Nova Peak's ranks had fluctuated some since they had arrived. First Paar and her children had gone off to visit Shadow and Trajan, never to return. Then they had gained a few new wolves: Arion, Anouk, and a wolf she had heard tell of, Jericho. Bazi and Falwasi had accepted him, but Kas had yet to see him around much. Not that she knew much of the others, either. Today she would remedy that.
Her mind wandered toward Tomahawk, the fox they had been allowing to live with them for some time. She had lagged behind during their move. Since she hadn't shown up yet, Kaskara assumed that she had decided not to follow them. She didn't like that thought, since she had vouched for the wolf-fox back at the creek. Kas hoped she was well, wherever she was.
Shaking her head, Kaskara then lifted her muzzle to call for the newest members of the pack. As the howl faded, Kaskara hoped that someone would come speak with her today. Maybe they'd go exploring, too. That would be fun.
The regal loped along his land s—entirely focused on what was to come, rather than the current happenings of Nova Peak. Still, his ears perked at the sound of his sister’s call, and without hesitance, despite the simple fact that the Beta was seeking the pack’s newest members, the Frostfur made his way to his younger sibling.
Uttering a low bark to announce his presence, the Alpha closed the distance between them, completely ignoring the fact the call had not been for him. It had been awhile since he had Kaskara to himself, and with puppies on the way, he could feel his nerves flutter. No other was better at soothing them than the she-wolf before him.
Drawing up to her side, the Alpha nudged her cheek with his wet nose. “How is the aunt of my unborn children?”
When the newest members of their pack didn't immediately heed the call of their beta, Kaskara marked that down against them. In her mind, she stored all sorts of information that most would find useless, but it had helped her so far. Instead of one of those she called for, Scimitar appeared with a bark and a nudge. Kaskara grinned and nuzzled her brother affectionately.
"I'm well, brother. Trying to keep tabs on the newcomers. I haven't met them yet, and thought I'd take the chance..." She shrugged. It was no matter, really, that they hadn't come. She would simply remember it for later. "And how are you? I saw Bazi not too long ago. She's afraid she'll look like a pumpkin." Kas grinned at the thought, but didn't make light of her sister's worry. It was entirely possible that she would swell way beyond her size.
It was rather disappointing to note that their newer members were not only so few, but also scarce. It did not bode well for the cinnamon wolf, and his eyes flashed across the wooded lands before him, wondering if any of them were still on their way to heed their Betas call. He spoke nothing of it – Kaskara would deal with this on her own and her way.. his Beta was not one to be overpowering.. but nor would she take the brush off lightly. “They’re few,” he admitted to her, in response to the newcomers.. He enjoyed the fact they were a small and loyal pack – but at times, he worried.. for if any of their enemies tracked them down, they very possibly might not have the numbers they required to fend off an attack.
“Exhausted,” he admitted next, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. He did not complain openly to anyone much, but Kaskara was his sister.. and even though he was not the one swollen up like a balloon and about to pop out a litter of rather lively puppies.. he could still talk about anything to her. “She’s wanted to be a mother for as long as I’ve known her.”
Kas wanted to track down the newcomers, to get to know them, make sure they were fitting in nicely. It was the last thing they needed: anyone come to cause a ruckus. Especially now that Bazi was heavily pregnant, Kaskara would do anything to protect the peace they'd built upon this mountain. "I remember her with Tuwawi's children and of course with Paar's. She'll be a good mother."
She was excited to become an aunt. With a smile, she nudged her brother's cheek again, and spoke. "When they're born, don't hesitate to call on me if you or Bazi need a day away. Your whole life is about to change...I won't blame you if you might want to steal some hours for yourself." She was excited for the babes to come, for her role in this pack to shift slightly. Now she would need to protect the young brood not only as their aunt, but as their beta. Their protector.
"We will," he reassured her, as the offer fell from his sister's lips. No doubt they could rely on many of Nova peak's more grounded members -- Falwasi, Kieran, Kaskara.. these were the wolves who had proved their loyalty time and again, and he was grateful they had all made the travel together. A fresh start was something they had all deserved.
