Dragoncrest Cliffs Chasing the arrow

Wildfire maintained a low profile ever since her talk with Thuringwethil. When she stayed in the caves—which wasn't often, despite the cold—she hovered at the edge of the group and didn't talk much. If the commander came near of her own volition, Wildfire welcomed her with a hesitant tapping of her black tail, but otherwise she gave the Heda her space.

When Portia went into heat the same day as the ice storm, it was like a special brand of torture. Although the amorous pair withdrew to more private quarters, she couldn't escape the Skayona's scent, nor the knowledge that she and Dio had hidden away to work on Drageda's next generation. Wildfire felt hideously jealous and achingly sad. And she couldn't make a getaway, unless she wanted to risk freezing to death.

A few days after the storm passed, leaving the wilderness dangerously icy and slick, Wildfire couldn't take it any longer. She slipped and slid her way to the beach, a sobbing breath escaping her as soon as she broke free. She felt deeply bitter about the circumstances of her life right now and didn't know how to cope with any of it. But she didn't want to weep about it, like she usually did. She bit her lip so hard it bled, the thread of red freezing against her lip, but at least she didn't break down.

She sat there, glassy chestnut eyes staring out at the sea as the sensation slowly leeched out of her body. Her nose had long since gone numb to the cold, so once again Wildfire was oblivious to the alluring scent lingering in the frigid air: the Skayona's hormones having triggered the return of her heat.

He was no stranger to severe winter conditions, but this? He had never encountered an ice storm this severe before. It frightened the mute, the longevity of this freeze. He worried for the pack, so recently settled on the coast, on the cliffs. He was still adjusting to the sea air.

Despite the ice lining the ground, Hush walked, his paws crunching through the icy snow as he trampled through the territory. It was only with movement that he would stay alive; that was true regardless of the season. He already felt his body warming up as he moved, chasing after something in the bre- wait.

The recognition hit him in an instant. A female was in heat. But it was not just any female: he recognized Wildfire in heat almost immediately. The coywolfdog whined, the noise ending with a sharp, impudent yip. How long did females go into heat for anyway?!

A low whine caused Wildfire's head to snap around in surprise. Her amber eyes narrowed when she spotted Hush further down the beach. Putting her discomfort aside, she rose onto all fours and began moving toward him. Her limbs felt like lead but the movement quickly coaxed some warmth into them. Mindful of the icy conditions, she picked her way closer to her pack mate, wondering if he was hurt somehow.

"Are you all ri—" she opened her mouth to ask when her own scent blustered into her nose. It was the most intense déjà vu of her life. Wildfire's maw remained ajar as she gaped at Hush in silence. Then she emotions started rolling in, of course. Surprise gave way to hope, which quickly gelled into fear that in turn melted into a searing, covetous anger. Then everything bottomed out at once.

Ignoring the rapid flutter of her own pulse—and the whining pack mate standing awkwardly nearby—the Bandrona spun and began running back toward the caves and, more specifically, the commander within. She forgot all about the slickness until her left foreleg gave out beneath her, causing her chin to slam into the ground. Miraculously, she avoided biting her tongue as her teeth clicked noisily together, but she was left with her rump stuck up into the air like an open invitation.

His nose itched and a second sense kept bothering him about it, not ever really letting the thought leave him. Truthfully he'd been wrapped up in Portia's heat, and very, very content to stay there -- warm and cozy in many ways. So much so that he was loathe to leave her company at all, so maybe he delayed the investigation a little longer than truly necessary. Instead he took the time to fill his belly and roused around with his mate.

Eventually it finally bothered him enough and he nudged @Portia, hoping she might stay close and warm somehow. He muttered something about not going far, intending to be right back, and some various complaints about really anything that didn't focus on her right now. He squinted out into the cold and picked his way over the slickness, prickling up his furs and marching on. Grim, new realization started in with just another shift of the wind. Because.. of course. The wocha loosened up, and marched a little faster when he wasn't slipping, not even sure what he'd have to deal with once he got there and knowing full-well it could be a hell of a mess.

dio right now: ( ͡ಠ ʖ̯ ͡ಠ)
you guys can decide if he even gets in sight yet or not but i wanted to get at least a little somethin in here

There are times, here and there, she thinks about the benefits the dragon had once offered them. With the cold taking over, something she doesn’t recall from the previous winter, she wonders if they’d find a warmer spot somewhere on the mountain. With the volcano beneath their very feet, it heats the ground where snow does not live long on the ground. She wonders, especially lately, if it would be different there than it is here. Most of them stay in the cavern to fight the snow and bitter wind on the outside but the longer they go on, the more on edge they are. If it were to get any worse, Thuringwethil wonders if she’ll eventually end up crazy with all of them.

