Post by Ahiga on Jun 9, 2012 23:25:38 GMT -5
Characters: Ahiga, Coinin, Grim, Ikuna, Miakoda, Rockfall, and Tala (phew!)
Setting: Waterfall Pool
Scene:
Springtime coupled with an abundance of moisture surely is a recipe for something grand. Flowers in bloom. Brilliant colors in clusters here and there where rock is not present, stretching their petals to afternoon sun. Faded rainbows glittering in an out of view in the mist that sprays up from the falls. Despite the dismal reason why they're here, the falls are rather picturesque now that the season has changed. Perhaps this is why Ahiga seems to be in better spirits. He's ... trying. Trying not to be some seriously depressed guy who loses himself in dark and gloomy thoughts. He's far too young for that. And plus, it's /spring!/ Things have been going alright. They're even making new friends among the Cerulean. Granted, Ute's future is still a bit up in the air, but he's not going to let that get in the way of finding some enjoyment in life. The male is currently trotting on the grassy area that leads to a bit of slick stone near the pool. Trot. Trot. He picks up speed, and when his paws hit the wet rock, he slightly crouches down and sliiiiides! Weeee! A slip 'n slide! Nature style.
Tala tilts her head as she peers at Ahiga, a ear flicking forward and clear amusement crossing her face as she follows along a few steps behind him wondering what he is up to it would seem. A soft chuckle escapes her and she grins as she peers down at him, her rump wiggles about, tail lashing in the air as she waits a few moments and soon sniffs out at the slick rocks. An once Ahiga is done its so her turn! She turns about a few steps and then picks up speed and goes sliding across the wet rocks with a faint giggling laugh escaping her. HEY this is /fun/.. An watch out world, Tala can giggle.
Miakoda has not been seen for a few days, and the reasons for this absence are a mystery even though the period is now coming to an end. The young she-wolf is loping into the area, her steps long but lazy, her ears pricked forward inquisitively as she hears sounds other than the standard drumming of the waterfall. She slows to a stop as she gets closer and she picks up her head, hefting it higher as she tries to get a peek at just what's going on... a couple more steps are snuck forward and then the angle is right, and she sees the other two wolves. Waterslide? Ooooh!
That's right. Ute wolves can have fun. It's not all dour moods and worries about the future. Ikuna has not joined his packmates in their slip'n'slide fun, but he does have a smile as he watches it from his perch atop one of the mid-sized boulders. His carefully, carefully gained perch, because these rocks? Are very slippery. As Ahiga and Tala are so busily demonstrating! From that vantage, he catches a glimpse of Miakoda's approach. He doesn't say anything about it, but he does smile just a little more. It's nice to see her back again. Good that... well, that nothing's happened to her.
Coinin has been put in charge of leading the pack...well...somewhere else. He isn't really sure where he wants to lead them, but he knows he wants to get them out of danger. He can't do that of course until they find Anoki and Jatya. He had heard from Niyt that he was out looking for the dog and hasn't come back. That disturbs him, but there is little he can do about it. For the time being he has decided to come check on the young Ute to see how they are doing. Maybe even get a chance to catch site of the new Ute pups.
Rockfall makes an appearance, approaching from the Two-River Fork to the North. He notices Coining ahead of him, a rather coincidental rondevous, but quite convenient. Rockfall, usually relaxed -- usually a bit too relaxed sometimes, even -- is pensive and nervous, panting from a hard run. He wuffs a call to Coinin and to the Ute members, loping close to the water where they are ... playing. Upon realizing they are playing, he stops, then turns his head to look at Coinin.
Grim really has no reason to be returning to the falls this day, well, any good reason at least. In fact, he is more of the mind to stay the hell away from it. Away from the growly she-wolf, away from her leering boyfriend, away from the creepy witch, and away from all the other scrutinizing stares. And to that point, the tall grey wolf has done a impeccable job. Since that day he left the cave with slobbery, bleeding ears, there hasn't been hide nor hair of Grim. A satisfactory thing, no doubt, but also doubtfully permanent. Then again, with Brutal having vanished just the same, maybe it does make for a promising relief from the company of the two unwelcomed guest. Maybe the brothers have moved on? IF ONLY! At least, this would be the case if Grim has his way. The only problem with doing so, is that he sorta needs Brutal's participation in the endeavor also. And for all of lard butt's size, that wolf can freakin' disappear. So long has the brute been missing, that Grim's starting to feel like he is being carefully avoided. So, might aswell make use of the number of eyes and ears, though he hardly expects much of a search party to be issued. Heh. Thus so, here comes Grim, trailing in a few moments directly after Miakoda. Umm yeah...he got distracted when he ran across a delightful she-wolf scent. But hey, he's here now! Ahem.
Ahiga comes to a spinning stop a few yards down the rock slab, snickering as he spies Tala joining his impromptu game! "Total...fail," he says, sticking his nose up in a playfully pompus sort of way as he raises up to his paws again. "/Weak/ slide. Is that all ya've got, Tala? You barely went..." he pauses and trots from where she's stopped to where she started, "ten paces! Pretty sure I went like...thirty," he exaggerates, though he does so oh so smugly, fixing her with a, "haha you lose!" look. He trots back to her, gives her a rough and playful push with his shoulder, and romps back to the grass for round two of wolf water slide! "C'mon. Show me what you've /really/ got," he goads, tail waving from side to side behind him. "Ikuna! You be the judge 'fore you fall off that rock. Tell us who goes further, an' no cheatin' for her because she's your sister either!" he calls up to their perched pal, wruffing a greeting to Mia as she's noted getting close. "Hey! Where've /you/ been?" he calls good naturedly. Other wolves, not noted yet, cuz pose would be way too long.
Apparently, Miakoda is not the only visitor they have today. Ikuna's vantage is useful from that perspective as well, and his gaze falls first to Coinin and Rockfall come from Cerulean, then on Grim trailing after Mia. His smile fades, and he lifts his head to give a sharp wurf of 'company!' before he carefully starts to climb down off his slippery rock. Don't fall, now...
Tala blinks as she hears Ahiga and casts a glance /back/ at him. "If I'm looking back at you wouldn't that mean that I went further then you?" She questions while grinning. Though she shifts on her paws ready to do it again it would seem! A soft wruff escapes her and she moves to bump her shoulder back against Ahiga's and sends a nip towards his neck a few times in the process. "Oh please, of course he'll say that I went further, cause I did! An I will /again. Hey Miakoda, good to see you again." This is offered while she turns to move back up the wet rocks with a few lashes of her tail. Though she pauses as she catches sight of Coinin, Rockfall and then..Grim.. following after Mia? Her head tilts and she grumbles to herself, there went them having funz.
