Redhawk Caldera go back on each other

Maybe @Amon and/or @FitzDutiful could hop in?

Atop a large, flat boulder, Fox reclined. Ashton's scent had reappeared today, and Fox had felt a sense of relief wash over her. It was hard to think that some of their followers would ever leave, even though she was quite used to the ebb and flow of comrades. It was common here, in the Teekon Wilds, for wolves to come and go when the need arose. Fox had done no such thing, at least not without good (to her) reasons, but to know that so many wolves slipped out of her life without so much as a words made her feel deflated some days. Now that Ashton had returned, there were still a few who the caldera had lost, but the number was one less than it had been before.

Finley had not yet returned to their home, though, and Fox was beginning to feel hints of worry. The girl was an outrider, so perhaps she was just on a particularly long mission. Would she have told her leaders (and friends) that she meant to be gone for this long? Perhaps something had happened to her along the way. Fox blinked, trying to rid herself of the horrendous things her imagination was sure to come up with. Finley was used to getting in trouble, Fox told herself. Surely she knew how to get herself out of it with all the practice she'd had.

Fox felt warm, despite the chill of winter, as she lay on her side beneath the warm rays of the midday sun. She blinked lazily, thinking of what her children might look like. Would they be carbon copies of either her or Peregrine? Maybe they would look like one of Peregrine's siblings... or Fox's. Fox had plenty of variety in her family, which got her wondering as to where Robin had wandered off to. If her sister ever came back, she was not sure if she would allow her shelter again. They were sisters, yes, but considering Robin had disappeared so many times, each instance without a word to say she was leaving, Fox was beginning to feel resentment toward her older sibling. Was it really so hard to stick around?

The girl let out a sigh, feeling her chest fall as she did so, and went back to day-dreaming of things to come. She hoped that the winter would treat them well.

He had been down in his favorite forest through the morning, scouting through it for signs of Donatus, but had only found a hare. It wasn't the fattest hare that Amon had ever come across, but it was decent; it had run a brief course through the trees and was caught quite suddenly on the incline up the mountain, being too young or too stupid (perhaps both) to avoid his oncoming jaws. The creature hung from his grasp with a broken neck, its patchy fur muddied by a bit of blood.

The brute thought of eating it then and there, but the thought of eating so soon after racing around the forest actually made his stomach flip-flop. Amon decided to seek out one of the other caldera wolves - and he had only moseyed a little ways along the mountainside when he caught a glimpse of red. Perfect. With an added jaunt to his step, the burly beast headed towards Fox's resting place.

Upon reaching her, he side-eyed the boulder that was her perch, and then plunked the rabbit down. You look like a mighty queen on that rock there. Where is your manservant? His tongue slid swiftly across his lips, then one side of his muzzle, to try and collect any residual blood.

Amon, the old man who had joined them, knowing nothing of them, appeared, which was a bit of a surprise to Fox. She hadn't seen him in some time, and she figured he had either abandoned them or had been out on some mission or another. Then again, he hadn't said anything about his departure, so perhaps she should have assumed as much. Finley hadn't said anything either... but Fox very much doubted the girl would leave them without a peep. She was likely just doing her outrider thing, getting herself into trouble, and would be home soon. Fox had faith in the girl, and she knew that Peregrine did, too.

“Manservant?” she asked before realizing whom he was asking about. “Oh, Peregrine. I’m sure he’s around.” Unlike humans, they didn't have text messages and Facebook to keep tabs on one another at all times. “You haven’t seen Finley around lately, have you?” she asked. If it occurred to her to ask about his own whereabouts as of late, Fox did not show it. Finley was of more concern to her, considering she had a personal relationship with her. She'd have one with Amon in time, assuming he stuck with Redhawk Caldera. For all she knew, Amon had been with Finley, and they had just come back.

Fox appeared confused.. Or rather, distracted. The girl caught upon his words and responded swiftly, but with her own question; one that Amon didn't have an answer for. He shrugged his shoulders. Haven't met a Finley yet. That wasn't helpful, but it was the truth. So far he'd met only Siv and a young man named Elwood, and the name Finley did not ring any bells.

