Little Goat Mountain Out of the cage

@Mira and the kids!

In his dreams, there was an end to how far he could run. 

He remembered a wall, like stone, that encased the enclosure. It was big enough that it should have been comfortable, but not for Ksura. There was nothing to run from, and nothing to run toward- and for those reasons, he simply ran. He could tire himself out running along the edges if he went around enough, but that little voice in his brain told him to run until he was beyond the point of exhaustion and so, around and around he went regardless of the temperature. He remembered waking up with cold things, odd smelling ice bricks, packed against his body with no recollection of how it was he'd come to stop running. He would be groggy for days, especially after meals; but once he had his wits back, he would go back to running again. 

He often twitched and moved in his dreams, and he knew it. He woke up covered in dust and debris, and the ground lined with clawmarks. He wondered if he called out or cried in his sleep, and hoped at least that if he did, Mira and the kids couldn't hear him. They wouldn't understand the strange world he'd lived in- not when the world they now knew stretched on forever in all directions. 

He found it difficult to focus unless he hyperfixated on the same tasks every day, and the routine suited him well enough. He hunted for the small family, and once food was provided, he would be rewarded with some time with them before he set off to scout and mark, and hunt again before nightfall. 

He carried a badger with him- not exactly a choice meal, but it was warm and fresh, and Ksura could not stop himself from killing anything that was remotely varmint-like. He woofed as he brought it to the den area, letting it fall to the ground as he lay down, panting.

though he was not ostrega, ksura had quickly been adopted into mira's small family, though she wasn't quite close to him yet. he had stayed true to his promises, bringing food consistently, and the young mother appreciated his dedication. she was regaining her strength each day and finding herself more comfortable being back on her feet. part of her wondered if they should stay here, or head further out. further towards her destination. but the kids were young still; perhaps it was still too early to try and move them. she imagined it would be possible if there were two more adults, each to carry one of her brood by their nape, but for now she had to wait. still, she would often go to the higher reaches to get a look out at moonspear, and think about her goals. 

today the younger man brought badger. mira was not picky when it came to land animals, only slightly less fond of seafood than anything else. she licked her lips, and noticed him panting as he dropped the kill to the ground. some of her children perked up at the scent of fresh food, and mira smiled softly. did it give you a hard time? she questioned plainly, though it was halfway her method of lighthearted teasing. with no buildup, she also added- how is the prey supply here going? do you think there will be enough in the colder season? winter was at their heels and would be here in the blink of an eye. it was already time to start planning ahead, she knew- the children's thriving health was her utmost priority in the short-term.

His panting ceased for a moment while she spoke, his tongue clipped lightly between his teeth as he politely ceased the sound to give her a moment to converse. They seldom spoke at length about anything, but when she did speak to him, he gave her every bit of his attention. "No," He said. He fished at his ear with a hind foot, moaning lightly as he satisfied an itch. "I surprised it." He admitted. 

Typically, badgers were stubborn creatures, and hard to kill. Ksura's hunting methods, however, were a bit unorthodox; he'd learned to drop ten feet or more to surprise his prey from above, regardless of how hard it might be on his joints. He had also learned to use the mountainside to his advantage. The badger had been scruffed, shaken twice and then tossed into the air, retrieved later once Ksura had picked his way down the slope carefully. 

He grimaced when she asked about the prey supply. He gestured with his muzzle toward the badger, and looked to her. He didn't want to say as much, but they were beginning to exhaust their local prey supply, given the fact that it was only one wolf hunting at a time, and only within a small range. Still, she wanted the truth. "The sheep have moved. We might want to do the same." Either that, or find more wolves to hunt with- but he wasn't about to suggest they start recruiting.

good work. she praised simply at his response. he proved himself an apt hunter daily; she wondered how those skills might translate into battle, though she had not pushed any practice on him yet. their takeover was still a dot on the horizon. 

at her questions about the prey, his facial expression gave an answer before his mouth did. the primary food here had initially been sheep and goat, but now he had moved onto badgers, and perhaps she should've known that was a sign on its own. her eyes narrowed slightly as she considered his response. 

