Swiftcurrent Creek bad vibes
ís & steinn ♔ hjarta & sál
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Ooc — Java
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#1
He had tried. When news of Fox's disappearance met his ears, he was one of the first to scour the land for her — and yet there was nothing. Her scent had been strong, pungent with blood which only made him work harder and cover more ground. He slogged through the territory's edge now, worn out and agitated by failure. Her scent was gone. She was gone. Njal tried to focus on other things, but he was sour, too sour by it all.

The first thing he did was head towards the den to see the pups, as he ought to... But his path veered away from the copse of trees where he knew Tuwawi was waiting. He came to a sudden halt in the middle of the territory. Around him stretched the flatland, the tall grass, distant mountains which couldn't hold his attention for long (but earned a dull scowl instead), and the rolling clouds above. Gray, abysmally gray, matching his mood.
he came and stole the wild
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Ooc — Rachel
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#2
Bazi was gone from the Creek -- wherever she had gone, it was clear she hadn't seen it fit to notify him.. or, seemingly, any others. With his lips pulled to a grim line, the agouti male strode slowly through the lands, wincing slightly as each pull of his muscle would seemingly keep his wounds open and ooze blood. Jace had given him a run for his money, and still nothing had been resolved. Scimitar did not trust the Sunspire wolves to simply let the captives go, and with Fox gone and pack in disarray.. the Creek wolves were in a predicament he did not see ending well.

The dull breeze drifted a scent to him, and glancing up, bright aqua eyes fell upon Njal. He had not seen the male during the panicked gathering -- Tuwawi had come to give her two cents on how foolish everything was before storming off and offering no further insight -- perhaps he had been with the pups?

Lowering his muzzle in acceptance to the ranked male, Scim gave a light shake of his pelt, holding back a flinch as he did so. "Njal," he greeted, his tone flat as he closed the distance between the two.
he came and stole the wild
a crime so old as the sky and bone
ís & steinn ♔ hjarta & sál
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#3
"Njal." — the greeting came suddenly, bringing a new distraction from the thoughts within the warden's unsoothed mind. He turned his ears before his head, cupping the sound, and when he caught sight of the approaching Scimitar he gave a chuff of recognition. It seemed like aeons since he had been away from the children, longer still since he had seen anyone aside from Tuwawi or any of the little beans. But now, with someone nearby, Njal felt his frustration ebbing in to withdrawal; he didn't want company, not after that failure.

For a moment he was silent. Brooding and sullen. But Scimitar's nearness brought to mind Bazi, whose scent was clear upon him; she was absent though, and after a brief glance towards the direction of the river, Njal looked to the other male. "I tried to hunt down Fox, but I was unsuccessful. Where is Bazi? Has there been any news?" His voice was tired, but lilted with his heavy accent as soon as the questions sprouted from his muzzle. If she had been found after all, then perhaps his effort wasn't in vain.
dread the day when dreaming ends
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Ooc — Karmencita
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#4
Hey guys - I am posting once in here, I hope that's OK, just to have Bazi 'passing through'. I thought we could all make our way over to Ferdie's thread, so I've referenced his howl at the end. :D

Edit: Actually, to get it up to 10 posts, we can just keep going as if this is the journey thread.

It wasn't until she was well on her way back to the Creek that Bazi began to feel how bruised she was. Neither she nor Fox had fought to kill, but that almost made it worse. Her fur was a matted mess of spit, dirt, and grass stains, speckled here and there with blood where sharp teeth and claws had cut superficial wounds into her skin. They were nothing compared to the wounds that Fox had sustained in the Sunspire, but they were enough to bring a wobble to Bazi's lip as she hobbled for home.

Njal and Scimitar were the first two wolves she came across. Thank the stars. Though they would no doubt spot her despite her dire need of a bath, Bazi forced a bark from her parched throat to draw their attention. After what felt like an eternity of stumbling steps, she stood between the two males like a scrappy little pup, wild-eyed and exhausted.

"Fox is.. gone," she announced, unsure how else to phrase it. Swiftcurrent Creek had been given over to her in a fit of post-battle rage, and there was still the possibility that this was still part of some elaborate plan. "We fought, she left - but," Bazi was quick to say, guilt and panicked fear rising to defend Fox, "I don't know if it's part of a plan to get the girls back or--"

A howl interrupted her. Bazi's eyes widened when she realised who it belonged to. "That's Ferdie," she whispered urgently. It was close, which meant he was at the borders. "Come!" she barked, and began to run in the direction of the sound.
he came and stole the wild
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Ooc — Rachel
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#5
Njal seemed either oblivious or unconcerned about the tattered male before him, and the agouti wolf did not bring forward any more attention to his injuries. Had he succeeded in what he had intended to do, it would have been something entirely different. But as it stood, Jace had gotten away without any comforting words of what would happen to the captives his pack held.

