Silvertip Mountain I will personally stab you in the eye with a foreign object

Alright, BWP thread for the gang! Hope I'm not forgetting anyone: @Jhala, @Laurel, @Tapat, @Astik, @Dagfinn, @Moonbrook. (and just in case *fingers crossed* @Tambourine, and @Silas)!

Together, this rag-tag group of refugees conquered the Sunspire Mountains without issue. They made a steady pace in their southward journey toward home. Wherever that may be. Once again, Reek found himself amassing a following, but they did not gather to follow some empty god. No, these wolves followed he and his family to survive -- to come together with strength. For that, their bond was greater. Reek felt most comfortable at the helm of a group, surrounded by those who supported him. His anxious heart was finally full of hope for the future for both his family and those who chose to follow. This was good. Wherever they went, Reek was sure that they would thrive.

For the past few days, the temperature had been steadily dropping to bone chilling levels. The snow did not abate, but it did not hinder the nomads in their journey. Spirits were high. Not even the cold could freeze the hope that burned in their hearts. However, on the horizon, there was darkness. Thick, black clouds writhed and rolled in the evening's dying light. "A storm is coming," he told them after reading what he could from the signs.

He led them to a mountain, and at it's base was a cavern. Reek slipped inside and motioned for the others to join him to seek shelter from the coming storm. The temperature would surely fall even more, and to protect his young boys, he wished to create a pile of bodies to keep everyone warm.

body pile? jhala was fucking in.

loyally, she followed her husband wherever he would take them. her two children trudged under her belly, tapat asking over and over where they were going. she wasn't sure where they were going, only that they were leaving, and every way they went they picked up a new body to follow them. it was wonderful, and jhala was happy. but when reek announced a storm, her spirits fell. it was a bad storm, she knew. it was cold already, almost too cold her for her dear babies, and she was afraid they'd get caught in it. thankfully, they didn't, instead making it to a den at the bottom of a mountain-- one she was thankful for.

when they arrived in the cave, she ushered her children forward and went straight to her husband, standing up on her hind legs and plopping her front ones over his back, nipping at his ears. "you first," she instructed him playfully, letting her body fall limp over his. she was fat enough, muscly anyway, and it was her hope that her weight would make him roll over, and then she would tell her two boys to climb between them, and the rest of their rag-tag group could certainly follow. but reek and her babies were the most important.

mild PP whoever wants to get bumped into. :P

Moonbrook trudged diligently somewhere behind the two leaders, Jhala and her husband, Reek. Sheltered beneath the large she-wolf was her two offspring, Tapat and Astik. The snow was not blinding but it was still so very cold. She longed for the warmth of the sun but it was hidden behind a thick veil of featureless clouds. The spunky she-wolf was hardly discouraged by their circumstances; their being the operative word. She belonged with them. This little ragtag band wanted her here, and she was made whole for it. Somewhere beside her lingered Dagfinn. Or was it Laurel? She could hardly tell for the snow, and her nose was not yet keyed in to the individual scents that made up the refugees. Someday she would know them more by name and color; she hoped that day would come soon. 

Reek called back to them, and she looked up to see the same storm that rolled and groaned in the distance. They didn't linger to consider their options, and Moonbrook followed dutifully, her gaze drifting down to the tracks left by those in the lead. She made a game of placing her prints in the same holes, and didn't realize they'd reached their destination until the light faded and she collided nose first with someone's flank. "Sorry." she murmured sheepishly.

She cupped her ears at the collected pack, and smiled. Despite the cold, the storm, and their homelessness, she was happy. Happiest she'd been in months. Moonbrook skipped over to where Jhala was attempting to push Reek into the center of the dogpile and flopped over near the pair. She thumped her tail and whined to Dagfinn and the rest to join them in the Inaugural Cuddle Puddle Session of... whatever they called themselves.

