Post by Pavane on Aug 12, 2011 2:59:19 GMT -5
Beginning at Rest (a stage diagram):
Lone Crabapple Tree....................
....Askuwheteau..........................
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Hinto - Aeron - Tala - Niyt - Helaku
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....................Ahiga...Anoki..........
Entering from the West:
Mori
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Niyt has been dozing, but it's a light sleep, one that comes with frequent moments of wakefulness at strange sounds. She's found her brother again, little Anoki curled up between her forepaws - but their problems aren't over yet. Near her are some of Ute's remaining pups, similarly sleeping. All in all, it's a peaceful scene; a moment of rest amidst all the unfortunate events of this year so far, before the chaos and fear returns.
Mori pads into the area at a fairly rapid pace having been itching to follow the sound of last nights howls, but duty before curiosity and as such he had waited until he was sure Ishara was safe and lupin had been told what he planned to do. His eyes quickly scanning the forms in the area as he moves, being on the lookout for one specific wolfess as he mentally grumbling at the wind for blowing away from him rather then toward.
As the wind blows past her, Niyt stirs a little. Her nose twitches, and one ear flickers, but she doesn't wake. Not yet. Tiredness, and the warmth of pups against her, is enough to keep her sleeping for now. This place feels a safe one, after all, and she needs that rest.
Hinto had originally intended to return, with Aeron, to Lupin last night. But when Aeron stood before him and insisted he be allowed to keep a pomise he made, agreed to stay with him here. HE believes in the idea of teaching his pups honorable things to do. In the end, he's chosen to hold Askuwheteau as an example of what a dishonorable sort might act and the damage they may cause. He is asleep, right next to Aeron, not letting him out of earshot.
Mori upon noticing the gathering ahead stops up to just stare at the strange mix of familiar and not so familiar wolves never having expected to see something like that. Shaking his head rapidly a few times he takes a deep breath and starts forward slowly and silently not wanting to wake anybody in the group.
Niyt murmurs softly in her sleep. If there are words, they're too faint to make out - but her head starts to move, nose twitching. For a moment, she looks worried, almost panicked, but then she buries her muzzle against her brother curled in her arms, and nuzzles him as she takes in his scent. Her tail thumps once, and she relaxes again with a smile.
Hinto's ear twitches. He hears movement. The combination of his sleep and the fact his eyes are closed keeps him from identifying who the wolf is, but the sound of the weight of the pawsteps tells him he can relax as clearly it's not Aeron. So he doesn't wake up.
Helaku slept lightly, as he always did, and even more now that he was once again on Ute land. The wolf had slept fresh from a disgreement with Asku, but in honesty he didn't care of Asku's opinion or desires. To a certain extent, he didn't care what rank Asku held within Ute for that matter as long as he rampaged about. Some old habits resurfaced in Helaku over night, transferred from his father. At the moment he was not, in fact, asleep but sitting in complete silent as he stared at the tree, ears alert and listening for signs of awareness from those nearby. They found one pup...now to find the other.
Mori stops up once he stands infront of the group and dips his head respectfully to Helaku seeing as how the other male is awake, his attention tho turns more toward Niyt as he cocks his head to the side studying her closely. Head leaning forward to catch both her and Helaku's scent as he furrows his brow deep in thought.
In the time since Mori last saw Niyt, she's grown to adulthood. The wolfess is graceful, even in repose. Her grey fur is soft and fluffy - well, except in comparison to the shaggy pelt her father had. She's slender - more so than she should be. Hers is a body that has been run nearly to the bone, her reserves mostly spent on the long journey whose many scents linger in her fur. No wonder she's still sleeping, even as Mori slips closer. Whatever tension made her run so, though, it seems to have mostly receded, leaving her still tired but now content.
The problem with a long sleep is eventually one has to wake up, as Hinto does. He stretches, reaching out into the future and the past with his paws with a big yawn that could put many cougars to shame. As his eyes open, he makes sure Aeron is by him.
Helaku continued to sit in his silence. What more was there to this place than ressurected memories that unsettled his inner feelings? What he knew was gone. For him, it was as if he had been trapped in a bubble of time in which the world continued on without him. Time. He never thought about it in the way he did until living with the human chronologist and his family. His ears subtly turned in acknowledgement of Hinto, but he said nothing.
Mori cocks his head slightly as he soft smile appears on his lips, she might have grown(obviously) but there was no mistake in his mind that it was indeed Niyt sleeping infront of him, meaning he had been correct about one of the howls he had heard the night before. His attention tho quickly turning over at Hinto once he starts to stirr and offering him a smile and dip of his head in greeting.
As everyone around her begins to stir, Niyt drifts toward wakefulness herself. She can't entirely ignore the faint sounds of breathing, the warm glow of spirits nearby as they sharpen to alertness. Alertness, but not worry; and so she allows herself the luxury of awakening slowly. She doesn't open her eyes yet, though her ears prick alert, and her nose twitches to take in the scents. She smiles again at the scent of her long-lost brother, reunited with her now, but she also begins to consider on the other scents here and think about what they may mean in a vague, sleepy sense.
Licking his lips, Hinto soon stands, then gently noses Aeron to make sure he's doing fine. He can be proud of the boy for taking so many of his lessons to heart. He and Ishara are good pups, they just need to stay out of trouble. This has proven to be a very difficult thing for the old wolf, however. He wonders if he should get Aeron home, though.
"Elder," said Helaku without so much as moving a muscle. "Yesterday when you challenged Askuwheteau on his ambitions, know from one old Ute to another that your views are closer to Ute than I've seen in many seasons." He slowly loomed over Niyt as if some great beast of legend, the forbidden sort that shouldn't be touched or approached at any cost and lightly eased his muzzle against the blind wolf's cheek. "Time to rise," he whispered.
Shallow breathing, soft whimpers. Anoki, betwixt Niyt's paws, is agitated in sleep; ears folded back, paws moving rythmatically, as if he presumes to still be walking, or running or at least travelling. Sleep travel is at least a lot less dangerous than actual travel, especially while it's being done in Niyt's grasp, but still it lingers; he is still trying to run, he is still haunted by something.
Mori grins slightly as his attention returns to Niyt once she starts to wake up, his voice soft as he finally speaks up. "Morning Niyt, Its good to see you again and while you may have already been told this allow me to welcome you to the packlands of the Ute." His tail wagging happily and rapidly behind him.
Time to rise? Niyt supposes it must be. There is more to be done, after all. She is more glad to the task than she has been in a long time, for all that if she had not come here, she would not know the task continues. But if she had not come here, would she have found her brother? If these two things are linked, she cannot regret either. Her first act, as she comes to consciousness, is to hold her brother closer as he races in his sleep. Does he still flee in dreams the terror he has escaped in waking? She nuzzles down at him, licking between his ears to soothe him as best she can before she lifts up her head. Not to look, though she does open her eyes, for all the good that does. They are clouded, hidden behind fog, and they do not seek for familiar forms. "Good morning, Helaku," she murmurs to the wolf standing beside her, and then, "Good morning, Mori." She recognizes his voice, yes. "It's been quite some time."
Hinto turns to look at Helaku. He stands again and heads his way. "My mate and I came to no longer be alone, and came to deeply appreciate the important aspects of the Ute philosophy and way of life. When Skelaghe passed on, I was saddened." Hinto takes a moment for deep thought. "Askuwheteau's problem, perhaps is less a problem of great evil and hatred and perhaps more of callous youth and indiscretion. All the same, I did not care to have my son hear the words he said. I do not wish to raise my pups in an atmosphere where thoughts of vengeance and violence against those who have wronged us are common. It goes against everything I have believed in. How Askuwheteau could have been raised that way, I dare not think."
Helaku smiled lightly at Niyt. If only she knew how adorable she was upon waking from sleep. Funny how he'd only known her a day and all ready he thought such things. Had he been without companionship for that long? The mention of Skelaghe's name brought him from this thought. "Alpha Skelaghe would be most displeased with Askuwheteau's words," he answered, "for my half-sister shared the same tendency." He didn't turn away from facing Niyt and Anoki, though his voice reflected that he wished to address Hinto specifically. "Would it be too harsh for me to say that I've considered the Ute without a proper Alpha since the death of Alpha Skelaghe? The longer I stay upon these lands the more I see habits derived of Wyanet and her ilk from the war-thirsty pack that birthed her." For once, Helaku sounded very disgusted. It was quite clear he had a history prior to Skelaghe's death. "Lack of Tobba, lack of Ute reasoning....what have I returned to, Hinto?"
The light nuzzling, the squeaks and whimpering slows, but the running is not dead in his paws. A sudden yip-- and Anoki is jerking his head up, eyes suddenly open and wild as he looks about frantically-- and finds himself still there in Niyt's paws, and though his breathing is hasty, and his ears are back, and his heart seems to pound, he is at least reassured by this, turning to busy his face in his sister's chest, shivering against her even for a pup so 'old' as he. "Nit, nit, my nit.. my nit, mine.." he mumbles softly.
Mori opens his maw to say something in response to Helaku's question before closing it again and instead allows the two to speak between themselves, his focus returning fully to Niyt. "It has been far to long my friend, there have been many many times I've wanted to return to the desert and visit you to be honest but duty has been keeping me busy." His gaze turning toward hinto for a split moment as he speaks before it returns to her. "I am happy our paths have crossed once more."
