ooc: please, let @Dante reply first! @Terance is welcome to join.
The decision about leaving had been made for few weeks now, yet there was always something that postponed their journey and all in all it did not feel right to leave yet. Osprey did not know about Dante, but she was waiting for a sign, that would tell her that the thing they were going to do, was for the better. Even if it left some people with hurt feelings.
Autumn had taken Summer's place with such an ease, that the morning the elder saw the first yellow leaves and felt the chill of the air, she felt surprised. Could time have gone by so quickly? It also gave her a sense of unrest, because it meant that winter was not far off either. And if they were to move... this was the last possible time to do so. They were in good shape, kids had grown up quite a bit and were able to catch the first critters. Even prey was abundant. All was well for a travel.
Yet still - despite all this - the sign was not there and at times it almost seemed as if they should remain here. Maybe her premonition was not right and this winter would be no different for her than others, but the idea of going felt so exciting and great the she knew - if they never did try, she would always wonder, what if...
However, there was the day, when the sign finally came - in a form of a dream about her following a snowy white owl over the fields and forests. She lied awake in the early morning hours, listening to Dante's steady breathing and children's shuffling and muffled barks in their sleep, and she knew - this was the right time. They had to. Therefore she got to her feet and touched her mate's muzzle lightly, whispering:
"It's time."
When Dante first woke to his mate's murmured words, they didn't sink in. As his mind cleared, though, he focused on on her, lifting his head to then look at the children nestled beside them.
A sudden wave of sorrow hit him, surprising in how it pierced his core. They hadn't told many (if any) of their intentions. It was as though they could deny the obvious simply by omission. Yet the thought of losing Osprey struck deeper, and he knew their hope lay in warmer climates. Even he did not relish the thought of another winter - the last had struck him hard as well, the damage of that fire so long ago never fully healing.
He nodded, nuzzling her back before he made to stand and gently wake the kids. "Any goodbyes?" He asked quietly, somber in the moment. There was excitement of course - in some ways he wanted this. But others he'd hoped this day could be pushed off forever, and autumn would simply delay indefinitely.
"We should," she replied and after the kids were awake and moving, led the way towards the borders, thinking that saying farewells on the doorstep would be easier than, when in the heart of the forest. For some people her decision would be no news - she had approached
@Aria at some point and explained the reasons - her health and fears of the winter. For some - she could well imagine that they would feel hurt and betrayed.
Many people had joined and later left Donnelaith and the Blacktail deer plateau before that and it was strange to think now that with her and Dante gone there would be no more of the "originals" left. Continuation of the legacy created by all of the wolves, who had been there to build it and shape the pack the way it was now, would be up to the new generation.
Osprey would be lying, if she claimed not to feel sorry for going. This place had been her home for a very long time - here she had reunited with her family, she had made friends and enemies, and eventually found the one true love and established a family. Part of her heart and soul would always stay here, living, breathing, feeling as one with the ancient trees, wandering around the ocean-shore and playing with the untamed wind there.
As she walked the familiar paths, it felt like the stories and creatures she had created while here, were coming to say good-bye too. There she spotted the green eyes of the grass dragon, and up that tree the troll that had been hers and Charon's friend for such a long time waved it's claw. She caught a glimpse of dwarves hiding under the ferns and moss and heard the tinkling laughter of the fairies. Even a ghost or two watched her with forever sorrowful eyes.
Once their little group had reached the Southern border, Osprey stopped and looked Dante in the eyes briefly. Then she lifted her muzzle and howled for those, who wished to say good-bye.
Terance followed his family somewhat cluelessly. He was old enough to understand a change, but he was too sleepy to understand how drastic this change was-- that their trip to the borders would be the last one. He was too young to make any real decisions on his own, and even if he could he would never leave Sarah and Wraen. He would ask his parents for weeks and weeks after they leave when they would return before the move would really sink in, but he'd never hate them for it.
He leaned against Dante's leg, eyes fluttering open and closed, not bothering to stifle yawn after yawn. He'd say goodbye to those who came, but would never truly understand.
He heard Osprey’s call, and his own muzzle tipped up, releasing a quick call in hopes they would linger for a bit so he might say goodbye to them properly – surprised that the two were taking their leave from the pack. And yet, as his paws quickly rounded to the area of tall redwoods they had called from, the dark wolf wondered if it was the disjointed feeling that seemed to shadow over Donnelaith that had encouraged them to do so. In truth, he had felt Dante and Osprey were the last remnants of what Blacktail Deer Plateau had been – and wondered if Deirdre’s visions of Donnelaith had unsettled them.
