Moonspear forget my place amongst the grass

When morning had come, he had been roused completely by the unfamiliarity of the place. Day and night turned the cozy forest @Hydra had escorted him to into a different venue altogether... but of course that may have had something to do with the snowfall. He had no more stepped out of the crook he had been shown before reality had set in, and in that moment where he was alone he felt anxious thoughts come to him. Memories, even. But this was not the claim of the Winterhearts, and he would not find Cross here. He wouldn't—rather hoped—find teeth scoring his hide for coming around.

When those uncomfortable and uncertain moments passed, he pulled himself together. Hydra had instructed him of what to do, where to go, and why once he had come around; that was the plan for the moment, at least after he got a drink. He set off once to find such a stream, however narrow it may have been, before having to double back to the stony wall where he had slept and unsurprisingly, left the gift of grouse behind.

With that in mouth, he recalled the first place to check: the borders. He hoped to find @Charon first, if only because he remembered him. But @Amekaze wasn't off that list either and Dirge would have admitted, he was curious about what sort of creature Hydra's mother was. Hydra had made them—and the pack—aware he was there, so it seemed a matter of time. And it was time that would ultimately tell what would come about, so he made a slow jaunt of the borders in hopes to come across the leaders in his own way.

Hydra had told him about the newest recruit into Moonspear. Truthfully, Charon was rather sceptical; he only wanted to stay through the winter and wanted to be on his way after that. With limited space in the pack that didn't make this Dirge fellow his favourite new wolf, but for now Charon decided he could stay. He didn't want to immediately pass over Hydra's judgements, and if he could pull his weight then they could still use him over the winter, for now.

He happened to be at the borders when Dirge found him; Charon was patrolling, marking the borders, his body carried proudly. It wasn't hard to figure out that this had to be the new wolf in the pack when he came into view. Charon chuffed to announce his presence when he saw Dirge, though likely didn't need to as his white fur stood out along the frays of the forests at Moonspear's lowest slopes. He did not recognise Dirge from their previous meeting, perhaps because he wasn't expecting a familiar face.

It would have seemed that they stumbled upon one another about the same time. The forested edge had hid Charon away, but when the speckled snowy fur emerged, he was not a hard target to miss. Dirge observed him carefully as the distance was reined in, only averting his gaze and leaving it elsewhere when he dropped the grouse to nudge it towards the alpha male. His posture bent in deference; the etiquette felt bizarre in a way, but it was necessary. The time he had spent answering to no one but himself would be shelved for better weather, or so he believed was the plan.

"Hydra said I could find you here," and well, she wasn't wrong. Then again, no proper leader would leave their borders unattended for long. "It's been a while, how have you fared since the summer?" It never occurred to him that he wouldn't have been remembered either, but for lack of a better opener, it seemed fair to ask.

Charon nodded, as it made sense that Hydra'd direct a new wolf to the borders. Charon was often there; even though his youth were getting older and didn't need supervision as much, he liked to keep them safe anyway. He was surprised to hear that the other wolf already knew him and kept a steel face while he tried to think of who he was facing.

Then he just thought, well, fuck it, who cares if I come off as an inconsiderate prick towards this noob. "I don't really remember you. When did we meet?" Except 'the summer', apparently. "Been good, though. Three healthy pups."

It wasn't surprising that Charon didn't remember him. Dirge appreciated his honesty with a thin, close-lipped smile; he hadn't done anything to be memorable either. He had never thought their paths to cross again and yet there was... somehow apart of a grander scheme or picture that he didn't understand. Whatever curiosities he had the urge to investigate were absent for the moment, thankfully. Instead he wanted to make good on making sure he hadn't netted a warm place and a meal for just a one or two night stay.

"Congratulations, albeit belatedly," was his second offering. No wonder Charon hadn't the time to remember the face of every passerby. "And if I remember correctly, you had stolen away for the evening to stargaze when we met." Everything else that had been said evaded his recollection and perhaps for the better. Plenty had amassed in events since then, presumbly for both of them. Such was life and so on and so forth.

