The walk back to her home didn’t feel as long as it is as she banters back and forth with her sister, wavering somewhere between happiness, for their future now that she’d found her sister, and sadness that they actually had to reunite. They are in different places, forced to mourn on their own time instead of together and bringing those emotions back up isn’t something Root wants to face, unsure of Jazz wanted it either, but they could figure it out later.
As they approach the space opening up into her home, she hovers over the borders next to her sister. She easily had the scent to walk in but taking Jazz along with her isn’t her choice. A new home they could have together is on the horizon and a simple call away.
“Ready?” she asks, a hesitant smile on her features. She shouldn’t have to worry since Harlyn easily had taken in her newfound cousin but she didn’t know the woman had already disappeared. When
@Jazz gives her the go ahead, she lifts her nose and calls for
@Harlyn or
@Mordecai to meet her with the hint of happiness in her tones.
Midday found the world cast in shades of grey and brown, but he found a certain vividness in it. Though it was far from the greening landscape he would have preferred to see for his children's sake, Mordecai knew it would not be far behind. Or at least that was the thought that ended up derailing itself, interrupted by a crisp howl that rolled through the bare canopy. He had been headed out towards the borders to do a late sweep but this expedited such; he responded with a low call of his own as he headed off.
When he happened upon Root along the borders, he found himself not at all surprised that she had found someone lingering there. With the depths of winter having hit their proverbial peak, the cold would only serve to draw more to their doorstep in search of shelter among other things. As his approach slowed, he surveyed the wolf she had with her curiously. Given the last few that had come along their borders, Mordecai had not been overly impressed. He found himself inclined to resign to that already, prompted by even moreso now by the introduction of puppies.
Wordlessly he came to halt near them, his solitary gaze shifting from the recruited to the recruiter. He didn't find words to ask what was going on, his posture spoke of it and he knew Root would deliver. She had pulled her weight for the most part since Harlyn had taken her in, so perhaps that same insight to contribute would aid them in further bolstering their numbers.
She followed quietly, biting back her feelings of trepidation and overall exhaustion. But this was what she needed to do. Knowing Root was here helped. But, Jazz had never appealed to a pack before and had never done so feeling so.. ragged. She knew she looked like shit. Felt like it, too. Not exactly a prime-material recruit here in the dead of winter and there was a nervous knot in the back of her throat because of this.
Jazz grew more anxious the closer the pack boundaries came, and stuck accordingly close to Root -- banking far more on her sister's reputation than she intended. She was stone-faced as they stopped where boundary scents were so strong, and a question followed. This was as ready as she could ever be. "Ready." Jazz nodded with ears fanning when her sister's call rose. She was taking in the scents in the meantime.
A dominant male appeared soon after and she rooted her stare to the ground to the left of his paws while the rest of her drooped nervously. She still knew his eyes were on her, though, and her ears tucked down further at the feeling. Jazz would follow her sister's lead for now, not speak until she did, and hope for the best. She edged just a little closer to her then by sliding a hind foot nearer and watched the Alpha from the corner of her eye best she could.
pls excuse root's wiggly puppiness >>;
While she waited, she gently bumped her sister’s shoulder and gave her a nudge of the nose. Though the apprehensive expression on Jazz’s face sits uneasily with Root but she brushes it away to nerves. She’s overwhelmed and excited to have her back, despite what’s to come, and she’s barely considered what it’s really like for Jazz. Root’s already gotten comfortable in the hollow, the days of joining and getting settled were behind her.
Mordecai shows up before she knows it and her feet are unsteady, her tail waving eagerly behind her so much that it bounces off Jazz’s thigh.
“Heh-hey!” she finally manages through excitement. “I um, I was out and I—” what Root hasn’t done is prepare what she’d planned to say to whomever showed up “—this is my sister. We’d been separated when my home had been attacked,” she explained, uncertain how much he knew. She takes a few breaths to try and relax, glancing toward the silvery woman. “I brought her back here. To uh, to join.”
Root did not wait to jump into an explanation, though he initially found himself surprised by starting and stopping. It was as though the words she was searching for simply would not come to light in the right order, but Mordecai was patient enough to see it through. And for good reason it seemed her excitement stemmed — there would have been a time when even he would have been excited at the presence of his siblings at the borders.
But as it were, his relatives were scattered far and wide and most of them were truthfully out of sight and mind. But her reunion with her own kin stirred a thought for his, and it softened his features slightly. His gaze lingered to her sister for a moment, offering her a once-over. She seemed healthy, but so had most of the wolves that had been along their borders in the recent weeks.
"What can you do for us?" he opted to ask, perhaps sparing Root the stumbling dialogue. He was interested in hearing from this sibling of hers, and naturally curious whether or not she possessed similar attributes of her sibling.
Root was excited. Her words came in a happy rush that warmed Jazz's uneasiness just some and had her spirits lifting. That and the fact that the Alpha did not seem horrible too -- not that she had expected Root to be happy with a nasty leader. But, so long as this went well, this could be the start of something good for them both. It was no wonder she was excited, and Jazz's tail gave a few small wags. "I'm Jazz," she interjected somewhere where it seemed appropriate, since her sister had covered a lot of the other worthwhile bullet points.