Miakoda takes advantage of her elevated position to watch the fun... for now, anyway. She hunkers down, lying upon her belly and wriggling forward another half foot or so, just enough so that her head is visible to those below if any of them are paying attention. And though Ikuna appears to be one of those, her own focus is on Tala and Ahiga, and so she doesn't realize that the watcher is being watched. But her onlooking doesn't last too long; both Ahiga and Tala call out to her, and the former's question distracts her enough so that she doesn't realize that not one, not two, but three other wolves have trailed in after her. She inhales to holler down a reply, but then Ikuna is suddenly up, and his bark and posturing does not make her think happy thoughts. She tenses, sitting up quickly and turning to look behind her. Oh. Grim she recognizes, fleetingly, but the other two are total strangers. The she-wolf's ears angle backward in apprehension, and she has yet to utter a single word... and she doesn't look like she'll say one anytime soon.
It does seem to be really populated at the falls today...Ikuna, Tala, and others that he doesn't recognize. Of course he recognizes Rockfall as well. Though there are some wolves here that he doesn't seem to recognize. That is to be expected. He never did know how many were in the pack to begin with, "Hello everyone..." At the very least he is pleased to see that Ahiga is attempting to have some fun, that young wolf needed it, probably more than anyone he had seen recently.
Rockfall looks between Coinin and Ikuna, the closest to himself. "There was a cougar on the Incline ... from Amaranth. She was ... well ..." he says, shaking his head as though to clear his thoughts. "I don't know what she was doing, but it was kind of ... spooky ... if cougars could ever /not/ be spooky ... but she says she knows Ute, and my cousin Anoki. She did not give her name, though. She was just outside our border, very close to here," he reports.
Ikuna does not crack his head open on the rocks. Good! He's rather glad of that. It took rather a lot of his attention to manage, so he misses some of the first parts of conversation. No matter, he'll figure it out. There didn't seem to have been anything terribly important, anyhow. Ikuna has at least met all of the wolves here present. Okay now! He glances briefly to Mia, but there's not really time for anything more than a 'hey I see you' sort of look before he's got to move on to other things. First order of business: Cerulean. He takes a few steps forward, tail level, and nods politely to Coinin. "Hello, beta Coinin."
Before round two can commence, Ikuna's wurf steal's Ahiga's attention. He looks up at the watchful wolf, ears perking. As he starts down, he has the same thought. Don't fall. And..woot, he doesn't! He glances to Tala, then ahead to Coinin and Rockfall. The two Cerulean wolves are offered a grin in greeting, tail gently waving in recognition. "Hey Coinin. And..." he pauses, searching his memory. "Rockfall," he says at last. "How's everything with your pack? This is directed to Coinin, though he falls quiet as Rockfall speaks to his Beta. He glances over to Tala, though upon following her gaze, sees the purpose for her grumble. Ol' Grim! His expression shifts, watching the other male reservedly.
Miakoda continues to hold her tongue, quite content to sit on the sidelines and try to figure out just who is who. Ikuna's greeting to one of the males helps in that regard for at least one of the unknowns, and she takes a longer moment to observe Coinin's presence as she now knows this is one of Cerulean's ranked members. And judging by Rockfall's behavior towards Coinin, the other male must also be of Cerulean but one of the subordinates. Okay. Things are at least making sense, assuming she's guessing correctly. She at least knows both of their names now, and that they're not Ute. But as is becoming rather commonplace for her, once the she-wolf has slipped back to her paws again, Mia sidles over to stand slightly behind and aside both Ikuna and Tala; by doing so she subtly places herself as 'with' them, to a degree anyway.
Wait, is crooked-tail talking to him? Scabby ears perk up for a second when Ikuna calls out, golden eyes scanning ahead with curiosity, which is shortly sated the moment that Grim notices Miakoda arriving; along with two other wolves from different directions. Well hell, Ikuna's question could be directed to anyone of them. Except himself, Grim decides. Mostly because he'd imagine the question would be more like '/you/ again'. Harhar. As he converges on the area, Grim's trotting gait slows to a walk and his attention briefly turns upon the unfamiliar duo. Though his investigation of Conin and Rockfall is more of curiosity than anything remotely serious. For why should he care about unknown wolves? This isn't his pack, his territory, and frankly, is none of his concern. And if only Brutal could follow such easy concepts, the brothers wouldn't be here in the first place! Briefly his gaze shifts back towards Miakoda, watching as the she-wolf's behavior adopts a more apprehensive manner to it, while is own behavior is short of bored nonchalance. No really wishing to join the crowd at the moment, Grim continues forth far enough to bring his presence into plain view, but he makes no further endeavors to insert himself into the conversation or activity. Tala doesn't get so much as a glance and Ahiga only gets a look of 'What? Don't mind me'. Afterwards, he just plops back unceremoniously upon his haunches, taking a moment to scratch at his neck ruff with a hind leg.
Coinin is not really sure what to make of the gathering before him. He will have to make sure that he comes back another time. He glances over toward Rockfall as he talks about a cougar. Thats a bit of a news story. He wasn't aware that there were any cougars that were anywhere nearby. Its something he will have to look into, "I'm sure that we will be able to deal with it...I need to check something out. Please excuse me..." And with that he passes off back to the east.
Tala smirks as she watches Grim, seeming rather happy with the fact that he isn't looking at her. That'll teach him! She shifts and noses Ahiga before turning to move on over to where Ikuna is, oh well seems its time to get all serious!. Her gaze flicks to Rockfall at the story of a cougar and lifts a brow before looking back to Ikuna. "Do you think its that one.. Kach somethin'?" She can't fully recall the feline's name. "I wonder if it is, an why she would be around here."
Rockfall looks to Ikuna, "Things have been quiet ... but I noticed a cougar's scent and went to check it out. The cougar was doing ... something ... with a deer skull ... then she suddenly bolted and ran, as though the deer skull was a rabbid bear or something. She nearly knocked me over running from it."
Ikuna tilts his head in mild perplexity as Coinin departs again, so soon after being greeted. Perhaps what Ahiga mentioned as rumor is true, and something is wrong in Cerulean. He watches the departing Coinin for a moment, then tilts his head to what Rockfall says. At the mention of a deer skull, he frowns abruptly as old memories are stirred, his ear flicking back to his sister's words as well. "Kachina," he says with a turn of his head back toward her. "Perhaps. I wonder what she'd be doing down here." He looks to Rockfall again. "If you see her again... tell her Ikuna is still tired of fish." He smiles, just a little. "See what she says to that."
Ahiga hangs back a little as Tala moves nearer to Ikuna, his attention lingering on Grim. So many questions! Most beginning with either a "why" or "what". A single ear turns to the conversation at hand, one regarding skulls and a cougar. Skulls and a cougar? His eyes drift, eyeing Ikuna as he speaks a name that is, at least to him, unfamiliar. With his friends occupied with Rockfall, he turns his sights on Grim once more. His walk is in the opposite direction of Tala's, approaching Grim instead of Rockfall. His gait is easy, lacking the tensed and crouched appearance of one who is fearful or overly cautious, though his eyes do show the caution that his body does not. Grim and Brutal are both wildcards. Unpredictable. Can't be too careful, eh? "Can't get enough've our company, huh?" said with a slightly elevated brow. "Since you're here, I figure you got a minute."
