Hideaway Strath reebok

@Reek @Astik @Tapat @Arturo @Lotte and possibly @Silas, if you're interested <3

the glade was no more. one by one jhala had chased off intruders and traitors and the unloyal had merely left. this had included, unfortunately for her husband, laurel and tambourine. even more unfortunately, the disappearance of tapat-- their own lovable goose. jhala had tried to stay calm for a small while, but decided finally to abandon the glade and search for her son. they'd found traces of his scent-- as well as dagfinn, who'd also disappeared-- here, and so they waited respectfully at the borders. jhala first made a call for her perfectly innocent son, and then for leadership. she wanted to thank them for keeping him safe and see if dagfinn was here.

she was pretty sure dag had mentioned his sister ran this pack, so she was looking forward to meeting her-- lotte, dag had said. he'd looked up to her, and spoke only highly on her, and jhala loved dagfinn himself so much she doubted that she could hate his sister. overall, if tapat was here and safe, jhala saw no reason why they wouldn't attempt to stay here. she was run-down, lost a lot of faith in the system. she was ready to settle, and if tapat was happy enough here to hang out without crying for his family this long-- she figured it wasn't a bad idea. she nudged astik's cheek lovingly before giving reek a worried glance. she had no god to pray to, but she prayed he would pad up soon enough anyway.

[makes wild assumptions and throws timelines to the winds]

Having left the children under Hemlock’s watchful eye, Lotte took it upon herself to approach the territory borders for the first time since they’d laid claim to the strath. The cry that struck the silence of Teaghlaigh’s sanctuary was feminine and pointedly intent, and Lotte had to assume that the first cry was perhaps for the little white foundling with the sweet temperament and the slippery memory. It made her sympathetic, especially given the upsurge of hormones that influenced her solitude these days, but the fact didn’t change that there were strangers at her borders and one of them was female.

Despite the vestiges of her pregnancy that yet swelled her middle and caused her midsection to sway a bit pendulously, Lotte drew herself up to her full height and fixed each stranger with a calm, imperious stare. “Rakeet, comrades,” she said unsmilingly. She had the unfair advantage of knowing who they were before actually hearing an introduction from them. Dagfinn had been ebullient in his praise of Reek and Jhala, and Lotte evaluated them with an inwardly analytical eye, though her black-masked visage was carefully devoid of emotion. Dagfinn, she thought, had done well in his descriptions this time. She missed him.

Oh, how she missed him!

“You must be Reek and Jhala,” she said, cutting past the awkward introductions. “My kaksonen has spoken of you — and you must be Astik.” She turned her attention to the dark young wolf, recalling that Hemlock had mentioned Tapat babbling about an Astik. “Your brother has been missing you.” Recalling Dagfinn’s stories of the Golden Glade wolves, Lotte allowed herself to relax a fraction, and a brilliant smile finally broke through, her high arched tail beginning to wave. “Dagfinn has gone home to the Enok Tundra — ” without me! “ — to tell them of my children,” she said somewhat apologetically. Jhala and Reek had lost a good wolf — the best wolf, in Lotte’s opinion. “Yet Tapat is here. We could spare no wolf to escort him home and he did not seem…well enough to travel alone.” She danced around the whole Ten Second Tom thing. “It is good that you have come,” she said, her velvety alto brimming with warmth. “We will see you fed and rested before your journey home.” She assumed quite naturally that they were only here to collect their son and return to the glade.

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

The rook is quiet as they approach the borders of the unknown pack that houses Tapat’s scent and faintly Dagfinn’s. Astik remembers him but mostly on the travels to the Glade but he has, admittedly, made little effort to socialize with wolves of the once Glade. His attention was more focused on Tapat and his occasional bought of wandering. He itches to seek out Tapat, had hoped that their mother’s call might summon the pallid boy but instead it summons a woman. Asti’s amber gaze takes her in with stony indifference. She is a stranger and his developing hostility towards those he does not know will no doubt cost him. The dark prince humbles himself, however, if only because she does not have to be a stranger. After all, they are on her borders. Surprise lifts Astik’s gaze in her direction when she addresses him, shoulders stiffening like a soldier called to attention as she speaks his name and surmises that Tapat must be missing him. For a moment guilt rises in the rook’s throat and threatens to suffocate him because what kind of protector is he to have let this happen, to have been parted so long from Tapat? He does not confirm her assumption because it is fairly obvious enough on it’s own. As much as Astik desires to ask to see Tapat he stills his tongue because he does not doubt he will be reunited with his brother soon.

