Cambria began worrying about @Etienne. He had expected him to come by much sooner. What had waylaid him? Had he changed his mind about meeting up with them? Or had something happened, knowing Eti’s luck? He really wanted to head to the coast and search for his friend, though he knew he couldn’t leave @Odessia at this point. She would deliver soon. And he wanted Etienne to be there for it, leading the Dragonling’s mind to run in restless circles.
His paws did the same. He roamed Emberwood, allegedly hunting for his mate. But instead of sniffing for game, Cambria found himself at the furthest northern edge of the forest. From there, he called for his friend. He had been doing so regularly, though today’s call was louder and more desperate than usual.
The Dragonling waited for a response, ears straining. If one didn’t come, he thought he might go a little closer to the coast, after all. He hated to stray too far from Odessia, particularly in her condition, but he wasn’t sure he could help himself and it was tearing him apart.
His paws did the same. He roamed Emberwood, allegedly hunting for his mate. But instead of sniffing for game, Cambria found himself at the furthest northern edge of the forest. From there, he called for his friend. He had been doing so regularly, though today’s call was louder and more desperate than usual.
The Dragonling waited for a response, ears straining. If one didn’t come, he thought he might go a little closer to the coast, after all. He hated to stray too far from Odessia, particularly in her condition, but he wasn’t sure he could help himself and it was tearing him apart.
July 24, 2025, 12:14 PM
Sitting there scratching at the annoying thing around his neck, Anselm had been struck by an idea.
As it turned out, the idea didn’t serve him very well and twice had nearly killed him. His line of thinking was wedge the fallen log of alder under the leather — or whatever it was — around his neck. What he failed to account for was it getting lodged in there, at times nearly choking him.
A week later he’d managed to free himself from the latter, but the former still hung firm around his throat. Skinnier and worse for wear, Anselm was tracking for easy game when a loud — and almost anxious — call broke over the woodland.
Irritated to see the turkey he’d been stalking take to the trees, Anselm set upon finding this screaming individual, if only to confirm the lay of the land before continuing his search for Etienne.
As it turned out, the idea didn’t serve him very well and twice had nearly killed him. His line of thinking was wedge the fallen log of alder under the leather — or whatever it was — around his neck. What he failed to account for was it getting lodged in there, at times nearly choking him.
A week later he’d managed to free himself from the latter, but the former still hung firm around his throat. Skinnier and worse for wear, Anselm was tracking for easy game when a loud — and almost anxious — call broke over the woodland.
Irritated to see the turkey he’d been stalking take to the trees, Anselm set upon finding this screaming individual, if only to confirm the lay of the land before continuing his search for Etienne.
July 24, 2025, 08:39 PM
He blew out a breath, fidgeting. The air remained silent as worry wormed its way into his heart. Etienne wouldn’t just fail to appear. He was an honorable man (unlike someone else we know...). Something must’ve happened to him. He might need help. Cambria shifted from foot to foot as he debated whether Odessia could spare him for a day or two and whether that would be nearly enough time to locate a single individual in this endless wilderness.
He was nearing a decision when a figure emerged from the trees, large and lissome. His fur was drab and he looked a little worse for wear, though his yellow eyes were sharp as Cambria’s locked on them. The Dragonling went very still, his own mismatched gaze immediately drawn to the queer object strapped to the other wolf’s neck.
He had seen something like this, during his traveling days of yore. It was an unsettling sight, though the object itself seemed harmless enough. Cambria’s tail switched as his eyes roved over the rest of the skinny fellow again. He didn’t look particularly threatening, though his abrupt appearance stoked a territorial response in the Dragonling. His pregnant mate was denning nearby, after all.
He was nearing a decision when a figure emerged from the trees, large and lissome. His fur was drab and he looked a little worse for wear, though his yellow eyes were sharp as Cambria’s locked on them. The Dragonling went very still, his own mismatched gaze immediately drawn to the queer object strapped to the other wolf’s neck.
