Moonspear i'm coming home

The journey here, Charon had felt excitement ring through him every step on the way. Alongside @Amekaze and @Floki Charon had made the trip, though he hoped that maybe some of his other wolves — @Thistle Cloud , @Saskia , @Atreyu and @Adya — had followed suit and made the journey with, or perhaps some of Amekaze's wolves had been near enough to hear them when they departed from Stavanger Bay, or were perhaps around Moonspear.

It was only a trip for exploration, but Charon could barely wait until this was his home, claimed by him and Amekaze, and he didn't need to make the trip back and forth towards Stavanger Bay all the time. They first reached the forest at the base of Moonspear. Plains faded into the forest, and Charon remembered uncle Mordecai's words about forests. This forest would serve them well come winter. Charon followed a trail leading through the forest and said: "This will be a good place for the coldest winter days."

They passed a thin creek that wound through the tangled forest. Sunlight danced onto the softly running water, and the aesthetics of the scene touched Charon. The lands started to elevate further, and Charon knew from his earlier explorations that once they'd get out of the forest, they would already have quite a beautiful view of the Teekon Wilds. He pressed on silently with determination in his step, unless his travel companions would stop, say something, or if other wolves would come upon their path.

Moonspear. When she had been here for the first time on the evening of the eclipse, she had not known its name. Even in daylight as she craned her head to seek the peak, she admired the view and began to realize how suiting a title it was for the peak. It was different from the Sunspire in its way -- its vibe, essentially -- even if she could not begin to describe why that was so just yet. To any casual observer, they were probably all just mountains. Ame had long since learned to look deeper.

She was quiet as they traveled, but found herself surprisingly content with the company. Now and then, she was on the lookout for others, and hopefully some of her Sunspire comrades. If she did not hear from them sooner, despite her howls, she'd go searching for them in greater depth later.

On the whole, she was happy with how smoothly things seemed to be going, even if a few matters were still out of place here and there (mainly with her remains of the Sunspire). However, now was not the time. She lent her focus to the mountain's terrain, memorizing, analyzing it, and drinking it all in now that she had the chance to put some serious effort into it. So far, she liked it and the way it felt beneath her paws.

Charon's observation was on point, and she nodded without looking to him exactly. She had branched off a bit, traveling a few lengths away. This was not a young, new forest -- it was thick, grown well into itself, and probably able to withstand a decent share of harsh conditions. "There is a good chance prey will winter in it, too.." she said. "And the water sources seem plentiful so far," she added while pausing to sniff at a spot of particularly gnarled roots twisted into a spiral.

Hope it's okay that Dash pops in!

He had been traveling the area the past few days, taking extra precaution to steer clear of any wolves. Since his run in with the trio of pack wolves, he just didn't want any other altercations, especially if they were his fault. That leader had been gracious to leave him with his life, and he took it and ran. But, he didn't run out of Teekon Wilds. There was something that kept him here, something that called to him like never before. Maybe it was just common sense telling him he would die in the next few months if he didn't figure something out.

He knew there was one choice- Charon and Thistle Cloud's pack. Dash thought Charon a little inexperienced, and wondered if he would be a capable leader, but the other male seemed open to the idea of Dash joining. He had called him out on it, and that had put Dash off, but after days of thinking, he had come around to the idea. Besides, he liked Thistle. Her demeanor, her kindness, drew him to her.

So, he had made his way back to Stavenger Bay, but along the way caught the scent of a few wolves heading away from the area. Had they moved already? Dash decided to follow the trail, figuring it was his best chance. He stopped briefly at the base of the mountain. Would this be the future borders of the pack lands? They were not yet claimed technically, but if anyone felt it was their lands, they may be willing to fight for it. Hoping Charon would be nice enough to spare his life if this was a mistake, he took the first few steps onto the mountain and continued to follow the trail.

It didn't take long for voices to reach his ears. His body instinctively lowered in submission as he appeared before Charon. Before anything else could be said, he stated his reason for being here. "If you still have room, I'd like to join."

of course! the more the merrier :D (floki / anyone else, feel free to pop in still!)

