Swiftcurrent Creek we want war · pack meeting

Pack meeting. @Star @Falwasi and @Kieran should be the first to reply, as this is the thread after the battle with BFW. Everyone else to reply after. @Kaskara @Bazi @Galileo @Saber @Nefarious @Raziel @Paarthurnax @Eclipsis @Relonikiv @Julius

First round ends Jan. 22

Blackfoot Forest was not by any stretch of the imagination a far territory to visit – it encompassed a decent travel, but returning back had seemed almost endless. He had held the group up quite a bit – each movement seared his very being as he limped the way home. He had been quiet throughout – attempting to keep his own grunts of pain silent and to himself when an unexpected divet in the ground would twist his bruised body all the more. The blood had caked on his fur, and while he had tried to briskly clean it off, the effort in the simple task seemed to far outweigh the benefit of removing it.

Star was with them now – her trespassing had cost them all, and it was an even more weary heart that he returned to Swiftcurrent Creek. Now, the pack was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the walls all the more closed in on them.

As his blood-covered paws set over pack borders, the Alpha’s muzzle tipped upward, as if to call for his pack mates. The energy seemed drained from him though, and slumping down to the snow covered ground until his rump was firmly pressed in to it, the rest of his figure draining of energy. “Someone call the pack,” he requested dimly – his voice cracking with fatigue. His eyes seemed dim as they studied the expanse of their ‘home,’ and with bated breath, he waited for a certain snowy creature to come whisk him in to her comforting embrace.

It was all her fault. It's all your fault. The Voice mocked over and over in her head. It was her fault that her pack-mates were injured and bloodied. Scimitar had to fight The White Wolf. Her cruel torturer/capturer/guard. Kieran had even had to fight the silver eyed beast. She had said not a single word since they'd gotten her, not a hello or an I'm back, nothing. She had given no explanation to the large crimson paw-print that marked her forehead like a beacon. Or her faintly dappled crimson fur. Or the crimson spiral with a line through it that she wore on her shoulder, and a deep matching scar, caked with blood. She had not explained the dark circles below her eyes, or her ribcage poking out from her scrawny form. Despite all the time she had to sleep in the prison, that was the last thing she could do. She'd barely been fed at all. Admitting that she'd drugged herself and she'd been in a haze when she'd trespassed would be embarrassing, because she'd only eaten the mushrooms 'cause she couldn't catch one darn thing. She was a gamekeeper! Even in the winter, she should've been able to find something. Star could've just taken from a cache, and none of this would have ever happened, but of course she couldn't take away food from the pack in a season as cold as this. Star did not howl. At the moment it seemed she had no rank, no right to howl. She sat away from the three who'd found her, not registering the fact that they were already probably enraged at her for being so stupid. What did I always tell you? You're stupid, Idiot.

I'll go into detail of his injuries later ...so this will be edited eventually.

Kieran followed behind them all his body bruised and blackened. New scars to take their place amongst his mahogany fur. Through an eye caked with blood and the scar along his face, newly busted open he looked around and lifting his muzzle he howled out for the pack. For it was far too hard for their leader to howl for them. He tipped his muzzle back down, the haunting lilt of his song, falling over the valley and it's hills.

He looked at them all in front of him and he could not feel pity for Star. She had cost them dearly. He felt bad that she had dealt with the ordeal, but she had trespassed. truth be told he wasn't even sure why they had went to get her. Yes you protect your own, but when your own went over borders willingly, well what then. However, this was his home and his family, so he had done what he should have done. The right thing to do, he had gone to help and he wore the scars to prove it.

All she could feel was her eye. There were other wounds, but right now with every step she took, a new searing pain shot through her. It was worse than any of the physical pain she'd ever felt, and it didn't help that the blood was restricting her vision. She was deaf, blind and she'd lost her fight, and it was the worst she could have asked for.

The quartet trudged into Blackfoot Forest, all wounded apart from Star, who wore scars of her own. Old ones. The trio that had gone searching for her were bleeding on the spot, aching and moaning and fighting back sobs from the terrible pain that was inflicted upon them by the Blackfeather Wolves, and now, they had a new enemy on the rise.