Miakoda's eyes turn sharply toward Rockfall as he begins speaking of cougars and bones. One of her brows quirks up and it leaves her with a rather dubious look on her face, and why not? Such things aren't ordinary topics of conversation. But then Ahiga branches off, beginning to approach Grim, and the she-wolf promptly finds herself trying to watch two things at once. Because of this, her head keeps turning back and forth, back and forth, an effect that is more than a little on the comical side.
Tala hums softly and nods to Ikuna as she settles back to her haunches next to him. "Well.. Maybe you can get to talk to her or somethin'. Its been a while hasn't it?" She questions softly, knowing /very well/ how long it has been. Her ears perk and her gaze turns after Ahiga as he is going to speak with Grim? Oh..dear..
Rockfall says, "Okay ... so ... you guys do know her? She said she also knows my cousin, Anoki."
"I don't know," Ikuna answers Rockfall. "I do know a cougar, but... I have no idea if it's the one you saw." He shrugs a little, nodding to his sister... though he's hesitant to venture too far from his pack, these days. He can keep an eye out while hunting, though. His attention is taken next by Ahiga's approach to Grim. Ikuna doesn't approach himself, staying near Miakoda and Tala (not that his sister needs anything like protection), but he keeps a careful eye on that situation, silent support... and ready backup if that should be needed.
Scratch scratch scratch. Aaaah! Half-lidded eyes return to a less narrowed perspective just in time to catch sight of Ahiga's approach, which catching Grim somewhat off guard. Not in the way of a startled surprise, but more of recognition. That Ahiga should bother to approach him at all, considering there isn't much reason for them to come together in conversation. Unless.... A suspicious glance is sent in Tala's direction, fixing the she-wolf with a brief glare of incredulous disbelief. Seriously? Chewing on his ears wasn't enough and now she has to send her boyfriend to finish the job- possibly in a literal sense? The thought makes Grim's ears cringe back a bit, a motion suffered almost involuntarily, as if on their own accord. Of course, when Ahiga speaks, the question causes the big grey male to blink, then smirk just a touch, "What can I say, so hard to stay away from such charming wolves as yourselves." Sarcasm, of course, is the tone behind those words, but there is a obvious glint in Grim's golden eyes that suggest he seriously doesn't care. No bullcrap, here. Ahiga doesn't have to pretend to like him anymore than Grim will pretend like he's a part of their little family. To the last bit, Grim just shrugs, "Sure pal, what's on your mind?"
"I bet," retorts Ahiga to Grim with a mirthless smirk. His banter ends at that, and he slows when some handful of feet away from the other wolf. True, approaching Grim could be seen as an unexpected thing, and it truly is, though he's had few opportunities to do so. Likely, it's been on his mind before now, though both Grim and Brutal's sometimes here and sometimes not way of life has made it difficult. And his reasoning? Well, he's here, so that'll be assessed soon enough. His golden gaze lifts to the other male's battered ear, his expression hunting at a shadow of a change. A whisper of an curve to a single corner of his muzzle. A near imperceptible lift his brows. Amusement. But now, to the point. "Why are you still here?" he asks bluntly, the shadow of amusement now gone, replaced with vaguely furrowed brows of question, and if not a bit of exasperation. "You an' your brother. You're here, you're gone, and you're here again. For what? You don't like us. You're on our last nerve. So what's the point of comin' back? There's nothin' keeping you here."
Rockfall falls silent as Ute internal strife finds voice, backing off a pace or two.
Tala just smirks at the look from Grim, she doesn't need anyone to do her battles for you. Doesn't he remember his /ear/? She shifts on her paws but keeps her spot near Ikuna at the moment. There is no reason for her to poke the fire more then what Ahiga is well...poking it!
In the space of time that lingers after Grim's prompting and before Ahiga's questioning, Grim continues to look upon the younger male with expectancy, which begins to border on impatience as he catches sight of Ahiga scooping out his battered ears. Which, aren't so bad, but have surely had a difficult time healing with the arrival of warmer days the pesky flies that follow. The appendages have, to say the least, seen better times. Regardless, the brother isn't one to sit about and whine about his agonies, at least not the likes of these folks. When Ahiga finally get to the point of this encounter, Grim shifts himself a bit, gathering himself up more squarely on his haunches rather than his rump. To the blunt question, the grey male just snorts something of a short laugh, "You know, I've been askin' myself that same question since day one. Personally, I haven't bothered too much with frinedly overtures, cause I sorta got the feelin' it was pointless. 'Sides, seemed you and yours had enough problems to contend with, least of all to be needin' some stranger gettin' tangled in your fur." His tongue emerges shortly, drawing along the edge of his lips, "Course I can't speak for Brutal. Seems he has his own agenda these days, which means until someone of who's opinion matters likely tells him to git gone, he won't be leaving. And so long as he stays, I stay." He grins here with his own manner of mirth, meeting Ahiga square in the eyes, "Regretfully." He glances toward Tala and the others now, but only as a whole, as if in consideration of all those of Ute both present and gone. Rockfall of course, is of no consequence at the moment. Swiveling his head back to Ahiga, Grim merely quirks a brow, "Speakin of, haven't seen o'l lard butt have ya?"
"Brutal's keepin' you here?" Well that's good to know, though likely something Ahiga has deduced himself. Brutal seems to be the leader of their ... er ... pack of sorts, though Grim's lack of free thinking is disappointing. "Doesn't seem like it's fair've him to keep you here if you're hatin' so much. S'not the way I'd treat any brother've mine. An' from what I've seen, s'not like he has much love for us either," he remarks with a vaguely elevated brow. "You hate it here. He hates it here. Neither one've you are in this pack or have to stay here... But y'all stay here, regardless." He pauses, brow still arched, muzzle slightly curving. "If that ain't insane, I don't know what is." He takes a backward step, an ear swiveling to the others. "Nope, haven't seen him. Maybe he took off without tellin' you? But...he's not the type that'd leave you behind, is he?" he asks with faintly arched brows. His conversation with the other wolf is over, and he takes another backwards step to provide distance between himself and him before he turns to trot back to the others.
Rockfall remains silent for now, nothing addressed toward him. "Are you guys doing okay?" he asks the group in general.
Tala gaze flicks one way an then another while she chews on her lip a few times, keep quiet.. Keep quiet.. Don't jump in and do anything stupid! She takes in a breath, her gaze settles to Ahiga and a soft smile is seen once he is turning back towards her an the others. She shifts and leans up to bump and nuzzle her maw under his chin a few times, a soft burr like sound escaping her, glad he is back near her and hopfull nothing will come from it.
