Lost Creek Hollow but call me home.

Claiming thread, but all welcome :)

From the moment the little band had arrived in the Hollow, they had set to work claiming it for their own.  There was a good deal of terrain to cover, and the wolves thus far had focused mostly on marking the border to the meadow that carpeted their front door.  Harlyn now wandered along the edge of their claim to the East, marking as she went.  Someone had been along before her not too long ago, for hers was not the only scent that was painted across the edge of the trees.  It smelled of Andalusia, but also a bit of Luke and of Mordecai.  She smiled softly to herself as the wonder of what they were doing together struck her.  The dreams she'd always had of her future - it was all happening right now.

Harlyn paused in her work to tilt her head skyward.  For no reason at all except for the sheer excitement of it all, the druid raised her voice to sing of her happiness to whoever wanted to listen.  Certainly her packmates would hear her, but she hoped also that it would serve as a statement to any other wolves in the area that they were there - whether that would be translated as stay away or come join us simply depended on who was listening.

Andalusia was near when Harlyn lifted her melody to the air. The power of the single note stopped her in her own contribution to claiming the Hollow, and she inclined her ear to consider. She was not close enough to see the dark woman, but she didn't need to see in order to catch the clear resonance of excitement and expectation. The chorus drove deep into Andalusia and set her veins on veins.

A buzz with new energy, she couldn't control herself. A laugh bounced from her throat, giddy with the overflow of her own excitement. Rarely did she let herself go like this, but the moment sparked in her a joy she couldn't ignore. These wolves were her home now, and would remain so for as long as the Hollow stood. Harlyn's lone voice called for celebration, and Andalusia tilted her head to the sky to join her own delight to the fullness of Harlyn's, unabashed.

Acting as though this is Quill's first go here!

New to these Valleys, and so curious to know them, the dispersal wolf was intrigued upon hearing the call of another. It was the hint of a claim, and Quill was no longer inclined to endure what wolves without packs would. Food was harder to come by, and although it was soon Summer, Fall would be upon them and then with its impossible quickness, Winter. The lone agouti woman felt it better to find wolves she'd prefer in her company now than later when she had nothing to offer but her bones.

Quill lifted her head, howling in return, the note low in pitch, wondering if she could join them in the depths of the Hollow she lurked outside of. Her tail was still behind her, ears flat against her head; she knew the answer could be know, and if that were the case she would run.

The blue-nosed wolf was making a pass around the borders, laying down more scent markers as the band of companions prepared to make their official claim; prepared to become a pack. He was just hiking a leg against a tree when Harlyn's song went up, one of cheer and anticipation. He started to swing his tail, and as soon as he finished dousing the tree he threw his head back and howled his own song of happiness and excitement, along with Andalusia and... wait a moment. He paused mid-way in his howl, realizing there was a voice among them he did not recognize.

Luke's ears swiveled as he sought to pinpoint the location of this new caller, and once he had done so, he set out to find them. It took him several minutes, no more, for he was not far from them, and he approached with tail waving. "Hey! Looking for a home?" Straight to business.

 Woohoo!  We gots a party now :D  A little PP, hope that's alright @Andalusia !  

Harlyn's voice gained strength when she heard another join her.  Instantly, she recognized Andalusia, and apparently not too far enough.  For a moment, they sang together until Luke joined them, and again the druid felt a throb of joy in her heart.  She was content to spend a few moments simply singing together - hoping actually that soon enough Mordecai would join.  But the voice that joined them was not one she recognized at all, and the falter of Luke's song caused her to quickly set to worry.

Harlyn let her song fade as she turned to steer herself in the direction of the unknown call.  She traveled for only a few minutes before she happened upon Andalusia, and though she was pleased to see the woman, Luke and the stranger were still very much on her mind.  "Hey!  Did you hear the other wolf?" Harlyn asked hurriedly, knowing already the answer.  She gestured with her muzzle then for the Ostrega to join her, and she then picked up her pace again to continue seeking out her other packmate.

It's all good! (: Though I think I might have done the same with Harlyn here, so I hope a little PP is alright with you, too xD

Their song grew in strength and number, with Luke's voice adding to the chorus. Andalusia expected Mordecai to join them any moment to complete their quartet, but when a fourth howl rose, the note was not his, and their trio of voices - hers included - wavered to a stop.

The resounding echoes faded and a hush filled the Hollow. Andalusia steered her attention in the direction the call had sounded and pressed her ears forward. Save for the ambience of the forest, there came no further sound, until a rhythm of steps behind her alerted her to another's approach.

Andalusia turned and confirmed Harlyn's query with a short nod. "Don't think anyone missed it." She assumed Luke had heard it, too, for his howl had been the first to stop. Andalusia quickly fell in step with the darker woman and followed her through the trees. There had been nothing unsettling about the stranger's call, and curiosity remained her driving force. Theirs was a new scent to this part of the Wilds. Of course wolves would meet them with intrigue. Whether enemy or ally had yet to be determined, and Andalusia reserved her judgement for when they met the stranger face to face.

Soon enough she caught a flash of Luke's fur between the trees and, just beyond him, the tawny form of the stranger. Her tail rose like Luke's, and held a curious wave. Nothing seemed out of place, but better to be certain. Her gaze flicked over the tawny woman with interest, and she slowed her steps to allow Harlyn to approach first if she wished. Andalusia would follow, right on her hocks.

