Big Salmon Lake Is your tongue tied up?

Maybe @Gannet or @Drogon but any Moonspear woof would do :o

Well, at least she could say the place she passed through at night was "lit". Hah. Firefly Glen had been too much of a weird place to stay for very long, but the lake was alright. Frozen over still, though the thickness of the ice didn't seem trustworthy at all. So the idea of crossing... well, she had to let it go. The fiery woman lapped up the melting ice at the sides, scaring off some critters she had barely noticed.

Ocellus was beginning to grow bored of the loner life. There was simply no one to talk to. At all. And that was torture for her, even though she mostly switched between introverted and extroverted every hour or so. She looked at the looming mountains behind her then, wondering if she would ever be able to climb to its peak. She'd probably fall and die after just a minute or two, but hey, at least she could say she went out on a high note. Hah. God, she needed friends.

((Tag for ref))

Dune was gone, Hydra was still off and about, and Gannet was having a hard time not feeling bummed about it. Maybe he was cursed. Hydra was probably maybe coming back, but Dune had vanished without warning, and suddenly another wolf he had felt a friendship with was no longer around.

He'd run a few patrols and as a result met up with @Jarilo a bit. The young wolf was good company. Other than that, however, Gannet mostly kept to himself. Those here didn't show much interest in meeting him, which was a-ok in his books for the moment. He was tracking a scent trail today and had followed it all the way to the base of the mountain; some kind of small mammal, he wasn't sure exactly, but likely good hunting practice. He had yet to attempt big game but had started taking small kills once more to contribute.

When he got to the edge of the territory, looking out on the glen, he spotted a stranger. Immediately he stiffened... he didn't mind meeting new wolves, but she was close to home, and he wasn't for sure she didn't have intrusive intentions. He stared a moment, but did not approach, instead simply watching where she went warily.

Ocellus was just minding her own business really. she didn't have the time or motivation to care about other wolves' problems. And certainly not to cross any borders; there was plenty of food out here! An open buffet, if you will. She never got why other trespassed. Just keep your paws where they belong, amiright? Spying was more acceptable, she supposed, but - hey, did she feel eyes poking about her frame?

The female turned around in one big, swift move with squinted eyes. Paranoia? Yes, but perfectly timed paranoia! Para-no-spying. Hey! She called, both a little offended and yet with a playful undertone. You frozen or something? She giggled, pointing with a hovering paw at the lake.

She spotted him soon enough and quipped out a reply, one that was completely lost on him. It was warm out, that made no sense. "No," he replied, figuring she should know that herself but maybe she was confused. "Who're you?" He didn't lower his guard, but his tone wasn't aggressive. He was more prepared than anything else; he'd been in enough skirmishes both back at the Caldera and out on his own to know other wolves didn't always warn you before they attacked.

She giggled. The other seemed confused with her jokes, but as long as she liked them herself she wouldn't stop for no one! With a proud step forward, she pushed out her chest - strange eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Ocellus - Ocellus you betcha! Gosh, she loved her last name. Where'd you come from? She asked, tipping her head to the side.

Her enthusiasm wasn't quite met by Gannet; not so close to home. But it did help some, and his tail gave a light friendly wave despite the previous missed jokes. "Gannet." He gave back, then nodded over his shoulder to the mountain that looked above, "from up there. Moonspear." He took a step forward, trying to catch a scent on her but keeping respectfully back. "Why're you here?"

Gannet the planet guy - you like stars? She rhymed, poofing up with excitement when she wondered if there was anyone else listening. It made her feel all hot inside, or perhaps that was her small meal still kicking her guts to see if it could still escape her digestive system. She did like her food awfully fresh, after all - but no, bunny buddy, you be dead as fuck.

Moonspear? Do they share? She asked, her rhyming now stuck. She shrugged. No real reason, it was just the right season.

Wha-what? What did stars have to do with anything? He was sincerely perplexed and had to really take a (metaphorical) step back before he was able to answer what she'd asked. "Kinda," he responded, wondering if maybe she wasn't all there? Like Eljay with Peter. Dad had explained it some to him. "You ok?" He asked, slightly concerned.