What does Niyt know of Ute? Not nothing, but close enough to it. She met Wyanet, yes - once, when she was a mere puppy. Other than that, before she came here... well, she knew Mori, but the two hardly spoke of pack politics when they met before. She's met Helaku and Askuwheteau and Wachiwa and Hinto and a handful of puppies all within a brief span, and she's hardly has the chance to untangle who is who, let alone what their philosophies mean. But then, she's also been rather distracted. She begins to reply to Mori. "I understand. It seems - " But then her brother yips and wakes, and her attention turns abruptly back to him. She nuzzles down at Anoki as he presses against her, applying wolf-kisses to his ears, to the top of his head. "I'm here. I'm here, Anoki. It's okay. I'm here. You found your way back, little moon," she murmurs, a litany of comforting words as she wraps one foreleg around him to hold him more firmly.
"A pack perhaps in need of a stronger, more wise new generation." Hinto says. He peeks back at the other wolves conspiratorially, then back to Halaku. "I'm beginning to ponder certain ways to send a clear message what the Ute is about to the current generation, though it may take us finding our remaining pup moments before they do."
Anyone who knew Skelaghe was likely in the favor of Helaku, for if they knew Skelaghe then they knew Ute even if they didn't agree with it. "You are likely the best to answer any question I've about this modern Ute, Hinto," he said, finally turning to face the older wolf with his pale gaze and erect ears. "My future is uncertain except my duty to Niyt and her brother, especially with Crescendo, Quidel and Rowtag unaccounted for. I heard Rowtag was supposed to have been Askuwheatau's monitor at one time...but Rowtag was interested in finding Vincent when I was last here."
Surprisingly, Anoki takes to sucking on Niyt's chest fur; as if he were once more a puppy in search of milk; even though he's been on meat for at months now. An attempt to see comfort? Perhaps. He whines softly, ears twitching as he listens to the big wolves talk, his wits slowly coming back to him, before he lets go of the soggy clump of fur and whines at Niyt, before he says, "The Bad Thing.. We need to stop the bad thing, Niyt.. The bad thing.. I promised Kachina I'd help her, Niyt, I promised!"
Mori goes silent as everybody awake seems focused on others and turns his own focus to find out who else is hanging around the tree currently. His gaze noting where everybody within view currently is before turning it to Anoki once he starts to speak, his head tilting slightly to the side in curiosity and worry at the words.
Niyt lets her brother find his comfort however she can. He's been eating meat, yes - but those missing months have given him little enough opportunity to form the new habits of a somewhat older wolf. No wonder he's still strangely puppylike in some regards. She noses down and licks at Anoki's muzzle when he finally looks up to her, listening to what he says and then nodding. "We will. We'll help Kachina." Kachina? That's not the puppy that went missing from here! So there's a third family somewhere, searching for their young. Yes, the Bad Thing definitely needs to be stopped. "We'll do it together." Niyt, and Anoki - and the wolves of Ute, and whatever other allies they may find. She lifts her head, ears flicking to the sound of the discussion between Helaku and Hinto. More philosophy... and a touch of conspiracy she's not certain she likes. But... they are still allies, of a sort; as are the others of this pack. At least, if... "Was there another wolf there, Anoki? About your own age?"
"Trouble finding what exactly your place would be in the pack?" Hinto asks. "IF no suitable dedication can be found, then look at the whole pack and do what you can. Hunt, watch over pups, even telling the right stories." Hinto says. "Lupin and I... while being part of the pack, we're never that close to the rest, still valuing our privacy. It works for us, but it does make it harder ot be there for emergencies." Hinto stops to think. "My own recent trials have taught me a good way is to find hope and do what you can to leave the right mark. Not just on the pack, but in the world altogether. Skelaghe clearly understood this. The more among us who understand, the better."
Helaku had understanding on what Hinto would like to achieve, but packs usually were not too thrilled about older members leaving and returning generations later. "I've seen the pack as whole except its Alphas who never seem present," said Helaku. "I've made a stay near the borders for some time without any other direction until I met Niyt." Hope. Helaku hated the word and idea because it created so many lazy wolves who sat around...and hoped. That was all they did. They didn't do. Hope was for those who couldn't make things happen and relied on others. There were exceptions, differnet kinds of hope, but hope in general Helaku rejected. "My responsibility at this time is more to Niyt and Anoki than it is to Ute. This is not an Ute philosophy but one of my other half, Miakoda. Once offered presence is accepted, it is not to be rescinded even if confronted by something I desire." In a long way of saying, Helaku literally just stated that he was not trying to find a place in the Ute or anywhere but everywhere at the same time. "I've given Askuwheteau word on aiding in finding his lost pup, but I will not be taking any commands issued by the current Ute superiors to do so."
Anoki starts to shake his head, then stops, and thinks. "The cat-thing, and the big scary bird were bringing another puppy to the bad Hole when I ran.. They were very angry and hurt him bad so he'd go in the Bad Hole.." ... Anoki looks at his sore, still achey feet, then mumbles guiltily, "I wanted him to go in the Bad Hole, so I could run away.. and so Kachina wouldn't be alone.. They said they need more little woofs an' cats for something.. Something bad. There was a snarly hair thing, too, that was really stinky, and mean. And there used to be a big mean pig, but he stopped coming back to the bad hole, and they stopped letting us out to make puddles when he did.." His ears lay back, and he clings closer to Niyt with thise words, then says, softly, "I tried to dig me and Kachina out, I dug and I dug and I dug and I couldn't dig any more, and my paws were all bloody and.."
So Ikuna is there. Or another wolfpup, but... no, it seems likely that the Ute pup is the one Anoki saw. How many big scary birds kidnapping puppies could there be? Niyt nods, wrapping her paws around Anoki and listening to his scattered account of what went on. "We'll save him, too. We'll stop the bad things," she tells him, and nuzzles along his ears, licking there. She squeezes him close, and then lifts up her head. "All of us," she says, and her voice is louder now, intended to reach Helaku, and Hinto, and any other wolves nearby and listening. The wind picks up just a touch, to help carry it. "Working together. Together, we will save the other children, and stop the bad things." She's had enough of listening to this fighting, this arguing over whose rights and whose laws and whose pack. There are young ones in danger, and though she may not be the mother to any of them, it is with a mother's voice that she speaks. They. Will. Be. Saved.
Hinto can't help but agree. He turns and walks over to her then. "Where do we start?" Hinto asks. He agrees with all that the pups must be saved. Simply what should be done to the "bad things."
Anoki presses his face firmly in against Niyt's chest once more, breathing her in deeply, reaffirming he has once again found her, before he mumbles, "Niyt, I saw momma before I found you... Momma helped me find a log to hide near... But then she was gone, except I could still smell her.." his ears flatten, then lay back, before he sobs, "I didn't get to tell her goodbye, Niyt, I didn't get to tell her goodbye, but she still found me.."
Mori slowly stands up and surveys the area "I am ready to help in any way can, the problems of the Ute is of no consequence compared to the young." a deep breath taken as he steps over to Niyt and Anoki
Good. They're listening to sense. It's a good thing, too, because if they didn't, Niyt would have to bite their ears, and that would be very difficult to do without letting go of Anoki. Her dear brother, who... as he speaks to her again, she lowers her head, catching his words. Her own ears wilt aside, as she presses her cheek to his, holding him close. "Of course she did. She's your mama. When I was a little puppy and bad things came, she found me. That's what mamas do. They watch over their puppies. The wind took her away... but when you need her most, the wind will carry her back long enough to help you. She knows you love her, and she loves you." She simply holds him like that for a long moment. Soon, she'll have to join the planning for what comes next - but there is time enough for another few moments, here. Especially with her increasing suspicion that Anoki will be needed on this journey. She hates to put her brother into further danger, but he's the best source of information they have, and he should come to keep his promise to Kachina.
"I didn't want to be Bad, Niyt," sobs the pup, as he continues to break down, "I didn't want to make Momma go away without be being there to say goodbye.. I just wanted to see the grass again, to bring Krisha some grass an' flowers from where we were born, and the cat thing came and said she was a friend, and she said there was a neat thing to find up the mountain so I followed her, but there was nothing neat to see there, just the Bad Hole, and when I tried to leave, she said I couldn't, and then the bird brought Kachina and she was scared and smaller'n'me, so I said I'd take care of her c'os I wanted to be brave like you, only I was scared, Niyt," Anoki admits with a blubber, "I was scared, and Kachina was scared, and when they stopped letting us go puddle I knew something was wrong.."
Mori turns his gaze toward the distant mountains "You helped calm and protect her even tho you were scared, that was indeed brave of you" his voice very soft and calm as he sits down and turns his gaze back on the two.
Niyt nuzzles at Anoki, making soft murmuring noises to him as he speaks. They're not words, just... gentle sounds. Like the ones that mama used to make, for little puppies too small to even talk. They simply come to her, in this moment; they're the proper thing for a sorrowing puppy to hear as he's held. "You were brave, Anoki. Very brave," she replies gently. "You shouldn't have gone off alone, but it wasn't your fault that the bad cat came. I promise it wasn't your fault. The cat, and bird, and the rest? They did a bad thing, and it's /not your fault/. They're the ones who kept you from saying goodbye to mama, and made everyone worry for you. That's all their fault, not yours. It shouldn't have happened to you, but sometimes bad things happen. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, and I'm glad you were still brave and strong and kind, even when the bad things were happening."
Whimpering, still crying, and clinging to his older sister, the star-faced pup shakes his head, "I wasn't brave I was scared. That pup that got hurted bad, he was brave.. he kept the cat and the bird from chasing me when I ran, and they hurt him bad for it." His ears lay back, and he sniffs, pressing in close to Niyt, and curling up a little. "... They're gonna do a BAD BAD THING, Niyt.. The Bad Hole.. it wasn't natural.. it didn't have any spirits.. but it didn't feel right.." he sniffles a little, then says, rubbing at his face with a paw, "Daddy.. Daddy could probably make that bird sorry, he's way bigger than that bird, I'm sure.."
