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+--- Thread: Heron Lake Plateau And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space (/showthread.php?tid=27411)
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And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 25, 2018
Set May 28
After a small spattering of rain, the dusty slops leading down the plateau toward the borders had become just a titch slippery. Niamh, who was more used to simply barrelling down the slope, enjoying the amount of speed she could pick up with her long, spindly legs, had continued about her business the same way she always had, without taking into account that the grass was wet, and as a result, went tumbling arse over teakettle down the slope, spidery legs flailing as she tried once or twice to right herself before crumpling and continuing to roll down the rest of the slope. It wasn't a terribly graceful endeavour, and to add insult to injury, her momentum was finally halted by a burrdock bush. She sat up, and realized quickly that she'd done something to her right forepaw while rolling down the hill- she'd probably twisted it sideways in an attempt to stop herself, and grimaced. Her ankle was already starting to swell a bit, so she growled softly and licked at it, as though that would make things better. It was then, when she reached to lick her paw, that she realized she was in a burrdock bush- as the little round balls of velcro-like seed pods pulled free from the bush and stuck themselves instead, firmly into her fur. This was shit.
She removed herself from the bush, being careful to avoid stepping on her paw, with at least 30 burrdocks embedded in her fur. It did nothing to improve her attitude about not being able to walk, and slightly scorned, she glared back up the slope. She couldn't do a patrol now, not with one bum ankle- so all she could do was sit and try to pull all the damn burrdocks out of her beige fur.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - May 25, 2018
Colt was about, as per usual. He didn't tend to have much of a routine to his days... routines got too predictable. He was considering going for a little trip out of borders, to clear his head and maybe meet a few strangers. But he hadn't even been here long enough to say hey to everyone here. So....
Speaking of! Spotting an unfamiliar face, Colt paused, watching as Niamh seemed to be attempting to clean something from her pelt. He considered a moment, then began walking over, curious. He knew she had entered with Screech, but unlike the boy, he had heard little about her, good or bad. Seemed she was fitting right in.
"Having trouble?" He asked, lightly smiling as he spotted the bush and put two and two together. "Don't think we've met yet. Name's Colt."
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 25, 2018
The last thing Niamh wanted was an audience; she was full of burrs, and couldn't put weight on one foot. All she could think of was that she'd be found by Screech, who might take a jab at her- or Fiadh or Clover who might rethink reconsidering her- or god forbid, Raven or Quixote...Though Raven was a medic, and could probably help her out. She considered for a moment calling out for X, so he might alert Towhee- but before she could do that, and just as she spat out a burr, making a face as a few little hooky things stuck to her tongue, another wolf came up.
She gave him a strange look- as though to say I don't know you, you don't belong here- but then she realized that she'd seen him before. He was the one she'd taken note of, when the Caldera wolves had first come to claim the land, had suggested that they move on. "Ugh." She replied, to his gentle prod about her current state. She smoothed her expression slightly, and nodded her head to him. "I'm Niamh. Otherwise known as disaster," She said, glancing down at her paw and then reaching to pull another burr out of her pelt, making a face as she did so. "World's lamest day," she commented after spitting it out.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - May 27, 2018
Colt chuckled, then shook his head, circling a bit to stand more in front of her. "You said it, not me. Bit of a rookie mistake, though, goin for a roll and not checkin the bottom of the hill first." As if he were some expert in hill rolling. Was that even a thing?
"Real talk though, you alright?" She seemed fine, but thrown off enough he figured he should probably ask.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 27, 2018
Well, she'd thought, for a moment, that he was cool. Her expression went flat, and ears turned sideways, and she gave him a 'no shit, Sherlock' kind of look when he poked fun at her for having fallen down the hill into the burrdock bush. She snorted, pride obviously wounded a bit to have been caught in the situation she was now in. She'd fallen down a slippery slope, hurt herself, and was sitting there covered in burrs, and now this guy was poking fun at her. He almost, sort of redeemed himself by asking if she was alright, but she was already in a fairly sour mood and he'd already poked the bear by making fun of her.
