(--) Being vague, but assumed Denver and Foxglove followed Dra? c: Put this in Sticks and Stones because they'll prob end up searching Dampwoods, yes?
Draugr is by Wander!
Dra did not know very much about these Infernians, but she supposed they had to be of some use, else the Colotl ranks would not have offered Salsola's help -- or asked for Inferni's, either. The drab-hued wolfdog had listened attentively to her task and had set out toward the coyote clan with an open mind. Strangely, Dra was not nervous in the least about meeting strangers: it was her task that primarily concerned her. She would seek out the attackers with all her vigor, and prove herself worthy in the pack's eyes with this task. She had been relegated to wearing the bone ring when she should have been a member of the Family. Her mother was highly ranked, and Dra did not wish to shame mama Siv by failing to achieve.
Her four-legged form suited this task much better than the two-legged one, though she supposed scouts on horseback would also be of some use. Their eyes were higher than a four-legged canine, to be sure, but their noses -- their more powerful organ -- were far from the ground. Dra thought they would need to be especially careful in combing the area for scents. The Infernian borders were not so different from Salsola's. They were both marshy, smelling strongly of salt and ocean water. When Dra arrived at the Inferni border itself, she tossed back her head and gave off a deep, baying howl without hesitation. She wanted to get this going already -- why wait an instant longer than they had to?
you've killed off all the angels taking notice of you
Word Count → 317 :: I made a ton of assumptions without being totally sure of them; please poke me if I need to edit! :3
Needless to say, Vesper was wary about meeting with these Salsolians; the strike to free their slaves was still fresh in her mind. She had to remind herself that they needed to work alongside each other now to defeat the mysterious wolves that had plagued them both. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, she thought bitterly, and snorted before letting out a sharp yap. A shadow detached itself from high in the trees and flapped down to her, landing on her back and quorking softly, as if in comfort.
Stark spying now, the raven offered when he saw that soothing sounds would not help. Had he lips to smile, he might have. Bit different than boy thinking.
Your boy thinks a bit differently anyway, the pale coywolf responded blandly. At least, she needed to think differently—and set aside her hatred for the secretive and cruel inhabitants of the Thistle Kingdom. They had committed grievous offences to other canines, but at least they’d yet to harm Inferni directly. The wolves were the real threat.
A deep howl broke through her idle thoughts, and she bristled before turning off in the direction of the summons. Stark took to the skies, his shadow keeping pace with her streamlined and scarred body, until she trotted to the row of stakes at the borders. Luckily, she did not recognize the strangers there—which hopefully meant they would not recognize her.
Her blue eyes flashed to the amethyst ones of the wolfdog in front, and she inclined her head in acknowledgment although her ear remained pricked. The raven landed on one of the wolf skulls and croaked, and she flicked her tail. Will this be all of us? she asked, forgoing introductions and explanations; they all knew why they were here, and names were irrelevant. She swiveled her ear backwards to listen for her own comrades who would be joining.
vesper lupus by alaine; table code from the Mentors!
She knew that she shouldn't engage herself further in the war, but it was her duty and her right to stand beside their clan and leaders in helping to exterminate the rats that had been gnawing at their borders. The tiny woman had been waiting patiently for the moment to come, the details she had been given she had refrained from sharing with others. She knew others viewed her size, and now her pregnancy as a weakness but she had faced their doubts many times in the past and she was still alive to tell the tale was she not.
When that call rang free from the borders her skin itches. Scars across her pelt pricked in remembrance of a fight near their borders and a battle within the mists of their own lands. While she did not agree wholly with the creatures of the dark pack of solitude she knew that she could not judge them now for their own beliefs, were not Inferni's customs and traditions just a strange. Old bitter wounds were hard to tend though but she did her best to hide them as she waddled across the lands quietly, her small height keeping her well concealed from what they were expecting, the wolf skin pelt she wore adorned across her head and shoulder camouflaging her brighter hued fur as well.
The tiny woman pulled the hood back as she came closer, her grey lilac orbs intensely serious as she dared the others to bring about her weaknesses. She was a scout of these lands and once she'd been the creature that no one suspected, coming and going about the lands across to pack borders and discovering the new wealth of information for their king.. now she was about to be reduced to a denmother if the events turned sweetly in their favor.. she was not giving up her duties as easily as others might and she would show that today. "I am here as well Vesper.." she stated simply as she stood beside her leader.
They had both kept dark secrets from their clan, their involvement on the raid into Salsola had failed in a way, but they had both kept their own skins and lived to tell about it.. yet speak they never had, and she doubted in this crowd it would come to pass either.. She hoped none would recognize either of them, yet they both seemed to know how needful this was to the clan, to their pack brethren.. to all involved.
