Arrow Lake dragonfly keeper

@Mahler @Takiyok please allow @Julien to post first <3

Here, She murmurs to her brother when the scent of the mountain pack first reaches them. After a brief pause, she quickly amends her statement: We should try here. She's certain these mountains will hold the answer they seek — but she can't be certain about this pack. Not yet.
She takes the lead to the borders, quiet as thoughts of Tessa consume her. There is no way to know if her sister is doing any better, or if she is even still alive. The thought makes her skin crawl; this journey could easily be for nothing, even if she and Julien succeed. She glances to him, stopping suddenly as she realizes they're close to the pack's borders. Ready?

"Here,"

Colorless eyes rolled around as he took it all in. It was...something. A stone monolith attempting to offer comfort in their trying time. Julien, soft as he is at his core, welcomes it readily — openly. He lets her lead as he breathed a soft okay to her. Their thoughts are different in this moment. The boy (man? Is he a man on this journey? Did he become one when he left home?) was consumed by everything new that he could feel and see. Even the air was different up here. He thought to mention the wonder of it all to Antha but surely she would know it.

He blinked rapidly as she pulled him back to what they were here for. Yes. Always. He smirked softly before it faded. His head tilted back, casting his sister a sidelong glance. If she was ready to call he would sing a summoning song.

the tremours had gone on, though had not worsened. diaspora was on edge, and no one more than its general, who had increased his patrols and considered more intensely where his wolves might be safe. he was nearby when twinned scents rose on the wind, and carried himself off at a skulk toward the borders.
they need not call for the gargoyle; he hunted toward their figures, drawing up only some feet away and letting the stony lavender of his stare cut across their features in silence. young, the both of them; one foxfire, the other pale. both with an unreadable expression, and in that he found an odd comfort as he stood before them, wind rifling through the sable of his hackles.

She had fallen into old coping mechanisms, hiding away her grief and what she had painfully come to conclude were unrequited feelings for the General, and she had become cold and distant as a result. It had been surprisingly easy given that she had plenty to distract herself with. When she wasn't here patrolling, hunting, and taking care of her remaining children, she was out searching tirelessly for Ego. It had all become a comforting routine, one she had gladly buried herself in if meant she didn't have to dwell on the emotions she couldn't control or understand. The recent tremors hadn't even succeeded in driving her from her icy state, although she couldn't shake the unease they caused when she focused on what it might mean and why they didn't seem to be diminishing. 

She had just reentered the territory, her mood soured by her unsuccessful search, when an unfamiliar scent wafting from the borders made her pause, head turning in that direction. Quickly, she headed that way, noting that Mahler's scent mixed with the scent of the strangers as she neared. The familiar twinge of hurt burned in her chest just briefly before she pushed it away, focusing instead on the two wolves she now saw in the distance.

She came to stand at the General's side, leaving enough space between them so that her fur didn't brush against any part of his body. She couldn't bear it. Her expression remained cold, and she fixed the pair with her usual shrewd gaze. They had the attention of Diaspora's leaders, so now she waited for them to explain their presence at their borders.

She starts to answer, gaze fixed forward, but finds herself cut off by the approaching silhouette; a dark wolf, imposing even from a distance. She glances to Julien, then back, hoping that they both remember what little they've been taught of pack customs. In this moment, she is all too aware of how different this lifestyle is from their own odd nomadic upbringing.
She meets the male's approach with a dip of her head, and offers the same to the woman who follows. An overwhelming sense of inferiority uncoils in her stomach at the sight of them, but she stifles it, reminding herself that they have a purpose here. Hello. I am Antha and this is my brother, Julien. We're seeking a home — a place to improve our skills. We would like to know more about your pack, if you would tell us.

It was a touch odd that the pair seemed to just...appear. Conjured by thought almost. His head lowered back down now finding it obviously unnecessary to call for an audience. For the siblings had two mountain wolves before them.

He was more than pleased to let Antha do the talking for them, her words far better than his, but he did offer a soft nod of his head when introduced. The stage was now given to the other duo to say or do what they pleased.

takiyok — the sensation of her nearness was an ache, and mahler noticed starkly how she stood away from him when another time she might have pressed her flank to his in a silent alliance. 
but he had gone on and ruined that, had he not? mahler felt his heart yawn in an answering pain of his own, but kept its very traces from his expression as he leveled his stare upon the fairer of the two, antha.
"i am mahler. this is takiyok," he rejoined, for the pair had given their names. "ve are the general and kapitän of diaspora, the place you see here. but it is the mountains that truly belong to us. anyvone who enters our ranks is given the chance to prove themselves."
in the distance, a tremble; mahler straightened, wanting to smooth unease from all those gathered, but his senses cut keenly toward the earthen mutterings he still did not understand.