"I'm fucking fantastic, obviously," She snipped, holding out her swollen ankle for him to see clearly. "Thanks for the concern," She drawled, giving him a short glare before she hunched her shoulders slightly, and tucked her injured ankle against her body, keeping it off the ground. She continued to tear some of the burrs out of her fur, plucking tufts of caramel hair along with them, trying hard not to wince as she did so.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - May 28, 2018
Lose your sense of humor in the fall too, or are there two of them without one, he thought wryly as she snipped back, clearly taking his jokes personally. But he didn't say the words.... his argument with Towhee was too recent, and honestly, he wasn't in the mood for this sort of give and take today. It wasn't as much fun when the joking wasn't mutual.
"Alright, message received." He said with an offhand smile, turning to go. Less she stopped him, he'd leave her to it, sensing she wasn't much digging him there and unwilling to stay where he wasn't wanted.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 28, 2018
He spoke, and Niamh ignored him for a moment- until she heard footsteps, which caused her to lift her head, and look up to see him beginning to walk away. Her brow furrowed, and she took ffense to the fact that he was really just going to leave her there. She snorted loudly- no doubt with the intention of having him hear her disdain, and winced as she rebalanced and put weight on her injured foot. She murmured a soft but audible cuss, and reached to grab another one of the burrs that was embedded in her fur, close to her shoulder.
Turning her head, she lifted her muzzle slightly, took aim, and after taking in a deep breath, spat the burr out- aiming to send the burr flying straight at the haunches presented to her as he made to leave. She didn't want him to leave- but she didn't exactly want to say so.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - May 28, 2018
He heard her scoff, but put it off to her obviously bitchy mood at the moment and didn't react. It wasn't that Colt didn't get it... he just had a pretty bad track record so far in dealing with packmates in foul moods, and wasn't lookin to make another potential enemy here.
Something bouncing off his flank made him pause, and he glanced back with a raised brow - did she just.... throw something at him? what the fuck?
"Look, names Colt. I'm not lookin to get yelled at right now, so if you aren't in the mood for conversation, I'm not about to hang around. Less you need something? In which case, you gotta ask, because I can't read minds."
These he said in a fairly matter of fact manner, as if commenting on something perfectly normal and not straight up saying he wasn't up to dealing with her right now. No frustration - just good-natured honesty.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 28, 2018
She was simultaneously pleased and perturbed when the burr bounced off his hip. She was quite surprised that she'd managed to actually spit a burr at him and have it hit- but at the same time, she realized a bit too late that that wasn't what she should have done- this sort of behavior was childish, something a pup might do. She wasn't a child, and when he spoke to her, he gave her a warning- likely just because she was higher in the ranks, but there was a note in his voice that made it clear that he didn't want to put up with childish bullshit. Niamh closed her eyes and shook her head.
"No. I'm sorry. That was really stupid." She said. "I just...Didn't want to be made fun of right now," Since when had she ever become a delicate flower? Her brother used to dish out disses all the time and it had never bothered her. She wasn't usually so sensitive...And she wasn't entirely sure she could figure out, or articulate, why she was so touchy now. "I dunno, I think I just twisted it," She said, lifting her paw up again, allowing her ankle to dangle, and her expression went from sour to concerned- and perhaps there was a tinge of fear in her voice. "It'll just like...Get better on its own, eh?" She asked, turning her worried gaze to him. She knew what she wanted, then; she just wanted reassurance.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - May 30, 2018
Everyone here was either old as him or young, too young it seemed to take the shit he tended to deal out. So he was learning when to keep his mouth shut, when to walk away, and when to crack a joke. It wasn't going to be an easy lesson, but if when pissed off these wolves didn't just get over it, he couldn't afford making enemies of packmates. Not even kids, a number whose membership was basically everyone except the alpha pair and his sister and brother in law.
He didn't argue with her summation of his remarks - he'd definitely been making fun of her. But he didn't feel too bad about it either. It hadn't been meant personally, and like with Towhee, it wasn't his fault she took it that way.
Not an easy lesson in any way.
"I suppose if you gotta take it out on something, better me than the bush," he said breezily, moving in closer now that it seemed she wasn't going to snap (literally or figuratively).
"I'm no healer, but it might. Cold water I know, but might be worth havin someone take a look." He'd had enough sprains in his heyday, but couldn't judge them on sight. "For now I can help you to a creek?" There was one nearby.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - May 30, 2018
When he made a remark about the bush, she prickled slightly- but ended up turning to glance at the offending burrdock bush, which had hardly suffered at all, and gritted her teeth. She plucked another burr from her pelt and spat it back, straight at the bush out of spite. "Oh, that bush has it comin'," She said, raking her tongue against her teeth to get all the little burr hooks off it. She glanced back to COlt, who'd come back again, fortunately.