Did Moonspear share? Oh hell no. "Never. They" hold on..... "we don't like strangers. Not there." Here was fine because it was common ground. But if she was asking because she wanted something, best to let her know now it wasn't a good plan. The whole exchange prob woulda made sense to him if he'd caught onto the rhyme theme but it went completely and utterly over his head.

She shook off the rhyming, ears flopping and her mane now extra fuzzy. She nodded at his question - she was feeling awfully fine. Perhaps even a little too excited to finally meet someone again after such a long time.

Do I count as a stranger? She asked with a sad frown, ears drooping down. I told you my name, Gannet. Her underlip quivered. Now she wasn't feeling so fine anymore. And I really need a permanent home... She added softly. Though she was tough, there was no way she could stay alive all by herself in the melting Teekon.

When he couldn't seem to line up his route with any of his family sorts, he defaulted back to the freshest trail he did have--and that happened to be Gannet's. Although it moseyed him off the mountain's elevation, he jogged along intently all the same with faith that the heading on the scent would lead him true, and that soon, he'd find his black-footed comrade out here somewhere.

Before real worry set in, he did find him--and a stranger. Jarilo, a little on the sheltered side, felt momentarily weird about the thought of a mystery wolf's eyes on him out here on the lowlands as he zeroed right in on joining up at Gannet's side. In his uncertainty, he filled the blanks with a strange expression of the almost-defensiveness he felt.. but outwardly, he was fluid and very on the move. "Hey!" he yapped out along the way as he cruised in on a long trot, barging right on in to whatever the two were on about. "Gannet, hey--who's this?" he panted and asked, quieter this time and despite his total disregard for their chat, waved his tail hesitantly at the both of them (and eyed the she-stranger thoroughly now that he had finally slowed his roll enough to do so).

Did she... count as a stranger? Of course she did. Once again he was genuinely perplexed. "Yeah," he responded, eyeing her curiously. "Don't you?" They weren't friends, and definitely weren't pack. She seemed down about it for some odd reason, but it wasn't a bad thing? He didn't mind strangers after all so long as they were polite.

Then Jarilo appeared, and Gannet felt a wave of relief as his tail wagged with greeting. Good!! "Ocellus," he said, hoping he'd repeated it right and glancing at her to be sure. "She.... uh." He hesitated. His position was uniquely fragile in the Moonspear, and any suggestion he made could reflect on that. But if he started worrying about that, he'd worry a lot? And worrying wasn't something he enjoyed doing much of. "She needs somewhere to stay." Jarilo was younger, but he knew his family. He could maybe give some insight into this, because slow as Gannet might be, he got the strong feeling Ocellus was hinting something here.

With a frown, the seemingly crazy woman shook her head. She didn't see Gannet as a stranger anymore, so why should he? He knew more about her than any living being right about now which wasn't a whole lot, but still! He was one of the first to be nice to her with her awkwardness and bad puns.

Before she could get too sad about the matter, a dark gray male found it alright to barge into their conversation. Ocellus looked a bit offended, stepped just one step towards them, but she didn't know what he had said or asked. Her brows lifted in surprise when Gannet explained her situation, he was so nice and had such cute little socks! She nodded rapidly, confirming what had been said, remaining (probably for the best) quiet.

The stranger did not all too impressed by Jarilo's suddenness, and he was unabashed in looking her up and down as Gannet answered him. Even so, after squinting at her name and nodding, he could not quite tell what was going on here, or why even--until he heard a little bit more. "Oh?" he murmured, keying in steadily and glancing between them both. "Like right now? For good?" he asked, mainly aiming it at Gannet despite these not exactly being questions for him when she was.. here. Jarilo was more comfortable with him, and at least knew to anticipate a very concise, abridged version of an answer if there was one to be had and right now that suited him plenty.