Isn't that what he just said? Grim doesn't bother adding further conformation. Though what he does do is narrow his eyes at Ahiga, the golden optics glinting with a vague irritation. Who does this wolf think he is to presume so much about Brutal and Grim's brotherly relationship? Not that Ahiga isn't correct in regards to Grim's particular feelings in part, but still, that doesn't make him right in regards to the situation as a whole. Of course, Grim isn't going to get his dander up about it, but he isn't going to just let Ahiga walk away without a few words for thought. "Yea, I suppose." he says with no great interest, "But you wanna know what's more crazy? That my brother should decide to come help some group of nobodies. That he should risk his life, and maybe even mine, for a pack that the spirits don't seem to like so much in the first place. Guess that gives him something in common with ya's." He rises up to his great height now, giving himself a bit of a casual stretch, "And Brutal treats me just fine, for all the world it should matter to you. Treats me better than I deserve, that's for sure." Something of a disappointment crosses over Grim's muzzle as he digest the news of Brutal's unknown whereabouts, though any thoughts on this are kept to himself. Instead, he takes a second to ponder after Ahiga, a crooked smirk crawling across his pale muzzle, "And uh...did this conversation have a point, or you just trying to make me feel bad?" He doesn't really expects an answer, or even seems to want one for that matter, as he just chuckles mirthfully to himself as he takes his leave, moving past the group on his way to the deeper woods. Though he does dip his head to Tala as he passes, a wry grin touching the corners of his mouth as he winks a eye, "Ma'am.".
"Yup," replies Ahiga to Rockfall now that he's back with the other group of wolves. He pauses near Tala, expression softening as he's nuzzled, and he returns the gesture with half closed eyes. He settles onto his haunches at her side, before turning his attention momentarily back to Grim as he speaks. Both ears and brows lift in reply to a question he had, and he slightly angles his head to one side. "Did you forget? I asked your purpose for bein' here. Ah ... I get it. Maybe that's why you think we're so cold. Not able to hold on to a conversation for long, are you?" He shakes his head a little in a look and act of pity. "And no. That gives him somethin' in common with yourself, if you're comparin' crazy with insane," he says, as if explaining something to someone far younger than himself. He clicks his tongue a little, but gives him an encouraging sort of smirk. "Good try." Jackass. But Grim is on his way out, and there's no need to pursue argument even for argument's sake. Tala and Rockfall regain and keep his attention this time. "Rockfall .. what's all this about a cougar 'n a skull?"
Rockfall says, "A young cougar, adolescent I'd guess ... she was just on the incline, just to the west of the Two-River Fork. She seemed wholly pre-occupied with a deer's skull ... it was old and dry. It ... moved ... kinda strangely, on its own ... but other than that, I didn't notice anything odd about it ... but she focused a lot on it, and then suddenly got a look of terror in her eyes, like a raging bear was attacking her or something, and she suddenly bolted and ran straight fast me. I've never seen anything run as fast as she ran from that deer skull!"
Tala lifts a brow at the look from grim, she smirks slightly and shakes her head before letting her attention rest back upon Ahiga. She presses her shoulder back against his and just relaxes. Someone is in a rather quiet mood at the moment it seems! A slight yawn escapes her as she seems to just push everything out of her mind which things dealing with Grim and his brother. "It might be Kachina, the cougar that was found with Ikuna after everything." A glance is offered to Rockfall. "What do you mean it moved on its own?.." At the comment from Grim, her ear flicks but she snuggles even more against Ahiga.
A deer skull ... moved? Ahiga's brows furrow in a look that's nothing but skeptical. "You mean...like, by the wind?" he tags on to Tala's question. Everyone knows skulls don't just up and move! ... Heh, right? He looks at Rockfall questioningly, relaxing a bit more now that Grim has left their immediate area. The mentioning of Kachina and who she is has him "oh'ing" a little.
Tala looks a bit confused and just shakes her head. A yawn escaping her while she shifts to press closer to Ahiga and noses at his cheek. "I'm gona go lay down for a bit I think." She yawns and shifts. "Later Rockfall." An she then shifts back to settle down closer to the falls and curls up, a ear twitches towards the two but that is about it.
Ahiga can't even imagine that happening. It sounds...far too strange! And also, it sounds all too creepy. He's heard odd stories of Cerulean wolves being able to see...things. But he hadn't known that strange happenings happened in their lands too. "Yeah. Well nothin' around here has moved on its own. But if it's botherin' you, you should tell your alpha an' keep an eye out for that cougar. Somethin' may be up." Just /what/ is up, he's not sure. He looks to Tala, leaning gently against her before she moves off. He watches her for a time before looking back to Rockfall. "Let your alpha know, for sure," he says as he stands up. "M'gonna join Tala. Be careful out there, huh."
Rockfall says, "Actually, I should probably find my sister. Except I haven't seen her in a long time ..." he says. "Last I heard, she was headed to Ute ... but none of you, thus far, seemed to have even heard of her."
Ahiga shakes his head. "Gaatchi..." er. It was a long name. He can't really remember, but he /does/ remember that he had never heard the name before. He offers a light tail wave to the other male. "Good luck findin' her. But uh...don't go too far from your pack," he suggests, brows raising a little. "An' don't go Ute's way. Dogs are probably still there, an' I know for a fact she's not there." He heads towards Tala now, laying next to her.
Rockfall nods. "I've noticed what seem to be ... other refugees ... coming from the north. A vixen, for instance. Wish I knew what was going on, but ... no, not going to venture from Cerulean territory, and I hope my packmates do the same. Definitely a time for our pack to pull together, keep the border protected, and not wander far. I was worried when I smelled that cougar ... the last thing we'd need would be to be trapped between Amaranth and those dogs, with nowhere to go."
Amaranth. The cougar tribe. Ahiga has never seen a cougar up close in his life, which is just fine with him. He has no use for cougars, and the tribe...he has no clue if they're the friendly sort or not. "Are the cougars..." he trails off, looking for the right word, "..enemies?" His voice has quieted some, seeing how Tala is now resting and he's near her. "I've never met anyone of their tribe. Gotta figure that if a bunch've wolves showed up on their lands, they wouldn't be too happy, but it's not like they come out lookin' for trouble or anything, do they?"
Rockfall says, "We've never really had much direct contact. I mean, I think a few in our pack have ... but ... our borders aren't that close. As they started gaining strength, we left the mountain. Their border starts at the lake, on the top of this waterfall," he says, looking up." "Its a fairly long trek between here and there, which is neutral. We've never been attacked, but ... we've never really had friendly contact, either. I don't believe any Viridian nor Cerulean have ever been attacked by any of their members. She was the first one I saw, personally ... she looked young ... but ... wow, amazing how big they are. Even young, didn't look quite adult, she was bigger than me."
Well it's good to know that the Cerulean aren't neighbors with a hostile clan of big cats, even if they are far away. He glances up at the waterfall's peak as he mentions it, nodding a little. "If any've us are safe from dogs, it'll be cougars. Not even dogs are idiot enough to mess with somethin' so big," he says, ears lifting a big. Cougars vs. dog, huh? A nice thought .. but what reason would cougars have to enter a wolf's war? He inhales and exhales a breath before he lays his head across Tala's nexk, gently nuzzling at her ears a bit before settling. "Think I'll catch a nap Rockfall. Again, good luck with your sister. I hope you find her."
