Ravenshook Cliffs moonglow

maaaybe @Velen?

a thick fog has settled over the land; the evening is hazy and bone-chilling, sky dimming rapidly into dark muted blues as the sun retreats. the mayfair observes the descent from his perch along the cliffs, as near to the edge as he dares, gaze tracing the first clusters of stars beginning to appear. he's perfectly still save the movement of his argent eyes, a golden sculpture left to erode by the seaside. the crashing of waves is his sole companion for now. soon, he knows, the sky will light up with a million tiny silver flames, and that familiar feeling will fill his heart. that strange sweet melancholy, that baffling mixture of nostalgia and crippling grief — like a love lost, but in the place of memories he possesses only a glaring, aching emptiness. his muzzle lifts, head tilting back, and he howls his grief into the coming night.

he was angry.
what had befallen her was unforgiveable; velen's wrath was too great for him to control, and so fuming, he sequestered himself in the system of caverns opposite the bay. the promise of exploration enough to set his mind into a cold focus. for the good of the other wolves in stormrift did the boy take himself away; he needed to think, and he needed to be alone to do that.
night strummed her bow over the clifftop, but only at the sound of a saddened cry did velen emerge, irritation clear in the tense lines of his body. he could abide no strangers now, no matter that the bay was beyond them, and well-guarded. and so on stiff legs he began a stalk toward the gilded, tall creature facing the waves, intending to rout the wolf and vent the anger that burned so harshly in his chest.

immm assuming its safe to say ford recruited cortland in their thread

the approach of another quickly draws his attention away from the sky. he turns, immediately recognizing the intention in the stranger's stiff-legged gait. yet he also recognizes the scent that clings to him — the scent of stormrift, of ford. his ears pin to his skull and he flattens himself to the earth, tail sweeping against his frame as he tries to make himself as non-threatening as possible. it doesn't occur to him to run, much less fight; he can only hope the stranger recognizes the pack-scent they share. if not... he's familiar enough with the feeling of teeth rending his flesh. he will endure.

the stranger submitted, and it ended the spur of rage in velen's body. thick breath was snorted over the newcomer's nape; he drew in the scent of ford tangled lightly in the golden male's withers and backed a few paces. however, he did not apologize; defense of the bay was proper at all times. instead, velen turned his gaze to the sea and settled some distance away, in affable silence if anything.

he closes his eyes tightly, waiting for the sting of teeth; it does not come. instead he feels hot breath against his fur for a moment, and the stranger withdraws. it takes a few beats for him to remember how to breathe, assuring himself over and over that the danger has passed. at least for now. he forces his eyes open, glancing briefly toward the male to be certain no hostility lingers.
finding the stranger has settled a slightly more comfortable distance away, he forces his trembling limbs to turn him slowly back toward the ocean. he doesn't know what else to do. he lowers himself to the ground, tucking his legs beneath him and releasing a shaky breath. he can't question the other wolf's motives even to himself, not when his own composure already stands on such fragile ground and he knows he will find no answers. perhaps if he could ask, it would be different; he swallows that thought too, gaze turning skyward. the stars are still shimmering faintly above, revealing themselves bit by bit as the light dies, but they offer no comfort now. he feels very cold, and very alone.

dalia had followed velen this far. she felt safe with him-- safer, she realized, than she felt with even ford. she did not want to leave the safety of the bay but... if she was nearby velen then she felt safe enough to do so. and she had things to be doing-- duties to be attending to. she kept a fair distance, not wanting to stalk him, just keep him closeby. she was looking at a strange, budding thing that was growing when she heard the scuffle.

fearing for velen, she immediately tore off after the sound, only to arrive after it had gone down. she approached rather shyly, ears pressed to her skull as she looked between the two males, gaze flitting between them silently before asking, "what's happening?" her ocean eyes were locked now on the newcomer, who held ford's scent in his fur. but, she ultimately began to move to velen's side, giving his should a single brush with her black nose.