The grey male before him sounded tired -- something Scimitar would have echoed had his nerves not been entirely frayed. "You've missed much," he began, though was cut short as Bazi appeared. His eyes narrowed at the sight of her -- her usually pristine pelt was nettled with dirt.. and blood? Bristling at the thought of what could have befallen her, it was made clear as words spilled from her mouth.

So not only had Fox taken some of their smallest and youngest members to go take another squat on the borders of their rival pack and then fled from the lands when they were captured, she had also fought Bazi, the one who now had to pick up the pieces of the mess she had left behind.

Before he could even word this disgust, check her over for injuries, or anything of the sort, a cry echoed across the lands, beckoning her. She was gone within a moment, and casting a glance to Njal, Scimitar was quick upon her heels -- though due to his shoulder and other wounds, would soon fall behind.
he came and stole the wild
a crime so old as the sky and bone
ís & steinn ♔ hjarta & sál
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#6
Scimitar's terse reply - "You've missed much." - caused a frown to briefly take up residence on Njal's face. When he opened his mouth to question further, there was no time; Bazi was suddenly striding towards them (or rather, hobbling). The state of her body made it clear she had been fighting, but with who? He did not need to voice this question either, as the white wolf was swift to explain. As she spoke Njal's attention drifted from her and traded a brief glance with Scimitar, who seemed just as surprised - even perhaps disgusted - by the news of Fox's further betrayal.

"We fought, she left - but," Still, Bazi defended her. Still, Bazi remained loyal. Njal could feel the remains of his loyalty to the spitfire crumbling, becoming dust. "I don't know if it's part of a plan to get the girls back or--" A howl pierced the air, making each wolf stand at brief attention. Bazi recognized the sound and with a quick word, dashed for the border. Njal followed but Bazi's wild speed left him behind to make the trip alongside Scimitar; there was no time to protest against the urgent manner in which she moved, even with those wounds. The warden gave a brief look to the male beside him as he ran but said nothing. There was no time.
dread the day when dreaming ends
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#7
Filler post to get it up to 10. :D

Was this the third sprint of the day, or the fourth? Bazi couldn't remember. All she knew was that the previous efforts had hurt far less than this one. Her hip joints felt like they were on fire - even her paw pads felt bruised. It was all she could do not to burst into tears in the middle of her run. Fox was supposed to deal with this stuff. She thrived on confrontation - Bazi felt like a small girl running into a bear pit.

But I'm not alone, she reminded herself. Njal and Scimitar were right behind her - both the size of Ferdie, if not larger. The entire Swiftcurrent Creek pack would rally around her. She was a pack leader, with or without Fox, and there were wolves here that would - the pack would not simply deteriorate because its red little head had dropped off. The thought steadied her wobbling lip and re-focused her mind. There was urgent business to attend to, and no time to think beyond the next ten minutes.
he came and stole the wild
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Ooc — Rachel
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#8
His eyes focused upon Bazi -- her spry run was soon putting him and Njal behind, and while he worried what she was running to, he would not hold her back. He could not imagine the stress she felt. It was like witnessing the crumbling of their home.. Though she was far more attached to it than him. Bazi and Fox's friendship was what kept him rooted here, and now with the latter not only out of the picture but also the definition of disappointment, he did not know what would happen next.

He stole a glance to the silver male closer to him. They did not speak -- there was nothing to say. Njal's expression was unreadable and for a moment, he wondered just how loyal the male was to Bazi, or if his allegiance belonged to the woman who had placed them in this predicament.

Only time would tell, and soon these thoughts would be pushed aside by the welcoming party waiting for them.
he came and stole the wild
a crime so old as the sky and bone
ís & steinn ♔ hjarta & sál
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Ooc — Java
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#9
His own mind was pinpointed upon one thing: who was at the border. Bazi had mentioned Ferdie's name when the call rose up, and now that they marched so mindlessly towards the summons, he had to wonder. If Ferdie was here, was he alone? Why would he show his face now. Was he the reason that Fox was missing? Each thought that flitted through the warden's mind only hardened his heart further to what they would discover; he charged after their pale leader with the full intent of arriving at the edge of the lands before her, but she was too quick. Even in distress her agility outshone his - perhaps it was fueled by it - and thus Njal was left to run alongside Scimitar. The silver male's spinal fur began to spike in irritation towards the impending intrusion.
dread the day when dreaming ends
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Ooc — Karmencita
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#10
Concluding! Pardon the delay.

Ferdie had brought friends. Three wolves came into view - and Bazi was surprised that she recognized each one. Amekaze - fickle beast - and that.. that strange loner that she had told to go north. How close had he passed to Swiftcurrent borders on his way to the Sunspire? Rage built in her like water behind a dam, pressing hard against its container.

All around her, she could hear the footfalls of Swiftcurrent wolves.