Wolf RPG

Steady had not been able to quell his excitement when Mason agreed to going to Phoenix Maplewood. He hadn't seen Scarlett since their first meeting, and he couldn't wait to surprise her by showing up at her borders. He damn near pranced the whole way there, his tail wagging, not caring about their long journey and that he probably needed to save his energy. His crush on Scarlett was showing his youthful age.

Of course, his seeing Scarlett was second only to their mission for Mason. Steady had promised his nephew he would come with him to visit packs to see if they had a caregiver who could teach Mason about the trade. Steady hadn't lost sight of that. But, the smile for Scarlett refused to leave his face.

They had left Silvertip Mountain yesterday evening, planning to travel at night and get to their destination at a reasonable time. Steady didn't want to make the same mistake twice and arrive too late in the day and have to waste a night waiting again. Leaving when they did allowed them to arrive late in the morning.

He slowed to a stop as they approached the borders, his smile widening in excitement for a moment before turning to Mason. Ready? he asked. If Mason was, Steady would howl, requesting Scarlett in particular, not just because he wanted to see her so badly, but because it would be easier for them to call someone they knew instead of a stranger. Tail still wagging, though between his back legs instead of higher, he waited expectantly for her, his eyes scanning the area, looking for a glimpse of her snow-white fur and blood-red, captivating eyes.

Don’t worry! All fine, very excited for this thread! :D


 

Mason Silvertip, self-acclaimed Prince of Silvertip Mountain, was tired. He was supposed to have slept the day before, so that travelling through the night wouldn’t be an issue, but he had been too excited! Catnaps were all he had managed. Though he was tired, he would never have let it show if possible, and now that they were nearing their goal adrenaline began to course through his body, evaporating the weary threads in his veins.

 

Mason noticed that his Uncle appeared to be extremely excited too, but he merely chalked this up to Steady being a supportive role model and happy to do whatever it took to obtain the prince a trade. Therefore, with two wagging tails, the young men stepped towards the pack, ensuring they planted themselves a sensible and safe distance away from the scent borders.

 

Mason nodded to his uncle and howled alongside him, altering his call as he realised they were actually calling a particular lady… hmm. Mason stopped his howl at the appropriate time and side-eyed his Uncle, suspicious for the first time of his giddiness and possible ulterior motives. He didn’t say anything, because he knew full-well how awkward it was to talk about crushes (especially when they were on your Dad’s gal).

 

There they waited, pale and dark, stood so close the wind whisked the fur of their sides together. Mason hoped they weren’t waiting too long; he didn’t think he could maintain this composure.

Densa was close to the borders when she caught a howl that was meant for her mother. The charcoal colored girl turned her ears to the sky and listened. No she was wrong it were two wolves. She blinked in confusion. Who would even call for her mother? She was ill. Instantly her heart stopped was it her father and Xan that came for them? Maybe they heard about they mother being ill and he wanted to see her. In her excitement she didn't really realize that the male didn't sound like her father.

Desna ran towards the borders on her long elegant legs. She was normal sized for a female her age, which meant that she was getting a bit bigger than her mother. Yet, her mother had been quite small to begin with. Desna broke from the treelike to see a dark male and a lighter one. She instantly stopped. Her heart dropping a bit in disappointment. They were not her father and brother. She should have known. Still the girl felt responsible for talking to the strangers since her mother couldn't respond to the howl. Desna wondered if her mother even heard the howl. She had been very weak lately. Too weak.

Desna stepped forward now much more in control. Her hazel colored eyes looked confused for a moment. Her fur thick and soft looking which she gotten from her Inuit father. She placed her feet around the border, having a normal distance from the two. "You called for my mother?," she asked curiously. She was still a bit gangly like a wolf teenager would look like, it was better compared to the plump little thing she was as a child. Her ears pushed forward. "Who are you?," she wondered.

It wasn't very long at all before a charcoal-colored wolf came running towards them. Steady immediately lowered his head and tucked his tail a little more, making it apparent he was submissive and not here to cause trouble. He wasn't sure who this wolf was, but she seemed just as surprised to see them as Steady was her. She stepped towards them, and spoke. Apparently, it was Scarlett's daughter. Maybe just trying to beat her mother here?

Hopeful that Scarlett was on the way, he gladly answered the questions. Yes, we did, he replied. I am Steady, and this, he said, motioning to Mason, is Mason, my nephew. We're from Silvertip Mountain, here on business... and pleasure. He knew that might sound confusing, so he went on to explain. I bumped in to your Mom not too long ago, and was wondering if she'd humor a visit from me. Mason is looking to become a caregiver, and we were hoping that if your pack has one, we might be able to pick their brain. His voice was friendly and light, his heart beating in his chest as he kept hoping Scarlett would come through the trees. He did not take his attention from the female before them, however, fearing that would be rude, and his gaze stayed below her face.

