Sun Mote Copse herald

@Meerkat had passed Heph’s message to her husband. A winter equinox hunt was to take place on Hoshor plains and the budding Sunmote Copse had been invited. Though Njord was loathed to leave Meerkat this time of year, he knew it would be an opportune time to forge new alliances and strengthen the old. As a pack of only three wolves, they would rely on help from their allies in times of dire straits.

The redtail searched for their newest recruit. “@Reki,” Njord said when he found the youngster. “We’ve been invited tae hunt with our allies in a weeks time at Hoshor plains. Many packs will be present… Ah’d like for you tae come with me, if you’re interested,” the clan leader proposed.

The man had come looking for him. Reki was reluctant at first, but he had agreed to do chores around the place; so he begrudgingly followed after him, then as the day went on he lost that aversion. When Njord mentioned a hunt, Reki was curious.

Where is that? He hadn't seen the plains before, not that he could recall. He continued to stalk along in the grass and sniff at odd things, perusing the leaflitter for any signs of prey or predator; keeping himself busy as they talked.

“Tae be honest, Ah’m nae sure,” Njord mused as they walked together. “Ah believe Meerkat said it’s on the other side of the heartwood, across tha glen.” Then, Njord realized Reki probably didn’t know the lay of the land around Moonspear. “About 5 days travel Northeast from tha Copse. Four if we make good time,” he clarified.

The redtail felt a week of rugged travel wouldn’t appeal to the young lad, and so he elaborated why it was an important mission.

“All of the Moon villages will have hunters there. Moonglow, Moontide, Moonsong, and Moonspear. They are our dear allies… Meerkat and I helped establish Moonspear. Other clans will join too. Brecheliant an’ one named Hjoldrfel. It will be a gran’ gatherin’.” His gaze looked down the path they walked. “Good alliances can help a small clan endure challenging times,” he advised. “An’ its good tae see new faces as well as the old. I believe there will be wolves your own age, there,” Njord supplied. He looked at Reki to measure his reaction.

From Njord's description it was very far. Reki had traveled quite a distance to get to where he was now, and didn't have much of a reference point for what was being described; he did know he wasn't in the best place physically to be making such a trek, and wasn't keen on it when easy food and shelter was available right here. It might've been easier if he relied on the adults—so he took that in to consideration as he thought things over.

It sounded like there would be a lot of people joining them. More than what Reki could count, at any rate. He listened as Njord listed off two, three... four whole groups who seemed fixated on the moon; and there were more, none of which sounded familiar. The prospect of meeting others his own age appealed for only a second before his mind caught upon the web of names and strangers he did not recognize.

Uhh, I dunno, it wasn't much of a reaction, but that might've been clue enough to Reki's reluctance to involve himself. It sounded like Njord and Meerkat had quite the family event coming up and Reki wasn't exactly a part of that — he'd just met them both, and, well, the idea of more was overwhelming.

Reki wavered, and Njord couldn’t say he was surprised. It was a big ask and the lad was a fresh recruit. He didn’t try to turn his mind anymore.

A swish of his tail telegraphed the man’s easy laissez-faire mood. “If ye dinnae feel up for the hunt, then Ah’ll ask ye tae protect our home with Meerkat while Ah’m away.” He stopped and turned to the young lad. “Ah ken she’ll appreciate your company, and Ah’ll travel easier knowin’ you are here tae help look after tha Copse.” Njord’s expression was warm and confident.

“Come, Ah’ll show you our southern border,” Njord turned to change their path and turned an ear to listen to whatever words Reki had to say.

It was odd to have a choice presented to him. Not that Reki was without autonomy back home — but, he did not anticipate such freedoms from strangers. Njord did not enforce anything. Reki could go with him or stay with Meerkat, which he decidedly preferred, and all would be well. The boy did not need to think about this choice at all. It wasn't that he disliked the idea of work, or disliked this man Njord, but he was more comfortable around the woman... Something Reki would not think deeply about.

Their path changed—and Njord led the way along to another border. Reki noticed that the scents here were thin; they were of the man and woman, but needed to be refreshed. He scraped at the dirt when he came to an exposed section of the hill where the ferns seemed less plentiful, and then carried on.

Is it only you two? He voiced quietly, and bent to sniff some plants; he asked more to make conversation than anything. Reki hadn't sensed anyone else with them on his own arrival, and hadn't seen any other adults in the area. I mean... Nobody else has come to the Copse?

Njord led Reki across the Copse, past a large marshy pond, toward the Southern border that ran through a heavily wooded forest filled with conifers and deciduous trees. He was pleased to see that the boy was able to pick out their old border and refresh it. Njord, too, marked an adjacent stump with a lift of a leg. He hoped for Reki to become invested in the land and foster the will to protect it.

“Aye, s’just us,” Njord replied, though his tone wasn’t forlorn or wistful. “We have family visitors now and again… Meerkat’s mother and father, Towhee, and Phox, as well as friends from the Moon villages. But nobody joined before you. You’re number one!” he jeered with a chuckle.

“Ah’ve noticed there’s less traffic in tha Hinterlands,” Njord observed. “On account of the mountain range just East of here. Makes it hard to get into tha lowlands.”

He glanced over to his comrade. “An’ what of you Reki?” he asked with a hearty roll of the R. “Where did ye come from?”