“This is Spring, shouldn’t this blasted cold be gone by now…” Gripped the proud and tall wolf of red. It was just one of the many things he had to complain about today. A wolf as white as the snow that birthed this frosty chill in the air had found company with the vagabond though her duties had pulled her away. He’d found himself missing that brief companionship, despite the dangers they’d faced, and he began traveling south. Her scent was easy for him to track but now he found himself in the woods of a sprawling growth of white barked aspens with a winding river of icy water with the occasional shattered remnant of a glacial ice patch. The last elements of winter before the summer blasted this place with its rainy season.
However, this was only the beginning of his woes. For the last two days he’d found a strange scent on the wind that was mixed with the fae of winter. This scent was a smell that Redmoon hadn’t caught before and it carried the weight of a vicious predator. To be fair, at first he stopped and turned away, for moving towards this great danger was extremely foolish and frankly, he’d had enough of finding his way into trouble lately.
But it was the nagging feeling at his conscience that told him - if he could smell the winds, those in front of him could not. Leila likely had no idea that something was behind her just as the mysterious predator held no knowledge of Redmoon tracking it. Reluctantly he found himself on the trail and sprint as he may he could not catch up soon enough.
Night had fallen now and Redmoon’s exhausted feet were nearly throbbing. He found himself a spot to flop down beneath a tree and he set himself down. Traveling at night was suicidal. What he couldn’t see is what would get him and he wouldn’t be taken off guard so foolishly. So with effort, he managed to doze off into a half eased sleep. A sleep that was broken by strange sounds and unfamiliar scents. He was in a strange place, seeking a wolf he’d formed a bond with while tracking some beast in the wilderness - to do what with!? He awoke at the thought and looked around, a key part of this quandary was what on earth was he going to do with some predator that was lurking after another predator. It wasn’t a comforting feeling.
He began to grumble again when he stopped fast - he could no longer smell the faint trace of Leila nor the questioned predator. Lifting his head inquisitively to the air he sniffed a moment. Then it hit him. “You have got to be kidding me.” He hissed, rising up to his feet. “That’s just typical, I should have known this was going to happen.”
The winds had changed and were now blowing the other way. Whatever predator he was tracking would surely catch his scent. With the element of surprise over - he turned away from his direction of travel and began racing through the night - away from the near borders of Noctisardor Bypass. If that beast was going to hunt a wolf, and if that wolf was Redmoon, then he wasn’t about to find his way into some thing’s gullet without a fight and naturally he didn’t care to fight lest it be on his terms. He would race on till he found suitable ground - thought first and foremost he would make an effort to evade this curious scent.
Better to avoid it entirely than to find himself outmatched.
Cry watched with wintery glacials. A russet with both a frame near his own physique was drifting too near the borders, and within his flattened prone , he kept still. A piece of the land, he was, moving not, saying not, and near untracable. This was why he patroled primarily at night...not everyone was meaning to be seen during the day.
The void walker was adamant of seeing who Leila's scent was intertwined with, though he said nothing to her. Curiousity, a vicious grip that refused to release, almost tipped him over into asking her, but word form mouth would not have satisfied him. He needed his own proof. So after memorizing the scent that was on the sister, he kept near. Very near.
The russet had figured apparently how foolish it would be to traipse inside pack lands, and turned to leave the area. But it was too late; Cry had already caught that face of his, looking for the pale girl who's perfume hadn't even had time to leave his own. As the stranger turned to leave, Cry stood, and made his way promptly toward the man, his voice accusatory in the midnight hours.
"You must be him."
Leila yawned, flopping over in a semi-something within the den she and Cry had shared, as she wasn't too comfortable withsleeping alone. The paw that usually accidentally brushed upon Cry's spine when she did that however, fell to barren floor, and immediately she was up. What now? Well it was nighttime, and he did usually patrol, well -always- patrol at this time, but deep in her chest, Leila felt something was off. His scent was fainter, which meant he had been gone longer. Why had he started his duty early today?
Standing, the angel shook herself clear of debris, momentarily thinking of how the other friend she had made was doing. Redmoon, the handsome and brave wolf she had been exploring with, someone she had to bandage and make well before Cry had caught her hunting for him unexpectedly, and brought her back home. She hadn't told him where she was, and he hadn't asked, which for some reason relieved her? She couldn't tell if her relief was in having an 90% belief that her treatments worked on Red, or whether she was relieved that Cry hadn't asked her who she had been with.
LEaving the den, she walked a few miles until she saw someone in the moonlight of the borders...a familiar frame, and one she had seriously missed. She increased her walk, turning into a brisk trot as she neared the scene with a beaming wolf smile. But a voice that she knew well had interupted her arrival, and she froze where she was.
Cry? Where was here? And what was he doing here?