Then, a question just for her. She hoped she didn't seem too flustered when she sucked in a quick breath, attempting to compose herself well enough to answer as sagely as she could. Anything you need me to do was the first thing that came to mind, but she wanted to set herself apart better than that -- even if that was the case. "I can hunt alright, and guard. Patrols, the like.. I'm best at that," she nodded, for it was what she had the most experience with. She liked the monotony of circling borders, but also was not afraid to throw blows if she needed to when things went wrong.
Jazz didn't feel right rambling on, so cut it off there with an imploring look in the Alpha's direction to see if he needed to hear more than just that.
Mordecai pays little attention to her once she’s explained the situation and she feels her cheeks burn. If her fur could change colors, they’d be painted with a bright red and she’s thankful she can hide that. She isn’t able to disguise the sudden strained look behind her eyes but neither of them are looking at her and for that, she is thankful. Root closes her eyes when she realizes she hadn’t said her sister’s name, turning away for a moment until she speaks again.
When she’s explained what she can do—and Root would vouch for her if she had to—she peers toward Mordecai to try and read his expression. Tt’s just out of reach that makes her sit back and wait with a held breath.
He wasn't sure what he expected, finding that almost every wolf that had been along his borders roughly said that the same thing. They could hunt, they could patrol and help defend. Of course, all of those things were very much important to their survival, and not just in the solitary sense. But if there was one thing that he could appreciate, it was the honesty that held fast in her voice.
"Well, we're always in need of good hunters and capable wolves to patrol our borders," he said, nodding agreeably with what she had said. "I will forewarn you that we've had our share of issues along these borders, though," and he supposed if that did not suit her, then things would go uncomfortably. "Do you think you could handle that?"
She thought of what else she ought to mention. None of it sounded that good though. Jazz had entertained the notion that maybe, after some good rest and when springtime made travel easier, she might like to try scouting -- formally, with a plan for the pack's purpose and all, but she had no experience in it or a real concrete plan on whether or not it was really for her. It was just a notion she'd cooked up while wandering. So, it did not seem worth a mention and she did not want to seem like a flake if she didn't end up following through on it. Guarding was her strongest suit and she wanted it to be capitalized on her resume. She knew she could do that for this pack.
Her ears quivered, finding his mention of the "issue" as far as border conditions went a little ominous and immediately wondered what that could mean. She fought the urge to shoot a look her sister's way and resolved to ask her later instead. Jazz was determined to get through this one step at a time. "I do have some experience already -- not on.. everything that can happen guarding yet," she said. Out of everything that could happen on the borders, her experiences were mostly textbook stuff. Some more tense than others occasionally. Mostly alright. But it had to count for something. "But yes I'd do whatever I could no matter the issue." she said, resolve steeling with a firm face.
@Root — nice try mica i'm not letting you escape so easily lmfaoooo. i'll title up jazz now so you can skip about; sorry about the delay on this too gerra, this cold and work are kicking my ass one way and another. x_x
He had piqued her interest, but had not dissuaded her either. Though Jazz offered no further questions on what those issues may have been, Mordecai did catch the glance that she made to Root. But he thought little on it, knowing that the blanks would soon fill themselves in if they did not churn to light then and there.
An agreeable nod followed the resolve of her voice as it faded away however, and Mordecai found that he was satisfied. Even he did not know of all the dangers that could come about at the borders, as for the most part his experiences with them — barring the cougar — had been mundane and common. But dangers did seem to lurk in those parts, like a culminating storm on the horizon that had yet to blot out the strength of the sun.
"Good, that is what we need," he stated, the nod only coming to cease then. There were plenty of things that the Hollow needed, this he could have reasoned, but first and foremost on his mind was keeping them all safe. The rest would be pulled along.
"I see no reasons to turn you away, so, welcome," and his voice carried on, albeit possibly awkward in wording. He had long been turning away wolves at their door, taking them in was a change of pace. His gaze shifted then to Root, in part to gauge her reaction but also to make a request of her.
"I suppose you'd like the honors to show your sister around?"
Mordecai takes her sister in and Root’s grin only increases, if it is possible. She hadn’t considered what would happen if Mordecai had turned Jazz away but that hadn’t been a possible scenario, right? She couldn’t return to a place she calls home without her sister and the possibility they would be denied didn’t even need to be crossed. Tension had been in her chest but she shakes them off as nerves once the leader turns to her for the grand tour of her new home.
She’s unable to speak and instead, eagerly nods her head before bumping her nose against her sister. Something to eat, if one of her caches were still full, but then it’s off for Root to show her around.
<33
He extended the welcome and relief followed. Evidently, she was needed enough here for this to all go well enough. Jazz was thankful. She wiggled her tail hopefully.
"Thank you," she offered, deepening the bow of her head with a nod before he took his leave. She then looked to Root, knowing her sister would be beyond thrilled. Jazz felt better, too.
Jazz took a deep breath and got ready to follow. She nudged against her sister happily with a low chuff. Much awaited her but she didn't really know where to begin, aside from the obvios things. She now officially belonged and it was a lot to take in.