He suggested going to a creek, so she nodded. "I suppose. Take the swelling down, hopefully," She said, standing up a bit blearily, doing her best to balance on three long, skinny legs. "Otherwise someone'll have to amputake it off," She said, and looked up to him. "Lead the way, Skipper," She said, finally ready to gimp her way along beside him toward the nearest creek.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 01, 2018
She didn't flare up at his joke, which was a good sign. He'd kept it specifically non-insulting so hey, least he was trying! Don't worry - he gave himself plenty of credit for it. A lot of internal applause.
He moved in on her bad side, offering himself up as support if she wanted it but willing to let her try and gimp her way over if she felt the need. "So, you signed on with Titmouse, right?" Colt asked, by way of conversation. "Glad you two stuck around, even if things went kinda south there for a minute." He still thought in some ways they should have moved on, but at least it all seemed to have turned out alright.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 01, 2018
Niamh moved along at Colt's side, staying just a pace or so apart, but when he mentioned the name 'Titmouse,' she snorted with laughter and ended up staggering sideways, colliding with the brown fur of his shoulder before she could right herself. She blushed slightly, and regained her balance, clearing her throat and sliding her tongue over her teeth for a moment as she regained her composure.
"Sorry. It's just, like...Who names their kid 'Titmouse?'" She asked, with a somewhat snide laugh. "I just take that name seriously. Good thing he chose another name," Though she could have gone on to share her personal opinion that Screech was almst equally as silly a name, she kept her trap shut, lest Colt should disagree and take offense. "But yeah, we joined at the same time," She said, she sobered considerably. She thought of the way Screech had spoken to her last, and had shot her down. Her ears turned back and she gritted her teeth as she straightened herself up a bit. "Where've you been? I haven't seen you around since then?" She said, electing to change the subject, rather than dwell on Screech.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 01, 2018
He shifted when she laughed and her shoulder collided with his, luckily ready to take the hit. He could appreciate the humor though; he liked Titmouse (Screech? I have no clue what name Colt knows for him honestly ngl) well enough, but he knew a thing or two about bad names. And the kid had gotten a rotten deal there.
He almost said as much, but she moved on, bringing him to the subject of his recent absence. Ah, right.
"Towhee booted my ass," he said, casually as if they were discussing hunting or weather. "Told her I didn't think she should be leading alone, what with bein deaf and all, and not seemin too into the whole social thing. She didn't like that much." Of course, who would? But he still thought she'd taken it all too personally. "But when she handed things over, Raven and Qui let me back." He didn't mind tellin it, even if it had occurred to him that Niamh and Towhee might be friends. It was over and done, if not resolved.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 02, 2018
Niamh turned her head to look at Colt, slightly shocked when he said that Towhee had kicked him out. Fortunately, she didn't turn too quickly, and was able to keep her balance this time. He didn't seem too upset by the whole thing, and in truth, she could see how he and Towhee might not have seen eye to eye. After all, Colt had been the one, Niamh had noticed, to say they ought to just move on when they first came to the Plateau whereas Towhee had instead threatened to kill Screech, Niamh and Redshank. The tables had definitely turned now, though- she and Towhee were practically besties, and the thought that Towhee had once threatened to kill her was laughable.
His reasons for not believing in Towhee, however, were fairly rational- but at the same time, she couldn't exactly take his side or accept his views. She was biased, now, and wasn't the best at being objectional. As far as she was concerned, Towhee had been doing fine as the alpha. She didn't know how to feel then, when he admitted that it was Quixote and Raven who'd brought him back, even though Towhee obviously didn't really want him to be around. "Hmm," She said. Immediately, she wanted to know what Towhee thought about the fact Quixote and Raven had basically undermined her past authority. True, they were the alphas and could do what they wanted- but did they simply disregard Towhee's feelings completely when they'd let him back in? "Have you talked to Towhee since you came back?" She asked, then. Towhee hadn't vented to her about anything, but then again, maybe that'd be news for the next time she saw her friend. "Are things like...Cool, or...?" She asked. Not that it mattered, though- the alphas had the final say.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 04, 2018
The questions sounded innocent enough, but Colt was now left to wonder if Niamh wasn't a friend of Towhee's. Too late to back out now... he was stuck with her until he got her to the river. Which honestly wasn't a huge deal... she was obviously salty after having a rough afternoon, but nowhere near as difficult to talk to as the former Alpha, now Beta. At least he could judge how his words were coming across, and at least she could tell when he was teasing.