But I can go find them if y'like? It wasn't the ideal job that Amon wanted, but he knew how to find people - it was a helpful little skill to have when your standing orders revolved around butchering them; but this morbid little tidbit was withheld from Fox. Nobody needed to know that about him. Give me a description and I'll start huntin'.

If Amon hadn't met Finley, it made Fox question how long her friend had actually been gone. That worried her, especially since Amon had basically been here since the beginning. The flash of worry on her face only lasted a second, though, and she shook her head to his offer. “Naw,” she replied, “I’d rather you stay here and help guard the caldera, and Finley's probably just doing her outrider thing.” They didn't need yet another wolf departing and leaving them less guarded, especially with the few drop-offs they'd had lately. Their core was still strong, and Fox was glad that Amon hadn't wandered too far off into the neverland. He was back now, and that was what really mattered.

“Have you met any of the others?” she asked, curious to see how he was integrating with the rest of the pack. It was incredibly important that they all be acquainted with one another on a personal level. Without that, they were just a bunch of wolves who happened to occupy the same territory. It was the personal connections that made a pack a family, and Fox wanted to foster those bonds in whatever way possible.

Well, I've met you, He drawled a moment after her question, squinting as he pondered over names. And Peregrine, and... The little one, Siv. How many wolves lived in the caldera pack? Elwood had mentioned a dwindling population when they had met, but what precisely did that mean? And the newest member. I think his name is Elwood?

Amon flopped his rear down next to Fox's boulder and slid down in to a laying position; he crossed his paws and rested his chin upon them next, thinking about the few wolves he knew. I think that's all of 'em, actually. How many heads do we have to account for? Maybe he'd go a-wandering and find any others. And although Fox had voiced her word against it, Amon was tempted to go hunting for this missing Finley, if only to ease her mind.

Ah, Siv Savoy. That was another wolf whom Fox hadn't seen around in a little while, and she made a mental note to track down her stunt-double at some point or another. Elwood was a wolf Fox hadn't met yet, but she'd heard about him through Peregrine. She'd have to seek him out sooner rather than later. Sometimes, she missed the simplicity that came with being the sole leader, even though she was infinitely thankful to have Peregrine by her side.

“Somewhere between five and ten,” she replied, “You know how it is. Hard to keep track of who’s here, who’s left us, and who’s just out and about.” It wasn't as if they had a sign-in and sign-out sheet for who was coming and going, even though that would have made things a whole lot more convenient. Not only that, but wolves who left often didn't give reason as to why they were leaving... they often disappeared into the abyss, sometimes never to be seen again.

Feeling an itch on one of her ears, Fox rose to her haunches and scratched at it for a few seconds before licking her foot. It tasted of earwax. (Gross.)

“Say, you seem like you’ve lived through plenty of winters. You got any advice for a whipper-snapper like me?” she asked. While she'd never be able to determine his exact age (and she'd forgotten if he'd told her before), she had a pretty good feeling that he'd lived through quite a few more years than she had. Last winter seemed like ages ago, and all Fox could remember was the sharp cold and the endless snow. She was mostly going by instinct, but perhaps Amon had a few words of wisdom so the young leader could better prepare herself (and the caldera).

A decent number - not too many to handle, and not too few to seem like an easy target, should anyone feel the desire to invade. Nobody is going to invade, you idiot, Amon caught himself thinking of the exact situation he had hoped to avoid, what with his brother's sudden appearance in the area. Donatus wasn't here; he was off nursing his wounds, hopefully far from the wilds.

Say, you seem like you’ve lived through plenty of winters. Fox commented brightly, and Amon's appraising glance held thinly veiled mirth. It wasn't every day that he encountered someone as bold as this redhead.. Although, it would likely become more common now that he was properly settled in.

You got any advice for a whipper-snapper like me?