This was what she had done in the tribe, on a different level. She had been a scout then, and she served as a scout now. Things were drastically different now—there was an air of urgency, a sense of the danger looming over their heads. Perhaps this was what it had felt like to be a member of the tribe without being tied up and locked in a cabin; Foxglove had no way of knowing, but she suspected it might be. She still held no understanding or love for the tribe after the way that they had abandoned her and shamed her for her blood, held her captive for something she could not even control, but at least she could see what her former tribemates had gone through. It was different, though. Always different.
The blonde hybrid had followed the darker hybrid silently, pink nose held low to the ground as she already set to the task at hand. This, she could do, if nothing else. Foxglove had not spoken on the trip to the coyote clan's borders, and as two females appeared, one rather scarred and the other rather small, jade eyes averted to the left of the group, scanning the distance. Though normally quiet, she had even less to say now.
(--) No problem on either account Meghann ♥ I was also mistaken and Denver is NOT in this thread, so it's just us peoples. Also, this is the group that is actually finding the camp. ^_^
Draugr is by me!
The drab-furred wolfdog had no intention of leading this foray herself. She and her Salsolian compatriot were equally ranked, though, and more strongly than she did not want to lead, she did not wish to be led by outsiders. Still, she did not know the rank and station of those coming to greet her, and perhaps they should all be on equal footing now. A scarred coyote emerged first, and Draugr's first instinct was that this was a warrior. Surely, one who bore evidence such wounds must be an efficient killer. She would watch this one.
The wolfdog nodded to the question, and seemed about to respond when another made her way toward the group. So -- it was all women, then. That was for the best, Draugr thought. Though the second arrival seemed rather small of stature, perhaps young or stunted of growth, it was not Draugr's place to question Inferni's choice of scout. She would return with whatever information she could glean, both about their enemies and about their potential allies. The hybrid's muzzle split into a smile and she nodded abruptly.
My pack's other scouts went with the other group. Will we have a leader, or shall we just get going? The drab hybrid lingered near Foxglove, but she had at least taken a few steps forward toward the coyotes. She bore no ill will toward their species, and did not understand the ages-old conflict between the wolf and its cousin.
you've killed off all the angels taking notice of you
Word Count → 266 :: Cruddypost. Just wanted to get one up. >_>
Even after she questioned whether or not others would join them, one of her comrades announced herself. Blue eyes flicked back toward the pygmy woman as she nodded in acknowledgment, and though her lips grew tight, there was no other sign of her disapproval. It wasn't that Zana was a bad scout -- she had been one for longer than the scarred Centurion, after all, and she trusted the woman's judgment as well as the advantages of a small size when it came to staying hidden. It was also nice to have someone else from the Sequoia attack, so she didn't feel alone in her wariness of their so-called allies. However, she was not clueless about the changes taking place in the lilac-eyed woman; her tiny size meant that the soft swell of her stomach was more prominent than it would have been. She just hoped the pregnancy wouldn't affect them on this mission.
The woody-brown Salsolian smiled, and Vesper frowned at her question. I'm a leader, she stated, but the vagueness of her statement showed that she didn't consider herself anything more than a leader of her own clan; she didn't want to boss these strangers around. Let's just get moving, she decided lightly, stepping away from the border and looking the strangers over again. I trust all of us to be competent, or we wouldn't be here.
The one-eared coyote yipped, listening for her raven's return call, and began the march into the woodland, keeping her head turning and nose low.
vesper lupus by alaine; table code from the Mentors!
She was silent as she watched the others, studying the faces that once should have been enemies but now were allies. She kept her comments to herself though as she knew that as allies this was already a thin line they walked. She doubted that everyone was expected to care and become friends with those of the Salsola but she had come onto their lands with the intent to destroy part of their belief and customs. She was surprised that none present knew her for who she was, but for that she was also glad.
The pygmy woman turned back to Vesper as the others spoke, her eyes studying their leader, knowing that the rest of the clan could see what she refused to acknowledge. Her eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, wondering if Vesper would turn her away, but in the end the leader let her be. The puppies growing within had hardly hindered her thus far and she had grown use to the change in movements to adjust her body to patrolling and scouting.
When Vesper claimed leadership and begun to move them out Zana trotted along behind her, reminding the woman of one point. "Unless the wolves had traveled along our borders long before attacking the first time.." she said as she turned her vision towards the damp woods beyond. "It's safe to wager that perhaps deeper into these woods is where they made camp." She grumbled softly to herself though, "But if they were smart they would keep a mobile grounds..." They were wolves though, she doubted they had done this.
