Nimbus Summit Kaujik

Okay to get this timeline, I believe this one should be set about 1 week ago. Then it'll give them time to travel back. Sorry I've been a touch chaotic with these. Did some very minor power-play and if any of it is not what you guys want, just let me know! I can edit and fix. ^^ @Heda @Veteran @Ensio @Antha @Wayfarer

Across the mountain and through woodland until they had arrived at the base of another snowy peak. Antha had scouted ahead, had helped to guide them through the terrain to avoid running into any risks. She had been an asset to their cause.

Young Ensio had shown a strong and stoic nature for one so young. He seemed as though he would make a fine protector. Issorartuyok had watched the young man flourish before his eyes. He felt proud, though the boy was not his. It was pride for the strength that was demonstrated. Veteran too had been a remarkable and joyous individual to have with them. The northerner felt increasingly fonder of the boy.

Heda had fallen in with the others fluidly, as though she were a piece that had been missing and slid snugly back into place. Issorartuyok was impressed with her adaptability and her demonstration of strength in her choices.

Wayfarer had been a good use to them as well. She had been able to journey with Antha to scout ahead and had grown her abilities in that way, as well. Issorartuyok hoped that Lane would take pride in her young ones and their skills.

The mountain was impressive. Above, the northern man could see goats leap precariously along the stone, somehow keeping their footing upon the snow. The glade to the north would prove strong hunting grounds. There was not a scent of wolf around for miles. Issorartuyok believed they had found their destination. He turned to see if his companions would have thoughts.

The journey had been long. The traveling hard. They had crossed not one, but two mountain ranges. With this came many challenges. Ensio faced them all head on. He persevered. Sometimes he would scout ahead, occasionally beyond Issorartuyok. His instincts as a guardian were pushing through, evident in his apparent concern for the safety of the others. Well, not overly so. Just in case. Other times he would hang at the back of the group, so he could keep them all in his sight, while watching out for any potential problems from behind. And in between, he spent equal time sticking close to both Heda and Veteran's side.

Ahead of them, loomed a great mountain. Swathed in tendrils of mist, which slowly gave way the closer they got. A strong, solid fortress. Housing potential hooved prey that leapt nimbly from ledge to ledge. Behind them was the glade. A haven for variety of game. He smiled. One last check. Plunging his nose deep into to snow, down to the earth, he inhaled. Sampling the very soil itself. No disease. No wolves. Just great potential and health. He drew his head up, pleased. "Yes. This is it."

keeping consistent with teo's post with my assumptions, but can be edited if needed <3 @ wayfarer's player, if you'd like a thread let me know!

antha kept ahead of the group as they traveled, wary of encountering another wolf with violent intentions. part of her remained apprehensive about mingling too much with the children, as well, though @Wayfarer had quickly proven a kindred spirit and a capable scout. she kept up well, and perhaps made antha feel a bit old with her seemingly endless well of youthful energy.
while issorartuyok and the glacier youth were coming within sight of the mountain, antha and wayfarer were well within the valley. perhaps we could explore the caves in the mountainside while the others catch up? she suggested to the russet-dappled youth, leaving the decision to her.

Wayfarer, finally, had managed to spread her wings. To venture farther than she'd gone before felt so liberating. While she often trailed off alone to explore, having her brothers by her side through the experience brought some comfort. As the days ticked by she developed a newfound appreciation for the company of others, and hoped fiercely that the journey would not come yo an end too soon.

Their party had grown during it, too. While normally suspicious of strangers, Wayfarer had warmed to Antha rather swiftly. She was curious of her, eager to learn more of who she was and where she'd come from, and it was nice to feel that her presence didn't seem to be a burden.

When the she-wolf piped up in question, Wayfarer lifted her ears and quickened her pace to fall into stride alongside her. Amber eyes followed Antha's gaze toward her suggested destination. "Sure," she replied with ease, glad to have been the one selected to accompany her.

Veteran was also enjoying the trip. He could never have imagined such variations in environments and terrain existed, having spent the entirety of his young life in the snowy taiga. The group had traveled through a field of steaming pools that thickened the air and made it smell funny. They had passed a lake so large he couldn't see across it. They had seen a giant crater set in the ground, as if a mountain-sized wolf had dug a den into the earth. Veteran was fascinated and inspired, and his imagination filled with wonder about what natural phenomenon could have created such unique features. 

They ascended the mountain originally to get a better view of the surrounding territories, but little did Veteran know, something about it would enchant their little group.  

A distant hiss met the boy's attentive ears. He was always alert to such noises, having nursed a deep fascination for reptiles, but especially snakes. He glanced over his shoulder at the others. Issorartuyok had his eyes on the peak above, and Ensio was.. huffing dirt or something. Veteran moved away, intent on tracking down the snake.

heda was now further from rivenwood than she had ever been in her life. 
they had moved through what felt like dozens of territories. at first her legs had ached but with the constant walking, heda had begun to hone into her the drageda-blood she still did not know was her own.
and so it was a taller, leaner girl with the splash of red along her back that came to the summit called nimbus.
ensio took the land's measure. antha spoke to wayfarer. heda was still not sure how she felt about the pretty woman who had joined them. veteran went off at once to explore.
the former rivenwood child hung back with ensio this time, smiling as he lifted his head from the ground. "what do you smell?" she asked him, chuffing lightly.

