Wheeling Gull Isle you know that you have seen this all before

please let @Hide post first!

Orochi wasn't looking forward to returning to the island. He had set the bar high when he accepted this mission. Coming back with the assailants was the goal, and if not that it was giving them a hell of a fight. Three months had passed and there wasn't much progress. They had to go back to Yuelong eventually. Recuperate and try again. Orochi was hoping it wouldn't have to come to that.

We're here, he announced to Hide when they reached the end of the land bridge. Orochi shifted to the side so him and Hide were shoulder to shoulder. A mixture of anger, nervousness, and disappointment made his stomach flip. Being close to his companion gave him a bit of comfort.

Orochi sighed deeply before lifting his head to howl.

The journey here had been long and grueling, but Hide didn't mind. It was an adventure, and he really enjoyed being around Orochi more and more each day. He did feel bad that they didn't find the wolves they were looking for, but he didn't think Orochi's pack would mind too much. As far as he knew, they weren't bad. 

He paused when the other boy did, blinking clouded eyes and scenting the air. Salty and fresh and comforting, in a way - the ground underfoot was shifting and soft. 

Brushing his side along Orochi's, Hide let their guard hairs touch as they waited. It was grounding for him, and perhaps grounding for Orochi, too. He was excited to meet his friend's family.

The howl was... well, somehow both expected and unexpected. For a long time she had hoped the general might come home; time had passed, Huā had appointed a new general, and waited and waited. And now he was here, presumably with news on Merrick and his whereabouts, any information on him. Huā was quick to rise and quicker to make her way to the shore, blinking as if it was a dream when she laid eyes on Orochi... and a red friend, whose eyes were ghostly. She regarded Orochi kindly, uncaring if he would be disgusting, planting a polite kiss on his cheek if allowed. She pulled away, smiling brightly. Orochi, I am so happy to see you. And this is, ah? She questioned, gesturing to the stranger.

In reality the wait wasn't too long, but it felt like an eternity to him. He was constantly on the lookout for Ying. The thought of seeing her made him nervous, and the thought of telling her about his failure made him ashamed.

Ying didn't come. It was Huā who greeted the duo at the borders. Not expected, but not surprising either. She was the one that ran the place anyways. If that wasn't the case he would've snapped at her for touching him. A brief grimace would have to do. 

Orochi was more than willing to dance around the mission's results. This is Hide, he blurted before glancing between the both of them. He's my, uh, friend.

A woman's voice sounded nearby and Hide jumped a bit. The ocean was a continuous sound in the background, wooshing and loud and a bit annoying to Hide's ears if he was being honest. But this was where Orochi lived, and... well, that meant this was where Hide lived now too. 

It wasn't odd that that was the first thing the woman inquired about though. He must have looked odd, spiky and red and disheveled next to her soldier. 

"Uh, Hide Kajiura," he introduced on his own, smiling at his companion's hurried introduction. "I've been traveling with Orochi for a few months now."

Wow, okay. A lot to unpack here. First of all, somehow telling Orochi that there was a new general. Two, letting him know what happened to Ying. Three, somehow explaining the puppy burst around here. Four, checking on mission results. And five... Hide Kajiura. Huā looked between the boys. Hide, are you, ah, staying with us? She questioned, and then to Orochi, Do you learn anything about Merrick or where he is? Her gaze was hopeful, but not demanding- looking at the three-legged yearling now, in comparison to the new seasoned general, she wondered what had inspired her to put a boy in such a condition in such a dangerous role. Perhaps desperate times. It was true; Orochi would likely have to re-prove that he was up for any challenge in spite of his missing limb. Having children had planted a new caution in her heart, and she would not be eager to send Orochi to the front lines of battle anymore.

Of course Hide was staying with them! They'd come all this way together, so why would he leave now? What a dumb question. Orochi almost laughed, but Huās next question stopped that from happening.

The question was bound to come up sooner or later, he just wasn't expecting it to come from Huā. It took him by surprise. I- no. We didn't find any trace of them. Instead of letting the embarrassment consume him (that would come later) he quickly asked. Where is Ying?

He wasn't really sure how to respond to most of what was happening right now. Having been born into a family pack, he'd never had to appeal to an alpha to join. So he simply stuck by Orochi and let him do most of the talking, though he did feel like he had to respond to the are you staying bit. 

"I'd like to," he replied, offering what he hoped was a friendly smile. "I'll do my best to help the pack, if you'd let me." He also felt like he needed to help Orochi with the whole thing about not finding Merrick, but managed not to speak, instead pressing his side more firmly against his friend's for support.

Though typically Huā might assess joiners' skills in one way or another, she did not question Hide- trusting Orochi's judgement, and too afraid to ask if the fogginess of his eyes was the same sort that could be found in those elders who could not see. She nodded simply to his words. Hearing that nothing had been learned of Merrick was- well, dissapointing. But he was a three legged child. Though Orochi might've hated to know it, Huā had lowered her expectations for him a bit below a able-bodied, older warrior. 

As for Ying... Huā lowered her head slightly, solemn. There is... she leave one day on personal trip, come back lost her memory after hitting her head. After this, she is here, but leave us again because she does not know us anymore. Huā's gaze did not meet Orochi's, as it was clear the topic was emotional for her.

The explanation confused him to say the least. Why would she leave in the first place? A mission? For the hell of it? There had to be a reason. And how could someone lose their memory by hitting their head? He's probably gotten hit in the head plenty of times and he didn't suffer the same fate. It must've been a really hard fall.

Orochi wanted to ask all of this, but this news seemed hard for Huā to deliver. Best keep his big mouth shut.

Maybe she'll come back again. A little hope was all he could offer. Or maybe we'll run into her.

Hide didn't have much to say here. There was a wolf who'd lost her memory, forgotten her family, and left because of it. That was... a lot. But he felt like he needed to say something - anything - to try and make the woman feel better. She sounded upset. 

"Yeah, if she lost her memory, she might get it back again," he offered with a smile. That seemed the most logical, right? Maybe she just had a bad injury and needed to recover.

we can wrap this whenever yall are ready <3

 

Both of the boys offered hopeful words; even the usually-difficult Orochi brought some comfort with his optimistic suggestions. Huā just nodded awkwardly, stubborn in her own way to have lost hope, her words- Maybe. Just- keep looking for her, okay? Hell, it didn't need to be active searching like scouts. Just keeping an eye out was enough. 

Obviously wishing to change the topic again, her gaze rose back to Hide, offering a hospitable grin. Anyway, Hide- welcome to Yuèlóng.