Setting: Waterfall Pool
Scene:
Springtime coupled with an abundance of moisture surely is a recipe for something grand. Flowers in bloom. Brilliant colors in clusters here and there where rock is not present, stretching their petals to afternoon sun. Faded rainbows glittering in an out of view in the mist that sprays up from the falls. Despite the dismal reason why they're here, the falls are rather picturesque now that the season has changed. Perhaps this is why Ahiga seems to be in better spirits. He's ... trying. Trying not to be some seriously depressed guy who loses himself in dark and gloomy thoughts. He's far too young for that. And plus, it's /spring!/ Things have been going alright. They're even making new friends among the Cerulean. Granted, Ute's future is still a bit up in the air, but he's not going to let that get in the way of finding some enjoyment in life. The male is currently trotting on the grassy area that leads to a bit of slick stone near the pool. Trot. Trot. He picks up speed, and when his paws hit the wet rock, he slightly crouches down and sliiiiides! Weeee! A slip 'n slide! Nature style.
Tala tilts her head as she peers at Ahiga, a ear flicking forward and clear amusement crossing her face as she follows along a few steps behind him wondering what he is up to it would seem. A soft chuckle escapes her and she grins as she peers down at him, her rump wiggles about, tail lashing in the air as she waits a few moments and soon sniffs out at the slick rocks. An once Ahiga is done its so her turn! She turns about a few steps and then picks up speed and goes sliding across the wet rocks with a faint giggling laugh escaping her. HEY this is /fun/.. An watch out world, Tala can giggle.
Miakoda has not been seen for a few days, and the reasons for this absence are a mystery even though the period is now coming to an end. The young she-wolf is loping into the area, her steps long but lazy, her ears pricked forward inquisitively as she hears sounds other than the standard drumming of the waterfall. She slows to a stop as she gets closer and she picks up her head, hefting it higher as she tries to get a peek at just what's going on... a couple more steps are snuck forward and then the angle is right, and she sees the other two wolves. Waterslide? Ooooh!
That's right. Ute wolves can have fun. It's not all dour moods and worries about the future. Ikuna has not joined his packmates in their slip'n'slide fun, but he does have a smile as he watches it from his perch atop one of the mid-sized boulders. His carefully, carefully gained perch, because these rocks? Are very slippery. As Ahiga and Tala are so busily demonstrating! From that vantage, he catches a glimpse of Miakoda's approach. He doesn't say anything about it, but he does smile just a little more. It's nice to see her back again. Good that... well, that nothing's happened to her.
Coinin has been put in charge of leading the pack...well...somewhere else. He isn't really sure where he wants to lead them, but he knows he wants to get them out of danger. He can't do that of course until they find Anoki and Jatya. He had heard from Niyt that he was out looking for the dog and hasn't come back. That disturbs him, but there is little he can do about it. For the time being he has decided to come check on the young Ute to see how they are doing. Maybe even get a chance to catch site of the new Ute pups.
Rockfall makes an appearance, approaching from the Two-River Fork to the North. He notices Coining ahead of him, a rather coincidental rondevous, but quite convenient. Rockfall, usually relaxed -- usually a bit too relaxed sometimes, even -- is pensive and nervous, panting from a hard run. He wuffs a call to Coinin and to the Ute members, loping close to the water where they are ... playing. Upon realizing they are playing, he stops, then turns his head to look at Coinin.
Grim really has no reason to be returning to the falls this day, well, any good reason at least. In fact, he is more of the mind to stay the hell away from it. Away from the growly she-wolf, away from her leering boyfriend, away from the creepy witch, and away from all the other scrutinizing stares. And to that point, the tall grey wolf has done a impeccable job. Since that day he left the cave with slobbery, bleeding ears, there hasn't been hide nor hair of Grim. A satisfactory thing, no doubt, but also doubtfully permanent. Then again, with Brutal having vanished just the same, maybe it does make for a promising relief from the company of the two unwelcomed guest. Maybe the brothers have moved on? IF ONLY! At least, this would be the case if Grim has his way. The only problem with doing so, is that he sorta needs Brutal's participation in the endeavor also. And for all of lard butt's size, that wolf can freakin' disappear. So long has the brute been missing, that Grim's starting to feel like he is being carefully avoided. So, might aswell make use of the number of eyes and ears, though he hardly expects much of a search party to be issued. Heh. Thus so, here comes Grim, trailing in a few moments directly after Miakoda. Umm yeah...he got distracted when he ran across a delightful she-wolf scent. But hey, he's here now! Ahem.
Ahiga comes to a spinning stop a few yards down the rock slab, snickering as he spies Tala joining his impromptu game! "Total...fail," he says, sticking his nose up in a playfully pompus sort of way as he raises up to his paws again. "/Weak/ slide. Is that all ya've got, Tala? You barely went..." he pauses and trots from where she's stopped to where she started, "ten paces! Pretty sure I went like...thirty," he exaggerates, though he does so oh so smugly, fixing her with a, "haha you lose!" look. He trots back to her, gives her a rough and playful push with his shoulder, and romps back to the grass for round two of wolf water slide! "C'mon. Show me what you've /really/ got," he goads, tail waving from side to side behind him. "Ikuna! You be the judge 'fore you fall off that rock. Tell us who goes further, an' no cheatin' for her because she's your sister either!" he calls up to their perched pal, wruffing a greeting to Mia as she's noted getting close. "Hey! Where've /you/ been?" he calls good naturedly. Other wolves, not noted yet, cuz pose would be way too long.
Apparently, Miakoda is not the only visitor they have today. Ikuna's vantage is useful from that perspective as well, and his gaze falls first to Coinin and Rockfall come from Cerulean, then on Grim trailing after Mia. His smile fades, and he lifts his head to give a sharp wurf of 'company!' before he carefully starts to climb down off his slippery rock. Don't fall, now...
Tala blinks as she hears Ahiga and casts a glance /back/ at him. "If I'm looking back at you wouldn't that mean that I went further then you?" She questions while grinning. Though she shifts on her paws ready to do it again it would seem! A soft wruff escapes her and she moves to bump her shoulder back against Ahiga's and sends a nip towards his neck a few times in the process. "Oh please, of course he'll say that I went further, cause I did! An I will /again. Hey Miakoda, good to see you again." This is offered while she turns to move back up the wet rocks with a few lashes of her tail. Though she pauses as she catches sight of Coinin, Rockfall and then..Grim.. following after Mia? Her head tilts and she grumbles to herself, there went them having funz.