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

Reek was despondent. Not only had he lost the Glade, but he had lost his son -- his poor, dysfunctional son who was likely to befall an ill fate without proper supervision. Like Jhala, he had spent many sleepless nights looking for Tapat, and the Glade suffered in his absence. The others had all left, leaving nothing but an empty space. There was no longer a home to fight for, but Reek would not give up easily on his family. He would not falter and fold.

They broke away with their remaining son in tow, leaving their home behind forever to search for the lost boy. All seemed lost, but after many days of searching, when Jhala picked up the faint scent of their son on the wind, hope was rekindled in Reek's heart. They came upon a pack, and Reek could only hope that Tapat had found refuge there. He also wondered briefly if it was wise for the rest of his family to do the same. It was hard for Reek to wrestle with the idea of giving control away to another wolf, especially after leading for so long, but he knew he could cast his ego aside for his family's sake.

His eye's caught Jhala's, and he tried to reassure her with a glance, but he could not help a fresh wave of guilt rise in his chest. What sort of father had he been to let his son wander?

When the pack's leader came, she spoke to the family as if they were long lost friends. Her kindness was so unexpected that it was almost jarring, but then Reek remembered that this was likely the pack that Dagfinn's sister belonged to. She immediately confirmed that their son was among them (and her relationship to Dagfinn), and Reek's face flushed with relief. He nearly wept on the spot.

"You are so kind," he spoke with gratitude. He wished to see the boy -- to know that she was speaking truth. Though, he knew she had no reason to lie. "Thank you for keeping our son safe. He wouldn't --" Reek's voice cracked and he shook his head. "He wouldn't make it on his own." That was simply fact.

And then, the stranger mentioned home. The same home that Reek and family had just left behind. It pained Reek to say it, but he then muttered, "This is all that's left of the Glade." Reek cast his gaze across the rest of his family: Jhala and Astik.

just a cameo to sort of lay out some stuff with @Tapat!

[table width=80%][tr][td]

So quickly Hemlock had realized that things were amiss with the child. Tapat woke almost every time after sleeping with the same plaintive cries - how lost he was, how alone! With the young Eirlys still struggling she could not afford to leave the packland to take him home and it had been decided that they would keep the  young boy present and safe until the pale Fearghal was more stable and they could dispatch someone to take him home. Arturo and Lotte were rightfully enraptured with their children and Hemlock herself had Sirius and now Tapat to tend to.

It was daunting, to go from mother-of-none to mother of two in a sense. She hadn't decided yet if he had been ill or injured or born without much capability for memory. Most of their mornings ran the same way - she had to soothe his fears that she was an enemy or that they would hurt him, promising to take him home as soon as they could manage. Only once she'd spoken the names that Dagfinn had mentioned did he settle at all, but still, she understood how hard it was to be apart. The cries at their borders seemed to perk the youth up, the trio of misfits tending to the youngest of Teaghlaigh while Lotte got a well deserved trek through her lands. "Go to them, sweet boy. They will be so very happy to see you." Hemlock said, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek before she nudged him away from the (mostly) slumbering pile of puppies. 

Near her, young Ceallach had taken to stumbling from the densite and Hemlock rolled her eyes, scruffing the boy and pulling him back to her side. She proceeded to bathe him despite his protests until the puppy succumbed to sleep again, Hemlock's crooning hum no where near the beauty of his mother's song.[/td][/tr][/table]

cameo post! i'll only reply with arturo again if needed. :-)

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

The call rises through the Strath and suspicion towards wolves he does not know draws him to the borders where the howl had risen from. Arturo is not surprised to find that Lotte has already intervened, beating him there. The lotturos are old enough now that they do not need Lotte strapped to them twenty four seven and Arturo imagines the newfound freedom must be liberating for her. He is confident that she has the situation in hand but he is weary and he is Ceannasach. He knows Lotte’s Enok Tundra has taught her how to handle herself in a fight, not that he believes these wolves seeks a fight. Reek, Jhala and Astik, he believes is what Dagfinn has called the darker boy. Reek mentions that they are all that is left of Golden Glade and Arturo purses his lips, ears cupped forth atop his skull attentive as he listens intently to the conversation between the ex-Glade wolves and his wife. He had assumed, as Lotte had, that they had just appeared to take back their son whose memory was not well enough to send back on his own despite that he was old enough. Arturo had not interacted with the pallid boy personally but he is well informed of his condition. Fiery, twin sun gaze settles upon the small family as he wonders if they intend to seek a home among the Strath, among Teaghlaigh. So long as they are willing to adhere to what he and Lotte expect of all wolves of The Family he does not see reason as to why Lotte (or he) should not allow them a home. He had aspirations, once, of striking an alliance with them which seemed would no longer be necessary. He lingers, a contemplative and silent sentry to the scene, making sure his presence is seen and noted but that he has no intention of interfering unless it is necessary. He trusts Lotte’s judgment entirely and their fate, if they do seek a home with Teaghlaigh, lays at the feet of it’s Queen.