As for who answered exactly, he didn't dwell, and pivoted a bit more towards her before he went on. To him, she smelled like strange places--yet nothing all too particular at once. "Well. Hi," he chirruped her way, and since he now knew her name (he was pretty sure that unfamiliar thing Gannet had said was meant to be name), he may as well return with his own; naturally enough, he assumed it was obvious that he and the older male were acquainted. "I'm Jarilo. From the mountain," he informed, matching it with a quick point of his snout towards the peak behind.

As was his usual, when Jarilo introduced himself, Gannet was content to fade silently into the background. He wasn't sure how any of this worked... he'd only been on the joining side, never the recruiting, and even now he hadn't quite landed on the fact that she could live with them and provide another body to help out. Even though Jarilo directed the questions at Gannet, the young male didn't move to respond... he didn't know the answers.

Instead he simply watched her curiously, unsure what to make of this odd girl but not entirely put off by her. Just... thrown a bit by her completely open and friendly nature. He was not the type to have any problems getting along with others, normally, but she appeared to be on an entirely different level.

Again, she nodded so vigorously her head could pop off her skeleton and roll to the ground. That was exactly what she sought! Just a nice place she could live with others, not wander these lands for who knows how much longer.

With a friendly wave of her tail and a rather submissive way of carrying herself about did she approach the two boys, a gleaming smile on her face. Hiii. She greeted in return. I'm Ocellus! Ocellus "you betcha". Sure. it was one word in her actual name, but it sounded more "her" like this. You guys really live on a mountain? Ain't that dangerous? She commented thoughtfully, putting a paw to her chin as she eyed the mountain the two had pointed out.

Well, he took Gannet's silence on the matter as a springboard and instead, gleaned his best strength from the familiar company at his side as he listened to the girl. His head tilted but he was picking up on her friendly demeanor, and was quick to roll with it since he wasn't outnumbered and he could chat. "Oh.. you.. betcha?" he tried to repeat, curious what that meant--surname? middle name? He wasn't one to judge on that, not with the matter of the mountain at hand.

The steely almost-yearling nodded promptly, more than happy to answer. "Well yeah we do," he said--because of course he lived on a mountain, where else! He gave her a bit of a squinty look that kind of said what, and you don't??? like she was the oddball out for her lack of high altitude home. "So you've never lived on one? Why not? It can be dangerous sometimes but also really good, if you're brave," he pricked his ears and waved his tail for good measure since the details were a little sparse, intentionally so.

Gannet understood her confusion; he'd felt the same the first time he'd met Hydra and spoken with her about her home. It was an odd thought for someone who never had before, but now Gannet didn't know if he would want to live anywhere else. "It's better," he agreed, looking sideways at Jarilo with a small nod. It was his own opinion, but he was fairly certain his packmate would agree.

"Where did you live?" He asked, now curious. If she needed a home, obviously she didn't live there anymore, but was it interesting?

She beamed a smile. She wasn't even sure if it was the surname her relatives sported, but she sure did. Who cared about them anyways? Honestly, she liked strangers more than the ones who raised her anyway. Why dwell of the past when a future could be found elsewhere - perhaps with these two boys?

Besides living on a mountain sure felt a higher spot in life then where she was right now - literally, but also figuratively. She couldn't remember the last time she tried to join a pack, but this was going splendid. The two boys seemed passionate about their mountain. She shook her head to confirm that she had never lived on a mountain. That don't matter, really. Probably forgot about the place already - I'm more interested in this mountain! She smiled, waving her tail in good spirit. I don't think I'm scared of heights either, but if you'd have meh, we can find out. She giggled then.

She seemed to deflect Gannet's supplemental question, but Jarilo shot a glance to his packmate as her answer concluded to try to see what he was thinking. The happy wave of her tail was pretty convincing, though, and she was interested in the mountain.. which encouraged him pretty easily. "Well! It would actually be up to my parents, if you were to stay and be part of the pack and get to see all the mountain," he mentioned, not adding how anything about how he was a total newbie at everything so he didn't quite know what to ask.

