Higher Ground

Jaden Ohanzee · 10-08-2012, 12:29 AM

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Words-700+

Sorry this is so incredibly late everyone! Sad

Jaden knew little about this horrid storm but it still seemed more than most. Such things had hit his Alaskan birth place and inspired stories about his first family’s false god. It was said to be the god’s wrath descending upon the wicked. With winds said to be strong enough to tip over a full grown wolf and up root the very trees from their grasp on the land, believing it to be the work of a god was easy enough. Jaden knew that to be false now but it changed little about the danger it posed Sangi’lak and her occupants. So much was left undone and so many were unprepared. They would need rations for the duration of the storm. But even direr was the condition of the pack’s animals. No doubt they were in grave danger from flooding caused by the torrential downpour. Something needed to be done to ensure their safety for they were too valuable to sacrifice.

The only problem was that any who ventured out risked being hurt in the dangerous storm. The pack’s safety came before that of their animals. So they would have to survive until the storm let up. All the Alaskan stories he knew said it would only get worse before it got better but that even the heavens sometimes grew tired and had to rest. The unoccupied Issum had little to do until then though. His mind had been occupied as of recently too so he hadn’t been truly social. X’yrin seemed to be doing a well enough job of that anyways. He was planning and weighing and figuring out important notions and actions for the future. Life changing stuff which clouded his gaze for long periods while he thought and seemed to have his eyes trained on the very air itself. Little was given from where he sat in the den’s main chamber and watched his family.

While waiting his mind slipped away as it often did to memories of the past this time. Something he often tried to avoid. He was distracted enough by a storm of emotion that the awaited quieting of the true storm went completely unnoticed. Only when X’yrin called for them all did he jostle into the present and jump to his paws. She spoke of rations and needing assistance. This was good. So she would spearhead the gathering of rations. Jaden trotted forward to the muddied entrance of the den area and did his best to clear his mind. Rain, who had been tending to the animals recently, met him there. The male had just finished directing his young charge Lux to help X’yrin. Jaden shared a brief glance with the approaching male before giving a reasonably cordial nod in greeting. Rain returned it respectfully. They both knew what needed to be done and how quickly. There was no time for more. As quickly as their secui paws would carry them, both males bolted for the barn with white wolf following closely to black.

There were other members out and about as well. Jaden noticed Valtiere, the nomad he had greeted at the border not but a few weeks before but didn’t stop in his long strides to acknowledge him. He was upon two legs which would no doubt be of use. Many of the animals had crude bits and harnesses made from wood and rope. Those that were too small for such things had crates which had originally brought them to Sangi’lak staked in the back of the barn. Dexterous hands would be needed to get all of the animals rigged for travel.

The Issum and animal herder made the barn in good time and took a few minutes to shift themselves into optime form outside the entrance. A now sopping wet Jaden did his stood at his first opportunity and lurched for the heavy door which kept the barn free of wind. "No wait!" The voice was of his companion Rain. Jaden stopped in place and sharply turned to face the man with a look of confusion on his face. "They will be spooked if we open them to the wind. It would be best to wait until we have enough paws to handle all of them quickly, Issum." Jaden nodded to this explanation and accepted it. No doubt the man who handled these animals would know best. He stepped away from the door and gave a short howl to call any of his approaching pack mates to converge on the door.

Sangi'lak. Pack. Table. LIKE ME? PM Jaden and ask about one!

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