Ouroboros Spine wealthy

It felt like she'd been gone for years instead of months. At least, she thought this was what years felt like, without ever having internalized that she'd only just become a yearling. She felt old, somehow, without really knowing what that felt like. She felt strong, certainly; stronger than she'd ever been before.

And she came to the borders bearing gifts. A beautiful seashell for her mother, @Raindrop. A smooth green stone that reminded her of moonwoman's eyes. A long whale tooth for mommy's friend, Valiant.

They would each receive their gifts in time. For now, she set down her bundle of riches and howled for the pack's leadership.

As fun as her travels had been, she felt it was finally time to come home.

@Ajei or @Arrluk?

In wake of their grief. The borders still stood firm. They still needed tended. Wolves still needed a home. And it was with trepidation and a heavy dose of queasy stomach that Ajei went to the borders. Nerves threatening to overtake her.

A small smile for the she wolf she recognized as one of their wayward children.

Hello.

Angel recognized her from the hunt, of course, but that had been long ago, and she had been so very young. Still, her time on the road had not taught her to be shy.

"Hello," she returned, her voice warm. Her smile was warm, too, as if to make up for any discomfort she perceived in the other woman. "My name is Angel Oak Morningbreeze," she said, making a polite little bow. "My mommy and my sisters live here. I'm hoping to rejoin them."

She did not smell all of her sisters on the borders, but she could smell her mother and Rodyn and Valiant. That was family enough to be getting on with. She hoped she could become friends with this woman, too.

"What's your name?" she asked. There was no time like the present, after all! And, speaking of presents — "Your eyes are so pretty — they look just like this stone," she said, apropos of nothing, immediately diving into her pack to dig out a beautiful tourmaline pebble. She nosed it toward the woman. "You should have it. Everyone else gets to look at that color every time they see you. You should get to look at it, too!"

Ajei did not know this girl well. But she could remember her face. Though it was older now, careworn, but also very open. Still holding onto the tight signs of youth and merriment. 

Well it is good to see you back to our little pack! Ajei smiled softly then. 

I'm Ajei. 

A warmth spread along her face at the praise. How darling and kind. She wanted to just hug the girl. IT was so hard to have such openness and yet here was this little one open and happy and sweet. 

She touched the stone, a small gentle smile. Thank you! Would you like to be coming in and looking around? What sort of things did you do while you traveled? 

She motioned for Angel Oak to follow her.

"Ajei!" Angel repeated with enthusiasm, committing the name to memory. Her tail wheeled in happiness at the welcome, and she followed along eagerly at the woman's side... Only to pop back for her bundle of treasures, which she draped carefully over her back.

"I learned many stories and collected many beautiful things," she said, hurrying to catch up once more. It seemed natural to share as if they were just catching up, rather than meeting in earnest. "And saw many beautiful places and faces! I stayed with my grandmother for a few weeks, and she told me stories and introduced me to many cousins."

But she had missed her own family. And she had missed the plateau — but she had at least one here, now. And she could easily visit the beach from here.

"How has Moonglow fared?" she asked, instinctively knowing that the review would not be quite so glowing. There were scents growing stale on the borders, and Ajei seemed so tired. Angel wanted to embrace her, but for the moment, she refrained.

Ajei couldn't quite hide the smile that lit up her face. This girl was sweet. Sweeter than most. Life had been good to her. The thought that Ajei may have to dim some of that was disheartening. Because Moonglow had not fared well. 

It must have been wonderful to meet relatives you didn't know you had. I am glad you met them. For a moment Ajei felt a sharp stabbing pain. She was for the moment the only one left. Chiteo was long gone. Mojag he was around as much as his trading would allow. But what if someday in his travels he decided hey you know what I think i'm gonna stay here. And she never saw him again. 

Moonglow has not had it easy lately. But we hope that we can move forward at least a little. We lost Kukutux and Aiolos. My husband Arrluk and I run moonglow in their stead. Our numbers are not large, but we are doing our best.

"Yes," she agreed, haltingly, thinking in particular of the stories she'd heard of her father. She treasured them because she didn't have many, but in truth, neither had Grandmother. They hadn't known each other long, just as Angel herself had not known Sumac very long.

Yes — she wanted very badly to be reunited with her mother.

For now, though, Angel was happy to share words with Ajei. Or, well... happy was not quite the word when she received the news.

"Oh, Ajei," she breathed, her steps faltering. She came to a standstill, tears filling her eyes despite her very distant relationship with the two wolves that'd been named. She felt silly for such a reaction, but loss and grief and the shifting sands of time were all things she'd been dwelling on, lately. "I'm so sorry to hear that," she said lamely, sniffling back her own tears. "I know I'm just one wolf, but — well, I'm here now, anyway. Just tell me if there's anything extra I can be doing, alright?"

She'd always had energy to spare, after all.

"How many are left?" she asked, almost against her will.

Ajei didn't know many stories of even her father. He hadbeen a male that existed, but had never been present. It had hurt. But she had sunman amd other male figures to look up too. Her brother.

Ajei smiled. Thank you. We hold enough to keep our borders running. Perhaps with new life in sprong we will have more. Only time will tell what fate has in store for us.

Angel eyed the pack leader more keenly, at this. She assumed that it must be Ajei's job to ring in the spring in this way, and her tail wheeled in preemptive excitement.

"I sure hope so," she said, her tone partially coy but mostly quite earnest. She was just getting to an age where childrearing was beginning to interest her. She hoped she might be able to get a look at someone else's pups before it came time to make decisions about such things herself.

She wondered — would her father be home in time to rear more pups with her mother?

"I should go see my own mother," she said with a smile, feeling even more urgently the need to be reunited. She waited, however, for Ajei to dismiss her before taking her leave.

Ajei had pups on the brain, she would not lie. Mostly it was wondering. But that was okay.

Ajei smiled and nodded. Yes please do. Tell her hello for me.

Ajei would leave her to it then.