Mount Apikuni Mermaids and Crabmen

@Vespera maybe?

Kavik had left them. Where? Reiko wasn't certain, he and Grezig must have left together seeing as they both were gone at the same time, otherwise there was some kind of coincidence; but Uaine Gorsedd was doomed with only the few remaining wolves left. She could only smell and find maybe three or four of them. Her heart heavy with grief, she wandered the mountains close to Emberwood's borders should any of them still be around looking for stragglers. 

@Ibis had only just began to feel better, and now she had less members surrounding her to keep her safe. Hesitant to leave her like the others, Reiko would seek her out later to try and figure out something that would help her most of all. For now, the snowy woman wandered, uncertain of her own future.

Setting this after Artyom and Minnow source Aliac's grave (vague reference to it here as not sure how it'll play out), on their way home. Tag for reference, no need to join.  :D

With their mission having been completed, Artyom and @Minnow made their way carefully down Lone Star Mountain's frozen slopes. It had been a long couple of days and, with Dawn and their unborn litter at the forefront of his mind, the ranger was keen to be home with her.

Of course, his sympathy remained with his young ward. It had to have been difficult for her to visit her dam's final resting place, and likely even harder to leave. When they reached the valley once more, safe on more solid ground, Artyom offered to source them a meal to better fuel them for the remainder of their trip.

He followed the prints of a large mink through the fresh snow, an eagerness in his stride as he sniffed enthusiastically to determine how soon it'd passed through. It was not movement of the creature he actively attempted to track, however, that caught his eye. He lifted his earthen gaze to look upon a sleek alabaster frame as she roamed through the foliage, clearly not the animal he sought.

He drew closer, recognised her as the wolfess from the Emberwood who'd offered to send word should her kin manage to source Whitebark's missing wolves. The arrival of Grezig and Kavik, seeking a place among their numbers, had of course given him cause for concern - but he figured their previous comrades would've simply found their own path.

"Reiko," he called out gently, careful not to spook her by easing to halt a comfortable distance away.

Naturally she was on high alert. Careful to hear or see any danger and spring into action as quick as possible before things would go from bad to worse. Run as far and as fast as possible, away from Ibis and the lingering Uaine wolves to avoid putting them in peril too, having no guards other than possible Kukulkan to protect them. She would simply have to outrun whatever, that was her plan for the time being. 

So at the sound of her name, she jumped a little and twisted to set her eyes onto whoever had called for her, anxiously her tail tucked quickly between her legs, but swiftly enough it relaxed, and even found its own pendulum sway at the familiar face who greeted her. Artyom. With a couple steps forward, she was comfortable enough now knowing something of the man to be somewhat excited to see him. Someone who she was confident was kind. Have you found your missing wolves?

His interruption of her privacy had been intentional, but he hadn't meant to make her jump. He supposed her surprise was inevitable, considering her shyness toward him when first he found her gazing doe-eyed in his direction from her Emberwood. Artyom regarded her skittish response with a backward swivel of his gilded ears in quiet apology.

She recovered quickly, thankfully, and offered him a greeting in return. A hint of a smile bloomed on his muzzle, though it was quick to transform into a thoughtful frown. "Unfortunately no," he answered simply, and carried on: "but two of  yours arrived at our borders a few days ago, Grezig and Kavik, seeking a place to stay. What happened?" Rebel is pretty sure these particular characters would provide an explanation for having left UG, but that thread needs to progress a little to know for sure. Besides, Artyom was keen to gain another perspective, and he felt that Reiko could be trustworthy enough to provide an honest answer.

I'm sorry. It hadn't been long since they had last spoken, but she was hopeful for some good news regardless. Next time maybe. But as Artyom continued, she could only feel herself worsening. he news wasn't terrible, she was happy to hear that the two were okay - but she couldn't help but think. They abandoned us. The words fell slow after Artyom asked what happened.

She couldn't see it any other way. Without a word they left, leaving the pack that ibis had entrusted to Kavik to take care off, and leaving he remaining members to find their own way. Uaine is no more after they left, we all scattered to the wind. I'm here trying to rally the remainder and make sure we are all safe to find a new home.

Artyom's expression softened, and his brow furrowed in concern as Reiko made a sharp accusation: her pack-mates abandoned her and their comrades. Initially he did not want to believe it and, in a sense, felt that he could not. Perhaps the alabaster she-wolf did not know what he did and, although it was not his responsibility to set it right, he did feel a desire to defend his newest pack-mates.