Advice? Heck, he'd never led a pack before. He'd served in the Guard, but that was more like a militia - the majority of Amon's advice centered around fighting techniques, field strategy, and the gathering of information using a particular set of skills. But she wouldn't want to hear about that.

Ah, depends on what sort of issues yer facing. To be honest I have never been in control of a pack, so I have little knowledge in the proper running of one. His ears fanned out to both sides of his head, a comical little oops expression playing across his weathered face. My best advice - and take this with a grain of salt, little lady - is to keep your friends close, and yer enemies far underground, when possible.

That was probably not the sort of thing Fox was after, but it was the best he could do.

Fox cocked her head to one side as he spoke about never having been a leader. Still, he coughed up some advice, and she nodded. It wasn't exactly the kind of advice she'd been looking for, but the fact that he was giving it a shot was nice. “I guess I meant more along the lines of surviving the winter.” Fox was pretty damn confident in her (and Peregrine's) ability to lead, and it was unlikely she would take anybody's advice on that particular part of her life, anyway. Aside from her mate, of course, who she trusted more than anything else in this world.

“Maybe you could come by the den Perry and I picked out and make sure it's all outfitted for the cold,” she suggested. “Our children will be born there, so it has to be perfect.” Sometimes, it was like Fox couldn't go three minutes without talking about her future family of fuzzbutts, but she was truly excited for them. She knew that they would come when the time was right, but she grew a little more impatient with each passing day. Why her body couldn't just get kicked into gear was beyond her.

At Fox's next comment a light sort of.. Clicked on, in Amon's brain. Of course she was worrying about the winter, that made the most sense. Way to jump to random conclusions, old boy. He snorted softly, amused by his own thoughts, and then nodded at the girl's suggestion. Ah, so we'll be expecting little sprouts in the spring!

He may have been a big old military man, but that didn't mean he didn't adore children. Heck, when they were too small to be any fun, then the'd be with their ma and pa; but as soon as they could walk or run or scream, that was where the fun came in. I'd be honored to help. Mayhaps I can take yer old boy out for a hunt, and then we could stuff the den full of furs.

Again Amon was reminded of his inadequacy - he wasn't entirely suited for this sort of pack life, and it was obvious by his very suggestions. Killing things seemed to always be on his mind. Or, hmmph, maybe dry some.. Flowers... So it has a pretty smell. He was trying, and that's what mattered. That last quip made him scrunch his face up, almost like he was surprised by the very idea.

Fox nodded enthusiastically. She was thrilled—no, ecstatic—about her future children, and she was now constantly thinking about the pups who hadn't even been conceived yet. She had some serious baby-fever, and she knew that Peregrine had caught the bug as well. Fox spent a good part of her day dreaming about the little darlings (or hellions) and what they might look and act like. If they took after her in personality, she wondered what sort of crazy things she was going to have to put up with. She'd been a bit of a wild one as a child (who'd a thunk it), and she couldn't imagine what kind of things her children would get into.

“I think Perry would like that,” she replied, grinning all the while. “Although I’m not so sure about the flowers. Maybe just some boughs of pine to keep it cozy.” Fox had never been a particularly girly girl (except when it came to her own children), so flowers didn't appeal to her in the same way that they might have to, say, Bazi. For a split second, Fox wondered if Bazi was planning on having babes in the springtime. No doubt the snow-white girl was capable, as Fox thought they were around the same age. But she probably still hated Fox, so the spitfire shrugged it off.

She seemed enthusiastic enough, and even appeared forgiving for his mention of flowers - jeeze, man, what were you thinking? Well, he hadn't really been thinking. The thought of kids was an exciting thing indeed, but Amon was a crotchety old man (even if he didn't want to admit it) and he really didn't know what the kids were in to these days. - maybe just some boughs of pine to keep it cozy.

