Blacktail Deer Plateau Sugar Cane and Wind Song

Blue Willow lay outside of the den, her tail tap, tap, tapping against the ground as she enjoyed a little fresh air. Junior's fever had finally broken, Finley was on the mend. So the healer did not need to endlessly and tirelessly keep an eye on both of them. Though she was never far in case they needed her, she just couldn't leave them there. They need her, and that was what she was here for; to heal.

She looked up at the clear blue sky. She had noticed at least to her that the sky always seemed clearer and sharper during the cold winter months. She wasn't sure why, it was just crisper and more blue. It was beautiful and she loved it. There was not much of a breeze today, so she could sit comfortably with her warm fur coat. And she merely lay and passed some time relaxing.

@Koda

It was one of those days were Koda found himself without much to do, so he set out for Blue Willow's den to see how Finley and Junior were coming along. He figured it would only be a matter of days before Finley was well again, and the two of them would be off to Redhawk Caldera. Koda had been looking forward to making the trip, and seeing Finley's new home.

He approached the beta female with his head and tail respectfully held low. "Hey, Blue," Koda greeted the healer with a wag of his bushy gray tail. He couldn't help but notice she seemed to be in an especially good mood. "Nice day, huh."

Blue was happy that Koda would be taking Finley home, she would be allowed to go soon enough. Blue was afraid to let her go without an escort, only because she did not wish her to relapse on her way down.

Blue tapped her tail against the ground and gave the other wolf a small smile. Hello Koda. How are you? She shifted so she could look up at him a little better without getting the sun in her eyes. She tilted her ears forward to listen to his words. It was only polite to listen wholeheartedly to another.

"I'm good," Koda replied, with a swish of his tail. "You sure seem to be in a good mood today," he observed. Not that Blue was usually in a nasty mood, but as the pack's only healer, she had been under a lot of pressure between caring for Finley and Junior. He was impressed she managed to keep it together so well.

"How are the girls today? Do you need me to bring them anything?" He questioned, eager to help out if he could. "How about you, do you need anything?"

Blue chuckled and nodded I am in a good mood. I have decided that it does not bode well to be sad or upset. So i'm determined to be happy. Blue didn't always keep it together and there were times she had to seek her own solace. One such time she thought of her daughter, she couldn't always juggle everything well, and the betrayal of such a kind was the reason for it.

She chuckled They are fine, both are resting. She shook her head I don't need anything. However if you want to bring the girls their supper later you surely can. I'm sorry i haven't had a chance to really speak with you before this Koda.

"I can do that," said Koda, with a nod. He'd been stashing plenty of food away, for just such a purpose. He wondered if the girls would prefer the trout, or the rabbit.

Koda shrugged at Blue's apology. "It's okay, we've all been pretty busy around here," he replied. Between the uproar caused by Peregrine's departure, and now the dire conditions of Finley and Junior, not much time was left to spend fraternizing with pack mates. This was the first time he'd spoken with Blue Willow one on one.

He seated himself near the healer. "Bet you're glad you finally get a break, eh?"

Blue chuckled, he was a male that was prepared. She was glad he was part of their fold. He made a good addition and if he was willing to help the girls, well he was okay in her book. More than okay.

Blue sighed Yes that we have been all of us. Not to mention some adjusting was needed for many. INcluding herself, she still felt a bit off as if something was not quite right in her world of the living.

Blue smiled I am glad for a break yes, but even if I didn't have one that is okay. I am here to heal. That is what i do. What is your favorite pastime Koda?

"Um..." Koda drew a blank when Blue asked him to talk about himself. He didn't think of himself as a very interesting guy. In fact, he couldn't even remember the last time anyone had bothered to ask him about himself. "Well, I like hunting," he began. "And I like fishin'." He liked just about anything that had to do with killing food. It was basically his whole identity.

"I also like to watch the sun set, and take long walks on the beach," he joked. He hoped Blue Willow wouldn't find him too boring.

