so long as you're ok im ok

@Lasher @Harlyn when either of you have time. Luke is just checking in to see if his companions are ok! Anyone other BDP wolves welcome though! :) Ebony, I realize you are on absence until the 30th. I just wanted to get this up!

It had taken him longer than he would have preferred to arrive at the plateau, but to his relief he found it mostly unharmed. The tornado's war path did not arc back to it, and from the outside looking in all he could see were broken branches, nothing too sinister. Still, his heart was sick with concern. He did not know if either his closest companion or his lover were here, safe at home, or if they had been somewhere else, caught in the unmerciful destruction of the lands as he had been.

He still limped, his body still extremely tender from his night in the storm. The gash on his head was still raw and painful, and around it his white fur was tarnished with red. Fortunately, his dizziness had gone, but he was still weary, and hungry. His battered body and injured leg did nothing to help him hunt, and so he had eaten very little. Despite all this, his priority had been his friend's welfare, and so he did not hesitate to throw his head back and howl for them as soon as he reached their pack's borders.

Tired, he sat down to wait.

luke's howl brought taltos to a surprised halt in his patrol. and yet, as he turned to lope in that direction, he recalled how he had invited the pale wolf to meet the members of his family. and so he approached the borders with a mixture of trepidation and delight in his heart, a mingling that was swiftly overcome with horror and fear at the bruised appearance of his lover.

"luke!" the beta exclaimed, drawing close to openly preen the matted fur, wincing at the sight of the open wound upon the pale head. "what has happened?" but even as he asked he recalled the terrifying howling in the night, the rage of a huge and fiery storm, the destruction in the shared lands.

"the storm," taltos whispered. "you did not have shelter from it?" worried eyes searched luke's face.

His head had begun to droop with weariness, but as the wind drifted him the scent of his lover he was quick to lift it, his tiredness all but disappearing as overwhelming relief took its place. Luke battered the ground with his tail as Lasher approached, immediately seeking to caress his injured head with a comforting tongue. Luke whined softly as he nuzzled against the earthen wolf's neck.

Lasher's countenance was awash with concern, and the blue-nosed wolf sought to ease it with an affectionate lick to the beta's nose. "I'm ok," he reassured, for though he bore an open wound and tenderness across most of his body, he knew the words to be true. He would be mended in time. "I was in the forest near to Big Salmon Lake," he explained. "I was bored and picked a fight with a tree. I lost." He chuffed. His joke was not to make light of Lasher's worry, but to further ease it.

He leaned in again, slowly brushing the top of his muzzle against Lasher's jaw. "I was worried about you. I'm glad to see you are safe. Is everyone else?"

taltos sensed the pain in his lover's body, and chuffed lightly beneath his breath. "we are all right. the storm did not seek us in its destruction." a frown furrowed his brow; he bent to perusing the rest of the pale body for hidden injuries. "i am glad you escaped with your life, luke," the earthen man murmured, suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude toward whatever spirits had protected his lover.

"blue willow is a skilled healer. i would like very much for you to stay here until you are mended, with dante's permission." murkwater eyes searched that of the pallid creature, an undertone of pleading beneath the dark green of their depths, and he hoped very much that the man would accept.

The plateau's beta confirmed what he believed he saw: that the worst of the storm had passed them over. He sighed deeply to hear that everyone was ok, for among their ranks was not only his lover here before him but his companion whom had not yet howled nor come to meet him. Perhaps she had not heard him, or perhaps she was out preparing for her own pack.

Lasher pleaded with him to stay, to be tended by his mate. Luke's expression softened into one apologetic. He could not stay, for his heart was drawn north to check on Saena, and for he knew how hard it would be for him to leave Lasher's side when Harlyn called on him. He did not know if he would find a permanent home with her, did not know if he could live apart from the man he was growing so close to, but he felt he should at least help her establish, that he should uphold his promise to do so.

His tongue flicked against Lasher's nose. "I look worse off than I am," he assured. "The wound on my head will close and my leg will not be sore for too long." He smiled warmly, drawing his muzzle to his lover's ear to nuzzled tenderly. "I need to go north. I would like to check on a friend of mine, Saena."

saena. "she is the daughter of peregrine, niece to my mate," lasher murmured softly. "it is a long trek, but i understand that you must go." he kissed gently the pale cheek. "at least allow us to put a poultice upon your wound, and bring you meat, before you depart for the mountains." he fervently wished that the pallid wolf would not begrudge him this, and gathered himself to his paws.

motioning for luke to follow, he intended to lead the man across the borders. whether or not the pale creature remained at the plateau, he wished to be inside the safety of his packlands, as he did not trust that a caldera wolf or one of the flatlands foreigners would not suddenly arrive.

