Silver Moraine drive it like you stole it

She didn't question it when Artemis guided her north toward the taiga. Haunt knew the territories just south of the bypass much better and though she wasn't adventurous by nature, she did enjoy foraying with the intent of tracking prey. Discovering some new hunting grounds seemed like a good use of her time today, especially now that she felt almost back to normal.

They spent most of the day in the maple wood, where Haunt even managed to capture a gopher. She offered it to the deity, who only smilingly shook her head and waited while the youth polished off her kill. Haunt suspected they might turn back now, as the afternoon waned toward dusk, but Artemis motioned her further north with a bow of her antlered head.

Not one to question a goddess, real or imagined, Haunt broke from the trees and found herself on the edge of the moraine. Her yellow eyes tracked over the bleak, rugged landscape. She glanced over at Artemis, wondering if she was meant to proceed across it. Artemis nodded again, so she began to walk carefully through the barren field, headed toward the evergreens in the distance.

About halfway across the jagged glacial road, pain pulsed through Haunt's skull, dropping her instantly.

Most days when Rosalyn left the cliffs, it was to seek out Valravn.  This time, however, she remained closer... and had another aim in mind.  She'd circled the mountain where Sagtannet had laid their claim, but the place lay empty.  Curious as to where they'd disappeared to, she struck out west to look for some trace of the man or woman who'd harassed them.  Even more a waste now, if they'd vanished regardless.  Her contempt was visible.

It didn't abate when she hit the glacier, and still hadn't found a sign, though she was thinking of turning and calling it quits for the moment.  She didn't like to leave the cliffs for too long and it was a waste if they'd gone this far.  They'd be no trouble out here.  As she turned, however, she spotted the prone form of a stranger some short distance away.

The pirate's eyes narrowed, and she moved forward to inspect.  The wolf looked young, no visible signs of injury.... but this was a strange spot to choose for a nap.

The pain was so intense, it blinded her too. Haunt swooned, her chin dropping to the ground with an audible thunk. She narrowly missed biting her tongue. A groan eked out of her throat as she clung to consciousness even as she rode out the wave of excruciating pain. She very nearly lost the fight when it ebbed just as quickly as it had crashed over her, leaving Haunt's vision to slowly brighten as she lay there, shaken.

She didn't bother attempting to raise her head until she heard footsteps. Artemis? she thought, every movement calculatedly ginger to avoid triggering more pain. But the goddess had vanished. Standing in her place was a smaller, darker she-wolf with fur the color of tree bark. This comparison felt particularly apt when taking into consideration the scars roughening her edges. Haunt's eyes tracked over them slowly before raising to a pair of narrowed golden eyes set just below an ear cut to ribbons.

Reluctant to move lest it invite a second flash migraine, Haunt wondered if she dare speak to this imposing stranger. Her mouth opened and she got as far as, "I—" before the inevitable happened. This time, the pain was so stabbing, her neck stiffened in the heartbeat before she vomited, her vision going dim and spotty all over again.

Something was seriously wrong with this wolf.  That was apparent immediately when she stiffened and vomited right in front of Rosalyn.  The indicators of pain were clear, as was the fact that she wasn't at all with it.  That meant it was no ordinary pain.

Rosalyn had experienced headaches before, though never to this degree.  More than her fair share of head injuries had taken a toll, but this was an entirely different beast.  Erzulie might be able to help, but only if she managed to get the young wolf to the cliffs.  And why should she?

It was a question she always bothered to ask, and yet one that always had the same answer.  No matter how heartless she attempted to appear, she had never failed to help someone who hadn't failed her first.

Who are you? Is your home nearby?  she asked, on the off chance the girl might recover enough to answer.  She stepped around to avoid the vomit and rested her muzzle briefly on the girl's neck.  Strong pulse, if erratic.  Whatever this was, it was not illness.

Tagging for visibility, though I think you're welcome to join? Ask Kat, haha. I'll assume he's hanging back a bit otherwise!

Kaertok had decided to go south under the mountains, perhaps check on any packs that might have popped up since he had last been that way. He could also revisit the spire, his old home, and see what had become of it. The Tartok had no intention of staying there, but he had walked slower there than he had in other territories. It was strange to pass through it, like visiting an old ghost.

Up they went then, and skirted around a couple of packs there. Kaertok had made a point to stick close to the mountains, avoiding the bypass and whatever lay there now. He still did not think that Arbiter had made any attempt to come find him. He veered a little away from the mountains, @Valravn in tow, when he spotted Rosalyn ahead, looking rather concerned about a white wolf on the ground.

As he drew closer, and the scent of the other wolf hit his nose, he realized who the downed wolf was.