Falwasi heard a sound to her left, a tired and damp sound that's words she could not perceive. She was deaf in her left ear, but she could still hear the sounds of Kadence's screams and threats haunting her. The wounded female jumped slightly at the familiar sound of Kieran's voice calling for the rest of the pack, but she didn't look in his direction. If she did, she would see Star, and she could not bear to look at her right now.

Falwasi stood, her head pounding as the blood from the cut above her eye exuded painfully before she placed her head in the snow. She buried it there, the cold attacking the pain with its lulling ice-pack effect. What was once pure snow stained with the blood that was covered on Falwasi's face, who despite the desperation and affliction she felt, held back all sound. She had to hold it together for her pack-mates, but also because it was the only way she would get through the meeting.

Time had slowed to a crawl since Scimitar had taken Kieran and Falwasi in search of Star, whose whereabouts were unknown. Saber and Raziel had tried, once, but had not found her. Though in reality she would have left Star to her own devices, she was glad that Scimitar cared enough for the fluffy creature to look for her. Kaskara was not so warm-hearted, but that wasn't entirely her fault, nor was it Scimitar's weakness. He cared, and therefore he acted.

When Kieran's call sounded from the eastern border, Kaskara dropped what she was doing - digging for a den - and ran toward the sound. Panic rose in her chest at the thought of what might have happened. Why had Scim not called for them? Did they find Star? Was everyone okay? Thoughts whirled through her mind as she raced toward Kieran, hoping she would not find her world shattered when she arrived.

She was definitely not the snowy figure that her brother longed for, but she was family, and cut across the bullshit to find herself running toward the quartet at full speed. Thank heavens! she screamed, glad to see her brother there, and the others as well. She slowed as she approached, blind panic and worry written clear across her features, as her gaze sought out each wolf in turn.

Star was bloody, but dried. Her scars seemed older and deeper than the others', which meant she had been tortured. Hatred and anger flared in her at the thought, but she pushed it aside for now to inspect the others. Kas bumped her nose against Star's forehead very gently before turning to Falwasi. A gasp escaped her at the sight of her friend, head buried in the snow. "Fal..." she whispered, crouching low to lick the blood from the wounds. It would hurt, but there was no helping it. "Please tell me you're not blind."

Then after a moment she saw Scimitar, slouched, defeated, in the snow beside her. What? He was missing part of his ear, and there were shallow cuts across his muzzle. "Who did this to you?" she asked, stepping toward him and gently inspecting the torn ear and the scratches across his face and shoulders. She whined, feeing each blow on her own body, as she looked toward Kieran.

The old scars that peppered his body were now accompanied by fresh ones, one across his face that mirrored the one he already had. She growled, not at him but at whoever had done this, and gently placed her tongue across his cheek. Kaskara nuzzled him, forgetting herself for a moment, and fought a whimper that bubbled in her throat.

Who had done this to them? She stepped back from all four of her packmates, her family, and silently vowed to avenge them. To hell with whatever Scimitar would say, because he would forbid her from doing this, but she wanted to kill each wolf who had maimed hers, each sorry sack of bones who had dared lay a hand on Scimitar or Kieran or Falwasi or Star. They would die, and it would not be a quick death.

She was second on the scene, following Kaskara's shadowy form across the wintry landscape. The smell of blood and battle hit her like a hard slap. Scimitar, Falwasi, and Kieran had gone to retrieve Star - Bazi knew it, but the state of the returned wolves shocked her. This was not what she had expected a returning search party to look like. Falwasi's face was a profusely bleeding mess and Scimitar's fur was dark. Kieran's dark fur concealed the full extent of his injuries, but he - like the rest - appeared to be moments away from collapsing. In their midst stood Star, gaunt but quite obviously not a veteran of the most recent battle. Bazi narrowed her eyes, and stepped after Kaskara into the group of injured wolves.

