Redsand Canyon And I’m backsliding

Another relocation thread! Feel free to have anyone come howl with Alduin! :D

No post order btw!

Setting: Evening — 18:13
Location: Territory #1 Healer’s Pass
Weather: 100F — Cloudy, warm breeze, light/occasional precipitation

It’s been too hot today. Alduin almost hates it, but his coat is thin due to the weather and it brings him relief in some sort of way. Yet, this canyon seems to make the heat bounce off of the oddly shaped walls and right into his dark fur. He’s mesmerized by this place — so different from the strath that he hardly knows what to do with himself. 

So despite his fear of wandering alone since the attack, he prances along all the way up to Healer’s Pass. He likes the contrast of the evergreen trees and the scarlet rocks and sand. It’s interesting. 

He climbs his fat body up onto rocks, specifically a ledge that overlooks a quarter of the northern territory. His heart swells, but he doesn’t know why. This place is unknown to him, but an aggressively possessive feeling overcomes the small wolf. 

This place is his now, just as the Strath was. So he tilts his giant head up, short snout moving skyward, and dark lips shaping into an oval. Alduin let’s loose the biggest howl he can manage. Laying his own claim on this land. 

Mine. 

Nyra herself is out and about, rubbing her scent into the canyon as well as piss marking.

Seeing young Alduin scamper off, she follows some ways behind, keeping a protective eye on the prince. 
As she watches him climb the rocks and start howling, Nyra climbs up easily and releases her own skyward howl, a booming and ethereal sound.

Ours. Land of the Saints.

The move was inevitable. The enemies that The Saints had acquired had not been forgotten. A specific one which fueled their move from the cannons in the first place. Now, far larger then they were once before, The Saints moved east to reclaim their lost home and with it, revenge.

Would Ursus have survived still, when so many other packs had faltered? Were their ranks larger now, too?

Hemlocke was not certain. None were, as far as he knew. Not until they explored, not until they infiltrated.

For now, the Hellhound finds security in a land he had once enjoyed, the Healer's Pass and as the day moves on he hunters down, hidden away from the sun and heat in small space formed by a collection of rocks. Utop those rocks comes one of their young, to howl out in claim of their home. Then Nyra, above too, the shadow hears.

Hemlocke does not exit to join them. He cannot. So from the shadows of the den opening, he joins them in song.

Finally, home at last.

As nice as the Strath had been, nothing could compare to her beloved canyons and red sand. Leigh hadn't had the opportunity to spend much time in the area before the Saints packed up and left, so she felt nothing but satisfaction being back. And this time, no matter what Kynareth decided, she wasn't going to leave.

She followed closely behind Nyra, and unfortunately, the little brindled and pudgy pup. The woman had mixed feelings about Alduin in particular. His siblings all looked like a perfect mix between their mother and father. But this grey little rat was the exception, and Leigh couldn't help but feel both intrigued and repulsed. Though, his little attempt at a howl was quite entertaining. At least the kid tried.

Upon catching up to the pair, with the faintest turn of the head she caught the familiar eyes of her hellhound friend. A certain sadness stung her heart, for she wished there was something she could have done to block out the damn sun and allow Hemlocke to come join. But such a wish could not be granted, so the most she could do now was offer a smile.

Turning her gaze back towards those she stood alongside, Leigh thought she might as well have a little fun. Pressing her paw into the ground, picking up any speck of red sand she possibly could, the woman proceeded to simply smear the dust down Alduin's back, all while wearing a proud and snarky smile. She wasn't hurting the pup, not really.

Kyn isn’t near the group, but he hears the victorious claiming howls from a few miles away. Instantly, he smiles, dangerous teeth showing at the display of pride. 

He recognizes all of them. Alduin, his lovely first born. Nyra, his ever so helpful and loyal Overseer. Hemlocke, the quiet but always lingering shadow of the Saints. Lastly, Leigh, he knows not that she’s there, but if he’d seen the way she intentionally plays on Alduin’s nerves, he’d smile even harder. Just glad that she wants to associate herself with his pups despite their strained relationship. 

So without hesitating, he tilts his muzzle up and let’s loose a howl himself. The sound of his prideful song echoing across the scarlet walls and rolling off the dunes of sand. He’s back in his canyon. He’s back home.

When Alduin howls, he doesn’t expect the rest to join him. Hesitating for a moment and looking over to his right at Nyra. Then towards the left as he hears another howl that comes from out of nowhere. He also feels pride swell in his chest. He feels like a leader and it feels intoxicating. He feels like he owns this place. It’s then that the thought strikes him. He will own this place. When he’s bigger, stronger, smarter, he will replace his father at the helm of the Saints and he doesn’t care what he has to do to do it. 

He’s pulled from these thoughts, too grim and determined for a wolf his age, by the sounds of footsteps beside him. Then a paw is being smoothed down his back and his fur stands on end. Ever since the attack he’s hated touch. Only sometimes accepting it from his parents and brothers now. So when he peers up through furrowed brows to see Leigh with a teasing grin on her face his ears shift backwards with irritation. 

He remembers when he bounded up towards her to nibble at her paws and jump on her chest. He feels things for her, just as he does the rest of his pack, but now…now it’s harder for him to show it — love — more specifically. 

So he wills himself to cool down, taking a breath while he looks up to her. He allows a small smile to come to his face, just as devilish as hers — as his fathers. And then he leaps, moving towards her and tries his best to playfully bite at her legs. Even going as far as to attempt to jump up and nip at her throat, just as Derg taught him.

But he quickly gets distracted and falls to his feet once more before looking out into the canyon. His mother. Oh, her song sounds beautiful. So, for once, in a long while, he smiles. Looking down upon the canyon of red. 

This place is his.

The harbinger hated it here so far. It was much too warm for her thick, northern coat, and she was having trouble keeping the damn red sand from defacing her snow-white fur. Luckily, she knew the area well, which meant she knew where to escape when the heat and dirt got to be too much. 

But no matter how sour her mood currently was, she couldn't hold herself back from joining the howls of her family and pack. 

Tilting her head back, she released a long howl to add to the others. This was home now, whether she liked it or not.

More howls join them, and she feels pride swell in her own chest as everyone adds their voice. 

Meanwhile her own gets louder, prouder.

Long live the Saints!