"I did, brought her a fox 'n all." He replied neutrally. "And it definitely didn't go well, though I think it maybe coulda gone worse." He coulda been booted again... but that's about the only way it could have gone worse. It had self-destructed rather amazingly, actually. "But I'm here, and she's here, so I think it's gonna stay at that." It wasn't like he was gonna actively shit-talk her behind her back, or undermine her, or any shit like that. She deserved to be where she was, and he deserved to be where he was. All well and good.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 05, 2018
A fox? He brought Towhee a fox? Niamh looked up at Colt, a bit surprised at the thing he'd chosen for Towhee as a gift. As far as she knew, foxes had a pungent odour they used when marking, and they sounded aweful when they barked. Their pelts were very pretty, though; she envied the colour...So maybe that was why he'd gifted her a fox, so she could use its fur to bed her den? She couldn't imagine eating a fox...But that was simply because she hadn't exactly taken to hunting other carnivores. It just seemed to weird, hunting something that looked and acted like a canine.
They seemed to have sorted something out, though, even if it was nothing more than indifference. "Aiight," She said. "Long as you're cool with her, you're cool with me," She said, stating clearly where her own alliances stood. "I appreciate the help, too," She said, voice friendly than it had been just a moment ago. "Kinda sucks, walking on three legs," She said, emphatically dangling her right forelimb to illustrate the point as she skipped it in her step. "Probably look like a stork with all this stupid bobbing up and down everytime I skip a step."
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 06, 2018
Yep, definitely a friend of Towhee's. He probably shoulda guessed with the way his jokes had gone over like a brick on initial meeting... but she seemed ok with him now, so at least she was willing to meet halfway. For the millionth time he wondered if he was really that hard to handle.
"Nothin wrong with that, and a cute enough stork at least," he said with a smile, brushing lightly against her shoulder so as not to throw off her already iffy stride. There was only friendly warmth in his tone... he talked a big game, but honestly, Colt had put his heartbreaking ways to bed a year ago, and he hadn't much regained the taste for it.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 07, 2018
Niamh scrunched her nose up, slightly when he gave her a compliment, and was horrified when a girlish giggle left her lips. His shoulder touched hers and she blushed, again overwhelmed by bashfulness at being called 'cute' by someone who was more or less a stranger to her. She raised one eyebrow at him, and gave him a wry half-smile. "Yeah, sure," Was the only thing she could think of as a response. What was she supposed to do? If she'd thanked him, it'd mean that she actually thought she was cute- and that she thought he thought she was cute...Which was totally not happening, right? She stole another glance at him. How old was Colt, anyway?
...Maybe too old. But maybe just old enough. She couldn't decide.
"Soooo....Have you met the Blackthorns yet?" She asked. He'd met Towhee, and obviously Quixote and Raven- but she was curious to see where he stood with them- ironically, not recognizing him to be one of them. Not that all Blackthorns had to be primarily grey, but Colt definitely had a different look about him than the others did, and was thus not recognized as a member of that family.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 10, 2018
He took her giggle as a sign she was feelin better and not as the cue it might have been. Mainly because she was young, he was older, and honestly, he was in enough hot water as it was. Subconsciously he was likely on the play-it-safe setting, unfortunate for his boyish mentality, but fortunate for likely both his pride and his pack standing. That and he wasn't quite ready to dive into that particular pool quite yet - not again.
"I'd say," he said, clearly amused, but not for the reason she might have thought. Oh, this might be fun. "Quite the family," he added conversationally, conveniently leaving out the fact that he was one of them. She might know... but she hadn't said. Why not see what else happened here before he let the proverbial cat out of the bag?
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 10, 2018
Niamh raised one eyebrow at Colt when he made a comment about the Blackthorns, and she smiled wryly with one side of her mouth. She flicked her ears back, a bemused look on her face, where the corners of her dark lips pulled back, and slightly upwards. Though she had had a breakthrough moment with Clover, apparently Fiadh still thought Niamh was a freeloader and a traitor waiting to happen.