Luke knew that Saena was Peregrine's daughter, but did not know that Lasher's mate was her aunt. His lover kissed his cheek, intent to not let him go without being tended to in some form or fashion. He did not wish to bother the plateau wolves nor take from their stores, though his stomach burned with hunger for his injuries had hindered his own hunting; but he could not turn down yet another of Lasher's requests. "Okay," he conceded with a smile, moving to follow the earthen beta, shoulder to shoulder.

"I met Saena a while ago and developed a sort of instant friendship," he went on to share. "She's a beautiful, ambitious young woman. I hope she fared okay in the storm," his brows furrowed on this thought, concerned for her welfare but also realizing another down side to the wandering life of a loner. He had become attached to wolves who were destined to live apart, whereas if he had been in a pack, his closest ties likely would have lived with him. It pained his heart, and earnestly wished he could scoop them all to him, to live as one pack. It caused a soft sigh to pass his lips.

cannot help self *brief cameo*

Harlyn had heard the call, though it had taken her longer to respond.  The storm had come and gone with little turmoil to the Cinderloch or to the Plateau in general, though its intensity was enough to bring worry to her heart for those away from the pack's borders.  Eagerly, she had abandoned her task when Luke's voice rose upon the wind, and as quick as she could, she had stolen towards the borders only to halt upon the sight of him, conversing with a wolf she did not recognize.

Propriety told her that it was wrong to linger in secret as she did, to spy upon them without their knowledge that she was present.  And yet, the moment she'd spotted them, she'd sensed a heat between them, and the touches given to her friend's ivory frame had frozen her in place.  Something gripped her heart tightly then, and unbidden her hackles raised as her gaze slipped towards the other wolf - a dark wolf whose name she did not know, but whose scent told her he was one of the Plateau.  He spoke then, of a daughter, a niece to his mate... His mate.  And suddenly her memory clicked - Lasher, the pack's beta.  He had announced that day that he and the healer were officially mated, in the presence of all the pack and the children they'd born together.

Harlyn had been upset that day at the announcement.  Upset that the youths had gone so long with their parents little more than close friends.  Later when she had calmed down, her disgust at their lackadaisiacal relationship had subsided.  The children were no doubt loved and happy, a fact that she could not deny having met two of them.  But now suddenly, their father was officially a mate to their mother, and yet he was there, caressing another with such familiarity and affection.

Luke.

Quickly and silently, Harlyn stole away from them both.  She did not trust her thoughts on the subject in that moment, knowing well that her emotions could so easily get the better of her.  And more than that, there grew the dull, stinging suspicion that maybe it wasn't the fact that the beta was being untrue to his mate and children that irked her so... Maybe it was the fact that his tryst was with Luke - Her Luke - that so bothered her.

In any event, like a serpent, the druid slipped away and was gone, her mind spinning with this new information.  Eventually she would calm down, talk herself into assuming that she was being silly and what she'd sensed between them was merely friendship, thus banishing the worry in her heart that Luke was not truly one of hers.  The time was coming soon enough that she and Mordecai would sweep him away with them to the Hollow they'd fallen in love with together, and all thoughts of Lasher and whatever sad, empty role Luke might play in the beta's life would be gone from her dear friend's mind.

small PP to get them to the healing den; PM if that's not okay! <3

"she is both those things, and much more," he agreed, assisting the man across the borders with the help of his shoulder. he did not miss the sigh that passed luke's lips, and dipped his muzzle to brush his maw gently across one pale cheek. the healing den, maintained as a hospital of sorts now that the children had outgrown it, loomed in the distance, planted 'round with summer flowers and overhung with the melancholy beauty of a willow-tree alongside the plateau's stream.

here the beta paused, sending up a brief call for @Blue Willow; if she was near, he had little doubt she would attend luke, and he motioned for the other to sit and rest. pulling away, he salvaged a bit of meat from a nearby cache -- a pair of voles -- and brought them to his lover, smiling encouragingly into luke's handsome face.

Totally fine! The only time I really have issues with PP is in the case of conflict, I don't want someone deciding to tear my character's tail off or something haha :)

His attention was split as they travelled through the territory. At times, his eyes wandered the features of the plateau. He had never preferred places of elevation, but among the trees here he did not feel as though he was above the lowlands. He was surprisingly comfortable as they travelled through the territory, and found himself imagining himself a resident, but he chased the thought away, less it dampen his spirits. The rest of the time, he gazed unabashedly at his lover, fondness evident on his countenance as his eyes roamed the curves of fine muscle.

