Redtail Rise future fog

Moon Runner.

Each day the young hunter orbited farther from the rendezvous site. Her body, intelligence, and skills developed well. She often trailed after the adults as they hunted. The smell of each prey animal and their marks had begun to become familiar.

Today, the young girl explored a new and interesting area: The Burned Place. Old, black, trunks of charcoal intermingled with new growth. The forest had quickly regenerated, but the burnt trees stood as a reminder of life’s tragic cycle.

This area has a different smell, the spirit noticed. What kind of creatures called it their home?

Astera had returned to the Rise. Months ago, she had been a disobedient wandering pup, and had lost her way. She had been guided back home by the red she-wolf, and greeted by a harsh scolding from the adults. Older, and better equipped for scouting, she had set out again. Without telling anyone. Some things never changed. Thankfully, the coast wolf had picked up points about wayfinding, and was sure she could be back before anyone fretted. 

The cliffs gave into the Tangle, forest, mountains, and then plains. Finally, she reached a charred forest. It was old. New life had emerged, but telltale signs of the fire remained.

Astera was too absorbed into her surroundings to notice the other.

can delete if desired but butting sunrise in here because shes too protective of sissy >:D

sunrise found herself wandering after the scent of her sister. the silent name had come to be passed on, her beloved moon runner was easily adjusting to her role as a hunter within the rise. and perhaps this job would be the easiest when your father is the head honcho for the business here.

but there was no animosity within sunrise for the quickness in her sister's talents, perhaps just joy with the twinge of jealousy. her own line of work in guarding would take more than a few walks around the territory to bring her closer to her needed talents and skills.

the scorched area holds little for the imagination, except for perhaps the disaster that caused such catastrophe in the first place. sunrise would do her best to not disturb moon runner in her explorations, though her newest habits were beginning to seep into her everyday life. with the scent of an outsider lingering with her sister as sunrise presses her nose against nearly everything, she soon finds herself sending out a warning shot to moon runner.

"someone from outside the rise is here. stay where you are." 

it comes as a fierce bark that echoes through the dead trees. and it beckons for moon runner to come back to where sunrise is as she attempts to close the distance. the last experiment did not begin with a follower of the rules, so sunrise cannot expect a respectful intruder.

Aromas of damp ash and charcoal filled Moon Runner’s nose as she picked her way through the maze of black spires and low greenery.

Suddenly, a scurrying sound of a panicked chipmunk across the bark of a log.

Then, the hoot of a tired owl from the shell of an old trunk.

Moon Runner followed her nose and inspected mint-colored lichen growing upon a stump. It had an earthy, bitter smell.

So engrossed was she, that the second a stranger’s scent passed her nostrils was the same moment Sister’s sharp voice loosed a commanding bark.

Moon Runner flinched as her head swiveled and looked for the threat. Though born of the same woman, she was different than her sibling. She wasn’t impulsive. More curious than suspicious. Slower to act.

The sheen of white furs glimmered from between the branches. Moon Runner quickly retreated towards Sister and regrouped. There would be more power in a pair.

Ooops. Astera finally took note of the others around her. Pale ears picked at the sharp, territorial bark. Was she in trouble? She peers through the trees, catching a glimpse of white and light grey. Astera could only hope they were friendly. Hello? She calls into the trees.

seeing that sister comes towards her, sunrise is quick to nose over her in an attempt to check for any bumps or scrapes. seeing that nothing seemed out of place, now she can turn her attention to whoever this intruder was within the scorched place. 

she casts a look at her sister before grunting. "stay close."

with that, sunrise would come to lead off in a jog toward the stranger, eventually closing enough of a space to see their shape over the distance. this pale being didn't seem much different from the sun twins, though there lingered a familiar scent that shadow's brother had carried for some time. perhaps she hailed from some area?

either way, she comes to place herself in front of Moon Runner protectively. growling out with a demanding tone, sunrise lifts up her head and tail in an attempt to claim some form of dominance over the other while in her own land.

"who are you? you don't belong here."

she would come to stride forward now, an attempt to force the other back with bared teeth.

Like two small water beads, the siblings reconnect. Moon Runner, too, quickly assessed her sibling before assuming the wing position beside Sister’s haunch.

She obeyed her instructions and marveled at Sister’s confident mien as they fearlessly loped in tandem toward the intruder.

Moon Runner knew nothing of Sapphique or the sea. Never before had she ventured further than Nova Peak, and so the stranger's scent was foreign to them.

Sister’s low growl emboldened Moon Runner, who rumbled her own serious note.

*barges in*

He abandons his patrol upon finding the scent of a stranger who'd trodden into their borders. 

His pulse hitches. The sisters were near, too.
 
And his pace breaks from a brisk walk to a gallop.

Their shadow is quick to arrive on scene. He finds the sisters, united, seemingly unharmed. They are joined together against the light-toned stranger. Their growls resonate in his ears, he joins them with his own as he approaches the stranger from behind—using his better judgement, he decides not to ambush the girl, who does not seem to be aggressive.

His tail is held high.

Who're you? He demands, unafraid to draw near.

A sharp bark draws her attention. Two more wolves arrive at the scene. Perhaps she was not welcome here. But the red furred wolf had told her otherwise, all those months ago. She shyly responded to the question asked of her. Scouting. Miss Lilia said I could come here, to scout with the Rise pups. Would they believe her? 

