Jade Fern Grove rhythm

For @Bazi or @Kieran?

The world had settled back into its rhythm. After the disappearance of her family, Kaskara was more vigilant of the borders, ready to sniff out trespassers at the drop of a stick. The strange happenings around the grove were not on her mind, at least not recently enough to warrant any thought. Today Kas wanted to stretch her limbs, and not just in her regular rounds of the perimeter. She needed to run, to chase, to do something, anything else. Anything to feel the wind in her fur and the blood pumping through her veins.

So she set about wandering the grove, hoping to find someone to go along with her. Her sister, Bazi, or perhaps her mate, Kieran, would want to accompany her. She wasn't picky, truly. She just wanted to do something different for a change, find something new to explore, and enjoy good company while she was at it.

Kieran traveled around the borders, marking the lines, and making sure to keep everyone in check. A deep rumble was always present in his chest anymore when traversing the borders. There were too many problems happening lately. To many disappearances and attacks and deaths. Frankly it was oddly discomforting. He had finished today and without a backward glance, went in search of the one he truly wanted to see.

He and Kaskara hadn't had much time to spend together since they agreed on their mateship, and he regretted that. He needed to do better and he would do the best he could. He saw her coming and a smile glanced across his maw and he chuffed to get her attention, though enjoying the view while he waited.

Though she loved Kieran, she didn't need to spend every waking hour with him. They were adults and had their own duties to tend to within the pack. They shared a den and slept beside each other every night, but their moments of really talking were few and far between these days. Like her mate, Kaskara was concerned about the weird happenings lately, and was worried about her niece and nephews most of all.

When his low chuff sounded behind her, she turned and smiled. "My love," she whispered softly, closing the distance between them and running her nose through his fur. She gave him a wolf hug, chests together and her chin draped over his shoulders, before stepping back to admire him. He was a handsome devil, that was for sure. "How are you holding up?" They were both worried for their family and their pack.

Kieran would have preferred spending more time with Kaskara. However, things were stirring and they left him with an unpleasant feeling in his chest, and a bad taste in his mouth. There was a restlessness to the pack and the surrounding areas and it left him oddly down trodden. The babes worried him most of all, especially Swift.

Kieran felt a small smile lift his jaw when she hugged him. He preened the fur where he could reach, just to keep the contact. As she backed up he rumbled gently, just to let her know he missed the contact. He sighed at her question and frowned. Oi don't nu love. Oi fale restless an' concerned. Yerself?

"Definitely restless," she agreed, kissing his muzzle swiftly at his little whine. She moved to sit beside him, their shoulders and hips touching, her tail flopping over his. They could sit like this for hours and Kaskara would be more than happy. "And concerned. I'm afraid of what has happened to our pack. Why did the bear pick us?" She was worried about their lives here, about what the grove had to offer--both in terms of good and bad things.

"I'm afraid we're cursed, Kieran. It doesn't matter where we go--disaster always follows." She sighed softly and laid her head upon his shoulder, trying to draw comfort from his warm presence. The world was falling apart around them, and yet in his presence, she felt peace.

Kieran gave a small happy whine and a thump of his tail. He then stopped moving so she could lean against him without disturbing her. He turned his ears towards her and listened to her question. He didn't really know how to answer her. It wasn't the bear it was nature. Bears are savage, territorial creatures Kaskara. We proobably jist moved ter close ter dem. An' if it ' as babies somewhere near, well that's a mix av disaster. Yer man didn't peck us, don't yer worry aboyt dat love. 'tis jist nature is al'. Sometimes it knocks yer on yisser arse."

Kieran shook his head and licked her cheek nuzzling her gently in her neck fur. Blowing soft warm air on her for a moment. Ah don't yer tink dat for a moment me love. No wan moment. Nature 'as thrown sum rocks at us lately, but we'll persevere an' besides we can chucker anythin' we're family. Kieran told her that, but deep down inside his insides got a little hot and squirmed. He was the cursed one not them, perhaps he never should have come to them, but he was in too deeply now to turn his back.