Swiftcurrent Creek drums

For anyone not planning to fight. :)

Everything was happening at once. Bazi had not noticed Star's absence, and the second excursion was the first she was hearing of the matter. It had already been decided that Scimitar would be leading a group to.. wherever it was. Some woods in the south? Bazi swore at herself for having let her outrider duties slide, but she had only just required the use of all four legs.

The best thing for her to do now was to stay put. Fighting (if that's what it came to) wasn't one of her strong suites, and someone had to hold the fort at home. The Arctic wolf trotted briskly around the perimeter of the den she shared with Paarthurnax, drawing cold air through flared nostrils. What had possessed that foolish girl to stray so far? Bazi huffed angrily, and took a few galloping steps through the packed-down snow.

This looked lonely. I hope you don't mind me! :)

Scimitar had spoken with her about taking a few wolves to look for Star, their missing member. While she was more inclined to leave the girl to her own devices, there was something fishy about her disappearance and Kas definitely wanted that taken care of, whether she was found or the loop was closed. Either way, Kas knew that she would remain behind to take care of the creek and its wolves.

Today she found herself walking alone in her territory, the packed snow beneath her paws becoming slick as the sun warmed it. Ahead she saw Bazi galloping away from something, looking rather irritated. With a bark, she sped up to catch her, slowing down enough to run along at her side. Whatever was wrong with her, Kas probably understood the feeling all too well.

Woo! Before pack meeting?

Kaskara's bark caught Bazi by surprise, and she skittered sideways before it occurred to her which wolf had drawn up beside her. "Oh god, it's you," she breathed, relaxing her shoulders and stepping forward to nose the Beta's cheek. Her tail remained stiff and unmoving behind her, and there was still tension in her brow. "Do you know anything about Star? I feel.. completely out of the loop. I didn't even notice she was gone."

Yes! :)

Kaskara took a step back when Bazi skittered away from her, fearing the worst. But the white dove relaxed and nosed her cheek, so Kaskara followed suit and stepped into the warm gesture. Kas missed Bazi and though they had both been busy, it was no excuse to not talk more often. Kas shook her head. "I don't know much, sadly. One week we were talking about trades and the next she was gone. I assumed she left on a trade mission, like Galileo, but she never returned."

Speaking of Gali, he hadn't returned either. Kas frowned. "Galileo hasn't returned either. I think as soon as Scimitar gets back, I'll go look for him. He was heading toward Blacktail Deer Plateau the last time I spoke with him." Kaskara felt that her pack was falling apart around her, though it wasn't true. Only two members were missing, and at least one of those was accounted for. "How are you, Bazi? Enjoying step-motherhood?" She smiled at the tease, though she knew it held a spark of truth, too.

Kaskara, at least, knew what Star had been up to before she left - Bazi was a stain upon the good name of her trades. Gamekeeper? What had she been thinking?

The fact that Galileo was also missing was a source of concern for the pale Gamma. "I could tell he wasn't happy, but.." She trailed off. Wasn't Blacktail Deer Plateau Fox's pack? "Do you know why? He said that the situation with Shadow and Paarthurnax opened up some old wounds.. something about his son, I think."

This was news to her. She had noticed Galileo had seemed different of late, but she hadn't likened his mood to unhappiness. Perhaps now that she thought about it, his actions could point toward that, but she couldn't be certain. And this business with a son...she had never known. "That's strange. I didn't know he had a son."

It wasn't surprising, though. They weren't close, and now that he was out on his duties and seemingly lost, she might not get to know him well for some time. "Hopefully he comes back to us. I'd hate to think we drove him away because we chose to protect Paar and her kids by keeping them away from Shadow."

"That's strange. I didn't know he had a son."

Bazi shrugged. "I think, anyway. I could have misunderstood, or forgotten - I wasn't particularly attentive to the needs of others when we met." With a snort, she added, "Or, you know - comparatively speaking." Her brows creased at the mention of Paarthurnax. Bazi did not take criticism of her friend's situation very well, but Kaskara meant no offense - like Falwasi, she was completely invested in the well-being of Swiftcurrent Creek, and technically.. Paarthurnax had been a risk to that.

"I'm sure he will.. he's a big boy. Why Blacktail Deer Plateau, though? Do you think he's related to someone there? Maybe I got it wrong, and it's really all about a lover. He's still got it, don't you think?" A lurid grin split Bazi's face - there hadn't been much time for that sort of talk of late, but she would seize the opportunity now - Star would either return or she wouldn't, and Bazi was not fussed either way.

At least she thought so now.

Kaskara chuckled softly at Bazi's admission, shaking her head. "You have a lot going on in your life, Bazi. Don't agonize over things you can't change." That bit of advice could speak to a myriad of things happening in the creek pack these days, but specifically about Galileo. How was she to know about his past when she was busy living in her present?

"He was going to the hot springs near there, I think. I told him that I used to live there, and while I didn't know where the springs were, the beta Blue Willow could help." Kaskara shrugged, thinking that it was none of her business why he went to Blacktail Deer Plateau. She was sure he would return eventually. Bazi then snorted, grinning after she stated that Gali still had it.

Kas rolled her eyes. "I guess so. He's not my type, though. Too skinny." Kaskara preferred a warrior, a man with brawn and brain, one who was willing to protect and serve whenever needed. Someone like her brother, if she was lucky enough to find someone like that.

Bazi smiled at Kaskara's unrelenting kindness. For someone that was fully capable of ripping out a throat and playing it like a flute, she was a wise and gentle wolf with time and comforting words for anyone that needed it. A shoe-in for counsellor, really.

Blue Willow. Bazi recognized the name, but couldn't remember where from. Days from now, she would remember her as the kind, doe-eyed female that had taught her about poultices - and yarrow. That knowledge was dusty now.

"Skinny[i]?" she countered, drawing up an image of Kieran in her head. Was he skinny? Next to Scimitar, maybe - at a push. "At this rate I think we're going to have to find you a [i]bear."

Kas rolled her eyes. "Not a bear, Baz. A wolf." She joked with Bazi, sticking out her tongue. "In any case, no one has ever found me attractive. I'm not the type you bring home to your mother." She was too mannish, too invested in the art of warfare and warding. She was not the dainty woman Bazi was and she never would be, either. Earlier in her youth it was hard to understand, but now she didn't mind so much. She had her brother and his soon-to-be mate and a family of friends surrounding her.

What else did a girl need?

"You're the only type a wolf should bring home to his mother," Bazi corrected fiercely, giving her sister-in-law's shoulder a nudge. Kaskara wasn't made of the same dainty, fleet-footed stock as Paarthurnax or Bazi, but she was a thousand times the warrior that either of the two smaller wolves were. There were simply not as many male wolves out there with the cajones to deserve her. "If you're ever interested in settling down, we should do an Eligible Bachelor call.. Scimitar and I will vet the applicants. Just so you know - none of them will be good enough." Bazi grinned, walking as close to Kaskara as she could without tripping them both over. "Not even the bears."

Fade? :D

Sure! Last post from me. <3

Kaskara smiled, almost shy under her friend's compliments. Kaskara would have loved to have a mate, someone to call her own, but under the circumstances life had dealt her, she wasn't sure that was ever going to happen. At least she had Scimitar, Bazi, Falwasi, and Kieran to call family, blood or not, and she was forever grateful for that. "Good lord, Bazi, don't do that! I'd die of shame." Kas shook her head and nudged her friend's shoulder in a friendly way, though she really just wanted to distract her from noticing Kas's distinct unease. Being in the spotlight was not something Kaskara had ever wanted.