Preparations had begun long before they had made to leave. Larkspur had spoken to no one about this, not even the woman he imagined to be his own, and worked with the stealth he had gained during years as a thief. Slowly, the prime members of his herd of sheep—the oldest ram, two of his sons, and several ewes—were led across the borders and towards the west. Salvia, who studied the sheep daily, had caught him on one of these trips. She had then joined her father in leading the stupid things away; snapping at their heels and leading them west. They left many for Anathema, but they were not the ones the wolf desired.
While left to wander, the ram had been corralled in a pen made of brambles. The sheep would not abandon him. After the third trip, Larkspur was confident in his plan. They would keep their sheep, the odd hybrid things they were, and use them until he gained confidence in the area. Hunting would be slow, but there would always be fish. Not an avid fisherman, Larkspur knew his strength would need to come from elsewhere.
Eris had suggested the children come with him, and Salvia had been thrilled to ride the horse—though not yet able to shift, she was a graceful girl capable of maintaining her balance on the mare. Pandemic less so, but Larkspur (with Salvia acting as his translator) put Molcaxitl up on the mare with them. He traveled in his lupus form, knowing the mare would follow him; she had done so since he had stolen her from another. Summer’s colors were all around them, and Larkspur felt a twinge of pain for his son. Pandemic did not enjoy the light, but with Salvia babbling away on the horse (switching between English and Spanish, as she often did with Axi present) the group took an easy route west.
Dawn found the assembled group gathering under Sirius’ apple-green gaze. Larkspur had shifted as they neared, and now led the horse in. He helped his children down, and did the same for the coyote. He did not take the tack off of his mare, unsure of what else would be required. Distance travel was easy for wolves, but if supplies needed carried he would need the horse.
Salvia lingered close to her brother, while Axi all but hid behind Larkspur’s bulky frame. The coyote was nervous, despite being familiar with the assembled. Larkspur did not blame her; he was aware of her position.
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