Dawnlark Plains pull me down

Rallying thread for all NP members! Set on July 19/20. @Scimitar @Bazi Kieran @Whittier @Pasha @Allure II @Swift @Jorunn Assuming Kieran is with her. :)

The fire that spread from the Northwoods had nearly devoured their entire home. Kaskara coughed and gagged as she fled the scene with Kieran in tow. They had been building a den together, the first den Kas had truly dug for herself, when the smoke drifted toward them. Afraid for her life, afraid for her family, Kaskara howled to indicate her direction, and ran.

It was later that night when she was finally able to breathe again. The two warriors stopped in a nearby territory and turned back to stare in shock at the flames and plumes of dark smoke that rose from their former homeland. Kaskara, stricken with the thoughts of grief that roiled through her, nearly collapsed onto her mate. It was never clearer than in this moment: she loved him with all her life and would do anything to protect him.

After many long minutes spent composing herself, Kaskara finally gathered enough breath in her lungs to let out a long, mournful cry with a dual purpose: to tell Scimitar of their whereabouts and to mourn the burned home they had been forced to flee.

Tryphon had abandoned the peak, more or less, and had taken to sleeping among the rocks of Larksong Grotto; he didn't know why. He didn't know why he drifted back towards the packlands when he did, either. And as he neared the borderlands, the boy found the scent of smoke upon the wind. It wasn't something he had experienced before - so he lurked in among the trees in a state of curious indecision. A howl lifted through the smoke-filled air, and that prompted him to change his course. He was slow, cautious, confused. The air grew thick with darkness, and the yearling fled towards a safe environment. Back to the ice field, which had become an eyesore for him in the passing days.

He did not get too far before another howl finally rose up - this one summoning Scimitar, which meant it came from a Nova wolf - and Tryphon stopped running. He thought briefly upon calling out himself, to howl and seek out the stranger's voice, but instead he chose to be silent; his paws carried him towards the voice nonetheless, while the sky turned dark with night. As he headed back, he saw that there was light upon the horizon - and being naive, Tryphon believed it to be the sun. Except that it was far too late for the sun to be peeking over the horizon at all.

"What --" He started to ask, but the words caught in his throat along with the smoke. The boy swallowed a nervous lump and began to pace among the trees, searching for the wolf who had howled - or Scimitar, if he was around - only to come upon Kaskara and another, in a tired heap. The boy's posture lowered as soon as he spotted them; something was very wrong. What was going on?

Everyone else still welcome! Also, no posting order so we can keep this moving!

Kaskara had fallen beside Kieran after the howl, shaking with adrenaline as it left her system. Shock was beginning to set in, coursing through her veins, telling her mind the worst of all possible scenarios was true. It was only when a creature emerged from the night that she lifted her head and hope sprung back into her heart.

Tryphon. They hadn't seen him in many days, perhaps even weeks. Kaskara hadn't seen him before then and while she wondered where he'd gone, she was ashamed to admit that she hadn't looked too hard for him, either. She crawled up into a sitting position, a slight cough leaving her, as she rasped out, "Tryphon. Nova is destroyed." She did not want to believe it herself, but the proof was there in the fire that lit the horizon.

They had run for what seemed like forever – if they were not running, Scimitar was ushering his herd as fast as he could. Separated from the others (Bazi was quick to follow in Pasha’s direction), the cinnamon wolf instead towed with him four other pups – each looking wearier and more scared by the second.
 
He nudged them all further, having to stop and corral Allure back to her paws every so often, as she was eager to lay down. His nerves were aflame with tension – and when Kaskara’s howl echoed across the lands, he felt relief swarm him.
 
He tried to hurry the kids faster, his own call clipping back to her – hoping she would stay put. When she finally came to view, he seen a familiar wolf – but one whom was no longer family in the sense of comradeship. His eyes narrowed at the wanderlust youth, ignoring him completely and sidestepping him to nudge his sister, reassured that she was okay. “Pasha took off – Bazi went after him,” he rumbled in a quick update, his eyes glancing back to the four tired puppies. “Where is Kieran?”

He didn't know what to say. Nova Peak was gone? As in, completely? What could possibly have happened to destroy the territory? Tryphon had questions - he felt worry net itself in his skin - but nothing he could fathom in to words. He started to step towards Kaskara out of some desire to make sure she was alright, but almost as soon as he had lurched forward a step, Scimitar's call pierced the air. It was familiar, but frantic, and Tryphon was frozen by it; Scimitar arrived moments later with children in tow, and gave Tryphon a cold once-over. The boy stepped back to give the Alpha access to his sister, and swallowed his questions.

The man mentioned Bazi and Tryphon, unable to contain himself, blurted: "Is she alright?" but then clamped his mouth shut. It really was not his place to pry - he had all but abandoned the group, and for no good reason. They had just lost their home, and for all anyone knew, their lives; this was no time for Tryphon to ask stupid questions. He shrank back some more, his posture flattening, and he looked to Kaskara for answers - and his gaze drifted towards the burning light on the horizon.