"Are you settling in okay?" They had been here for a bit now, but it was still quite new to the Peak wolves. Every nook and cranny had been explored at Swiftcurrent Creek, but now they had to familiarize themselves with their home once more.. something he found he quite enjoyed. They were a smaller band of wolves now.. but somehow, he felt they were stronger for it.
Kaskara knew he wouldn't hesitate to call upon her for help, but she felt the need to offer it, anyway. That way there was no unspoken agreement between them; it was all out in the open. Kas didn't worry about it, though, because as the pup's aunt, she would be spending quite a bit of time with them. His question, however, brought a bit of worry into her heart.
She was settling in alright, but she wasn't sure about the others. Especially the new wolves, who had joined and seemingly disappeared. She didn't know that for a fact, but it sure felt that way. "Just fine," she nodded and smiled. She did wonder at her prospects...but no, this wasn't the time or place to speak of that. "I forgot how fun it is to explore a new place. Still looking for a den though." She had never truly found one at the creek, but she was sure that the winters upon this mountain were much harsher than those at the creek. She had time.
He gave a nod to his sisters words, his eyes regarding her carefully. "Perhaps there will be one close to Bazi and I," he offered, his tail giving an idle swing at the thought of it. Kaskara and he were close -- though not clingy, and he was not sure if she truly cared whereabouts her den was, as long as it kept her sheltered from the harsher winters they would endure here.
Rolling his shoulders back in a leisurely stretch, the Frostfur cast a glance around the area, noting that none of the newcomers bothered to heed their Beta's call at all. She would line them up soon enough -- of that he was sure. "Anything of note in your explorations?" The land was still new to them.. and he wanted fewer surprises than what the Creek had offered them, despite their longevity there.
"That would be nice." It would be nice to live near her brother and his wife and their children. She was their number one go-to babysitter, after all, and she spent enough time with the family to want to be nearby. "I'll look around," she promised with a grin.
Then he turned their conversation toward potentially other packs int he area, Kaskara shrugged. "The only ones I know of are quite a distance away. Duskfire Glacier and a pack on the coast." She wasn't sure if she had ever gotten her name from that woman when she went to visit Junior. Either way, those packs were days' journeys away, and she wasn't worried about them. "I can go explore if you'd like. I'm not sure what lies to our north."
He wasn’t fond of the idea at having their Beta leave the lands for a scouting trip – especially given the low numbers the pack now had. Still, it would do them no good to not have a proactive approach either, and knowledge was power. He was silent for a few moments as he considered this – caring little about any news from Duskfire Glacier, or an unknown pack to the coast. Yet still.. it would not be a bad idea.
“Take a few days to scout around close by, perhaps,” he hesitantly offered, his shoulders lifting up in a halfhearted shrug. “I don’t want you too far – we’re a small pack now, and the more we have here at the Peak, the better,” he offered, a frown stirring upon his features.
Kas understood his hesitation, his desire to have her close. Not only was she his sister and beta, she was also a warrior, and would be instrumental in any fight that might occur. But she was relieved to hear that she could scout for a few days, but not too far. She smiled and nodded her agreement. "I won't be but a howl away." She didn't want to go wandering far afield, but she did need to get the layout of the lands around them.
That meant leaving off her outriding days, at least for now, until their numbers stabilized. That was good enough for her. "I'll report back in a week or so." It would be good to stretch her legs, even if she was only traveling a few hours each day. "Maybe I'll find some lone wolves and rope them into our company." She joked, but there was some truth behind it; if she found anyone, perhaps she could recruit them. Only time would tell.
Scimitar offered a nod of approval before rolling his shoulders back, allowing his muscles to stretch. He trusted her opinion above others who would report back with their findings.. recalling that the one wolf, Tarquin that he had sent out, had never bothered to return.
“Perhaps,” he offered, knowing the opportunity could very well rise. He was less enthused about seeking out lone wolves, only because one never knew who they were truly conversing with. He refrained from speaking this, or expressing his desire that she remain safe – Kaskara wouldn’t do anything foolish, and she had a sensible head on her shoulders. At the very least, they could get some sense of the surrounding lands. “Check in when you return – Bazi will be interested to know what you’ve found.” With that, the regal pressed his nose to her cheek in farewell. Pulling back, the large wolf began to lope back ot the den, ready to check in on his family.