With the announcement of the scarred coyote as a leader, Draugr hesitated a moment. Was she supposed to kowtow to this woman, then? Draugr didn't think so, but she wasn't absolutely certain, either. The wolfdog shot a glance toward Foxglove, a brief thing, and her lavender eyes were quick to turn away again, nodding as the scarred coyote spoke. It would be easier that way, Dra thought -- rather than figuring out their hierarchy, which would be quickly dissolved anyway, it was better to focus on the task at hand. No wonder that one is a leader, the hybrid thought, her inner tone admirable rather than sarcastic. She was young and lacked this decisive quality.
Draugr was quick to follow along thereafter, her pale eyes glancing toward the hooded canine as she spoke. The wolfdog's muzzle was close to the ground, but she wasn't tracking anything -- simply smelling for the beginnings of a trail. The youth considered the words, and found she had no response for them. It was true what the hooded canine was saying, of course -- mobility made for harder tracking, but there was something off with this theory and Dra could not quite say what it was. I think they're staying in one place, she said, though it was a hesitant sort of remark. I don't know why, though, I just think so. This last was appended quickly, as if the drab hybrid feared contradiction or questioning. She had no reason or justification for her belief, after all -- it was just a feeling.
The pygmy woman spoke up before they’d fully left the border, and Vesper nodded. I figured on heading out there anyway, she said mildly, sniffing at the air in the direction of the woodlands. It would be suicide for the Boreas wolves to sneak along the border for too long, or they’d have already been spotted before their attacks on the clan. She did pause mid-step about the point of the wolves moving their camp.
The Salsolian surprised her by giving her own input, and her blue eyes flashed to the woody brown youth although they didn’t judge her. Moving would make a lot of tracks, she supplied. I know they ride horses, and those beasts leave deep prints. Depending on what else they have, traveling from place to place might be more trouble than it’s worth to cover all the tracks again. If they stay in one place, it’s taking a chance, but they don’t have to worry about setting everything up again.
It wasn’t what the coywolf would have done were she on the run, but she was just one individual. It was no trouble running through streams and mud or taking secretive paths, but an entire camp would be a bit more difficult to transport. She frowned and focused on trotting onward, her nose close to the ground and her tail waving behind her. She kept her ear swiveled back in case one of the other scouts found something as they went on, and she paused once to find a smudged hoofprint in the loamy soil, although the rider had quickly moved their mount into the grass to make shallower prints; she couldn’t find any other pugmarks. It looked like they were on the right track, at least.
Maybe they’re near water, Vesper added suddenly, lifting her head and straining her ear for the sound of a creek. Or at least not far from a source, since they’d be needing it.
The blonde hybrid met her fellow Salsolan's gaze ever so briefly, turning away almost as soon as the other did. She did not have a problem following the scarred coyote. This was the clan's battle as much as it was her kingdom's, perhaps even more so, though she hardly knew the extent of it. Foxglove was not nearly as involved as some had been, but she had something worth fighting for in this dark pack. Her sister was there, though they had been distant. She knew that this was something that she needed to be a part of, though it pained her to think of fighting.
Foxglove moved with her pink nose pressed to the ground, knowing that her sense of smell was much more trustworthy than her sense of hearing due to the defective ear. The others spoke around her in hushed tones, and though she remained quiet, she processed everything that was said around her. "There are too many of them to be moving around, and too many of them to simply transport water to where they are," she finally added, gypsy tones lilting as she lifted her head, nervously awaiting a response. She had not said anything new and had given no new information, but still she feared the reactions of the strangers and her pack mate. She wanted to be useful; she did not want to risk her position in the thistle kingdom, lest she lose her sister.
(--) Gonna try to keep this going. x: Since they find the camp, is important!
Draugr is by me!
The dusky-furred hybrid's ears swept forward to catch the words of the mottled canine. She listened, nodding -- this made perfect sense to her, and she was glad there was logical reasoning behind her hunch. Dra could not say whether it was this reason which made her think the attackers remained in the same place: all the same, it was good to have someone speaking to reinforce her. The silvery tip of her tail gave a grateful wag and went still again.
She tried to keep herself closer to Foxglove than the two coyotes; though she did not know the Salsolian so well as some, it was better than the coyotes. The smallest one intimidated her, somehow -- perhaps it was her smallness of size. Mama Siv had accustomed her to a larger sort of canine, to be sure. She listened and nodded her agreement with their ideas about water, but was quiet for a moment.
There are many streams in these woods. She hadn't spent much time outside of Salsola, but she had passed through this stretch of the territory on her journey toward Halifax. Which is the largest? Let's find it and follow it, she suggested. There seemed to be many attackers, and a camp with quite so many would need a large water source, she thought.
The pretty blonde Salsolian spoke up, lifting her pink nose from the forest floor, but she added no extra information. Vesper felt something akin to frustration, but the emotion flowed quickly away like water off a duck's back. She was antsy as far as finding these strangers was concerned; small things like unnecessary words and slow progress were sure to bother her. But she accepted her apparent role as leader of the little group, walking onward as they all strained their senses for any sign of the enemy.
