Blacktail Deer Plateau "Our hearts beat as one; they can't stop us now."

@Kavik @Grezig @Elixir @Corvus @Minori @Kenkou @Donoma @Thorleif @Quail @Yizur @Illidan @Barracuda claiming thread set for 8/24 (probably a one post from me)

They had done it, so soon after settling in the plateau, it was official. 

The borders had become marked with the overlapping scents of them all mixed together - she and Kavik, Grezig, Elixir, Corvus, Minori, Thorleif, Quail, Barracuda, Kenkou, Donoma, even Illidan - the caches had started to accumulate medicines (dried in the sun by Liri or preserved in cool, dry cairns) and prey, dens had been found. It was all coming together, this idea that they had started. Everyone had worked so hard on it, Anatha had been lost to the ancestors on their journey here. 

The realization that it was finally built was almost out of her comprehension. 

The healer raced through the dark forests, the cool air tinged with crisp pine, exhilaration pounding under her breastbone. She did not stop until she had splashed through the stream in the heart of their home and had reached the plains that overlooked the Flatlands. 

At the edge of the world, with the grasslands and forests and mountains stretching out before her; with the sun setting at her back, Liri felt something bubble up in her chest. 

She could not explain why she had run all this way or the emotion that was filling her as she overlooked the place that would be their home. It was instinctive, primal, as much as the howl that filled the air - a call for her wolves. A call to come claim this land with their voice, as she was.

It was somewhat strange, how she had devoted herself so fully to the odd little band of wolves. She had joined because Corvus reminded her of home, of her soldiers, but she stayed because the sense of togertheness. Even though she hadn't gotten around to meeting much of her packmates, she still felt like she was part of them and accepted for who she was here. She had staked out a den of her own, a well hidden nest that opened up wide on the inside. She had left her scent  everywhere along the borders. This was her home now, she had chosen it.


Today she was running, racing the wind through the territory her fur ruffled and tail streaming behind her. She was in a good mood, the prey was plenty here and she hadn't scented any other predators either. She had begun to track the scent of rabbit when Liris howl rang clear through the air. She froze and felt a surge of instinct, knowing that the howl signalled the claiming. This was their place now, they owned the territory. She hurried toward Liri and stopped short a good distance away from her, for once giving a broad smile filled with joy as she lifted her muzzle upward and howled.

Two howls went up and Grezig lifted her head, turning to pinpoint the location. She gave a low howl of her own to let them know that she was coming and then ran through the kintla grasses until she reached Liri and Minori. Knowing instinctively what was occurring—a claiming howl—her chest swelled with pride and she tilted her head back. Grezig took a deep breath and let the howl come from her stomach, deep down. She felt it resonate throughout her body and was exhilarated by the sounds of herself and her packmates. She was excited about the life they would lead here, and knew that this claiming howl was the beginning of it.

Kavik was wading through the river in the center of their territory when the howls reached his ears. Walking from the water, he stopped only to shake the excess water from his inky coat before setting off into a run towards the sound of his packmates' howls. When he arrived, he came and sat next to his mate, lifting his dark muzzle to the sky and releasing a howl from his chest. The sound of their claiming howls filled Kavik with pride. After all their hard work and sacrifices, their pack had finally found a home of their own. He continued to howl his claim over the plateau, hoping anything close would hear it and know that this land belonged to them now.

Elixir had been on the outskirts of the territory just waddling through the thick bushes when a howl hit her ears.  After a moment a few others had joined in with it. They were all familiar so she wasn’t too worried or in a hurry to get there. The wolfdog took a few hops toward the sounds and then took off running, giving a small howl in return. 

When she could see them all in her crossairs she knew that they were finally claiming their home. The excitement was too much for her to contain, she stood on her hind legs and joined in the howl with the others. What a thrill it was to finally be home, with the ones that meant the most to her.

They had made it! It was peaceful like his old home, but so much better. He watched as others ran thought the fields and woods, he quickly joined in.  His feet fast as joy filled his face. Then a howl more joined in. His heart began to race in happiness and he dashed to join the others, ready to be with his new family. He eagerly paced up to the group and joined in, marking the place as theirs.