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

Tapat stayed with the red woman. He started to get familiar with her, but his mind kept going back to his family. He was glad it did because he didn't want to forget them. The pup did live in the moment. So there were times he was doing okay, but there were also times that he would freak out again. When he heard the familiar howls and had the approval of the red woman to leave Tapat raced forward. His tail was wagging quickly.

It took him a moment to cross the territory to their borders. Once he saw his parents, and brother, the pup found some new speed within him. He rushed forward, tail wagging and head carried low. "Mom! Mom!," he let out between his whines. "Dad!!! Astik!!," he squeaked. The pale boy rushed towards his mother being a whining mess. He missed them. He felt so guilty. His parents were probably mad at him.

He showered his mother with little licks under her chin. He did the same to his father. His big brother was here too! Tapat greeted him too. It was kind of a rotation of greetings as he didn't know who to greet first. The child was clearly happy to see his family again.

attempts to match length of all of these gorgeous posts

a stranger appeared, and though jhala could make an assumption about who she was, the bear was not certain until lotte introduced herself. she used words that jhala was too ignorant to understand-- she spoke one language, mixed with a few words from the language of her old pack, but it did not match this woman's. her head dipped respectfully, knowing this was not the time or place to assert dominance, but waited for lotte to finish speaking before she asked her questions. the biggest one, about tapat, was answered in lotte's greeting to astik-- jhala almost wept. she sucked in a heavy breath, leaning into reek for a few heartbeats before moving back to stand on her own. jhala didn't have time to express her pride in her sturdy little rook's stance. he looked strong and answered like a true young man should-- but she was too worried about tapat, too relieved. she didn't even noticed astik's inner-grieving.

reek spoke, he'd found his voice before she could. but jhala nodded, anxious almost, as he mentioned tapat's poor fate. "he was gettin' better-- he could follow trails and landmarks and stay within the borders on his own. he must've gotten distracted," she added on, trying to defend her son. she was no fool, tapat would very well have died out on his own, but he was trainable-- smart, just forgetful. "thank you," she echoed, reiterating her husbands gratitude.

she glanced to astik as reek spoke of the glade's sorry fate. it was sad, sure, but jhala was happier now knowing that tapat was safe that she was living in the glade without him. her family-- her pack-- would survive wherever they went, make a home wherever they went. her amber eyes fell back to lotte, not being so bold as to meet her own gaze, of course. "i'm sorry dagfinn couldn't stay, he was a great friend," she commented honestly, missing the happy-go-lucky male. he was bouncy and friendly and a fantastic warrior, and jhala would miss seeing him around the territory.

with a last, reassuring glance at her husband, jhala gave a humble bow. she parted her jaws to speak, but was interrupted by a distant yipping and howling. she stood alert, eyes wide, scanning the landscape as a still-tiny tapat came sprinting full-speed towards them. minding her manners, her tail remained at a humble posture, but her excitement was clear across her entire body. "tapat!" she yipped as the boy came running, ducking to kiss and nuzzle and love all over her little boy again. she'd missed him so much, and she'd never been so relieved to see him back in front of her again. tears welled in her amber eyes, hoping this moment truly was real. "oh, goose," she cooed, letting him greet the rest of his family was still hovering protectively over him, "i'm so glad you're safe."

Lotte’s attention was politely divided as Dagfinn’s friends affirmed her suppositions. The cant of her head was still high and proud, but the acute curvature of her coal-colored tail relaxed degree by degree until it hovered just above her hips in a friendly horizontal sway. “Ah,” she murmured in unfeigned dismay, empathy coloring her tone as she followed Reek’s murky brown gaze to his wife and son. The way the Glade had been lost was, she felt, largely unimportant — she would not inquire upon it and reopen wounds only newly scabbed over. “I am sorry for your losses,” she said simply, dipping her broad muzzle to offer what condolences she could. She felt Arturo’s presence without turning, one small, bearlike ear swiveling toward him as the lazy wave of her tail whirred into overdrive, but she sobered as Jhala mentioned her kaksonen. “He was fond of you,” Lotte told the woman simply, the light dimming in her argent eyes.