Helaku eyed Anoki and Niyt. The pup had been through enough...he should be returned home. His words would be enough to guide them where they needed to go. He calmly approached the sibling duo, considering several things at once. "Niyt," he said. "When you have a chance, I need to speak with you alone...you and Anoki."
Niyt kisses Anoki's forehead with a gentle lick. "I think you're braver than you think. Even daddy gets scared, he just doesn't let it stop him. You kept trying, didn't you? That's being brave. Even when you're so scared you think you're going to make a puddle right there." She's starting to worry about the other pup more. Anoki may not be an expert and battle-hardened judge of injury, but... she heard that eagle's screech of anger on the wind. She's rather glad neither Tala nor Ahiga have woken up yet. Better that they don't hear this part of things yet - they're worried enough about their friend already. "Daddy isn't here. But we have other friends who will help us. You see?" She nudges him, and then begins to point out the wolves around, reckoning from when last she heard their voices. Hinto's name she doesn't recall, but she points to him anyhow, "Him, and Mori, and Helaku..." Her head stays tilted to that wolf for a moment, hearing what he asks of her, and she gives a slight nod before continuing her list. "And there's Askuwheteau, and Wachiwa..." Okay, that runs her out of names she knows. "Everyone wants to help. We'll figure out why the bad place is so bad, and we'll make it good again."
Hinto notices he isn't recognized and clears his throat. "Hinto. My name is Hinto." Though he doesn't mind being known as "him." "Him" means plenty of others will be talking about Hinto.
Ears droop, but not fold; and he snuggles in against Niyt, now looking at the other adults warily, yellow eyes uncertain. Hinto is especially examined, since he's never seen a wolf so /old/, he's like, even older than his daddy, and Anoki didn't know there was such a thing. He then nods warily to Niyt, and asks, softly, "... They're the other woof's fambly?" before he gulps, hoping he won't be in trouble for /wanting/ the other wolf to be shoved into the Bad Hole instead of him. He then says, "... We should try to find Kachina's Mommy too... Her daddy's gone with the wind, though, like Momma... And she's a cat.. A very nice cat.."
Mori leans forward to offer Anoki a gentle nuzzle to show he is in no trouble in his opinion "we are the other wuffs pack yes" his gaze lifting to look up at Niyt "Should I seek out the cougars and find out whom Kachina's mother is?" his head cocking slightly to the side "I'm sure some of them would want to help solve this"
Helaku murmured to himself as he watched the others. "When you are ready, Niyt, you and Anoki find me at the river border. My scent will be your trail," he said. And with that, the male turned to slip off. He had nothing to add to the conversation with others present.
Niyt nods in acknowledgement of Hinto's correction, but doesn't let it stop her. She keeps her foreleg curled around Anoki as he looks around at all the other wolves. Are they the other wolfpup's family? Well... maybe? If listening to Helaku has told her one thing, it's that the familial relations around here are tangled up! Tala mentioned that her parents were dead. Presuming that Ikuna was her brother... which doesn't actually seem certain, since there are three different ages of pups in the ones living here... then... uh... "They're his pack," she settles on, nodding her agreement to Mori. That much is definitely true! "His name's Ikuna." As Anoki mentions Kachina's family, Niyt nods. "Did Kachina say what her mama's name is?" Probably not. What child ever thinks of their parents as having /names/? But it's worth a try. Otherwise, she's not sure how they'll find 'the mama of a nice cat'. Given that the bad creatures reached from her and Anoki's home in the south, all the way to here... At Mori's offer of help in that, she smiles. "Perhaps. We need to think what we are doing, and how many ways we are dividing ourselves. There is a great deal to be done. But... if you know of cougars nearby, and can ask quickly... then yes." At Helaku's words and departure, she nods. "We will speak to you soon." What is it about? She doesn't know. But Helaku has been helpful, so far, and she will listen to what he has to say.
Ears lay slightly back at Mori, but when there are no teeth, and nothing bad happens seconds after, the little wolf sighs, and seems to calm some; still. He shivers against Niyt's chest, then murmurs softly, "... Nuh-uhn. I dun' think her mom gots a name. Like our mommy an' daddy don't," he says, thinking about it. ... Why DON'T Parents have names, anyway? ".. But I heard the cat's name! Her name was something like Paw-wa. And they kept sayin' they gotta keep us alive an' healthy. And they SAID they were getting pups together for a good thing, but.. after a while, I didn't want to believe them. I don't think it's a good thing they want people for."
Mori gets back to his paws as he furrows his brows deeply "Lets see, where would they be currently" his gaze looking in a southwestern direction "I know where some cougars are located, if Kachina's mother isn't amongst them then they might still be able to lead me in the right direction"
Because they're parents, that's why. Niyt smiles softly, and nods. They'll just have to hope they get lucky. "Pawwa?" she repeats after Anoki. At the mention of keeping the pups healthy, she frowns slightly. That makes the fur on the back of her neck prickle in a bad way. A predator is one thing; the prey sorrows, but it's part of the natural order of things. But to keep pups away, to collect them and make plans around them... no. That sounds like something darker than simple hunters. These creatures are meddling with one of those things that should not be meddled with; there are dark forces that would be only too glad to consume children. They promise power, but bring only destruction. "I don't think it is either, Anoki," she says softly, and her concern is clear in her voice. She nods to Mori, but her thoughts are still on the news from her brother.
Askuwheteau suddenly rises, he had seemed asleep until now, but he had actually been listening to it all, he says nothing but turns instead towards the river and begins limping in that direction, a couple of his wounds reopening as his sudden motion pulls at the scabbed over flesh. He is heading back the way he came from last night. A grim look on his face.
Tala didn't think she would actually sleep that long, it has been a few days since she had a good nights rest and she is slowly lifting her head to peer out blinking a few times while her nose twitches. She licks across her maw and slowly stretches before pushing herself up onto her haunches, ears twitching as she catches some voices but isn't fully sure whom is talking. Though she does catch sight of the movement and her blue rest drifts towards Asku as shew aches him start to limp off. "Asku.. What happened?" Is questioned as she bounces up to her paws and is rather quick to follow after her big brother, leaving Niyt's side without a glance to her. Her brother is hurt so she is worried, even more so with the fact that Ikuna is gone.
Now /THAT/ is scary; the fact that Asku rises suddenly distractes Anoki and he stares.. then shrinks down, trying to hide between Niyt's paws at the sight of such a grim look on an adult wolf's face. And then there's the fact that he's all hurt all over, and that's scary too. He curls, forepaws turning up so he can lick at them in thought-- and then he turns to his tail to lick at the tip. He gets a good lookc at it now; the tip scabby and slightly furless where the hairy thing had bit him in his escape. He whines softly, and begins licking at his tail obsessively.. That scary thing hurt him, that scary hair thing wanted him to go back to the bad Hole, it was a BAD thing..
Mori leans over to offer Niyt a gentle nuzzle "As much as I hate leaving you so soon after meeting you again, I should try to find the mother." His paws slowly starting to lead him on a slightly southwestern direction. "I will be back tho since I have a lot to speak to you about when this is all over." Asku being more or less ignored as he has other things on his mind currently.
Niyt flicks her ear to the sound of motion and the renewed scent of blood, but she can't tell what's going on from those senses alone. She feels Tala leave her side and run off, and she turns her head in that direction. Not that she can see anything, but she wonders if... No. Askuwheteau, if that's who it is, will listen to the pup far better than he would Niyt. She turns back to her own brother, feeling how he shrank back at the sight of the bloodied wolf. The terror is rather less, for her; after all, she can't see how truly horrendous Asku looks. She lowers her head, nuzzling her brother as he whines and settling her paws close around him. At least now they're together again. Big sister Niyt can't solve everything, though, and it may be a long time before Anoki can once more be happy and unafraid. As Mori nuzzles down at her, she gives her brother another lick, and then lifts her head for a moment to nuzzle Mori back. "We'll have other chances to catch up. Good luck!" she says to him, and then lowers her head to Anoki once again, resting her muzzle along his back and simply holding him close for the moment.
Askuwheteau turns to look back at his baby sister as she wakes and follows after him, the grim look softens and he lowers his head to nuzzle at her and speaks softly, "Tala, do you remember the haunted cave I told you about? Down by the river with the ghost wolves Mlawatu and Kondo in it? Well I am hurt so bad because I went there last night to see what I could learn about where Ikuna is and who took him away. Mlawatu doesn't like boys as a rule and she hates me especially, but I have to go back now that I know more little ones have been stolen. I have to try and find out what the dead wolves can tell me about all this. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you when you were scared. I will try to be here now if you want me to be. I can wait to go to the cave. How are you feeling little sis?" He gently begins to groom Tala's ears pulling her tenderly into a brotherly hug.
Tala shifts on her paws while she peers up at her big brother, her ears lower at the sight of him, though instead of being fearful she is worried. A slight nod is offered at the question about the cave. She frowns while hoping up on her hindpaws to let her front paws rest against his cheeks while peering up at his eyes with her own. "You can't go back.. Look what happened.." Her head shake slowly while she drops back to so she is sitting. "I don't want to lose you too.." She murmurs out while lowering her head, ears folding back. As she is pulled close to Asku she doesn't fight it and just flops down to the ground, gving in rather quickly. "I miss Ikuna.. I miss ma and pa."
