Wolf RPG

He still stank of sulfur when he arrived on Whitefish River's opposite shore, thick pelt dripping with cold water. Swordfish gave his body a thorough shake, then paused to clean his chafing paws before trotting slowly along the riverbed. He had crossed directly from the hot springs to avoid encroaching on the plateau's borders. As he came closer to the colossal rock shelf, the scents grew strong and he slowed, his body hunching out of respect.

The young Beta stopped well before he entered the red zone. He pondered waiting for someone, a guardian perhaps, to find him. However, the cold changed his mind and he tipped his muzzle into the air, sending up a polite howl for attention. Deciding it would be best to avoid wasting anyone's time, he even requested @Saena Blacktail specifically by name.

Swordfish fell silent then and sat, curling his tail so that the soft, white underside wrapped around his toes and kept his weary feet warm. Patiently and expectantly, he waited, picturing the young woman that had been described to him and keeping his copper eyes peeled for her face to hopefully appear on the plateau's ledge.

Patting her paw once over the newly filled cache, Saena grunted appreciatively, pleased with her work. Catching a hungry hare hadn't been easy. The petite juvenile spent the majority of her morning tracking the thin animal across the Plateau, at one point having to relocate it due to a distraction. After those frustrating hours, it had felt good to burst out of the snow drifts and feel the hare's plush fur between her teeth.

Before Saena could finish the construction of the cache by marking it, a howl specific to her broke the silence. She looked up quickly, ears perked, and wracked her brain. The call was unfamiliar, though she hesitated only a moment on account of that. Soon, she was padding down the plateau's narrow towpath, wondering if it was Ciervo come to call.

But the man waiting in the pack's buffer zone was not Ciervo. It was no one Saena had ever seen in her life. She paused at a fair distance from him, flicking her tail uncertainly. Her head was slung low and her ears perked forward suspiciously as she asked, "should I know you?"

She appeared and she looked just as their guest had described her. Swordfish smiled at the sight of her, tail sweeping the ground. Saena approached rather hesitantly and left a large gap between them when she paused. He didn't blame her. He was some total strange calling her by name; of course she would be as wary as she was curious. His ears flicked in response to her dubious inquiry.

"Hello. Ms. Saena Blacktail?" he questioned just to be sure, even though her markings were incredibly distinctive. He then dipped his head. "No. My name is Swordfish and I come from a pack called Thief River Falls. It's a few days' travel north of here. I came here with a message for you."

He didn't want to leave her hanging, so he continued without pause. "Ms. Junior Blacktail is back there. Evidently, she entered a tunnel here in the plateau. She said you would know what I'm talking about...?" Swordfish peered inquisitively at her face, then continued, "She found a new pathway and it led her for miles underground, she believes. There was an unexpected drop—'just like the other one,' she said—and she sprained both ankles on her forelegs when she fell.

She managed to keep crawling and find her way out, then called for help. My Captain—my Alpha female, I mean—found her and brought her back to the falls. Bones and Junior soon discovered they were actually cousins." He blinked. That made Bones and Saena cousins as well, of course. "She is family, so we are looking after her and tending her injuries. She is not well enough to travel and likely won't be in any condition to do so until springtime. She was in very bad shape when Bones found her. She must have been down there a while," he opined, oblivious to her previous injuries and illness. "Anyway, that's why I came in her stead."

Swordfish lapsed into silence for a breath, then finished by saying, "It was very important to Junior that I convey to you that she's okay and that she didn't leave on purpose. She said—and this is a direct quote—'I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks happened. I don't care about anyone but Saena. I just need her to understand I never would've left without saying something to her, even if I was upset and ashamed.' Then she corrected herself and mentioned that she cares about Pura too. She said it was up to you to pass that along to him and it's also up to you if you want to inform the pack of this message or keep it to yourself."

Swordfish fell quiet then and said no more for the moment, allowing Saena a chance to absorb all of that and voice the questions and concerns she surely had. He didn't know about the circumstances referenced in the message, nor who Pura was exactly (although he could guess). He hadn't asked Junior and would not ask Saena now. It was not his business. It was his job to pass the message, not editorialize it.

The man introduced himself as Swordfish, confirming that she shouldn't know who he is. How do you know who I am, then? she preemptively wondered as he explained that he was from a pack called Thief River Falls, which was just as unfamiliar as he was. Are you a thief? she almost asked, but bit her tongue (literally) when he announced that Junior was with them.