Charon had stolen away many nights for star-gazing when Amekaze had been expecting, really, so the description still didn't ring much of a bell. "Ah, yes," he said despite that though, figuring it didn't matter much and dismissing it. It's not like Dirge likely still remembered any of their conversation, anyway. He thought he would've remembered another Ostrega wolf on those spring nights of stargazing, but he supposed he must've forgotten.

"You good with kids?" he asked, not only for the sake of his youngest children but also because he was definitely intending to create more next year.

The memory was dismissed, further cementing that it was long ago and unimportant. He hadn't thought it would turn up anything and it was probably better it didn't. Given his own personal history, Dirge wasn't too keen on drawing up the past. It was however Charon's next query that caught him off guard—was he good with kids? It seemed out of left field, but maybe the best questions were. To wait too long for an answer felt dishonest, so Dirge went right along.

"I do all right," he started off slowly with trailing words. "I can't claim to have spent a lot of time around them, but I wouldn't let them go off a mountainside. Or go hungry. Not particularly good form to let either happen." His experiences were far and few inbetween with children and as it stood, he obviously had none of his own. Beyond that, there was a sense of dread tied to it—gods above, he hoped he wasn't about to get stuck in a pile of them and left in charge.

Charon was direct as always, and in his opinion the best questions were direct and unexpected. He saw no need to bend a conversation around to get to his point. He listened as an answer came, quickly but the answer itself slowly, as if Dirge wasn't too sure yet himself. Sounded like he lacked experience and a heart for pups, but understood that they were the pack's future and to be protected, so that was good enough for Charon for now.

"Hmm-mm," he rumbled, content enough with the answer though not showing it overly much. "Where were you born?" he then asked, curious if it was a place he knew, in this area. Charon had little idea of the vastness of the world, having been born in the Teekon and knowing many who had too.

Now the inquiry took a more personal approach, but at least it was more along the lines of things he could answer easier. And as long as things continued to go swimmingly, Dirge would retain his confidence in this particular decision. He could have tried to give Hydra the slip on the way here, feigned his interest in the whole thing, but when it boiled down to it he knew that he wouldn't have a fair go of winter if he hadn't joined up somewhere. May as well have gone somewhere where the chemistry was bound to be reactive, and interesting.

"In the mountains of the far south," he started, "several weeks distance from here if I recall correctly." Maybe shorter if one made the attempt to run straight through, but he had not. He would not either—going back there never planned to be on the list and no amount of begging would ever draw him back. He was free, relatively speaking, and found himself unable to resist the urge to turn the question back around to Charon.

"What of you, hm? Did you inherit your mountain or happen upon it?" It reminded him of his birthplace, but only in the way it jut from the earth to a staggeringly high point. The granite and shale stonework had spat its pieces—its spears, he thought humorlessly—down much in the way Winterheart's boulders had hemmed them in. Safe and sound.

Charon nodded as Dirge mentioned coming from mountains to the south. Several weeks didn't seem all that long, as he had been several weeks' away to the east too -- albeit with a few detours -- when he was younger and travelled more abundantly. Before he had a pack to run and children to raise.

Dirge returned an inquiry of his own and Charon easily answered, "Amekaze is the one who likes mountains. I was born to the north of here, by the oceanside. A place called Stavanger Bay. One fall, 'bout two years ago, our packs were both small and to stand through winter we banded our packs together and founded a new home. Amekaze used to live on the large mountain to the east, the Sunspire. She's always had a thing for mountains." Charon, well, he preferred the seaside still, though owning a mountain had its own charms -- mostly the height and magnificence to match his status and the closeness to the stars -- and if he had his way he would've wanted a seaside mountain. Unfortunately, those weren't very many. "But I like Moonspear -- it's a good home, with enough diversity."