Inukun? he asked. She had grown, exponentially so, and he noted the scarring on her back. What had happened, and what was wrong with her now. He glanced at the vomit on the ground, his brow furrowed with concern.

Val's welcome anytime!

After her stomach emptied, Haunt just tried to breathe through it. The pain subsided again, leaving her feeling even weaker than before. Blinking, she tipped her head ever so slightly toward the brown she-wolf, who demanded information from her. Haunt's lips parted, making her suddenly more aware of the sour taste in her mouth and the acrid smell of her own vomit. Her eyes watered, making her vision swim in an entirely different way, as she felt a slight pressure against her nape.

Before she could muster up an answer, a voice from her past spoke. "Inukun?" Without thinking, she snapped her head upward. Her eyes fixed on Kaertok even as she realized her mistake. Every single part of her body clenched in preparation for the agony to assail her again. Seconds ticked past and when it didn't come, the tension slowly ebbed from her musculature. Another sort of wave came in its stead as she suddenly felt utterly exhausted down to the marrow of her bones.

Perhaps only because of her current state did Haunt's bitter, dry lips part to mutter, "Dad..."

She seemed unable to answer.  Rosalyn was beginning to run the scenarios when Kaertok arrived, but lost all sense of that as soon as she saw @Valravn tailing him.  She rushed forth and greeted him with a wordless embrace, quickly checking him over to see that all was well.  She wanted to immediately launch into questioning Kaertok about him, but stopped herself.  Apparently these two knew each other.  Dad.

She didn't leave her son to go back to Haunt, but she did eye Kaertok questioningly.  Sapphique wasn't one for charity cases, but if this was family of his, then he could claim that.  She would respect it.  He would need to, however, and she waited with some amount of anticipation to gauge his response.

vaguey vague

it'd been a tearful goodbye the day kaertok collected valravn from redhawks. he was, by all accounts, a mostly model citizen in terms of traveling sidekick. he followed kaertok obediently, stopped when the male did, and slept when instructed. it was like a flip had been switched off the moment the boy left -- even his eyes were missing that usual spark to them.

he'd been timidly hiding behind his new kaertaker's legs when they came upon strangers. valravn was particularly interested in the girl, who seemed about his age albeit worse for wear-- but it was the familiar sight of rosalyn that had all life pouring back into valravn's tired soul.

"MAMAN!" valravn flung himself to rosalyn without reading the room, and completely forgetting both haunt and kaertok.

She recognized him despite the state she was in. He wanted to ask what happened, but he supposed that didn't matter too much now. He was here, Arbiter was not, and they were close enough to Sapphique that if she wanted...

Do you want to come with me? With us? he asked, casting a brief glance to Rosalyn and Valravn. Kaertok would never demand such a thing, but he would gladly give her the option. Taking her back to Legion was an exhausting thought, and he considered ways to avoid doing that. He could always have somebody else do the job. He could wait here with Inukun, and Rosalyn could send Njord to meet them. Then again, he wasn't sure how serious her condition was. Could she walk? Was she on the verge of death?

The boy's cry made her ears paste to her skull as a dull ache throbbed there. It didn't grow any worse, so she exhaled shakily and ignored the reunion taking place in the background as she mustered all her focus for Kaertok. He said something to her, which took a moment to register, as her brain felt suddenly incredibly sluggish. Perhaps it was shutting down after all that pain.

Her lips pressed together to form the word "no," though it never passed her lips. "Go with him," Artemis whispered in her ear. Haunt inhaled sharply, wondering why the deity would command such a thing from her. Why would she want to go anywhere with her deadbeat dad, especially when she felt so terrible? She just wanted to turn back and go home.

But she wasn't one to question a god's decree. Haunt didn't speak, though she did manage a slow nod. Gingerly, she rose onto all fours, slowly plodding toward Kaertok with the expectation that he would guide her wherever home was for him these days.

What would become of her beyond that, Haunt didn't have the brainpower to speculate. In fact, somewhere along the way, she lost her grip on her mental faculties completely. It happened in insidious silence between footsteps, nothing at all seeming to change except for the sudden slackening of her facial features.

Rosalyn's attention was mosly taken by Valravn, but she nodded, confirming that Kaertok's daughter was welcome to come with them if she wished.  He'd brought her son back, and she'd been considering it in either event.  She'd die out here alone, and better to allow her the chance to join them if she was able.  If she did not recover?  Well... they could consider that after.

She'd follow behind and pump @Valravn for information on the walk, learning where he'd been and how Kaertok had found him.  She was a bit annoyed at finding he had been with the... Redhawk Caldera, now?  And no word had been sent, but not enough to act on it now.  He was safe and heading home; that was all that mattered presently.