Silver Moraine XVII

when evening fell, augur stood with @Sunday Morning upon the bare and silverpierced land that divided the forest from the rise's extended hunting grounds.

this time he had been dominant. augur had stalked to and fro as he waited for the proper moment to call blood eyes. new snow must stay here. 

when red woman knew, she might act in anger. if augur was not honest, she might flush new mother and new children from their hidden den and kill the latter.

he had seen such things. his mother had culled pups. he did not want the same fate for his. but red woman was his leader. so she must know.

stay here, he growled to new snow in wolven tones meant only for their ears. he could not command her if she would not listen. but he knew her to be intelligent. and submission to him now was favorable to injury from another.

he looked at her for a long moment, and then went away.

and when he was in the plains, he called for @Prophet.

cameo for now! (skippable!)

Sunday Morning sensed a change, although it was not one that brought about true concern. It was familiar, vaguely so. There was amusement in her heart to consider the trials of her brothers. It faded as she understood now it was a trial she and Mountain Boulder shared. In this, Sunday Morning would not test him. His growl was echoed in a whine that only meant, stay safe.

A sound she had heard her mother relay to her father, before his hunts while she whelped. A sound that then became her own, reserved only for her man. She would listen; she pressed her nose against his chin, tail wagging weakly. And only when he was out of sight did she begin to pace as he had, head low to the earth. She made no move to follow, and after a time she reclined onto her haunches, looking at her surroundings with interest. But there was too much energy within her; now and then she would rise again to pace, only to settle. For as long as she waited, Sunday Morning would alternate between these two things where no one would see her.

if any assumptions aren't okay let me know <3

Augur seemed to come and go.

Prophet counted these things as hunting trips. The Rise had enough hungry mouths that any able body should spend their time doing such. Nearly as many babes as they had functioning adults. Well. Functioning. Mothers could not be as free as others.

Like Augur, who called to him now outside of the Rise.

He arrived with long strides, prepared to see something worthwhile. Perhaps a carcass too big to bring back by himself. Perhaps a possible new body to boast their ranks.

But it was just the pale man he called brother now.

He rumbled a sound as warm as it was questioning. What had made Augur call for him out here?

<3 all good!

blood eyes was swift.

augur matched his friendly approach with an answering one. his ears fell back as the two neared each other. his tail waved, once.

his great height bent to mouth blood eyes' chin. and then augur presented the ripple of his own hackles, where new snow was solidly wound in scent.

he glanced toward the moraine where he had told her to stay. his eyes moved back to his leader's expression. the best moments would be integral.

Prophet was used to meeting one another with a smash of shoulders, a bump of bodies like wrestling men.

Augur showed to him something not new, but almost forgotten. Prophet knew his place and standing with the man. The licks to his chin proved this as such but why the display? And, oh —

There was a scent placed along the pale man that was not of the Rise. A woman, a stranger. Prophet's brows pinched in thoughtfulness. Some part of his heart felt a flood of fear. That perhaps Augur might depart from the Rise with a wife of his own, that he would lose another number, that the Rise would crumble and —

He sucked in a sharp spike of air.

He had to trust Augur, in these whirlwind moments.

Show me. He knew the man did not speak, but these were not new words and he hoped their sound might have meaning to the hunter.

he knew the words.

augur swung his head. he called for @Sunday Morning. he fixed his eyes upon the place of pale stone and waited for her slender white frame to descend into view.

his tailtip switched but until blood eyes looked her over, until he saw her display the proper respect to the rise leader, augur would not move.

he stood planted and anticipating.

Were it possible, Sunday might have worn grooves into the earth. But much of the tension she had felt had gone away with the movement, and by the time Mountain Boulder called she felt far more at ease. She answered with a call of her own; he would not be ignored. And so the windswept woman followed his trail, nose against the earth as she went. The distance was great, but Sunday was swift. In time, she was before them. Her head lifted for a quick beat as she noted them.

Her eyes were firstly for Mountain Boulder, who stood companionably alongside the man her gaze next turned to.

But her gaze was quick to avert, head lowering as she slowly made her approach. She paused midway, licking her chops submissively/ Sunday Morning did not wish to overstep or offend, and so she made herself smaller so as to not invite the wrath of the new man. His scent on the wind was familiar; Mountain Boulder had worn it upon his return to her.

There were not words for what he felt.

The thrum and rush of his blood in his ears was enough. And here came a pale woman. The build of a hunter, but if this was merely an evaluation for hunting, he imagined they would not be out here. Away from the Rise.

Away from all.

Did Augur intend her as a wife?

Why did his heart stir so suddenly with an angry well of envy. Of jealousy. Of hateful things towards himself. That was not why he had been pulled here.

The woman shrank, a small figure beneath the hulking men of the Rise. He did not shy from his gaze on her as if he might peel some sort of knowledge from just her looks. He wondered if she spoke at all, supposed there was only one way to find out.

Who are you to him?

