Dragoncrest Cliffs i ran into the devil, he loaned my twenty bills

She departs from Sequoia, a little bothered she’s chosen to continue her exploration, especially without a guard. Respect has not been taught properly in her absence but it does not surprise her, coming from the Dio and Portia litter. She'd enjoyed the exchange with the girl but things will fall back into place soon.

Thuringwethil moves on to search for the rest of her group. Heda scents the air and wrinkles her nose, moving in a familiar direction to the north, only to diverge a little into the fields long enough to scan the wide expanse. None of the boys are sight, so Thuringwethil diverges from her path and redirects toward Drageda. Familiar scents swirl the air on the ocean breeze but she doesn’t think much of them.

Eventually, Thuringwethil lifts her nose and releases a howl for @Vercingetorix, @Bobby, and @Ephraim, directing their attention toward Drageda on their final leg home.

He'd been bristling with rage since Wildfire had left with his favorite sister and his scouting friend.  In his eyes, nomi had left and he hadn't seen her again, Bat had left and never came back.  Silkie and Kiwi's reappearances did little in his eyes — once someone was gone, they were gone.  They weren't coming back.  He was beyond hurt, because he knew that his duty was to Drageda.  He had spent little time with Wildfire since nomi had left and knew little of her loyalties, but he didn't understand how Sequoia and Kiwi saw that they were betraying everything Drageda stood for.

Hearing nomi's call was like something from a dream.  All of today felt like a dream.  He blinked once, twice — like if he did it enough, he'd wake up and Wildfire and Kiwi and Sequoia would be back, and Nomi would be gone.  But it wasn't.  On large paws he moved towards her howl as his heart swelled.  He did not expect to find that he would be nearly as tall as she was.  He didn't expect for her to be nothing like she remembered — still nomi, but not as large as a mountain, and as imposing as a thundercloud.

He stopped a distance away, though he wanted to ram his head into her chest and bury it there forever.  His softened bronze eyes sought hers as he watched in silence.  Mama was home.

Just a little post to get in here.

Helix leads the duo in silence as she tries to figure out where she’s meant to focus. She puts faith that Ephraim would say something against @Eurycrates during their travel and will allow whatever to happen as they now face some weird… limbo. Hopefully @Blixen heeds the call, too, meeting them near their borders that trails the unremarkable scent of Thuringwethil.
 
She takes a deep breath, glancing once over her shoulder to gesture Ephraim closer. They approach the tall redwoods quickly, a dark spot in the distance—met with a second—and she picks up her trot to speed up their destination.

It had been a long journey from Trigeda, what with the pit stops in the taiga. Ephraim would be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to the opportunity to rest safe within the territory. He hadn't been able to explore much of it prior to leaving, so he was also looking forward to getting better acquainted with it. From as far back as he could remember—since his memories of Ankyra Sound were fragmented and indistinct—he had been on the move. His family had been roaming prior to the great storm that drove him into the taiga, and he had only been in Drageda's land about as long as he had been traveling with Thuringwethil. He sorely wanted for some stability at last.

He was silent as he followed Helix and Eurycrates, bringing up the rear in case the loner got any funny ideas in his head. But the large brown wolf didn't seem like as much of a threat with the Fleimkepa present, and he could see Heda's hulking dark form in the distance. His tail, which had been held at a rigid half-mast, drooped down to hang at ease now that the commander was near.

Squinting, Ephraim watched as another figure, nearly as large as Thuringwethil, approached. His hackles ruffled defensively and he took up a stiff-legged gait that carried him swiftly forward. Recognition began to nag at him when he could make out the sharp golden splashes on the black-and-white coat, but he wasn't certain until he was close enough to make out the juvenile's paws. He was pleased to see dew claws on the back feet, unlike any wolf he had ever met. Ephraim couldn't help his lips twitching toward a smile at the sight of Tux, now far larger than he, but he did his best to keep his composure and seem serious and grown up. After all, he was just a little hybrid among large full-blooded wolves. He couldn't afford to act like the excited kid he seemed to be next to them.

The news of Sequoia's decision to depart did not come easy, and the same bitterness as a result of Dalia's haf been roused once more. That same wound was reopened the moment those words reached his ears, its stitching unravelled to leave an ache that was all too familiar.