"They like....Hate Screech. And me by association." She said. "I didn't even do anything wrong to them but they- especially Fiadh- just have it out for me. Not Tegan though. He's a cool guy." She confessed. "What d'you think?" She asked, oblivious- naturally- to the truth.
He was one of THEM.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 12, 2018
Colt smiled appreciatively at her compliment of Tegan, but nodded and sighed. He wasn't much surprised by what she said, he knew his sister well enough. "When my sister gets an idea about someone in her head, sometimes it takes a while to get it out. And I guess the rest took a leaf out of the family tree. I think she's forgotten how much dumb shit we got into as kids." At least theirs hadn't landed them in as much trouble. Colt had nothing but sympathy for Screech.
"Y'know, it was who told him he should go if he wanted to. Better to leave and figure out what family means than stay because you feel like you have to." It was an unusually deep sentiment for Colt, but it was one he'd adopted rather personally from experience. "Doesn't look like it turned out too well for him, but least he seems to have made some good friends."
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 12, 2018
When my sister...
Hold those horses.
Niamh balked, staggering slightly to regain her step when Colt dropped the S word. She looked at him, then, and swallowed, ears flicking back. What had she said? Had she said anything she shouldn't have? Her mind raced, trying to think of everything she'd said to him thus far, to see if anything could be used against her...But the way he reacted, and the way he spoke now was a bit out of character for what she assumed all Blackthorns were like. Maybe Colt, then, was the blacksheep of the Blackthorns. He definitely had a more even keel than the others- even if he had pushed her buttons a few moments ago. He was actually being pretty nice now.
She tried, then, to piece exactly how Colt fit in. She assumed, because she'd referenced Fiadh, that he meant that she was his sister, but that didn't work- he was definitely older than Fiadh. That could only mean, then, that Finley was his sister. Wow. He'd definitely gone in a different direction than she had, personality-wise. "I only really met her once...And it wasn't great. I was going after Screech, to see what he was up to, and he'd wandered way too close to Finley's den...Clover and Fiadh both showed up and caused a ruckus and wanted to start a fight, and then Finley came out too. We were new, and didn't know where her den was, and would've avoided it like the plague if we'd known. I apologized, and we left- and I haven't gone anywhere near there since then, but I still think she probably kind of hates my face." It seemed like the kind of thing that was right up Finley's alley. She seemed like a natural face-hater.
It turned out Colt had offered Screech some advice, and she nodded. It was a sentiment she too could agree with. "My family was kinda like that. Lots stayed because they were like, all related. I just kinda...Wanted to do my own thing." She said. "Did you do the same?" She asked.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - Colt RIP - June 12, 2018
Well that definitely checked out... Frog freaking out because someone got too close. She'd always been the sort to do so a little more than him... both of them were apt to do dumb shit, obviously, but Fin was always more likely to fly off the handle. Colt didn't care enough about much to do the same.
"She was pissed at me for a long time, and if she got over that, I'm sure she's gotten over yours." He said with some confidence. He'd been a piece of shit and a half after all... she'd only made an honest mistake.
"I did. With Finley actually. For a while." It hadn't lasted terribly long, but while it had, it had been a hell of a ride. "Seems to have turned out better for you then?" She wasnt missing anything at least, same as he. He was honestly rather glad he left home, but he'd found family again, and he wasn't particularly unhappy about that fact. Like he'd told her... better to learn to appreciate it first.
RE: And I've got the sides and all the corners- but there's a space - RIP Niamh - June 15, 2018
Apparently Finley could forgive, so she simply had to take Colt's word for it. Maybe after all this time, having given the den area lots of distance, she'd have won herself a clean slate- but there was no real way to know that without finding Finley to see- and she wasn't exactly eager to do that, either. Elwood seemed pretty cool, so maybe if she was able to talk to him and prove herself to him, she'd get noticed by the family's matriarch. Maybe Colt was her way in too- if they were on good terms, of course.
It seemed like the two of them had a lot in common. Colt and Finley had left their family together, just as she and Ambrose had done. She looked forward, as the creek glistened ahead of them, and as they reached it, she wanded in, sitting down in the water and lowering her swollen ankle into the cold waters. She nodded in response to his question. "I mean, aside from this," She said, nodding to her ankle, "Life's been pretty deece. My brother and I left together, but he's starting some pack of his own like, a month's travel or so away from here. But I like what I've got going." She said.