The world had not been a scary place before. It had come with hazards, but fear was not something the smallest Frostfur had been too heavily acquainted with. Now, however, it was seated in his chest as cold as ice. He ran beside his father, and because he was still forsaken by grace, he would inevitable trip up and then double his efforts to catch up with alarm flashing his eyes. The smell of smoke, the burning heat, and the roar of fire as it devoured their home, filled his mind.

He did not believe they would ever stop running, and when they did, when they had come upon Kaskara, Swift sank to his haunches and leaned against Scimitar's sturdy foreleg, body trembling with exertion and fright.

Kieran followed Kaskara, keeping a weather eye on the horizon. He had been scared, but not for himself. Never for himself. He had come to terms with death long ago. No, he was scared for those he cared about, those he loved. He had been so glad that he had not been patrolling, but had been with Kaskara. He circled around after they found a place to stop. Looking for any others. And he came rolling back in as Scimitar spoke asking where he was. 

Oi'm roi 'ere. Oi wus searchin' for others. Kieran settled to a stance next to Kaskara taking in the others, their faces. And he sighed wearily, blaming himself. Bad luck followed him like the plague. The words about Bazi and Pasha put him on edge. He frowned and looked down. He wasn't as tired as the others so he spoke quietly, I'll go root dem if yer lokie Scimitar?

Before Kaskara could answer him, Kieran was quick upon them. It was as if the brown wolf could sense his unease, and as he settled next to Kaskara and questioned, Scimitar did not hesitate to give his consent. He would have done it himself, but he could not bring himself to lose sight of any more of his children. “Please,” he responded, his tone quieting as he glanced down to the four cubs.
 
He shifted his weight then, still ignoring Tryphon’s question – primarily, because he was not sure himself. Swift leaned against him, and the father bent his muzzle down to nose at the boy, trying to reassure him quietly.

Kieran returned to them swiftly, just as Scimitar asked where he was. Her heart surged with joy at the sight of them, and then fell with worry when he offered to return to find Bazi and Pasha. Though Kas had brought him officially into the family, that did not mean she didn't fear for him. She didn't want anything to happen to him.

Moving this along a little, sorry for skipping!

He wanted to help, he really did. But the first thought he had - after asking about Bazi and receiving no answer - was, 'What am I doing here?'

Tryphon hesitated in between lurches as he moved around the gathering, careful not to get too close to any of the wolves. He didn't want to get in their way, but.. At the same time, what help could he offer? The boy's ears flattened, and his head ducked down in sorrow. Tryphon turned his attention to the horizon, where black smoke billowed.

Kieran heard the softly uttered please and standing again he nodded. Looking to Kaskara he nudged her side and gave her a soft lick to the side of her face. Then with one last look at those assembled, he turned and loped back the way he had come. He stuck his nose to the ground and found his way back towards the dens. He had to double back a few times and the smoke caused a lot of his senses to blur and fail. But he would try and find them if he could.

I think this would be a good time for @Bazi and @Pasha to pop in a quick post! :)

Kaskara saw the sense in Kieran leaving, but that did not mean she wanted him to go. Tryphon had just returned to them and could care for the pups with Kaskara. Scimitar was too distracted to do much more than pace around their makeshift campsite. Kaskara moved the children into a shaded and protected area beneath some trees, cooing to them absentmindedly as she settled them. Kaskara herself sprawled on her side, trying to shake the dread thoughts that threatened to creep into her mind. She focused on the pups instead, focused on licking them clean of ash and smoke, while their father paced and their newest member stood there, fighting himself between freedom and loyalty.

Found and corralled, Pasha was hardly in tow of Bazi when they came across the gathering. Though tired, he had been nudged along by his mother time and time again. With the storm having come to pass by them and whatever had happened, happened, Pasha could only wonder when it was that they would all be going home. His nerves were on edge still, the weariness evident in his features hardly enough to dim the jittery feelings he had about everything.

Only this time when he was pushed into a group of siblings, he found that he did not have any desire to be apart from them. Here was safe this time. No fire overhead, no crackling lightning or earthquaking thunder. He sighed and settled down, sinking towards the earth as the final high of his own adrenaline ceased to flow. Yet he expended the effort to look towards his father curiously, ever wondering what it was that the adults were speaking about.

End post -- feel free to assume wrap up and travel.

The male rushed forward to inspect his son and mate when they came to view – both seemed tired, but unharmed otherwise. Bazi seemed distant.. incapable of truly forming many words, and with a silent thank you to Kieran who had rounded them up, the man ushered his family together, insisting they rest.
 
Bazi would remain silent for the longest time – and Scimitar would later seek out Tryphon, to determine what the youthful wolf had in mind when deciding to join them once more. Kaskara and Kieran remained ever vigilante in their support to the family, and finally, after about half a day of rest, the family would begin to travel further east.. trying to avoid too far north.