Had she known how much placing that space between them would hurt the General, she would have ignored her body's request for self preservation and brushed against him anyway. But she didn't know, and so she remained where she was, her gaze still trained on the two who introduced themselves as Antha and Julien. 

Her gaze never faltered as Mahler spoke, eloquently describing Diaspora's purpose and what would be expected of any newcomers. There was nothing more to add just yet, so she waited to hear what the pair would say in response.

The tremor made her shift her gaze to the General, ears flicking back as unease momentarily pierced through her stoney facade. But she just as quickly regained her composure, taking a cue from Mahler, and settled her focus once more on the two strangers.

The unspoken tension between the pair of leaders reveals itself to Antha slowly, and only in subtle ways, though she finds herself taking some comfort in it nonetheless. She relaxes slightly, listening intently to the male's accented words and allowing herself a moment to consider her own response. The distant rumbling pulls her from her thoughts before she can even begin to gather them, and she glances briefly to her brother, frowning.
The entire mountain range? She asks a beat later, gaze returning to the leaders. There are no other packs? She anticipates confirmation, but regardless, she continues after receiving her answer: If Diaspora has room for a tracker and a healer, I'm certain my brother and I would have no trouble proving ourselves. She does not feel as confident as she sounds, but she tries to talk herself into it; they've come this far, haven't they?

He was obviously intrigued when the man spoke about them owning the mountains. And although he remained silent, his sister echoed his thoughts with her words. He had a few more questions pressing against the back of his teeth but he stayed still. Wouldn't it be more proper to inquire about such claims if they actually belonged? Perhaps, if they found solace in this Diaspora's ranks he would be privy to their tactics.

There was a prideful feeling building in his chest as Antha gave away their skills. Pleased to track what you need. He rumbled warmly with a small dip of his scarred muzzle. Prey was typical but who was to say he couldn't expand his skills some?

he thought of elysium, of the pack nearer the sea. both within sunspire, but with greatly differing goals. "the mountains are ringed vith others, but they falter as vinter nears. ve have remained." the conversation turned toward the skills of the pair, and mahler gazed upon them with an appraising silence.
they were young, hale, strong-limbed; the general could see no reason not to admit them into his ranks, and glanced once toward takiyok before nodding in their direction. "i am our lead healer, but i am alvays eager to learn, as vell as teach." expression warmly slightly, mahler stepped aside. "velcome to diaspora."

Antha seemed surprised by Mahler's proclamation. It was the usual reaction when they stated their claim over the entire range. But what the General stated was true. She had noticed the mountain packs dwindling as well while they remained. 

They were not only in need of more able packmates, especially with the worrying rumbles coming from the mountains, but they could always use more healers. Trackers were always helpful too. She met Mahler's gaze when he glanced her way, her approval apparent in the nod she offered. She stepped aside to allow them to cross the borders. Unless they requested anything else from her, she would offer them both a nod and Mahler quick glance, and then turn to head back into the territory, eager to find some reason to be out of the General's presence.

Relief washes over her as Mahler nods, and she resists the urge to turn to Julien to see his reaction to their success. She offers a smile to both of the leaders, stepping forward and into the territory. Her heart skips a little at the gesture, though she feels no different on the other side of the invisible barrier. Thank you. It would be a pleasure to exchange knowledge with you, Mahler, Her voice is a touch softer, the tinged with the faintest hint of weariness. Whenever you have a moment to spare for it. She isn't quite naive enough to hope that this man will know of the cure she seeks, but perhaps it will be a step in the right direction. The thought, at least, is enough to bring her a glimmer of hope.

horribly sorry for the delay

It's a ghost of a smile that lingers on his lips, pleased that his sister as talked them into success. The woman by the mountain gargoyle side remains silent but surely if she did not approve something would have been said. He knew everyone would benefit from this. Perhaps Antha would find what they needed in the man's knowledge of healing. If not...well, perhaps something would still be gained from the mountain.

He'd move forth after Antha, whenever they proceeded into the depths of the lake's home.

last post for me!

"i vould enjoy that, antha," mahler intoned. "please explore as you vill, and call me if you have need." stepping forward to brush his scent lightly upon that of the young packwolves, the general set off at a brisk clip. he did not want to be away from the winterwhite, and yet he suspected it was the best thing for them both, at this time.