Miakoda takes advantage of her elevated position to watch the fun... for now, anyway. She hunkers down, lying upon her belly and wriggling forward another half foot or so, just enough so that her head is visible to those below if any of them are paying attention. And though Ikuna appears to be one of those, her own focus is on Tala and Ahiga, and so she doesn't realize that the watcher is being watched. But her onlooking doesn't last too long; both Ahiga and Tala call out to her, and the former's question distracts her enough so that she doesn't realize that not one, not two, but three other wolves have trailed in after her. She inhales to holler down a reply, but then Ikuna is suddenly up, and his bark and posturing does not make her think happy thoughts. She tenses, sitting up quickly and turning to look behind her. Oh. Grim she recognizes, fleetingly, but the other two are total strangers. The she-wolf's ears angle backward in apprehension, and she has yet to utter a single word... and she doesn't look like she'll say one anytime soon.
It does seem to be really populated at the falls today...Ikuna, Tala, and others that he doesn't recognize. Of course he recognizes Rockfall as well. Though there are some wolves here that he doesn't seem to recognize. That is to be expected. He never did know how many were in the pack to begin with, "Hello everyone..." At the very least he is pleased to see that Ahiga is attempting to have some fun, that young wolf needed it, probably more than anyone he had seen recently.
Rockfall looks between Coinin and Ikuna, the closest to himself. "There was a cougar on the Incline ... from Amaranth. She was ... well ..." he says, shaking his head as though to clear his thoughts. "I don't know what she was doing, but it was kind of ... spooky ... if cougars could ever /not/ be spooky ... but she says she knows Ute, and my cousin Anoki. She did not give her name, though. She was just outside our border, very close to here," he reports.
Ikuna does not crack his head open on the rocks. Good! He's rather glad of that. It took rather a lot of his attention to manage, so he misses some of the first parts of conversation. No matter, he'll figure it out. There didn't seem to have been anything terribly important, anyhow. Ikuna has at least met all of the wolves here present. Okay now! He glances briefly to Mia, but there's not really time for anything more than a 'hey I see you' sort of look before he's got to move on to other things. First order of business: Cerulean. He takes a few steps forward, tail level, and nods politely to Coinin. "Hello, beta Coinin."
Before round two can commence, Ikuna's wurf steal's Ahiga's attention. He looks up at the watchful wolf, ears perking. As he starts down, he has the same thought. Don't fall. And..woot, he doesn't! He glances to Tala, then ahead to Coinin and Rockfall. The two Cerulean wolves are offered a grin in greeting, tail gently waving in recognition. "Hey Coinin. And..." he pauses, searching his memory. "Rockfall," he says at last. "How's everything with your pack? This is directed to Coinin, though he falls quiet as Rockfall speaks to his Beta. He glances over to Tala, though upon following her gaze, sees the purpose for her grumble. Ol' Grim! His expression shifts, watching the other male reservedly.
Miakoda continues to hold her tongue, quite content to sit on the sidelines and try to figure out just who is who. Ikuna's greeting to one of the males helps in that regard for at least one of the unknowns, and she takes a longer moment to observe Coinin's presence as she now knows this is one of Cerulean's ranked members. And judging by Rockfall's behavior towards Coinin, the other male must also be of Cerulean but one of the subordinates. Okay. Things are at least making sense, assuming she's guessing correctly. She at least knows both of their names now, and that they're not Ute. But as is becoming rather commonplace for her, once the she-wolf has slipped back to her paws again, Mia sidles over to stand slightly behind and aside both Ikuna and Tala; by doing so she subtly places herself as 'with' them, to a degree anyway.
Wait, is crooked-tail talking to him? Scabby ears perk up for a second when Ikuna calls out, golden eyes scanning ahead with curiosity, which is shortly sated the moment that Grim notices Miakoda arriving; along with two other wolves from different directions. Well hell, Ikuna's question could be directed to anyone of them. Except himself, Grim decides. Mostly because he'd imagine the question would be more like '/you/ again'. Harhar. As he converges on the area, Grim's trotting gait slows to a walk and his attention briefly turns upon the unfamiliar duo. Though his investigation of Conin and Rockfall is more of curiosity than anything remotely serious. For why should he care about unknown wolves? This isn't his pack, his territory, and frankly, is none of his concern. And if only Brutal could follow such easy concepts, the brothers wouldn't be here in the first place! Briefly his gaze shifts back towards Miakoda, watching as the she-wolf's behavior adopts a more apprehensive manner to it, while is own behavior is short of bored nonchalance. No really wishing to join the crowd at the moment, Grim continues forth far enough to bring his presence into plain view, but he makes no further endeavors to insert himself into the conversation or activity. Tala doesn't get so much as a glance and Ahiga only gets a look of 'What? Don't mind me'. Afterwards, he just plops back unceremoniously upon his haunches, taking a moment to scratch at his neck ruff with a hind leg.
Coinin is not really sure what to make of the gathering before him. He will have to make sure that he comes back another time. He glances over toward Rockfall as he talks about a cougar. Thats a bit of a news story. He wasn't aware that there were any cougars that were anywhere nearby. Its something he will have to look into, "I'm sure that we will be able to deal with it...I need to check something out. Please excuse me..." And with that he passes off back to the east.
Tala smirks as she watches Grim, seeming rather happy with the fact that he isn't looking at her. That'll teach him! She shifts and noses Ahiga before turning to move on over to where Ikuna is, oh well seems its time to get all serious!. Her gaze flicks to Rockfall at the story of a cougar and lifts a brow before looking back to Ikuna. "Do you think its that one.. Kach somethin'?" She can't fully recall the feline's name. "I wonder if it is, an why she would be around here."
Rockfall looks to Ikuna, "Things have been quiet ... but I noticed a cougar's scent and went to check it out. The cougar was doing ... something ... with a deer skull ... then she suddenly bolted and ran, as though the deer skull was a rabbid bear or something. She nearly knocked me over running from it."
Ikuna tilts his head in mild perplexity as Coinin departs again, so soon after being greeted. Perhaps what Ahiga mentioned as rumor is true, and something is wrong in Cerulean. He watches the departing Coinin for a moment, then tilts his head to what Rockfall says. At the mention of a deer skull, he frowns abruptly as old memories are stirred, his ear flicking back to his sister's words as well. "Kachina," he says with a turn of his head back toward her. "Perhaps. I wonder what she'd be doing down here." He looks to Rockfall again. "If you see her again... tell her Ikuna is still tired of fish." He smiles, just a little. "See what she says to that."
Ahiga hangs back a little as Tala moves nearer to Ikuna, his attention lingering on Grim. So many questions! Most beginning with either a "why" or "what". A single ear turns to the conversation at hand, one regarding skulls and a cougar. Skulls and a cougar? His eyes drift, eyeing Ikuna as he speaks a name that is, at least to him, unfamiliar. With his friends occupied with Rockfall, he turns his sights on Grim once more. His walk is in the opposite direction of Tala's, approaching Grim instead of Rockfall. His gait is easy, lacking the tensed and crouched appearance of one who is fearful or overly cautious, though his eyes do show the caution that his body does not. Grim and Brutal are both wildcards. Unpredictable. Can't be too careful, eh? "Can't get enough've our company, huh?" said with a slightly elevated brow. "Since you're here, I figure you got a minute."
