Silver Creek The march of ages

@Shreya @Casmir @Spring @Chosovi @Laika @Gaia @Valette @Indra @Laurel Welcome to our new territory! We've been approved to relocate here~ I've time lapsed us here because we've been a long while without a pack forum already, and we need this thread finished before we can make it official, so this one is gonna be a bit rapid-fire. Each round will last just 1 day and there'll be 2 or 3. Don't panic if you don't get a post in; everyone that was part of Nomads pre-reboot will be part of Silver Creek post-reboot whether you post here or not, this is just the claim thread. We just wanna get this thread done fairly quickly so we can get set up and settled finally. ^_^ Please note that Luke is not currently with the group.

For three days and nights did they travel, resting as needed. Upon speaking with Spring of the intent to set out from Horizon Ridge, Saena had made preparations to bring the pack as far as fathomably possible. There were several reasons she chose this course for them, not least of all the fact that the further they went, the less volume of packs. While her initial plan had always been to put as much distance between them and the taiga as she could, when Saena led them away from the coast and into the ominous swamp on the first day, her newest intent was to find somewhere untouched by others where they could weather the locusts and whatever followed.

The swamp took the majority of the first and half of the second day of travel to traverse. From there the journey was relatively easy. Only when Saena reached the very end of the unfamiliar land, where mountains cradled the terrain, did she call her pack to halt on the third day. Indra, Milo and Laurel were on their feet, doggedly following, but surely the cubs were exhausted. Saena was exhausted too, and as she looked sorrowfully at the trees here—just as eaten and wasted as those elsewhere in the wilds—she knew they could go no further even if they wanted to. There was nowhere left to go, and this was as far as they were likely to get from their adversaries in the north.

Water was a-plenty in this region, even if the greenery was also gone here, and at least there was the comfort of no immediate rival packs.

"We stay here," she decided aloud, turning to face her wolves with ears splayed lightly back. "We've traveled more than enough, and there's no one around here. We should be safe enough." She could only pray that the land was slower to suffer from the locusts here than where wolf packs were more abundant.

The promise of a fresh start had all but dissolved when the insects had come. Gaia still had no words for them, nor had she ever witnessed something as devastating in her young life. The woodlands, the grass, the brush.. everything had been eaten by the insects, and even now, her paws crunched along their travels upon many of their dead bodies.
 
It had served as bare nourishment, though, and so every now and then, the pale tawny girl would cringe as she bent her muzzle down, scooping up one of the insects in her mouth and digesting it.
 
She skirted closer to Saena, though remained a respectful distance from the weary mother. Her intent was only to ensure the puppies remained within the view of adults, and she was fortunate enough to not need ton intervene as much as those more trusted with them.
 
When they finally came to what had likely been a lavish area, now also tripped form the locusts, Gaia's tired mint eyes drifted to Saena, who claimed that this was it. The decision was made just like that, and Gaia studied the woman curiously. They would need to do much -- establish borders, find a den for the young pups.. or dig one out. All thoughts of hunting were fleeting -- she had not seen much for prey the moment they had come to these lands past the mountains, and had the foliage of the Wilds not been so ravaged, she would have perhaps argued this was not the best place to settle.
 
Yet she trusted Saena, and Gaia dipped her muzzle down in quiet gratitude that their travel was now over.

What a beautiful territory and name!

The old wolf had grown silent over the past few days. While normally quite talkative, and willing to give thought or advice to those who wanted or needed it, Shreya had run out of ways to preserve her energy. The day the locusts had come had been especially difficult. She had quietly accepted the growing possibility that she would die on this trek — her only hope now was that those three little puppies survived. Each night, before she slept, she would seek them out and simply look at them, making sure their tiny chests were rising and falling, and then she'd sleep, hard and hungry, until another day of this. And then another. And another... until they reached their last day of travel.

Muscles aching like a bastard, throat parched, and weaker than one of these sad stripped leaves, Shreya (who had fallen behind) caught up slowly to her packmates and looked upon their new territory. She stared. Oak Streams? This place looked exactly like her old home along the Colombia River. She blinked, and blinked again. Was that where they had come to? Somewhat delirious from exhaustion, the weary mentor sat floppily upon the bank, and stared on.

he didn't think they had a chance, but hadn't wanted to say anything. somewhere between the Teekon coast and this unfamiliar land, Luke had disappeared. Casmir had taken it onto himself to walk beside Saena and help her carry the kids. they walked and walked and a blister had formed on the pad of one forepaw, but he pushed himself onward. it split and burst and forced a limp in the young wolf, one that he hoped would go away with rest and water.

the locusts that had come down had even swept through this region, but his cousin determined that they would stay here. water -- he smelled it not far off, and lowered his muzzle to nuzzle among the pups as Saena spoke. presently his eyes swept to Gaia, then Shreya -- she was a hardy old tree. "i'l patrol the boundaries," he suggested, returning his attention to their rust-marked leader.

It had been a long and hard journey.  The swamp had taken a long time to cross for one with it's constant muddiness for one that had slowed the wolves down.  Spring was so grateful that she did not live in a swamp.  She wrinkled her nose, disgusted by the thought.  Who would want to live in a swamp anyways?  It was just so... muddy.  Still it was better than other terrians she supposed.

Spring was happy though with what the Pheonix's stopped at though.  As Saena's voice rang out that they would be stopping here, Spring was kind of relieved.  It was pretty decent here and by now she understood through the traveling that there was hardly any green anywhere.  Still this place would do.  It was quite beautiful actually and it reminded her of the Phoenix's old home in a way due to the silver maplewoods.  They didn't look thoroughly like the maplewoods back home, but still they were beautiful maplewoods, even if they were entirely leafless at the moment.  All and all though, she was pretty sure that she was going to like it here.  