Niyt can't solve everything.. Their mother couldn't have solved this problem either. Anoki continues to lick.. He feels like his tail is dirty; it touched those things, it was touched by them. Dirty, dirty, dirty, he doesn't want the dirt to spread. he doesn't want to become like those Bad things, he doesn't want to be BAD. He whines softly, ears twitching a bit at the sound of the two wolves - Tala and Asku - Talking nearby, and he listens, eavesdropping only because he can't help it, honest. So dirty, his tail, so dirty. "Niyt.. My tail is dirty," he mumbles, before he looks towards Asku and Tala-- a ghost who dislikes boys? He perks his head a little, and then says softly: "D-don't go.. She doesn't have answers.. Ghosts can't go to the Bad Place.. Ghosts won't know about things they can't go to.."
There's another family here, one that hasn't yet had the happy reunion that Niyt and Anoki have. The blind wolf can't help but hear them, and her ears splay slightly. The other pup needs to be saved - as does this Kachina. Niyt knows she can't delay for long. She'll have to start her journey again; but this time with allies, and some knowledge of her destination. And most importantly of all, her brother. She lowers her head, nosing along Anoki's tail as he mentions it. She feels the scab there, now - along with all the dirt. "I'll clean it," she says. Why his tail? She doesn't know. But if that's what's important to him... she begins to lick it, with warm, slow swipes of her tongue. Bathtime, the sort that he always got after playing in the mud. Warm sisterly tongue, lapping over his tail, cleaning it of all the dirt - and of the touch of the big hairy thing.
Askuwheteau looks into his little sister's eyes and nods, nothing can so melt the heart of this wolf as a pup in distress. "I'll stay here Tala, I won't go." He licks her cheek in a soft kiss and then places his cheek against her side cradling her gently, "I miss them too, but I promise Skahla and I will get Ikuna back safe and sound no matter what it takes." He then hears Anoki's voice and he looks up, "Lets go introduce ourselves to Niyt's little brother, he knows where ikuna is being kept. And Once we find out where it is We'll save him and all the pups and cubs the evil creatures took." He then stands fully again and begins to limp over towards the other pair of siblings drawing quite close before he lays down with a soft whimper of discomfort. Then he speaks to the young male just as he might an adult male his own age, "Hello young wolf, My name is Askuwheteau, that is my little sister Tala. We are very happy you got away safely. Tala, come here and say hello." He says opening his forepaws for the younger female to come cuddle into.
Tala ears perk forwards lightly at the talk of Asku staying and she presses back against his form, her eyes closing while she nuzzles against him. "You better not.." She offers with a soft tone, she would be very mad if he went, and would most likely follow after him to try and keep him out of trouble. She frowns slightly and takes in a soft breath. "Still.. There has to be another way to find him other then going back to that cave.." Her gaze turns back to Niyt, maw twitching but she soon nods and shifts following after her brother, and settles down within his forepaws once he is settled down. She lets her blue gaze rest upon Anoki, watching him a few moments. "Hi.."
Yellow eyes look back to the blue of Tala, and Anoki murmurs, softly, "Hi.." back, before he looks up to Asku, and considers him. "Your name is funny. Really long, too," he murmurs softly, as his sister grooms his tail. And yet at the same time.. she may wish to clean it away, but he deels like it is stubbron, and no amount of grooming can make it leave. he cringes a little as her tongue licks away a bit of the scab, but a little bleeding will be better for healing. His ears droop a little, and he murmurs, "I'm sorry the other woof got taked. I'm sorry I wanted him to go in the Bad Hole instead of me.. But.. but Kachina needs someone to watch over her, c'os she's small, smaller than the bird and the cat thing and the hairy snarl thing.." He says, softly, before he consuders again. "... Ghosts don't like people asking them questions they can't answer. But maybe she will come here if she knows something. My moosie would come here if he could help, but I don't think he can help any."
Niyt smiles, and nods a greeting to Asku and Tala as they approach. She continues grooming at Anoki's tail, cleaning the fur from dirt - and cleaning the wound, as well. When he cringes, she holds him a bit closer with his paws. This part hurts a bit, but that little trickle of blood means she's getting all the dirty scab off and letting it heal up clean and right so it won't get infected. She can't solve the less tangible sense of dirtiness, but at least she can do this much. She mostly lets her brother handle this conversation on his own, but when Anoki mentions his mouse, she smiles. "He was very worried about you, but... he was too scared to be able to explain anything."
Askuwheteau nuzzles his baby sister and smiles, "Wachiwa is trying to speak with the Spirits, I was contacting the dead. Maybe she will have something for us when she gets back." He then looks at the young male pup and shakes his head, "Oh I doubt Mlawatu will come here, she is trapped in a cave and can never leave it. But sometimes she can see things far away." Then he reaches out and lightly brushes a paw across the young male's ears, "I know you didn't want anything bad to happen to my little brother. You were scared, and you were worried for the little feline, it's good to care about those smaller then you." He leans forward looking the male pup in the eyes, "But don't you worry, when I find those bad evil animals, I promice I'll be the one making them cry, and I'll make them afraid. They will know exactly how you felt and how they made Ikuna and Kachina feel. I'll make them very sorry for the bad things they did. I'll pay them back ten times over. Okay?" Although Asku is trying to be comforting and his voice is still even and sweet sounding his words don't quite match his tone.
Ears lay back as Anoki thinks about hit. His moose was scared, too? And worried? He frowns, looking at his paws, and then murmurs, "He can't go there, the Moosie. Kachina's birdie couldn't go there either. It's a place spirits can't go.. But it's also not a nice place." He frowns and then says softly: ".. Niyt, you remember the hare..? The one who was scared about the bird black birds..? And she couldn't leave the grass because she couldn't find the way to the wind..?" He looks up to his sister, and then to Asku: ".. The big black birds.. the cat-thing and the big bird thing.. I think the big black birds the hare was scared of know about the Bad Ones. and the Bad Hole. The Cat-thing said if I didn't get in the hole, the big black birds would find me."
Tala ears perk sligtly and she ndos a moment while listing to her brother and shifts to let her head settle against one of his forepaws while listening to the conversation. "You have a mouse that is a ghost?" This is questioned to Anoki, she looks rather confused over the talk of ghosts. Well when it comes odown to 'ghosts' she always thought they wasn't actually real.. Though seeing how hurt her brother it much be real. She licks aross her nose a few times. "Why would the birds help the bad animals?" Its all rather confusing for her..
As Asku speaks of vengeance, Niyt frowns slightly. "Be careful," she tells him softly. "No matter how twisted they have become, they too had a mother, and were once good. Stop them. Kill them, yes. But if you will not show the mercy of death for their sake, do it for the pups. Do not give them more nightmares. Just show them that the terror is over." Then she lowers her head as her brother speaks her name. It takes her a moment to remember, and then she nods to him. "The birds? Hmm." She considers on that a moment, then nods again. "The black birds... they are not always bad, but they are closer to darkness than most. It is... easy... for them to become twisted. Mad, or evil."
Askuwheteau tilts one ear to listen to the conversation between the pups but he also has an ear for Niyt's words, and they make sense to him. He nods, "I will temper my anger, But only for the pups sake. I don't care at all what these creatures once were, I don't care that they had a mother once. That is nothing to me. What they are now is all that matters. But you make sense, more sense then Hinto's blind desire for peace. For the little ones I will hold back my wroth, but only for them."
Laying his head down on one of his sister's paws, Anoki looks up at Asku thoughtfully, before he says: "You don't want to kill them. They'll come back as angry ghosts. Bad angry ghosts, and they will have a lot of power because they are Bad, not like the little ghosts that come from the moosies and the hares." He frowns, uttering a yip at his sister's continued cleaning of his tail, which has finally come clean of scan and dirt, before he whines softly. "Niiiiit.." he kicks ar her with one paw lightly, but not hard enough to hurt. He squints his eyes then at Asku, and murmurs, "Your angry will make you a Bad Ghost too if you don't find a way to become unangry."
Niyt nods to Askuwheteau. She hardly expected him to accept mercy for itself; not when even she can understand his fury, can feel its twin waiting to awaken. She holds her brother closer. Yes, she understands Asku's anger - but let this thing be ended, not dragged on forever, with heroes turned villains on the stage of terror. "That is reason enough," she replies softly in between licks. When Anoki kicks at her muzzle, she catches at his paw lightly with her mouth, holding it for a moment before letting go. "We can bury them in the hole where there aren't ghosts. Then they can't be bad ghosts." Or perhaps there will be some other answer, but she'll figure that out once she better understands what's going on.
Askuwheteau looks down at the little pup and as his sister falls asleep in his paws he leans down and noses at the male pup, "There is nothing wrong with being angry Anoki, there is never anything wrong with anything you feel. It's good to feel mad when bad animals do bad things, It shows you know right from wrong and it shows you love your family, think about how you might feel if your big sister got taken away and somebody scared her and then hurt her. It's never wrong to feel anything Anoki, but sometimes what we do about those feelings can be wrong. I almost did something wrong because I was angry abouth those evil animals. But It's not wrong for me to be angry. And you know what?" He lowers his voice a touch, "There are much scarier things in this world then angry Ghosts, things that walk and breath, are made of flesh and bone and blood, and cannot be killed by fang or claw or anything else. I know lots of stories, the good thing is that for every bad thing out in the world there is a good thing just as powerful and sometimes more so. I have lots of stories about those also. Maybe I could tell you some of my stories sometime. I know the pups of Ute love my stories, well the nice ones anyway, sometimes they like the adventure stories also."
