Gyrfalcon's Keep It's always home again

A familiar scent wafted near the borders where Solveig had been walking along, with Baldr in tow. She had begun spending time with the children as individuals now that they were growing into their legs, and had decided that her son would make an excellent guardian, once he could hone his focus. She showed him the markings left behind by those who had patrolled- the musk of his parents, the clawmarks left here and there, and the signs that prey had crossed the borders nearby. 

But when she caught a recognizeable scent on the wind, lifted up toward them with the updraft, she brought her son to a halt and called out- welcoming the return of @Greyfalcon, who had been sorely missed.

Balder would have preferred to play with his siblings, or box with his Dad- but when his Mom said that she had a job for him to do, and had picked him to do it, he obeyed, short, dark tail waving. Their course took them down the slope and toward the borders where the foothills wound through woodlands, and the evergreen provided shelter from the wind and shade from the sun. 

He sniffed along, curious to know what all of the scents were as they were pointed out. Now, he simply had to memorize which scent was what, and which scent was important to follow. He began to gather that wolf scents, so long as they belonged to the pack, were alright. Wolf scents belonging to strangers were not alright- but that prey was welcome to come across the borders as it liked. 

His mother paused, and called to him to stop. On the wind, he scented another wolf- one he didn't recognize. He growled softly, but was surprised into silence when his mother suddenly called out, in a welcoming tone. Curious, he waited by her side, wondering who it was she'd smelled, and why that wolf was being welcomed so warmly.

A familiar scent wafted near the borders where Solveig had been walking along, with Baldr in tow. She had begun spending time with the children as individuals now that they were growing into their legs, and had decided that her son would make an excellent guardian, once he could hone his focus. She showed him the markings left behind by those who had patrolled- the musk of his parents, the clawmarks left here and there, and the signs that prey had crossed the borders nearby. 

But when she caught a recognizeable scent on the wind, lifted up toward them with the updraft, she brought her son to a halt and called out- welcoming the return of @Greyfalcon, who had been sorely missed.

thank you :) it’s good to be home 

She smelled the scent and heard the call, she called back in a kind and warm manner. When the she wolf and her child came into sight she wagged her tail. Home, it was finally time to be home. She walked up slowly, making sure not to rattle the fluffy little white potato on her shoulder. 

“Solveig,” she said in a gentle voice, “it’s a pleasure to see you once again, and who is this little tyke?” Gesturing toward the young’in.

Within her scent, she bore the faint brine of sea-air, and Solveig assumed that for some time, Greyfalcon had ranged along the oceanside. This she appreciated, as someone who had wed a man who had come from seafaring wolves. But when Greyfalcon appeared, it was not with recruits in tow. Still, the shieldmaiden could not help but look upon her with a smile. She'd worried that Gyr might not return at all, having been gone longer than planned- and was glad for her return. 

She moved to greet the woman with a smile, though she paused when she saw the small, greyish bird set upon her shoulders. A look of surprise came to her features to see that Greyfalcon had seemingly befriended her own namesake. Her eyes drew back to the woman's features, and warmth replaced the surprise. 

"Greyfalcon," She welcomed, leaning forward to nuzzle the woman's cheek. "This is my son, Baldr; he is of, eh, what are you- two months now?" She asked, feigning confusion as she knew her son would get a laugh out of it. "Ah, it is good to have you back with us at last, Greyfalcon, you have been missed. And this...This is....?" She asked, gesturing curiously toward the bird perched at her shoulder.

"Threeeeee," The boy complained with a coy smile, hanging about his mother's hip and rolling his eyes playfully when she tried to tell the falcon-lady that he was only two months old. Hah! He was almost a grownup now, but already his mother had forgotten how old he was getting!

He peered up at the white-collared woman, noticing the bird on her shoulders, which seemed to have drawn his mother's attention too. It looked a bit odd, to Baldr. Still kind of fluffy, with some feathers coming in- not quite a full grown bird, much like himself. "Is a baby bird?" He asked.

*happy wolf noises* His name will be something foresty most likely. We’ll see how he developes.

She returned the nuzzle. Feeling calm and happy, at peace. She turned her gaze to the young gentlemen, nodding, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Baldr.” He looked just like Rusalka, yet softer. Had she had other pups beside him? Had she been gone that long….? “It truly feels good to be back, I could nit stay away any longer.” Her attention was brought back to the question about her little fuzzy bird, “I found him on my way home. Alas, a name I haven’t decided upon.”

She stifled a giggle, he had quite the cute personality, “Yes sir, it is indeed a baby. Who should be hungry by now, little guy had the last of my rations last night.” She glanced back at the fluffball. She intended to stay, this time for good.