"I am sorry," he made a tentative step forward, unsure how Reiko's opinion of him might swiftly change as she learned of his association with the wolves she once considered her friends, "they have an unborn litter to think about. I could not turn them away."

Artyom wasn't sure he could live with himself by sending the pair into the unknown, dooming puppies to die without the care of a pack. Soon he and Dawn would have his own cubs to feed, but he felt Whitebark would do their best by all of them. "If I offered you and your companions a place with us, might you consider it?" Artyom doubted she would, but wanted to provide the option to show his support; her disagreement with the nature of Kavik and Grezig's departure was not his business.

So they were expecting a litter. It changed things a little, but the feeling lingered. Rather than trusting the pack, or at least informing them of their plans, the two thought nothing of those who relied off of their leader and left without a word. Though she could not blame them for putting their puppies first, the feeling lingered. They abandoned them, and the little trust she had for them was gone. Please don't apologize, this isn't your fault, you did the right thing.

Remaining in her spot as he approached, she had no reason for now to distrust the pale man. Slowly but surely, she would accept him to come closer.

With a soft shake of her head, she turned down his offer. Your offer is kind, but it would be too soon to be packmates to those who had already caused such a rift. Under any other circumstance it would have been a blessing to join. But how could she be certain that Kavik and Grezig wouldn't do the same again? There would be no trust gained if it wasn't given. I wish them well.

With that said, she let the man digest her decision, maybe even rebuttal if he thought it was necessary. I will still keep my eyes and ears open for your lost ones, my promise still stands. It was hers to keep after all, it would not die with Uaine but she would keep it until fulfilled.

It was an unfortunate thing to experience as an outsider, as someone with a pack of his own who wished only to see the good in others. Artyom so fiercely wanted to believe that Kavik and Grezig put their litter first and foremost, that it was not their intention to bleed Whitebark dry of its resources and its Alphas' kind hearts. He was loathe to take Reiko at her word, struggled to think that his newest recruits had abandoned their group without inviting them along, but he could not deny that the seed had been planted.

He felt something tighten in his gut, in his chest, felt the weight of newfound dread in his gut to consider how he might approach the pair with this latest information. He sagged a little at the pale wolfess' rejection, disappointed that he could not do more to help, and his thoughts darkened: where would they go, and would they be safe?

"As does mine," his offer, he meant - for her to find a place among them. Without hesitation, Artyom would happily will Whitebark Stream to open its borders to Reiko and her friends. "Where will you go?"

She smiles and nods as they both express their grounds would remain. Despite what had happened, the two's budding friendship seemed to only grow stronger. Thank you, I will remember that. And it went without saying that she would mention it to the others too should she find them (and will in my next reply to Ibis). 

I'm not certain, I will continue to search for any who are still lingering, and we will come up with something together. If I'm alone... Well, I haven't come to a decision on it yet. She also hoped that there was someone she could find, someone she could talk to about a plan. 

Maybe she would take him up on the offer should she be alone, after a while to mourn and accept her only option  - but at least she had an option to mull over. At least Kavik wouldn't be leading this group, despite how awkward it would be.

He eased to a halt, not willing to overwhelm the she-wolf further by inviting herself directly into her personal space. There was a distance between them still, one he hoped she would deem comfortable, and rooted himself before her as she shared her hopeful plan for an uncertain future.

Ears splayed back, Artyom emitted a strained and sympathetic whine. "I understand," he said softly, finding himself able to appreciate how difficult her situation might be. Their species, naturally social and dependent on kin, were not made to live as loners on a long-term basis.

"I should get going," he felt safe to conclude, as Reiko was sure to be keen to carry on with her search for stragglers. Artyom, bound by his own duty to escort Minnow home safely, did not wish to keep either she-wolf waiting. "Good luck to you and yours, Reiko. You know where we are if you need us."

At his wine she offered a sympathetic smile, brows arched downward in a soft slope. There were so few she had met who had truly been kind - and Artyom had quickly risen to the top of that list without being an already known friend before the whole ordeal with the woman in red. Without him, perhaps she would have lost all faith of the outside world.

With a swift nod, she agreed that she too must take her leave as well. Every moment taken would shorten the time she had to find anyone before they wandered too far. I will come find you regardless of my position! We will meet again soon. She offered a wave with her tail, a banner weaving behind her before she leap off into action to find anyone - and soon, thankfully, she would bump right into Ibis.