The beast nodded his great big head, inadvertently bopping the rabbit that he had brought; the poor thing had grown a touch too cold by this point, and had been shunted off to the side next to his paws when he lay down. Ah, but now he was reminded. Pine it is! And maybe we can start now. Here, Amon grabbed the rabbit's ears and tugged, bringing the body closer, and then grasped it by the broken neck. With a toss it was half-on the ledge next to Fox. Chow down on this and we can clean up the pelt. Make a nice little rug for one of your future kiddies.

Pups were approximately the size of rabbits... Right? He'd never actually seen them fresh out of the oven, so he had no idea.

“Ooooh,” Fox said as he plopped the rabbit next to her, “What a pleasant surprise.” She was actually a bit astonished that she hadn't noticed it before, considering gifts of food were one of her most favorite things. Amon suggested that they should use it as one of the liners for the den, so Fox got to work, careful to leave a majority of the fur and skin intact. So long as they laid it out properly, it should dry without rotting. That is, if they could keep it out of reach of all the other predators that lingered in the caldera. The last thing Fox wanted to do was attract a bear or a large cat to the place where her pups would eventually be born.

Once she'd managed to get most of the meat and bones out of the rabbit and into her stomach, she took a step back to survey her handiwork. It wasn't the prettiest of things, but she imagined it would do just fine. “Do we need to do anything special to it?” she asked, not really knowing much about the process. The den she'd grown up in had certainly had furs in it, but she had never questioned the how and when they had been put there. They'd just been there for as long as she'd known.

Quickly skimmed some fur trading manuals for this information, and now I am scarred for life. @-@ Amon is turning in to a fur trader omfg.

She was swift to take the gift, and swifter still to eat. Amon diverted his gaze briefly, letting her consume the fresh meat in some sort of privacy, but his attention returned to her a moment later. The question was a simple enough one to answer.

Well, once yer finished with it, I'll wash it. It needs to be chilled and soaked, then carefully dried. He looked up at this point, gauging the amount of light and warmth still left in the day. The pelt needs to be left somewhere warm to dry out. Don't want it to get all rotten and moldy, heh. When had been the last time he had skinned an animal? At least a couple of years - no, longer, if one did not count the wolves he had to tend to for the Guard.

Once yer finished I can take it to the lake. The beast rumbled as pleasantly as he could, willing away the darker thoughts that had returned to his mind. This was his opportunity to put his skills to good use, and he was glad for it.

Fade with your next post? I really like Amon. :o

“Fascinating,” Fox replied, once Amon had finished explaining how exactly he intended to make it into something usable. Some might have found it absurd or disgusting, but Fox had a bit of a morbid side, and she couldn't help but be curious. “Do you mind if I tag along? Might learn something, y’know.” Over the past year, Fox had come to respect older wolves more and more. Not all of them, of course, but Amon was a part of the pack, and if she was able to gather and spread the knowledge that he had locked up inside his head, it might do her a bit of good to observe the process.

Assuming that he would accept, Fox rose to her feet and snatched up what remained of the gift he had given her. They could make it to the lake in no time, and then Fox could transport the drying fur back closer to the den where she would keep it set aside from the other, future furs. She wanted to make sure her children knew who exactly this one was from. Fox was intent on making sure that each of the caldera wolves was involved in the lives of her pups, and this was just the first step of many.

Fading! And thanks. :D Surly old men characters are fun to play.

He wasn't sure about her response at first. Usually when a youngster had to listen to someone like him (ie: older) talk, it was done without much real interest. But Fox seemed to be genuine in her's, and this pleased Amon, somehow. He'd never had kids in his entire long life, and would probably never have them - but Fox reminded him of the joys of teaching; heck, with their age gap, the young leader could have been his kin. That was taking the thought a bit far though, so upon realizing this, he forced himself to think of other things.

Do you mind if I tag along? Might learn something, y’know. The girl made her request, and Amon nodded in acquiescence. Sure thing, missy. I hardly know my way around here as it is - so you do the guidin' and I'll do the soakin'. With that said, he lurched to his paws and waited for Fox to grab the rabbit's remains. They headed off in the next instant, the little red girl leading the aged wolf alone merrily.