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+--- Thread: Morningside Cuesta this common blood iii (/showthread.php?tid=66332)
this common blood iii - Easy - September 20, 2025
It had been years and years since she'd come here. Easy remembered it, though. She stood before the den where she'd been born, where the lavender that her parents had planted now grew thick and wild all over the hill. Almost eclipsing the entrance. The smell of it brought her back to her childhood, and she thought about her siblings, older and younger. Her littermates.
"Right in there," she told her youngest sons, who had taken a break from their own nascent adventuring to accompany their old mom on a longer voyage. "You can explore, if you want. I'm going to take a walk."
She left them to investigate and wandered off on her own, walking where she thought she remembered the old borders being. It all looked different, now. She supposed that she did, too.
Easy tipped back her head and howled, wondering if other packs still remained in the area, or if there were any passing through. From somewhere behind her, her sons howled back — but quickly and quietly, obviously still wrapped up in their own young business.
The blackbear smiled to herself, wistful and glad all at once.
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - September 20, 2025
Speckletooth had wandered far in search of his swamp, but with no luck. The passing days grew increasingly cold, quiet, and lonely. It was nearly enough to bring him down.
But of course, all it took was a single howl to light back up that bulb in his head. His entire body nearly lurched when he heard it, skittering in a circle for a moment before he whipped his head up to respond. 'I'm here! I'm here!'
They weren't close enough to see just yet, but that just meant he would need to run real fast. Clumsy legs ran towards the sound, nearly tripping him along the way.
He had to wonder, did someone come for him? But just seeing another's face would be enough! When they came into view, Speckletooth slowed himself to catch his breath. There were two wolves (according to his double vision), both grey.. both tall.. it wasn't often that you saw twins!
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - September 20, 2025
Her own eyesight wasn't getting any better, at her age. Her father had been blind long before reaching the venerable age of eight. (In fact, he hadn't reached eight at all.) For a moment, she thought the male up ahead might be @Blue Ridge, despite the fact that it hadn't been her cousin's voice that'd answered her.
It was as he walked that she blinked away the imagined shape of him, and saw him for what he was: a complete stranger. Younger, more strapping. Friendly enough in body language.
Despite or perhaps in part due to her age, she found herself with very little concern for her safety. She was larger than the male, after all, and both skilled and experienced in battle. Her tail waved high in the air, flagging her as a dominant and authoritative presence despite the friendliness of the gesture. She barked at the male and dropped her front half low, patting the ground in playful invitation.
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - September 20, 2025
The response had him completely and utterly thrilled. They had to be someone he knew, why else would they be so friendly?
Everything about him screamed that he was young, overly-excited, and that caution had be thrown into the wind. Bounding forward, he was only meters away when two wolves became one, and her face was clear enough to confirm that he was sprinting towards a stranger.
Skidding to a full stop, Speckletooth fell to his side with a hard thump.
Yer not from the swamp!He exclaimed, clearly distressed in the moment before it passed him by and became curiosity.
..Who are ya?
RE: this common blood iii - Blue Ridge - September 20, 2025
cameo!
He'd never admit it, but he was tired.
Winding after his cousin's trail seemed to be no small thing.
When the den with lavender had been discovered, followed by her scent, he allowed himself some grace to linger near it. Not inclined to actually wedge himself in there but the outside was mighty nice. Even if by now the lavender was mostly drying and losing its maximum potency.
He situated himself against the ground outside the old den site. Loosened a little howl — near if you need me — and allowed his eyes to shut for just a moment...
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - September 20, 2025
Aaaaand, ah, there was her cousin. One of her dark ears twisted back in his direction, honing in on the familiar sound of his voice. His presence bolstered her — not that she needed it — and she straightened with a still-wagging tail as the stranger sped toward her. She was comfortable enough with this until the stranger seemed to startle. That, in turn, drew her posture just a little tauter.
"I'm from right here, actually," she replied, not quite cross, but not at all appreciative of the stranger's manners.
She studied the man carefully, looking for signs of illness. She didn't want any ravening or wasting wolves around her sons, or around her cousin, for that matter. The only thing that stuck out to her, however, were his eyes.
"My name is Ishara," she told the younger wolf, still holding herself rather stiffly. "Were you expecting someone else?"
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - September 20, 2025
Speckletooth certainly wasn't ill, and he had pure luck to thank! That and his monthly check-ins with his pack's herbalists. Though, those wouldn't be happening anymore. He was healthy besides the obvious malformities, and those weren't quite contagious.
I though ye' were two wolves, then you turned to one! Gave me a scare.He responded, leaving out the part where he had thought she was a saviour coming to take him back to his swamp home.
I'm Speckletooth. Not because my teeth are speckled, though.Opening his mouth to prove his point, his teeth were quite clean - no speckles in sight. Just a chip on one of his canine teeth.