"sorry," velen muttered after a beat. "something happened an —" his words trailed off as dalia's delicate form began to make her way across the way toward them, and he stood, body tensed with apprehension for her. had something else happened? she was silent, shy; he returned her gesture with a flagging of his tail, anxiety ebbing from his broad frame. she was all right.
"i almost ripped this dude's head off for no reason,"[/b] velen chuckled mirthlessly. [b]"uh, he's a new recruit. one of ford's." hopefully he had not completely ruined everything; he sheepishly lowered his muzzle toward the other male, hoping he would speak and reveal his name to the others.

aahhhh sorry for the wait, pls excuse my rusty writing

his ears perk a little at the unexpected apology, and with the beginning of the man's admission he already feels a little guilty — but the words are cut off by the arrival of another wolf. he turns his head, catching sight of the pale girl as she asks what happened and moves to the man's side. his explanation makes several things clearer to the mayfair — but now, he's faced with the rather daunting task of assuring the stranger that all is forgiven. it would be easy to come off aloof, even resentful; the thought sets his nerves alight, knowing these are wolves that follow ford. he turns fully toward the pair with a soft chuff, tail swishing slowly as he creeps forward a couple feet with his body still close to the ground. when he settles again, closer to his packmates, he rests his chin on his paws with ears pulled forward and tail still swaying across the ground behind him.

ur writing is beautiful !!

velen quickly fills her in, and she's relieved to hear-- and see-- that everything is okay. she gave him a scolding look... at least, she meant to be stern. though her eyebrows knit together with concern, her lips could not help but pull up in a delicate smile. he was just worried for the pack, he was protecting them. it was the right thing to do. 

the male before them, still submissive, did not speak, leaving dalia to assume the role of mediator between the two. she was, after all, a pretty unbiased party. 

she looked upon him curiously, her expression loosening as her seafoam gaze rested on his sandy features. "my name is dalia moreau," she said with a gentle dip of her head. she was not used to anyone playing submissive to her, so she tried to react neutrally in return, assuming all the actions were being played purely from velen's show of aggression and dominance. "this is velen," she said, opting to introduce the scarlet mayfair-cairn herself-- though he could say whatever. "we're happy to have you with stormrift," she added in a gentle purl, her nose dipping kindly.

though he remained a bit shamefaced, velen could not help but feel vindicated by dalia's approval of his methods. the boy before them dipped and seemed affable, though remained mute. introductions were made, and though none were forthcoming, velen nodded. "if ford found you winning, you're one of us now."
it occurred to him that the newcomer could not speak. yes and no questions, he reminded himself, charmed by dalia's elegance. "would you like a tour?" he offered, glancing to the girl at his side before returning his attention to the undoubtedly beautiful stranger before them.

the pale girl's introductions ease the last of the tension from him, and a faint smile tugs at his lips at the male's comment. he likes the sound of that: one of us. even if he's not certain yet how true it will prove to be. he finds dalia's gentle demeanor a good sign, at least, though he remains inwardly wary of velen. his wariness does little to dampen the eagerness of the nod he offers to the man's question, however. he's more eager for the company than the tour, but he's happy to take both, even if the stress of velen's initial aggression has left him feeling a little... worn. he rises, swallowing his fatigue in favor of a friendly air. he's still hyper-aware of the need to make a good impression, regardless of his feelings. the last thing he wants to do is upset ford's family.

O it's my turn

dalia nodded along with velen as he spoke, her tail giving a gentle wave. she was ready to accompany the pair on a tour as well -- though she doubted she had anything special to offer with velen there... surely he would take the leader, riveting extrovert. she was... not quiet as interesting, not outwardly, anyway. 

her muzzle still pressed into a wider smile as the golden man before them agreed to a tour. she gave velen a gentle nudge to the shoulder with her dark nose, partially on instinct, but also as a silent encouragement. she felt he might need it, for some reason. "i'll come along," she said. if not for velen's company, and to better get to know their new member, at least to be safely escorted back into the territory. but she didn't say that.

last for me! <3

the boy took them up on it, probably tempered a bit by dalia's warmth. velen, still sheepish at how he had lashed out at the boy before knowing he was one of their own, stepped back somewhat to let the softer of the trio take the lead.
"dalia knows all the good places," velen murmured, brushing her shoulder encouragingly before pausing to bring up the rear of the tour. it was where he belonged after such an outburst; he hoped the girl wouldn't be too put out.