"You have my sister?" Saena asked, astonishment shining in her indigo eyes. As Swordfish painted the story with words, she nodded knowingly. That damn tunnel would probably be the death of one of them one day. It was a miracle that neither of them were hurt by their previous adventure into the unusual grotto, and not entirely unexpected that it would happen this time, especially because Junior was already weakened by her condition.

Bones was a name that rung no bells. If the adults had ever mentioned Atticus' bastard child, she couldn't remember it. Evidently, she was a relative, which to Saena probably meant she was as unreliable as the rest, but she'd taken Junior in and so the Blacktail couldn't do her a disservice by thinking so poorly of her. "I don't know Bones," Saena breathed, "but when you see her again, tell her I owe her big time for saving my sister's life.

We thought she'd left. She was really sick so we... we thought she might've gone somewhere to die by herself. I should've tried harder, I didn't think she'd be able to fit into that stupid tunnel..." Saena was ashamed to admit that she'd worried about her sister's death rather than searched for her. Not only was it shameful on its own, but Swordfish was a perfect stranger who didn't need to know any of this. "Tell your Alpha that she needs patience and care. We've all been through a lot, most of all her. I'll pass it on to Pura."

But not the rest of the pack. Maybe it was selfish to keep this information between her and her brother, but Saena didn't want them to know Junior was out there weak and hurt, or maybe stronger than ever. Junior's punishment had been severe in Saena's eyes; it was likely for the best that she stay away for some time to mentally and emotionally heal, and she feared telling the adults would result in a search party. Better that Junior have her time, and Saena and Pura wouldn't need to worry any longer about whether she was alive or not. These Thief River Falls wolves would make sure she was.

"Thank you for coming all this way to tell me this, Swordfish," Saena said, torn between a desire to snuggle into the side of his neck and lick his snout until it dripped out of sheer appreciation. "When you get back, can you tell her we love her and that we'll be here when she's good to travel? And that we don't blame her? Tell her I ripped Dante a new asshole for whatever the hell he said to her, and tell her I'll tell Blue Willow's kids all about how kickass she is until she can come back and meet them herself."

She wracked her brains for anything else Junior might want to know, and then with a quiet chortle, said, "and tell her that clouds have too much damn dandruff here," with a playful kick at the snow underfoot.

The look on Saena's face, as well as her tone when she spoke in turn, was incredible validation. He hadn't minded the task—hell, he had embraced one of the season's last opportunities for travel—but Swordfish could see just how important it was now that he'd found Saena and passed the message on to her. Now she would not fret and despair that Junior had crawled off somewhere to die; he had saved her from a brutal and uncertain heartache.

"I will be happy to pass along your messages. Bones is a lovely wolf who's been through a lot herself. She is looking after Junior personally. Evidently, she visited all of you once when you were very small. Your fathers are brothers," he shared what he knew. As far as he knew, Saena and Junior were biological sisters and he didn't even think to question this, even despite their complete lack of resemblance.

"You're welcome," he added when she thanked him, "though it was my pleasure. I live to travel, meet people and pass messages." Swordfish smiled broadly. "So, of course, I'll be happy to send your love back to your sister. I'm sure it will do wonders for her mental state. I should also add that you are welcome to come visit her any time you wish, on behalf of my Alphas. I'm not sure it's wise during the winter, per se, but our door is open to you. You're even welcome to stay with us on a more permanent basis if ever the need arises." It had been Junior's wish, approved by Bones, to extend this offer to Saena.

"She is?" Saena couldn't help but ask. It was unfortunate to know that Bones had also been through a lot in her life, but it was also comforting. It seemed to be a trend in the Redleaf family, one which Saena was secretly glad did not start and end with her. She wanted to know more about her relative in the Falls and which uncle was her father, as well as if Junior had said anything about what she'd deal with at the Plateau, but couldn't seem to find the words to ask.

Swordfish was elaborating on his enjoyment of his task, which Saena found both odd and understandable. "That sounds nice," she mused, "not for me, I don't think, but it must be cool to travel everywhere." His offer to visit was met with a broad smile, but she didn't think she'd be going anywhere at least until the snow began to melt. Blue Willow and Dante would wonder what spurred her decision to take a trip, and even Saena thought the journey might be too taxing. She might never return if she made it, a thought that didn't settle well with her.