Getting a hold of the situation now, he found that it was not only Ishara here. There were scents of young among lavender and treaded land, contrasting the woman in front of him. So she was old - and a mother! How could he have been so hippity in front of her? His own mother would have given him a real scolding.
Sorry, ma'am.
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - September 28, 2025
"Did you?" asked Easy, concern rising in her chest. Not so much for the individual before her, but for the young men she'd brought along with her. She inspected his teeth when he displayed them, and then took a little step closer to get a good look at his eyes. The sight of them, cocked but otherwise healthy, soothed her nerves. He was not actively ravening, as far as she could tell.
"It's quite alright," she replied, graciously accepting the apology. Her tail wheeled again in the air, reassuring him that she was still friendly.
"Are you looking for someone, Speckletooth?" she asked, her natural instinct to offer help to others taking over. This, to her, did not seem like a young man who ought to be left to his own devices for long. He must have a minder looking for him —
Easy looked around, as if one might materialize over the next hill.
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - September 28, 2025
Speckletooth finally stood now, as though he had been waiting for some sense of approval from her.
No ma'am, I'm all alone.He didn't sound sad in the least when he said it. After all, Speckletooth was confident that he would be returning home sooner or later. If not, then he would find somewhere new just as he had discussed with Veteran.
I had been lookin' fer a swamp, but wolves 'round here don't live in them.He still thought that was strange, but it couldn't be helped.
He still missed his swamp, but it didn't make too much sense to try living in an empty one.
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - September 30, 2025
Easy appeared doubtful, but she had no real reason to think the young male was lying. If he was alone, he must be good enough at feeding himself — he seemed to be in perfect health.
"I've never met a wolf who lived in a swamp," she said, beginning to relax even as she found the man more and more off-putting. "Wouldn't a wolf get terribly moldy?"
She hated to be damp, herself — it was why she could never bring herself to move to the coast, even when she'd been invited. She preferred the open plains, like her father before her.
She glanced over her shoulder to be sure that the boys were nowhere in sight before taking a step closer.
"What's the matter with your eyes?" she asked him.
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - October 01, 2025
Speckletooth was quick to shake his head at her suggestion.
No, not if you have someone to clean the mold off! The mud can feel real nice, too.How he missed his mud baths! Mama always said it was the best way to get rid of the bugs.
Nothin' the matter with my eyes, they're just different.He answered in earnest. Clearly he had been asked this question often.
I see a little funny, but it ain't so bad now that yer closer.Speckletooth couldn't remember ever living without his crossed eyes, but he knew that, at some point, he hadn't had double vision.
Admittedly, they did cause him trouble. Besides the obvious with his slip-up upon seeing Ishara today. Most of his meals were carrion because he struggled to catch prey so badly.
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - October 01, 2025
"Sure enough," Easy agreed, mainly to be polite. She could understand the sentiment, at least, even if the exact context of it was a little lost on her. Surely it was better to not grow mold in the first place?
She was dubious, too, about the state of the young man's eyes. It wasn't the most unsightly of deformations, except that it seemed to make him far less slightly. Far more sightly? See double — it made him see double. That had to get in the way of his hunting, didn't it?
"Where is your swamp?" she wondered, thinking, privately, that he ought to be returned to it. She couldn't possibly, of course, with her schedule.
But maybe —
No, absolutely not. Couldn't possible.
RE: this common blood iii - Speckletooth - October 01, 2025
Where was his swamp?
Speckletooth visibly froze up, the cogs in his head turning.
I don't know!He confirmed after a moment.
I can't go back until I get to be a real good hunter though. My pa' turned me out.His father hadn't actually said he could come back ever, but Speckletooth had made the choice to remain optimistic.
I think I'm gon' head west though, keep moving y'know?There was still plenty of the wilds to see, after all. Speckletooth didn't want to miss any of it!
It was nice to meet you, Ms. Ishara.
RE: this common blood iii - Easy - October 16, 2025
Easy stood very still for a moment, her breath caught in her chest. She couldn't imagine ever turning out one of her children, nor her father turning out one of her siblings. It was abhorrent to her, and she felt badly for Speckletooth almost at once.
But she was uneasy, too. Only one wolf had ever been banished from her natal pack, and it had been because he was a dangerous aberration. Her pumpkin gaze flashed between his skewball eyes for a moment, and inwardly, she began to bristle and cringe. There must be something about this man, she decided, that caused even his own blood to turn away from him.
She wished that he wouldn't head west.
She contemplated, for a moment, attempting to end his journey here and now.
"Go in peace," she said after a beat of quiet; the only words she cared to speak in farewell. When he'd turned away, she would do the same — and head straight over to check on her sons.