‘You must be him.’
Those words would reverberate in Redmoon’s ears for some time to come as the voice came from beyond, through darkness and the void itself. Had he been so close that he’d not sensed the impending danger of another wolf? Surely he wasn’t so easy to catch unawares! Redmoon paused though he did not turn to face the voice for he already knew it would do him no good. If this one was so talented in the manner of stealth then it truly didn’t matter where Redmoon gleaned into the darkness. Not only that but turning to face a voice that was untraceable was a display of weakness and Redmoon was the last wolf that was going to show himself a coward.
Strange though, for he still winded the distant predator and this - new one - was not he. His nose twitched and his ears swiveled in vain. ‘Damn wind!’ He cursed silently to himself. Still the wind was blowing away from him and he could no longer smell the beast he sought. Then, there it was, a scent as cold as ice and dangerous. The wolf that had caught him out here, it was close enough for Redmoon to smell and he even identified the gender through the musk. A strong male, obviously darkened pelt, keen senses and sharp. Redmoon found a match of himself and still he was not satisfied with what he was sensing.
He turned to face the darkness, he saw nothing save for a shadowy outline. If he wasn’t already concerned with what was going on then perhaps he’d show a more proper respect to this one. Narrowing his eyes he scented the dark pelt and caught the wind of Leila, this one was likely in the same pack then. Perhaps she was safe in pack borders of which he had no desire to encroach upon.
“And you’re not the one I’m looking for.”
Redmoon answered calmly, his rough voice penetrated the night without malice. Truthfully, this one didn’t match the scent of the predator he’d been tracking for three nights and two days.
"Good; I don't fancy being sought." Smooth and effortless was the reply as his body remained still within the shadows of the Bypass' rocky overhangs. He studied the body before him, trying to find what exactly could have drawn his sister to this fellow lupine. Was it his looks? Something as pathetic as a life story? Family ties?
Love?
"What are you doing with my sister."
It was more a demand than a question, his voice a merciless and fully seeking thing in the dark.
"And more importantly, what is she doing with you."
"Nothing!"
Leila loped from her place within the borders and met the two wolves, her obvious inability to blend in with the night time hours full and obvious with her pale snow colored coat. As she came within the presence of these two, she began with Cry, already her voice tangled with emotions.
"I was healing him! I met him only a little while ago, and we were trying to-"
Leila backpedaled in her words, not knowing how to plead a case with her brother. Mints scuttled back and forth as she fought for words to describe what she and the redwolf had, though she came up empty pawed. What had they had? It was wonderful, but could words really describe it/ She was a friend, and she appreciated every single second that passed within this situation, as it proved not only that he was alive and well, but to the fae it felt as if he had actually searched for her, came back to find where she had gone to.
Minty eyes turned to the pretties of her ex-companion, her tail gently swishing her display of comfort in his presence. Oh how she had missed him, so.
A half lopsided grin arose on Redmoon’s face at the dark pelt’s response. He was quick to reply and almost hostile, it excited him in an odd way. Normally he tried to avoid combative situations but this one seemed so serious - Redmoon nearly wanted to mess with him. The next questions though were well founded, a pack brother and obvious protector was inquiring as to the safety and whereabouts of a sister. Redmoon felt no ill will towards this one on that account. He’d do just as much if not more were it involving someone he cared to protect. There again, wasn’t that exactly what he was doing here?
But there it was, the key to it all. This dark pelt was protecting his sister and in doing so they were allied. Redmoon had tracked Leila for nearly forty miles, from Broken Boulder to here at the edge of Whitebark Stream and Noctisardor Bypass. Her kindness was what brought him to his action as he sought out… she shot into the conversation and immediately made to the defense of them both. He had to admit, that was some good timing for this conversation between the two males was going nowhere fast and their heads were very likely to butt here.
Needless to say, Redmoon’s demeanor softened but not much as he made an effort to stand a little taller and feet spread a bit wider. Only briefly did he lose eye contact with the voice’s origin to fall upon the gentle wolf, the gaze captured, he shot back to Cry’s location and despite not being able to see him well, he still remained. Redmoon was not one to back down and technically this one was outside his borders. He held no authority out here.
Redmoon scoffed at the thought, authority came from the strong. Borders or not, if Redmoon or Cry beat the other up then to the victor went the ‘authority.’
Distracted again! He cursed himself for getting caught up between these two wolves. “Listen,” he offered, “whatever you think this is, your sister helped me out when I was down.” He knew how this looked, part of him didn’t want to deny it, but he’d not leave Leila out to dry on this one. “I got into some trouble and if not for Leila, then I’d be dead by now.” He kept his voice low and hoped the others would understand.
