Stavanger Bay Sand & Lead

@Sandpiper & @Smokestep

The eyes that today scanned the bay were not the same. Of rich gold hues, the tigress eyes found but sand and stone coated in dirty snow. It was so grey, so lifeless, that Julep almost missed the mixed scents that lingered closer to the beaches that had seen her birth. Vestiges of the black stone circle that had once defined the territory of Blackrock Depths were still there, but the strong scent of blood and brine that characterized it under the Cairn rule was long gone, as was expected. She stepped over it, feeling as much at home as she felt like a stranger. She had changed much, matured and grown in ways she would never had imagined when she first set foot away from home, and returning was mostly uncomfortable.

As the dirt-stained ct of snow gave foot to lusterless sand Julep felt closer to her destination. But the scents that surrounded her grew too strong to ignore, forcing her to stop advancing towards the waves and lift head and ears as she tried to get a hint of who might have established in the bay since Blackrock's disbanding.

ever since she had rudely escorted narcisa from their borders, she had been in a slightly better mood. if by 'slightly' and 'better' one meant she was not as caustic or as abrasive as usual. she was still 'sandpaper' - brash, brazenly assured, and downright impolite. she carried herself with an esteemed swagger as she strolled down the beach -- right until she spotted the lean figure of another intruder.

assertively her ears pulled forward and she moved in an easy lope, closing the distance with her muzzle pressed forward in slight urgency. she did not recognize this female and as she came within a more respectable distance, her hackles rifled along her shoulders and back and lent her a most unpropitious disposition. she slowed her steps and leveled the tan woman a cold stare, her lips lifting as she spoke: "you're on cairn territory, friend. " she hissed, her blackened lips curling back further: "better piss off."

Soon enough Julep was intercepted by another wolf, of thin limbs and poor musculature, and her confidence got an easy boost. Though she was by no means aggressive, Julep's posture was far from compliant as the tawny girl approached. She was ready to fend off the intruders to her home if it was necesary, down for a fight, even asking for it to some extent, but nothing could have prepared her for what was said.

What? she didn't comprehend why a complete stranger would claim Stavanger Bay as "Cairn" territory, unless... I am Julep Cairn, daughter of Szymon Cairn. I was born in this bay. Who the fuck are you? she growled, since her perfectly sharp rib markings weren't proof enough of her parentage. But before the other could answer she added If someone should be claiming this as Cairn territory that would be me!

---

did this little binch meet sandpiper's threatening posture tit for tat? sandpiper's eyes lit with a furious fire, and she stepped forward very assertively, her hackles absolute and quill-like. while sandpiper's previous posture had not exactly been outright aggressive (for sandpiper, anyway) it was anything but now, as julep had not reacted in the manner sandpiper expected her to.

her ears flew forward as the wolf growled and replied - sandpiper didn't hear an apology in that reply, and wasn't interested in chatting at all -- until julep revealed she was a cairn. sandpiper's hostile expression did not dissolve -- if anything it heightened -- she never trusted strangers, even if they wore plainly their family's crests (as julep did in this case).

sandpiper's expression remained doubtful, despite the plain weave of cairn blood in julep's make. "liar." she accused hotly, despite all the evidence to the contrary. julep could have just tacked 'cairn' after her name to subdue sandpiper -- she wasn't about to be foiled by this imposter. "no cairn would abandon their homeland." she accused again, leveling julep with a thoroughly unkind glare. nevermind sandpiper was also guilty of that act -- a fact she would not shed to light in front of this wolf.

The girl's next word almost made Julep blow up in anger. She was a proud wolf with a damn good reason to be and her name was the one thing she would kill for if it meant demanding the respect it deserved. This girl wouldn't take it away from her, no one could, and being accused of lying about it was as good as insulting her father.

Seriously, who the fuck are you? she spat with obviously hurt feelings beneath her tough facade. Everyone left. Even Skellige didn't quite stick around to see his own pack fall. He left us all, didn't even care. I was a pup, I would have died if I'd stayed here. she explained sharply, I did what I had to do to survive. She didn't really know why she was explaining herself to this girl, she didn't owe her anything, yet at the bottom of her heart all she wanted was to come back home.

---

in truth sandpiper had not expected her accusation to hurt the girl -- infuriate her, sure -- but when she saw the wound delve deep, something in her cold resolve seemed to flicker and melt. until skellige was mentioned. his name caused her hackles to flare anew, and her eyes narrowed as she readjusted her scathing glare upon julep's amber visage.

"he didn't leave us - you left him." she contested hotly, feeling her fur stand on end along the back of her neck. "my father would never. he sent us back here to reclaim his empire!" it was then her temper receded enough that she was able to connect the dots -- julep -- szymon and doe's pup. a distant memory dredged up of them once playing long ago on the bleak shore. she frowned by this memory's revelation. "oh." well didn't she feel stupid -- certainly not the first nor the last time sandpiper cairn would make an absolute horse's ass out of herself. she cleared her throat and tried a new tactic: "i'm sandpiper cairn. skellige's daughter."

