Winter had come. Harlyn didn't need the fresh blanket of snow upon the ground or the bitter chill in the air to tell. She knew it in the whispers of wind through the trees, by the feeling of peace and calm that had settled onto the hollow. She felt it in her very soul - the solstice was upon them, promising rebirth and the strengthening of the sun.
Harlyn knew of none now in her life that recognized the traditions of her ancestors. She did not fault those she did know for it, nor did she choose to go out of her way to impress her wisdom upon them. She had never thought it her place to push others to believe as she did. If the flocks came to her and asked to learn, she would teach. At her age though, the druid knew very well the folly of trying to teach those whose minds and hearts were not open to the spirits. Besides, hers was a tolerant theology. Her gods cared for and protected those who could not see them and who ignored their wills, so why should she be any different?
So, it was in quiet solitude that Harlyn began to comb her forest home in search of evergreens just like her birth pack had done when she was a little girl. It was more difficult than one would expect as the Hollow was home to poplar and aspen moreso than pine. But, the druid was a patient and determined woman, and so she stuck to her task quite contentedly as time stretched on.
*tosses Lagon at* Ku & I've been assuming that it was Harlyn that accepted Lagon sooo I'ma say he at least recognizes her on sight that way they can get to know one another better without assuming too much. ^-^
The process of filling caches was far from the dragon's favorite but as it stood it was necessary even though he had no interest in the Hunter trade. The hard earth was a formidable opponent for his blunt nails as he had worked to dig up a cache and toss the still warm but rapidly cooling hare into the hole. Kicking the dirt back to cover it was easier, but the earth was unyielding from the cold, making his task harder still, even though in some ways Lagon understood. In truth, he wasn't much of a winter fan himself. After ensuring that the cache was covered effectively enough to hopefully pass by unsuspected by any predators aside from the wolves of the Hollow, he'd decided to scavenge for babbles to join his two lonely rocks at the back of his den. Lagon had felt like he'd won the jackpot when he stumbled across what appeared to be the top piece of an antler rack. A quick assessment told him that it had likely snapped off during a fight between two bucks as they fought for whatever doe had tickled their fancy. The deer were in their rutting season (even if he didn't exactly want to think about his potential meals doin' the dirty because
ew) and the broken pieces of antlers were his favorite. A whole rack would be the ultimate treasure but he'd never been that lucky.
Without skipping a beat Lagon's head bent to grasp the piece in his betwixt his jaws and carried it forth, unintentionally slobbering around it as he struggled with it for a moment, trying to find a comfortable position in his mouth to carry it in without the small curved pieces jabbing him in the tongue or the roof of his mouth. On his way to take it back to his den he paused, catching the familiar scent of the alpha female, Harlyn. His course deviated towards her immediately, abandoning his original plan as he padded after her scent trail, letting out a chuff of greeting muffled by the antler in his mouth, his posture lowering to one of submission naturally.
Flynn's time with the Hollow had been short, and her encounters with its pack members had been few. She was still wary as she had always been, and her ways and knowledge of pack etiquette screamed loudly in what few encounters in which she had found herself.
It was sad she felt she needed a mentor in something that seemed should be instinct to most. It made her question her upbringing. No...she didn't know if it was her upbringing or something defective within herself. Flynn felt alone in this large new world as she was told that their was a new way to live.
The Cache was an entirely new concept to the she-wolf. While living wild with her brother Milo, they simply ate what they managed to catch. There was no saving it for a rainy day or to share with another wolf without question of who caught what kill. She admitted it was a decent system, but entirely foreign and she wasn't quite certain how to go about all of it.
She looked at the Cache before her emptily. Someone had just dropped a hare recently, its body still warm from the kill. She hungered for it, staring intently at the red coming from its fur. It was not her turn to eat though, and she knew this much. He turned quickly away and caught the tail end of a familiar wolf prancing away. "Lagon..." Her voice was low, almost a whisper to herself. She cocked her head and padded her way toward him, her tail tucked shyly between her legs and ears tucked against her cap.
She could smell his scent as she followed behind him, and another familiar scent soon filled her senses. It was the Alpha who had first greeted her, Harlyn. Flynn remembered her well. She was intimidated but also felt a deep sense of respect and wonder for the she-wolf. She came from behind slightly slower, almost hesitant, lowering herself to the ground and diverting her eyes from the bodies of the two wolves.
