Redtail Rise serenade

06/19/2023 - W243 has come to, though still groggy. Eyes are indeed the dark blue we observed upon transport and we will dig further into the occurrence of this within the local population.

Despite her malaise, she is still standoffish. Must be sedated before medication. She is in solitary now; when she is healthy, we will explore the idea of introducing her into our group of wolves, including a male around her age.


they took it slow, hunting along the way. getting used to each other's company once more.

Avicus relishes the taste of fresh meat;

the thrill of a chase;

the pulse of blood from prey.

finally, she and @Masquerade arrive at the borders of Redtail Rise. she lifts her nose without hesitation, initially.

but she pauses before the howl, wondering—

who to call for? has Prophet returned? has her son settled in his rightful place in leadership? ought she to summon Ashlar, closest to her heart?

she settles for @Augur, eventually, lips pulling a little tighter in a slight smile as she calls his name.

dated to 08/25 if that works!

Their cheeks ached from smiling, a phenomenon never before experienced by Masquerade. But being reunited with Avicus—having her all to themself too, briefly—righted so many of the wrongs in the Caru’s heart. They couldn’t help but grin wolfishly.

They flanked their mother as they finally reached the rise. Masque noticed her momentary hesitation and touched their nose to Avicus’s shoulder. Everyone else here would be just as happy to see their Wealda returned, they were certain of it.

A familiar scent on the wind. And for New Snow, who had not assumed the role of the Wealda except to step in as an additional caretaker when needed (more instinct than desire to take the role of Caru). Her tail waved wildly behind her in a helicopter-like fashion. New Snow could scarcely wait to welcome the she-wolf home in the manner of a wolf, and of family. 

She stepped closer to exchange scents and to lick submissively at the Red Woman’s chin. She was brought back to a time long ago—when Mother had been gone for prolonged periods of time in search of food before she could travel with her. 

The stretch of time did not seem so different, to the time blind New Snow. What mattered to the scarred white she wolf was that she was back again. She sought to exchange a happy look with Blood Spot, glad to see the girls mother returned.

The call of a ghost made his fur stand on end.

Her shockwave rippled throughout the Rise. Their reality shifted as they knew it. 

He ran to see her.

The youth was blindsided and in disbelief. With joy and relief came the sting of pain; there was a thorn of resentment still lodged in his heart. His mother’s disappearance had been world shattering.

I mourned you. I moved on without you.

Yet her place had always stayed open. And nobody but her could fill it.

A profound, overwhelming feeling of love squandered all.

Mother. One and only.

He stood and stared at her, slack-jawed and tepid.

The call did not summon her, but the voice did. 

"No way," She breathed softly, and it felt as though her heartbeat itself even paused for a moment to allow her to listen better. Avicus' voice was unmistakable, but unbelievable still. She had to see for herself, and after scuffing her feet to leave a marking along the border she so often patrolled, she bolted up the slope, through the woodlands and toward the borders where the voice had called from. 

She couldn't believe it. If it was simply some stranger who sounded exactly like Avicus, Lilia would tear her to shreds for getting her hopes up. She panted with every stride she took, and by the time she came within sight of the gathered wolves, she'd bristled every piece of fur until it all stood on end, in anticipation. She slid to a halt, recognizing Masque, New Snow and Mulherin immediately- her stance still stiff, tail flagged. Habit, for the Berserkr.

But the figure between them all was none other than Avicus, and Lilia broke from her posture like a statue suddenly melting from its post. 

In the time since Avicus had disappeared, Lilia had found love, secured herself a mate, and had established herself as a leader. She'd fought many fights to keep the pack safe, killing a trespasser who had returned to taunt them. She'd cared for the kids, training them and protecting them. But through all that, grief had cast a shadow over her. She felt it still snug about her shoulders even though she could see that Avicus had returned. Still hanging there, like weights in the hem, were questions. Why had she left? Where had she gone? How was she supposed to feel about someone actually coming back for once?

She saw that some of those questions might be hanging over Mulherin's shoulders, so she moved forward to nuzzle him gently, smiling, and break him from the spell so he might go and reunite with his mother. 

