Barrow Fields moonriser

Tags are invitational, not obligational! This is open to anyone at all.

Today’s hunting drove her inland to Barrow Fields, though the August heat soon became unbearable. Tiuttuk sought respite in the shade beneath one of the many rolling hillocks, intending to wait until the temperatures fell a little. She didn’t mean to fall asleep, though the weariness of being a round-the-clock babysitter caught up to her.

She jerked awake late in the afternoon, the sun moments from slipping behind the western ridgelines. Feeling groggy and disoriented, Pie smacked her lips and found herself desperate for a drink. Heaving onto her feet with a quiet grunt, she sought out the nearest water—a trickling stream on the far side of the grassy mound—and perked up considerably once hydrated.

Treepie trotted back to the crest of the small hill, gazing toward the coast as shadows quickly gathered in all the nooks and crannies of the wilderness. She ducked her head and first loped down, then up, then down again as she made her way back toward the forest overlooking Ankyra Sound.

A distinct noise—very strange to most ears, warmly familiar to hers—caused Tiuttuk to halt with one paw in midair and glance upward. She spotted Wyvern and smiled, woofing a greeting to the bird. The nighthawk swooped closer, then circled before banking and coming to perch on Pie’s haunch. She winced a little as the bird’s talons sank into her skin.

I feel like I barely see you these days, she gushed quietly to Wyvern, craning her head to look at the bird. I’m glad you’re still around, my friend. On that note, she continued, straightening her head and cupping her ears as she peered into the darkling distance, have you seen Alaric or @Tikaani lately?

Wyvern shook her head rapidly and Pie’s lips pulled downward. She considered sending up a howl, just to check in with her two companions. But she didn’t just want to hear from them, she wanted to see them, see how they were doing and have a proper conversation. She bit her lip, her yellow eyes bright in the dusk as they drifted toward the sea, then flicked determinedly inshore again.

Sobeille and the pups had become the center of her universe. Tiuttuk might orbit around them these days, though Alaric and Tikaani would always be her little moons.

Alaric had been playing woth the notion of moving on from the Teekon. But he had quickly squashed it. But he did move about unsure these days. He was a healer, a bard, a storyteller and he was adrift. You sort of need an audience for such and the teekon felt like a ghost town as of late. He had been all over the nearby coastline and just silence and the wild no wolves to be found.

Treepie seemed to have found her center and Alaric was glad for it. But he felt useless and spare. Sobeille didnt like mwn and as such even tree pie had stayed away. He saw her, but he didnt approach. He wondered if it would be better to stay silent and away.

She meandered in a westerly direction, glad for the range which not only cut the last of the day’s glare but also the view of a particular mountain in the distance. Still, a sense of deepest homesickness welled up within her as she approached the foot of Horizon Ridge. Pie didn’t want to stray any further, so she drew in a breath and prepared to howl after all.

Then Wyvern’s wings beat against the back of her head as the bird took flight with a small cry that echoed off the nearby rockery. Tiuttuk remained still, yellow eyes lifting to follow the nightjar’s flight. Just before Wyvern blurred into the darkness, she swooped. Along with her signature swish, she let out a screech.

It didn’t take Tiuttuk long to see why. Alaric stood just below where the bird now circled. Pie’s breath whooshed out of her as she broke into a run to greet her longtime friend. She didn’t hesitate to come right up to him, tail waving as she nosed at his chin and nearer cheek.

Hey! I was hoping to find you. She bit back the urge to ask about Tiki, focusing on him as she thought about a previous conversation and queried, How’ve you been? Have you traveled any? Traded much?

Alaric cut his eyes at the bird and wondered if Pie would miss it all that much if he made it a meal. He huffed at it. Curled one side of his lip. Just annoyed. He'd never actually hurt the feathery beast.

He blinked as suddenly Pie was in his space. He let her nose at his cheek. Darted his tongue out to lick her nose. A small chuckle.

Hey.

He swallowed. I did. The teekon is quiet. A lot of wolves are just gone. Im not sure what it means.

