So much had happened in her absence, for she had hidden herself away through her recovery and then again through her first heat. There were new scents, including those of children, and where had they come from? Perhaps the woman Starbuck had fed had remained, and these children were hers. Or perhaps their neighbors had seen fit to steal more children, and now they lived in Donnelaith's arms. Either way, Starbuck wished to meet them, yet even greater was her desire to see Deirdre again.
So she set forth from her den when the sun grew high, wandering the sentinels in search of company, seeking out exactly what had changed.
*Sneaks Witch in* :3
Each day that the girl grew stronger, bigger, the days got more harsh. The snow that fell from the sky made her colder than she'd ever been, and despite her love of nature she found she shared her sister's hate of the cold.
When she poked her head into the den earlier in the day than she normally would to find Cas gone, Witchhazel padded off to look for lunch. The creamy girl grumbled along with her calling stomach, but it wasn't a cache or a rodent of her own to catch that drew her attention, but another wolf.
Stretching her muzzle out to snuffle curiously at the other female, Witch found the scents of Donneliath -- this woman was family, a friend, like all the others of the Coast she'd come to know. Cooing gently to the little woman, Witch stepped forward gracefully, ears cupped forward and a faint smile starting on her lips.
Unlike many of the coastal wolves, Muses found herself thriving in the midst of winter. In fact, she regularly found herself too hot to sleep inside her cozy new den, and often opted to sleep at the mouth of the small cavern, or take a lap around the territory to cool down. On such an expedition, she was pleased to come across two faces, once more familiar than the other.
"Hello Witchhazel, keeping warm?" She greeted, curious to know how the pup was finding her first winter. It was such a mild season that Muses could scarcely believe anyone could find it unpleasant. Her kind, pale gaze rounded on the petite form of Starbuck, whom she knew to be a long time member, but had never been formally introduced. "Starbuck, right?" She confirmed, ears tilted forward in an engaged manner. Her tail waved in wide, careless arcs, for she was as comfortable as could be within the haven of the sentinels. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it? Although I do wish there was more snow."
Starbuck was delighted to see that company had found her, and not just any company! A soft noice caught her attention, and she turned to find one of the pups that she had yet heard only rumor of. Hello, my dear,
she said, coming closer so that she could better fawn over the child. The girl was only little thing made of ivory and smelled as though she had been here for some time. Oh, what she had missed!
Before much else could be said, another stranger appeared. She greeted the child first, and Starbuck was overjoyed to learn her name. Witchhazel! A lovely name for a sweet girl,
she sang. Then she turned again to the newcomer. Yes! We have not met yet, I'm afraid. I was rather indesposed for a time,
said the Seer, rather sheepishly. And it is a shame! May I ask your name?
Though the woman remarked upon the weather, Starbuck waited to learn more of her and of the child before having more dry conversation.
Witch was by far used to to the kind and excited way that most seemed to greet her with, and Starbuck was no different as she stepped forward to meet the pale flower. Her smile stretched wider, a soft coo falling from her lips, and she moved to take a step forward when another pale figure came from between the ancient trees -- this one was familiar, she found, her friend Muses -- and the girl turned to grin at her.
"Is COLD! Dun like it."
As if to prove her coat, the little girl fluffed out her coat and shook it out with an exgaggerated "brrrrr!" before giggling and turning to the sound of her name, beaming proudly and chirping her nickname after.
"Witch!"
Finally prancing forward, the red-tailed girl pushed forward to snuffle at the newcomer and nuzzle at her legs.