Lasher brought him to a den nestled beneath a willow, and howled for his mate before gesturing for Luke to sit and rest. The white wolf did as he was bid, choosing a spot beside the water, because of course. His lover fetched him a couple of voles, and he smiled appreciably, his stomach rumbling at the mere sight of food, and his tail drumming his thanks. "Thank you," he murmured, before he plucked a vole and made a note to return this favor, to bring a gift of fish perhaps on his next visit.

Blue Willow was never far from those around her. She barely left the plateau anymore, preferring to stay where she felt safe and at ease. And most of all she feared that she may meet up with Peregrine. And though she loved her adopted brother, she despised his choices. And she feared that it would not end well if they were to meet again. They had last met in friendship and love, and she wished that to stay the last memory of him, if she could.

She heard the call of her mate and lover, and slid along the trees, grasping the herbs she had gathered that day in her maw. She had been sad and anxious, but she had continued to stock her healing den with what she would need for every ail. She slid into the den and looked to the two males and studied the one who was hurt. A wound upon his head still open and raw, and the leg clearly painful as he held it gingerly even while he lay.

Hello there. That head wound you are lucky you made it this far. I assume you had dizziness and nausea? Let me see what I can get you to help with that. She gave him a smile and leaned forward to lick away at the extra blood, to see how large it really was, and she sniffed gently at his leg.

Turning towards the wall of herbs she looked about it. Calculating in her head and mumbling to herself. Cohosh for aches, Willow or Lavender to keep infection out, Goldenrod to stop the bleeding. Grasping what she could she pushed the cohosh and White Willow forward for him to chew, and she gently squashed the goldenrod with a paw and placed it on his head. Soothing it gently down with her muzzle. Hoping she didn't hurt him while she did so.

he watched, pleased that luke had accepted the meal, and beamed fondly at his wife as she bustled onto the scene, her kindly and skilled healing undertoned with her lowly muttered words. she tended luke carefully and lasher knew that the herbs she used would bring solace to the wounded man. he himself slipped away to dip a clump of moss into the plateau's stream, returning some time later to lie it beside luke's foreleg.

"drink," he invited, pausing to kiss the proud curve of blue willow's neck once. "this is the willow, my mate, mother to my children. this is luke, darling woman," he continued, glancing fondly between the pair, one pale, one dark. "he is my lover."

though blue willow had professed her contentment with their arrangement, apprehension briefly flared in taltos' heart -- how would she receive the news, now faced directly with the other creature whom lasher was coming to love?

"Hello," he returned when Lasher's mate came to them. She was an elegant creature, and did not spare much time for formalities before plying her trade. The blue-nosed wolf chuffed in amusement, and quietly allowed her to do what she intended, except to answer her question. "I did at first, but not now," he replied.

She pushed some herbs to him, and he chewed them carefully and thoroughly. Her touch upon his head was was gentle, but by reflex he winced as she applied the goldenrod. Lasher stole away from them for a few minutes, returning with soaked moss, and bidding him to drink as he made proper introductions. Luke drew all the water he could from the moss, then lifted his head to grin foolishly as his lover referred to him as the same.

"I'm delighted to meet you," he addressed Willow. "I do apologize though for putting you to work." He winked as his happy tail swept the ground with its back and forth movements.

Blue did not say anything at first just going about her work, but listened. Smiling briefly, at Lasher's small show of affection. His next words caused her pause, simply because she didn't expect them. She waited for the small flare of resentment or jealousy and she didn't feel it. She had to smile realizing she was truly content with the whole arrangement and briefly proud of herself for being agreeable. She wagged her own tail in response and chuckled softly at his words.

Hello Luke. It is a pleasure to meet you. Lasher has told me of you. I am glad he has found you. She nudged the other wolf gently so as to not jar his head and leg. She also licked Lasher's shoulder as she continued to bustle around.

they accepted one another graciously, warmly, and the tension in lasher's heart melted. "the children are about somewhere, perhaps exploring or hunting," he murmured to the pair. his eyes scanned the surrounding foliage for onlookers or the young faces of his beautiful brood.

"luke is on his way to see that saena is safe," the earthen beta revealed to his mate, motioning at the pallid man. trepidation trudged the edges of his consciousness; he hoped that she was safe, though he did not wish for luke to make the trek in his wounded state.

Luke did not feel the same apprehension that his lover felt, such was his nonchalance in most situations. Nonetheless he felt something akin to relief, a warm acceptance as Willow nudged him after expressing that she was glad they had found each other. He smiled gratefully, his tail drumming the ground once more.