She smiled to see someone look fondly upon one of her three children. Greyfalcon, she thought, would be a good aunt for the kids. Here she was, after all, taking care of a creature that wasn't even of her own species- so surely, Solveig guessed, she had a good deal of maternal instinct. She would have to make sure to tell her own children very strictly that Greyfalcon's guest was not a snack, and would be treated with the same hospitality they showed toward other wolves...Except perhaps with a bit less of the rough-housing. 

"We will find some food for the both of you," Solveig said, gesturing for Greyfalcon to find herself welcome in her home again, and to follow her toward the woodlands where some food had been cached. Their supplies were getting low, which prompted her to bring up the next topic. 

"I am glad you have come back to us, now," Solveig said. "We will be moving very soon; we wanted to wait for your return, but the Keep is fairly inhospitable now, and will be worse when the snow falls." She explained. While the area looked idyllic, it was quiet- far too quiet. Hunted for seasons by the resident falcons, there was very little left behind for the wolves to hunt aside from large game, and the pack was too small to have much success in that area. 

"It will only be a matter of days now; I am re-thinking where we shall go, but I am thinking further inland." She said. "Did you meet with Moontide in your journeys?" She asked.

She smiled to see someone look fondly upon one of her three children. Greyfalcon, she thought, would be a good aunt for the kids. Here she was, after all, taking care of a creature that wasn't even of her own species- so surely, Solveig guessed, she had a good deal of maternal instinct. She would have to make sure to tell her own children very strictly that Greyfalcon's guest was not a snack, and would be treated with the same hospitality they showed toward other wolves...Except perhaps with a bit less of the rough-housing. 

"We will find some food for the both of you," Solveig said, gesturing for Greyfalcon to find herself welcome in her home again, and to follow her toward the woodlands where some food had been cached. Their supplies were getting low, which prompted her to bring up the next topic. 

"I am glad you have come back to us, now," Solveig said. "We will be moving very soon; we wanted to wait for your return, but the Keep is fairly inhospitable now, and will be worse when the snow falls." She explained. While the area looked idyllic, it was quiet- far too quiet. Hunted for seasons by the resident falcons, there was very little left behind for the wolves to hunt aside from large game, and the pack was too small to have much success in that area. 

"It will only be a matter of days now; I am re-thinking where we shall go, but I am thinking further inland." She said. "Did you meet with Moontide in your journeys?" She asked.

She looked upon her good friend with gratitude, “Thank you so much, we’d both appreciate that.” 
She followed Solveig, listening intently as they went. This was serious, she was used to the cold, however she could tell by the slight windchill it was most definitely getting inhospitable…. Moontide, that was right. She had a message from the Beta. Heph.

“I met with Moontide, yes. The Beta Heph greeted me at the borders and showed me her home, then the way back to my own.” She continued on…. “These were her words exactly: “If you would like Moontide’s help with anything, the offer still stands, just send word.” 
She thought back on Heph, what a kind wolf she was. She was also so eager to hopefully form an alliance with their neighbors.

Wild! Part of him wanted to ask to see if he could get closer, and smell it, but something told him that the baby bird was probably a bit too soft and delicate for him. He also partially wanted to eat it, but it was clear enough that Greyfalcon wasn't really intending to have it become a snack- she seemed to want to make it feel better. 


Thus far, meeting someone at the borders seemed pretty simple, especially if it was someone who was already known to the pack. He was beginning to learn the ways of a guardian, and shadowing his mother was one of the best ways for him to learn. He remained quiet while the two talked.

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Wild! Part of him wanted to ask to see if he could get closer, and smell it, but something told him that the baby bird was probably a bit too soft and delicate for him. He also partially wanted to eat it, but it was clear enough that Greyfalcon wasn't really intending to have it become a snack- she seemed to want to make it feel better. 


Thus far, meeting someone at the borders seemed pretty simple, especially if it was someone who was already known to the pack. He was beginning to learn the ways of a guardian, and shadowing his mother was one of the best ways for him to learn. He remained quiet while the two talked.

Shall we archive here?

 
She smiled, “maybe someday, when you’re both older you can play together.” As it aged, she would train the young bird to be accustomed to her fellow packmates if anything were to happen to her. 

She looked at Baldr, it was funny how precious kids were. She could tell that he was wondering whether or not it was snack, she reassured him it wasn’t.

sure :)

She was pleased that their friendship with the Moonpacks could continue, and that they would cooperate in a pack hunt in the future. She thought of her daughter, and how she might benefit from meeting some other wolves her age; perhaps a match could be made, she mused, if there was a wolf in one of the several allied packs that met Solveig's lofty standards. 

She smiled faintly at Baldr, who seemed quite taken with Greyfalcon's little companion. She wasn't entirely sure if the bird would remain bonded with the wolf when it grew up, but she wasn't about to intervene. She would simply have to tell her other children to be mindful of the young bird and that it was not a toy. 

Preparations for their move would soon begin, now that their aspiring scout had returned.