Her attention caught as a younger black furred male offered to patrol the boundaries.  Although she was quite worn out from the journey, it might be a good chance to get a little more conected with another one of her fellow Pheonix's too.  "I can help patrol the boundaries too."  She offered, but then suddenly remembering the pups, Spring contiuned, angling herself to fully face Saena, although she made sure not to look her Alpha in the eyes of course.  "If you need help with the pups though, I would be more than happy to help you Saena."  Spring then offered.

Laika gave a long sigh of relief as Saena finally announced this was it. They were standing within a large clearing, with a stream flowing through. The land was probably much prettier before, but with the passing of the locusts, everything was completely barren. The grass was gone, the leaves and bushes were gone. All that was left were the trunks, branches, dirt and rocks. Even so, Laika closed her eyes and imagined the place filled with green. She smiled. She couldn't wait for the greenery to grow back. When her eyes opened, her frown returned. It was time she returned to reality and get moving. 

Casmir and Spring offered to go scout the area. She figured that was enough wolves for now. Spring let Saena know that she could stay and watch the pups, but she hasn't been able to go out and explore yet. "If your comfortable Saena," She addressed the alpha politely. "I could help you watch the pups while Spring stretches her paws." She didn't want to take the opportunity away from her friend, but she also didn't want her to have to stay behind again. Besides, this would give Laika a chance to officially meet the pups if Saena agreed. "If not, I'm perfectly fine with going out to find some food for everyone... if there is any."

I'll probably archive late tomorrow night if it's cool with everyone so we can get all set up and shiny (if not PM me and tell me to slow my roll)! We can always start new threads continuing off this one if we want to roleplay this stuff out. ^_^ Also feel free to make some back-dated travel threads if you want your character to explore some of TH on the way. Characters are also very welcome to go explore the new region, Saena won't be like WHY'D YOU LEAVE or anything heheh.

Blind and deaf to the inner thoughts of some of her comrades, Saena nodded and stepped forward to lead them toward the sound of water, hidden somewhere in the trees. Though they were bare, they were packed close together and should the leaves return they would provide a great deal of protection. The land wasn't much different from the maple wood they left behind, but lacked the sweet scent and instead wafted with the fresh smell of running water. The ground was bare and dry as she entered the wood, leading her pups behind her (and turning to chastise a wandering Milo with a nip to his rump), and she'd no idea that in the height of a summer without locusts, it would morph into thick moss closer to the stream.

The babble of water soon turned into a quiet roar and she emerged on the rocky bank of the creek at a point where the water tumbled and flowed in turbulent rapids. "Silver," she mumbled quietly, for the flash and glint of the water was like a pale white-grey wolf's twinkling hide (not unlike Laika), like the cool snows of the mountains. Her eyes turned to Casmir as he volunteered to patrol the boundaries of the wood and she nodded, with Spring soon volunteering to accompany him. Laika offered to stay with her and the pups and she shot the pale Eta a grateful smile. "Thank you, Laika," she said, seating herself where trees gave way to bank and bank to water. "We've had a long journey and should search for food soon—" should there be any, she bitterly thought, for the scarcity of prey and seeming lack of herds had not gone missed by the huntress, who addressed everyone present when she continued, "—but make sure you get some rest. We've traveled very, very far, and I won't drag you any further. We will make a home of this place, and we'll get by."

It wasn't Phoenix Maplewood, but in time she would come to love it just the same, she knew. She tilted back her head and howled, a low and mournful sound for the loss of their home and the many, many miles they had walked to end up here, a melody to let all know this was their new sanctuary. And unlike the maplewood, Saena would never let it be taken.

Casmir, as she had come to know him only by name, as well as her other pack mates, offered to scout. Spring offered to go as well, and while the pale girl would have offered, it would seem they would not likely need a third just yet. With her eyes drifting from her pack mates to her Alpha, her gaze softened. Determined to stay close to the pale she-wolf, Gaia quietly made note to not stray too far, seeking out perhaps any scrap of food within the vicinity she might come by for the puppies.. and keeping a close watch on them from a distance.
 
As it would turn out, there would be no food to be found, and her worry would only continue to fester.

Shreya took a long, deep drink from the crisp waters, and as she listened to the goings-on behind her she made a silent oath: she wouldn't be a burden to her packmates. That was an old woman's nightmare. Instead of taking food while contributing nothing to the hunting caches, she would only ever accept food if she was giving something in return — knowledge, guidance, observation, advice; hell, even a bit of grandmotherly companionship. She valued her pack too much to drop behind again.

As she slurped at the water, she started having designs on those three young pups. One day very soon, she would sit them down and eye them for potential...

Laika smiled with pleasure. Now she could meet the pups! She followed the pale alpha over to the shady area, sitting near her, but not too close. She wanted to give her space. Her tail couldn't help but thump gently upon the ground as she listened to Saena's howl, claiming the land for themselves. This would be their new home. This is where they would now take refuge. And unlike the Phoenix Maplewood, Laika could not be more protective of it.

Saena was alone in her howl, and the lack of participation of her pack unsettled her, but she was much too weary to make a scene about it. Whether they liked it or not, they couldn't go much farther than this. The pups were exhausted. The pack wolves were exhausted. The Alpha female was exhausted and fretful over the disappearance of Luke, whom she would never know had died battling the cat that destroyed his life. Going further was a waste of precious energy and it was impossible to keep up the hope that there would be food just around the corner.

So with a soft sigh the Alpha female summoned her pups to her, allowing them to meet with Laika, and eventually sunk into a bittersweet, pensive silence as her pack went about their business in their new home.

Setting us up now!