Okay I hope 1 week is okay for this next round? If anyone would like me to slow down some more, please don’t hesitate to shoot me a PM to let me know. ^^ I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m pushing it too hard. <3 This round will go for 7 days and then I will do the final round next week for closing replies and such. @Veteran @Heda @Ensio @Wayfarer @Antha

The other members of their scouting party began to approach, taking in the mountain and its surroundings for themselves. Antha and Wayfarer appeared to be keen on searching some of the caves. Issorartuyok had remembered Lane talking about her daughter and her desires to be a scout. He thought of Meerkat with an uncertain pang in his chest. The young woman would have been an asset to them, if they had ended their talks with better words.

Ensio breathed in the earth beneath the snow, seemingly pleased. The northern man smiled softly at the young figure. Even the boy of the glacier thought it was a suitable home. This made him feel better, made him more inclined to call the mountain their new promise land.

Veteran approached, but he did not speak. He watched Ensio with a curious expression before he began to prowl in search of a fragrance that he had found for himself. Issorartuyok followed the dark figure with his eyes, worried for the young man. What thoughts ran through Veteran’s mind? What feelings fluttered through his heart?

Heda approached to speak with Ensio. Issorartuyok looked approvingly at her.

Let us explore the mountain, yes? We shall see what it has to offer.

Veteran pushed on in the direction of the hiss. His ears stood at attention, waiting to capture the next reptilian sound that might help him hone in on his target. 

Another hiss sounded faintly, in the exact opposite direction that Veteran was traveling. He stopped in his tracks. What was going on here..?! 

He didn't know which way to go now. He stood rooted for a long moment, nose and ears in the air. Finally, a gentle hiss eased from the earth directly under his feet. He started, and then he looked suspiciously down at the rocky terrain. 

He laid his cheek flat against the stone. It was warm, despite the chill in the air. After listening for a minute he straightened. "The ground is warm here! And it hisses sometimes," he announced to nobody in particular. Was anyone even paying attention?

He lifted his head, pleased that Heda had elected to remain by his side, for the time being. He grinned slightly. "Fresh soil. Traces of Elk and Deer, healthy prey, that passed through, recently." All the signs were there, promising. The land was disease free, ready to offer it's bounty to any wolves who sought to lay claim.

Veteran then got his attention, who spoke up. He turned and padded to his side, ears popping up curiously. "That's odd..." He mused aloud, gently pressing an oversized paw against the warm earth. It was not hard and firm, like where he stood before. It gave slightly under his touch. The hiss sounded again.

this world was vastly different than anything she had seen before. the girl experimented with putting her own head to the earth and leaping foxlike into the air to test the oddly warm ground.
the girl followed the hissing sound a ways away and discovered a round shaft leading down beneath the clear soil. suddenly it hissed, belching a thin stream of hot, sulfur-reeking steam into the air.
she flinched but did not run, turning with wide eyes to see if anyone else had seen that. "is there something underneath?' heda asked of no one in particular, though her gaze did travel to issorartuyok. she wanted to see what their leader made of this all.

Closing posts! ^^ I'll leave this up for a week. <3 Thank you all so so much. @Heda @Veteran @Ensio (not tagging Antha only because she slipped off with Wayfarer in this).

Veteran had made a discovery – steam that rose from the earth.

Issorartuyok padded toward them with a watchful gaze over their shoulders. He had seen such things before and he wondered if there were hot springs on the mountain, or near the waters that might have flowed near its base. The warmth of his brown eyes touched on each of the young ones before resting on Veteran.

A good find, Veteran. There just might be warm waters in the area. Perhaps we can sniff them out, he suggested with a smile to the dark-furred son of Lane. All of them could search to see if there were hot springs near the mountain. Issorartuyok thought that it would have been an ideal discovery. He could only imagine after a long journey back to the glacier, that the wolves of the village would enjoy the warmth of soaking in the steamy pools.

The northerner nudged Ensio’s shoulder first, and then bumped his skull against Veteran’s ribs. The pride that he felt for the children was immeasurable. With one last glance toward Heda, Issorartuyok set off to search the mountain.

Veteran wagged his tail, glad that his age-mates seemed interested in his find. Veteran was beginning to notice that Heda and Ensio often seemed to be more interested in spending time together than they were in exploring with him. He was beginning to feel kind of like a third wheel, especially when Wayfarer was off with Antha. 

Issorartuyok was interested too, which was a great bonus. Veteran beamed in response to his praise. He tilted his head in curiosity as Issorartuyok connected the warm earth and hissing to the possible presence of warm waters. Veteran would never have put that together on his own. 

"Warm waters? Mom said to look for a place with warm waters! For her medicines!" He glanced up at Issorartuyok excitedly. As reluctant as Veteran was to relocate their home from Duskfire Glacier, he was glad to know that they had found a place that would make his mom happy. With this knowledge, he felt he could agree with Ensio-- this was definitely it.

unaware of the way she was causing veteran to feel, heda looked off toward the expanse o the hinterlands below them. she saw golden trees and waves of pine. a strath against sharp ridges. pale blue ribbons denoting where streams and creeks crossed the territories.
she did not yet know it but these lands led to the sea.
she would remain there, looking out from the summit for some time. the hiss of water filled her ears. her skin prickled with electricity. energy.