She shakes her head and shifts, turning to survey those that lingered in the cavern still but she notes Wildfire nowhere to be found. Her survey of the others come to an end and she briefly searches that she can see without drawing any attention to herself but when she can’t find the fiery woman, she begins the tunnel out to their secluded coast. Thuringwethil hugs the corner of stone that leads out to the open, seeing Wildfire in downward dog. Her brows knit together, only to flicker to the other side where Hush lingers. A growl rumbles low in her chest but she trots forward to stand nearby her mate.

Where their last encounter ended awkwardly, this one was bound to be worse. He knew that not the moment Wildfire at last noticed her heat, but when Dio arrived...and then Heda. The male was far off, but Hush's keen eyes sought out his presence, even through the whistling wind. The hybrid began to sink to the ground, his tail tucked between his legs as he whimpered apologetically. But he lay flat against the snow, his stomach bare the moment Heda arrived and snarled at him. His paws rubbed at his nose as he whimpered, knowing that he was breaking many rules by merely being near her.

By the time she rearranged herself into a seated position, rotating her aching jawbone, Dio and Thuringwethil had both appeared on the scene. Wildfire lifted a paw to rub at her chin, starting a little when she felt warm, slick moisture. She held out her toes and saw them smeared with blood. She must have split her chin open on the ice. She winced.

Her chestnut eyes then flicked upward when she remembered herself and her predicament. "Thur," she purled when the commander flanked her. "I fell," she said lamely. "Can you...?" She tipped her head to expose her cut to Thuringwethil. Her eyes rolled sideways, watching as the pale Wocha ventured closer and the ruddy Rauna flattened himself to the beach.

"You should go," she said softly to the mute, gaze shifting back to the Heda's face. "Thur, it's come back. My heat," Captain Obvious Wildfire said. The next several words came out in a breathy rush. "I know the weather's been bad and that we're still getting a foothold but there's plenty of food and it'll be warmer soon and if—" She bit her tongue, not wanting to come across as jealous or petty. But her eyes gave her away as they slid to Dio, whose mate might already be carrying his pups. If they could support the Skayona's pups, why not the Bandrona's as well?

Wildfire paused for several suspenseful beats before finishing in a plaintive rush. "—and I know we fought but I love you and I want to raise a family with you and please, Thur..."

His posture stiffened and every stride had Dio steeling himself for the worst that could possibly await. He knew this could escalate very easily into something very dramatic, and honestly he wanted it to keep it quick if it had to all while knowing how shameless he'd seem once he joined the fray of it all -- Portia's heady scent on his tousled furs and looking to involve himself in Wildfire's as well, as agreed. All of it was tip-toeing on a very delicate line here, and he hoped they could get through it.

Dio's lips peeled back in a silent warning aimed at Hush to make himself scarce, and quickly, likely for his own sake to simplify this. He arrived striding up beside Wildfire opposite Heda. Almost, he'd gone to her side to let the commander be between him and Wildfire, but a sort of hope in trusting her enough to trust him let him do otherwise. That didn't mean he let his guard down about it all yet though, and his perked-up tail lashed slowly.

He made for an anxiously looming sort of sentinel here as the bandrona plead her case, catching the subtle point Wildfire slid her own mate about his. He'd not be denying any of it. While not exactly the perfect timing or the precise plans of his own, Portia would possibly (probably) have his litter soon, so... there was always that. He kept very quiet and measured his breaths, careful about everything here but very, very keen to see it move forward.

Thuringwethil does not have to give the mute a command as Wildfire offers the suggestion and Dio backs it up with a growl. Her slate eyes watch him without expression until he does make his departure, to which her attention returns to her mate but her expression still does not change. She looks at the cut on her chin. It is minor enough that Thuringwethil does not worry about it, maybe not even enough to worry Portia over—considering their current situation—and she glances to Dio while Wildfire pleads her case.

There is a sinking feeling in her stomach that Wildfire’s second heat is more than coincidence and she glances away to the ocean as if it might have an answer. She lingers for a few seconds but she finally nods and looks to the girl. “Yes, but not now,” she says, pausing for a moment with her jaws still started, on edge of her words. “Tonight. We will clean your chin and you will eat something.”

Skipping Hush—if that's not cool, just slap me.

It felt like eons before her mate responded. When she did, Wildfire's heart immediately soared. Thuringwethil laid down some conditions and the Bandrona gushed, "Okay—yes—good!" and then... well, she couldn't contain herself. She reared up and embraced the commander's neck with her forelegs, nosing and licking her while whining happily under her breath. There may have been words of endearment mixed in there but they were mostly obscured by her joyous pants and whimpers.