Mason was watching for any movement and he spotted a dark shadow emerge from a straggling line of trees.  The shadow hesitated for a few moments. Mason realised that they may look a bit scary to such a slight and slender spook emerging from the murky darkness.


The blackness moved towards them and morphed carefully into a girl, elevated on stilt-like legs, but otherwise of a good build. Clearly this was not a pack that was wanting for food. Her black fur glistened in the early morning winter sunlight, which broke through the clouds to highlight her fur in a manner that suggested it wanted them to notice her beauty. As if they could not. 

Mason stood awestruck as she padded up, her posture elegantly commanding for a girl who could only be a tad younger than himself. He immediately lowered his thin white tail until it hovered between his back legs. His orange eyes stared at her black fur, wondering whether the depth was truly as soft and lustrous as it appeared, or whether the sun was still playing tricks on him. Uncle Sted, fortunately, saved the day and introduced them both. Mason’s mouth opened and but he closed it again quickly when he realised no sounds had come out at all. He coughed and then snuck a peek at her beautiful brown-green eyes before he averted his again.

“Er… yeah!” He interjected with terrible discordance after Steady had said his bit. Hopefully his shyness would evaporate – he had always thought of himself as quite confident but lately he realised he was only like this in his own packlands or around his packmates, where he knew his place and revelled in it. “Do you have one?” A caregiver, that was.

Desna look at the two males now with some curiosity. She stayed politely quiet when the dark male spoke. Her green eyes traveled over him. He was big and looked really strong. It was no wonder she was startled in the beginning. Yet, the male lowered his tail and actually seemed to show some submissiveness to her. Desna was quite surprised at this. After all she was youngster and not one of the alpha. She was used to her low rank so seeing these strangers show respect to her made Desna quite flattered. She could see why her mother would like the dark male. He introduced himself and the other. Her hazel green eyes traveled to the pale male. Her ears popped forward with interest. He seemed about her age and had eyes like fire, just like her sister.

Steady was speaking so she quickly turned her attention back to him. He spoke about knowing her mother and wanting to see her. Her mother hadn't really told her about meeting him but then again she hadn't been around much after her mother returned. She had a fight with her sister while her mother had been away, and after that she had been looking for herbs when the cougar-- Oh. She wasn't going to tell Steady that she hadn't heard of him before it seemed that it would hurt his feelings. He looked quite hopeful. Desna lightly jumped as Mason seemed to instantly add something to Steady's words. Desna's ears dropped a bit knowing that her information wasn't the one the two males were looking for.

"I'm Desna," she introduced at first. "Um. I don't think my mother can come and meet you. I'm sorry I am sure she would have loved to see you again, Mr. Steady," she spoke that last bit to him. "My mother is indeed a caregiver, mostly a sitter but she was working towards her medical trade. But when looking out for herbs in the marshlands she was attacked by a vicious cougar," Desna spoke, clearly a bit upset about it. "She is very weak, her wounds... you don't want to see them to be honest. I think it is better that you will remember my mother as you last saw her," she stated, not wanting to tell about the possible impending death that was looming over her mother. Desna tried to level her voice but of course it was very stressful on a teenager to see her mother so badly injured. Still she was proud of herself that she didn't burst into tears but could talk about it with some maturity. "Our alpha Reek is a medic, and well, my mother told me things too but I am not a caretaker myself," she admitted quietly. Her hazel eyes falling into Mason's orange ones with genuine sorry. "My mother loved helping so I am sure she would have told you some tricks. But... Yeah. I'm sorry."

The young female introduced herself as Desna, and Steady smiled. However, it was quickly wiped from his face as she told him he would not be able to see Scarlett. How could she say that without referring to Scarlett first? He tried to compose himself, but when Desna told Steady of the attack, he plumped down on his haunches in fear he would collapse. Scarlett had been attacked by a cougar. Was it the same cougar that had tried to kidnap Mason? The way Desna spoke, she didn't expect her mother to survive her injuries.

Steady couldn't respond. His eyes were glued to the ground between his front paws. He was in shock. It seemed like he had just met her, and now he wouldn't ever be able to see her again. He knew he needed to say something, but he just couldn't force himself yet.

