Deepwood Weald Hello

She hadn't planned on following the boys. She had been happy and fine thank you very much. But then she grew jealous of all their possible adventures. And those paws of hers itched and finally she just went on her way. Bid adieu. Carried a pack and hunted on the fly. 

Here she was. Her body a little slimmer. Her eyes a little heavier. You saw somethings when you traveled. Beautiful lovely things. But also horrible heinous things. And she didn't know how to align her thoughts with the two halves of the world. Not to even try and dissect all the gray areas. 

She stared around her and promptly sat down. She was tired. Her paws ached. But she was here in this storied place.

It was only very recently that Easy had realized she'd been blessed with a great many children in her life. Not only born children, but grandchildren as well. The more that cropped up, the more she felt overwhelmed by it — and now she had yet another litter growing in her womb.

Still. It was not so very many that she'd lost track of which ones had come along with her and which ones had not. She'd sent the youngest boys — Lighthawk and Searchlight — back home with a cousin almost a month before, and so the only children that ought to be in the valley right then were Kindle, Katmai, and Valiant. Oh, and Angel Oak, she supposed, and Ponderosa, and... well, perhaps more, but not Dreamgirl.

When Easy caught her daughter's scent, she sent up a quick howl alerting the girl to her presence and began to seek her out. Had something happened at home? Was she alright?

"Dreamer?" she called as the young woman's scent grew stronger. "Is it really you?"

About how long as she been away from home?

Probably only a few moths.i dont know all the history of their family i have to do some reading :)

There were too many children to count. Dreama didn't even know who all was a sibling anymore. She supposed if she sat down and comved through her memories. Oh she'd figure it out. But who wanted to do that right now. Not she. She just wanted to see things.

Black bowed head lifted. Ears perked forward. She recognized the voice. Part of her was angry that her mother had so many of them. Left and had more. Why did she keep replacing. And yet part of her was happy for the family. The noise. 

Hello. Yep it's me.

Easy was not as superstitious as many of their family. If she were, she might have thought that seeing Dreamgirl here was some sort of faerie trick. But she could see her baby girl's eyes and smell her sweet scent and feel the warmth of her when she pressed her cheek to the girl's in greeting.

"I should've guessed I'd find you out here," she said, amused with the tendency of her children and grandchildren (and aunts and uncles) to wander.

Easy sat, settling in to chat.

"Well?" she asked, interested. "Have you had any adventures?"

It was always strange when her children found their legs, and the beings that had depended on her all their lives 'til that point suddenly had lives of their own. She might never know all their stories — but that only made them more incredible in her eyes. How could it be that Dreamgirl was now a woman grown?

A soft press of fur to fur. A gentle warmth. She smelled the scent of her mother and something screwed up inside. And she suddenly wanted to cry. She wasn't sure where that feeling came from. Perhaps it was for being alone for so many months. It had been hard. She wouldn't trade it, but it had been hard. She had met a few along the way. But they had left her at crossroads each time. 

Dreama chuckled and gave a nod. Swallowing the knot deep in her throat. Yea You should've

The next question caught her off guard and she wasn't sure how to answer. She had seen many things, perhaps had an adventure too. Nothing to write home about exactly, but somethings. 

Ive met some interesting wolves along the way. A swamp witch who counted stars. A bog guardian who liked to sing. And I've seen both bad and good things. There's a lot of both of those things out here.

These were not the joyful, exultant stories that Arjun had so often brought back to her. Easy's expression dimmed, wonder replaced by maternal warmth and sorrow. In that moment, her little Dreamer reminded her more of a much younger Valiant. He'd been similarly distressed from his time on his own.

Having Dutch has a travelling partner had improved that melancholy, she recalled.

"There are," she agreed, her voice grave. She remembered the first time she'd seen something she wished she could unsee. Learned something she wished she could unlearn. Experienced something she wished wouldn't have to be a part of her — but she carried it all with her, even to this day.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked her Dreamgirl, her eyes tracing those dark, beloved features. "May I hold you a moment, my girl?"

She always asked first, when it was her daughters. After their first time away. Her boys she would draw swiftly to her, and plant kisses on their handsome faces. But her girls she offered this respect. Sometimes touch was not welcome, and she thought women deserved to make that choice for themselves.

