Porcupine Ridge Pockets full of stones.

Tagging for reference: @Reiko @Kukulkan @Wren @Sarah -- couple days after visiting Hushed Willows. Edited to reference Sarah missing.

Realizing it would take them much longer to go around the mountain range rather than over it, the decision was made to try and cut their travel time in half. First they'd make their way to the heart of the range, and then if their energy persisted and they could find adequate supplies to satiate their hunger and other such needs, carry on until they reached the next valley. It was dangerous work; thankfully Ibis was small enough that she could handle most of the stony paths they navigated. Her mind frequently drifted back to the chaos of the quakes, and any time the ground felt unsteady she would press against the trees - or against Kukulkan - which slowed progress a little bit.

Night came, and they needed to make camp. The ridge did not make Ibis feel safe at all but when she looked upon the tired faces of her friends - rather, this family she had hodgepodged together - she knew they could not continue. Everyone was tired or sore or distracting themselves in some way to make travel go by faster. Their spirits were low due to their energy being low, but also the loss of a home. From the ridge Ibis could spy upon the valley beneath them and she wondered, 'How much further?'

So intent was she to stare down in to the unknown, where the snow illuminated the oddest of angles while the stars came out to gleam across the sky, that Ibis did not immediately take stock of the bodies around her. When she finally deemed it was time for sleep, she retreated to where Reiko was lingering - doing what she could for Wren, who had struggled with the climb. She nosed at Reiko's shoulder softly and then moseyed towards Kukulkan; the man was ever watchful of the group and Ibis appreciated that. When she turned to look around for her aunt Sarah though, nothing emerged from the shadow of the ridge.

The girl waited. She felt her eyes growing heavy, but refused to let herself fade off to sleep until she knew for certain - and with a shake of her head, forced herself awake. She finally grew impatient enough to backtrack a bit along the route that they had all taken together... but there was no sign of Sarah. Her heart heavy, Ibis turned to shoot a look to Kukulkan and hastily moved to intercept him; in a low voice, she comments, We're missing one. Where is Sarah..?

Adding the others to the list of tags of the journey! @Tobias, @Vespera, @Sativa. @Yuudai and @Hiromi since at this point they left Emberwood and I assume they followed along!

The journey was long. Reiko had trekked further on her own, but it felt different with a group rather than on her own. There were more to keep an eye on, more to feed, more to hide should danger some their way. She was more tired mentally than physically, constantly keeping an eye out as they followed the lead toward Kaistleoki. Though her pads sore from the stone, it was nothing to the excitement she felt for seeing Ira and Evergreen again, as well as Speedy and the others. Already she had met up with Yuudai and Hiromi, two who filled her up with so much hope - it made it hard to camp here for the time being and let everyone rest. 

The princess was simply full of life, bursting with it; though surely should she take a seat and relax, sleep would come quick. So she didn't, not yet. Ibis nosed her shoulder gently, and in return Reiko leaned into it with her head, nuzzling the young woman as she walked by, back tracking for something... or someone? Catching the name on the wind, she shook her head softly in response. I don't know. I couldn't find her... Softly she closed the distance where Ibis stood, questioning where her Aunt may be.

Cerulean eyes wandered over to the two Izuka wolves who had recently found her, a soft sway in her tail was offered to them before turning her gaze back to Ibis. Reiko had found some of her lost beloved, but could it be the world was taxing them in exchange for another? With auds standing tall above her crown, she looked over the path they had just crossed - She is strong, I have faith she is okay. 

But unfortunately this time, the princess was wrong.

Reiko and Vespera met up with a couple of other wolves in their journey, but the woman didn't complain, she just stayed at her own distance since she felt a little awkward around new people but she was doing better by not snapping at them immediately. There were apparently a couple of things that needed to be done first before they could officially form their group, and one of the things they needed to do was to stop by a place called Kaistleoki. The woman didn't know of this pack but she really didn't care, quite frankly, she was losing every bit of care she had in her. The group made their way with one of the wolves named "Ibis" was speaking with Reiko and asked where a wolf named "Sarah" was.

