After the encounter with a hostile wolf in the King Elk Forest, Giancarlo howled and gathered his family as soon as he could. He made haste in his explanation of the situation, and as soon as they were together again, they pushed away from the from the embrace of the wood and fled from the lingering threat of the pack to the west. They traveled north into the unclaimed lands in search of greener pastures, but as they continued along, it became more clear to Giancarlo that he wouldn't see green for anytime soon. The destruction created by the swarm was much further reaching than he had hoped.
With few landmarks to guide them, Giancarlo led his family in the direction of the cloud-swept mountain top in the distance: the Nimbus Summit (not that he even knew the name). Day turned into night and darkness fell. With a fair amount of distance laid between the Ferretti family and the creek pack, he called his family to rest at the base of the mountain.
He settled to his haunches and watched the steam ripple from the underground vents as they distorted in the moonlight.
Yay! This is close to water, so they can fish! right? :o
Primo, as much as he would've liked to nap right now, came to his son as he howled for the family to gather. He yawned, already knowing the situation with the whole hostile bitch and couldn't wait to start moving. That was sarcastic. Traveling with the ferretti's was horrible, especially with everyone's (including his) complaints about anything. "it's too hot" "get out of my way" "Giancarlo, hold me closer!", it was getting annoying. So, for a change, Primo kept quiet, traveling just behind his son. He let his head hang as the sun lit up his colorless pelt and could only hope for the angry woman back at first base to die.
They went to a mountain, a place Primo had never lived on before. He was sure it wouldn't be all that hard to adapt to mountain terrain, but with old bones the chance of falling and breaking something was high. He hoped they wouldn't climb it, that his son was smarter than that, and it soon became clear he was. They stopped at the base of the high thing that made Primo afraid by just looking at it. The stars were already lit and shining when Primo also settled, a little further away from his family. An old man needed his space after all.
He sat down and watched the bunch of them, finally exclaiming; Well, that sure was a trip I'd like t' forget!
Giana and Carlotta were returning from Black Morass, and the ivory female only just heard her mate's call. Ah, shit. Was her first thought but it didn't seem he was only calling for them, rather the whole pack. Had they ALL wandered today? The thought caused a low chuckle to spill from her maw. The rust-sprinkled female picked up her pace until she galloped along her markers back to camp, assuming her daughter followed.
She was there only seconds, and Giancarlo launched into a tale of some bitch causing problems. Probably good that she hadn't been there, and definitely good they would be leaving. Thoughts of finding the woman they talked about taunted in the back of her mind, but she squished it back: her mate was leading everyone away. That overruled her spiteful ideas, and she was quick to fall in beside the don, staying at the flank where Primo was not.
Her storm cloud eyes found the mountain in the distance, and she was fixated at once. Giana prayed that Gian took them there, and her heart soared when he did. He stopped at the base, and the snowy queen was glad to take a break. She would be glad to explore later, once everyone had gone to bed. Seeing the stars from somewhere up there: that was her goal for the night. One way or another, she would achieve it. For now, she lied beside Giancarlo and lightly against the dark male. She called to Primo in a teasing, kind voice.
"It could have been worse. A little scenery might've been nice, but we made it here didn't we?"
She was mildly pissed off. That other place seemed fine, and what was one hostile wolf to her? She could fight well, and she knew her family could. In fact, it annoyed her that because of one hostile wolf, they had to move. She had tried and tried again to remind her brother of this, but he had made them go here. She felt that she could fight, if it came to it, and make herself welcome if necessary.
During the journey, Cecilia had been trying to hold Remmy close to her, even though she knew he was getting too old for that stuff. C'mon Cecilia she thought to herself You've gotta let him run free eventually. She sighed when they arrived "Better than nothing" she said aloud.
Cyril was the one who lagged behind the group, scowling most of the time. Why should Giancarlo be able to run this joint? He could do far better than his stupid older brother, and they wouldn't have moved away from one freakin female.
Catching up to his settling family, he heard the exchanges and immediately joined in. "What are you talkin 'bout? This is nothing!" he exclaimed, guesturing with his head the deadness that surrounded them.
Again, they were uprooted from their temporary home by seemingly the same reason why they left the Basin in the first place. The threat of another pack attacking their small family group worried Remmy and so he was glad they were moving on, despite just wanting stability back in his life. The ceaseless wandering and general unknown of what they were going to face the next day kept him in a constant state of unease. He kept close to Cecilia, feeling comforted when he was near his mother, oblivious to her realisation that he was getting too old to be coddled so.
Their Don signalled for them to halt at the base of a mountain that reached high into the clouds — a sight that made Remmy's head spin as he looked up at it. The ground was warmer here, it felt nice on his aching paws. One by one, the family began to relax, but not without each making their opinion known. Remmy settled beside his mother, nervously nibbling at his forepaws as he listened to Cyril as he sauntered onto the scene with a retort aimed at Cecilia.
One by one, the Ferretti family settled in and made themselves comfortable at the base of the mountain -- each with a peanut gallery comment of their own. Most were negitive and Giancarlo could feel that the stress of being on the road was wearing hard on the family. He wanted nothing more than to stop this search and provide his family with a proper place to settle, but part of him knew his search was far from over.
As another puff of steam rose from the underground vent and streamed upward to join the clouds, Giacarlo's attention was stolen away by the presence of his wife. When she leaned into him, the troubles of the day melted away. Though they bickered and fought (like all married couples do), she was still the love of his life and the heart of his family. He drew his head over her neck and began to preen at the fur at the base of her neck -- grooming as the rest of the family offered their opinions.