Lasher mentioned Saena, and Luke's brows briefly knitted. "I'm sure she is," he said. He believed those words, even though he worried for her all the same. It could not be helped; his mind guided him most often but his heart still had its own ideas. "I'll go slow, and take it easy," he cast Lasher a look, knowing his lover was concerned with his travelling, and would have preferred he'd stay here.

Blue smiled once more and wagged her tail again before she gathered some more things. She grabbed a nearby leaf and placed the items in it, one of the big leafy fronds that one could find in the fields. It was nice to carry things in. Mostly just willow bark, in case the pain became hard to handle.

Blue huffed gently and turned to look at Luke a severe expression on her face. You sir are going no where, and i will hold you down myself if I have too. You can barely walk, you are lucky you made it this far. Do you realize that if Head wounds go untreated you can bleed inside and die? And exhaustion doesn't help. No sir you need rest at least for a day, preferably two or three, but I have doubts you would agree to such. She stood still watching and waiting. had she been human her hands would have been on her hips.

the beta was content to sit aside and allow the banter between luke and his mate continue, but at blue willow's firm insistence that the pale man remain, tempered with her well-meant scolding, he stepped quietly to her side. "while i wish him to stay also," he rejoined with a fond look directed at luke, "we must trust him to make travel gentle upon his form. i too would like to know that saena fared well."

we cannot lose another, he attempted to convey in his shared gaze with his mate, leaning forward to nudge her cheek before he moved to brush luke's shoulder with his own.

Her coat was as black as a raven's with an envious sheen of blue, but in that moment she had become not a black bird but a hen — a mother hen. Luke leaned back as she gave him a stern talking to, but his brows were lifted and he was grinning foolishly, for he found her strong words amusing and was admittedly a bit surprised they had left her tongue. She was inarguably a woman of deep compassion.

"Yes ma'am!" He found himself relenting immediately. Of course, how on earth could he argue? Lasher stepped to her side and Luke thought he would back his mate up, but instead his eloquent lover sided with his preference of seeking Saena as soon as he was tended to. He breathed a sigh of relief, for he truly did not wish to be delayed in this mission. As Lasher brushed his shoulder, he turned into the earthy beta to leave a gentle nip upon his skin.

"I'll stop frequently and rest," he reassured, "and as soon as I've found her, I'll take a day or two to do nothing but."

Blue huffed gently under her breath and looked both at Lasher and Luke. Turning swiftly away she nodded. So be it. I pray you'll be alright. She looked through her stores again digging small things out and moving them about. She was a bit miffed at both of them, irritated of sorts. She knew what was best, she was the healer and they weren't listening. It also scared her a bit, she did not want to have to deal with the grief that would strike her mate if something were to happen to his lover. 

Blue gave one last look around and realizing she could do nothing else, she shifted to head from the den. She turned her downy head to Luke and studied him for a moment. Drink lots of water Luke. And I hope to see you again. With a soft sigh she nudged both of them and left the darkness of the den. Leaving them to talk amongst themselves.

blue willow grew quietly irate, for though luke had acquiesced, lasher did not wish for him to feel pressed. he deferred to her in all matters of healing, but the pale wolf knew himself. upon his mate's departure, following a low chuff, taltos moved closer to his lover.

he did not speak of the fact that luke had not deigned to join him here; he was content enough for the man's existence alongside him, and silently groomed the short fur upon luke's cheek. "rest when you have reached saena, please," he murmured, knowing the pale girl would not turn luke aside. "your body will be greatly in need of it."

Last post for me :)

Mother hen's ruffled feathers were slow to flatten, but she relented and wished him well and bid him to drink lots of water. He grinned. His affinity for water would serve him well in her request. He returned her nudge with grateful warmth, aware that she was irritated that he would not stay, and hopeful he could make it up to her. He did not question her expertise; but his heart felt strongly in its mission.

She left, and Lasher groomed his cheek. Luke's lead leaned toward him, relishing in the touch. "I promise," he murmured, turning then so he could hold his lover's gaze. "Thank you." He ran his blue tongue across the bridge of Lasher's muzzle as he rose to his feet, and brushed his muzzle along the man's back as he moved past. He departed to the north, then, hopeful that he may find his companion well.

<3

he leant into luke's touch, but with a heavy heart he watched the man depart him. he knew that the pallid wolf would succeed in his trek, but he worried all the same. when luke had disappeared from sight, lasher turned with a sigh, heading for the bosom of blue willow to assuage her fears and perhaps garner warm comfort.