Seaside Moors Back To the Sea!

For Rusalka's move, anyone may join!

Hearing about the move, Rosencrantz was perhaps one of the first to head out and begin traveling toward the seaside. It was away from the island that held so many terrible memories, which was a win in his books, and perhaps one more winding trail to evade the cannibal that had stolen bit and pieces of his face. 

The moors were wide and empty if he compared it to the forest, not being a part of Rusalka before, all he knew was the woods as their home. Though the sound of the sea just beyond the coconut trees was soothing, and it wasn't completely void of cover - it would take a while to get accustomed to the new location. 

He'd make his way to the center of the new lands and work his way out, chasing anything he found not a part of Rusalka out in a circular trail out from the center.

erzulie paused beneath the glare of the cold sun to stretch her back. it would be some time before her cubs arrived, but already her ageing body was feeling the strain of her rounding sides. she wisely kept this to herself, however, for rusalka was ranging out, diagonal. a long trek, for she did not ever think they would return to the plateau.
rolling woodlands and verdant cliffs began to thin into scrubland and the stunted trees that announce brinewater, though the towering spine of sequoias bristled with red pride. their branches stirred in a gentle wind, lacing the air with a scent the harlot had long craved.
tears stung her eyes, relief and delight flooding the woman, but she blinked them aside, falling to their task with zeal. 
rosencrantz, up ahead; rosencrantz with his gnarled, maimed expression that had never detracted from his intensity. she fell into silent step with him, two-toned eyes searching the territory.

She trailed her rounding mother, she did not like to be far away. Not only because she missed her and wanted to make up for missed time but because she wanted to keep an eye on her condition. Soon there would be siblings she could play with, siblings she could teach and watch like any good sister.

She was thrilled to hear they were moving back to the sea, back to the smell of salt and sand. She watched with mismatched eyes as she fell into step with the ivory man with a scarred face. She did not remember him so she have a soft tip not to startle him or her mother, who she doubted realised she had a dark and delicate shadow. She would come up on her mother's other side if she was called to join, if not, she would trail them both as they explored.

Not long after his arrival, others followed. Erzulie walked next to him, thankfully on his good side as he could see her approaching. She was looking a little more "plump" than usual, but nothing too significant, so her rounding belly didn't indicate much else to him for now. The little one behind her didn't go unnoticed either, he hadn't spent much time with the youth of Rusalka save for maybe a handful of times, at least he knew most of their names by now. This one, however, evaded him.

Rusalka was originally by the sea, was it not? Attempting to make some small talk to break the silence, maybe now he could learn more about the pack he called home. Invest in it a little more than just a shallow loyalty as Rosalyn saw it. Must be nice to feel at home again. To him, it didn't matter where they went, he'd follow provided there were still members willing to call him their packmate.

marisol followed; the harlot turned a smile over her shoulder and gestured that the girl should come closer. "we lived in de soun', when caiaphas still led us. de sea took it back," erzulie explained, returning her attention to rosencrantz.
his disfigurement was vast, but for another wolf it would meant the end to many things. in the eyes of the chai-tea woman, it was only a testament to his indomitable nature.
"it be where rusalka belongs. an' it does not seem we have neighbors," the she-wolf commented, thinking of yuelong.

Her mother noticed her little tag along, the sunspot that could not hide on the sand like her other siblings could. Well, all but Reyes. She silently laughed in her head as she though of how similar they looked compared to the others, they looked more like Rosalyn than the others. She was motioned to come closer and so she did, brushing her dark fur against her lighter mother. If one where to look at their trio they might think the printer stretched the paper and ran out of ink once they came to the taller scarred man. 

She found his scars fascinate but she did her best not to stare,  what or who did  that do him? She knew better than to ask right now, maybe some other time. She nodded at her mother's words as she talked about the sea was where they belonged, it was where she belonged. A sea witch needed the sea.

I know neither of those. He stated blatantly, not a sour tone nor bitter, but simply stating the obvious. He had come after all that. After Aningan had taken the throne and was aware of Caiaphas' return and rejection, but nothing more. Perhaps he'd hear more of it eventually, learn more about his people as the outsider looking in. 

The newer scars had faded in pain in the weeks after the attack, the features still stung every now and then should he strain the scabs and healing gashes - but it was the attention it brought that he hated the most. The judgment, the pitty, the assumptions of his character. Unless he wished to roll over and die, which he didn't fancy the thought, it would be a new burden to bear and live with.