Tapat had been freezing and he decided that he didn't like this trip at all. But he had to continue. He had to keep up with the pace of his mother otherwise he would be out in the cold. His tail was firmly tugged between his legs the whole walk. His brother joined him under Jhala so Tapat did have more comfort around him. He was quite oblivious to who was new and who would be following them. He had no clue.

The pup couldn't see much he would just need to keep on walking. He didn't want to lose his mama. Then they reached the cave the tired youngster was relieved. It reminded him of home. He carefully peeked from under his mother and saw his father lying down. Jhala ran to him and flopped down. Tapat instantly froze now he was without his parent. He looked around hesitantly yet when the other's came in from the snowstorm he rushed to his parents and squeezed himself between them. He didn't know the others. The tiredness quickly caught up with him. Tapat wanted to sleep though he was hungry too. He nudged and nosed Jhala's belly. He wouldn't mind some warm comforting milk. But as he feared nothing came out anymore.

Dagfinn came dashing in soon after the others, a happy bark falling in greeting from his muffled jaw. The weather was affecting them adversely, but not quite so adversely as some of the prey animals around. Dag's tail windmilled excitedly as he dropped the half-frozen deer haunch on the cave floor, looking between Reek and Jhala as if waiting for praise.

Whether or not praise was forthcoming, Dag paraded around for a moment, passively submissive but adopting a goofy strut as he sniffed out their cave, checking it for dangers. Eventually, he settled down, finding a place where his shoulder could butt up against Moon-butt's and his haunch against Jhala's. A deep, heavy sigh reverberated as he rested his head over Moonbrook's shoulders, offering the warmth and affection that seemed to roll off of him in waves.

Life was, once again, good.

Laurel hadn't been herself since the incident. She didn't feel like she belonged here, but she wasn't sure there was a place for her anywhere else either, and what good would wandering alone in winter do? She found herself wishing that Seff was here, even though she had only met him once. And then he'd left, just like everybody else. What could she do to make them stay? Maybe running away was the better option, to find a place where nobody looked at her like she was a monster. She could not bear to look at them, the happy family. She should be grateful for getting a new chance, or that was what she felt was expected of her, but guilt and bitterness were not very good advisors.

And leaving? Well, it wasn't like she could run away from herself, change who she was, and make herself more beautiful and interesting. She was stubby-legged Laurel, with her boring fur. Even her nose and paws didn't want to be anything special. Everything about her was boring and she hated being herself.

They stopped along a mountain and Laurel lay down around the fringes of the cave — away from the rest — staring out into the snow with an empty feeling in her stomach. It hit her then that things would never be the same now that they knew what she had managed to keep inside before, what a boring, ugly and terrible being she was. Was there anything she could even do to make her father love her again? Or was it better to look for greener pastures and find someone else, somewhere else, and make them love her so that they would not abandon her like everybody else had. Even Raas must hate her for what she was, and for making her go through all these things, she thought... If he existed at all.

[table width=85%][tr][td]

The Larksongs’ had left their home and though the reasons went above Asti’s young head he understood deep inside that it was something that needed to be done. As the family and stragglers that they picked up along the way made their way, further than Astik had ever gone before, the dark boy stuck to his pale brother’s side like glue and though his brother asked over and over where they were going having forgotten a short while after each time their parents responded Astik offered his brother soft responses, quiet reassurances meant just for him, showing patience that exceeded his tender three months. He felt the exertion of his muscles not used to this kind of trip and when the bitter chill set in even through the pudge that offered him a good defense against the cold to the marrow of Astik’s bones he joined his brother beneath their mother, soaking up the warmth her body heat gave off as they kept going. Silently, Astik would sneak a peek to his father now and then beneath Jhala but deigned not to stray from the protection from the worst of the elements his mother offered them. He looked to Tapat and felt little more than worry and the deep seeded instinct to protect though from what wasn’t readily apparent to Astik.