Blue listened quietly as he spoke, realizing swiftly that he was not the outgoing sort, at least when asked to speak of himself. I'm not a very good hunter, and I am terrible at fishing. I managed to catch 1 fish this summer though, so exciting. She smiled, it was true she had been ridiculously excited to catch that one fish.

Blue Willow chuckled Well i'm not a fan of beaches i'm afraid just too much sand. she knew he was teasing, but she couldn't help but give back what she got.

Koda shrugged. "Girls aren't usually good at that stuff," he said. He did not intend to be offensive, it was just a cold, hard fact of nature. In fact, in his natal pack, female hunters were unheard of. All the hunting was left to the men of the family. Koda thought it was fair, since the women excelled at taking care of the pups and patching up boo boos.

"Good thing you girls have me to look after you," said Koda with a proud grin.

If Blue had been most wolves, she would have taken offense, but she didn't. She didn't think he meant any harm by his words, but he should watch them in the future. There are some that are very good hunters Kaihra and Osprey are two that come to mind. But I am much worse than even the worst girl. She added a small twinkle in her eye.

Yes we are very lucky Koda that is true. She meant it too, they were lucky to have others willing to look after them and he was a good hunter. You are a very good hunter. I have noticed our caches do not go unfilled. And for that I thank you very much.

Koda snorted a little when Blue mentioned Kaihra, recalling her botched fishing attempt days earlier. How could such a timid creature, who flinched at every little thing, be a good hunter? He'd never met Osprey, but he figured she wouldn't be much better. Even if she could hunt, it was probably little stuff like bunnies or baby deer. He'd hunted bigger game with girls before, but that didn't really count, since he'd done most of the work.

As Blue complimented his hunting prowess, Koda unconsciously sat up a little straighter and smiled a little wider. He'd been feeling rather invisible lately, and it felt good to get a little recognition. "Just doing my job," he said, reminding himself to be modest.

"I can't wait till it starts snowing," said Koda, eager to steer the conversation away from himself. He was tired of everything looking gray and dead. A blanket of snow would at least be prettier to look at.

Blue had never seen the prowess of Kaihra, but she had seen the aftermath and she had always had her game. If Blue had been able to hear the thoughts that circled inside the head of Koda, she probably would have gently reprimanded him for thinking so little of women. They were just as adept as men, but since she didn't know a thing, she merely smiled and shifted her weight.

Blue smiled at his quiet movement of pride. You do your job well Koda and I appreciate it on behalf of the entire pack.

Blue chuckled quietly now, Ah yes snow it is wonderful stuff isn't it." She too enjoyed snow, she was 3 years old, but that didn't mean that she would not be out playing in it, she most certainly would, though she wasn't sure if the overprotective males that hse called friend would let her over due it, for fear she cause the babes harm, but it was okay.

"Me and my siblings had a lot of fun playing in the snow with our cousins," said Koda. What he didn't mention was how he and his brother used to gang up on the smaller pups and push them into the snow. So what he actually meant was he and his brother had a lot of fun, at the expense of the other pups.

"We also loved to slide around on the ice," he added. Frozen ponds and rivers were fun places to play, but they could also be dangerous. Koda's expression became serious as he recounted one such encounter. "Once, my little sister fell through while we were all playing on the pond. Luckily we were able to get her out before she froze. But she never went near the water again."

"We never told our parents," he confessed. "They would have freaked out."

Blue smiled softly I always played in the snow with my parents, my brothers were long gone when I was born. She would have frowned and asked had Koda learned his lesson by hurting others or would he do it again. And if she were to catch him he would rue the day.

Blue chuffed in surprise I don't blame her I wouldn't have either. Yes I suppose they would have. But they also deserved to know. They may have given your sister a hard time for her fear, and that also could have been bad. I do not know if it will freeze here, we shall see. I like to slide alongside the ice as well, though I don't know if I will this year. The thought of falling and miscarrying made her heartsick.

Is Blue noticeably pregnant in this thread?