Mason waited hopefully, his tail twitching softly behind him as it lay low in respect for this girl who was at the borders of her very home, willing to speak to them. To say Mason was desperate to further his career was an understatement. He was a boy on a mission, and now he was a man. He knew that some puppies managed to snag trades but he didn’t know how – he had been trying his very hardest but he didn’t have enough experience yet to even feel like he could approach his dad with his first beginnings. He was a perfectionist in this – he wanted to know his trade through and through before he was declared. He didn’t just want to be a caregiver, or just a healer – he wanted to do both. His Dad had informed him of the name of what this was, when they had discussed what he wanted to be. He wanted to be a nurse.
 
The girl looked disappointed as she gave them her name; a pretty pair of syllables which dripped like honey from her tongue. Desna.

She moved on to explain what had happened to her mother. It appeared Scarlett was doing just what he had been doing – working towards being a caregiver and a healer. Mason’s heartstrings were tugged in earnest at the reason her mother wasn’t here. Not only did he have a desparate urge to help, he also knew how scary it was to meet a cougar, and he had barely sustained a scratch. About to ask whether there was a medic which could help her mother, Desna already added that the alpha was a medic and helping. Good, hopefully she would get better then.

Green-brown eyes were cast directly at him and Mason tried a tremulous smile – obviously he didn’t expect her to apologise for her mum being poorly. He didn’t know how he would cope with his Dad in that situation, but he doubted he would want to stay on the borders long before getting back to him. Did she want to leave?

Mason cast an uneasy glance on Steady, wondering what to say at his Uncle’s clear hurt. Deciding that no words would be good enough, Mason pasted a gentle lick on his Uncle’s ear and moved off a foot, indicating for Desna to follow him a short distance away. Steady looked shell-shocked and he thought the least he could do was give his Uncle a minute. Desna already seemed to have come to terms with her mother’s predicament, though her voice had wavered.

Assuming that she was following him on his short stroll to the left of his Uncle, Mason spoke to Desna. He focused not on her in particular, as he felt it would be rude and intrusive to ask the personal feelings of a girl he had just met. “Is your pack going to be okay? Do you need help with herbs or food or anythin’ Desna?” Even in his distress for her predicament, he enjoyed the feel of her name first-spoken on his tongue. Mason turned his bright orange eyes on her face, testing for the reaction, careful not to overstep any boundaries she may wish upon their meeting. “I can ask my Dad and we can bring down some help. I’m sure he would want to help, especially since Uncle Sted…” Mason trailed off to glance behind him at his poor Uncle, then back at Desna. Fire-eyes rested on the bridge of her delicate, black muzzle. How he wished there was something more he could do.

Desna's eyes fell on the shocked dark male. He seemed pretty shocked by the news. Desna had been quite in distress too but now her mother had been sick for a while and seeing her not getting better had also dimmed down her hope. She expected the strong male to say something. Desna waited for him to say something but it never came he just looked down at his paws. Desna was just a teenager, having not met that many males yet. She didn't realize that this young male had been interested in her mother. Desna just thought that he was a friend. "I'm sorry," she whispered again, her ears falling back, like this was somehow her fault. Desna tried to remind herself that her mother had been an adult. Even adult wolves couldn't handle a cougar alone.

Mason's movements distracted her. He wanted her to follow him? Desna blinked for a moment. She stepped towards the side but looked over her shoulder at the dark colored male. He seemed so sad. She stopped where Mason stopped, they were still a little distance away. The girl had stepped over the border, confident they weren't going to hurt her. Desna was still adventurous and sometimes a bit reckless. And she couldn't see how a scent would protect her body. "No, we don't. I can hunt," she stated. She was pretty keen on wrapping up her trade soon and start to specialize in further techniques. "I mean, It is nicely offered Mason," she corrected herself. She sometimes had a bossy knack but she never meant it with a bad intention. "It is okay, truly. I appreciate that you offered help to me. If I ever need help I know I can come to Silvertip Mountain," she returned.

Her hazel eyes fell in his orange eyes before she quickly looked away. Mason was really nice, and close to her age too. Densa then turned to Steady. "Is he going to be okay? I guess my mother had quite an impact on him...," she stated, not truly getting the scope of her words. Desna wondered if she would tell her mother about Steady that she had the fight to get to her feet. But the teenager just knew her mother had lost her fight. Desna and her sisters were almost adults. The whole separation from her father had taken quite a lot on her mother and apparently before all that happened her mother didn't have such a nice life. "This sounds terrible but with mama being so weak you almost want her to find that rest," she admitted to Mason. "I think that is also good advise if you want to be a caregiver. Find the right balance when to give more and when to let go. Our healer Reek is set on saving my mother but her willpower died out, I watch her often and I have the feeling that she doesn't want his help. It is also enough for her and if that is what she wants then I will have to accept that," she ended in a whisper. "In the hope that she will be happy."