Dreama had her own stories of goodness too. She remembered the time she and another Loner, she couldnt' remember her name. Had been hunting and both had messed up so royally bad they ended up grabbing each other's tails instead of the bunny. And had laughed for what felt like hours. 

A shake of her head. Not really. It was moments of time that were not great, but I had just as many wonderful times too. All learning experiences.

A soft nod. Course you can Mama.

With this permission granted, Easy swept forward to tuck her daughter gently against her plush chest. She smelled almost like a stranger without the cloak of Round Valley on her pelt, but underneath the smell of the wilds, the bright, rich scent of her girl was still present. She tried her hardest to pour all the love she felt into this embrace, holding on until she sensed that Dreama was done with it.

"I've been visiting with our cousin, Valiant," she told the girl, pointing out the jutting mountains of the spine for her to see. "But your brother and Katmai are just a little further out. I'm going to stop by and see them before I head back for the Valley."

She hoped that Dreamgirl would find their family out here, or at least a friend her age. In her heart of hearts, Easy wished that Dreamgirl would simply return to Round Valley at her side — but she would not ask this of any of her children. They were wanderers, each and every one of them.

"Are you traveling with anyone?" she asked, trying not to sound too pointed. She would never insist on them returning home, much less on them staying there! But she always begged them not to go it alone.

This was one of those "do as I say, not as I do" situations, of course, as much as she tried to lead by example.

She melted into the embrace. her mother smelled of well home and her own unique scent. It curled around her more potent than the hug. And it would linger long after they parted. There was nothing quite like a mother's scent to make your day a little better. It was comforting. 

She followed her mother's gaze. She did not know if she would want to see Valiant or Katmai or Kindle. She felt that perhaps she wanted to make her own ways. But what that meant. She didn't know. 

A soft little smile. Endearing and a bit sheepish. Naw. I have traveled on and off with a few, but we always went our separate ways.

Her Dreamgirl was noncommittal, and apparently unconcerned with her lonesome state. Easy tried to take this in stride, though she couldn't help the slight purse of her lips. Her daughters were all quite stubborn, each in their own special way, and she'd learned to live with it.

"I hope that you will find wolves to stick with," she said, trying to be encouraging without being overbearing. "I worry about you all, wandering out here alone. The blessings won't take if you don't travel with a companion." How couldn't she fret? But she waved the matter aside; Dreamgirl would do as she would.

Dreama didn't like to be alone per say. But she had done it so much now it seemed almost normal to do so. But she did know that she would need to find a pack for the winter at least. She could see a little of her mother's distaste with her choices. But she simply gave an impish smile and blinked her eyes innocently. 

I do plan to find a pack before winter falls fully on us. I promise.

Dreama chuckled. You worry too much. Though I suppose that's part of being a mom.

The matriarch allowed this promise to comfort her, though she worried that the choice might somehow be taken away from her wandering girl. That was life, though — and Easy had survived plenty of time on her own. She didn't wish it for her daughter, but she knew that Dreamgirl was strong enough to weather it.

"It is," she sighed, a weary smile on her face. "I pray that, if you choose to have children, they are all content to stay close to home. But I am sure that my father wished that for me, and his parents for him."

There was a warm glimmer in her pumpkin eyes.

"Have you met any handsome boys?" she asked then, cheeky now.

Dreama planned fu lly to find a pack. Even if she had to take up residence with Kindle and Katmai, much to her irritation. Those stinky family members of hers. She smiled softly.

Dreama chuckled. No I haven't. I've only met a few loners and we weren't together long. And most of them were stinky and annoying. Boys really stink sometimes mom. Like really bad.

Easy chuckled at this declaration and claimed, "I never found a need to keep one around."

She was not talking about her sons, however.

"I know you will find the company you are meant to keep," she went on, her voice gentling. She looked tenderly at her daughter, so strong and independent already. She liked to think that Dreamgirl took after her in that way, though her pelt carried the color of her wolfdog grandmother. Perhaps even a little of Akuti's blood was not a bad thing.

"When you find your place to settle, you must tell someone," she pleaded, a sudden fear gripping her. She did not know what had become of Mirza or Sumac, and it had so often pained her. "From Round Valley, or from Moonglow, or your brother and Katmai."

Her eyes traced Dreamgirl's beloved features, and she tried to calm herself.

"Will you promise me?" she asked.