This was a short attempt to ease the tension, what Redmoon was truly focused on though was the trace elements of the wind. These three were not the only ones here.
Cry remained silent at the response, his dark cape of ruff threatening to rise simply from the irk the cocky grin the russet gave. Did he think this safety thing was a damn game? It was already bad enough that that fool whelp Horosk dared to let his damn maniac sister near the borders and do nothing about it, but for Cry, safety meant everything. Every day he picked up the slack the failure of a Medio did not, circuits unrelenting in their reinforcement. He was thick in the scheme of family, but when no one cared of their own, who was he to care with or even for them?
It was then he made up his mind.
He had to find a way out of this place, before he died in vain trying to protect wolves he couldn't find himself giving a damn about. They were what was considered family, yes, but with the recent event of Horosk and the pack being a ghost land in it's own right, Cry had no reason to stay faithful to preserving their safety.
Leila had also already helped with birthing the pups, so she no longer had a reason to stay, either. As far as he was concerned, he had done his job, and so had she.
If she was stuck on stupid with this guy, however, something could be arranged. She was a modest thing, and pretty shinies like her often were attractive to vile things. He knew one that was definitely fond of her.
His uncle, mentor, and own past, Slade Xandir.
"These lands will rend you dead when they want you dead. Sithis is too keen to 'accidently' overlook your fate."
Silent an agonizing second more, he spoke again, this time bringing himself into the light of the moon, detatching from the shadows.
"I know someone who can keep you, her and myself safe, with payment of nothing but undying loyalty. He may not be...morally sane, but he is keen, and will keep us in high standings with Life. Need not fear trouble unless he wants it to take place, and more often than not, he's the one who solves it."
Leila teared up at the words of Red, her mints watery with the gush. He was truthful and secretive, something she couldn't be, and it was wonderful. If she had kept going, she would have just spilled out the whole story! The urge to rub an appreciative muzzle across him was strong, but she held firm. She needed to see where this situation was going, as it seemed her brother was contemplating some serious things.
His words had indeed shocked her. They were leaving the Bypass? But there were pups just born! They couldn't leave the babies! And she knew exactly who it was Cry was referencing to. As much as she adored Slade, the massive Mackenzie doting on her almost as a daughter he never had the chance to have, she knew the pups needed a future just as much as they did.
"But...But Cry, the babies! They were just born, we can't possibly leave them.."
They wanted to leave their pack, or at least he did. Curious. Not often did a wolf desire to depart when company was most welcoming. Then again, Redmoon didn’t have much for the concept of packs. Being alone for long enough he had come to count on himself - all this talk of a pack was a on the edge of his list of desires. Out here he was a king, no one to answer to other than himself when he got hungry or needed to move on. Being tied down was distasteful to say the least. But she was there in the corner of his green eyes, obviously his wandering nature was warring with her need for company.
Turning his back to leave was no longer a solution. He’d made that decision when he left the relative safety of the Bracken Woods where he was becoming familiar with. Caught between his words, and literally caught by this dark pelt, he knew he really didn’t have a leg to stand on - knowing that she was safe with a brother, there wasn’t much else for him to do here. His disposition lowered, Redmoon never backed down, but he gave this one the road. He would not be the one to drive a wedge between family. He may not have any loyalties, but family was a thing to be cared for and watched over. He would not make her decide between the two. Anyways, he was content being the wanderer - the stars as his blanket and the trees as his home.
What was striking though was the mention of Sithis, Redmoon recognized the name but not as it was given. Most likely two coincidental likenesses in the pronunciation. But what’s more was his description as this dark pelt offered Sithis as perhaps Anubis would have his strange gods. And as perhaps Redmoon saw the Scorekeeper and the Caller. But it seemed this ‘Sithis’ held a more direct influence on death. In all though, he decided not to inquire more about this Sithis fellow. Letting the comments pass by.
But it was the offer of undying loyalty that struck most solidly. “You expect me to go to some wolf that isn’t straight in the head and pledge my loyalty to him?” Redmoon didn’t even know either wolf! But he did know Leila. He began to question Cry’s own sanity when he caught Leila’s understanding, she knew this wolf well so it seemed.
He stopped, considered his options. He had no home and was destined for a short life with the trouble he ran into on regular occasions. This had the opportunity to lose nothing and gain more. For all intents and purposes he didn’t even have a direction - he just woke up every day and went about whatever suited his fancy. The pack business though, he still wasn’t too sure.
“So, where is he?” Redmoon asked, “Who is he? For that matter,” he eyed Cry well, “who are you?” He was quite curious and he would have some answers before he truly committed to anything.
Finally he broke eye contact with Cry and looked to Leila as she pleaded, it seemed she too had reservations about going off to find this mysterious wolf. Ah there it was! She called out his name. “Cry,” he responded in introduction, “Redmoon.”