Oh noes, his sister has his paw. Nooooo-wait, she let go. Anoki rolls over onto his back, and then swats a little forepaw for Niyt's mouth, though it's a weak attempt to play. One ear twitches at Asku's offer of stories, but Anoki closes his eyes, and murmurs, "I like Mommy's stories better... But I have to listen really hard to hear them now because she's with the wind.." He opens his eyes, and looks up at Niyt: "... But she can tell me them, right? Still, if I listen, now." He sighs, and lets his paws fold over his chest a little, and then looks over at Asku. "Niyt.. Is Daddy still okay..? What about Unc'a Tariro?"
On the question of anger, as an emotion, Niyt has a less clear answer. She laughs gently as Anoki bats at her, leaning her head down and nosing at his belly. It's a start, so far as playing goes. But then there's more serious questions again. There are so many of them, these days! "She can. But you should listen to other stories, too - so that when, a long long time from now, you go and join her, you can tell her stories too." When he asks about the rest of the family, she sighs. "Daddy... after mama left, he went out for a long walk, to be alone. He'll... come back when he's ready." That parental betrayal hurts, but her father was so heartbroken over the loss of their mother. He really wasn't quite himself, and perhaps... perhaps he will come back some day. Niyt doesn't know. "But uncle Tariro is okay. I haven't seen him in a while, because I was looking for you... but he was okay." She hopes he still is! It's been a long time.
Askuwheteau smiles and nods at the puppy and Niyt, "A mom's stories are always the best, I remember the stories my Ma and Pa used to tell me." He leans down and places his chin atop Tala as he remembers this, "No matter how much time goes by you never really forget that."
Anoki stretches a paw out for Niyt's face then, and smiles warmly, "Good.. about Unc'a Tariro. .. but.. I dunno about Daddy. I hope he comes back." He then looks over, counting Tala, and the other sleeping pups that had been lingering about and he asks, "... There's a lot more little woofs around here than home, Niyt.. why don't we come live here, alla the fambly? Then I wouldn't haffa play only with Krisha alla time." He tilts his head in thought up at the older sister of his, and waits for words.
As much as Ahiga loves to claim that he's not a pup...he sure still sleeps like one. He's been out for most of the day, perhaps tuckered out from stress and worry. Passed out near Tala and whoever else may be near her, the young male snorts in his sleep and rolls over to one side, momentarily getting caught up in a bout of sleep kicking, which eventually wakens him. "Ungh.." His eyes squint open, though a wide yawn squeezes them shut again as he rolls onto his back, feeling very lazy and momentarily forgetting that things aren't as calm and lethargic as he's feeling right now. .. Five more minutes...then he promises he'll wake up. Maybe.
"So do I," replies Niyt with a sigh. She does worry about their father so. At her brother's suggestion, she starts to shake her head - and then pauses. Well, why not? Cerulean is a pack running lean these days. There are practical questions, of course, but... Cerulean and Ute were allies. Why not strengthen that alliance? So, instead of saying no, Niyt says, "I don't know, Anoki. They might not want us living here, or uncle Tariro and the rest might not want to move. But... perhaps we could at least come closer, and arrange more visiting. It would be nice to have more friends." She tilts her head up, perking an ear towards Askuwheteau. She's not going to put him on the spot by actually asking, but... he may have something to say anyhow.
Askuwheteau turns and smiles gently as he notices Ahiga waking up bit by bit, "Hey Ahiga, sleep well?" He turns and a thoughtful look crosses his muzzle at the idea put forth by the Cerulean pup, then as Niyt cants an ear his way he tilts his head at her softly replying, "You might very well be welcomed, joining the packs would take some talking about, mostly between our Alphas and your Alphas., But if you chose to move your lands closer, perhaps having a joined border we would welcome that I am sure without a second thought, allowing more visiting, and at least one side of our lands niether of us would have to worry about. Making border patrols shorter and easier to manage, I'm sure both sets of Alphas would enjoy that benefit. Our alpha male is my older brother Skalha, I will talk to him about the possability of uniting the packs, at least give him food for thought and perhaps once this matter is taken care of I will personally act as the Ute liason. I'm sure Keaughe would have wanted a member of her family doing that. Of course that may be a good job for our other sister Nutaryuk...if she wants the position of course."
".. Your sister was Keaughe..?" Anoki asks, ears lifting a bit. He only vaguely remembers the other wolf, but-- "... I saw her.. She wanted me to tell the Snake that she was sorry she stepped on him. And the snake wanted me to tell her family if I found them that it was sorry it bit her in surprise." Anoki looks up at Niyt, and then to the other pup, rousing a bit. "... M-my mom an' Daddy.. Could see dead things. and could dream about things that didn't happen yet but would. I can see dead things, too. But not like Niyt.. Her seeing is special," he turns, and then sitting up, reaches to put paws on her cheeks by her eyes, leaning in to lick at them. "She is the best sister ever an' one day I want to be just like her."
"Hi Asku," yawns Ahiga, prying his eyes open a little. Meh. Why is waking up so difficult to do? He licks his nose and rolls onto his stomach, slowly sitting up. Blearily does he peer at the faces of the others about, weakly recognizing them from the previous day. .. The previous day! It all comes back to him in an instant. The lost pup. The found pup. His worry. The angry feelings. He shakes his head briskly to clear his sleepy thoughts. "Is Ikuna back? Did ya find'm when I was sleeping?" he asks, tilting his head up to Asku. And...wait, did he hear that right? That guy can see... /dead/ things? He blinks, glancing that way with a slithyl bewildered look.
So, there's the answer - not no, but not quite yes either. Niyt nods. "I can speak to Tariro, when next I see him." Since, well, he's the alpha, in addition to being their uncle. That makes the Cerulean half of the persuasion rather easier. As Asku explains about his brother, and his other sister, she does realize that allying closer with Ute will have to mean actually understanding their politics and history. Erk. But even with that downside, it still seems a good proposition. As Anoki speaks about Keaughe and the snake's ghosts, she smiles, and nuzzles down at his belly. When he sits up and paws at her cheeks by those blind eyes, her smile turns a little sad. There's already one way she wishes her brother was less like her - their childhood captures and suffering. "Oh, little moon," she tells him. "You will find your orbit."
Askuwheteau reaches out to brush a paw over Ahiga's head, "We have a good idea where he is, Anoki here is frightened but he says he wants to go back and help save Ikuna and the others when we figure out who is going, but I begin to wonder if waiting for Skahla is a good idea, I have not seen him in some time, I am not entirely sure where he is at the moment, It might be just myself Chewy and Helaku that must go, or perhaps it is better if I stay lest my anger get the better of me when I find those responsable and I lose my head. Maybe Hinto or Mori would be better to take my place, but again those two have not got a history for making good decisions, and I think their gentleness may make them err on the other side and become too forgiving. Hinto might even let the villians live." He turns to look down at Anoki and his expression grows a bit sad, "Oh...so that is how Keaughe died...my big sister was bitten by a snake. How...ironic. It almost sounds like fate." He lifts his paw to his right eyebrow, to a place where he was.
Anoki mmmfs softly, and then rolls again, to face his sister, curling up, sucking against Niyt's chestfur again hungrilly, starting to knead his paws like a pup might in trying to coax food out. And in this he also starts to doze.
Ahiga's brows lift at this...what could be good news, and he lifts his head up after Asku's large paw brushes over his headfur. "Really?" the word is said in a somewhat squeaky voice, a telltale sign of his excitement. Though he knows the answer, the question spills out anyway. "Can I go too? I wanna help. I can help bring'm back," he says, tail beginning to wag a bit. But the motion stops in a moment, and the grin that almost spreads over his face is interrupted. "Asku, you've /gotta/ go. You're the best one, 'n pluse you're his brother. If ya don't go an' the /old/ wolf does, we're gonna lose!"
Niyt nods to Askuwheteau. "Afra killed the snake that took Keaughe, but it was too late," she says. As Anoki presses against her and begins to suckle at her fur, she nuzzles down at him gently, and then lifts her head again as he slips off to sleep. "You know your pack better than I," she says to Asku on the matter of who should stay and go. "There are three to fight." Or so Anoki said. "A bird, a cat, and a... hairy smelly thing." She smiles a bit, despite the seriousness of the situation. When Ahiga speaks, she turns her head to him. "But you have an even more important job, Ahiga," she says. "You need to keep Tala safe. If Askuwheteau has to worry about her being hurt, he won't be able to fight well."
Askuwheteau looks at his paws thoughtfully then closes his eyes listening to both the adult and the pup. Then he looks at Ahiga and with all seriousness he nods, "If I do go Ahiga I really will need you to look after Tala for me. The three most able bodied adults available are myself, Wachiwa, and Helaku. I'll need you to make sure Tala is protected, do you think you can do it if I post you as her guardian?" He made it official, Asku knew the young male was of an age that he wanted to be treated like an adult and so he gave his little friend some responsability. "Now if I do give you this job Ahiga I'll be counting on you completely, this is a fully grown up job. I have to know that you'll take it seriously. And don't take any foolish risks yourself. If something happens and the bird or some stranger appears here you have to protect yourself as well. Remember a guard wolf is useless if he gets himself killed. Do I have your word?" He leans down to look Ahiga seriously in the eye.