Her brow furrowed at his report. She immediately thought of Sobeille’s ill-fated family. Had others suffered from similar fates? The thought was so morbid, Pie didn’t want to entertain it. Perhaps some had simply migrated elsewhere. There were myriad reasons for such things. But the news still unsettled her.

I’m not sure what to make of that, though I’m glad you’re still around. Have you seen Tiki lately? she couldn’t resist inquiring. I’ll just be grateful as long as the two of you are okay.

And Sobeille, Cairos, Chireille and Mirelyn, of course. Treepie wished Alaric and her sister would join their little makeshift family, though she didn’t want to compel anyone to do anything they found uncomfortable. And like Alaric, she had picked up on Sobeille’s seeming distrust of men.

It’d actually made her wonder if the woman had noticed her unique anatomy. Tiuttuk certainly hadn’t called attention to it, especially not after what she’d gathered. But she supposed that was neither here nor there, at least not right now when she was trying to focus on Alaric.

Have you still enjoyed the freedom to go wherever you like on a whim? She imagined it was one upside of losing their village. That prompted her to confess, Helping Sobeille take care of her babies has really helped me deal with everything we lost, to the only man she trusted.

Alaric didn't know what had happened. But to say he was not wary would be a lie. He had never went through a wooded area so dense and saw nothing, but prey. It had never happened and he had lived for a while now. He hoped much like Pie, that they had just left. 

She stays around the cliffs and further in the woods. Don't think the sea is her favorite place. But yea she's around. Just quiet. You kinda been busy so we been staying away.

He shook his head. No pie. There is no one to trade with. I have traveled and explored. But I've been mostly just hunting or singing to birds.

His words earned a nonplussed blink of yellow eyes. Pie’s lips parted as an argument sprang to the tip of her tongue. But she pressed them together and thought it over for a moment before saying anything. This gave Alaric a chance to repeat his concern about the ghost town the wilderness had become lately. It clearly perturbed him quite a bit.

I wasn’t a fan of the sea, at first. Actually, Tiuttuk could admit to him, it still isn’t my favorite. But that’s an aside. For the record, I never wanted you to stay away. I’ve been preoccupied with Sobeille and her pups, but I never meant to make you and Tiki feel like you needed to avoid me. I’m really sorry, Alaric. You’re both so important to me and I should’ve done a better job of making sure you knew that…

Her lips pulled into a frown now. Treepie tried to catch his eye, then move in again to offer an apologetic nuzzle to his chin. She was very glad she’d resisted the initial defensiveness because even a brief reflection made her realize just how much she’d neglected her kin. She let out a low whine.

She wanted to argue, but she didn't. Which made him feel a little better. But he didnt know how to tell Pie that he would never be welcome. That she couldn't have him so near if she became a sea queen. Bwcause he couldn't tolerate the mistreatment.

She nuzzled at him again. He bumped her nose gently with his chin. Acknowledging and accepting. 

Pie. You do realize that I can never be a part of that world right? Your friend would not like it and I could not tolerate her low opinion of men.

He seemed receptive to her overture, though he said something that made her go still. Pie hadn’t realized any of that, beyond a passing observation. Alaric spoke as though he knew a great deal more about the culture than she obviously did.

How do you know she has a low opinion of men? she questioned, eyes tracking back and forth across his face. I mean, I’ve picked up on some things, but… tell me what you know, Alaric.

She realized she ought to know more, that she should be asking Sobeille rather than Alaric. But she hadn’t. The truth was that Tiuttuk had asked very few question about where Sobeille had come from, partly because Sapphique had come to such a tragic end, but also because she was far too caught up in the present and future to look too closely into the past.

He didnt mind her words. And he had forgiven her a time ago. But his words seemed to make her quiet. He wondered did she really not know of her friends culture.

I know enough about her culture. They consider men to be lesser than unless born into the pack. They see women as the superior. They are a matriarchal society.

The way Alaric delivered the information, she could tell that he downright disagreed with it. That made sense, considering. Tiuttuk wasn’t entirely sure what to think about it. Of course she didn’t really agree with it either, though she didn’t think such a notion was all that terrible. A lot depended on just how the women of Sapphique treated the men they considered lesser than themselves.

