful." Ame reminded them once again

Amekaze explained what Galaxy wanted to know, giving Charon some time to herd Vela and Jarilo further along. Vela wasn't too eager to come, but once Charon told her that she'd see lots of cool things she seemed a bit happier, especially now that he was paying attention to her rather than to Galaxy or Jarilo. Charon mostly focussed on Vela as they went along, noticing the girl got happier and happier as they moved.

Once they'd reached the rendezvous site he set her free to go and explore it herself, though he, Amekaze and the others of the pack would of course keep an eye on the pups while they went along.

Her brows nearly lifted off her face when her mother explained that she could sleep wherever she wanted, right out in the open! "Really?" the pup said with a blink, then grinned. "Cool!" she declared before promptly dropping her nose to the ground and sniffing hither and thither, exploring her new home and trying to find the best spots for eating, playing, sleeping, etc.