Duck Lake Pop goes the weasel

@Kaertok

Late afternoon brought about an overcast sky. The temperature had been warmer as of late; Spring finally reared its head. Unfortunately Rex missed the fun of breeding season, much too distracted on the journey here to have indulged in play within. Now it had shifted; the time of whelping and assisting hungry youthful mouths.

Rex needn’t fuss over nonexistent children. He was a freebird, wings unclipped to do whatever he pleased. It was thus that he embarked towards the lake. He’d been allured by the scent of water on the wind, and followed the trail of a herd towards it. Much to his intrigue, however, the black wolf halted. Attention piqued by the bloody pawprint that laid in his path.

Now, what do we have here? He craned his head down and sniffed.

Editor's note: this takes place before the Raleska thread, on the 14th.

He thought it wise to stretch his legs as much as he could before the birth of his children. It would be some weeks yet, but Kaertok knew that he would be bound to the pack for at least a few moons after they arrived. They would need more attention than usual, and if he wished to be involved in their life, to teach them the Tartok ways, he would have to stay close until they were able to travel with him. And oh yes, he certainly planned to make at least one of them a scout like himself.

Kaertok had passed through the shady grove and continued southwest toward the lake. He wanted to avoid the march, and then he thought he might make a trip to the coast before returning home to the bypass. He had no intention of being gone long; he never did. But exploring and scouting and searching for recruits was his duty, and he meant to live up to Arbiter's expectations now that she had put him in second command.

On the hunt for recruits more than food, Kaertok had picked up the trail of a male not too long ago, and he had finally found the rascal. He was sniffing at the ground, muttering something to himself when Kaertok strode up to him, keeping a few feet of distance out of courtesy. Something interesting? he asked, orange eyes inquisitive and bright.

It was fresh enough that the scent was strong on the breeze. The blood a dark red, and not a dried smear on the dirt ground. Rex tilted his head to the side, and then to the other. He was no medic, nor had he ever sought the healing field. His tail swished.

Rex’s ears swerved back. The unease of eyes upon him drew a hint that he was not alone in his discovery. Some might have been unnerved by the polar bear that marched to his side. Rex was fascinated. His pumpkin orange eyes lit with curiosity, mirroring the bright and inquisitive nature of the companion who found him.

Hmm, I’d say so. He beamed, gesturing towards the bloody pawprint with a wave of his forearm. Someone is hurt.

Someone is hurt. So said the dark wolf with fiery eyes. They were a touch lighter than Kaertok's own, from what he could remember last time he sought his reflection in still waters.

Taking the black wolf's lack of dismissal as a form of welcoming, Sungiwok moved closer, sniffing at the bloodied paw print. He tried to ascertain what animal had made it. It appeared to be wolf, based on the claw marks. Feline prints lacked that feature.

Worth following, you think? he asked. Perhaps this wolf knew whoever was hurt.