Charon was glad that Amekaze agreed with him. He was also happy that his uncle's mention of the forest had given him the opportunity to prove his worth to Amekaze. He knew he was young and that sometimes lead to others not taking him seriously enough; that needed to change when he was Alpha. Charon had felt sad leaving Stavanger Bay behind, but now that he set foot upon Moonspear's base again he knew that this was the place for him. It couldn't please him more to know that Amekaze felt the same.

Amekaze branched off slightly to investigate something on the floor nearby, and Charon sniffed the air around him, Flóki still by his side. Ears perked forth as something along the side of the path caught Charon's eye and he lowered his nose to gingerly sniff the floor. "I think it's a fox hole, or something," Charon said to Flóki while he inspected the hole that vanished into the earth. He felt the urge to dig it out, if not only because the scent triggered something instinctive within him, but was easily distracted by the sudden appearance of Dash.

To defend his turf didn't even occur to Charon — he'd met Dash before and he had been decent enough then, and this was a last exploration round. A smile broke across Charon's face as Dash submissively approached and asked to join. Charon remembered calling him out when he'd been informing casually about what sort of wolves Charon wanted for his pack, and he remembered Dash had fled away from commitment at the time. He didn't know what had changed, but something obviously had. "What changed your mind?" Charon asked, a confident smile on his face, the tone in his voice amicable enough. He kept his body language neutral, not yet feeling claim over these lands (although he might've if it were a complete or agressive stranger) though made no move to stop Dash from his submission. Charon usually enjoyed feeling top dog over others, one way or another, but when he was by Ame's side he somehow didn't even feel like abusing his situation of power, didn't feel the need to figuratively piss over others to feel better about himself. He felt good enough as it were. Charon turned to look at Amekaze, assuming she'd join by his side to inspect the wolf that wanted to join their pack. Her opinion mattered as much as his now, after all.

The journey from Stavanger Bay to Moonspear was familiar, yet this time it felt different. Floki was accompanied by not only Charon, but Amekaze, as well. Her presence solidified the fact that the wheels were turning and Charon's plan was being set into motion. It wouldn't be long now; soon, they would leave the beach behind and plant their paws on the rocky slopes of the great mountain.

He was particularly excited to explore its heights and see the views. But Amekaze and Charon were moving more slowly, taking in every detail of their surroundings and lingering in the forest at Moonspear's base. Although Floki's feet were itching to climb, he remained close to his brother, straying only a few feet away to sniff at the shrubbery before dutifully returning. His ears stood at attention, flexing to listen to the words spoken by both of his leaders as they examined the terrain. They were both much more experienced than he, so he drank in their words with vigor.

They were soon approached by another wolf, and Floki looked to Charon. He judged his brother's reaction and mimicked him -- had Charon bristled or shown aggression, the lanky youth would have done the same. But Charon greeted the stranger with friendliness, so Floki remained relaxed. He listened with interest and quickly deduced that Charon had met the dark-coated male before, and had offered him a place in their new pack -- which he was now accepting. Floki felt a thrill rush through him; already, Moonspear was good luck. They hadn't even officially left Stavanger Bay yet, and their pack was already growing.

Being so absorbed in the landscape and the detailed observations she was hoping to take from it, she did not notice the stranger wolf until he had come rather close. Since he seemed to approach Charon mainly, it gave her time to observe as she made her way closer. During which, she didn't rush, but closed the distance with smooth strides. Her head was carried high and tail lifted, although not flagged. This was no formal claim of hers, not yet anyway, but she'd been an alpha for as long as she had that these were natural habits.

The loner was tall, dark, and scarred. Amekaze noticed that about him instantly, then the brightness of his eyes not long after. All noted, and she was undoubtedly curious.

She listened and made her way to Charon's side, opposite of Floki. "Ah, so you have met before..?" she asked, looking between the two of them, hoping to draw out the details. Their piece of conversation seemed to continue from somewhere, and above all else, the dark stranger knew of their intentions to claim. This, while perhaps a bit unexpected so soon, was good news. He looked like he had been on his own for a while, considering the distinct leanness of him, so that marked him as a survivor already. Amekaze hoped to hear more.

They had left shortly after for Moonspear and Atreyu followed them. He stayed at a distance, keeping track of their trail as he fell further and further behind thanks to his lagged gait compared to the more graceful strides of the other three wolves. Their scents were easy to follow, being so distinct, and the boy happened across them a while later, following the winding trail into a forest that sat at the base of an impressive looking mountain. Atreyu had studied the looming form for a lengthy pause before entering the woods. He had been here before, he was sure of it.