In retrospect, Koda knew that he and his brother had been rowdy boys. But that's just the way boys liked to play, right? He'd never meant to harm any of the other pups, and he was sure his brother had no such intentions either. He'd thought the others were just sore losers. Maybe, if he ever became a parent himself, he'd understand why such play wasn't acceptable.

"Why not this year?" Koda questioned, curious. Had Blue Willow simply outgrown playing on frozen water? Or had something happened to make her mistrustful of ice?

not yet but she's being safe and responsible and all that in case of

Blue wasn't sure if boys were just rowdy and rough. She had never thought of it, she imagined if she had boys she would find out quick enough what was acceptable. The only boy too was Pura and he was not a normal child at all so she couldn't gauge his response to the questions either.

Blue smiled softly I maybe having pups and I didn't want to chance it in case of is all.

Koda's yellow eyes lit up with excitement when Blue told him she was trying to have pups. He loved puppies, at least until they grew into sassy, know-it-all juveniles. "Oh, wow, that's great!" he said with a beaming smile. "I'm very excited for you and your mate," He added.

Wait a second. Did Blue Willow have a mate? Koda wasn't sure, he'd never met the guy, but she had to have someone, right? He didn't know all the details, but puppies didn't just make themselves.

Koda canted his head to the side as he posed this question to the hopeful mother. "Who is the lucky guy?"

Blue willow chuckled at his enthusiasm and then silently studied him. She wondered if he was going to judge her for what she was about to say. Because frankly she woudl not allow him too. He had no right too and her decisions were hers and she had permission aanyway. I actually don't have a mate. It's a little bit of an odd arrangement. We have decided since we both lost those that we loved very much, that we would extend our friendship to co-parents as well, with permission of course.

Blue smiled again, Lasher is the lucky guy, though I believe I am lucky at having a chance for a family when I thought I wouldn't even though it has been all I have ever wanted. She grew quiet and simply drummed her tail across the ground a little wary, but content with her decision regardless.

Having been raised in a traditional family, where all pups were the product of a man and woman bound by mateship, Koda couldn't make heads or tails of their arrangement. "I'm sorry, I don't understand, why not be mates?" He questioned, entirely aware it was pretty nosy of him. It wasn't like him to dig for information like this, but he really wanted to understand why they were doing this. "I mean, you both must love each other very much to want kids together," he added. They were doing all the things mates do, why not make it official?

Blue frowned as she thought of his question. It's hard to answer that completely. I'll do my best. I am in love with Atticus and Lasher is in love with Peregrine. I was intended to mate with Atticus, but he left and we don't know where or why or eve if he is alive. Lasher and Peregrine went their separate ways so that Peregrine could focus on Fox as he was doing anyway. Lasher and I are merely friend though we love each other as such and since we are both in love with another. Well we came to such an agreement so that I could have children and he could share the boundless love he has in his heart for others. That was the only way she knew to explain it. It didn't do the arrangement justic and it was hard to explain anyway, but it was what it was.

last post from me. sorry it's been a month now, i just want to try and tie all my loose threads up.

He nodded in understanding, but Willow's explanation only left Koda with more questions. What did she mean when she said Lasher loved Peregrine? Surely, she didn't mean to imply they loved each other that way. The thought made Koda rather uncomfortable; he'd been taught that such relationships were a sin against nature. How could he allow himself to be part of a pack that accepted such behavior?

Lasher's questionable morals aside, Koda did not agree with the beta wolves decision to bring a litter into this world and parent them as friends. Only mated pairs had any business raising a family. Those pups would grow up without proper role models to teach them. They were bound to end up just like Junior. Come to think of it, no wonder Junior was so messed up, her father was a fag.

Koda quickly thought up an excuse to get himself away from the Beta female before he opened his mouth and said something he'd regret. "I'm gonna go check on our caches," he told her as he rose to all fours and shook out his pelt. The gray wolf dismissed himself and padded away to digest everything Blue Willow had just told him.