Sleepy Fox Hollow dreamers, they never learn

Despite the guilt and shame and myriad other negative emotions she felt, there was no doubt to the reduced weight upon her shoulders—a palpable relief. No longer would she be responsible for all others; no longer would her failures be so magnified. She could fade into the backdrop again, dedicate herself to her gods and the poisons and. . .

Mou. @Titmouse walked beside Maegi up the mountains, the pair staying shoulder-to-shoulder for most of the way. She was grateful beyond measure for his presence, even more than usual, and clung to him. Out of anyone and everyone, he grounded her the most. He kept her going.

And then there was the ruddy form of @Elfie, whom Maegi had taken under her wing recently. She wondered from time to time if (more likely when) he would depart like the other youngsters. But she tried not to think about it much. She would enjoy his presence for however long it lasted, and would see him off with a smile, as she had Scarab (Khepri?) and Minnow.

And Moonshadow. . . She had gone with her brood to Rusalka, and it was a punch in the gut. To be separated from one of her closest, longest friends, because of her own failures. . .

Ah, well. Plenty of time to think and cry and fume on that later. Now, she needed to find a home for her remaining group.

Diaspora was in a different place than before, but it wasn't too bad—the new territory was closer, at least. Maegi stopped a good distance from the borders and tipped back her muzzle, calling for @Mahler and @Takiyok. She smiled at her ragtag gang of wolves and pressed her nose into Mou's ruff, steadying herself in his scent.

A new, fresh start; a chance to atone for her sins.

And yet, Shadow Mountain loomed nearby, and she couldn't help but feel (despite a lack of evidence beyond supposition) that her troubles were far from over.

Making some assumptions -- let me know if any of this is wrong. Also staying slightly vague.

that which had transpired with the foxfire had left a bitterness in mahler that he could not shake. around the edges of the hollow he prowled, pushing his barely-healed senses to their limitations while he searched for a way to forgive his failings. mahler weakened on the second patrol, swearing darkly as he forced himself to consume snow and lie himself down for a time. diaspora may have had a besiegte for a leader as of late, but he would not allow them to also have a dead one.
the voice that rose up over the crumbled peaks was familiar, and he lifted his sulking head to listen more clearly. maegi, of blackfeather. guilt again sprung up that he had not visited her again, but the ailment — "bah!" mahler spat, gathering himself up and trudging quickly through the snow to greet the princess.
maegi was not alone; an equally scarred male stood alongside her, the two of them clearly paired in some way. ignoring the spate of jealousy that flared — not of the situation at hand, but that he himself remained alone through his poor choices — mahler lifted his chin, regarding them both with a questing look. "it is good to see you vell, maegi," the gargoyle murmured, falling silent then.

She had been tracking the General, sickness still mixing with his scent. She wanted to check on him, make sure he was getting better. He had been so ill, that fear had started to creep into the back of her mind, telling her that she might lose yet another loved one. She wasn't sure she could take anymore loss. Stigmata and Tahani were gone, nearly all of her children were missing, and the loss of Mahler would surely be the final straw; she had persevered through so much, but she was reaching her limit. 

The call made her pause just briefly before making her way to the borders. When she arrived, she was happy to see that Mahler was already there. Her gaze found the familiar face of Maegi as she came to stand at the other leader's side. She offered a stiff nod to the pair in greeting. Maegi, what brings you here? she asked. Hope bloomed in her chest—maybe she had news of one of her missing children? The Kapitän had continued to search every day, but still had found nothing.

It had been bittersweet to leave the forest behind; it felt wrong in some way, although he did it willingly and would not look back after. He followed Maegi's lead. Even if she did not believe herself to be strong enough, good enough, or wise enough—he would follow her anywhere. And, away they went together.

As they came upon the claim Titmouse could not help but feel uneasy. He did not know these people and he felt dread sneaking in between the cracks of his silent veneer. More than that, the scent of the mountain made his fur bristle; he remembered these scents from when he'd been accosted by the Moonspear wolves, and while that had been a long-ago event, the smallest things triggered his memory of the ordeal. He was, therefore, quite nervous.

And then a dark shape materialized and all that Titmouse could think of was Hydra, so out of concern for his beloved the ghost moved swiftly from her side to her shoulder, cutting across her path defensively until there came a second body, and words were spoken. With a little bit of urging from his partner, Titmouse relented and fell away to Maegi's side, watching the two others carefully with one eye and pivoting ears, thoroughly wary of a double-cross.

Mahler came first, and then Takiyok. Mou began to posture, and she tensed up, murmuring, It's okay, it's okay, to her mate. I know them. They're allies. Eventually, he relented, but the tone had been set; what might have been a seamless transition was now a little stilted. She didn't blame Mou for it, of course. They were all on edge.

And you, Mahler, she replied, giving the man a small nod, then turned to address the both of them. Blackfeather Woods is no more. I am not fit to lead, and our numbers diminished to nothing. I've come to ask if what remains of my family can become part of Diaspora.

She gestured with pointed muzzle to each wolf in turn. This is Mou, Maegi introduced, unsure of whether his full name would be recognized (and cause strife), and Elfie. She beckoned the boy closer, knowing he must feel the same awkwardness and perhaps even many times what the adults did. The rest disappeared or departed. Or died.

Maegi shifted to fully face the leadership of Diaspora again, face a blank slate as she waited for their response.