If both of the wolves before him were mute and lacking in language, he supposed his question would mean little to everyone but himself.

a wife, in everything but complete fealty. if red woman wanted him again the following year, he would answer.

but for now there was only this moment. there was only this image.

new snow deferred. blood eyes spoke. augur came forward to flank his leader. he chuffed. his scent mingled with that of the other man. the hunter belonged to the rise.

his yellow eyes fastened to new snow. she could belong also, if blood eyes saw her as fit.

Sunday Morning's tail stirred behind her in an effort to dissipate any tensions that might arise. Her ears pressed atop her crown in an additional attempt to make herself appear nonthreatening. Sunday Morning was not here to challenge or disrupt; only to become. Her gaze remained away, and one ear twitched as he spoke. Her gaze turned to him, though she did not look within his eyes. Sunday Morning only shifted her weight and whined, moving forward only an inch before looking away again.

The she-wolf knew it was up to this stranger to decide whether or not she would be welcome among them. Sunday Morning simply wanted to make it abundantly clear that she was not here to bring chaos or cause harm. Submissive, Sunday sought to steal no ones place... only find her own. Another anxious lick of her jowls, and as Mountain Boulder chuffed, she looked to him and offered a low whuff, tail beating gently against the earth. Sunday Morning crouched lower, moving then to lay on her side to offer the leader amongst them space to investigate.

Mountain Boulder trusted this man, and Sunday Morning thought her mate to be a sound judge of things.

It was jealousy.

And some part of him could be cruel. Some part of him could be kind. He looked between the two of them and saw this for what it was. A pairing.

He knew not what they did or what they may do.

Nor could he decide what Avicus would make of this. She had allowed her own blood to have children within her ranks, but would such an honor be given out to Augur when the time came? Especially for children who might not be Avicus' own?

Hunt? Fight?

There was something somber in his voice and gaze now, as he settled his attention back on Augur.

but there was more.

and as new snow flashed her pristine flank upright, augur rumbled again. he wanted her to stay low. 

carefully he nosed over her abdomen and then he faced blood eyes directly. there was a possibility she carried his young. it had not made itself known. he did not think her scent had changed. but he had seen the shifts in his alpha female. and he waited for them in new snow. 

before they became apparent, he must show them out.

this was the judgement he sought. it was already done. augur felt that he had given a good deal to the rise. he brought much meat. he had helped to build their borders. he had helped to give red woman her children. tall man was not here and he would seek to be hunt leader.

but none of what he had done would mean anything if it was met with anger.

a breeze played through the pelt of each wolf.

Sunday Morning loosed a complacent yawn in answer that was intended to disarm. There was no growling complaint in being told to remain low; instinct demanded she listen. And as her man nosed her belly, Sunday yielded in a display of her implicit trust. Sunday Morning kept her eyes averted. Her tail still thumped against the earth, though it stilled then as she understood that now was the time for her to be evaluated.

Her eyes turned to the tawny male as he spoke two words she knew well that translated in any tongue, tail stirring once more. She knew these things, and enjoyed them... though namely the former. All physical labors, Sunday preferred. As a breeze came, Sunday again looked away. Another sweep of her tongue across her jowls to ease the tension of her own mind.

The she-wolf let herself be at the mercy of Mountain Boulder and his superior. Now, she answered to him as well, whatever his judgment may be.

He watched closer now.

She exposed further and Augur ran a nose over her stomach. Her...stomach.

Augur ran the touch of his wife's stomach.

His lips pulled down slightly. This was not a situation of if they might have children. It seemed there was a very real possibility they would have children. So Augur had laid beyond the Rise, had found a wife in it. Now there was the blossoming possibility of more children.

What if she had a whole litter as Avicus had?

They had skilled hunters, but even skilled hunters could not feed such a hungry growing village. He found himself suddenly ripped in two directions. His brotherhood with Augur and his whole devotion to @Avicus.

He wished for nothing more than to please Wealda, to show his dedication to her constantly.

Avicus. Wealda, He rumbled to Augur. His brow arched harshly above red eyes. A questioning look.

What did the hunter think she would make of this?

augur rumbled in return. he faced the direction of the rise, tense-tailed and stiff-legged for a moment. redtail was his home. these wolves were busy chosen family. unless blood eyes or red woman drove him off, he would stay.

but his loyalty to them did not mean he would not still seek to provide for new snow. the bison that he and buffalo hunter had killed still had flesh clinging to good bones. 

by the time that red woman's children could run and join the hunt, new snow's own would be young. but by wintertime, augur, with his basic working of development, thought they would all be fit enough to pursue even basic hunting.

and by springtime, the rise would have at least five new strong bodies. the pups that might grow in new snow now would help strengthen those numbers.

he was ready to inform their wealda and take whatever punishment merited.

Sunday Morning sensed no anger. Another tentative tail wag as she peered to the man who seemed to be deciding things. He was looking to Mountain Boulder now, and spoke differently. Two things that Sunday Morning did not know, but that were not unfamiliar to Mountain Boulder. He faced the direction they had been heading in for a short time now, and it was clear his intention to continue that way.