The pale-eyed wolf spoke up again, giving them a direction as far as which source of water to follow. Ves paused for a second, scarred brow furrowing, then flicked her coal-tipped tail quickly turned away into the undergrowth. Follow me, fast as you can but quiet, she hissed over her shoulder. Her life as a loner ensured that she knew the Dampwoods like the back of her paw, and she remembered drinking from several bodies of water -- from small creaks near a temporary den to large streams like the ones they were looking for. There was one of a few that she thought could support the large group, and if they moved quickly to these possibilities, they had to find them.
The babble of water quickly reached her strained ear, and Vesper slowed her pace at last, quickly glancing behind her to make sure that the scouts were in sight. She perhaps shouldn't have pressed pregnant Zana at such a pace, but she didn't think that it was too unreasonable for the experienced scout -- or so she prayed, not looking forward to being the source of the woman's anger. She swallowed, approaching the stream, still hidden by the undergrowth. It broadened northward, and she gestured in that direction with her nose. The rest would have to be careful slinking.
hope it's okay that I push it along, too? c: I'm sorry this post is so awkward but idk why it is :c
Foxglove was more than willing to stay closer to her fellow Associate than the stranger clan members, and so Draugr's closeness was met with a returned effort. She felt less anxious that way, safer than she would have felt running beside the others. There was nothing wrong with them; they just made her nervous. She felt into step with the others behind the scarred coyote, matching her pace with the darker wolfdog.
She listened closely to the sounds of water as they moved, assuming that they were correct about the group being near a large body of water. She could tell some size difference in the sounds, but she did not know this area and felt she should trust Vesper. Pausing every once and again to sniff, she became acutely aware of the shifting of smells. There were many, and she hesitated, testing the air with her nose. She had been a good scout in the past and she didn't think she had gotten worse.
"I think they're somewhere nearby. They've come through here often, but the smell isn't strong enough to think that they're living right here. But... I think we're close," she said quietly, feeling herself growing anxious at the thought of finding the camp, keeping her voiced hushed in a whisper. She turned to Draugr, hoping there was a positive reaction from the group.
(--) Yes! I am slow sorry. x: I guess we can just assume Zana is tagging along quietly. :x But! We can wrap this up quickly, at least.
Draugr is by me!
The dusky-hued hybrid trotted on doggish paws to keep pace with the scarred coyote leader. She threw a glance toward Foxglove now and again, though the soft sounds of many footfalls told Draugr their group remained together. Soon, the cadence of water joined the noise of their footfalls, and the pace slowed. They hovered a moment beside a large stream, some noses in the air and others on the ground. Pale purple eyes flickered toward Foxglove as she spoke, and Draugr nodded. The wolfdog was certain of her own ability to whisper, but she did not want to make unnecessary noise, all the same.
The stream seemed to meander through the woods without any particular direction, though as they carried onward Draugr began to hear the faint crash of wave against sand. The bay? she thought, confused. They'd come too far east for this to be the bay, however -- it was the wide Atlantic she heard. The hybrid kept low to the ground hunkering near bushes and undergrowth where possible. Where she struck out onto open ground, Draugr was almost flat -- she crept along almost on her belly. The smells were getting stronger. The silver tip of her tail lashed from side to side, hoping that would be enough to alert her fellow scouts.
(--) Probably will be my last post, anyone else can reply or archive or whatever. :3
Vesper is by me!
Her dark hackles lifted as she drew nearer to the signs, and the whisper from behind her only set her more on edge. She was far more cautious than she had been at the start of this mission, tinges of hardened paranoia evident in her angular face as she moved stealthily. No matter how she felt about the whole thing, they were near wolves, they were near the foe, and a misstep from her or any of the other scouts could mean death. She might have been able to get out of it, but she didn’t fully trust the Salsolians, and she knew Zana would have a bad time of it.
Vesper added her own nod to the consensus, falling back slightly to let the others spread out and decide where to go. As the scent of brine grew stronger in the air, it carried with it other smells: wolf, leather, horse. There was a glint of silver against dusky wood as the Salsolian flicked her tail, and she froze.
The Boreas wolves were near the ocean. Flattening her ears at her companions to indicate they stay put, she crept forward a little further, taking advantage of her small size to keep low to the ground and hidden. She thought she could see a couple of the horses grazing on shore grass; that and the strong scents were enough to confirm where the enemy had set up camp.
Moving briskly, Vesper turned around and headed back toward the cover of the undergrowth, waiting for the other scouts to get the message to fall back. Now we know, she whispered when they were within earshot. We tell the others.