Elfie frequently lost track of time. Day and night sometimes changed one another at a blink of an eye. He frequently got lost in the forest and eventually he was quietly tagging along Maegi, wherever she went. His instinct of knowing, when she was about to go somewhere, was uncanning. And when she stayed in one place, moved or talked with someone, his eyes would be fixed on her. Watching. Waiting. 

He had attempted to tell his name at some point, though he had forgotten how and when it had happened. He still believed that Maegi was an angel, it would be no wonder that she knew. Simply knew. His thoughts were hard to collect. Sometimes they followed a logical pattern and during other they went in a free-fall. Words, numbers, images, emotions - all in one big jumble and he in the middle. Frozen and observing, but unable to stop it or change it. 

When he had been told about leaving, he had not asked why and where to. All that had mattered was that Maegi would be there. For her he would follow to the end of the world. He sometimes thought of someone else as well, but he could not longer put a name to that face and as more days passed that face became one with Maegi's. There were some differences, but he did not trust his mind to be right about many things anymore. Many things did not feel real, while the girl, who had saved his life, was. 

So, while Maegi took the reins of discussion in her paws, Elfie stood a little behind her. Quiet, impassive, watching the two wolves, who had come to greet them, but not contributing anything.

You can add Elfie to the ranks.

his stone gaze traveled over the other wolves maegi indicated: the man at her side called mou, who had seen fit to move sharply, and the standoffish young one named elfie. mou garnered a harder stare, a silent lift of mahler's lip in warning. this would not be a repeat of the rudeness shown to them by the melonii.
pleased that the princess had come to find him, relieved she had not succumbed to any of the land's more fatal changes, the general nodded, expression thawing as he turned his attention to takiyok.
"i speak for maegi, and for anyone she has brought to our borders." a simple statement; he did not at this current time wish to get into how he knew the girl, for fear of inspiring suspicion, but it appeared that the winterwhite knew the young woman as well.
"perhaps more vill make their vay here also," he ventured, falling into a warm silence as he waited for takiyok to speak.
in the interim, mahler focused upon mou once more, silent. trusting that maegi would not have brought a unruhestifter to diaspora, he remained vigilant all the same.

Taki tensed as well, gaze focusing in on the defensive stranger at Maegi's side. But when the woman assured him that there was no danger, he seemed to calm, and Taki relaxed some in response. Her gaze fell to the quiet child, concern crossing her features, but she quickly focused back on Maegi when she began to speak again. She explained that her pack had ceased and she now requested to join their ranks along with the two others that stood with her. 

It wasn't necessary for Mahler to speak on Maegi's behalf; the Kapitän had already met the woman and had no intention of turning her away. She knew what it was to lose a pack, and she, like the General, trusted that the former blackfeather leader wouldn't bring any trouble to Diaspora. She glanced from Maegi to Mahler and then back again, eventually offering a stiff nod. You and your companions can stay here, she offered.

As swiftly as he had transitioned to a defensive and stiff posture, one word from Maegi was all it took for him to ease from that; however he could not uncoil his nerves entirely, and settled in to a middling stance beside her. His one good eye traced the space between each wolf and his ears flicked forwards when the one called Mahler spoke—and then the boy looked to the pale woman as she made her decision (more like agreement) known. Still not wholly satisfied, Mou would not move from his place alongside his beloved without further prompting from her—but when she moved, he would too, in tandem.

She was happy that Mahler was amenable, but at his supposition, her face fell. Maybe, she murmured, sounding for all the world a girl and not the woman she was. She had little faith that those who had dispersed would follow. Why follow such an ineffectual leader?

Takiyok gave an affirmative answer as well. . .so it seemed as if they were welcome. Thank you, Maegi said gratefully, humbling her posture in submission. No more squared shoulders and elevated tails—not with these two, anyway.

It would be a lot to get used to. I think we'll find a place to rest, if you don't mind, she remarked, glancing at her mate for confirmation. It's been a difficult couple of days.

Difficult couple of moons, more like.

"please, make yourselves comfortable," mahler murmured as he stepped aside. he had not missed the shift in maegi's eyes; making a mental note to seek her out in the week that followed, the general glanced first to takiyok, and then let his eyes rest once again on titmouse.
perhaps it was the scathing reaction of his masculine brain, but there was birthed a bias in mahler against the young wolf who was maegi's mate. perhaps distrust. perhaps jealousy, though mahler put to death the notion with promptness.

Elfie stole a wary glance at the tall, dark male that seemed a lot bigger and scarier now that he was so convinced of his own insignificance. He passed him quickly with head hung low and tail tucked tightly against his belly and eased up only, when he had left the two Diaspora wolves behind and was in the silent company of Maegi and her mate. 

He followed them diligently to the place, where the other two decided to rest, and once there, curled up in a tight ball and fell in a dreamless sleep.

Last one from me.

She met the General's gaze briefly before following it to the wolves in front of them. She might also seek Maegi out later, but she would let her get settled first, especially considering she had just lost her pack on top of everything else. She offered a stiff nod in response to the other woman's thanks. Of course.

She would linger only as long as they did. And when she was alone once more, she would wander from the borders to continue her never-ending search.

The leadership gave their assent, and Maegi smiled, relieved. With a quiet glance at Mou and then Elfie, she started forward, heading further into the hollow. The unfamiliar surroundings were jarring; she half expected to see the trees she'd always known loom up before her.

But none of it was known. Nor would it be, for a while—

Yet this was home?

wrapping this here -- will leave open a couple days for others to respond before archiving