Dragoncrest Cliffs we are the only always

The following morning with her chat, she gathers @Dio, @Blixen, and a deerskin someone carefully took the time to shed from a kill make their way through Hougeda and out the other side. The morning has just hit and tide is still low—they have time, for now—but Antumbra has no other reason than keep to her word. The single task of the woman wouldn’t have been much but she doesn’t care enough to try and persuade her. She doesn’t have anything to worry about. They’ve already showed their weakness.

Helix is guarding, as she expects, and Antumbra dismisses her and cuts the corner out onto the beach. She does not cross the distance, searching a few seconds for @Rosalyn’s form ahead, before glancing back to her council.

Rosalyn was waiting expectantly when they arrived.  She had assumed Antumbra would keep her word, at least in this meeting, but she stood with a confidence she didn't feel.  The decision to let her go was just that - theirs.  She had zero say and zero leverage in this situation, and while she felt it the smarter of their options (why deal with Rusalka when they did not need to?) she'd faced the pride of packs too many times to think logic always won.  

She wasn't alone when she came, and Rosalyn glanced between them with her good eye, awkward on three legs as well.  Here it was.  Like the other, she'd had the night to consider her options, and while her own were decidedly less abundant, she knew where she stood.  Once she knew their choice, she would take her own chosen steps.

In the morning's early light, he followed in his pensive silence until they reached where Rosalyn was being kept. Once there, his glances were slow between Heda and the injured captive. Naturally she had still sought her freedom, but he wondered to what end.. and if she ever would finally be willing to listen to them and stay away for good—unless she wanted them to decorate the place with her bones. Now their message was clear, written all across her tattered face and injured body, and winter's bite stood poised to further drive the point home for them. In his heart, he could find her no mercy. He could care less, for her and for Rusalka's entire slew. Petty annoyances, the whole lot them, as far as he was concerned.

His mismatched stare was cold, utterly unforgiving as he drew a slow, heavy breath that he gusted through his nose with a low, drawn out sigh. She had been given her chance, multiple times over, even more than many deserved, and yet? Here they were, once again.

so sorry for the holdup lovelies!

blixen is: tired, somewhat sore, sporting some irritating nicks on her cheek (thankfully, the sort that will be hidden by fur once they scar, but still), and really just done with the whole rusalka thing in general. whatever nomi's plan is now blix is completely fine with -- kill the captive, throw her into the ocean, dump her back on the sound's doorstep, whatever. so long as this whole thing is over with. though it's never the sort of thing that stays "over with" for long, is it?

hm.

she'd be more sympathetic if she'd put together the connection between ezrulie and rosalyn. in the fracas ezrulie's presence had gone unnoticed and she'd missed their untimely arrival on drageda's borders in nomi's absence so largely, she remains unaware of the love story underneath the surface of this conflict. (it's a shame, because doing stupid shit for the girl that you love? incredibly relatable.) all blix knows is that this is the same natrona nomi fought not-so-long ago. how incredibly stupid of her to come close again; she deserved what she got. curiously the fleimkepa watches nomi as their little council settles in front of the honon, ready to do whatever's asked of her.

She is waiting. Antumbra watches her from a distance. It would be easier to kill her. Throw her body after the cliffs in warning. They have killed one of their wolves already; a second wouldn’t be more than a blink of the eye. They’ll kill them each time they cross the border, until they’re all gone.

Antumbra straightens herself out and turns to the others and, to no one in particular, she gives her instructions: “Cover her with the deerskin then we’ll walk her out of Hougeda.” The last thing she needs is more insight to their core. The storm and redwoods had been enough of a cover and should Rosalyn not heed their warning, they don’t need any further mapping.

They came closer, and Rosalyn kept her mouth carefully shut.  If anything was going to sway them, it wasn't going to be her, because she had one goal and one goal only.  Once she reached that goal, it was unclear where her steps would lead next, but Rosalyn had never before had much use for planning.

She would accept the cover, though having what remained of her vision covered made her fur stand on end.  It was going to be a long and hard walk on three legs, but she would make it if it killed her.

Rosalyn only really kept her word in cases of wolves who deserved it, something she felt this particular group had never earned.  But this promise she knew she would easily keep.  There were other shores, ones where hatred like this didn't dwell.  It was time for her to leave this one behind.

Stone-faced and free from any and all hesitation he nodded to Heda, and glanced fleetingly to Blixen before he moved to take an edge of the skin in his teeth to hoist it up over the mahogany-coated captive. Tall enough to make the motion, and unconcerned about a wounded wolf's retaliation (he dared her to try, though), he then stayed close to her as a looming presence—an uncomfortable breath down her neck, most likely, and there he would stay.

Once sure the skin was serving its purpose after a fine adjustment to be sure, and another quick glimpse to Antumbra and Blixen, he gave a rumble to get them moving. Still, he hung by her side, watchful to ensure she didn't try anything slippery.. but she seemed compliant enough, and hopefully aware that her life hung on the line. A wrong step here would do her no favors.

nomi gives directions; blix, like dio, is quick to oblige, grasping the deerskin between her teeth. does it taste, she wonders, the way that man's skin had in furi's mouth? a sly part of her hopes the captive will make some motion to escape, just so she can experience for herself what it feels like to be someone's death. 

despite the solemnity of the situation she's vibrating as dio rumbles for them to move, suppressing it as best she can -- she doesn't need nomi or dio thinking she's still some hotheaded little child, even if secretly, she still kind of is. blix straightens her back and keeps her eyes trained on rosalyn's movements as they make their way forward.

It is slow going with a wolf on three legs but she does not offer much help or rest. The sooner it is over, the sooner they can move on. Whatever happens next still feels like a blur but they can narrow it down later.

By the time they get to the redwoods, passing through several hundred yards, she has them remove the deerskin. Tree after tree doesn’t offer much and they could be going any way to someone unfamiliar. The walk is long and slow but eventually the reach the northern most part of the forest. She turns and looks at the captive, holding a harden stare.

“I will not spare you next time.”

Rosalyn's strength was flagging, even as they pushed her along, stumbling.  She kept up as best as she was able, pushing past the weariness because she figured if they found her escort too much a bother, ending her life still wasn't off the table.  This taste of freedom and the promise of leaving was too much to even consider risking.

Her legs were trembling by the time they removed the skin from her head, and she cast about, noticing nothing familiar about the forest they stood in.  Her stomach roiled but she managed to keep it down, probably because she had nothing in it to expel.  Open space.  Almost.

Anatumbra spoke, and her stare bored into her.  The words were unsurprising, and Rosalyn kept still a moment, catching her breath.  Then she nodded, and with a single glance, turned to stumble off once more, opposite the wolves and their cliffside fortress.  She kept her bearing and her tail tucked low, her ruined and good ears flat to her skull.  But their word was good - she was allowed to leave, unmolested, with those words burning in her mind.