"What happened?" the white wolf asked icily, staring at the little creature that three Swiftcurrent wolves had sacrificed themselves to retrieve, who was sitting away from the group. The injuries were consistent with battle - but who had they fought? Shadow? No.. he wouldn't dare. Bazi broke eye contact and turned to look at Scimitar.

Oh, Scimitar. He had taken the brunt of whatever altercation the group had entered into. Bazi's expression softened and a strangled, high-pitched sound escape her throat before she rushed forward, stopping awkwardly in front of the battered, bloodied male. "Your ear -" she whispered shrilly, unsure where to even start licking. There was blood everywhere, and the way he moved suggested that every bone in his body had taken a beating. After a bit of indecisive fidgeting, Bazi settled at his shoulder and began to groom his pale cheek, taking utmost care not to graze any of the innumerable laceration that criss-crossed his face.

I dont want to hold this up waiting for others any longer. :( Next round ends on the 2nd.

Kaskara and Bazi came – two wolves who he ached to see. His swarthy sister fretted over them all, and he watched her dully as she studied them, cringing inwardly as Falwasi slumped to the ground and pressed her eye to the snow, as if too soothe it. The regret that flooded him in that moment was instantaneous, and as his eyes drifted from Falwasi to Star, he felt another cringe. If he had known they were sacrificing themselves in such a way, would he still have elad them out to do so?

Yes, his mind stubbornly argued. Star was pack. She was family. Yet there was the devil on his shoulder that ignored this sense of logic, and with the realization that she had trespassed on to another’s territory seemed to mitigate all of these simple facts – she had invited this, and he could not even look at her just yet.

Drawing his eyes forward once more, Bazi rushed to him then, her voice shrill as she took in the sight of him. Conversation had rumbled about him – both she-wolves questioning what had happened. “A pack had Star hostage. They kicked our asses.. and as if it was a joke to them, they simply handed her back,” he murmured, slumping his face closer to bury himself in to Bazi’s embrace. “Kaskara, take them to Paarthurnax, please. I understand she’s busy – but they need her.”

Keiran was momentarily taken back at Kaskara's show of affection. Unsure what to say or do, he just gave a small sigh. He nudged the side of her face. He thought about licking the side of her muzzle, but then decided against it. He knew she wouldn't understand him, but he felt like speaking in his own language anyway. He was far to stubborn to say what he meant in english."Is maith a fheiceann tú chomh maith. Chaill mé tú." Even though they were merely friends, he couldn't help the small shiver of guilt that kissed his soul.

He tilted his head so he could look out of his good eye. The other was far too full of blood and mess to see much of anything. Tilting his head backwards he listened to Scimitar as he talked to Bazi. A small ache grew where his heart was at their obvious love for one another. A small smile slid across his maw. A happy moment in time of hardship.


Kieran balked at the next answer and shook his head quickly. "Sorry sir, but oi'm not 'eadin' anywhere 'til yer chucker."

Star watched as Kas entered and Bazi. Even that Kaskara was kind enough to acknowledge her made her feel better, unlike some people who found it painful to look her in the eyes. Despite that, her dark eyes stared at them emotionlessly, observing their new wounds. When Bazi's icy gaze hit her, she felt like shying away. But instead she returned it, not in a challenge, but in her average emotionless gaze. Scimitar summed up the situation quickly. Kieran spoke something in his language, before informing Scimitar that he wasn't going. Star didn't want to leave. She wanted to hear what else he had to stay. "I'm staying here." She said quietly, her voice strained. They were her first words back at the Creek, something very important. She would stay there. Not just today for the meeting, but at Swiftcurrent. It was her home.

Before the pain could fade away even for just temporarily, Kaskara, followed by Nazi bounded towards the victims of the battle. A gasp that Falwasi could only just hear escaped the swarthy female as she reached the wolves. The mountain wolf looked at her friend and said: "I don't think so." I hope not.