The exile decided to tune out this conversation since, for one, it had nothing to do with her, and two, she had no idea what they were talking about anyway. So the girl mostly kept to herself and her orbs were wondering the landscape, the girl was finding some sense of peace since she was traveling away from Easthollow, and perhaps, she could put the past behind her and move on. But as they kept moving, Vespera slid her eyes in the direction of the two leading wolves, Reiko and Ibis, and she looked at them with an unamused expression, even though she looked more tired, "sooo... What is this Kaistleoki anyway?" Vespera really had nothing to contribute, but she did feel that she had the right to know what the hell was going on and where they were going and why.

It seemed luck has been on their side when they found Reiko, as their little group left the sanctuary of the woods and headed up and over the mountain. He had taken up a position in the rear, distancing himself from the group, keeping his eyes and ears open for any dangers that might lurk in the surrounding rock.

Due to his proximity at the back, Yuudai missed the conversation about their potentially missing member. He offered Rei a small smile, and a similar sway of his tail at her acknowledgment. As he came up from behind, Yuudai caught Vespera's question. He too was curious, but the answer honestly wasn't important to him. He would follow Reiko. End of story. Still his ears pulled forward, and his eyes shone with curiosity.

She had stayed by Yuudai's side, moving slightly more ahead before dropping back once more. Reiko had asked them to join her merry little band and, of course, the two Izula clan wolves said they would. She had heard the slight exchange but did not comment, she did not know who this Sarah was but she would ask later.

When she and the samurai were acknowledged by the snow queen she gave a bright smile and a wag of her tail. Then another question was posed and she too was interested, what was this.. what was the word? Kaistleoki, a place? She did not know but instead she listened intently for the answer as she brushed up against her friend as they walked.

just posting for reference that he's here you can skip over him moving forwards!

Since following Reiko, the cowboy had been introduced to a group larger than he expected. Some had been from her previous pack, another two old friends, then those who were just here like himself and the girl with the scar. Ever since Tobias agreed to guide these wolves they had been traveling almost constantly so the break was much welcomed as he found a spot near a tree to rest and seek shelter from the snow. A few members of the group were chatting quietly in the distance, over what he wasn't sure. He would take the chance to rest, he could always catch up with Reiko later.

Uaine Gorsedd was no more, and this left him with a new feeling. Vast, all-consuming, and absolutely terrible.

Kukulkan meandered alongside Ibis and Wren - their presence was perhaps the only anchor holding the beast down into some realm of sensibility and sanity. For while they walked, cold and homeless and in relative quiet, his mind as ablaze with thoughts. Horrible thoughts, all led by the most sinister voice, twisting recent events into knots that chokced out reality. The collapse of their home wasn't due to circumstances behind his control, the voice croaked and hissed, but rather from his bold assumption to agree to join the Council. It came from him failing Ibis, leaving her in a coma. It came from him leaving the lands at its most vulernable, finding a memory of the past in the process.

Uaine Gorsedd's fate strangled his throat with each breathe, but he wore the chokehold in silence, only a white-hot fury in his chest where no one could see. Kukulkan, as far as the outside eye might guess, was simply tired, chilled, and wanting to rest.

The helplessness and self-loathing stewed furiously behind black-out curtains.

A soft touch from Ibis and he remembered to smile, though truthfully contact with her was enough for the reaction to be instinct. But as he watched her look around, and notice Sarah's absence, that smile melted away. Had it not been for Reiko reassuring some sort of belief in the aunt's well-being, the male might have ventured off to find her. But either way, he couldn't, there were those counting on him. With a concerned, wary huff, K took a step closer to Ibis, his eyes drifting to his other side to make sure @Wren was staying close as well...

"Wren, ya doin' 'kay?" His frail friend had been promised the warmth and refuge of a solid home, only for that promise to fall through and be forced to migrate to another promise. He'd dip his head down, trying to get closer to eye level for encouragement, flashing that old cheeky grin of his. "Won' be too much longer..." soft words, soft whispers of words he wished were the truth but couldn't be sure.

After Wren's reply, if she did, K would nod and turn back to Ibis, "Y'know I'ma go where ya go, Ibis," His tone was gentle, his volume low, but there was that hint of worry he could not seem to banish, "This... Kast-el-- place... is it safe?"

So many in this group. So many were so small.
Some not even fully healthy.

Kukulkan would do his best to protect them, there was no doubt.
but can he even protect them? that voice crinkled.

Maybe some doubt.