After a few moments of this, she pushed away and then began running in excited circles, tail low but wiggling as she gradually came nearer to Dio. There was nothing flirtatious about her approach, per se. She just emanated pure, unbridled joy. Wildfire didn't even have time to think of her fears dating back to Goober, nor her concerns about Portia. Her feet leaped with her heart as she continued to prance around and make an ass of herself there on the freezing cold beach.

As he watched Hush carefully with his ears canted at the others, the situation did not escalate to the same chaotic tension as last time. Although he'd prepared for it, he knows to be relieved when it doesn't go south. There remains that worry of why last time couldn't be, but right now, it's so overshadowed that he can't help but feel glad that this seems to go well this time.

Wildfire's joy, when it finally physically skirted close enough to him, is suddenly so impossible to ignore that all sights and senses go right her way with a small jerk of his entire body while she pranced about. It's contagious, too, in several sorts of ways. He soon wanted to move his feet as well. His tail waved, although for him, the motion starts to whip with an anxious lash at times because it's no secret right where his basic thinking wants to be. He's truthfully not very hard to rile these days, either, and snorted softly, daring a quick glance to Thuringwethil when he can.

Hush, being far from a vouyer and already having experienced a similar awkward experience with Wildfire before, knew better than to simply remain. It was bad enough that Wildfire's mate, Heda, was here now, and it was she who had rightful claim over Wildfire's body. He didn't know the specifics of two women mating, but at Dio's recent presence, he knew that it was the Wocha who would sire the new Drageda children. With a chuff, and a soft whine at Heda, Hush stole away, unable to bear the awkward situation anymore.

Hush wiggles out

Do you guys want to continue with one super-long thread or have someone mention it in a fade?

Hush doesn’t linger long after the warning from the other hedonakru. She watches until he disappears, thankful he didn’t put up any objection. The loyal wolf had been quiet lately, something she hadn’t yet addressed, but she leaves it alone for now as Wildfire nearly attacks her with affection. Thuringwethil has to steel herself against the embrace until she backs up and spins, turning into a fiery blur of a wolf.

She offers Dio a quick glance. He’d been happy to offer himself as the sire of their children, even with the tension with Portia and his old brood coming. If both are a success, Wildfire and Portia will likely raise the litters together and the thought gives her a little smile. The wolves of their clan had always been heavily involved in the training of the children, as it had shown in Gyda’s litter—despite the failures most of them turned out to be—but this time they won’t let them go astray. Thuringwethil is more than ready to return to the roots Drageda has set in from generations of Seageda’s past.

I've gone the route of a tasteful fade~ :D

For several moments longer, Wildfire frolicked blithely on the beach. It all came to a rather jarring halt when she slipped on a patch of ice again and went skidding sideways, all four legs tangling hopelessly so that she collapsed in a heap. It all happened so fast that it left her sprawled there, mildly stupefied, blinking her eyes owlishly. She then began slowly unfolding her legs and pushing back to her feet. Despite the abrupt tumble, Wildfire appeared to have sustained nothing worse than a few aches that would likely bloom into bruises in the coming days. One of her elbows appeared to be scratched and bleeding too, though the cold air stopped it from stinging too badly.

Glancing up at her cohorts, the Bandrona grinned sheepishly and assured them, "I meant to do that." She then trotted carefully back toward Thuringwethil and Dio, her black tail snapping to and fro to both indicate her good spirits and help her maintain her balance. A great big breath huffed out of her chest as she sidled up beside the commander, followed by a series of inarticulate but happy noises. Whether it was simply her hormones activating or the pleasure of finally closing in on her lifelong dream, Wildfire couldn't really say. But she was giddy with it.

"Should we go to the caves?" she breathlessly questioned Thuringwethil. The Heda would help tend her wounds (possibly with Portia's assistance?). Although Wildfire could barely stomach the thought of food in her current state of excitement, she knew it would be good to have a meal prior to the exhaustive activities to come later tonight. Her belly dipped and swooped at the thought and she glanced over at Dio, chestnut eyes smoldering a little bit, before directing her attention to the commander. "I'm ready," she declared simply and softly.

Hips swaying and tail spinning—which incidentally caused her delectable scent to spread everywhere—the Bandrona began to prance in the direction of the nearest entrance. When the big moment came, she would be freshly groomed and well-fed. Thuringwethil would stay close by. The coupling would be awkward but sweet, though whatever emotions Wildfire experienced would be directed at her wife rather than her physical partner. And it was into the Heda's arms she would be gleefully swept afterward.