Redtail Rise XVIII

for @Avicus & @Sunday Morning but aw! no posting order! also tagging @Prophet for visibility <3

augur kept new snow a ways back from the border.

an hour before arrival, he and she had hunted. he would take a rabbit to prove his continued loyalty to the redtail clan.

red woman would be with her pups. but this was a truth and a lesson only she could teach. he was tense but welcoming, pacing the rise-line as he waited, while punctuating his steps with affectionate butts of his head against new snow's own.

he lifted his head.

he tasted the air.

the animal lay limply on the ground. he faced into the breeze and waited for the red flash of his alpha female's pelt.

just also want to note that this is backdated a wee bit, SM is not currently visibly showing yet!

There was more work to do, but this Sunday Morning was used to. When her mother was with child (and several months more afterward) she, her brothers, her sisters, her father all hunted for the woman. It would be the same, now, for the woman who led Mountain Boulder... who might soon lead her, too. Sunday Morning would be a provider for as long as she could. She would not be a burdensome weight upon the Rise.

Sunday was happy to hunt with Mountain Boulder. It relieved all of the tension that had seated itself on her shoulders but two hours beforehand. Again, the two together succeeded. Sunday Morning moved with him, the miles left to travel dwindling to nothing as they soon arrived.

All of the scents upon him, here. Sunday Morning kept the distance Mountain Boulder had set, though lowered her head and drank each of them in. The information she gleaned was plenty enough to know that the Rise was several members strong, and had some number of cubs within it. An ear twitched, sensing her mates tension. Sunday Morning wanted to chase away these troubles, but settled in the comfort of his headbutts, nipping at his tail each time he departed lazily as though to say, wait, come back here!, and finding joy in this.

She too felt the tension he did, but she bore it well; her gaze sought the presence of another, and so did her pricked ears. The moment she heard something, Sunday Morning would press low to the earth in submission, and her gaze would avert. Sunday would let  Mountain Boulder take the lead here; she would do all that was in her power to not offend further than she might have, considering that she might be carrying her mates young.

As to that, she did not yet know. She had not yet felt any changes, though it was still very early. All the same she thought it right that Red Eyes know, and his (presumed) mate, too.

skippable for at least now, Avicus is free to PP Prophet!

When he returned to the Rise, he stuck to the outskirts.

He did not know if Augur would risk the judgement of Avicus. He seemed too loyal to betray them with by eloping, but did he wish to present his new bride before their Wealda? If he truly thought that she might be with child, then there would be a further strain on the weight of the Rise. Even if Avicus' current children were beginning their adventure into independence. Augur's bride had not earned the safety net of the Rise's bond.

Augur had proved loyalty.

His bride had not.

When the call finally came, he neared the two of them with his gaze searching for Avicus. Prepared to standby as guardian and to hear the words or actions she may pass over Augur.

two wolves, dressed in snow, and Prophet near their periphery.

still rankled by goings-on across the Rise, she padded down the slope, having barked to Ashlar to watch her brood. she finally appears in front of the two, fiery and imperious, chin lifted in query.

who, she barks, and it's @Prophet that she addresses, for she knows Augur doesn't have words and she doesn't trust the newcomer to speak for herself.

a new wolf. and the womanly smell escapes her.

oh, she's in for it.

blood eyes came first.

augur rumbled a low note of submission to his leader but did not quail. his soft yellow eyes searched for red woman.

when she came he pinned back his ears and slid to his belly. he crooned once in her direction. her words were for blood eyes. the clawan knew enough to understand he would translate for the hunter.

new snow; he motioned for her also to respond to red woman's dominance.

her place here was not assured. his leader held final sway, and that included driving off the white wolf.

augur held. he watched.

Mountain Boulder became deferential.

Sunday Morning did as well, body dipping even lower. His motion came after, which warmed her. He cared enough to make sure she would do this rightly, so that she could stay. Instinctively, Sunday Morning knew to respond, and respond swiftly to this one.

The loner only caught a glimpse of her. Red furs, similar to Red Eyes. They made a handsome pairing themselves, she imagined.

Speaking in the only language she knew, Sunday Morning yawned to display to the alpha female that she meant no harm here. She remained low to the earth, gaze away in a manner that displayed her own deference. Sunday Morning did not note the difference in the she-wolfs speech; all manner of speaking beyond the primal way sounded the same, garbled together in incoherent strings. Ears pressed to her crown, she could only wait. Nearby lay the offering she and Mountain Boulder had caught for the ruddy woman.

Prophet stilled his features as he stood next to Avicus.

Augur has brought home a woman. She does not speak. He declared, for if she did that time had seemingly passed by. I have reason to assume they've laid together. I don't know the details or the when — Lest Avicus think he was hiding this knowledge from her. Only that there's the possibility she has his children.

The look on his features had shifted to something grim.

There was seemingly no certainty to this situation and he hated it.

she takes in the situation coolly, looking between the wolves in question, gaze straying occasionally to Prophet. she remains still for a long moment, just observing. after what seems like an eon, she nods, just once, indigo stare resting on the white wolf.

we needh packgh wolvehh, Avicus says diplomatically. and if they are sired by Augur. . .

her blessing is given. she steps aside, still watching the newcomer. you come, she commands, beckoning toward the path up the Rise. 

then she looks at Augur, brows raised.

how'd he find her?

just in lieu of no posting order, I'm chucking this up to get Sunday titled! absolutely 0 rush in that or responding further, just adding it (this moment) to my reference queue when I start up other threads!

Sunday Morning made herself smaller beneath the other woman's stare. It seems to do the trick. Her ear twitches at the first words supplied, tone not indicating anger. Sunday found her gaze switching to Red Woman, and away again... just in case. More words, and as her gaze turns to Red Woman once again she watches the gesture. Hears the invitation in the voice.

Her tail wags frantically as she obeys, still remaining small, and if allowed she would plant submissive licks against her now-leaders chin. She did the same for Red Eyes, should he permit the proximity, before turning toward the path that Red Woman had pointed to. Her tail continued to wave as she made her way to it, pausing to wait and see if her mate would be joining her.

sorry for holding this up! can be my last post <3

blood eyes spoke.

red woman spoke.

augur felt her eyes. he felt the blood thrumming strongly in his veins. he waited for her judgement. 

it came in the form of acceptance.

new snow would be one of them.

augur gestured with his muzzle toward the wild place where he had met new snow. he chuffed to her and moved to her side, though his yellow eyes lingered respectfully upon blood eyes and red woman as they went back into the protection of the rise.

last from me! <3

Avicus passed judgement in favor of Augur and his bride.

Prophet would say no more on the matter, nor dwell on it any longer. At least as long as he could manage.

If he was needed no longer, he sought to turn off and continue a patrol path along the edge of the Rise.