Porcupine Ridge Blackbird song

Agh, her legs were achey, not quite tired; she had energy in troves, but they definitely felt the weight of crossing through forest and scaling the sheer pathways up the cliffs. While originally seeking for herbs, at least she wasn't entirely empty-handed, no no, she'd found a stray!

She paused a moment to lean against @Lorcan Altair, and called to @Hex and @Muskrat.

Come see come see!

Lorcan stood like a dark shadow beside her, eyes narrowed and watchful as Envy leaned against him. Her energy was endless, yet he could see the subtle strain in her stance, the weariness that settled in her limbs despite her fiery spirit. She called out, summoning others with that untamed enthusiasm he’d come to expect from her, but he remained quiet, a silent wall at her side, steady and unyielding.

He cast a sharp gaze over the path they’d traveled, alert to any hint of disturbance or threat. In his silence, there was an edge—something almost protective, like a wolf coiled and ready to spring at the faintest sign of danger. For a moment, his gaze softened just slightly as he looked down at her, a flicker of concern crossing his usually guarded features.

Still, he said nothing, his presence a quiet, vigilant strength at her shoulder.

Upon answering the call and spying the duo a bit down the slope, Hex couldn't help but wonder if Envy had some store of large, dark men stashed away somewhere to bring the Ridge. First Dreven, and now. . .

Envy, he greeted the woman, giving her a nod before turning curious eyes to this new brute. My name is Hex. And you are?

Muskrat would undoubtedly be pleased, should this man be here to stay. He knew her raider's heart yearned for warriors, and few wolves would be a match for the wolf that stood before him, dwarfing both himself and his escort.

Each day, they grew stronger—and his mind, in turn, grew more secure.

sorry evil bad word alert

The wretch looked pleased with herself. Flicked a tattered ear in greeting and was bounding on four legs once more; any semblence of tiredness cast aside.

Now this meant very little, she was going to utterly pass the fuck out when she got to the den, no questions about it. Agh! And she hadn't even got the moss she'd promised for it. Cold hard stone it was. She could convince someone to be a pillow, or perhaps a full bed, surely.

Found 'im in the forest She'd remark as if she were showing off a new car, sliding casually along the front of the daunting man of obsidian. Touch touch touch. I'm sure he can do things, not sure what things! But things definitely.

She looked to Lorcan to introduce himself, add on to her vague description of his usefulness to the ridge. Like they'd turn him away, regardless. Envy moved to the side, settled herself back on her haunches, paws tucked neatly at the base, idly lifting, dropping, lifting, dropping.

Can't sit still.

Lorcan descended the slope with an easy, powerful stride, his dark gaze sliding from Envy’s vibrant energy to Hex, the young leader.

The young leader had a lithe, almost sinewy frame—a contrast to Lorcan’s towering, muscular build. But in that leanness, Lorcan saw potential: the young one’s wiry frame spoke to agility, perhaps intelligence. He tilted his head slightly, sizing up Hex in silence, taking his measure without a hint of condescension. Hex’s youth was apparent, yet Lorcan could see the confidence the leader wore like armor, as though his place in Shadow Ridge was one hard-won and staunchly defended.

Envy was bouncing, nearly brimming over beside him, but Lorcan offered only a brief smirk her way, indulging her enthusiasm while his focus remained on Hex. Hex, sharp and clearly ambitious, held his ground, sizing up Lorcan with cautious curiosity.

Lorcan, Lorcan greeted, voice low but cordial, his gaze unwavering. Respectful but distant, he offered enough in return to satisfy the introduction, though there was a restrained edge to his eyes—a sense that he was quietly studying, already piecing together the dynamic before him. Can do a lot of things. Just name them.

Lorcan allowed the silence to hang, his presence calm yet commanding, his weighty stillness a contrast to Envy’s bouncing. He knew he had time to observe, to play his cards, confident that Hex and Shadow Ridge would soon learn what he brought to the table.

Something about Envy threw him off his guard. Perhaps it was the way she spoke—so casually, yet with an undercurrent of purpose. Or just that attitude in general that marked her existence. Clearly, she was a loyal Ridge wolf—as it stood—so he trusted her.

The man was far more forthcoming, straightforward.

Lorcan, he repeated. I assume you fight? There was a note in his voice that suggested the question was somewhat rhetorical; why wouldn't such a mountain of a man be a warrior? If Envy trusts you enough, I do. Welcome to Shadow Ridge.

And perhaps the crimson-eyed woman's judgment would bite him in the ass, someday. So far, though, it had not.

cameo! <3

new moon came and went. viskani had either suspended her raid or it had not been so, but all the same, muskrat remained keenly alert.

lithe far-runner of the ridge returned with a tall man who seemed to be carved from the body of a long storm. muskrat did not immediately show herself; she watched them a moment.

envy had come here with dreven. but were they one? yellow eyes saw how this tall male regarded the specter. her choice was this moment for revelation.

now hex arrived and she smirked, melting back into the foliage as noiselessly as he had appeared. the tall one; she would find him later, should he be admitted into their shadowy fold.

Easy peasy.

Just like it was before. Hex was a collector all the same as she was, perhaps with different motivations, but conspiring all the same.

She'd lean into a stretch, pearly forelimbs outreached and haunches briefly raised; shake away the tension that hung in the air and replace it with her own sickly optimism.

He would have to meet the others, even she was eager to see what he intended to bring to the shadows, captured by their conversation before; curiouscuriouscurious and itching to see their group expand... Man like this, hopefully, he'd prove himself a good fighter, she liked the violent ones; perversion and delight coupled.

Envy slithered nearer once more, sinuous movements placing herself between the two, a silent offer of tour dancing in eyes of hellfire; she looked to Hex to let them carry on into the sharp spires of the mountain.

Lorcan's lips curled into a sly grin as he heard the question, his posture relaxed but carrying the weight of confidence. He flicked his gaze toward Envy, noting the excited energy radiating off her, something in the way she looked at him—almost like she was eager to bring him into the fold. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought, amused in a way he'd never expected. He'd never thought he'd enjoy the feeling of being a toy, but there was something about it that was oddly... welcome.

Turning back to Hex, Lorcan gave a brief nod, his voice steady, laced with quiet assurance. I fight, he said, his tone cool but undeniably confident. And I do more than that. He allowed the words to hang in the air for a moment, his gaze shifting to Envy again before he continued. I think your judgment's sound, Hex. You won’t regret it.

He'd follow them back, surely. A new life awaits, and he even thought of his dove, @Elowen Aeloria, and that maybe she could join him— he wished to search for her.

The man seemed full of unbridled promise, and when he declared Hex's judgment to be sound, the darkling tried not to blink in surprise. Not that he had a low opinion of himself, but to hear it from the mouth of such an impressive specimen. . .

Anyway, things were settled. Then welcome, Lorcan, he told the warrior. Envy, will you help me show him to the rendezvous? He'd follow behind, eventually linking up with Muskrat, where the two would quietly discuss this new recruit.

Envy, meanwhile, was becoming quite the little recruiter. Should she prove her usefulness further, Hex figured she was well on her way to full Sentry—a valued member on the Ridge.

The astonishing fact that he had helped build this in the first place was not (ever) lost upon him.