Miakoda's eyes turn sharply toward Rockfall as he begins speaking of cougars and bones. One of her brows quirks up and it leaves her with a rather dubious look on her face, and why not? Such things aren't ordinary topics of conversation. But then Ahiga branches off, beginning to approach Grim, and the she-wolf promptly finds herself trying to watch two things at once. Because of this, her head keeps turning back and forth, back and forth, an effect that is more than a little on the comical side.
Tala hums softly and nods to Ikuna as she settles back to her haunches next to him. "Well.. Maybe you can get to talk to her or somethin'. Its been a while hasn't it?" She questions softly, knowing /very well/ how long it has been. Her ears perk and her gaze turns after Ahiga as he is going to speak with Grim? Oh..dear..
Rockfall says, "Okay ... so ... you guys do know her? She said she also knows my cousin, Anoki."
"I don't know," Ikuna answers Rockfall. "I do know a cougar, but... I have no idea if it's the one you saw." He shrugs a little, nodding to his sister... though he's hesitant to venture too far from his pack, these days. He can keep an eye out while hunting, though. His attention is taken next by Ahiga's approach to Grim. Ikuna doesn't approach himself, staying near Miakoda and Tala (not that his sister needs anything like protection), but he keeps a careful eye on that situation, silent support... and ready backup if that should be needed.
Scratch scratch scratch. Aaaah! Half-lidded eyes return to a less narrowed perspective just in time to catch sight of Ahiga's approach, which catching Grim somewhat off guard. Not in the way of a startled surprise, but more of recognition. That Ahiga should bother to approach him at all, considering there isn't much reason for them to come together in conversation. Unless.... A suspicious glance is sent in Tala's direction, fixing the she-wolf with a brief glare of incredulous disbelief. Seriously? Chewing on his ears wasn't enough and now she has to send her boyfriend to finish the job- possibly in a literal sense? The thought makes Grim's ears cringe back a bit, a motion suffered almost involuntarily, as if on their own accord. Of course, when Ahiga speaks, the question causes the big grey male to blink, then smirk just a touch, "What can I say, so hard to stay away from such charming wolves as yourselves." Sarcasm, of course, is the tone behind those words, but there is a obvious glint in Grim's golden eyes that suggest he seriously doesn't care. No bullcrap, here. Ahiga doesn't have to pretend to like him anymore than Grim will pretend like he's a part of their little family. To the last bit, Grim just shrugs, "Sure pal, what's on your mind?"
"I bet," retorts Ahiga to Grim with a mirthless smirk. His banter ends at that, and he slows when some handful of feet away from the other wolf. True, approaching Grim could be seen as an unexpected thing, and it truly is, though he's had few opportunities to do so. Likely, it's been on his mind before now, though both Grim and Brutal's sometimes here and sometimes not way of life has made it difficult. And his reasoning? Well, he's here, so that'll be assessed soon enough. His golden gaze lifts to the other male's battered ear, his expression hunting at a shadow of a change. A whisper of an curve to a single corner of his muzzle. A near imperceptible lift his brows. Amusement. But now, to the point. "Why are you still here?" he asks bluntly, the shadow of amusement now gone, replaced with vaguely furrowed brows of question, and if not a bit of exasperation. "You an' your brother. You're here, you're gone, and you're here again. For what? You don't like us. You're on our last nerve. So what's the point of comin' back? There's nothin' keeping you here."
Rockfall falls silent as Ute internal strife finds voice, backing off a pace or two.
Tala just smirks at the look from Grim, she doesn't need anyone to do her battles for you. Doesn't he remember his /ear/? She shifts on her paws but keeps her spot near Ikuna at the moment. There is no reason for her to poke the fire more then what Ahiga is well...poking it!
In the space of time that lingers after Grim's prompting and before Ahiga's questioning, Grim continues to look upon the younger male with expectancy, which begins to border on impatience as he catches sight of Ahiga scooping out his battered ears. Which, aren't so bad, but have surely had a difficult time healing with the arrival of warmer days the pesky flies that follow. The appendages have, to say the least, seen better times. Regardless, the brother isn't one to sit about and whine about his agonies, at least not the likes of these folks. When Ahiga finally get to the point of this encounter, Grim shifts himself a bit, gathering himself up more squarely on his haunches rather than his rump. To the blunt question, the grey male just snorts something of a short laugh, "You know, I've been askin' myself that same question since day one. Personally, I haven't bothered too much with frinedly overtures, cause I sorta got the feelin' it was pointless. 'Sides, seemed you and yours had enough problems to contend with, least of all to be needin' some stranger gettin' tangled in your fur." His tongue emerges shortly, drawing along the edge of his lips, "Course I can't speak for Brutal. Seems he has his own agenda these days, which means until someone of who's opinion matters likely tells him to git gone, he won't be leaving. And so long as he stays, I stay." He grins here with his own manner of mirth, meeting Ahiga square in the eyes, "Regretfully." He glances toward Tala and the others now, but only as a whole, as if in consideration of all those of Ute both present and gone. Rockfall of course, is of no consequence at the moment. Swiveling his head back to Ahiga, Grim merely quirks a brow, "Speakin of, haven't seen o'l lard butt have ya?"
"Brutal's keepin' you here?" Well that's good to know, though likely something Ahiga has deduced himself. Brutal seems to be the leader of their ... er ... pack of sorts, though Grim's lack of free thinking is disappointing. "Doesn't seem like it's fair've him to keep you here if you're hatin' so much. S'not the way I'd treat any brother've mine. An' from what I've seen, s'not like he has much love for us either," he remarks with a vaguely elevated brow. "You hate it here. He hates it here. Neither one've you are in this pack or have to stay here... But y'all stay here, regardless." He pauses, brow still arched, muzzle slightly curving. "If that ain't insane, I don't know what is." He takes a backward step, an ear swiveling to the others. "Nope, haven't seen him. Maybe he took off without tellin' you? But...he's not the type that'd leave you behind, is he?" he asks with faintly arched brows. His conversation with the other wolf is over, and he takes another backwards step to provide distance between himself and him before he turns to trot back to the others.
Rockfall remains silent for now, nothing addressed toward him. "Are you guys doing okay?" he asks the group in general.
Tala gaze flicks one way an then another while she chews on her lip a few times, keep quiet.. Keep quiet.. Don't jump in and do anything stupid! She takes in a breath, her gaze settles to Ahiga and a soft smile is seen once he is turning back towards her an the others. She shifts and leans up to bump and nuzzle her maw under his chin a few times, a soft burr like sound escaping her, glad he is back near her and hopfull nothing will come from it.