Then came Bazooka, shrilly at the sight of her presumed other half. Falwasi suppressed a roll of her eyes; if the girl could not handle this, she did not try to be secretive about it. But the wounded female could not find it in her to cringe at the snowy girl. Even though when she'd returned they had resumed on the wrong foot, Falwasi could still remember a time when their friendship was growing.

"I'm staying here," a voice sounded to her right, silent and forced. At this, every emotion Falwasi had wound up so tight began to unravel. With a blind assortment of anger and annoyance, the chamoisee wolf lifted herself off the ground shakily, the pain across her body dulled by the things she wanted to say to that...

Steady on her legs, Falwasi took two confident steps towards the little white wolf and looked at her venomously. "That's not up to you," she said, her voice devoid of emotion and as blank as a page.

Scimitar allowed himself to be cared for without question, leaning his large head against her. "A pack had Star hostage. They kicked our asses.. and as if it was a joke to them, they simply handed her back," he explained. Bazi's mind whirred. Why would a pack waste valuable winter-time resources on a hostage, and put its members at risk in a fight - only to release her? What was so special about Star? Unless..

"I'm staying here," the wolf in question piped up. Bazi ceased her grooming abruptly and turned to stare blankly at the withered little creature that had spoken. Something didn't add up. Falwasi seemed to be thinking along similar lines - perhaps she knew more? "That's not up to you," she informed the rescued hostage - and this time, Bazi did not disagree.

Gently, she detached herself from Scimitar and moved to stand next to her injured pack-mate. When Falwasi stepped forward, so did Bazi. Two dark, angry glares rested on Star, briefly re-united by a common cause. Swiftcurrent Creek had sacrificed three wolves to rescue Bazi from a mishap in the wild - but they had been a true accident, and everyone had returned unscathed. There was still a chance that the returned warriors would die - and even if they didn't, Swiftcurrent was exposed, and weak.

"No, it's not. I want to know how you ended up with that pack," she bit out.

Sorry for the delay here. <3

As Kieran reacted to her, Kaskara remembered their friendship and the distance they normally had, and pulled away, embarrassed. His words, unfamiliar as they were, caressed her soul as she turned from him, and she smiled despite herself. Scimitar instructed her to take them to Paar, and she nodded, absolutely willing to follow his orders. "Of course." However, the wolves that she was to shepherd to their healer refused to leave, which surprised her.

Kieran wanted to make sure Scim was taken care of, which was only natural. Moments later, Star also said she wanted to stay, to which Falwasi replied that it wasn't her choice. Kaskara's gaze turned between the two, wondering what was going on here. Aside from the obvious pain they were all feeling, there was no reason for the harsh tone of Fal's words. "Why did they have you hostage, Star?" That seemed to hold the answer to the issue at hand.

To say he was exhausted would have been an understatement -- he knew those that had followed him to find Star would agree, and given tar's own brutalized form, she no doubt was weary as well. He could only imagine the panic that was brewing in Bazi and Kaskara's mind, and as the events unfolded before him, he felt his shoulders lift -- a weak stance, but one nonetheless.

"Let's give her space for now," he murmured, his eyes drifting between the three females that were quick to turn toward the ivory she-wolf. His disappointment in the little female was tenfold.. but now was not the time to discuss it. "She's clearly been through a lot. We all have," he reminded them more gently now, his shoulders shrinking down as he refrained from simply sprawling his bloodied form out across the snow.

"So please. Kaskara, take them all to see Paarthurnax. I will be there shortly. I want to talk to Bazi for a moment." His tone might have been gentle, but he cast a look to the others, indicating this was not a kind request -- it was an order.

Last post for me!

Kaskara understood that shift in her brother's stance all too well. She nodded, turning toward the others. She would not defy him today, and if they chose to do so, it was to their own detriment. The dark warrior moved forward, giving a kiss to both Bazi and Scimitar as she passed, and moved to leave. She paused long enough to see that they were following, then led Kieran, Star, and Falwasi toward Paar's den.