The story he told filled in gaps and sprung up more questions that he wouldn't ask. At least not here, not when they were for all purposes still strangers with a burgeoning step into better known acquaintences. What wasn't said Dirge concluded aa the rest is history—and it was. He could not imagine the logistics behind a merging of packs, but it was evident that it had worked out favorably for both parties.

A noncommittal sound lodged itself in his throat like an agreeable hum as Charon touched on the diversities within Moonspear. He followed up on the next beat. "I hope to discover more of them, certainly. I can only imagine the view you must have from the mountain proper... though the forest is nice as well." To get a lay of the land beyond the bubble he knew so far would be benefical as well. Another query sprang to mind, one he could not resist for the sake of showing his intent.

"How's the hunting around here for winter? Deer or elk, that is. I saw herds well to the north days ago, but they seemed intent to head towards the river." And days ago, he had no one but himslf to share that information with. They had been nothing more than a tasty tease, unobtainable. He hoped the situation faired better here.

Charon nodded as Dirge said that he hoped to discover more of the mountain in time. He then went on to ask about the hunting. Charon offered, "Mountain goats are good for hunting, but be careful not to underestimate them." Not that he ever had, of course — he thought back briefly to the time he and Amekaze had killed one and Ame had gotten hurt during — but whatever, it was still solid advice from first hand experience.

Realising Dirge had asked more specifically about deer or elk, Charon said, "There's a herd of deer that moves through the forested area of the mountain often during the winter when the more open areas of grassland are covered in snow."

Mountain goats? A note of interest flickered to his features; it had been a long while since he had seen any, let alone attempted to hunt them. His interest waned quickly thereafter as Charon went ahead speaking of other fares to be found. Deer and elk were more pertinent to his interests, the likes of which most able bodied wolves could handle with ease... assuming they were coordinated enough. Either way, they were the more agreeable sort of thing he would give chase.

"I'll have to keep my eyes and ears open then," he replied, the end of his tail wagging gently. Finding them and others to hunt with, driving the herd towards deeper snow; he delighted at the thought to make such a contribution. He would definitely keep aware of mountain goats as well, lest he dared to be caught off guard by them.

apologies for the delay... holiday shenanigans and such.

The goats were dangerous but he enjoyed hunting them because of the challenge they posed and the skill they required. It was very different from chasing a bunch of deer around and picking off a sickly one; you needed to avoid the head and the hooves here and they were sturdy as hell too.

Dirge took the note about deer in too and Charon suggested, "We could use a hunt soon." Maybe Dirge could organise something; a thing he didn't add in words but certainly in intent as he looked at Dirge, leaving him with this comment to think on it himself. Charon was busy with patrols, his children and when he had some time, exploring; he was happy enough when someone else could pick up things like organising a hunt.

And think on it he did—it seemed quite a task to take on. Doable of course, he was aware, but how soon was another beast entirely. But barring the inevitable events to come in their near future that he was unaware of, he didn't think it seemed too difficult to accomplish. Time would tell.

"I'll see what I can do," he answered with an assuring smile. "And I suppose I shouldn't keep you any longer as well. You're a busy fellow, though I wouldn't object if you wouldn't want company as you finish your rounds." After all, he had encountered Charon along the borders and brought things to a halt. But the out option was always just as viable as sticking around.

since this is a few wks into the past i thought i would leave this open-ended if you wanna fade it out given all the juicy developments going on. i'm not opposed to continuing though! :X

yes that is fine with me! :D my last post then, feel free to post again or just archive it as is.

Hunting in winter was always trickier. They could use a good hunter in their midst so Charon looked forward to what Dirge would bring to the table in the pack. He caught the hint easily enough and said that he'd work on it. Charon considered inviting Dirge along for the rest of the patrol when he was offered a break from the conversation, but eventually decided against it. Some alone time would be nice, too, and it kept him sharper when looking at the borders too.

"Alright, I'll go finish my patrol then. See you 'round. Look forward to the hunt." Charon nodded at Dirge and then continued along the borders alone to finish his rounds and make sure the borders were safe and clear, as well as marked freshly.