Cry snorted at the redwolf, the man unintentionally poking fun at The Nightmare King, the closest thing to a laught that the stranger was going to get from the usually stoic ebonian at this moment. Slade wasn't mad, but he was dangerous, excrusiatingly so if you managed to get on his bad side. This was only because you'd never find out until it was too late.
"He's right in the head. I said his morals are what are questionable."
Turning to Leila, Cry shook his head at her desire to protect the whelps that weren't even hers, his logic slicing into undeniable truth.
"Leila, do you honestly think the two would put forth the effort to help someone who was not only just brought in, but specifically brought here to be a temporary midwife? They don't know, nor care anything about you. Or me. They're busy doing their lives, and we aren't their focus family should be."
Turning back to the stranger, Cry continued his unfinished business with the man.
"His name is Slade. He was and still is in good health, and more than capable of taking on a group like us. He's had experience in being an Alpha, running a pack well over until he killed the only mate he had and his Beta for having an affair. Rather than give in and slaughter the whole pack, he left them all, and traveled here to Teekon, where he found me as a pup, alone and running away from my own 'problems'."
Taking a second to surmize the rest of the story, he added, "He raised me in the ways of his old pack, The Nightmares, where he taught me things such as proper and subtle speech indications, leading me to a path of Ambassadorship and taught me everything he knew combat wise, or atleast that's what he told me. I've been an Assassin under him since I ran with him, a Shadowborn well under his murderous eye."
A breath passed through his lips as he recounted the final bit of his backstory, not too fond of sharing anything about him, but if he were to get this man raveled around his own claw, he had to atleast give him a bone.
"Once I was foolish enough to stumble upon a bear, which ruined any sense of untouched canvas upon my back with its dastardly claws, and Slade rushed in to save me. I ran, and was unable to consider myself going back since, not until he gave me direction to meet Leila for this pack. He raised her as well, but in a more...lighter sheen of care."
LEila was saddened by Cry's denial of her request to save the children, as last incident she had with babies was not too good for her heart to bear. She was a tender girl, and she refused to believe that the children were just to be stuck with these wolveswithout any love, but it was Cry who dorve the nail in the coffin with his words of final truth. They did seem to not care about the two of them, and it was rather lonesome here. She hadn't been able to come up with any sense of companionship inside the borders, other than with Gwen who she had only had a brief opening up with. It was a while back though, and with it came the alone-ness, again.
So as ruthless as it was, Cry was right, of course.
"Al-alright.."
So the home she been introduced to was yet again being taken away from her, but if it was with Slade, it couldn't be too bad. He was a nicewolf who had allowed her into a little bit of his life. She was fond of him. So it wouldn't be troublesome for her to go be with the huge wolf again.
She listened to Cry narrate to Redmoon, her suprise evident in her face, as she was not prepared for the most secretive wolf she had ever known to actually give up his background like that. But she assumed because she trusted Redmoon, that he was giving him a shot within what they had. Was this Cry really opening up? For her sake?
was a tale of hardship, Cry had been raised with expectations from a life that had given him nothing at all. Redmoon was sympathetic though he did not let the tale sway his decision. However, knowing it was a measure of faith. Cry was reaching out in an uncomfortable manner and as untrusting as Redmoon was, he picked up on that notion right off. This wasn’t easy for the dark pelt to divulge and while the red pelt wasn’t particularly the sensitive sort, he understood what it took for someone to open to a stranger on behalf of another. It was necessity.
He nodded, accepting the story for what it was worth. But there were questions here too. ‘What was stopping Slade from killing Cry once they traveled to go see him. If Cry had rejected this Slade and abandoned him to a bear, surely there was retribution to be had.’ Redmoon though kept his thoughts to himself, no doubt Cry was already considering the consequences and was fully prepared to face them.
Perhaps that’s what this was all about. A pilgrimage for Cry while saving his sister from an unfavorable situation while using Redmoon to help with the journey. He smiled inwardly, unable to blame this dark pelt - with three wolves unified as one, they could make the journey safely. That was another thing then, where was Slade? This thought Redmoon did relieve into the night air. “Where would this Slade be then? I have a feeling he’s nowhere near here is he.”
What had done it though for Redmoon? Was it Leila? Partially, yes. If she was going to be moving far from here then this was the only chance he’d have to see her again. Even if Slade rejected him, Redmoon was fit enough to survive in the wilderness somewhere nearby. What of Slade? The story of Cry’s, how Slade had come to a suicidal rescue against a bear of all things, such loyalty couldn’t be bought. It was partially this as well - such unyielding sway was unknown to Redmoon. He was curious to meet Slade for himself. Finally a third portion of his agreement came from knowledge itself. These wolves had much to offer and Redmoon was a sharp bit, if he could learn their skills then his own survivability was on the line. He had little desire to become an assassin, he wasn’t a murderer. But learning how to really fight was something he’d vowed to do after his scrapes with the coyotes up north.