She envied him, having such an experience- and while she wanted to grasp Avicus herself, she felt the moment belonged to Avicus and her children.She moved to press herself to New Snow's side, sharing in her excitement with happy licks, waiting to greet Avicus once she had had the chance to be reunited with her children.

the first to arrive is Augur's mate, and she gives New Snow a kind look, lifting her chin to let the non-verbal wolf express affection in her physical manner. her entire body stiffens, however, when Mulherin arrives, and Lilia soon on his heels.

her son. Ashlar's son. he's the spit of his father—save those bright orange eyes, which belonged to her father.

she fervently hopes the same madness does not lie within.

Mul, Avicus croaks, stepping forward. with his permission, she'd place her nose upon the crown of his head, taking in his scent once more. marveling at just how much he's grown since she's been gone.

and trying to keep at bay the prickle of unease that no one else had yet come to greet her.

Several others came, including Mulherin. When their younger brother stepped onto the scene, the Caru tried to catch his eye to share in the mutual familial joy of this reunion. They waved their long tail and tipped their head, mutely encouraging him to come closer.

But before he could, Avicus croaked his name and closed the distance herself. Masque watched with shining eyes and a smile at first, though their expression dimmed as feeling of jealousy speared through them, a sense of he belongs to me now.

Appalled by this intrusive thought, the Caru violently suppressed it and stepped forward, nose skimming from their brother’s crown to their mother’s cheek, back and forth. Their tail slowly swung.

The pale girl play-hunted and romped with sister @Saturdays Sunrise at the rendezvous site. Then, suddenly, a commotion attracted the Toweard’s attention.

She cantered towards a gathering where Mother, Caru, and Beserkr fawned over a strange woman Sunset could not remember. She stood on the fringes of the area and looked on as her hackles prickled to telegraph her uncertainty.

I do not know you, her spirit said.

Shadow was there, as well. He, too, was phased.

Sunset’s eyes attempted to find her mother's as she ducked her head, curious but wary.

augur's voice was a booming call.

red woman's return meant very much to him, and he was suffused with relief.

delight lit his yellow eyes. he chuffed, arriving with slid-back ears to offer a brush, a nudge, a whine.

augur, submitting to the only leadership he had recognized as more than his own.

cameo! <3

avicus was home.
the rise gathered. ancelin hung back, unsure of what to do with the unexpected surge of anger that he could not turn on aventus or arielle or atreus.
but avicus did not deserve it either.
the young warrior was conflicted, and though he forced himself closer, tried to leech the tension from his limbs, and offered a small smile.
what does this mean for lilia?

A daughter came; New Snow stepped away from Red Woman to greet her now, meeting her look; New Snow began to speak in their way of who this would be to her. Aunt, in spirit—but she rumbled the given name of her. Yes, Red Woman; leader of the Rise. And her daughter would see this, too, as her father came to the scene. New Snow’s tail wagged wildly behind her; a joyous reunion! And she coaxes her daughter forward to meet her, rumbling a warm note.

She embraced him, speaks his name; he crumbles. This was real. 

He pressed his face into the crook of her neck. 

She smelled so foreign, yet still, of home. He rubs along her side in affection, then turns, pulling away to study her face.

Two piercing indigo eyes stare back at him.

How? Why now? 

she had come to follow her sister at the strange event that unfolded.

sunrise did not know this red woman, but it seemed mother and father did, along with the other adults and even shadow. whilst her boldness wanted to seek out the smells of this foreigner, sunrise keeps to herself and simply stays behind, wary like her sister.

considering the nature of her parents, this woman ought to be someone special. so she would approach on her own accord, submissive to this stranger as her father had done and wait for there to be some passage of judgement.

Last from me

Saturday’s Sunrise watched as her leadhunter father submitted to Strange Woman. Her head tilted, surprised, and even more curious than before. She began to inch closer.

We want to know more, the spirit said.

Then, Mother, encouraged her daughter with enticing gestures. Red Woman.

Shadow embraces her like a mother. Then, Saturday’s Sunset does the math and realizes who Red Woman is.

She joins Sister to greet her with a deferential body posture and wagging tail.

Let us reconnect, the spirit asked.