The salty scent from Charon and Floki's coats stood out like a sore thumb here, and so were easy to hunt down in the tangle of branches and undergrowth. They hadn't made it to the mountain yet, he realised with a flicker of relief. Atreyu wasn't sure how he was going to fare on a mountain with it's sloping sides and steep drops.

Eventually, he caught up with the trio, stiffening as he realised another had joined them. He slipped out from between the trees to join his pack mates, standing off to one side a bit as he studied the stranger. He didn't seem dangerous. Skinny, scarred with all the tell-tale signs of a loner. Atreyu had missed his initial words and Charon and Amekaze's reply, and so his posture was dominant, wary of the stranger despite the relaxed demeanours of everyone else. He moved to Floki's side, feeling overly protective over the boy ever since the bear incident.

Dash felt bold going up to Charon and asking if he could join, but the confidence didn't last long, as, one by one, more wolves showed up. He lowered his body a little more when a dark female approached, her body language shouting that she was the other half of the leadership of this new pack. His attention turned back to Charon, though, as he knew he needed to answer his question. "I fear I won't last this winter on my own, and... you and Thistle are the nicest wolves I've met." he responded honestly. He wasn't quite sure what Charon wanted to hear, so Dash just stuck to the truth.

He couldn't help but glance around at the other wolves. It made him a little nervous to be surrounded by them, not knowing who they were or if they wanted him here. Charon was accepting enough of him, but would the others be? He was acutely reminded of his recent run in with another wolf pack and the aggression that was shown to him. He had deserved every bit and more, sure, but being flanked by wolves he didn't know once more just made him nervous. The female spoke, questioning if they had met before. Well, maybe it was more of a statement, he wasn't sure. She kept looking between him and Charon. Was Dash supposed to answer? Would it be rude if he didn't? "A few days ago," he finally offered up. He wasn't quite sure what else to say.

Charon noted Atreyu from the corner of his eyes as he joined them, then turned to look at Dash again. He could tell that Dash was feeling nervous — but how could he not be, being scrutinised from all angles — and Atreyu was looking defensive. Maybe he'd missed what this was about. "You're welcome as far as I'm concerned," Charon said while he looked at Dash. However, it wasn't just his decision which wolves joined their pack now. It was Amekaze's, too.

He looked at Ame as he said: "What do you think? Anything you want to ask him before you make a decision? I met Dash a little while ago. He's a traveller, but he seems like he's got a good enough head on his shoulders to be beneficial to our pack." Charon looked at Amekaze while he spoke, and once he'd finished turned to look back at Dash. For his sake, Charon hoped that Ame'd make a decision soon, since he didn't look one bit comfortable.

Atreyu came to stand next to Floki, and the sandy-legged boy glanced sideways at him. Although Charon and Amekaze seemed to be relatively relaxed as they conversed with Dash, Atreyu appeared to be on edge. He reached out and gave his packmate a gentle nudge on the shoulder, hoping to lighten the mood, then turned his attention back to the dark-coated newcomer.

He could see and feel the nervousness radiating off of him, though Charon made it clear that he didn't have anything to worry about. When he deflected to Amekaze, asking if she had any input before officially accepting Dash into the pack, Floki looked to her. There wasn't much for the youth to say, but he was soaking up each and every aspect of this interaction and storing the information for his benefit.

She listened, and although the conversation was not in any great depth, it did seem sensible. Wolves all over were gearing up for wintertime and joining a pack was just one way a loner could hope to survive.  Since he had been previously impressed with time spent with Charon and Thistle, Amekaze knew it had to be worth something for him to leave their company then come back, seeking out the pack they planned to create.

Charon spoke well of him and gave her his name all at once, and she nodded thoughtfully. Much of what she would want to know had been given already in one day. But, her border interviews were not usually intensely in-depth; she far preferred for the wolf in question to prove their worth through action after joining. "What do you consider your strengths to be? I would assume you have the basics covered, having survived as a loner.." This was just a bit of extra for her own information as she tried to sort out what wolves of the pack would be their wardens, their hunters, their warriors and so on. Just another preparation for the wintertime.

