Lost Creek Hollow Gold thread

After a brief trip out to the mountains, visiting the den he had shared with Mira after the pups had been born, he returned to Lost Creek Hollow having found nothing, but having learned very much. His mind still raced continuously as he thought of the women he had courted- first Ash Star and then the red woman, whose name he did not know. He found himself pining, having discovered the true call of nature- and found himself wondering what the hell he was supposed to do now.

He knew he would become anxious if he did not focus his energy somewhere, and so he started to patrol, halting pointedly every few moments to mark the territory, glancing up into the overcast skies, and wishing that he could simply turn his brain off.

Ko'a's season had come and gone. @Talisman had left. Ko'a sought no other.

Whilst a stirring in the bellies of @Candle and @Sari began, Ko'a herself felt no such feelings. No morning sickness as her body adjusted to this new invasion. No noted scent change or motherly intuition. Candle slept in both Zoug and S'ari sleeping spaces. They would share this growth together. Ko'a slept alone. 

There was a sadness, hidden somewhere deep in her, but it was one never spoken. If it was meant to be, it would be, and so Ko'a laid focus on S'ari and Candle, who would both be new mothers in their little Tribe.

Now, she left the comforts of the desert and into the lowlands of green. Spring drew nearer. She carried in her mouth a red fox pelt and a perfectly preserved snake skin. It was dangerous approaching a wolf's claim, but she had intentions for trade. She could smell them stronger now as she drew nearer...

A musty scent caught his attention, and he stopped to scratch at the ground with his forepaws, scraping away the snow and along with it, a layer of dirt and shredded, dried grasses until the scent intensified. Something must have died there long ago- buried beneath a thin layer of dirt and grass, perhaps trampled by a passing deer. Only bits of fur and bones remained, but Ksura wasn't disappointed. He promptly dropped one shoulder, and began to roll in the spot- collecting the scent which to him, was irresistable. 

He sneezed as he pulled himself to his feet, and paused to shake the bits of grass and snow from his coat. Licking his lips, he wetted his nose, satisfied with the musty scent that paired with his own- only to note another on the wind. He inhaled with short breaths, meandering while he pinpointed the coyote's whereabouts, and began to head in her direction.

It was cold here. Different then in the desert, being soggy and wet and seeping into your fur. In the desert, when it turned cold at nightfall, yet you could still find warmth in the dry sands. She did not plan to stay this far north for long.  

Soon, a musky scent capture her attention and she rounded about until she found the male wolf in the distance. She breaths him in deeply as she came nearer in an arcing manner, to not draw too close too quickly.
 
A handsome fellow of unique pelt and he did not seem all wolf, something which instinctively brought the coywolf into more of an ease. She settled her trades to her feet and calls out, Greetings, northerner! Ko'a brings warm welcome and trade. Maybe he would be interested? 

He had fraternized with them in his youth, and had never been punished or warned away though his father had rolled his eyes when he'd noticed that his son had taken to thieving from caches to share food with the wandering folk. He'd enjoyed their stories and had admired their wanderlust. He'd sparred with coyotes around his age and size, and had found them to be both nimble and fair. 

He greeted her with a wave in his tail and a hopeful look in his expression. When she mentioned the opportunity to trade, his head tilted and his lips caught on his teeth. "Trade?" He asked, interest clearly piqued. His ears flicked back as he looked to the items she had brought with her. "Jeez, I- I'm kinda new here, I don't exactly have anything on hand," He said, regretfully. The fox's pelt was lustrous and beautiful, and while he saw no use for the snake skin, it was interesting nonetheless to see. "That's awful nice, though," He said, gesturing at the red pelt. "I'm Ksura. Do you come here often to trade?" He asked. He had nothing for her now- but perhaps, if she came often, he might be able to source something.

The wolf-not-all-wolf drew nearer, interest in his eyes and forward ears as he came. He hints to the pelt of fox, another canine of their own, yet seen often as lesser still. Lesser then even the coyote. Yet a dead fox was a dead fox, with or without its beautiful fur. At least now it was being of use. 

It is this ones first time, northerner. Yet will come again, if you have interest. Ko'a seeks fatty meats of the herds to feed the Tribe's pregnant women. She pauses, frowning a bit. Yet he says he did not have anything. She wonders if he is holding out on her. Surely his pack had a cache nearby? 

Ksura, this one has the name Ko'a. She smiles deeply. The courting season has done well for the Tribe. How has it faired you? She said with a toying gaze.