Quill was approached by a white wolf with a distinctly blue nose, which she stared at perhaps longer than she ought to. When he spoke the tawny woman remembered herself and crouched deferentially, looking aside so he could know she meant no harm. It took a moment to recognize what he said, if only because she had been caught off-guard by his appearance, but when she figured it out she looked back to him (sure not to look him in the eye all the while).

"I am," she revealed, smiling thinly. While she was sure of this, she was not so sure that they were looking for others to join them. The woman had met many who were at capacity and so could not welcome her into the fold. Soon two others approached and out of instinct, she crouched even lower to the earth. The lone-wolf wanted no trouble, only a home.

She crouched, and cast her eyes aside in a distinct and strong display of respectful submission. He grinned when she confirmed she was looking for a home. "Great!" He chirped, and was about to speak further, when they were joined by Harlyn and Andalusia. She crouched further, and he chuckled softly. "You can relax," he said, encouraging her to do so with a gentle smile. Her deference had been appreciated, but it was no longer required, so felt he. "I'm Luke. There's a new pack in the midst of forming here, with Harlyn," he gestured to his companion with his muzzle, "leading it." He spoke no more then, looking to the druid for her to take the floor in this encounter.

Andalusia confirmed that she'd heard it too, and swiftly the pair of them set off to find the unknown howler.

It didn't take too long before she came across Luke and the stranger.  Her gaze shifted over the other wolf's respectful posture and she heard Luke's comments.  She smiled kindly at the wolf and gave a gentle nod to encourage her to relax.  "I didn't get your name?" Harlyn said, canting her head slightly.

Andalusia eased up beside Harlyn and lowered to her haunches. Her attention remained fixed on the newcomer, but unlike her two companions, Andalusia held her tongue. Too many voices would overwhelm any wolf, and the tawny woman already looked timid as it was. Andalusia was content to remain a silent presence and allow Harlyn to speak unless otherwise called upon to act.

The touch of a smile broke Andalusia's face in response to the show of respect and right behaviour practiced by the tawny. She was wise in her bearing, a good sign on all accounts. The Ostrega danced her gaze to Luke and Harlyn before settling back upon the newcomer, interest piqued for her potential to join them.

His words told her to relax, and so she did as best as she could. Her posture eased up only some, though when he told her of Harlyn's station she became all the more deferential again. Luke, Harlyn... and, whoever this third stranger was. They were all easy on the eyes, but Luke was the only pale one and also the most vocal. She was drawn to him for that reason alone, but only in the way of friends. First to greet her and even first to welcome her. He must know his leader well enough to assume he'd be okay with her being here... and really, the tawny woman—Harlyn—didn't seem agitated by her presence.

Ah, yes. "Quill," she greeted warmly. The Endore looked to the group. "You... have room for one more?" The season had been a profitable one and fortunately, the desperation of Winter had yet to come. That being said she could only hope others were more susceptible to opening their door to her. She'd be a helpful number, at the least, not at all useless. But she had no true special talents to contribute. No medicinal knowledge, no warrior-stories... but she was a good runner, and had a keen memory.

Bit of a cameo because I had no idea this was happening lmao.

He had been trailing after them for some time, directed initially by Mordecai. But when Rio lost the man's scent, he just kept heading in one direction; seeking out the scents of wolves was the opposite of what he had been doing all year, and it still made the fur of his spine prickle with unease. He had bedded for a quick few hours of shut-eye, then roused himself groggily to pursue them further - not wanting to lose their trail or fall too far behind. He was half-awake, drifting, when the howl rose in the distance. A part of him wanted to raise a song as well, to sing in unison, but Riordan hadn't met them yet - not most of them anyway - and felt it wasn't his place. Instead, he sought out the direction the call had originated, and began to march once more.

Sorry for the wait!

She introduced herself as Quill, to which Luke's lips turned upward in a brighter smile as his tail drummed the ground in welcoming. She queried if they had room for one more. "Of course!" he blurted out, the cadence of his tail-drumming increasing until he realized that he had spoke out of turn. Just a moment earlier he had handed the reigns to his leader and dear companion, only to let his excitement at the prospect of a new recruit get the best of him. He cast Harlyn a sheepish smile, head ducking slightly as he sank to his haunches. He curled his tail about him, and stepped on it to stop it.

I'm gonna slap an ending on this since it's been a while! :)

The girl shared her name and Harlyn shared another smile.  She was a quiet one, sweet and young and expressive even in her meekness.  She asked next if the pack had room for her, and though the druid had already made up her mind, it was Luke who blurted out a response even before she could say the same.  She gave him a bemused smirk before turning back to Quill.

"We do," Harlyn confirmed with a soft smile and a wag of her tail, "And you are more than welcome to join us.  As he said already, I'm Harlyn, this is Luke, and this is Andalusia.  I lead this pack alongside my paramour, Mordecai,"  She gestured to her packmates as she introduced/re-introduced them, briefly wondering at how Luke would tease her over referring to Mordecai as her "paramour".  "Welcome to Lost Creek Hollow," she said finally in a manner reminiscent of John Hammond introducing Jurassic Park, returning her sight to rest upon Quill.

The girl seemed grateful, and after a few moments of wolfish getting-to-know-you sniffs and nudges, the trio set off to hunt in celebration of their new home.