Harlyn had been humming softly to herself as she wandered and when the sound of another's footsteps began to keep the beat for her, a small smile broke upon her muzzle. She paused to look back over her shoulder as the sooty form of Ancalagon came into view. She returned the chuff as she turned fully towards him, bowing her head to touch her nose softly to his crown as he lowered himself.
"Looks like I'm not the only one treasure-hunting today," she commented, her eyes upon the antler he carried like a trophy. Harlyn parted her mouth to question where he'd found it when a second voice distracted her. The voice was followed shortly by a wolf who looked to be Lagon's opposite. Flynn.
The newcomer bowed submissively and Harlyn gave an approving growl, tapping her upon her temple with her nose just as she had Lagon. Dropping to her haunches in a relaxed posture, she wordlessly invited them to do the same with a cant of her head.
Ancalagon had not realized he'd been being followed for Flynn had kept herself just far enough behind his trail that her footfalls against the earth hadn't raised his suspicion. He had placed the antler at his paws when he'd lowered into submission, his tail giving a few wags when he felt the touch of Harlyn's nose to the crown of his head. “You like treasures too?” Lagon asked with unbidden surprise, though he supposed it shouldn't have surprised him. He wasn't the only wolf out there that enjoyed collecting things, and the prospect that Harlyn, too, enjoyed collecting things might have given them something in common, or so Lagon took to believe anyway.
Flynn came upon the scene shortly after that, and Lagon spared her a curious look when Harlyn greeted her in very much the same why that she'd greeted Lagon himself. When Harlyn gestured for them to join her in taking a more relaxed position Lagon rose and settled upon his haunches, tail wagging against the ground for a few moments, offering both women a smile.
Soooooooooooo since Flynn is now inactive, we definitely have two threads together, one happening right after the other. Totally not weird LOL
The arrival of Flynn distracted Harlyn from the nod she began to give her packmate to confirm that she was a fan of treasures as well. The other female was quick to excuse herself though, apparently not keen on conversation now that she had to share Lagon with her alpha. Harlyn smirked slightly as she left, glancing keenly over at Lagon to see how he might be feeling about the pretty young girl's abrupt departure. The alpha considered herself thoroughly taken, which meant she was very much in the position to do some match making and meddling in the love lives of others. The most magical part of a relationship was the very beginning, which was something she would never again experience. It was time to live vicariously through others, she supposed.
"Too bad she couldn't stay," Harlyn said almost off-handedly, though there was a slyness in her tone that she was incapable of masking being the not so suave wolf that she was,
"She's a pretty thing." Her gaze was focused on the trees through which Flynn had disappeared, though she kept glancing backwards to catch glimpses of Lagon's face, interested to see how he reacted.
lol. harlyn attempting to play matchmaker is the best thing ever despite that lagon is oblivious, lol.
Though it was extremely confusing to Lagon, Flynn had came upon the scene and excused herself in what seemed to be the same moment. The dragon's brow rose as he watched her depart, lips settling in perplexity as she disappeared into the foliage. Lagon's mahogany gaze rested upon the path she'd taken for a few seconds longer before with a lofty shrug he turned back to Harlyn. He found Flynn's behavior odd but chose not to capitalize upon it, though Harlyn mentioned about it being a shame that she couldn't stay and unable to help himself Lagon murmured “That was really weird.” in agreement. Perhaps it was because she wasn't used to being in a pack, having traveled with her brother ...or so that was what she'd told Lagon.
When Harlyn offered her absent observation in regards to Flynn's physical appearance with a hint of slyness that Lagon was oblivious to he felt his brow furrow as he truly contemplated it. As it was, he hadn't ever really taken notice before. Their first run-in had started off a little rough though it had ended amiable enough. “I suppose so.” Lagon muttered accenting his words with another shrug. Yet, he wasn't quite sure what Flynn's “prettiness” had to do with anything.
Lol she doesn't always amuse me being so level-headed and normal, but I am enjoying the two of them right now :P
Harlyn suppressed a grin at the thoughtful furrow of Lagon's brow. His words were honest and innocent, but she read something there (even though there was nothing to read). His response was non-committal and his shrug a little too non-chalant. She suspected he was trying to play it cool with his reaction, which meant she would need to pry it from him.
"There's something in her eyes, I think," Harlyn commented lightly,
"They're very...." She allowed her comment to drift as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. She wanted to trick Lagon into answering so she could hit him with an
a-ha! He just needed to take the "cleverly" laid bait...
He didn't, but Harlyn continued to pester him until they parted ways not realizing she would be seeing him again in only a few minutes.
Ending!