In conclusion, there was more of a future with these wolves than there was without them.
Again he nodded, “Fair enough. Let’s go meet your Slade, shall we.”
Cry smiled on the interior, though on the exterior, he had near grimaced. It hurt something in him to tell that story, and despite him being unable to out a claw on it, he was also relieved. Of what, he didn't know. But it was there; and it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"He lives in Phantom Hallow, and he'll most likely find us once we get in them, before we find him. He's lived in those wretched woods so long, he knows them like the back of his paw."
Flicking an unwanted tingle fron one of his ears, the chistled void walker nodded his agreement. Once nightime hours wereup, Slade would retreat back to his den. It was best they get to him, while they could.
"Let's go, then."
Off he turned, taking lead on a gallop, his agile limbs taking him to even darker forest, in a remarkable wolf gallop.
Leila didn't know whether it was Slade's teaching to Cry of how to use a silver tongue, or whether Redmoon figured himself his decision, but she was pretty astounded he needed as little conviction as what he got. She was raised differently than cry, being taught how to care to the wounded and how gentle a girl should be period, but she was also taught how to talk her way in and out of things in order to get what she wanted. It was clear to her atleast, how skillfully Cry wove such words, ensnared, and pulled Red into the abyss, as what stranger goes to meet some exiled wolf in the middle of the night, and form bond with them? Cry was good. Leila would have to talk to him about that. But what if Redmoon had wanted to go anyway?
Too many questions to think about, as she too turned and too graceful leaps after Cry, taking Beta position as she knew well where she was going. She fell back a little though, simply because she wanted to run with Redmoon, and lightly she bumped hips with him, a grateful smile on her maw as she took to his side.
Phantom Hallow, it was a place Redmoon hadn’t even heard of but just the name alluded to the range in which they needed to traverse to get there. It wasn’t going to be an easy journey and it would be one fraught with danger at every turn. Though, hearing that Slade would already know that they were coming was concerning - being that Redmoon appreciated a measure of anonymity, someone already knowing where and when he would be was an instant red flag. Then again, he’d already committed, there was no turning back now.
For all the names other wolves may give to Redmoon. Secretive, brave, coward, loner, loser, brawler, and hound. He was not known as a wolf that would go back on his word. Often he wished that he could so easily discard his voice but he found himself unable to recoil once his paw had been set down. It was an adamant line in the sand and whatever blood pumped through his veins, it didn’t allow him to relinquish that line regardless of the circumstances. Call it honor or honesty, or even stupidity or stubbornness, it was the same to Redmoon - he was an upfront and determined wolf. It came from having nothing. He wasn’t that good of a fighter, he was a mediocre hunter, and he had no one clamoring to follow him. Without these things, he only had his word to guide him and keep him on the path forward. Not that he didn’t have plans to sharpen his other skills, but a wolf had to start somewhere and ole Red would ensure he was at least a reliable sort if nothing else at all.
Cry and Leila took off into the night, Redmoon was an instant behind them but as his lead paw touched down into the moist earth, it found a swift depression. Feeling off - Redmoon stopped dead and looked down. It was a cut in the earth, he only took it at a glance but whatever it was it dwarfed his own size easily by triple and then triple that again. It was massive enough that the mere sight of it blew his mind in a way that what he stood in, didn’t register.
He simply padded forward and leapt into a sprint to catch up, though he was sure to moderate his pace for sprinting through the unknown was dangerous and he of all wolves wasn’t about to be caught off guard. He hadn’t let Cry sneak up on him, he wasn’t about to let something else to the job. He chuckled a bit and wondered though, had Cry really tried to sneak up? Part of Redmoon suggested that both yes and no were the appropriate answers for Redmoon was blessed with extremely keen senses of smell and hearing for a wolf. But Cry seemed the sort to not play a hand right off the bat. Indeed, there was much more to this, Cry, than meets the eye.
His hip was bumped and it stole his attention as he veered away. A grin crossed the side of his muzzle as he noticed Leila had drifted back to run with him. It was nice to have her near again and he realized how much he missed her company during his time off in the wilds. Though he didn’t want to admit it as he attempted to play the ‘tough wolf’ role, as poorly as he played it. It was a hard role to play when courting such a gentle soul such as this one, perhaps a bit of his rough heart softened in her presence but he kept his composure and ran along with her. “What can you tell me about Slade, that Cry has not?” He spoke inbetween strides for clarity, “I don’t just want to show up on his doorstep like a fool. First impressions and all.”