Scimitar's tone did not leave room for negotiation. Even though it as given to Kaskara, part of the order was directed at her. Bazi gave Star one final stare before she backed off, watching the injured wolves troop after Kaskara, who soothed her rage somewhat with a parting kiss.

When they were safely out of earshot, Bazi turned back to Scimitar. "I won't do anything rash," she grumbled, "But I know... I think I know that Star did something stupid to get into that situation. Who takes hostages in winter?" Her voice threatened to turn screechy, and Bazi took a moment and a breath to compose herself, eyes roving over her intended's many visible injuries. "Are you alright?"

Keiran frowned, but he followed behind Kaskara. He took slow steps, purpose in design. Blood dripped from the side of his face, from his eye. He sighed softly, the pain in his body hard to take at the moment. He would do whatever they wanted where Star was concerned. He would do what they wanted. Although right now he just wanted to sleep and have a drink. yes a drink would be wonderful.

Falwasi's ears twitched as her Alpha spoke, the demand in his words less than obvious. The tall female wished to stay with Scimitar and Bazi and discuss what had happened, and how to move on, but she knew it was not her place. However, she was almost certain what the burly male was about to bring up, unless he had already spoken to his snowy love.

Staring coldly at Star for seconds after Bazi had detached herself from the two wolves, all she wanted the girl to do was to turn and flee. She wasn't worth her stay. But Falwasi held herself together, and without another acid glance, she turned on her heel to follow Kieran and Kaskara, the presumably budding couple, her hind left finding it hard to keep up with the rest of her limbs.


They would manage. She knew they would; so far, they always did.

Star seemed as if nothing had happened; her dark eyes emotionlessly stared forward as Fal and Bazi stepped forward angrily, and Kas questioned her as well. Just as she was about to give them the explanation she would give to Dovev in a day or two, Scimitar said to give her space. Oh, she had been through a lot. Way more than Falwasi had been through. She thought one battle was bad? Pshhh. Try spending two months with those wolves underground. Falwasi's wounds weren't from Star, they were from the shadow girl. Blame that jerk. And now Fal was going to blame all her wounds on Star, huh? Star's emotionless gaze turned to chips of ice as she returned Fal's cold glare, her colorless eyes burning into her, a rare thing to see. Only for a moment or two, before she looked at Scim as he said he wanted to talk with Bazi. Oh Great, now he was gonna deliver the story all the wrong way. She didn't just trespass. She was drugged! But they didn't know that and now Bazi was going to hate her. Star lifted herself up, and with a last glance at the leader pair, turned and headed away from Swiftcurrent to be alone and away from blind hate.

Star – despite his quiet defense of her from her pack mates – went against the very thing he had just said, and Scimitar stiffened as the she-wolf instead, haughtily turned and left the pack lands rather then see to the healer. He spoke nothing, his lip twitching as he held back a snarl – already so very close to the breaking point after sacrificing two of his pack mates to find her – they were thanked by that.

Once the others were gone, he listened to Bazi, who wildly continued the topic. He silenced himself, his eyes shifting back to the snowy female. “If she continues to act like she just did, she won’t be our problem any longer,” he rumbled darkly, clearly announcing that the petite female was on her last legs of the pack – she would have no home if she continued to be an arrogant ass.

“But for now, I want to be here.. with you. All I could think about on the way home was how much I needed to see you.” Fatigue pulled at him, and blinking, the cinnamon regal cast a glance to Bazi. “Lead beside me, Bazi,” he implored quietly.

Wrapping up!

"If she continues to act like she just did, she won’t be our problem any longer." Bazi huffed in agreement, studying Star's retreating back. The darker recesses of her mind invented scenarios in which the puffball wolf suffered a terrible accident en route to whatever land they laid claim to next, but she shook them away. She wasn't that kind of wolf any more.

And certainly not that kind of Alpha. She stared up at Scimitar, but found that she was not surprised. This time, it felt right. Bazi accepted with a wordless nod and a grim smile, circling Scimitar and sidling up against what she judged to be his less battered side. "Come on. Let's get your wounds looked at," she ordered, offering her shoulder.