Ahiga turns both his ears and eyes to Niyt as she speaks to him. It's the first time he's actually looked at her, and....woah. Crazy eyes! He blinks rapidly, a little caught off guard by her vacant gaze, although of course he isn't aware that they're vacant, merely weird. But ther are more important things being said, and he focuses on her words rather than her appearance for now, brows furrowing a bit as he nods. She has a point. Someone needs to make sure no more evil birds swoop down to steal his last remaining pal. And Asku's official offer seals the deal, and he inhales a slight breath and nods like the little soldier he is. "Yes. Yeah I can do it. I'll watch Tala 'n I won't do nothin' stupid, I promise." His blue green eyes are wide with earnest as he nods again at Asku, and he does the same to Niyt too. "I can do it."
There's an aspect of placating the boy in this - but there's also truth. Ahiga is still too young to keep up with adults on a long journey. But there /is/ danger here, and guarding home is no less important than going on this mission. Not as glamorous. But just as important! Niyt nods along gravely as Askuwheteau explains all that to his young friend. She can't see Ahiga's nod, but she hears his assent, and she smiles and nods in return. Almost like she saw the gesture, only not, because she's got the timing just a little off and her eyes don't quite focus on him even though her head sort of turns in that direction. "Good."
Askuwheteau nods and then stands up fully looking too Niyt, "Niyt will you be going with us? If so Your little brother and you will probably have to stay a bit back from the action, I mean no insult but even a bird or a feline may be able to hurt him or you, he is still young and you because you cannot see and so can't defend against something that dives out of the air." He glances at Anoki as the boy sleeps, "And if you and the rest of Cerulean are to become our neighbors or even form a new pack with us so that the pups can play together I would hate to see either of you hurt before Ikuna and the other young wolves get a chance to play with him."
Ahiga gazes over at the frailish looking boy that Niyt watches over, ears pricking a bit. Play with him? Currently, it looks like a good pounce might break the poor kid, though Ahiga keeps his comments to himself. When his anger is in check, he actually is a pretty nice kid! And as the adults talk tactics, he draws quiet. Having just awakened, he's not sleepy in the slightest, and his mind is whirling over a thousand thoughts. It's enough to keep him still for a while, concentrating on sending encouraging thoughts to Ikuna, wherever he may be. We're comin' for you, don't you worry! And Asku will tear that dumb bird's beak off.
"I will come," says Niyt. "But you are right. I am not a warrior." She smiles wryly, and lowers her head slightly in acknowledgement. "If this were just a matter of teeth and claws, I would be better left behind. But..." She frowns. "There is more going on here. These creatures have some purpose that reaches to the spiritual. For that, I may be the best warrior you have." She says it matter-of-factly, without boasting, then tilts her head down and noses her brother. "So may he, I suppose." That makes her frown, though; not wanting to think of her brother becoming injured in a fight against spirits.
Lone Crabapple Tree....................
....Askuwheteau..........................
................................................
Hinto - Aeron - Tala - Niyt - Helaku
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....................Ahiga...Anoki..........
Entering from the West:
Mori
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Niyt has been dozing, but it's a light sleep, one that comes with frequent moments of wakefulness at strange sounds. She's found her brother again, little Anoki curled up between her forepaws - but their problems aren't over yet. Near her are some of Ute's remaining pups, similarly sleeping. All in all, it's a peaceful scene; a moment of rest amidst all the unfortunate events of this year so far, before the chaos and fear returns.
Mori pads into the area at a fairly rapid pace having been itching to follow the sound of last nights howls, but duty before curiosity and as such he had waited until he was sure Ishara was safe and lupin had been told what he planned to do. His eyes quickly scanning the forms in the area as he moves, being on the lookout for one specific wolfess as he mentally grumbling at the wind for blowing away from him rather then toward.
As the wind blows past her, Niyt stirs a little. Her nose twitches, and one ear flickers, but she doesn't wake. Not yet. Tiredness, and the warmth of pups against her, is enough to keep her sleeping for now. This place feels a safe one, after all, and she needs that rest.
Hinto had originally intended to return, with Aeron, to Lupin last night. But when Aeron stood before him and insisted he be allowed to keep a pomise he made, agreed to stay with him here. HE believes in the idea of teaching his pups honorable things to do. In the end, he's chosen to hold Askuwheteau as an example of what a dishonorable sort might act and the damage they may cause. He is asleep, right next to Aeron, not letting him out of earshot.
Mori upon noticing the gathering ahead stops up to just stare at the strange mix of familiar and not so familiar wolves never having expected to see something like that. Shaking his head rapidly a few times he takes a deep breath and starts forward slowly and silently not wanting to wake anybody in the group.
Niyt murmurs softly in her sleep. If there are words, they're too faint to make out - but her head starts to move, nose twitching. For a moment, she looks worried, almost panicked, but then she buries her muzzle against her brother curled in her arms, and nuzzles him as she takes in his scent. Her tail thumps once, and she relaxes again with a smile.
Hinto's ear twitches. He hears movement. The combination of his sleep and the fact his eyes are closed keeps him from identifying who the wolf is, but the sound of the weight of the pawsteps tells him he can relax as clearly it's not Aeron. So he doesn't wake up.
Helaku slept lightly, as he always did, and even more now that he was once again on Ute land. The wolf had slept fresh from a disgreement with Asku, but in honesty he didn't care of Asku's opinion or desires. To a certain extent, he didn't care what rank Asku held within Ute for that matter as long as he rampaged about. Some old habits resurfaced in Helaku over night, transferred from his father. At the moment he was not, in fact, asleep but sitting in complete silent as he stared at the tree, ears alert and listening for signs of awareness from those nearby. They found one pup...now to find the other.
Mori stops up once he stands infront of the group and dips his head respectfully to Helaku seeing as how the other male is awake, his attention tho turns more toward Niyt as he cocks his head to the side studying her closely. Head leaning forward to catch both her and Helaku's scent as he furrows his brow deep in thought.
In the time since Mori last saw Niyt, she's grown to adulthood. The wolfess is graceful, even in repose. Her grey fur is soft and fluffy - well, except in comparison to the shaggy pelt her father had. She's slender - more so than she should be. Hers is a body that has been run nearly to the bone, her reserves mostly spent on the long journey whose many scents linger in her fur. No wonder she's still sleeping, even as Mori slips closer. Whatever tension made her run so, though, it seems to have mostly receded, leaving her still tired but now content.
The problem with a long sleep is eventually one has to wake up, as Hinto does. He stretches, reaching out into the future and the past with his paws with a big yawn that could put many cougars to shame. As his eyes open, he makes sure Aeron is by him.
Helaku continued to sit in his silence. What more was there to this place than ressurected memories that unsettled his inner feelings? What he knew was gone. For him, it was as if he had been trapped in a bubble of time in which the world continued on without him. Time. He never thought about it in the way he did until living with the human chronologist and his family. His ears subtly turned in acknowledgement of Hinto, but he said nothing.
Mori cocks his head slightly as he soft smile appears on his lips, she might have grown(obviously) but there was no mistake in his mind that it was indeed Niyt sleeping infront of him, meaning he had been correct about one of the howls he had heard the night before. His attention tho quickly turning over at Hinto once he starts to stirr and offering him a smile and dip of his head in greeting.
As everyone around her begins to stir, Niyt drifts toward wakefulness herself. She can't entirely ignore the faint sounds of breathing, the warm glow of spirits nearby as they sharpen to alertness. Alertness, but not worry; and so she allows herself the luxury of awakening slowly. She doesn't open her eyes yet, though her ears prick alert, and her nose twitches to take in the scents. She smiles again at the scent of her long-lost brother, reunited with her now, but she also begins to consider on the other scents here and think about what they may mean in a vague, sleepy sense.
Licking his lips, Hinto soon stands, then gently noses Aeron to make sure he's doing fine. He can be proud of the boy for taking so many of his lessons to heart. He and Ishara are good pups, they just need to stay out of trouble. This has proven to be a very difficult thing for the old wolf, however. He wonders if he should get Aeron home, though.
"Elder," said Helaku without so much as moving a muscle. "Yesterday when you challenged Askuwheteau on his ambitions, know from one old Ute to another that your views are closer to Ute than I've seen in many seasons." He slowly loomed over Niyt as if some great beast of legend, the forbidden sort that shouldn't be touched or approached at any cost and lightly eased his muzzle against the blind wolf's cheek. "Time to rise," he whispered.
Shallow breathing, soft whimpers. Anoki, betwixt Niyt's paws, is agitated in sleep; ears folded back, paws moving rythmatically, as if he presumes to still be walking, or running or at least travelling. Sleep travel is at least a lot less dangerous than actual travel, especially while it's being done in Niyt's grasp, but still it lingers; he is still trying to run, he is still haunted by something.
Mori grins slightly as his attention returns to Niyt once she starts to wake up, his voice soft as he finally speaks up. "Morning Niyt, Its good to see you again and while you may have already been told this allow me to welcome you to the packlands of the Ute." His tail wagging happily and rapidly behind him.
Time to rise? Niyt supposes it must be. There is more to be done, after all. She is more glad to the task than she has been in a long time, for all that if she had not come here, she would not know the task continues. But if she had not come here, would she have found her brother? If these two things are linked, she cannot regret either. Her first act, as she comes to consciousness, is to hold her brother closer as he races in his sleep. Does he still flee in dreams the terror he has escaped in waking? She nuzzles down at him, licking between his ears to soothe him as best she can before she lifts up her head. Not to look, though she does open her eyes, for all the good that does. They are clouded, hidden behind fog, and they do not seek for familiar forms. "Good morning, Helaku," she murmurs to the wolf standing beside her, and then, "Good morning, Mori." She recognizes his voice, yes. "It's been quite some time."