Even as they entered the cave Astik was weary of the stragglers they picked up on the way but he seemed to be more outgoing than his pale brother. He didn’t trust them (nor Laurel unfortunately) around Tapat (as he trusted very few around his brother) but his was caution not to be confused with fear of them. After a short while and a violent shiver later, Astik nestled himself between Tapat and Reek as the others piled into the cave. The pudgy boy squirmed as Tapat occupied himself nudging and nosing their mother’s belly. The dark prince lowered flat to his stomach, his posture sphinx-like, pawing slightly at the hard stone and dirt beneath him but the wash of warmth offered by his parents and the strangers was undeniably pleasant and Astik did not, currently, have much of a complaint to issue. He took stock of those in the cave and noted that their sister had not joined the pile of bodies in the Cave and silently wondered if she had wandered off though whether his fleeting curiosity was to be answered or not was yet to be determined.

[/td][/tr][/table]

Tap me if you mind the PP, Gerra. :)

The normally cheerful Tambourine straggled near the back of the group, casting yearning glances backward over his shoulder every five minutes. He felt like he had left a piece of himself back in Marauder's Keep. Would he ever see it again? Would he ever see Stark or Banner again? These thoughts made his chest feel strangely hollow. Despite his mother's death, he had never really experienced loss before and didn't know how to process all of these negative emotions.

That wasn't to say he was totally down in the dumps. He couldn't help but be curious about Reek and the rest of his ragtag band. There was also a part of him that was excited to see more of the world. It was just that these feelings were largely overshadowed by his sadness right now—that, and the overwhelmingly frigid bite to the air. Tambourine was so preoccupied with fighting to stay warm, he really couldn't pay much attention to anyone else around him, save perhaps for Silas.

The boys bumped shoulders as the weather worsened and Reek led them into a cave. It was only when they were shuffling inside and settling that Tambourine felt some blessed relief from the aching cold. As his body warmed, however, his feet remained strangely numb. He bent to chew the ice from between his toes and tried to wiggle them to no avail. They didn't actually hurt or anything, though, so he just left them alone to peer around the cave.

He watched and listened to the others for a moment, then scooted closer to Silas and put his head over the slope of his companion's back. Tambourine meant to keep observing the goings-on in their makeshift shelter but his eyes began to flutter and drift closed.

s'all good<3

It wasn't easy to leave. The almost-yearling trudged forward, yet still following behind, and hated every second of it. Staying close to Tambourine was his only solace. He was the only piece of familiarity he could cling to, and once they'd got to moving, he realized how it must be for him to abandon him birthplace. Silas had been there once months back, even if he'd still had his parents much unlike the silver boy. Although here and now, the cold managed to make everything exceptionally miserable. Eventually, he started to feel more numb to it all.

The dark Ostrega would remain reluctant to open up to any of them, but he noticed the experienced way Reek took to the head of all things so he'd listen to him. Beside that, Silas still preferred to keep away from the others. He watched them from the back and didn't want to trust any of them yet. Maybe part of that was only him still feeling sour about the whole pack up and deserting him and Tambourine, though.

Anyway, everything was horrible and they headed for a cave. Mechanically he followed along and tried to block as much of it out as he absolutely could. He wedged up as close to Tambourine for warmth and set his head down on his forelimbs to watch the others mill about companionably (excluding the liver-coat female..), hoping that they'd be left alone. If he was lucky, he could doze peacefully at some point, but he was still adjusting to this kind of company in such an unfamiliar place. It was very different for the homebody.

Sorry for the wait you guys! I'm working two jobs as of late, so things have been a bit crazy!

Jhala followed close behind, and with her prompting (and fat ass), Reek fell to his side with a muffled oof. She laid against him, and their two young boys soon filled the small gap between them like the meat in some sort of living sandwich. Then, the others filed in. Moonbrook, though still something of an acquaintance, was like one of the family in the way she joined the pile. Dagfinn followed close behind and he brought food, dropping it nearby. Reek had to stretch to grab the meat that he had brought, but when he did, he nodded his thanks to Dagfinn and he offered the haunch to his boys. He then prompted them to eat.

With the six of them all piled together, Reek was both warm and content.