Yes, it seems peaceful here. Softer were those words as he took in the sights and sounds, to think he'd sleep with distant waves as the soundtrack again was welcoming, especially since it was further from the cursed island. We should find dens, should anyone fall pregnant this season. Unaware of Erzulie's condition, he simply thought back to Raleska who had gone missing for a few days... she may need a place to hide, safe, deep within the borders should she have been touched by a man during her absence.

raleska's absence had been something not mentioned aloud, at least not to erzulie. she had seen it, and chosen to turn a blind eye. the young she-wolf had earned whatever she sought in the wild; she was a feral creature, and the harlot was less concerned with her safety than with the potential that she might enact a struggle elsewhere.
fierce as her mother, but with a carefully cold focus around giving such to rusalka.
to rosencrantz's mention, she exchanged an amused look with marisol. he was usually so attentive. perhaps he merely though she was growing fat and soft. bemused, curious, the harlot agreed with a nod. "it will not be long before children arrive. locating dens is a good idea."

She was not assuming about his character over his scars though she was trying to figure him out, this man her mother was comfortable being around. Their conversation was easy, friendly so she drew lines where they might not be. She observed him, curious about this man. She found that he seemed oblivious, at least to her mother's condition and when similar colored eyes looked to her with that knowing sense she could only smile in return. 

He was clueless in that aspect, but who was he, what was his name? "we could always make them too, if the mothers don't find them to their liking." she spoke for the first time, a gentle cadence that held honey and silk. She nuzzled her mother as they walked, looking over at the larger man with a friendly smile. Yes, she would dig a den if her mother wanted something different.

Continuing on his previous trail toward the center of the pack, from there they should not only be able to spot and chase out any competitors but also scout out possible locations fitting for future mothers. Granted none were his, but even in Cupid's case, he had shown to care for the little creatures deeper than one might think him capable. Maybe even invasively so to an obsessive degree.

Everyone else in Rusalka seems to have a good head on their shoulders, so after Cupid's disappearance with her pup, the paladin was much more at ease with since then. Though he was still unimpressed with Aningan’s sheer carelessness on the litter’s peril. Hopefully such a situation never arises again.

The exchange of glances weren’t gone unnoticed as his golden eye caught sight of the two briefly before turning back to the horizon. Rosencrantz wasn’t the type to assume anything and moved on despite how curious they acted. Though with the words she chose, someone must be expecting by now… he could only assume Erzulie, or maybe Raleska, but Raleska wouldn’t be “soon”. So he kept his mouth shut on the matter until it was more clear.

If the mothers' don’t like them, we can adjust accordingly. For now, we will make due if there are some coming ‘soon’. Purposely he exaggerated the final word, flicking a gaze to Erzulie to confirm his suspicions.

erzulie chuffed lightly, returning marisol's nudge. her daughter's voice was light, juxtaposed against the rich spice of her coat. so like her own. so like that of late firefly. but she would not think of him now. "i trust you, rosencrantz," the harlot purred in answer. "you would not choose a place for me widout wisdom."
she could have chosen her own shelter, but the idea of scouring through the moors together in search of a whelping den for the next generation of rusalkans held great appeal. she was happy, then, to defer to the scarred man's lead, flanking him with quiet support as she rejoiced in the presence of them both.

So she was right, there was a familiarity and trust between the two. Was there more, maybe? She was not sure but she would investigate further into that subject on a later date, her mother returned her nudge and gave an affectionate sound in return.  It would seem the warrior was not dense and got the hint that she gave about it being her mother that was expecting puppies soon. She gave a nod at the man with appreciation to his hints in return. 

Rosencrantz, well that was a mouthful but his name nonetheless. She again gave her mother a soft nuzzle feeling the need to be affectionate, was she feeling guilty for taking so long to find her? Possibly. "I might have to inspect this place" She teased softly, only the best for her mother.

Ah, there it was. A clear confirmation that he could hold onto rather than uneducated assumptions. Erzulie was indeed pregnant after all. Unless she went out and found an outside male like Raleska, he safely (and this time it was an educated somewhat) assumed that the father was their Alpha, Aningan. Should it be so, he would hold the man to protect what he had created.

Of course, Rosencrantz would be there too to assist and keep an eye out for them naturally. 

That's quite the burden. He teased in return, as time went on he felt more at ease with the Betas. Knowing them more than anyone in the pack thus far. Trusting them as Erzulie voiced to trust him. I'll carry it with pride. The man confirmed finally.

Looking up ahead, a tall rock formation caught his attention. Nestled between hills, the true height of it would soon be discovered as they kept moving. Certain the other two had caught sight of it too, he kept moving forward to investigate the formation and what it might be useful for...

now it was erzulie's turn to swing in gently, nudging alongside rosencrantz's powerful shoulder in a wolven show of camaraderie. "inspector marisol," she jested, "what do you t'ink is up there?" her own steps had quickened, for she was intrigued to know this place, and the stone configuration held her interest as they passed into its shadow.
the loa stirred here.
erzulie fell to inspecting the earth at once, searching for the location of any useful herbs. but the rock too was given more than a cursory glance; she watched a row of ants march upward and heard the skittering squeal of pika among the smaller stones.