Surprisingly, it was Cyril who was the most positive. Giancarlo stopped his motions and his brow furrowed. As his eyes fell on Cyril, a smile crossed his lips. "That's the spirt," he said, nodding his head. "We're all together and safe. That's what matters." As long as the family remained together, they remained strong.
"Maybe we can settle here for a while," he offered after a beat, knowing that a place to rest was exactly what his family sought. "What do you all think?" He asked.
Primo listened to everyone that had something that they didn't like. Typical Ferretti complaining. He sighed, watching the steam that went up to where he couldn't see the stars anymore. Oh Luisa, what was going to happen to their beautiful family?
When his son spoke up, he ignored him, turning his back to the rest of them. He was tired and grumpy. when he said though that they might settle here, Primo rumbled; As long as we don't go up that stupid mountain.
He lay down, back still to his family, and placed his head on his paws. At least it wasn't cold here. He listened to the faint puffs of the weird craters that spewed out this weird gas, and it somewhat relaxed him.
He closed his eyes, falling asleep just moments after.
-Primo out :p-
The rest of the family interjected with their own opinion, a normal thing for these wolves. Primo in particular seemed miffed that they were here, but it wasn't long before he was dozing. Cyril, as usual, had to be a pain. Giana had to admit, usually they shared the same ideals: she, however, WAS at the top. Her mates grooming, however, lulled her off into a happy daze, and not one she was willing to break in arguing with anyone. Let them hash it out themselves. The ivory queen was content to groom Giancarlo's chest, losing herself in their contact. Truly, he was the only one ready and willing to put up with her, and moreso the only one to calm her temper. Much as they clashed and got on one anothers nerves, Gian was the only man for her.
Carlotta had been with Giana, exploring the Black Morass when they had heard her Father's howl, calling the family back together. That must have meant something had happened, most likely a run in with a pack. Though she had not found any markers near their temporary camp, someone must have noticed her family's arrival. They followed their Patriarch to a nearby mountain, the base littered with vents releasing puffs of steam, and Carlotta found it all rather beautiful in a foreign way. It was night by the time everyone got settled, tossing their opinions back and forth like and Hack sack, Lotti being too tired to add her own.
It was comforting to know that no matter what, there was always the family, and their loud, at times overbearing but loving company. It didn't matter where they seemed to end up, it would be home as long as they stuck together. Carlotta watched as her parents found each other, showing one another overdue affection. Her aunt and uncle each sat in their own spots, determined not to crumble under the pressure of this constant wandering and her grandfather seemed to be asleep already. Sighing with weariness, the femme padded over to where her cousin Remmy was laying with her aunt, and curled herself next to him. In the morning there would be plenty of time for trying to fill their bellies, but for now they would rest.
Lotti took one last glance around her, crystalline eyes taking in the sight of her kin. Yes, they would be fine.
Cecilia watched her niece slip next to her son. Carlotta was always Cecilia's favorite, partly because she liked to hang out with Remmy. She smiled at the girl, then watched her fall asleep. Cecilia was pleased that Carlotta was able to sleep so easily. Cecilia knew what it was like to be restless and unable to be tired.
She looked over to Remmy. "Don't nibble your paws" she said, nudging him slightly. She was slightly annoyed with Cyril, but she wouldn't let it show. Not like when she was a little pup. She smiled, remembering all the little fights she had gotten into.
Cyril yawned and stretched down into a laying postition. "I agree with ol' pops," he said tiredly, spreading out. He rolled over onto his back to look up at the mountian, pointing directly up to the myriad of stars. With one last upside-down sweeping glance of his family to make sure they were alright, he curled himself back onto his stomach, crossed his paws, and drifted off.
Just posting here about Primo's dream to not go inactive.
Primo mumbled something that could not be understood in reality. He was entering his dream state, the one he used to see his lovely mate.
He was in a field, much like home, yet different. A million fireflies fluttered through the moonlit sky, and an owl perched onto a great branch that was attached to a tree that Primo hadn't noticed yet. It was the purest white snowy owl he had ever seen, as if it didn't belong here on earth at all. It was like an angel, a bright light shining into his old eyes, onto his gray face. He closed them, looking away for just a moment, until he heard a voice.
"Tired, my dear?"
He looked over to where once the snowy owl had perched, only to find nothing there. His eyes traveled down, to the frame of his mate, shining in some holy glow. His jaw dropped. Is that really you?
"I am what you believe I am."
Primo walked toward her, but his legs were stuck in veins, thorns pricking into his old, tough flesh. Am I dead?
He asked breathlessly.
"No, dear, just dreaming. just dreaming..."
With those last words, a blinding light lit up the darkness struck field, and Primo was forced to close his eyes once again. When he opened them again, the owl was back, perched onto a higher branch than before. It spread it's wings, taking off without a sound into the sky, into the night. Wait, wait don't go!
Primo called out. Not again...
He sighed.
Wrapping this up!
The bickering didn't escalate any further, thankfully. It seemed the family were all too weary from their travels to do so. His mother didn't spur Cyril on, instead responding to his taunt with only a smile, and Remmy huddled closer to her. At her nudge and quiet words, he folded his paws beneath him with a huff, knowing she didn't like him chewing his toes so much but unable to help himself.
When Carlotta curled up beside them, Remmy settled somewhat, letting his head droop over Cecilia's forelegs with a soft sigh. The Don reassured him, despite Primo's agitated retort. Without moving his head, he glanced up at the towering mountain, unsure of it. He wouldn't be climbing it by himself, that was for sure.
Slowly, Remmy allowed his eyes to droop, lulled to sleep by his mother's heartbeat he could make out with his ear nestled close to her chest and the warmth of his dozing cousin pressed against his side. He didn't share her same certainty, though knew that as long as they were together, everything would work out.