Every once in a while, Redmoon would slow a bit and look over his shoulder to the rear of their progression through the woods, he would lift his nose to the air and sniff, taking in the surroundings with smell and taste - also hearing the venue around them. These were as much instinctive relations to the area as sight for the moment they’d have to backtrack, if they had to. Bringing in these sights, sounds, smells and tastes were key in remembering where one has come from and if Redmoon could appreciate anything it was the places he’d been and the lessons learned there.
As they ran down the banks and game trails of the long and winding whitebark stream, Redmoon did his best to look back and watch the changes in terrain elevation and mapping, letting his memory take in everything so that nothing would escape his sight. He was making a strong effort to remain vigilant and aware of his surroundings.
Preparedness is all and knowledge is power.
Cry paid no mind to the vocals exchanged between the two wolves he led. He was pulling point in the escort since he knew well where he was going. It was unfortunate how hardcore the path was, but anything dealing with Slade, or simply being a wolf in general had it's ups and downs as far as danger, so this was no different.
With their current speed, they were well on their way of reaching the Hollows within godspeed time. Well, his time; not necessarily theirs, as they were slowed, despite them keeping up. A swift back flick of an ear announced how the two were conversing, and Cry made it a pointed effort to not listen. If they were to be a thing or whatever, he wanted nothing to do with their personal affairs. He was there to protect his sister and bring Redmoon to his ex-Mentor, and his escort duty would not be bothered by their conversation.
Determined glacias kept their route, and capable body kept with them.
Leila was thanksful that Cry hadn't hounded her to keep flank with him, no nips or warning growls emanating from the shadowy escort. She wasn't used to him not bearing down on her after that rendezvous they had with Gabe, the handsome white wolf they had crossed paths with when he was bringing her for her introduction to Ganador. He wasn't to keen on others being around her, especially if they were male, but with Red it seemed like he had let him in a bit. Was there something he liked about the red wolf? Or was he just stepping back and giving her a chance to see how cruel the world could be when it came to companionship? She had heard the stories of love, and she was within an age where love was soon a thing ot be discovered. But upon hearing both tales from Gwen and Cry, it seemed love was something not to underestimated. But to her, it was something worthwhile. It was just so beautiful, despite the potential for heartbreak, and she wasn't understanding of how bad it hurt, just because she never had it herself. But one day she would either take the path, of cast herself away from such a way.
Leila returned the smile, happy she had not spooked her friend. He didn't deserve to be frightened any more than necessary on this escapade. It was fun to her going to go see her 'Father', but it could have been quite a nervous experience for a newer wolf. She definitely wanted to ease her friend's burden no matter how heavy it was.
"Well, he's pretty huge, that's the first thing everyone notices. I mean like, almost a direwolf, huge. I dont know exactly where his genes lie, but if he were to make kids, they would probably be just as huge. Giant wolves running around the Wilds." she giggled at the prospect, imagining Slade as an actual father She couldn't see it happening, just from him being as...well,...'Slade' as he was. But there were always possibilities to be kept aloft.
"Personality wise, Cry told me how hard he was on him as a youth, but that was only so he could learn how life was. Once he got the hang of things mainly, he let up. But then the bear incident happened, and...well, Cry left Slade and never went back. He's a bit traumatized from bears, I think. I don't know in what manner, or how it effects him, but there's something with him and bears. He just hasn't told me what it was."
Leila wasn't aware how much she hit the nail on the head with the talk of Cry's reaction to ursines. Nor how close they were to finding out how he would react to them, today. But she did continue her description of her Fa.
"With me, he was adamant on me being aware of how others were, staying in tune with both their emotions and ailments. So it's inbred in me to seek and destroy pains and sicks, whether they be emotional, or physical. Even mental, if I can help it. But it was mainly because I met him when he had finished his fight from the bear, and he had a huge gash on the upper half of his shoulder. It was horrible, and little 1 year old me didn't know what to do, but I could see it was getting infected. He was in pain, and I...I didn't want to see him that way. So a 'princess' helped a 'beast', and he adopted me. Claimed he owed me for saving his life. He didn't teach me combat, but he did teach me everything he knew about healing. I neer would have known that molding leaves and wet moss would have killed the beginnings of infections, if it hadn't have been for him. So despite his bulk, he's a very wise man. It wouldn't be wise to lie to him. He's not very forgiving, I know that much for a fact."
Leila kept her pace with Redmoon, but she looked around a bit, noticing the deep and ominous forest a few miles from them. They were almost there.
"He is strict," she continued. "But he's also understanding. If he see's there's a flaw in something, he will find a way to fix it. It's unexpected for him to be so honerable, but he never breaks his word. He's manipulating, but only when certain ties need to be tied, he put it."
She didn't know how else to describe her adoptive father, but she did what she could with what she knew.