There was no sign of this discussion going anywhere but badly, or perhaps they simply were ignoring the facts willingly. Julep was ready to snap back at whatever comment blew off of the girls maw, but she was taken aback when it did. Your father? Skellige? Could this really her cousin? Suddenly all the anger and frustration were replaced by disbelief and surprise.

Piper? she couldn't believe it, but the excitement kicked in. Holy shit! It is you! she barked and her tail couldn't stop dancing. It's Julep she said with joy still tainted by disbelief I'm Szymon's daughter! she clarified, reinforcing what she's been saying since she'd arrived. You do remember me, don't you? she asked hopefully, testing the new terrain into which Sandpiper had forcefully -and thankfully- thrown both of them into. If this was really Sandpiper and they'd been sent to reclaim Skellige's land then perhaps Julep could finally say she was back home (not to mention that she wouldn't have to get her paws dirty).

But wait. Did you say us? Is anyone else here with you? she asked, anxiously taking one step forward. Is my father here? My mother? It  was a long shot, but Julep was ever hopeful that she would have her family reunited one day.

---

like julep, a cascade of mixed emotions fought for purchase in sandpiper's mind (and expression). she was defensive still, but doubt had begun to fray -- especially as julep's incredulous 'piper?' hit her ears. a nickname she had not heard for too long -- it harked back to happier times, where they were well-fed and cheerful. for a moment she was distant with thought though her tail had begun to sway, slow at first until it was furiously beating against her flank.

"julep." she reiterated, this time a fondness in her voice as repressed memories of their short time together resurfaced in the distant dredges of her mind. she stepped forward as juelp did, her head low as she whined: "sorry i bitched at you... smokestep is here.." her ears fell as julep mentioned her parents, and sandpiper looked away. "i.. i don't know. i haven't seen them. there's no one left here."

The memories flooded her. The fights, the laughs, the pointless crying, everything was there stored in a very special corner of Julep's mind. She was always thinking about coming back to the Bay, maybe find her parents and Isengrim, perhaps even the sheepdog would be around as well and they would all be the kickass family they were supposed to be. It was a fantasy of course, and all of it was constantly in contrast with Julep's reality, which made it hard to believe that she would ever get any of it. There was still a voice in the back of her head that said this couldn't possibly be the real Sandpiper, and another one saying that dreams can come true.

Of course it was her. She was much larger and fierce now but it was still Sandpiper, the one she was supposed to have grown up with. It was only good news that she was back with Smokestep to reclaim the bay, but it hit harder than it should to know that neither her parents nor her brother were there when she wasn't even expecting them to be. Julep held her breath for a moment as she struggled not to lose her composure, and then with sorrowful eyes she looked at her cousin to say Don't worry about it. We're here now. That's enough proof that a Cairn will always find their way back home... but before she allowed herself to get too cheesy she asked, o where's your brother? I'd like to see him too

---

sandpiper had none of the sentimental thoughts julep did, though if she was aware of her cousin's thoughts she would not have laughed at them -- family was important -- it was the tether that kept the cairn girl tied to reality. the anchor that prevented her from being sucked out into the moor.

she felt sorry to deliver such grim news to julep, but it seemed julep dwelt on the somber affairs for only a moment. at the mention of smokestep, sandpiper grinned roguishly and threw back her muzzle in a shrill call for @Smokestep. "let's go find him," she suggested, turning to trot down the broad swath of the bay in search of the pale wraith.

A howl sounded overhead, from somewhere down the stretch of beach. Had it not been for who was calling, the pale creature would have opted to ignore it so that he might spend some time fishing in the shallows. Instead, the corsair turned his skull sharply and squinted against the light in hopes that he might be able to see her. Furrowing his brows, the ghost waded from the water and shook his pelt free of loose droplets onto the shore. The chill of the winter air caused his pelt to stand on end. He shuddered against the grip of winter before making an effort to fluff himself further.

Following the direction of her voice, Smokestep trotted lazily down the coast. It did not take him long to find her; his gaze settled on the unfamiliar figure that stood beside her own. Furrowing his brows, the pirate cast a half-frown and canted his head to the side. “Oi, Piper... who's this crusty bilge rat?” he inquired with a skeptical glance to the female cloaked in a dull butterscotch.

gonna PP @Julep (and smokeytep WOOPS) for a conclusion - please PM me if that is not ok!

they needn't wait long for smokestep to arrive. he came on assured steps, a swing to his walk as he regarded the two. sandpiper rose to meet him affectionately, tail wagging as she told of their meeting, and of their initial confusion; all the while a wry smile on her features. once her brother was dutifully informed the slender female suggested the trio return to their old stomping ground. their reunion bolstered sandpiper's steps and as they strode down the beach casually chatting a newfound hope strummed happily in the girl's heart.