Of course, he felt the loss of Wildfire and Kiwi as well, and it seemed like their whole pack was beginning to crumble. Between the hurt and the anger, the sterling Goufa's fear threatened to rise. What would they do if, in the days to come, more wolves took their leave? What if Opalia chose to follow their sister? And their parents, what would they do?

Could life in Drageda really be happy, if their family fell apart?

Wishing to be alone, Dacio turned from Hougeda and looked toward the territory outskirts. He pressed on in this direction with a frustrated twitch of a whisker, and took little notice of the path he took. His only desire was for breathing space, for quiet, something he was sure to find beyond the borders.

When he lifted his gaze to catch sight of Tux, Dacio's immediate desire was to slink away unnoticed - but the tri-colour youth's stare concerned him. Veering toward his cousin, he announced his approach with a soft whine and a sad sway of his tail, though his body stiffened when he looked toward the approaching figures of several wolves - most of whom he failed to recognise.

He hadn't wandered too far, despite the urge. The moon of traveling had given him itchy paws; it was going to be hard to settle now. Alas and alack, it was his job, and so he sauntered up to Heda, coming to her side with a soft whuff of greeting.

Tux, the boy he'd met the other day, came with a sullen expression. He cast him a puzzled look before grinning at Ephraim, who came in tow with a big burly gray dude and--

Helix! Vercingetorix called out, wagging his tail. He did not approach her yet; it was best to wait until preliminaries were settled to engage in all that mushy stuff. Nevertheless, he was thrilled--and kind of confused--to see his sister here. Who else had come to Drageda over the past moons?

Another youth, this one he didn't know. . .

Really rolling out the welcome wagon, he muttered sotto voce to Thuringwethil, glancing her way before returning his glacial gaze to the party assembled.

just wanted to jump in here quick! assuming blix hasn't found out about wifi leaving yet

as with helix, nomi's call summons blixen from her patrol, a warmth blossoming in her chest as she moves. nomi's absence felt different from mother's when she was a child -- perhaps because she knew where nomi was going, what she would be doing, and what blix's role was in the meantime. but it's hard in a different way, a way she isn't sure how to cope with, because unlike mother, nomi is her mentor. helix is great, but not the same and eske left with nomi too so--well. she feels as if she's grown a bit. she also feels as if she hasn't done a particularly good job.

bat's still gone.

the thought sombers her, slowing her steps as she reaches the calvary, her ears laying flat. the young commander comes up behind tux, greeting him with a nudge before stepping past him toward nomi. she gives helix a nod, acknowleding her presence, but her attention is firmly on the crew: thur, and ephraim, the boy she didn't get a chance to spend much time with, and another man, someone she doesn't know. dacio, too -- she gives him a quick glance and nod as well, acknowledging his continued appearances in the periphery of her life (really, the sight of his figure has grown on her). "hei," blix greets, her gaze back at the main event, lowering her head to heda.  "welcome home," she adds, lifting her head back up -- there's a lot to share, presumably on both sides, but she holds her tongue, wanting to see what nomi says first.

The news has not set well. He has had only a short time to stew on it, and none of it has come any easier, no matter how long went by. Nothing changed the outcome. After passing the word onto his family, and seeing it break all of their hearts anew each time, he was utterly exhausted, and only held up so well by bitterness and quietly composed anger. How had it come to be?

Feeling slighted, and powerless to boot, he blinked slow at the sounds of the call—not one he had expected to hear today, honestly. At first, he could do nothing but pause. Process, listen.. and let it sink in, where one tragedy gripped his heart, something else would come in with a wild counterbalance of good news, amidst the bad.

But, it was too soon for the outright relief; he'd see to her first, and welcome Heda back into to their cliffside properly. She had missed plenty and he was sure she brought with her back tales of her own—and too, he had simply missed her presence among them. If only they had better news to greet her with. If only Wildfire had stayed put a little longer.

He ended up trailing Dacio towards the gatherings, and joined up beside him once he arrived as well. Settling in with everyone, including the stranger and all the others he wa glad to see safe and sound (and here), he waved his tail gently, low, and deferred to their leader. Heda he greeted with a relived sigh, all ears, however.