But to end it off on a positive note, the optimistic angel gentle chuffed to him, "But don't worry, I know he won't eat you."
“Well,” Redmoon began with a confident mention, “that’s good to know. I didn’t fancy this trip just to be turned into another wolf’s supper. ‘Sides, I haven’t eaten too well, I could honestly add a few pounds.” He could have countered in some effort to puff his chest out but he didn’t see much point in it. If Leila and Cry were kin to this direwolf then he wasn’t about to stick around and challenge him - that wasn’t the kind of wolf he was. Supremacy wasn’t something he was too well versed in, having been ousted from his pack so long ago, he’d not practiced it or had the need to be dominant. Just cruising along through life was his way. Something told him that his ways were soon to change whether he liked it or not.
“Won’t need to worry about lying, I’ve never had the taste for it. A wolf who lies is no good to anyone.” He spoke from experience, if a wolf was willing to lie and cheat to get what he wanted then he truly wasn’t worth much. Such treachery was poor form and Redmoon would have nothing of it. Strange, how he felt this way alluded to a strong sense of trust, but he was so untrusting of others. It was a constant internal conflict within him and one that he fought with often.
This trip had taken a considerable amount of time and throughout that time, Redmoon had made pause to ensure he memorized the terrain in that if called upon, he’d be able to backtrack through it. The way was perilous and the summer rains were threatening them every afternoon to dump their contents and impede their way - though as the Scorekeeper would have it, only a single shower sat over their heads and Redmoon had been glad for it.
They’d been walking all day, passing through the dry climate of the northern Teekon and the chill of the north itself, parched and weary from no rest. Redmoon hadn’t complained and his feet were conditioned well for traveling - he’d done it all his life. But when the rain came, it came without the fearsome sound of thunder and the flash of lightning.
Moving into an open field, they traversed and gently rolling hill with the strange scent upon it that was coming from a fallen tree at the top of the hill itself, the sun wasn’t out, it’d been covered by the clouds as the liquid blessings came down to cool the land and spill fresh nutrients onto the grounds. His feet trampled the softening ground and stirred the earth to mud in places. A cubby of raccoons raced from the fallen tree, a big one had something that was yellow and coned, sticky looking while a swarm chased them away and up the standing tree. ‘Bees,’ Redmoon mused and his stomach growled at him, ‘sounds great but too much work.’
Looking ahead he caught sight of a vast and sprawling forest, it was a darkened place, likely made worse by this brewing rain cloud. It was bordered though by what looked like a pretty wide river and one that didn’t look very fun to cross.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Redmoon spoke aloud, “But we’ll get soaked!” He sarcastically scoffed, they were already drenched from the falling rain.
Hungry, wet and exhausted, he was ready for this trip to be over.
Cry looked down on the rushing river with something more bordering on the front of determination and not deterrance. He had come too farfor this to be the end of their journey, and as many possibilities that had the center stage, Cry chose the easiest one. Calling back to the pair, he barked, "We're going to trave south bound until we hit the lighter channels of Greatwater Lake. Water is shallower, and there's more ground points to hit. Costs us crossing the stream from Big Salmon Lake, but it's shallow as well, so no need to worry on it."
After letting the team know what the plan was, Cry swiveled and began the eased lope downward of the Wilds, noting pleasedly that the power of the river was diminishing with each mile they drew to a close.
"Oh yes, you're going to want something like weight if trying to impress Slade, but then again, if he took in Cry, he can't be too harsh on you. Not everybody can be a Mackenzie. Some are just better at it buff than others. Show him how good you are at destroying coyotes, and he might have you do favors for him." She send a jesting bump of her slim shoulder to his broad one, ivory fur to that of russet reds, and giggled at the light joke, an unintentional reminder of how much they had gone through together, already. If Slade wasn't to be impressed by how well he handled himself, then she sure was. And if need be, she wouldn't hesitate to run away with Redmoon on any other adventures he thought about having.
Her ears turned forward as Cry gave them a new directive though, and her minty gaze fell to the new direction. "On it!" she called up to her brother.
Cry was great at navigating, as he was really efficient when it came to finsding the best routes and meeting the best terrain to cross in the most minimal of times. The trip she had taken with him should have taken months, but with him, it only took a week, at most. she trusted him with navigating them, no matter where they went.
The winding river took them a few miles upstream of the current until the terrain ceased its rocky surroundings and fell into the trees of a head. The density of the treeline made for some nice cover as they made their effort to cross the shallowest portion of the river that they could find. Redmoon could spot the significance of the river’s calm compared to its aggressiveness. The further they went from the lake the more gentle the current became - this wasn’t to say there was no current at all for it still swept by at a good clip. But as they ventured further to the south, it was Redmoon who spotted the gentle rolling rapids of a shallow bit.