The introduction abruptly became a reunion as Tapat burst from the heart of the territory, his fur smelling sweetly of Hemlock. Lotte was silent for a prolonged moment as she looked out and away, giving the family their privacy as they sniffed, wagged, licked, and got reacquainted. When she judged enough time had passed to allow them the joy of finding and being found, “If it is a home you seek, Teaghlaigh can shelter you,” Banríon stated. She saw no point in beating around the bush; business was business and was best to get out of the way early. “My mate, Arturo Fearghal, is Ceannasach — the alpha male of this territory. I stand beside him as alpha female — Banríon, by Teaghlaigh’s system. The wolves of Teaghlaigh value loyalty, secrecy, and respect. We range into the morass to the southwest and the canyon to the northeast and do our best to guard those areas as ardently as our own territory.”

Thinking of Tapat, the smoke-and-shadow rogue added on, “It is a large swath of land and not without its dangers, but it is patrolled regularly should a member of the Family require aid.” Her black-masked face broke into a smile at her blathering ways. “Has my ceaseless chatter scared you off?” she questioned laughingly. “I like the looks of you — you seem as though you have weathered much and come through. And you, Jhala, Dagfinn said you enjoy sparring. Is this so?”

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

He is quiet as his mother, father, and the queen of Teaghlaigh exchange words. He pays as much attention as he is willing to give as he anxiously awaits Tapat’s arrival, unable to help the suspicion that perhaps she is lying. It seems unlikely, too much of what she says sounds like truth but Astik is weary. He does not trust those he does not know — at the very least not blindly. Of course he wonders just how much he can trust those he does know for Laurel, their own sister had attacked Tapat. Astik remembers and Astik will never forgive her for it even if the others have. Even now it strikes him as some sort of blasphemy — to attack one’s own blood with malicious intent. Unbeknownst to him Astik begins to zone out as he focuses intently on the inside of the Strath, his entire body tensing as a pale shape breaks through and rushes towards them. Tapat. The relief that washes over him threatens to knock his legs out from under him and as Tapat rushes to their mother first Astik studies him. He looks well, taken care of. Though he does not feel guilt, nor is he apologetic for his suspicions towards the wolves of Teaghlaigh he is grateful that they’ve taken care of Tapat as they claimed. His pale brother greets him last and Astik bumps his muzzle against his pale brother’s own. “I’ve missed you.” Astik murmurs lowly to Tapat.

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

Bad post is bad, but I wanted to keep this moving ;P

Accompanied by a stranger, their son was returned to the safety of his family. Reek felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of him in a single instant; the moment his eyes fell upon his typical smile. Tapat was safe, corporeal, and completely and totally alive. It was as if all the worries of the past week or so had simply been magnified out of proportion. All was well.

Concerned most with the return of his boy, Reek still listened intently to the offer proposed by the leader of the pack -- or rather, the Banríon -- but he was ultimately silent, instead allowing his mate to hold the speaking floor. Reek simply nodded once, confirming that they hoped to stay, before hovering over his son like a typical helicopter parent.

Tapat was just so happy to be reunited with his family. He kept going from one family member to the other. His excitable whines filling the air. He also released a bit of his pee in his excitement. He couldn't help himself. He was just so excited to have his family back. The pale pup eventually did settle. He nestled himself against his big brother. He missed them all terribly. "I missed you too,"he whispered back to his big brother. Tapat was really happy. So happy that he instantly saved it in his long-term memory.

after the reunion was over, lotte moved right back to business. grateful, jhala dipped her head low. when she raised it, her tail was wagging low at her hocks. "oh thank you," she murmured softly, and then stood quietly to absorb the rest of what she was saying. especially for tapat's sake, it was all important, and she didn't dare miss out on anything. when lotte finished speaking, jhala gave a good hearted laugh and shook her head. "hardly," she returned. at the sudden compliment, jhala felt warm inside. it was reek alone who'd ever given her such praise, and she was quite okay with taht. but, again, she dipped her head thankfully and smiled.

"i do, i am a trained mercenary-- reek is as well," she shared, giving her mate a side-glance to make sure he was focused on the conversation (in case he had been staring at tapat). "i will gladly use my skills to protect or as a teacher to the family, if need be," she said with a small wave of her tail. she was no fan of religion, but she could get with family.

Lotte was as eager to get back to her family as she was sure Jhala was to spend some private time with hers, so she cut things short. “Come,” she said decisively, though her warm smile stole away the brusqueness and turned command into invitation. “This territory is yours now to explore. Welcome to Teaghlaigh.” She crossed the distance and rubbed her shoulders against Jhala’s and Reek’s, Astik’s and Tapat’s to exchange scents. Then, when all the business had been concluded, she returned to her mate and children.