Hinto turns to look at Helaku. He stands again and heads his way. "My mate and I came to no longer be alone, and came to deeply appreciate the important aspects of the Ute philosophy and way of life. When Skelaghe passed on, I was saddened." Hinto takes a moment for deep thought. "Askuwheteau's problem, perhaps is less a problem of great evil and hatred and perhaps more of callous youth and indiscretion. All the same, I did not care to have my son hear the words he said. I do not wish to raise my pups in an atmosphere where thoughts of vengeance and violence against those who have wronged us are common. It goes against everything I have believed in. How Askuwheteau could have been raised that way, I dare not think."
Helaku smiled lightly at Niyt. If only she knew how adorable she was upon waking from sleep. Funny how he'd only known her a day and all ready he thought such things. Had he been without companionship for that long? The mention of Skelaghe's name brought him from this thought. "Alpha Skelaghe would be most displeased with Askuwheteau's words," he answered, "for my half-sister shared the same tendency." He didn't turn away from facing Niyt and Anoki, though his voice reflected that he wished to address Hinto specifically. "Would it be too harsh for me to say that I've considered the Ute without a proper Alpha since the death of Alpha Skelaghe? The longer I stay upon these lands the more I see habits derived of Wyanet and her ilk from the war-thirsty pack that birthed her." For once, Helaku sounded very disgusted. It was quite clear he had a history prior to Skelaghe's death. "Lack of Tobba, lack of Ute reasoning....what have I returned to, Hinto?"
The light nuzzling, the squeaks and whimpering slows, but the running is not dead in his paws. A sudden yip-- and Anoki is jerking his head up, eyes suddenly open and wild as he looks about frantically-- and finds himself still there in Niyt's paws, and though his breathing is hasty, and his ears are back, and his heart seems to pound, he is at least reassured by this, turning to busy his face in his sister's chest, shivering against her even for a pup so 'old' as he. "Nit, nit, my nit.. my nit, mine.." he mumbles softly.
Mori opens his maw to say something in response to Helaku's question before closing it again and instead allows the two to speak between themselves, his focus returning fully to Niyt. "It has been far to long my friend, there have been many many times I've wanted to return to the desert and visit you to be honest but duty has been keeping me busy." His gaze turning toward hinto for a split moment as he speaks before it returns to her. "I am happy our paths have crossed once more."
What does Niyt know of Ute? Not nothing, but close enough to it. She met Wyanet, yes - once, when she was a mere puppy. Other than that, before she came here... well, she knew Mori, but the two hardly spoke of pack politics when they met before. She's met Helaku and Askuwheteau and Wachiwa and Hinto and a handful of puppies all within a brief span, and she's hardly has the chance to untangle who is who, let alone what their philosophies mean. But then, she's also been rather distracted. She begins to reply to Mori. "I understand. It seems - " But then her brother yips and wakes, and her attention turns abruptly back to him. She nuzzles down at Anoki as he presses against her, applying wolf-kisses to his ears, to the top of his head. "I'm here. I'm here, Anoki. It's okay. I'm here. You found your way back, little moon," she murmurs, a litany of comforting words as she wraps one foreleg around him to hold him more firmly.
"A pack perhaps in need of a stronger, more wise new generation." Hinto says. He peeks back at the other wolves conspiratorially, then back to Halaku. "I'm beginning to ponder certain ways to send a clear message what the Ute is about to the current generation, though it may take us finding our remaining pup moments before they do."
Anyone who knew Skelaghe was likely in the favor of Helaku, for if they knew Skelaghe then they knew Ute even if they didn't agree with it. "You are likely the best to answer any question I've about this modern Ute, Hinto," he said, finally turning to face the older wolf with his pale gaze and erect ears. "My future is uncertain except my duty to Niyt and her brother, especially with Crescendo, Quidel and Rowtag unaccounted for. I heard Rowtag was supposed to have been Askuwheatau's monitor at one time...but Rowtag was interested in finding Vincent when I was last here."
Surprisingly, Anoki takes to sucking on Niyt's chest fur; as if he were once more a puppy in search of milk; even though he's been on meat for at months now. An attempt to see comfort? Perhaps. He whines softly, ears twitching as he listens to the big wolves talk, his wits slowly coming back to him, before he lets go of the soggy clump of fur and whines at Niyt, before he says, "The Bad Thing.. We need to stop the bad thing, Niyt.. The bad thing.. I promised Kachina I'd help her, Niyt, I promised!"
Mori goes silent as everybody awake seems focused on others and turns his own focus to find out who else is hanging around the tree currently. His gaze noting where everybody within view currently is before turning it to Anoki once he starts to speak, his head tilting slightly to the side in curiosity and worry at the words.
Niyt lets her brother find his comfort however she can. He's been eating meat, yes - but those missing months have given him little enough opportunity to form the new habits of a somewhat older wolf. No wonder he's still strangely puppylike in some regards. She noses down and licks at Anoki's muzzle when he finally looks up to her, listening to what he says and then nodding. "We will. We'll help Kachina." Kachina? That's not the puppy that went missing from here! So there's a third family somewhere, searching for their young. Yes, the Bad Thing definitely needs to be stopped. "We'll do it together." Niyt, and Anoki - and the wolves of Ute, and whatever other allies they may find. She lifts her head, ears flicking to the sound of the discussion between Helaku and Hinto. More philosophy... and a touch of conspiracy she's not certain she likes. But... they are still allies, of a sort; as are the others of this pack. At least, if... "Was there another wolf there, Anoki? About your own age?"
"Trouble finding what exactly your place would be in the pack?" Hinto asks. "IF no suitable dedication can be found, then look at the whole pack and do what you can. Hunt, watch over pups, even telling the right stories." Hinto says. "Lupin and I... while being part of the pack, we're never that close to the rest, still valuing our privacy. It works for us, but it does make it harder ot be there for emergencies." Hinto stops to think. "My own recent trials have taught me a good way is to find hope and do what you can to leave the right mark. Not just on the pack, but in the world altogether. Skelaghe clearly understood this. The more among us who understand, the better."
Helaku had understanding on what Hinto would like to achieve, but packs usually were not too thrilled about older members leaving and returning generations later. "I've seen the pack as whole except its Alphas who never seem present," said Helaku. "I've made a stay near the borders for some time without any other direction until I met Niyt." Hope. Helaku hated the word and idea because it created so many lazy wolves who sat around...and hoped. That was all they did. They didn't do. Hope was for those who couldn't make things happen and relied on others. There were exceptions, differnet kinds of hope, but hope in general Helaku rejected. "My responsibility at this time is more to Niyt and Anoki than it is to Ute. This is not an Ute philosophy but one of my other half, Miakoda. Once offered presence is accepted, it is not to be rescinded even if confronted by something I desire." In a long way of saying, Helaku literally just stated that he was not trying to find a place in the Ute or anywhere but everywhere at the same time. "I've given Askuwheteau word on aiding in finding his lost pup, but I will not be taking any commands issued by the current Ute superiors to do so."
Anoki starts to shake his head, then stops, and thinks. "The cat-thing, and the big scary bird were bringing another puppy to the bad Hole when I ran.. They were very angry and hurt him bad so he'd go in the Bad Hole.." ... Anoki looks at his sore, still achey feet, then mumbles guiltily, "I wanted him to go in the Bad Hole, so I could run away.. and so Kachina wouldn't be alone.. They said they need more little woofs an' cats for something.. Something bad. There was a snarly hair thing, too, that was really stinky, and mean. And there used to be a big mean pig, but he stopped coming back to the bad hole, and they stopped letting us out to make puddles when he did.." His ears lay back, and he clings closer to Niyt with thise words, then says, softly, "I tried to dig me and Kachina out, I dug and I dug and I dug and I couldn't dig any more, and my paws were all bloody and.."
So Ikuna is there. Or another wolfpup, but... no, it seems likely that the Ute pup is the one Anoki saw. How many big scary birds kidnapping puppies could there be? Niyt nods, wrapping her paws around Anoki and listening to his scattered account of what went on. "We'll save him, too. We'll stop the bad things," she tells him, and nuzzles along his ears, licking there. She squeezes him close, and then lifts up her head. "All of us," she says, and her voice is louder now, intended to reach Helaku, and Hinto, and any other wolves nearby and listening. The wind picks up just a touch, to help carry it. "Working together. Together, we will save the other children, and stop the bad things." She's had enough of listening to this fighting, this arguing over whose rights and whose laws and whose pack. There are young ones in danger, and though she may not be the mother to any of them, it is with a mother's voice that she speaks. They. Will. Be. Saved.
Hinto can't help but agree. He turns and walks over to her then. "Where do we start?" Hinto asks. He agrees with all that the pups must be saved. Simply what should be done to the "bad things."
Anoki presses his face firmly in against Niyt's chest once more, breathing her in deeply, reaffirming he has once again found her, before he mumbles, "Niyt, I saw momma before I found you... Momma helped me find a log to hide near... But then she was gone, except I could still smell her.." his ears flatten, then lay back, before he sobs, "I didn't get to tell her goodbye, Niyt, I didn't get to tell her goodbye, but she still found me.."
Mori slowly stands up and surveys the area "I am ready to help in any way can, the problems of the Ute is of no consequence compared to the young." a deep breath taken as he steps over to Niyt and Anoki
Good. They're listening to sense. It's a good thing, too, because if they didn't, Niyt would have to bite their ears, and that would be very difficult to do without letting go of Anoki. Her dear brother, who... as he speaks to her again, she lowers her head, catching his words. Her own ears wilt aside, as she presses her cheek to his, holding him close. "Of course she did. She's your mama. When I was a little puppy and bad things came, she found me. That's what mamas do. They watch over their puppies. The wind took her away... but when you need her most, the wind will carry her back long enough to help you. She knows you love her, and she loves you." She simply holds him like that for a long moment. Soon, she'll have to join the planning for what comes next - but there is time enough for another few moments, here. Especially with her increasing suspicion that Anoki will be needed on this journey. She hates to put her brother into further danger, but he's the best source of information they have, and he should come to keep his promise to Kachina.
