Arrow Lake Out in the desert with my street sweeper

She was surprised at just how much she had been looking forward to returning home, even though it felt wrong to refer to anything other than the glacier as home. Still, as she crossed back over the borders and made her way towards the frozen lake, she felt like she was supposed to be here; the pieces had just fallen into place too seamlessly for her to doubt that her next chapter started here. 

That didn't mean she was giving up on finding the rest of her family. She still had no idea where her sisters and nephew were, and it was becoming harder to remain positive about where they might be. Sometime on her trip back home from the coast, she had realized just how much she resented Sia for returning home and leaving her here to deal with all of this. That seemed to be his modus operandi, though; when things got tough for him, he just pushed everything on his stoic little sister because she would do whatever he asked of her. Once again her loyalty was taken for granted, and she was starting to think no one deserved it. It made her want to closely guard her trust now, but she had already given Stigmata her word, and she wouldn't go back on it. 

She stopped near the lake and dropped down to the ground, rolling over on her back to rub the snow into her coat. She could still smell the salty scent of the ocean on herself, and she hated it. Once sufficiently caked in snow, she rolled back over, snorting the cold substance out of her nose in a puff of white as she looked back over the lake wishing she could swim in the frigid water.

hope you don't mind me hopping in!

finch is roaming around, seemingly aimlessly-- without any real purpose as for right now. she turns over rocks, looking for any signs of life, really. she'll take anything she can get-- but insects seems sparse in the harsh winters. she wonders if they've all died, or if they're like birds: flocking together to go somewhere warmer... but then again, bugs aren't very smart.
yeah, they probably all just died.

the golden idol prowls about the territory, marking what she can, keeping their claim known when a smell catches her attention. not a foreign smell, no, but the smell of a packmate- it was taki, specifcally, and as far as finch can recall the white-coated spirit had been gone from the territory for a little while. her tail sways as she follows the scent, surely she wouldn't mind a welcome back, right? her stride is long as she glides as a ribbon through their plains. running always felt nice, and the plains here were far larger than the ones in her old home-- she felt free. one with the wind, she moves as if she were a powerful gale before coming to a stop as she notices her packmate rolling about in the snow before expelling some fron her nose before turning her gaze towards the lake. not wanting to startle her, as she seemed perfectly content there-- finch slowly walks over to where the spirit lays, her tail wagging behind her, letting out a light chuff to announce her presence.
,,taki, welcome home.'' her voice is low though welcoming. she hadn't had the chance to really get to know this one yet, not knowing what ails her, and although company can't fix everything getting to know someone a little bit can help, she thinks.

cameo unless he is noticed!

the screaming of a coyote rent the air, its yipping soon cut off in the weighty clench of mahler's jaws. he showed no mercy to the creature that had trespassed into diaspora's claim; its shrieks turned to choking and then it was silent. the gargyole allowed it to fall limply then, lowering his muzzle to clean the coyote's blood from his charcoal features. 
opposite him, the golden she-wolf and the winterwhite takiyok came together in an affable meeting. mahler was pleased that the northerner had come to follow diaspora, and while he knew little of finch, he saw her to be a fierce and loyal being as well. watching them for a handful of moments, mahler nosed at the coyote and set off. its cooling blood bloomed crimson against the snow, a warning for any other wretch who might cross their borders.

Of course not! Thanks for joining! :)

The chuff pulled her attention from the lake, and she gave a quick nod in greeting as the other woman approached. As Finch spoke, Taki stood, shaking the snow from her fur before sitting back down. Thank you, she replied. She felt indifferent towards this wolf; she had definitely proven herself useful during the hunt with the dumb-ass, but the northerner was still working on building some kind of trust with the other wolves here. Being in a pack together didn't automatically earn them her loyalty; as always, she needed to make sure they deserved it. Still, so far, Finch hadn't done anything to make Taki dislike her anymore than she disliked anyone she didn't know very well. 

Unsure what else to say here because well, she didn't really do small talk, she glanced around a little before resting her gaze back on the other woman. Here is much more preferable to the coast, she finally supplied. The ocean was not really her favorite; it was never cold enough even in the winter and the sand got everywhere--it was just not for her.

she responded-- her eyes darting around a little bit before coming to a rest. she speaks of the coast, and finch's ears attune to her words accordingly. whenever anyone mentions the coast, the golden wolfess settles near the spirit but not too close for her to get uncomfortable. ,,i grew up on the coast. well, kind of. it was a coast, sorta, but not quite.'' her feathered tail sways amongst the snow resting her front paws on the ground before her as she sprawls out. ,,what about it don't you like? it's definitely not for everyone, that's for sure.'' her speech is riddled with chuckles, trying to feel as welcoming as she can.

Taki had grown up nowhere near a coast, instead spending her early days in mostly ice and snow. She nodded at the other woman's words, listening quietly as she spoke. When she asked about her displeasure regarding the ocean, Taki shrugged a little. I prefer mountains and snow, she offered. The coast just never seemed to get cold enough for her liking, even when it did get cold. She was meant for snow and high altitudes, and found herself growing uncomfortable and restless if she spent too much time in other places. She studied the other woman briefly. If you are from the sea, what brings you here--to Diapora and the mountains, she asked, curious to know what pulled her from her home and drove here to be with strangers. Everyone had their reasons, and Taki wondered what the golden woman's were.