Isn't that what he just said? Grim doesn't bother adding further conformation. Though what he does do is narrow his eyes at Ahiga, the golden optics glinting with a vague irritation. Who does this wolf think he is to presume so much about Brutal and Grim's brotherly relationship? Not that Ahiga isn't correct in regards to Grim's particular feelings in part, but still, that doesn't make him right in regards to the situation as a whole. Of course, Grim isn't going to get his dander up about it, but he isn't going to just let Ahiga walk away without a few words for thought. "Yea, I suppose." he says with no great interest, "But you wanna know what's more crazy? That my brother should decide to come help some group of nobodies. That he should risk his life, and maybe even mine, for a pack that the spirits don't seem to like so much in the first place. Guess that gives him something in common with ya's." He rises up to his great height now, giving himself a bit of a casual stretch, "And Brutal treats me just fine, for all the world it should matter to you. Treats me better than I deserve, that's for sure." Something of a disappointment crosses over Grim's muzzle as he digest the news of Brutal's unknown whereabouts, though any thoughts on this are kept to himself. Instead, he takes a second to ponder after Ahiga, a crooked smirk crawling across his pale muzzle, "And uh...did this conversation have a point, or you just trying to make me feel bad?" He doesn't really expects an answer, or even seems to want one for that matter, as he just chuckles mirthfully to himself as he takes his leave, moving past the group on his way to the deeper woods. Though he does dip his head to Tala as he passes, a wry grin touching the corners of his mouth as he winks a eye, "Ma'am.".
"Yup," replies Ahiga to Rockfall now that he's back with the other group of wolves. He pauses near Tala, expression softening as he's nuzzled, and he returns the gesture with half closed eyes. He settles onto his haunches at her side, before turning his attention momentarily back to Grim as he speaks. Both ears and brows lift in reply to a question he had, and he slightly angles his head to one side. "Did you forget? I asked your purpose for bein' here. Ah ... I get it. Maybe that's why you think we're so cold. Not able to hold on to a conversation for long, are you?" He shakes his head a little in a look and act of pity. "And no. That gives him somethin' in common with yourself, if you're comparin' crazy with insane," he says, as if explaining something to someone far younger than himself. He clicks his tongue a little, but gives him an encouraging sort of smirk. "Good try." Jackass. But Grim is on his way out, and there's no need to pursue argument even for argument's sake. Tala and Rockfall regain and keep his attention this time. "Rockfall .. what's all this about a cougar 'n a skull?"
Rockfall says, "A young cougar, adolescent I'd guess ... she was just on the incline, just to the west of the Two-River Fork. She seemed wholly pre-occupied with a deer's skull ... it was old and dry. It ... moved ... kinda strangely, on its own ... but other than that, I didn't notice anything odd about it ... but she focused a lot on it, and then suddenly got a look of terror in her eyes, like a raging bear was attacking her or something, and she suddenly bolted and ran straight fast me. I've never seen anything run as fast as she ran from that deer skull!"
Tala lifts a brow at the look from grim, she smirks slightly and shakes her head before letting her attention rest back upon Ahiga. She presses her shoulder back against his and just relaxes. Someone is in a rather quiet mood at the moment it seems! A slight yawn escapes her as she seems to just push everything out of her mind which things dealing with Grim and his brother. "It might be Kachina, the cougar that was found with Ikuna after everything." A glance is offered to Rockfall. "What do you mean it moved on its own?.." At the comment from Grim, her ear flicks but she snuggles even more against Ahiga.
A deer skull ... moved? Ahiga's brows furrow in a look that's nothing but skeptical. "You mean...like, by the wind?" he tags on to Tala's question. Everyone knows skulls don't just up and move! ... Heh, right? He looks at Rockfall questioningly, relaxing a bit more now that Grim has left their immediate area. The mentioning of Kachina and who she is has him "oh'ing" a little.
Tala looks a bit confused and just shakes her head. A yawn escaping her while she shifts to press closer to Ahiga and noses at his cheek. "I'm gona go lay down for a bit I think." She yawns and shifts. "Later Rockfall." An she then shifts back to settle down closer to the falls and curls up, a ear twitches towards the two but that is about it.
Ahiga can't even imagine that happening. It sounds...far too strange! And also, it sounds all too creepy. He's heard odd stories of Cerulean wolves being able to see...things. But he hadn't known that strange happenings happened in their lands too. "Yeah. Well nothin' around here has moved on its own. But if it's botherin' you, you should tell your alpha an' keep an eye out for that cougar. Somethin' may be up." Just /what/ is up, he's not sure. He looks to Tala, leaning gently against her before she moves off. He watches her for a time before looking back to Rockfall. "Let your alpha know, for sure," he says as he stands up. "M'gonna join Tala. Be careful out there, huh."
Rockfall says, "Actually, I should probably find my sister. Except I haven't seen her in a long time ..." he says. "Last I heard, she was headed to Ute ... but none of you, thus far, seemed to have even heard of her."
Ahiga shakes his head. "Gaatchi..." er. It was a long name. He can't really remember, but he /does/ remember that he had never heard the name before. He offers a light tail wave to the other male. "Good luck findin' her. But uh...don't go too far from your pack," he suggests, brows raising a little. "An' don't go Ute's way. Dogs are probably still there, an' I know for a fact she's not there." He heads towards Tala now, laying next to her.
Rockfall nods. "I've noticed what seem to be ... other refugees ... coming from the north. A vixen, for instance. Wish I knew what was going on, but ... no, not going to venture from Cerulean territory, and I hope my packmates do the same. Definitely a time for our pack to pull together, keep the border protected, and not wander far. I was worried when I smelled that cougar ... the last thing we'd need would be to be trapped between Amaranth and those dogs, with nowhere to go."
Amaranth. The cougar tribe. Ahiga has never seen a cougar up close in his life, which is just fine with him. He has no use for cougars, and the tribe...he has no clue if they're the friendly sort or not. "Are the cougars..." he trails off, looking for the right word, "..enemies?" His voice has quieted some, seeing how Tala is now resting and he's near her. "I've never met anyone of their tribe. Gotta figure that if a bunch've wolves showed up on their lands, they wouldn't be too happy, but it's not like they come out lookin' for trouble or anything, do they?"
Rockfall says, "We've never really had much direct contact. I mean, I think a few in our pack have ... but ... our borders aren't that close. As they started gaining strength, we left the mountain. Their border starts at the lake, on the top of this waterfall," he says, looking up." "Its a fairly long trek between here and there, which is neutral. We've never been attacked, but ... we've never really had friendly contact, either. I don't believe any Viridian nor Cerulean have ever been attacked by any of their members. She was the first one I saw, personally ... she looked young ... but ... wow, amazing how big they are. Even young, didn't look quite adult, she was bigger than me."
Well it's good to know that the Cerulean aren't neighbors with a hostile clan of big cats, even if they are far away. He glances up at the waterfall's peak as he mentions it, nodding a little. "If any've us are safe from dogs, it'll be cougars. Not even dogs are idiot enough to mess with somethin' so big," he says, ears lifting a big. Cougars vs. dog, huh? A nice thought .. but what reason would cougars have to enter a wolf's war? He inhales and exhales a breath before he lays his head across Tala's nexk, gently nuzzling at her ears a bit before settling. "Think I'll catch a nap Rockfall. Again, good luck with your sister. I hope you find her."