Redtail Rise vermillion

Wealda now.

Her mother’s legacy lay heavy upon her shoulders, but Redd did not fear it. She had prevented further blood from falling upon the Rise’s snow. If any doubted, then they would challenge. If any were worthy, they would prove this to all.

Until that day, her time of solitude was over. She had been present in the pack lands since rejoining, but only recently regathered her strength. Today she ranged across the rise’s lower reaches and ensured no threats had entered in their time of mourning. Ensured the marks were thick and strong. We are here. We are not to be crossed.

She thought of the spring to come, and her duties then. She would seek a worthy mate among the rise and outside, for a strong partner would bring more fangs to bear here. Hælend was gone, dispersed and disloyal. If he returned she was not sure the Rise would welcome him easily. He had been weak when they needed strength.

They would need a new Hælend too. She considered this carefully as she eyed the bordering flats.

wealda crowned.

the caru retreated.

the ulfhedinn remained wary. blood star's power had been absolute in exhibition. but now her sibling was scorned, and both might have their time this year.

it left the rise still yet with possible turmoil to face, and in that, he remembered thorn caller soaring for new snow.

now mountain boulder followed the daughter of red woman in silence, crossing her marks with his own to signify her dominance and his own presence in leadership.

lol @ the perfect timing of this, Ty for joining!

The hunt lead.

She had wanted a moment with him.  Redd had left things unaddressed, but now situations had shifted.  She was Wealda.  She had stood for his future, pushing her own advocate to the side for it, and it was time that she confronted this.

She allowed their path to continue until they came to the borders nearest where his forest lay.  Then she stopped and turned, stiffening, but not encroaching into his space.

You need to choose.  She looked to the distance, over the borders, where she’d tracked their prospective den.  Then, with an abrupt growl, to the rise.  Where his family currently enjoyed security.  The growl contained no aggression, only urgency.

He would need to choose soon.  If he could not see his future here, then he had nothing to offer.  And she would not allow him to build his strength with them as he built his heart elsewhere.

She lifted her head, looking down, eyes hard.  Before rights are taken.  Any resources the hunt wife took would be shuttled away to the forest, a territory the rise could neither claim nor defend.  The pack needed to come first.  And she needed a hunt lead who understood that.

She could find another.  If you do not choose before her heat, then I will choose for you.  She hoped her meaning was clear enough.

this day had been anticipated and now it had come.

blood star commanded that the prongs of his split attention be placed back upon the rise. mountain boulder followed her gaze toward the bloodwood but when it returned, his eyes did not rest upon the rise but upon herself.

pose careful, his rejoinder was to stride toward one of thorn caller's marks, to snuffle its scent on the ground. 

a threat. 

a light one, albeit one which blood star had handled, but pups had been killed in the wilds for less. he could not convey this fear of reality to her — not yet. 

but his stare moved now to where red woman had fallen, and the heavy shoulders stiffened. the broad tongue swept over his jaws and he accepted blood star's dominion — over him.

he would stay, and sank his claws into the earth to punctuate. but new snow would make her own choice of where to den, and be it outside the rise he would encourage a replacement for his rank, for he considered flame stalker was near ready to take a more present role in hunts.

and their future too, might be here. even if mountain boulder felt fiercely of the coming season. again he vacillated, but this time it was only for them. if he did not choose, their delicate peace might be broken again. and so he agreed, a decision that did not soothe the large man but might settle far more in number than himself. 

the yellow eyes were on wealda once more.

She had not expected immediacy, but now that he himself was decided, it was enough.  Redd would watch, and if New Snow chose outside, she would do what she needed.  The pack had no strength to care for those not their own, but more than enough to rally for themselves.  She had known he would understand.

Her posturing dropped, and noting his trepidation, she moved in with a friendly tail to whuffle reassuringly at his cheek.  Family.  She did not forget.  He was as much a staple of her life as Wealda had been, his mate as well.

His concern over the Caru she was not sure of, but she lipped at his nose, eyes containing a single plea.  Trust me.  Her pledge had been to protect.  She had granted this protection as Wealda and should Masquerade question it, she would not hesitate to drive her own blood from this place.

he accepted, and he would trust. mountain boulder returned her soft gestures and passed over thorn caller's track.

she had already proven that she would defend his family. he needed to ask nothing more of her. 

the huntlead put his misgivings aside and tasted the air. 

i trust you, his form said in the next moment, relaxing of all its tension as he lipped toward her jawline.

It could not eliminate all of her worries, but Redd relaxed as well, her expression communicating her grateful thanks.  She was keenly aware, in that moment, of what she asked.  She still believed that they would thrive better United, but their misgivings were not misplaced.  She was a relative stranger since her absence, a shadow now suddenly attempting to be sun to their orbiting families.

She had defended his family, but she had yet to earn the Rise’s full trust.  She was keenly aware of that fact.

For a moment, she was overcome with the urge to tuck herself against him like a child.  Grief mingled with anxiety over what the future would hold, but she quelled it, shaking her pelt and turning to continue along the borders.  He did not need to follow unless he wished.

mountain boulder followed.

together he would patrol; he would reinforce her marks and welcome her again and silently as wealda.

it was hers to earn and he knew that blood star understood this, as daughter to red woman.

He followed silently and she relaxed further, at a point weaving to touch her side to his without sound as they went. She would have understood but was glad not to be alone.

She was a willow in comparison to Avicus’ iron.  Her task was not to show this unless the pack needed her to bend.  Right now they needed her unyielding.

 She continued, knowing that soon her mother’s scent would disappear from these spaces entirely.  She drank it in while she could, committed it silently to memory, and did not linger.  They did not erase Wealda’s legacy.  They honored and secured it.

can be last from me!  <3