He had seen something like this, during his traveling days of yore. It was an unsettling sight, though the object itself seemed harmless enough. Cambria’s tail switched as his eyes roved over the rest of the skinny fellow again. He didn’t look particularly threatening, though his abrupt appearance stoked a territorial response in the Dragonling. His pregnant mate was denning nearby, after all.
I’d appreciate it if you’d go back the way you came,he said in a level voice, making a point to keep his body language and expression unequivocally neutral.
Anselm wasn’t certain, but at one point it almost sounded like the howling wolf was calling a name dangerously familiar. Chalking it up to a fluke, Anselm’s nose brought him right to the Dragonling.
Besides being loud AF, Anselm’s first impression of the wolf was ‘shit, he’s taller than me’. His gaze flicked from lean pale limbs to open white face, the dual colors of the stranger’s eyes inscrutable.
Lingering like a veil around the man was a scent Anselm recognized; the offbeat woman that had been flanking Etienne months prior. He was about to adjust the surliness of his face to garner good favor when the man spoke, his expression guarded but tone neutral.
Neutrality didn’t mean much to Anselm, who only heard “fuck off” written loudly between the lines. His ears clapped forward in disbelief, a snort pressed from his long muzzle.
With a petulant lash of his tail, Anselm set to do exactly as suggested — but not without a juvenile scrape of both hind legs. If the splatter of dirt hit Cambria, oh well. Accident. Promise.
Besides being loud AF, Anselm’s first impression of the wolf was ‘shit, he’s taller than me’. His gaze flicked from lean pale limbs to open white face, the dual colors of the stranger’s eyes inscrutable.
Lingering like a veil around the man was a scent Anselm recognized; the offbeat woman that had been flanking Etienne months prior. He was about to adjust the surliness of his face to garner good favor when the man spoke, his expression guarded but tone neutral.
Neutrality didn’t mean much to Anselm, who only heard “fuck off” written loudly between the lines. His ears clapped forward in disbelief, a snort pressed from his long muzzle.
And I vould appreciate it if you vould shut up.Curling his lips back, Anselm decided not to even bother asking this man if Odessia knew where Etienne was. Come to think of it, he couldn’t even remember the peculiar little wolf’s name, and he hadn’t been around her long enough to say with certainty she knew his either.
With a petulant lash of his tail, Anselm set to do exactly as suggested — but not without a juvenile scrape of both hind legs. If the splatter of dirt hit Cambria, oh well. Accident. Promise.
July 25, 2025, 02:18 PM
The stranger did the wolfish equivalent of clapping back. Cambria just stared at him, tension coiling in his muscles, only to release when the other man turned and walked away. He blew out a breath and watched him until he vanished back into the trees. He resisted the temptation to tail him, instead standing his ground and listening for his footfalls to fade.
Whatever he had been about to decide, the unwelcome male’s appearance had reminded the Dragonling of his priorities. Although his heart ached a little, he blinked in the direction of the coast before swinging and heading back to where he and Odessia kept their den. Etienne could—would have to—look after himself, as Cambria was a mate and father now.
He hated to return empty-handed, though he wanted to stay close to Odessia for a few hours, until he trusted that the male had really gone and wouldn’t return. Cambria decided he would curtail any further meanderings, leaving her only to catch game. Otherwise, he would be beside her every minute of every day, waiting for her to give birth.
And, of course, waiting for Etienne to turn up too.
Whatever he had been about to decide, the unwelcome male’s appearance had reminded the Dragonling of his priorities. Although his heart ached a little, he blinked in the direction of the coast before swinging and heading back to where he and Odessia kept their den. Etienne could—would have to—look after himself, as Cambria was a mate and father now.
He hated to return empty-handed, though he wanted to stay close to Odessia for a few hours, until he trusted that the male had really gone and wouldn’t return. Cambria decided he would curtail any further meanderings, leaving her only to catch game. Otherwise, he would be beside her every minute of every day, waiting for her to give birth.
And, of course, waiting for Etienne to turn up too.
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