It was a good thing Cairos had been born into the pack, so to speak. Pie blinked as the thought crossed her mind. She realized it wasn’t really a dealbreaker for her, though it certainly presented an impasse as far as Alaric was concerned. He’d already made it clear he couldn’t tolerate being part of such a society.

I haven’t really talked about any of this with Sobeille, to be honest, Tiuttuk admitted. But like I said, I’ve noticed some things. She inhaled, then sighed. I can see why you wouldn’t want any part of that. Maybe there’s some middle ground though. I mean…

She sipped in another breath. She hadn’t explicitly discussed her gender identity with anyone in quite some time. Pie didn’t really want to discuss it now. It had nothing to do with Alaric—there was a good deal of mutual love, respect and trust between them—but with herself. She spent most of her time ignoring her own anatomy into oblivion.

I mean, she hasn’t mistreated me despite having… bits, she pointed out in a bit of a breathy rush. So maybe she’s not like the others. Or maybe it depends on the wolf. I don’t know. I definitely need to talk to her. Not even because of you, just so I better understand the wolf I’m living with, and building a life with, and falling in love with…

Alaric knew that sometimes of the women were fine. Some weren't. Amd he wasnt interested in living a life where he always had to fight to be heard or seen. He was a spotlight kinda wolf frankly. And even as a trader he had never begged. And he wasn't about to start now.

Alaric shook his head. Perhaps with some of the wolves, but not all. And i won't beg to be seen or heard, Pie. I refuse.

Alaric nodded his head. Communication is key in all things.

I get it, she said, voice earnest, and I’ll talk to her about all of it soon, so I’m more informed on where she stands.

And maybe where they stood… on pretty much any- and everything. Pie’s brow furrowed as she sighed through her nose. She hadn’t really realized what a bubble she had been living in lately, until she’d finally walked out of it to find her friends.

But right now, she continued, stowing that thought for later, I’m talking to you. And I feel like it goes without saying, though it can’t hurt to let you know I’ll never look down on men that way. I mean. It would be a little strange for me to take sides, don’t you think?

Seeing as she had one foot in either camp, not that she would’ve believed in a superior sex regardless. Treepie huffed a self-conscious laugh, yellow eyes sliding sideways. As she peered off into the forest, she wondered if Tiki was out there.

Have you seen Tiki much? she wondered, gaze returning to Alaric’s face.

Alaric didn't know if it would matter. He loved Treepie. She was someone he had seen grow into a lovely young woman. But he also knew it was not his place to dictate what she did. And if she chose the life with Sobeille. It was his job to stand aside. He had done his job up to this point. 

Alaric chuckled. Perhaps. But I have seen it before. You don't even realize you're doing it until it's too late. Don't lose yourself Pie, while your taking care of someone else. Okay. There was a warning in his words. Because he had done it. He had been involved and lost himself. 

He shook his head. No she's been staying to herself. She doesn't even sleep in the same space as me. Only near enough that she can see me. And she's gone by the morning.

I won’t, she insisted, feeling a flush of warmth under her skin.

It took her a moment to realize she was starting to feel a little defensive. Treepie took a few breaths, glad she’d already changed the subject even as she realized she’d repeated herself. Alaric didn’t bat an eyelash, offering up some additional information that had her brow furrowing.

Well, I’m glad you see her, at least. Would you care to look for her with me? I owe her an apology too, plus I just want to catch up. I would like, she continued, her pitch and tone indicating that she was thinking aloud, to spend the night with you both. Maybe we can catch up for a few hours, get some sleep, then fetch breakfast together in the morning.

Her eyes flicked to his face, wondering what he made of this agenda. Tiuttuk knew it wasn’t enough, nor was it all she intended to do to bridge this gap she knew she’d let span between the three of them.

And after that, let’s check in and visit every few days—once a week, at the very least, Pie suggested, scanning the dark field before pointing her nose inland.

Alaric had mentioned that Tiki didn’t much like the sea. Though part of Treepie hesitated to venture any further from it—and the grotto that had become the center of her universe—she forced herself to focus. It helped when Wyvern flapped by overhead with a soft screech, as if supporting the search. Her eagle eyes would be helpful out here in the dark.

Want to fade here? :)