Verdigris Ravine To unexplain the unforgivable

Candle led @Talisman to the ravine without detour, though for now she held off on bringing him to the cave they stayed in. She called out for @Zoug and @Koa the moment she thought they might hear her, tail waving joyfully at the prospect of seeing them — and introducing her new friend to them!

She watched carefully for Zoug's arrival in particular. When she caught sight of him, she would run to him with the gentle nips and kisses which had become characteristic of her greetings more recently. Though she found it difficult to give words to the change in the bond between them, she knew that it existed, and was not at all shy in acknowledging it.

taste-testing the air, zoug stood quietly under candle's onslaught of affection. he himself had not learned to be. but his own sentiment was clear in the single eye as he glanced toward her, then at the tribekin she had brought.

true tribe. true clan. he kept that to himself. "you join us?" he asked in a heavy voice thick with accent.

Perhaps he ought to have asked how far they needed to travel. By the time they made their way to their destination, Talisman’s feet were aching terribly. He was pretty sure his pads were cracked. And the route hadn’t even been particularly scenic. It all put him in sort of a bad mood.

He cheered a little when they finally came to a stop and Candle called for her brethren. Talis’s blue eyes combed over their surroundings, then bounced to an approaching figure. He felt the air stir when his escort rushed forward to greet a one-eyed man.

Talisman blinked at the frank question, his mouth opening and shutting before he said, Er, I’m just visiting, I think? I don’t know much of anything about your tribe. I’d like to learn though.

Ko'a came to the call with her usual peppy step, a kangaroo rat clutched in her jaws. She had nearly lost it when Candle called, yet ended up victorious all the same. 

She watched Candle with a happiness as she showed off her newest visitor and Ko'a dropped the desert rodent on the ground in order to give the newcomer a closer look. 

How handsome this one was! Creamy and red and his eyes so blue. He fit perfectly in their home made of red rock arches where the river ran through. 

Tribekin are a coy-people of travel and trade among the deserts. All coyote are welcome to rest their worn feet. All coyote may be called Tribe.

Zoug came first, then Ko'a. Candle was thrilled to see each of them! When she'd finished greeting her mate she went to Ko'a to nose affectionately at her chin. Then she turned back to Talisman, eyes bright, and set about introductions.

Ta - alis, She told her kin. Then, pointing out Zoug and Ko'a each in turn: Zoug. Ko'a. But Candle did not trust herself to explain more of The Tribe, not while her own speech was still so broken, and so she fell silent after that, allowing Ko'a to give Talisman the information he sought. She so hoped that he would stay!

zoug was no less taciturn in his grunt than usual, though she would know that its sound indicated pleasure.

it fit that ko'a spoke for them. it meant he did not need to learn these words and candle did not need to speak unless she wished.

his eye flickered on the stranger, and then back to where he was chewing plant fibers into a softer mass, spitting the pulp into one paw and smoothing it over a stone to dry.

Before anyone could comment beyond the older man’s grunt, another woman came forward. Talisman’s eyes caught on the rodent in her mouth, then flickered over her features. She was larger than him, with coloring no less lovely for its standard palette. She possessed a fuller figure compared to the three other coyotes.

Talis licked his lips, paying attention as she spoke. He heard the way she said the name like a proper noun: The Tribe. She called her companions kin. His pale gaze bounced from Candle to Zoug back to The Tribe’s spokesperson, who was quickly introduced as Ko’a.

It’s nice to meet you guys. I’ve been a nomad my whole life and, to be honest with you, I’ve never given much thought to joining a group. I didn’t even know coyotes formed them, he confessed. I’m definitely intrigued, though. There’s no joining requirement, aside from being a coyote…?

They confirmed as much. Talis chewed on this information, contemplating what life in The Tribe might be like. And what sort of trading and traveling did they do? That was something that made him hesitate. Not only hadn’t the yearling ever lived among his kind aside from his parents, he had never stayed in one place for long.

Would it be alright if I hung out nearby and learned more about how The Tribe works? he questioned after a thoughtful pause. I appreciate your welcome but I don’t want to make this decision lightly. I want to make sure it’s a good fit first.

I’m having him return and join in a later thread, so I thought I’d nudge this toward a conclusion, if that’s okay? :)

Will be my last post then! I would love for them to have another thread together sometime (probably after my January work-hell).

Candle fluttered about happily, nosing Ko'a's chin and she yipped and waved her tail in turn. Zoug granted, chewing at greens. They both spoke little and when they did, often so in their own tongue. Far different from being around those who often chattered so much. This mattered not, for Ko'a would do well to fill in the blanks. 

Tribe is a sanctuary for those overlooked. Coyote and half-breeds do not often find equality among the wolf. Tribe is a place of equality. We all work. We all trade and share. We all have words. This is not a wolf's hierarchy. No one governs over another here. Tribe is a place of free people.  

He was uncertain, this much was seen in his features and offered truthfully in his words. Ko'a appreciated the honesty of him. You leave when you need. You return with treasures- be it exotic food, others to come or stories to share. This is the way of Tribe. Already you are learning, though yes, take the time you need. 

And with this, her pale eyes turn to Candle and Zoug, ready to dismiss herself to her own duties for the time being. She had more rodents yet to catch this day!