Duskfire Glacier stardew

border patrol thread, open to one other participant <3 maybe @Rye or @Imaq?

the wraith mostly lingers toward the outskirts of the territory, unwilling to directly interact with any of the expecting mothers just yet. it only seems right that he should establish trust first, a reputation as a protector rather than an intruder. so he makes himself a watchful eye over the borders, day and night, occasionally venturing further to be certain no danger lurks just beyond. but the taiga is peaceful, and his patrols are uneventful; boring work, even, but it keeps him busy. he tries not to give himself too much time to think. today his thoughts are particularly intrusive, however, and he finds himself completing his daily tasks with more aggression than is typical of him. even the slightly stale fox-scent he finds not far from the borders sends his hackles rippling, and he fights the urge to pursue — to kill. he doesn't really care about the fox, though; they aren't truly a threat, at least not to zephyr. he's fought far worse than scraggly little thieves.

The efforts of Duskfire's newest recruit to keep well away from the expecting she wolves wouldn't last for long. Starting today. It was by simple coincidence that the ebony furred, blood tipped Tzila, was also out on patrol, in the general area. Common for her to be found each day doing her rounds. Tirelessly skimming the borders and reaches just beyond their claim. Scrutinizing and investigating every foreign or non-wolf marker. Reacting without hesitation in at the very least, chasing off what she perceived to be the slightest threat. Duskfire was a blossoming pack, soon to be brimming with innocent, vulnerable new lives. With so much on the line, she wasn't giving an inch.

On the one end of his patrol, Tzila had been approaching from the completely opposite direction as Zephyr. Making for a meeting of the ice and shadow wolves to meet in a ring formation. Pulling her nose up away from the ground, she sneezed away the disgusting scent of fox. It was close, but not enough to be problematic. Narrowed moon eyes peered in the direction it had likely run off in. A half-hearted growl rose in her throat, lips quivering. It's reddened pelt would make a fine addition to her collection. But the reward was not worth the effort. She didn't feel up to it. Not with the increasing stretch and tightness of the growing pups inside her. An adjustment she'd have to get used to. She wondered if one day, if any of them would come into their own and morph into a fine sentinel like her. The thought brought a faint smile to her lips.