He meant to stay, and he meant to take her with them. Sunday Morning would also go, if the man would allow; it seemed Mountain Boulder deferred to him, too, and so would Sunday. For now, she remained as she was, gaze shifting from her mate to the red eyed man. Knowing her trial, her gaze did not linger for very long upon him lest he consider this a challenge.

He wondered if the woman's obedience would her saving grace or the very thing that killed her.

This a thought he tucked to himself as Augur seemed to understand it was not Prophet's say on this. The Berserkr was her hammer to her orders and will. He did as she said and doled out judgement on his soldiers. He did not oversee these...more threatening, intricate affairs.

All he offered was a final chuff to them, turning on his heels and retreating the the Rise with a guardian's movements.

It would be up to Augur to bring his bride home for judgement.

blood eyes gave his pronouncement. he left thereafter.

augur watched his leader move with a confident step. he beckoned for new snow to rise, and passed his tongue over her face in reaffirmation. 

they would go to the rise. he would take what red woman gave. augur raked his teeth gently over her white hip and then turned in the direction of the redtail wolves.

at a distance he would follow, and he would not change their course or deviate until they had come to the borders of his home/

Sunday Morning rolled back onto her side, then to her belly, chin lingering on her forelegs for a moment as her gaze shifted from Red Eyes to Mountain Boulder. Nothing was decided, yet. But her tail thumped against the earth to know that as of yet, she had not been chased away. As Mountain Boulder bestowed his affectionate gesture, she nibbled tenderly at his chin.

It was then that she sprung to her feet and shook out her furs. A fond rumble came as his fangs combed through them, feeling them flush against her hip. She sought then to swipe her own tongue across the bridge of his muzzle, and as he moved to go Sunday Morning was quick to join him.

Only for a minute did she stay at his side, shoulder to shoulder, her own affirmation. When they came closer to the Rise, she would move to follow him beside his flanks. He seemed set on his path, though as she tasted the air an idea occurred to her. Perhaps it would be good to bring something. A show that she could help provide. And a testament to his own intent to stay and provide, too. A low whuff sounded, as she licked her chops when the breeze tousled their furs. It brought evidence of a nearby warren; not hare, but their smaller companion.

She was confident they could catch one together. But in this venture especially, she followed his lead. Sunday Morning did not stop, keeping in step with him.

from time to time as they traveled, augur brushed himself against her. it was good to lope at her side with the taiga spreading all around them. he felt the wild contentment of a feral creature.

augur growled and took off into a run. there was a band of elk and the great grey wolf ran directly at them. he was not hunting; he only wanted the adrenaline of scattering their numbers, of dodging the antlers lowered his direction, of the vibration from their hooves when they raced away, heads tilted back to carry their great weight.

he barked. he whirled.

he came back panting to her side and pointed with his nose to their large bodies and rich flanks. the land was good. and he was already considering that he must hunt more and more for both the pups which were here and those who might be.

The longer they moved, the more settled Sunday Morning became. She was a woman of the present, and in the present, all was as well as it could be. The she wolf did not worry for the future then, as she heard him growl and watched his stride open up to eat away at the distance between himself and his newest discovery. Sunday Morning appeared to be at attention as she watched, ears perked and head aloft. Her tail waved in wide sweeps behind her to watch him move. So swift, despite his size. Sunday Morning preened at her choice. 

Then, she was quick to spring after him.

Her tail waved behind her as they disturbed the peace of their prey. This was the way of things, and this way was good. Sunday Morning would bark loudly to spook the more nervous of them, watching as the numbers in one group thinned. She was not too far from Mountain Boulder. When one bull seemed too testy toward him, she would be swift to distract it with a nip near to its heel. Sunday was light on her feet as she, too, raced away once its attention fell to her for a beat.

The dance of predator and prey caused a huffing laugh to come from her nose. She paused in their game to watch a moment longer, and he returned to her. Her own tongue began to loll in an effort to cool herself.

The she-wolf agreed with her mate in a rumble. The food appeared plentiful, and this was an advantage that her homelands did not have. Not always. But it boded well for the cubs she scented upon his furs already, and if she did carry, for their own as well. The bloodstained rogue sniffed at his furs, loosing an inquiring note as her gaze turned in the direction of the Rise they had headed toward. 

There was already a mother there, which did not worry her with the number of prey she spotted. Her questioning note seemed to ask him, shall we hunt for them? Perhaps not these large beasts, between the two of them. But Sunday would not be merely another mouth to feed for the pack. She desired to hunt with, not be hunted for, for as long as she was able.

last for me, feel free to archive or fade <3

he liked how she followed. how she touched. how she was pleased to let him lead the hunt or take the first position herself. they flowed between one another.

he rarely thought of goldfinch or buffalo hunter or sweet leaf now. perhaps the latter two carried his young. but he had not seen them for some time. now only new snow and red woman occupied his mind, each for different reasons. 

he watched her dart among the elk. if one seemed to threaten, he dodged forward to worry its flank and snap with snarling jaws for the bridge of its nose. 

she wanted to hunt again. he flashed his fangs once in the herd's direction and swept her away.

hares. marmots. he snorted and bumped his jaw against her own. today she would be lead huntress. and augur would gladly follow.