Desna sat down and looked at Mason, surprised by her own words because she just realized that she might be okay if her mother would leave her. "You know... Thank you. Thank you for listening and offering help. It might be the best remedy for now. I can see why mother would be friends with special wolves like you," she spoke with a sadden smile, a grateful one though. She figured that Mason also knew her mother. She was going to remember Silvertip Mountain as friends of her family.

Steady heard their words, his brain processed they were moving further away from him, but he couldn't quite respond to any of it yet. He felt so... sad. Scarlett was a lovely wolf, and all Steady had thought about since their meeting was getting to know her better. Now, it seemed, he would never get that opportunity.

His gaze moved to where Mason and Desna were talking, his face contorting in distaste when he realized how he was acting. Steady didn't feel he had any right to just shut down when Desna, Scarlett's daughter, had much more of a reason to. He couldn't imagine how she was feeling right now. Still, he couldn't quite deny that Scarlett did mean something to him, even after just the one meeting.

Standing, he walked to the pair, his gaze on Desna, his body language still respectful. I'm so sorry, Desna. Your mother is a wonderful wolf, he told her softly. He didn't want to speak in terms of Scarlett being gone, because she wasn't. And, on some level, Steady still held hope that Scarlett would recover.

Not having overheard their conversation regarding caregiving, Steady had no idea where to go from here. He felt it would be rude to ask Desna to call for Reek when the healer obviously had a lot on his plate right now. Still, maybe Desna knew this area better than they did. I was wondering if you knew of a nearby pack that might have a healer that could help us out? While deep inside, Steady wanted to stay and be updated, he knew that wouldn't be respectful to anyone.

Mason felt a bit affronted at her immediate denial. Then he reminded himself that she was in danger of losing a mother and it was likely to make anyone a bit snippy. She did also add that she appreciated the offer, and he felt his pride mend a little bit. He took comfort in knowing that she would come and seek them out if they truly fell onto bad times. Mason followed her pretty eye sback towards Steady. Mason shrugged awkwardly. “Yeah… it’ll probably take a while though.” He intoned quietly in response.

Desna suddenly provided a nugget of caretaker wisdom. Mason was quite shocked to hear her say this about her own mother – the wounds must be truly terrible to think  this. But the truth rang in his heart – surely it was better to slip into eternal rest, than to continue living in pain and suffering. Mason’s ears were plastered again his neck as she carried on, his heart going out to this beautiful young girl who was going through such a rough time.

When she had said her piece, Mason sat down next to her, close enough to feel the tips of her hairs touch the tips of his. He leaned in carefully to press his nose gently to her cheek for a couple of moments, “I’m sorry you are going through this Desna. It’s awful to lose a mother, and I can’t imagine what it is like to watch her in so much pain. I think you’re right to want what she wants – I think if she is giving up fighting then there is a reason, because I am sure she would not want to leave you unless she doesn’t think she can make it.” Mason hoped his words didn’t rub salt into wounds. He wanted to be supportive. The loss of his mother had rocked his world for about two weeks, but he was young, and he had bounced back with barely a memory of that time. He knew she would not be so lucky.

It was at this point that Steady got up and padded over to them. Mason watched him come and allowed one wag of his tail. He shuffled so that he was a little bit further from Desna, to incorporate his Uncle back into the conversation. Steady asked about any other Medics. “I wouldn’t both calling Redhawk Caldera, “Mason added to his Uncle’s words with disgust evident in his tone, “they don’t come when you call.”

Desna turned her head to Steady when he returned. She could understand what he was coming from. Though Desna was confused about the fact that Steady seemed so upset about this, which probably meant he knew her mother well, then why had she never told her about this Steady? Desna decided not to question it now. She only nodded to the dark colored man in thank you because she was soon distracted by Mason pressing his nose against her cheek. She felt some heat rising through her body, looking a bit flushed for a moment. She smiled a bit shyly at Mason.

"She didn't have such a nice life, she told me once. She was bullied for her red eyes and white fur. When she came to these lands she continued to have struggled. I think she fought so hard before that now she is just too tired to pull herself back up. Luckily, she made sure that we would have an okay life. She lived to take care of us really," Desna spoke, feeling that this kinda worked therapeutic to talk about her mother. She realized how much upbringing could do to a wolf. Her mother had to deal with bullying but Desna had to deal with separation of her parents. She looked at the two males, now realizing that it might be a bit strange to say all of that to two strangers. Yet, seeing that she felt better she wasn't going to dwell on it.