 "They'd have to like you first. They're the leaders, my sister is beta too. You could meet them there too, if you wanna." he beamed, although his head was whirring with the proper ways to make this work--if so, and if she were to have any chance at a home among them. He would lead the way if so. "I bet they would let you stay--like especially if you can do useful stuff and aren't too slow," he quipped. Personally he would be happy to see more new faces around, even if he struggled to count on them staying for all that long (not unless related to him or Gannet and Drogon, practically).

She seemed friendly and he thought maybe they'd like her, but he couldn't say for sure. Jarilo's family was still a bit of an enigma to the pale boy, even Hydra sometimes. He knew where she stood with him (more than the rest) but with others? No clue.

He nodded in agreement to Jarilo; they'd have to check. Jarilo spoke of letting her meet them - and she seemed to want a home. Ok, that was easy enough. He lifted his head and howled, letting them know there was a newcomer interested. If @Charon or @Amekaze or @Hydra heard the call, perhaps they could meet up with them here or nearby.

I waited for as long as I could for one of the leaders to join but since Ocellus will fall inactive if I don't post now, here ya go

Ah - so he was a royal! No wonder he had come; he probably had to keep an eye out for the pack's members. With a small wave of her tail in good spirit did she sit down. She wondered how those leaders would look, if they would find her to be nice too, but she couldn't know yet until they came.

Gannet raised the call and Jarilo's ears swiveled up and around, wondering who would be closest to answer them. A piece of him suspected Hydra, but he knew their mother was starting to return to patrols when others watched the puppies now; she seemed eager enough to do so. For a few moments, he paused and listened and glanced at Ocellus, wondering if she would still be interested closer to the mountain and before the scrutiny of his family. She said she wanted a home, and well, for the right wolves, it most certainly was. "C'mon," he chirruped. "We can head a little closer I think," he started to pivot, ears still switching on alert as he went.

A few strides later, the steely-coated boy began to lead the way towards the mountain. They didn't cross paths with any others, but he perked up his head when he heard his mother's reedy howl call back--she'd meet them halfway, so after another glance back to Ocellus then Gannet (trusting he'd be following anyway), Jarilo picked up his pace a bit to close distance sooner.

i'll toss ame in proper next post

Now that the puppies were getting a little older, she could patrol more--and this was doing good for her morale as she greedily scoped their borderlands. When Gannet's howl had gone up, she hadn't planned to delve out any further than this.. but a newcomer in their neighborhood certainly warranted a closer look. That was where her returning call answered back before she went loping their way.

She spotted Jarilo first, warranting a curious squint but a fond chuff of a greeting once they met, and as she slid past her son, her tail arced up tall. Sights settled easily upon the stranger the boys had found, but she was interested in finding out more in a good way. They had a need for fresh faces, and new blood.. after a stretch of quite the opposite. "Hi," she said, poise speaking the rest of it for her. "Why have you come?" to all of them collectively, and the stranger most importantly. If she was interested in their mountain, Amekaze could certainly give her the time of day--and she looked her over keenly.

Gannet was glad that when Amekaze showed up, she didn't seem upset at the summons. Instead she seemed almost interested, and his tail picked up the enthusiasm. Ok! Good!

"She wants a home," he began, then turned and looked at Ocellus also. That was about the extent of his introducing power.... back to listening.

(He can prob be skipped now! Unless addressed)

Ocellus followed obediently the two boys, moving with a steady pace towards the mountain they spoke so highly of. It was then that she heard the call from another, one she assumed to be one of the Moonspear wolves. It was with the boys she stayed, stance a neutral and casual one as a shadow of a woman approached them. Little, if anything, had to be said for Ocellus to understand this was one of their leaders and she adjusted her posture accordingly; a tail thumping softly against the insides of her hind legs and head lowered in respect.

She nodded at Gannet's introducing words. I'm Ocellus "you'betcha". A simple and weary traveler with little past to speak of. Nice to meet you. She greeted, as chipper as she had been with the boys.