Swiftcurrent Creek fanmi mwen

backdated to 03/10

cousin @Etienne! lafayette hollered, before he'd even come to the border. he let out another howl upon arrival, his young voice desperate. @Suzu!

he was panting with exertion, his scrawny frame trembling. once sobeille had told him of this place, he had departed. and once again, he had gone inland, away from his beloved sea and toward those who could help.

god, he hoped they could help.

he heard rushing water nearby, and the rhythm of spring birdsong. his limbs felt watery, and he folded into a sitting position, waiting for someone to attend him.

Etienne heard a call on thr borders and startled by the timbre, but recognizing it. He raced towards it. Golden eyes bright in the mask of his face. Grown up more than he hadbeen Etienne stopped and watched.

Lafayette. Wut is de matter. You be callin' like someting be wrong.,

An ear tilted forward. A look of patient concentration on his face.

he was glad etienne showed up first. he had more knowledge of the man than suzu—and certainly much more than the rest of this pack—and visibly relaxed at the arrival of the dark-masked wolf.

kouzen, lafayette greeted him, his voice soft and airy as he continued to catch his breath. sapphique is under attack. bad men 'ave taken our women—my manman, your manman, and chani. some of dem be wit' child.

his sea-green eyes were plaintive as they rested upon etienne's visage. we lost a man in de fightin', too—dere's only a few of us left. we need help; we can't get 'em back on our own.

he felt his heart racing like the rhythm of a bird's wings—fast but steady, slowing as he reached a point of safety. still, that didn't help the various jolts he felt, especially thinking of the situation he'd found himself in.

please help, etienne, he murmured.

Etienne studied the red color of his cousin's pelt. The way he held himself apart and worried. There was lines there at his forehead. The next words that came out of his mouth drew his body cold. ANd he did not know what to do or say. His first thought was panic, then he wanted @Anselm so strongly it made him ill. Because he would know what to do? Etienne was not a warrior. He did not go on rescue missions.

Etienne shivered and balked. Dis not be good. No it be not. 'ow dare dey be doin' suc' tings. Poor manman, C'ani, auntie.

He took a breath and another, thinking. Golden eyes filled with soft tears. Collecting there. Firs' we be tellin' my leaders. Dey be able to 'elp. Den we be doin' someting. Tell me al lyou know about dem and wut 'as 'appened. Start from beginnin'

Cameo unless seen~

A commotion!

The curious Juniper watched from behind a copse of evergreen rhododendron and eavesdropped.

A strikingly-colored boy exchanged with Etienne, his desperation evident even under his thick, creole accent.

Juniper felt a shiver go up her spine when she made the connection. Etienne’s family!

She stayed hidden and listened.

etienne bought in right away, as he thought his cousin would. lafayette felt his shoulders relax a bit, and took a breath. he felt even more confident in asking for aid from family—the moon wolves were one thing, but no wolf of sapphique blood would shy from this challenge.

right?

dey come to our home, four or five of dem, lafayette explained, a little more calmly. dey t'reaten all of us, and take our women 'ostage. an' kill our man, pepper, who tried to get dem back. shadess an' i went an' asked our allies for help, and now sobeille is back, too.

he shook his head. we need more. manman was pregnant; de ot'ers migh' be, as well, he went on. dey might've had their pups by now. we need to get dem out, etienne.

even with the numbers on their side, the fragility of pups could prove a hindrance. getting everyone out alive and whole would require a small army, he thought.

Etienne did not know what to do, but he knew that he must do.

Ears swiveled as his sensitive hearing gave away someone else. He shifted. Saw the bare minimum of fur, knowing it was probably one of the pups based on height, but not sure which. He let them be for now. He'd collect them on his way to Arric. Whichever one it was.

Etienne swallowed four or five. They did not have that many warriors in the creek. Only women and pups and healers in his case. But perhaps this was not a mission that would do good on assault only.

Etienne frowned thinking. I tink I know 'ow to 'elp dem. But dis is not a rescue mission dat we go in attackin' too muc' fragility wit' babies.

We will 'ave to go in quietly, but 'ave fiters to 'elp if it goes awry. It will take a couple days to gat'er dose we need, but we will go I am sure of it. Do you 'ave more travelin' to do or will you stay 'ere. Do you need rest? Food?

he nodded slowly, happy that etienne seemed to have something in mind. as long as they could get going sooner rather than later, he had hope that all would eventually be well.

no more travelin', lafayette replied, and only then did he realize just how exhausted he was. i can stay here an' travel along wid you, if your leader will allow it. no use goin' back 'n forth.

he then noticed the movement nearby, and his sea-green eyes landed upon the young @Juniper (or what he could see of her, anyway). he gave her a cock of the head and a smile—youngsters were always nosy—before returning his gaze to his cousin.

t'ank you, eti, he murmured, wearily grateful. 'ow is suzu? an' her babies?

Etienne did not know if this would work. But he was going to try. His family deserved it. His manman deserved it. His sister's and Auntie. He would do what he could.

Etienne nodded. I t'ink dat Arric will be fine wit' dis. We will get dem back.

The next question and he frowned sadly. Suzu be very quiet. We lost one of 'er boys. 'e 'as gone missin' we been tryin' so 'ard to find 'im and we just can't.