He approached the river and noted the current’s strength as he set his front feet into the water, it was strong but not enough to knock them down. Perhaps if they were forced to swim then they’d find themselves afloat and drifting at the river’s whim, but not today for the location Redmoon had found was surfaced by rock and the river’s pristine surface was shattered by them.
At first he hesitated, surely they could find a better way, but as he looked to Cry and Leila he could tell that time wasn’t on their side. ‘Alright,’ he muttered to himself, ‘let’s do this.’ He set off slowly, his feet placing firmly on the smooth rock surface of the river and the water began to rise - first to his ankles and then to his knees and then to wet his belly which he didn’t appreciate much. All was well for a time but as he approached the middle of the river a dropoff caught his front foot and he stumbled, submerging him - head and shoulders. His tail flicked out for balance which he caught and he speared out of the water a second later, a little aggravated by his misstep.
A moment later he was on the other shoreline and awaiting his companions.
Cry's eyes landed on the water-smoothed tops of the rocks, but Redmoon was first to act upon the sight. Cry wasn't irritated not in the slightest. If anything, he appreciated the red wolf being the test subject for their crossover. After the red wolf physically affirmed the security of the stone's pathway, Cry motioned to Leila.
"Go ahead. I'll cover you."
He kept behind her as she made her way across, tail held erect as he kept his body from plunging into the frigid rush of waters. After the two came cleanly across, Cry once again took point as he took them th the light and more closer part of the hopeful end of the journey. Big Salmon Lake was a gentle thing, and they had nothing to worry about as far as the waters. But only if it were that simple.
Nothing in life came free.
Just as Cry neared the edge of the gentle stream, he noticed plenty og fish scales littering the grasses, recent, wet, and sticking to th underside of his paws. The assassin looked down at the sight, but upon lowering his head for investigation, a musk hit him that he had tried to avoid for years.
Bear.
And they had been here quite recently.
Leila kept her balance, her own tail being what kept her from falling,along with the comfort of knowing that Red was waiting for her on the other side, and that Cry was making sure he was there to catch her in case she needed it. Those two as her support, the fae couldn't fail.
Eventually, she and Cry made it to the other side, and they were off once again. It didn't take long for them to get to the next stream, and this one was nicer. She didn't have to worry about being tossed in a current and drowning, as water, deep water, was a massive fear of her. Drwoing was the op phobia on her list, thus deep water terrified the girl.
Something that spooked her even more was how Cry was just standing at the edge of the water, frozen, as if he were a statue. Was he ok?
"Cry?" she called up to him.
He gave himself a good shake, scattering wetness from his coat. Several seconds later another shake and by that time Leila had arrived and he stood tall as she approached and joined him to await Cry who navigated the river crossing with ease, Redmoon hid his thoughts well but he was impressed by the dark pelt, a woodsman he was. It was inspiration for the red pelt to further himself in those ways and so he went about it diligently, studying the area and seeing the patterns of nature’s way. How the moss grew on the northern bark of trees to give him direction when he couldn’t see the stars and how game trails dotted along waterways and could be used to easily hide multiple animal’s tracks.
Redmoon even went through the extra effort of trotting in a close circuit of the group while Cry was investigating something. The red pelt was focused on the terrain and the dips and divots within it. He could smell something on the wind and a sudden change hit him. His ears pivoted back to the water way and he trotted over, Cry was looking spooked and Leila concerned for him.
Ever the curious one, Redmoon approached, spotted the fish remains and sought to his own investigation. His nose fell upon the earth and he sniffed in all the aromas granted to him here and his keen senses picked up on the filthy musk almost immediately outside of the scaly sensations of the fish. “This,” Redmoon began, he sniffed more and after doubly confirming what he smelled, he raised his nose to the air and gave a firm whiff of the winds, “this smell. I’ve found it before.” He looked down and over towards Leila, “I don’t know what it is but it was following you back from Broken Boulder and I tracked it to the Pass where you both found me. The winds changed and I lost it.”
He dropped back down to sniff it again. Fully aware of Cry’s stunned capacity, he wasn’t about to leave the dark pelt vulnerable. Wait… His brow furrowed as he glanced Cry from the corner of his eye. He wasn’t loyal to this wolf! He held no responsibility in Cry’s safety - where had that thought of protection come from?
His eyes never left Cry as Redmoon fought with his internal feelings of self preservation. Sure they’d been together to a few days, traveling far and wide. But did… how… he was confused and it was making him agitated. He didn’t know what to think of this and he’d had enough.
“We’d better go.” He mentioned quietly, starting off in the direction they needed to go in, but not before getting Cry’s attention to snap him out of whatever revere he’d found himself in.