Or was it he and Aria?
Coming upon them, the Mayfair tipped his muzzle lower, primarily in recognition to their age and the fact that even as a pup, he had looked up to them both. “You’re leaving,” he stated, rueful of the obvious and trying to force a small smile to break his unease. “You’ll be missed.”
Dante followed beside as they departed, allowing his eyes to drink in the forest one last time. The familiar trees, stones, and clearings left an ache, but he remained silent, knowing that they were doing the right thing. Doubtless Osprey saw the same ghosts as he, if her own variety.
Part of his attention was also spent in herding three sleepy children to the border. The journey would be a hard one, and much as he tried to explain they wouldn't be coming back, likewise the message hadn't fully sunk in. They were barely of an age where the trip was doable, but they couldn't delay.
He wondered when they reached the border who would respond to Osprey's call, nuzzling Terence as his ears perked to listen. A howl - Constantine.
When Lasher's son arrived, Dante gave a fond smile to the man he'd helped train all those months ago, and one who doubtless would do Lasher's name proud. Already had. "As will you," he said, breaking away from his son momentarily to approach. "But I know we leave Donnelaith in capable paws." Protected at least by some, despite opinions of others.
Aria came shortly after Constantine had, his howl had shocked her but it had given her some time to hurry to the border.
When she arrives, she holds her breathe for a few moments, letting it out with a slight whine. "You're always welcomed back," she says, glancing between the two elders-- and then the children. She doesn't try to make them stay, it'd be useless, but she does wish they would've reconsidered. Donnelaith wouldn't be the same without them.
Osprey had hoped to see more faces, yet in the end, those, who mattered the most, had come and those, who she would have wished to see - Lasher, Blue willow - they were already gone.
Dante chose the right words and she had very little to add. The new generation was very promising and the elder believed that greatness awaited each of them. Therefore she smiled fondly at Aria and Constantine and said: "We will miss you too. You will fare well. Stay strong and I will look forward to the day we meet each other again. "
There was nothing else to say here and staying longer would make leaving harder than it was. She did not want that the two saw tears brimming in her eyes, therefore she nudged each of her kids to say the farewells in a polite way and with that done, she cast an expectant glance at Dante. She wished to go before she broke down in tears.
Dante pulled closer, the warmth that emanated from the man was something Constantine drank in almost greedily – desperately. Dante had been a presence in his birth pack his entire life.. and now that the silver wolf was leaving, it felt as if part of his family was being pulled apart, even further than before. Casmir wanted nothing more to do with him – Eilidh was her silence had him worried over her. Emaleth had returned, but she was not the warm soul she had once been – she grieved still. Deirdre remained naïve, and unknowing to herself, closed to the world, despite her desire to be completely open to it.
He did not have the heart to tell Dante of he and Aria’s plans – it would only serve to guilt the man and his family in to staying, and his bright eyes drifted from the man to Osprey, who he felt another surge of fondness for. Aria spoke, and he cast her a sideways glance, attempting to withhold his own morose and appear strong for the wolves before them.
“Did they eat? Please.. take something for the road,” he murmured, his own nose dipping down to stray to one of the nearby caches, where he would begin to unbury – the children were only young, still, and he did not wish to see any fo them suffer anything more than they had to. He bent his muzzle down, shaking the scrap of meat free of the dirt before placing it at Dante's paws -- it was not much, but sustenance could not be turned away.
Aria seemed unhappy, though Dante didn't blame her. He felt another pang of guilt, but suppressed it. This was best, even if not for all.
His mate said the farewell that he would have echoed, so he let it stand for both. When Constantine offered food he automatically began to refuse, yet stayed his tongue. The offer was made in good faith and it would be appreciated when they'd gone a ways. It'd be worse to refuse it.
"Thank you," he said, glancing at the meal. Emotion was beginning to overwhelm him as well, so when Osprey cast him a glance, he nodded. "Perhaps we will meet again someday," he said, though he knew the chances of that we're practically nonexistent. Unless they left the forest to journey south, likely their paths diverged for good.
But he took with him that which was most precious to him, the best this life had given. Picking up the meat, he gave a dip of farewell, and led them away before he too broke down to sorrow.