The boys, Silas and Tambourine, they stood to the side -- wary. Laurel did as well. From where he lay, Reek looked upon his daughter. "Laurel, please. Come lay with us," he pleaded. After all, after agreeing to start over, Reek would not deny her this kindness. Then he looked to the boys who seemed to be content with warming eachother. "You too boys, come join the pile! No one needs to be cold right now." Whether or not the boys from the keep felt it, they where just as much a part of the family.

Moonbrook had no issues with trying her best to fit in. Yeah, maybe she was basically a stranger to them, but she didn't have a mean bone in her body and really did have good intentions in all things. Her ears flattened as Reek called out to the few yearlings on the fringes and she followed his gaze to them. She knew their names, as they'd been introduced briefly before setting out a few days prior, but she didn't really know them. There hadn't been enough time for that. The weather was too much of a danger, especially with the two little ones. 

She whined softly and thumped her tail, "It's warmer over here. I don't bite!" she chirped with a tenative smile, trying to brighten the mood. Dagfinn dropped a bit of meat and, although she was hungry, she didn't so much as motion towards it. It was more important that the little ones ate, as well as the Alpha male and female. Moonbrook was on a low rung—she was used to it. Her gaze drifted from Laurel, to Tambourine and finally Silas. It was then she realized just how young the age spectrum of their little band was. Reek and Jhala had a few years on them, at least, and there was no one really older than two besides them. There was the potential here for Reek and Jhala to mould their inexperience into a well-oiled machine of their make, without the strong opinions and personalities that age often brought.

Moonbrook twisted and buried her cold nose beneath Jhala's tail and sighed as Dagfinn's warmth sank into her chilly bones.

Tambourine was unaware of the attempts to coax Silas and himself closer, as soon his eyes shut for good and he tumbled into a deep and dreamless sleep. The past few days had been physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting and it all caught up to him now, plunging him into a nearly catatonic slumber. Poor Silas probably felt a little crushed as Tambourine became a dead weight, though perhaps the warm blanketing of his body was welcome. After a moment, he began to snore. There would be no waking anytime soon, not even if someone dragged him closer to the pile of bodies.

He settled in gradually with Tambourine close, but a little heavy, he was able to take comfort from the weight. Such a bold, real reminder that he was still here, very alive with the rise and fall of his chest and warmth they shared. In these days of struggle, he had to take whatever he could get.

He felt a little bad, and was half zoned-out when Reek spoke their way to invite them closer. His ears perked then splayed softly in the most polite decline he could make towards all of their offers. No thanks. He didn't want to disturb the snoozing Tambourine, or hassle with moving himself. His legs ached and simply put, he was not budging for a while longer.

Silas stayed tucked beneath his friend and eventually squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe.. one day, he might come around more, but so shaken and tired from everything else, he just could not muster the energy to try right now. He had to steal a few z's while he could, and did just that.

Laurel lifted her head to look at them when Reek offered her to come closer. She glanced at the two boys who seemed warm enough on their own and though she felt cold, she then turned away from them, curling herself up into a ball in a vain attempt to get herself warm. She shivered, but she'd rather be here alone than fear never waking up at all because someone might get too defensive over her being close to whoever they'd think she'd kill. She'd rather be safe, and luckily she had built up some reserves to keep her warm despite the biting cold. She eventually drifted off to an unruly, though much-needed sleep.

Not a single one of the three stragglers offered a reply. They seemed content to settle amongst themselves in solitude. Of course, Reek already knew that his relationship with his daughter was rocky and that she would not likely take her rest with the family, but it was then that Reek realized the rift that ran through his new family was deeper than he had previously thought. He looked to the boys Silas and Tambourine -- even as they slept, they acted as if they were outsiders looking in.

With a resigned sigh, Reek shrugged in a defeated manner. He had been so blinded by his own high spirts that he had failed to see the misery of those who followed. Now, there was nothing he could do but ride out the storm that approached.

As the others slept, Reek's eyes were open. His mind remained restless.