if we move, i would like to go to the west, towards the other mountain range. she paused for a moment, so he could give input if he wanted. though mira was quite a... 'my way or the highway' sorta gal. but she glanced at the children, i just don't know if the kids can handle going that far yet. she wanted to push them to excel and be strong, but it was not in her best interest to harm them while doing so, and she didn't want to risk an unfortunate loss. 

if we had more adults- two more- we could just carry them and take rest breaks. i don't have friends, though. there was @Elphaba and her partner, who mira thought of for a moment- she had encountered her twice and they'd hit it off alright. but it was a big favor to ask and they still weren't quite friends- perhaps she'd do it for a price, but even then, how would mira seek her out? just go howling her name into the wind? it was hard to decide what to do, and she wasn't even eager to entrust two random strangers with the care of her children. unforetunately, mira kept her circles small- and someone she'd met twice was better than someone she'd met never. 

for the time being, instead of bringing up her acquaintance just yet, mira decided to ask ksura. do you know anyone who would help out in exchange for food or protection? doubtful, but worth a shot.

"Okay," He said, nodding. Fortunately for Mira, Ksura preferred to simply follow along by the GPS provided, and would chauffeur them wherever it was that she requested for them to go. He was hapless, but he was clever; another mountain range would have more bighorn sheep, possibly mountain goats as well, and both of those would be perfectly suitable for his tastes. 

"We'll go when you feel they're ready. Bit by bit, if you want. Just as far as the next safe hidey-hole," He reassured her. Between the two of them, he felt confident they could get the children moving a bit once they were steady enough on their feet. When they tired, two could be carried, and they could spill each other off, as much as was needed. He had grand plans for finding them the perfect home- and he couldn't help but wonder if Mira was drawn to the other mountain range because it was the mountain range she knew better. Maybe that was where the Ostregas had come from- he was eager to see the place. 

But as for more wolves...As much as he preferred for their situation to be simply a duo, he thought maybe finding someone to help with the move could be a temporary position. "I don't." He thought of the red woman and shuddered. No- she had her own brood, and she'd been terrifying to him. "But I can find someone." He said.

he seemed content with her choice of destination, and she was satisfied. ksura suggested they could move a little at a time. it was an idea, possibly doable, though she knew that if they were to risk moving with just the two of them as guardians, she needed to find a balance for the perfect timing. when the children were strong enough to handle the travel, but before the snow started falling and made movement much more difficult. she just gave him a nod for now. 

he also shared that he didn't know anyone. but he could find someone. okay, mira replied plainly. as long as they can look after children. they can't be a danger to my kids, no matter what. a serious tone made it clear that this was important to her. you can offer them whatever tempts them... food, or a place in our next home, she decided. if she didn't like them in the end, she could always get rid of them. 

one is good, two is better. whoever you find, bring to me, so i may ensure they are fit for the job. but he had not failed her thus far; to some degree she trusted his judgement. it was strangers who could not be trusted whatsoever. 

if he couldn't find anyone in the next couple weeks, she thought, they ought to just try the journey on their own. but she would save this decision for once that time was closer- she didn't want to discourage his mission, and hoped it would be a success.

He growled gruffly and nodded, immediately. While he wasn't a father to the children and didn't imagine himself as ever being such a thing, he was their protector and he felt wary of allowing even one other wolf near Mira and the children. At least, not until they were properly vetted. She didn't need to imply the importance of finding a safe babysitter, as it was already at the top of Ksura's list, along with keeping them all fed. 

His eyes did narrow at the thought of having other wolves become a part of their unit. He supposed it would likely happen eventually, but then if they did- where did he fit? The idea of having more wolves around made him feel secure. She wouldn't need him as much if there were others, and he didn't like the idea of someone else becoming a part of their unit unless he felt they weren't a threat to him, and his position. 

He'd keep those thoughts to himself as he searched for help. He nodded, blurted a somewhat absent-minded "Of course," and set his chin down on his crossed ankles. 

What would their future look like, with other wolves? Who was it that Mira wanted to have in her pack? He cast a glance in her direction. Certainly, she wanted her children to grow up and be at the helm of it all; but if they accepted other wolves from outside their little nest...Who did she envision them to be- and how could he ever compare to them?