"I gave him some advise too, Mr. Steady," she explained to him, not wanting to be rude but still she found she had given good advise. It had to be mentioned. "I don't know anyone else but our alpha but he is busy right now. I'd rather not call him, I'm sorry," she ended in a whisper. "But when I know someone I can send them to you!," she offered. Desna could be quite bossy and she had the feeling she could totally make other wolves do what she liked, well most of the time. As a pup that had worked but now she was becoming more of an adult and she had to live with a pack's structure.

Steady listened as Desna talked about Scarlett. He remembered what Scarlett had told him, and he'd love to sink his teeth into Kove. Scarlett didn't deserve the abandonment and lack of respect he had shown her. He never met the male, and for the other wolf's sake, he hoped he never did. He didn't mention that he knew that, however, not wanting to bring up mad memories, especially if Kove was Desna's father, as Steady assumed he was.

He nodded when Desna explained that her Alpha was busy, but she would send someone if she found them. Thank you for that, we would very much appreciate it. But, don't put us first. Your mother and her needs come first, he said. He figured she already knew that, but he wanted her to know he realized that, as well.

Mason felt awful for Scarlett and Desna. Presumably she had siblings given the ‘us’ in her speech, and so he felt bad for this unknown wolf or wolves too. Mason’s ears twitched and he said the only thing he could think of: “well she had you, so she had some good things in her life too.”

Mason nodded – Desna’s advice had been good. It was an element to caretaking and nursing that he had not expected nor thought of previously. Letting someone go if they did not have the will or strength to carry on – to save precious time and resources for those future patients that could use them. Of course, if the wolf wanted to live, Mason would do his utmost to see it through. But perhaps when he came across his first fatal patient, Mason could rest easier knowing that eternal life was not everything to everyone. Especially if a wound was life-altering, such as losing a leg.

“That would be great, if you meet anyone, you can just mention my name…” Mason didn’t want her forcing wolves to come and give him advice as that would probably not breed good feeling. And of course he would not take Reek from his post. Which reminded him that they should probably let her get back to tending her mother, and making her apparent inevitable end as comfortable as possible.

 

Mason tagged onto the end of Steady’s sentiment: “Desna, we’re gonna go now,” a soft glance went to his Uncle, lest he try and resist, but it appeared he had made his peace with not being able to see his friend. “We’ll let you go back to your Mother. I am sure she is more at peace when you are around.” Mason wagged his tail and turned, ready to go, but making sure Steady was with him before he did so. He kept his eyes on Desna’s pretty features, wondering how long it would be before he would see her again, and whether her beautiful presence would be diminished by grief when he eventually did.

 

@Desna I would love a thread with Sebastian ^_^ let me know when you can do it
And I will try and use this as a caregiver thread, yes, I need to count how many I have to date, I might be closer than I thought!

Desna felt like their meeting was coming to an end. She wished that things would have gone differently but apparently it was not in the stars to end like that. The girl smiled with kindness at the other two. "I wish I could have done more. I am sorry," she spoke to the both of them. Desna hoped that she had giving enough advice to Mason so he could work on his trade. She was also quite ambitious with her trades, and liked that Mason would travel so much to learn. It was intriguing Desna.

"I had the feeling you might," she spoke about them leaving. "It was nice meeting you two. I hope you will feel better, Steady. I am sorry you came all this way for nothing," Desna returned to him. Her hazel eyes fell on Mason. "Good luck with your trade." Desna hoped that she would eventually have time to travel. She was curious about Silvertip. So he was definitely intending to visit them, but not until her mother would be better. She was definitely agreeing with the two males, she was her mother's light now. Her sisters were not that present lately and she knew her mother always was happy to see her. Maybe she could motivate her to get well. She hoped so.

Desna once again spoke her goodbyes and stayed at the edge of the border. She knew that other wolves weren't welcome on their lands and even though she didn't have the feeling they would sneak into the maple woods she stood there and watched them leave.

Steady gave a small smile to Desna, trying to reassure her. You've done all you can, he said softly. He understood that Scarlett wasn't up for visitors, and Desna was using all of her knowledge to help her mother, and Mason, too. He simply hoped Scarlett was comfortable, no matter what happened.

Mason spoke up, beginning their goodbyes. Stead was grateful that his nephew was there. If he hadn't been, Steady might not be able to leave of his own accord. He shook his head at Desna. No, not for nothing, he said simply. Steady went to turn to leave, but stopped, facing the female once more. You don't... You don't need to tell Scarlett I was here, he said, in almost a whisper. He didn't want his visit to be a burden on Scarlett.

With one final glance toward the tree line, as if she would be there, Steady turned to follow Mason home.