Swiftcurrent Creek permanently fossilized

The last thing he ever wanted was to approach any claimed land. It had been months now of tracking his way across the wilderness hunting what small game he could find, chasing winter as it swept across the world. Hunting had gone well for a long while; so he had to wonder to himself what exactly had drawn him here, to the fringes of this place.

He drew a path through the wetlands first, descending upon the creek's outer limits from the southwest. Typically when the wanderer found the layered scents of other wolves he would turn back—but this time he remained reluctantly present, skirting the edge of the claim.

Did he mean to test the resolve of these wolves? Maybe. Life had become repetitive and empty and Mesa could use a little something to spice things up, now and again.

on high alert after tracking with @Akavir, lestan girded himself at the borders. he did not stray so far, restless as he was; he kept his eyes piercing upon the borderlands, surveying them where he was able.
he was able to pick up the fellow well enough, chuffing lightly to grab the other's attention. "y-yes? hello! who are you?" he called, trying to sound a little bit commanding in light of all the goings-on.
lestan hoped he appeared stern as he moved to arrest the progress of the rather formidable-looking man.

From the opposite direction, River and her twin-son @Creek rounded out a patrol. The teenager traveled jauntily at her side, while the mother prowled along at the leisurely pace of a Terminator. Some guardian. You aren’t even watching where you’re going, she accused the merry boy.

“Yeah huh!” he rebutted intelligently.

Then who’s that?

“Who’s wh—oh!” The pair drew up to a stop, watching tensely as a packmate accosted an outsider. “What do we do, Mom?” Creek stage-whispered, glancing uncertainly towards River.

You back up your packmate. Always.

River led her son forward, coming to flank the earthen compatriot of Swiftcurrent as he faced the pale stranger. While her young son looked on anxiously from behind her shoulder, she fixed the interloper with a basilisk’s stare. And the medusa might have recognized him as her half-brother, if the two had not been years separated at this point, their only potential interaction marred by the death of their shared father.

continuing since mesa is out! <3

it seemed the interloper did not intend to stay or make a threat of himself. lestan stood firmly as the stranger left swiftcurrent's borders, turning with a friendly light to regard the new woman and a boy who resembled her very much.
"th-thanks," the witchblood murmured, offering a wave of his tail. "i appreciate the help. not much of a f-fighter," he admitted with a low chuckle.
the honeyblue eyes were warm and curious. "i'm lestan mayfair," he introduced. "i do not think i ever properly made your acquaintance."

The stranger turned tail, and the two remaining adults loosened their postures, as young Creek looked on in burgeoning relief, still tense with the expectation that the interloper might return.

River bobbed her head to Lestan. He was a friendly sort, having also spoken to them at the gathering. The mother was not nearly so soft with her moods, but she played nice for now. River Sandraudiga, she offered simply.

A nudge to her boy who flinched and refocused for a moment. "I'm Creek," he offered, though his eyes continued to dart suspiciously towards the horizon.

He's not much of a fighter, either, River smirked. We're still working out a proper job for him. They were young, still, but she was determined to make them productive members of this pack, if nothing else.

it was quite a name, beautiful and flowing. lestan was immediately afraid to butcher especially the race of that last word. "hello, river. hello, creek," the mayfair greeted — again. "well, in springtime there are a-always men who come around. h-hunting and — otherwise," he stumbled. 
"being a guardian is the role of any p-pack wolf," he told the boy, glancing to his mother as well. "but being a good guardian takes study and l-lots of time on the borders. i w-would be honored if you joined me sometime," lestan invited, then fell into a contemplative, slightly abrupt silence.

River clocked the sudden flatness of Lestan's expression and wondered after the thought that'd just invaded the gardener's mind, but Creek was looking at their packmate in alarm.

"Why the heck do I have to be a guardian?" The boy was bristling at the thought, his fear masked as agitation.

Because if you don't learn to be a good guardian, you'll put yourself and your pack in danger. Find your ass chewed up like a rabbit, River cuffed his ear. You want to be a rabbit or a wolf?

"Well, yesterday you said I was a bum. Can't I just keep bein' a bum, so I don't have to fuckin' worry about all that?"

River rolled her eyes. They certainly got to this age fast. Her sweetest boy was morphing into a lanky, mouthy teenager right before her eyes. Not on my watch, pal. She looked to Lestan. I think he needs a less strenuous job. Maybe 'resident shit-talker,' since that's all he's good at, she remarked dryly.

that wasn't well-received at all, and lestan was left feeling as though he should have been far more brusque. it simply was not in his nature!
he wondered at the child's rather unorthodox way of responding to his mother, but he was no parent. not at all. maybe once but those days were long over and none were coming over the horizon.
the worlds he did not inhabit moved on without him, and that was all right.
"well. there is fishing. less strenuous but c-carries a greater demand of p-patience," lestan rejoined, attempting to match river's dry tone in alliance with her nerve.

River looked at her son. He looked like a fisher. He looked like he could be good at a great many things besides fighting— but would he ever have the discipline? The drive? He seemed more interested in being pack jester than anything that required demand.

She realized she didn't want to steer him either way.

"I dunno. Sounds boring..."

Couldn't hurt to try, she mused. You might like it.

Creek made a face but didn't object.

You much of a fisher? Swordsilver eyes cut to Lestan. Maybe you'd like to take him off my paws for some lessons.

"i m-manage," lestan floundered as river seemed ready to give creek into his care! the boy was no infant, and the mayfair had fallen into a caretaker's role. but violet had wanted to track, while this child seemed particularly resistant to any shaping.
suppose that too was part of the position he took in swiftcurrent.
"i would be h-happy to teach you what i know, creek," lestan said, looking from the boy to his mother and back again. implied was only if you want to, but somehow he suspected it would be done. river was no-nonsense, something lestan secretly enjoyed.

Young Creek appeared skeptical, perhaps even a little judgemental, but whatever he was going to say when he opened his mouth was record-scratched by his mother's smooth, punctuating voice.

He'll take you up on that, whether he wants to or not.

No argument came from the boy. Not at this time, anyway. River blinked innocuously, as if she had no power at all. We won't keep you, Lestan... unless you'd like to finish up this patrol with us?

fade?

<3

"i'll c-come," he heard himself say, and was vaguely consternated. but only for a moment; a quick smile reset him, and lestan began to speak of the various fish which could be found in the waters of swiftcurrent.
thereafter, a lesson on deer, and a third, less detailed, upon the location of lavender plants.