It had been a long journey, but the closer they got, the more Robin felt like he was home again. He was glad he had the group along with him, but it would also be nice to see the old faces from Drageda. He came quickly to the call of Thur, and it looked like a large gathering had already occurred. His tail waved softly as he looked to each wolf, seeing some new faces, and happy to see the usual ones. While he noticed the absence of some, he simply assumed they weren't here yet. 

He was ready to get in and get settled, and then of course resume his duties. But, the proper thing to do was wait until the leaders sorted themselves out. He would be patient.

i put helix on ppc so please skip her! can probably do free posting/no rounds if you want since there’s so many!

it is tux that she sees first. standing in the drageda feeling, watchful, and she lifts her head a little. another wolf, grey and black, comes up from behind him and stands nearby. she can’t see the defining freckles of to know who he belongs to but she doesn’t draw much attention to herself that she’s already gotten.

before she gets close to them, however, she sees helix and ephraim coming from the left. she turns to them, distracted from her son and the other child she can only as i’m is dio’s. she’ll find out later, but behind the other two is someone she doesn’t recognize. a new member for her to talk to? she doesn’t care to do any of that now but if he wants in, she’ll entertain the notion briefly.

vercingetorix shows up a few minutes later, coming to her side, and robin shortly after. blixen and dio next and she turns to them, a slight smile of greeting and short nod of her head, but she clears her throat as she’s cleared for an audience. eventually, she’ll get all the wolves together and talk about what happened but for now she’s thankful for a welcoming home.

”the wolves that attacked maungeda are dead. they had plans to advance to trigeda all the way to here,” she tells them. if they’d taken maungeda, and trigeda failed to defend them, they’d have continued their way to sangeda, then here and if they’d taken one on their own, did they have a chance being taken by surprise? her jaw tightens at the thought but her weary bones assure her she’s home and safe and the threat is gone for good. ”eske, étoille, and hush decided to stay a while longer and help rebuild,” she goes on to explain. they’d lost a lot between sangeda and trigeda taking on the wolves that took their mountain. ”this is vercingetorix, who’s taken duty as my guard.”

thuringwethil goes quiet then, looking around. she does not mention ephraim or robin. the other wolves know who they are and she steps a little to the side to look at them and though she doesn’t mention it, she’ll be glad to have all her children in one place again.

Teeny cameo! I’d rather he remain unnoticed because I was not his player when this thread was made. I hope this is okay with everyone~ ♥

Silkie lingers on the periphery of the long-awaited reunion, wearing a sour expression. Nomi is home at last, and he listens to the abbreviated tale of her victory for as long as he can stand before he melts deeper into the forest and disappears.

Many of the faces that came out to meet Thuringwethil were only vaguely familiar at best, and completely unfamiliar at worst. Ephraim was struck with the notion that he didn't truly know his pack at all. That wasn't surprising. He hadn't been with them very long before leaving with Heda to be trained, and in that time, he'd mostly interacted with the other pups in the pack. Strangely, the only one to arrive here was Tux. Bat, Kiwi and Silkie (who went unseen by Ephraim) were all missing from the welcoming party. Dio he recognized a little as the man that found him down on Drageda's beach, whereas Dacio and Blixen were both absent from his recollection.

It unsettled him a little that he was more familiar with members of Trigeda than he was with his own pack mates. That was something he would seek to remedy in the days to come. If he had learned one thing while in Trigeda, it was that the wolf was only as strong as the pack at his back. He couldn't hope to be successful without even knowing who his comrades really were.

He gave a solemn nod to back up Thuringwethil's information. Truth be told, he didn't know much about what happened in the war, but he liked to pretend he did. It made him feel stronger. He hadn't been permitted to participate. Instead, he'd spent his time learning Trigedasleng and sparring with the other young wolves, training both mind and body in the art of war without ever having a taste for it. He could defend himself better than most his age now, knew a passable amount of Trigedasleng, and understood better what the coalition was all about and why Heda was important to packs so far away from theirs. He had been told of the fos goufa and the trial they underwent when a new commander was chosen for the collective, and knew it was something he would never have to worry about it even if his siblings were long gone.

He flexed his toes against the ground as Thuringwethil concluded her report by introducing Vercingetorix, and glanced at each face in turn as they presumably welcomed the party home.