*also barges*

A sharp bark with a warning note caught Lilia's attention. While she trusted the young ones to be able to handle themselves, she knew too well that there were threats that might be too large for them to handle, and so every alarm call triggered her interest. For some things, she fully believed the children should be allowed to learn on their own- but sometimes waiting a second too long could spell disaster and until they were fully grown and trained, she wouldn't take that risk. 

She recognized Astera's scent as she got closer, and smiled to herself, wondering if her mother had finally un-grounded her for wandering off. She wouldn't catch much of a break from the Rise's newest fleet of guardians, though, and Lilia was impressed to see that three had come to greet her. An impressive show of their next generation, she thought smugly. 

She grumbled an affectionate note to her packmates, before extending her welcoming gaze to Astera as well, a sweep of her tail given to diffuse any tension lingering as they examined their neighbour. "Tho you finally got un-grounded, eh?" She asked with a chuckle. "Thith ith Athtera, she'th from Thapphique," She explained, gesturing through the Tangle in the direction of the ocean.

there was something to be said about having the majority in numbers. a certain feeling of power surges within her veins, something that sunrise quite liked in the moment. even with the explanation provided, it still does not do enough to sequester her suspicions and perhaps even fanning flames of aggression. in her mind, sunrise had no desire to mingle with outsiders on her home turf.

but before she could even begin the push to run this other home with her tail between her legs, the berserkr comes to seemingly break up the fight. with lilia's appearance, sunrise comes to step down as she hears the explanation. as respectfully as she could, she rumbles a confused note to the wolverine woman as she looks towards astera and the crossed border as if to say"why did she just barge in then?"

had she no manners? either way, sunrise does her best to disarm herself and offers a snort and shake of the coat to release the tension and perhaps even be read as sort of an apology for the uptake of arms. she bumps her muzzle against the shoulders of the rise guardians and hunters softly before coming to walk towards astera, craning her neck and tilting her head as she looks towards her brilliant eyes.

easily distractable.

More guardians, Shadow and Wolverine, arrived. Moon Runner expected them to chase the stranger out of their lands and readied herself to join her compatriots, but their Berserker appeared unthreatened by the shy sea girl and chose diplomacy over violence.

It confused Moon Runner, who had only ever abided by her unrefined instincts.

Food for thought, the spirit mulled.

Sister appeared to feel the same way, telegraphed when she shook her pelt to release the tension.

Moon Runner licked her jowls in thought and nibbled at Sister’s ruff in passing. Still a bit shaken by the rush of adrenaline, the girl opted to fall back and sniff the ground as a way to diffuse her own intense energy.

This is my last post. Feel free to lightly PP Moon Runner!

tag for ref!

Lilia quickly makes her way onto the scene too, seemingly to dispel the tension, she knew the girl and introduced her to the trio.

As soon as the apprehension disappeared, it was replaced by realization. Then annoyance.

He recalls the tale @Redsky had told when he had gone there—Sapphique—and been jumped by two girls who’d chased him home. 

Now, he was certain this was one of them. Despite the group’s forgiveness of the girl’s mistake, he is not dissuaded.

His tail lashes. Orange eyes fixate on Astera as a fox to a mouse, contemplating silently. A breath is held in his lungs.

No other warning is given before he lunges, taking ahold of her tail and pulling harshly.

Vengeance.

redsky will not let this slide xD

Redsky caught the girls scent. The one who was with the younger girl who tried to take his tail. He smelled many rise wolves around her, including his own brother, as well as Lilia, but he did not care. He needed to talk to her himself. How dare she infiltrate his land! Missing any of Lilias words, he treated her as an immediate threat and stood by Mul’s side and growled when he got there. When his brother leaps at her he is quick to join

Everything moved so quickly.

First came relief at Lilia's appearance, and then fear. As her tail was harshly pulled, she was sure it will be ripped off, removed. Astera couldn't allow that to happen.

I didn't know! She wailed to nobody is particular, providing no context. If successful in breaking free, she would cast a sad look at Lilia, before making a beeline to Sapphique territory.

-1 scouting location

Last from me if not stopped :)

Before there could be much else said, Mulherin launched an attack, followed quickly by Redsky who barged into view and made a direct attack. Astera didn't last long when cornered by the boys, and Lilia didn't exactly step in to intervene, sensing that there must have been some reason that Mulherin had been triggered. The girl bolted off as soon as she got an opening, and Lilia moved forward in an attempt to block the other youths from chasing after her, a flash of her teeth shown to ward them back before she flicked her ears forward. 

Her fur lifted along her spine, not in contempt for the boys' behavior, but in sensing that there was some motive for their sudden onslaught. While she was Berserkr, it did not mean that she was blind to a need for there to be reason. Her eyes snapped to Mulherin, who had called for Redsky, searching for explanation without showing any glimmer of accusations. 

"Did she detherve that?" She asked calmly. She liked the wolves of Sapphique- but if the next generation of them was out of line, it was in her interest to know now, before they grew up to be a real threat.

tacking on a conclusion

As if telepathically, his brother knew to dive in just when he was needed.

But just when they strike, Astera's tail seemed to slip from his jaws and the girl miserably fled back to where she had come from. A flick of his ear showed he had no motivation to give chase. The job was done.

Lilia's question is answered by a wordless nod. His eyes flitted from face to face, lingering on that of his brother's for a moment, still gleaming with success, before returning to Lilia, who still seemed to be searching for a more detailed explanation.

She would get one along the walk home.

They regroup, with New Snow's daughters albeit a bit stunned, then set off to dispel the tension.