"Thank you, Swordfish. I'll make sure the same is true for you and any of your wolves. The Plateau doesn't usually allow visitors, but I think they'd make an exception for Junior's saviours. I will think about visiting in the spring, for sure." Saena still didn't intend to tell anyone what had been said here until it was necessary, but if ever it came up, then she would back Bones and her crew 100%. With Fox and Peregrine both gone, it was incredibly unlikely that Bones would be turned away from the pack anyway (not that Saena knew anything about the last time the Tortuga wolf had visited them or Fox's involvement there).

"Junior mentioned you two were something called Outriders," Swordfish commented, though it was just one of those statements that put a neat little ribbon on the conversation rather than perpetuate it much. The offer to visit or even stay seemed to mean something to Saena and she said she would entertain the notion in the spring. In the meantime, she extended the same offer to him. Even if it was more a pleasantry than anything, he wagged his tail appreciatively and dipped his snout to her.

They hadn't actually touched on Junior's future much. Before disembarking, Swordfish thought he ought to mention it. It could affect Saena's visitation, after all. "It's none of my business but Junior has expressed to us that she wants to stay even once she heals. We're trying to find the balance; we want to encourage her to return to her family, like you, but we would also be happy for her to stay in Thief River Falls. By springtime, I imagine she might miss you all enough to change her mind. But I wanted to let you know what she'd said, just in case." Just in case of what, he wasn't exactly sure. It just seemed like a pertinent thing to pass along to her sister.

"Any last postscripts before I head home?" he asked with a polite and patient smile.

"Yeah," she said thoughtfully. She'd forgotten all about being an Outrider. Junior was always better at that sort of thing anyway, with Saena sticking closer to home the older she got. Being a Naturalist was more Saena's thing, but even that was boring lately. She was better at it, she almost said.

But before she could, Swordfish revealed that Junior might not return at all. Saena supposed she'd seen that coming. Her sister made these impulsive decisions all the time, only to go back on them. The extent of her mercurial disposition, however, remained a mystery to Saena, and so rather than writing off Swordfish's revelation as though it would change in a matter of days, her ears wilted ever so slightly at the possibility she would stay away. "Oh," she said, unable to keep from sounding slightly disappointed. In an effort to catch herself, she added, "well, I'm sure it's a great pack." Not home, though.

"Just... Tell her we miss her. Aunt Willow really misses her, I think, and Dante's sorry for the way he spoke to her." Speaking for adults when they hadn't even said those things felt kind of good. She could see why Junior had felt so empowered to remove Finley from their midst, if it meant feeling that way. "And... tell her I won't ever let them forget the Blacktails. I'll be here for good."

Although they scarcely knew one another, Swordfish wanted to nudge Saena's chin reassuringly. He restrained himself, knowing that most wolves did not like being touched so intimately by a stranger. Still, he favored her with a wan smile. He understood how this news must feel to receive. He wished he could tell her that he would do everything in his power to coax Junior to return home, though the truth was that he already liked their guest and rather wanted her to stay.

"It is. We will take good care of her and provide her a great home if she decides to stay. We will remind her not to forget her family here, though. Who knows? Maybe she will travel between there and here, as part of her Outrider duties. Our Alphas let me travel far and wide; I don't see why it would be any different for Junior." There, he hoped that made Saena feel a little better.

"I will pass along all your messages, Ms. Saena. Maybe I will see you again one day; I hope so anyway. Until then, please take care. I wish your pack well, especially through the winter." Swordfish II dipped his snout, tucking it close to his plushly-furred chest, then smiled at her, waved his tail and turned. It would be a long way home and he looked forward to delivering these particular correspondences to Junior.

To his reassurance she made no comment. Family was a touchy matter to Saena, and forgiveness for them was restricted greatly. To know that Junior was injured and had a likely story for it put her at ease—she could not blame her sister for disappearing—but still, knowing she might stay away wasn't enough. Traveling between this pack and Thief River Falls wasn't enough.

"Thank you, Swordfish," she said again, "have a safe trip back." As he departed, she found herself torn between telling the pack now that it was possible Junior may never return and keeping it private. She stood there a long while, until dark began to settle and Swordfish was well out of sight, mulling it over. In the end, she turned back into the dark forest, deciding to not tell anyone what had been said here. If Junior never did come home, then perhaps it was better they think her dead.