Whitebark Stream The river will be your eyes and ears.

As Artyom and his family are withdrawing from the game for the time being, I wanted to conclude their WBS chapter. While we haven't worked out the finer details, they will be relocating off map and we wanted to open this up to offer the option of having your characters follow or be separated by the flood. Thanks for sticking with us (sorry if I missed anyone) for all this time. Also if anyone wants to take over as leader and relocate, please feel free! <3

@Dawn @Kaori @Germanicus @Taikon @Meadow @Surya @Storm @Frost @Kiyoshi @Toshi @Chai @Daylily @Eights

When the rains came, they did not cease for long. Downpour after downpour, each heavier than before, battered Whitebark's territory with unrelenting force. Thunder rumbled often and the sun, darkened by angered cloud, failed to shed much light on them.

Artyom worried, of course. He ventured beyond their claim numerous times to search for higher ground should the need to rendezvous arise, but the flatlands seemed to stretch on for miles in the only safe direction he could look.

"Find us to the East," came his rallying cry when at last the banks could not support an increasing volume, and began to overflow. "Hurry!"

He ushered his mate and cubs ahead while he trailed at the rear, sure to keep their tails in view but eyes searching frantically for straggling pack-mates. Artyom encouraged those he found to stay close, to stay alert, and take care of each other.

When they found shelter at last, the gilded ranger took some time to rest with his mate. He confided in her and they discussed their concerns, their reluctance to go back anytime soon. In recent months, Whitebark had not treated them kindly, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the territory had dealt them such poor luck to encourage its wolves to move on. The overflowing river came as its final warning.

But where could they go? To Legion, maybe? Artyom frowned at the consideration, sure that the sharp Arbiter would not receive him well. To the mountains, perhaps, where Reiko and her family lived? He and Dawn spent long days at their rendezvous trying to make a decision, calling and waiting out the storms in the hope that any stray companions would catch up to them sooner rather than later.

"We will keep going this way," he shared with their friends, with their cubs, and looked to Dawn in search of her quiet, never-ending support. He offered a small, watery smile to her and lifted his chin, pointed his ivory snout in the direction where he hoped far greater things were waiting for them.