Moonstone Quarry the yoko factor

private for all those coming with sialuk to moontide! we can just do a single round here for timeline purposes. set for the evening of the 29th, and they'll get to moontide on the 30th. :)

pp'ing seal, since lieu's on vacation for now.

@Maggak @Acrux @Whip @Orca II @Rodyn @Panuk @Rolayne

@Seal and the other adults had their work cut out for them. Maggak and Acrux were plenty old enough for the journey, but Panuk and Rolayne were younger and needed help along the way. The adults formed a sort of protective circle around the children as they made their way north toward the plateau, eyes keen for any signs of less-than-friendly types.

She had paused briefly near Moonglow to call for @Kukutux, letting anaa know that they were making their way there. There had been a brief idea floated that all the children might get together and meet amongst themselves there. She had left @Alaric in charge of the spear until they returned, sure that the village would be safe in his calm and capable paws.

They had left early that morning, and as the sun began to grow low and heavy in the sky, Sialuk slowed and gathered the caravan around her.

We will rest here tonight, she said, Tomorrow, we will find ourselves in Moontide. Her chest tightened thinking of the grave they would find there, of the songs she must sing before she could return to the spear. It must be done, and nobody else could do it for her. She sent a gentle glance to Rodyn, hoping he still planned to sing with her.

Tonight, she would find herself tucked against Tullik's form, provided he was open to it.

It was woth somber silence and a small fose of bittersweetness that they headed towards Moontide. It would be good to be home and yet it wouldn't. But he would have his sons know their birthright. Know where their mother had walked.

And he would sing the death songs with Sialuk and he would mourn some more. And they would start to build again. He curled around his sons @Panuk @Rolayne and he would watch while they rested.

Moontide seemed like a place of fables to the starbabe. She had yet to fully process that she, her mother and brother would return to the village without Panuk and Rolayne; she knew, yes, but denial ran strong. How time had passed! How big they all were now!
And, as this was the first time Maggak had set foot upon foreign land, she took this opportunity to revel in it. Smooth limestone licks at her feet, and when she squints her eyes, she can see the glimmer of water in the distance.
It was hard to sleep like this, so far from home with so many new scents and sights and sounds. And so, decidedly, she would tire herself out! Nudging at the shoulders of Acrux and the young coastwolves with a mischievous sheen to jadestone eyes, she invites them on a new mission — exploring.

Rolayne was less than pleased to be leaving his home. They told him his home was elsewhere, but he didn't understand that. This was the only place he had known, and he didn't want to leave. He argued and growled and mumbled his displeasure. Still, they made him go. If he had just kept quiet, he'd feel tired. But, all his energy had been diverted to arguing, and now he was just exhausted to quietness. He didn't argue as Dad pulled them close, curling into his warm fur. He was out like a light.

the smile he'd come to wear like sunshine on a winter morning faded the moment the caravan crossed the border of the spear. if this journey was meant to be of joy, it certainly did not feel like it. 

he knew why this trip was being made, and yet he did not. the details had been explained to him as well as they could be to a child his age, and yet he could not wrap his head around the reasoning. he did not want this to be a goodbye, yet every step left him feeling like it was bound to be. 

rolayne was visibly displeased with this venture, and in this acrux felt a connection with his brother. a part of him then wanted nothing more than to join his younger brothers in their pile and snuggle with them until morning. yet suddenly it felt wrong to do so, as if rodyn's family was there, and his family was over here. a wall was being constructed between the two, and with each step a new brick was place between them. 

maggak's nudge to explore was a welcome distraction from the emotions tumbling inside, and so with a last glance back towards the spear, the greyscale boy set out to join his sister in exploration.

Seal played the role of caboose and positioned herself in the back of the Moonspearian convoy. No pup would be left behind on her watch! In her mouth, she carried an old skin with pieces of meat meant for snack time when Rolayne, Panuk, Maggak, or Acrux became hungry.

Sialuk selected a camp spot for the night. Tomorrow, they would arrive at Moontide but, already, salt could be detected in the briny air. Seal’s excitement to revisit the coastline was tempered by the somber mood. They would be saying goodbye to Panuk and Rolayne and mourn for Moontide’s dearly departed alpha.

Eager to be a good apprentice, especially now that Momma and Da had moved to the copse, Seal did her best to pick up the slack wherever she could. So, when Maggak and Acrux went exploring Seal tagged along to keep an eye on them.