His answer likely was not going to change her mind one way or another.. since she truly doubted he was entirely useless to have lived alone. "I do think you would fit in with us. I am Ame," she added.

He stood ready, thinking this was a confrontation. Had they even clearly determined that this place had any sort of claim already? The scent that radiated from the stranger was a wild mix, however, so it was clear he was not from here. Floki's nudge eased his tension somewhat, and Atreyu glanced down to the boy with a thankful wag of his tail. It was then he noticed the other wolves' postures and general demeanours. Charon's words piqued his curiousity. Oh, he was a potential recruit then?

The Gamma shifted, his pose more amicable now but still dominant as he regarded this Dash. He was malnourished-looking, obviously not faring well as a loner. Whether he would thrive in a pack would have to be seen, but any sort of addition to their fledgling pack was welcome. Even if Charon had made some...questionable decisions lately, Atreyu trusted his judgement. So far, Dash hadn't done anything to contend with his favourable reputation so far.

He looked to Amekaze as she spoke, nodding as she asked him of his strengths. His hunting skills looked to be a bit lacking — not that Atreyu was one to talk — but perhaps he made up for it somehow in other areas. Regardless, he seemed to be accepted for all intents and purposes. Atreyu quirked his head to the side as he inspected the newcomer, waiting for his response with interest.

He was relieved to hear Charon say he was welcome, though he deferred to the other leader, asking for her opinion. Dash turned towards her, still keeping his body submissive and respectful, when she asked what his strengths were. In his own opinion, hunting wasn't a strength of his since he was just barely able to keep himself alive on his own. "I'm a good fighter," he said. He had learned how to fight being on his own the past few years. He was constantly fighting with other loners for food, most of the time just trying to keep his own that he caught.

She seemed accepting of him, saying she thought he would fit in well. His wagging tail gave away his excitement. "Thank you, Ame. My name is Dash," he replied, his tone lighter than it had been. The tension eased from his body now that both Alphas had accepted him. Still, he looked towards the other wolves, now his pack mates, to see what they thought.

we could wrap this up with one more post from everyone? :)

Atreyu stood down once he realised that the wolf in front of them wasn't a threat. Charon nodded briefly at him in acknowledgement of his efforts before he turned to look between Amekaze and Dash again. Ame asked Dash what his strengths were and he mentioned fighting; a good skill to have, Charon wagered. Especially after his fight with Dante Charon had grown to appreciate the skills of fighting. Maybe Dash could teach him a thing or two once they'd settled.

Amekaze then decided that he would be a worthy addition and Charon smiled, glad they were on the same page. Already this partnership was working out great. "Great," Charon said, and he looked over his shoulder. "Let's explore the mountain a bit further for now." With those words, the yearling turned round and started to trot through the remainders of the forest until he reached the mountain's base, where their exploration would truly begin. He didn't wait to see who would follow him and who would stick around and explore here, excited to check out the mountain terrain and figuring that whoever'd want to come, would come.

Sounds good! :)

Amekaze asked about Dash's strengths, and the interloper was prepared with an acceptable response. Floki's interest was piqued by the thought of being a fighter. As a teenager, he was beginning to explore his own preferences and decide what he wanted to do to help the pack. He was already fairly committed to becoming an outrider, but looking at the rough-coated Dash, he realized he wanted to be a fighter, as well. He wanted to protect his pack, especially since they were working so hard to claim a new home.

"Maybe you can teach me to fight," he piped up, glancing briefly between Dash and Charon before falling silent. The two leaders seemed to accept Dash's commitment to Moonspear, and Charon then suggested that they continue exploring. Always ready to follow his brother's lead, Floki nodded, then fanned out away from the group, his nose to the ground once more.

It went smoothly. Dash replied favorably, and Amekaze was plenty satisfied. Floki's interest in it all was noted, as well. "Good. Perhaps we will spar soon," she smirked as she found herself interested in the idea of new sparring partners once all was in order for their claim. On the Sunspire, it sometimes felt like her skills had been left to rust a bit, what with only Jace to brawl with typically. It was half a beat after that thought that she realized the wolves she was surrounded with this instant may not know her strengths. They'd see, in good time.

With things settled, she nodded and swayed her tail proudly and returned to the business of mountain exploration.