"I didn't want to be Bad, Niyt," sobs the pup, as he continues to break down, "I didn't want to make Momma go away without be being there to say goodbye.. I just wanted to see the grass again, to bring Krisha some grass an' flowers from where we were born, and the cat thing came and said she was a friend, and she said there was a neat thing to find up the mountain so I followed her, but there was nothing neat to see there, just the Bad Hole, and when I tried to leave, she said I couldn't, and then the bird brought Kachina and she was scared and smaller'n'me, so I said I'd take care of her c'os I wanted to be brave like you, only I was scared, Niyt," Anoki admits with a blubber, "I was scared, and Kachina was scared, and when they stopped letting us go puddle I knew something was wrong.."
Mori turns his gaze toward the distant mountains "You helped calm and protect her even tho you were scared, that was indeed brave of you" his voice very soft and calm as he sits down and turns his gaze back on the two.
Niyt nuzzles at Anoki, making soft murmuring noises to him as he speaks. They're not words, just... gentle sounds. Like the ones that mama used to make, for little puppies too small to even talk. They simply come to her, in this moment; they're the proper thing for a sorrowing puppy to hear as he's held. "You were brave, Anoki. Very brave," she replies gently. "You shouldn't have gone off alone, but it wasn't your fault that the bad cat came. I promise it wasn't your fault. The cat, and bird, and the rest? They did a bad thing, and it's /not your fault/. They're the ones who kept you from saying goodbye to mama, and made everyone worry for you. That's all their fault, not yours. It shouldn't have happened to you, but sometimes bad things happen. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, and I'm glad you were still brave and strong and kind, even when the bad things were happening."
Whimpering, still crying, and clinging to his older sister, the star-faced pup shakes his head, "I wasn't brave I was scared. That pup that got hurted bad, he was brave.. he kept the cat and the bird from chasing me when I ran, and they hurt him bad for it." His ears lay back, and he sniffs, pressing in close to Niyt, and curling up a little. "... They're gonna do a BAD BAD THING, Niyt.. The Bad Hole.. it wasn't natural.. it didn't have any spirits.. but it didn't feel right.." he sniffles a little, then says, rubbing at his face with a paw, "Daddy.. Daddy could probably make that bird sorry, he's way bigger than that bird, I'm sure.."
Helaku eyed Anoki and Niyt. The pup had been through enough...he should be returned home. His words would be enough to guide them where they needed to go. He calmly approached the sibling duo, considering several things at once. "Niyt," he said. "When you have a chance, I need to speak with you alone...you and Anoki."
Niyt kisses Anoki's forehead with a gentle lick. "I think you're braver than you think. Even daddy gets scared, he just doesn't let it stop him. You kept trying, didn't you? That's being brave. Even when you're so scared you think you're going to make a puddle right there." She's starting to worry about the other pup more. Anoki may not be an expert and battle-hardened judge of injury, but... she heard that eagle's screech of anger on the wind. She's rather glad neither Tala nor Ahiga have woken up yet. Better that they don't hear this part of things yet - they're worried enough about their friend already. "Daddy isn't here. But we have other friends who will help us. You see?" She nudges him, and then begins to point out the wolves around, reckoning from when last she heard their voices. Hinto's name she doesn't recall, but she points to him anyhow, "Him, and Mori, and Helaku..." Her head stays tilted to that wolf for a moment, hearing what he asks of her, and she gives a slight nod before continuing her list. "And there's Askuwheteau, and Wachiwa..." Okay, that runs her out of names she knows. "Everyone wants to help. We'll figure out why the bad place is so bad, and we'll make it good again."
Hinto notices he isn't recognized and clears his throat. "Hinto. My name is Hinto." Though he doesn't mind being known as "him." "Him" means plenty of others will be talking about Hinto.
Ears droop, but not fold; and he snuggles in against Niyt, now looking at the other adults warily, yellow eyes uncertain. Hinto is especially examined, since he's never seen a wolf so /old/, he's like, even older than his daddy, and Anoki didn't know there was such a thing. He then nods warily to Niyt, and asks, softly, "... They're the other woof's fambly?" before he gulps, hoping he won't be in trouble for /wanting/ the other wolf to be shoved into the Bad Hole instead of him. He then says, "... We should try to find Kachina's Mommy too... Her daddy's gone with the wind, though, like Momma... And she's a cat.. A very nice cat.."
Mori leans forward to offer Anoki a gentle nuzzle to show he is in no trouble in his opinion "we are the other wuffs pack yes" his gaze lifting to look up at Niyt "Should I seek out the cougars and find out whom Kachina's mother is?" his head cocking slightly to the side "I'm sure some of them would want to help solve this"
Helaku murmured to himself as he watched the others. "When you are ready, Niyt, you and Anoki find me at the river border. My scent will be your trail," he said. And with that, the male turned to slip off. He had nothing to add to the conversation with others present.
Niyt nods in acknowledgement of Hinto's correction, but doesn't let it stop her. She keeps her foreleg curled around Anoki as he looks around at all the other wolves. Are they the other wolfpup's family? Well... maybe? If listening to Helaku has told her one thing, it's that the familial relations around here are tangled up! Tala mentioned that her parents were dead. Presuming that Ikuna was her brother... which doesn't actually seem certain, since there are three different ages of pups in the ones living here... then... uh... "They're his pack," she settles on, nodding her agreement to Mori. That much is definitely true! "His name's Ikuna." As Anoki mentions Kachina's family, Niyt nods. "Did Kachina say what her mama's name is?" Probably not. What child ever thinks of their parents as having /names/? But it's worth a try. Otherwise, she's not sure how they'll find 'the mama of a nice cat'. Given that the bad creatures reached from her and Anoki's home in the south, all the way to here... At Mori's offer of help in that, she smiles. "Perhaps. We need to think what we are doing, and how many ways we are dividing ourselves. There is a great deal to be done. But... if you know of cougars nearby, and can ask quickly... then yes." At Helaku's words and departure, she nods. "We will speak to you soon." What is it about? She doesn't know. But Helaku has been helpful, so far, and she will listen to what he has to say.
Ears lay slightly back at Mori, but when there are no teeth, and nothing bad happens seconds after, the little wolf sighs, and seems to calm some; still. He shivers against Niyt's chest, then murmurs softly, "... Nuh-uhn. I dun' think her mom gots a name. Like our mommy an' daddy don't," he says, thinking about it. ... Why DON'T Parents have names, anyway? ".. But I heard the cat's name! Her name was something like Paw-wa. And they kept sayin' they gotta keep us alive an' healthy. And they SAID they were getting pups together for a good thing, but.. after a while, I didn't want to believe them. I don't think it's a good thing they want people for."
Mori gets back to his paws as he furrows his brows deeply "Lets see, where would they be currently" his gaze looking in a southwestern direction "I know where some cougars are located, if Kachina's mother isn't amongst them then they might still be able to lead me in the right direction"
Because they're parents, that's why. Niyt smiles softly, and nods. They'll just have to hope they get lucky. "Pawwa?" she repeats after Anoki. At the mention of keeping the pups healthy, she frowns slightly. That makes the fur on the back of her neck prickle in a bad way. A predator is one thing; the prey sorrows, but it's part of the natural order of things. But to keep pups away, to collect them and make plans around them... no. That sounds like something darker than simple hunters. These creatures are meddling with one of those things that should not be meddled with; there are dark forces that would be only too glad to consume children. They promise power, but bring only destruction. "I don't think it is either, Anoki," she says softly, and her concern is clear in her voice. She nods to Mori, but her thoughts are still on the news from her brother.
Askuwheteau suddenly rises, he had seemed asleep until now, but he had actually been listening to it all, he says nothing but turns instead towards the river and begins limping in that direction, a couple of his wounds reopening as his sudden motion pulls at the scabbed over flesh. He is heading back the way he came from last night. A grim look on his face.
Tala didn't think she would actually sleep that long, it has been a few days since she had a good nights rest and she is slowly lifting her head to peer out blinking a few times while her nose twitches. She licks across her maw and slowly stretches before pushing herself up onto her haunches, ears twitching as she catches some voices but isn't fully sure whom is talking. Though she does catch sight of the movement and her blue rest drifts towards Asku as shew aches him start to limp off. "Asku.. What happened?" Is questioned as she bounces up to her paws and is rather quick to follow after her big brother, leaving Niyt's side without a glance to her. Her brother is hurt so she is worried, even more so with the fact that Ikuna is gone.
Now /THAT/ is scary; the fact that Asku rises suddenly distractes Anoki and he stares.. then shrinks down, trying to hide between Niyt's paws at the sight of such a grim look on an adult wolf's face. And then there's the fact that he's all hurt all over, and that's scary too. He curls, forepaws turning up so he can lick at them in thought-- and then he turns to his tail to lick at the tip. He gets a good lookc at it now; the tip scabby and slightly furless where the hairy thing had bit him in his escape. He whines softly, and begins licking at his tail obsessively.. That scary thing hurt him, that scary hair thing wanted him to go back to the bad Hole, it was a BAD thing..
Mori leans over to offer Niyt a gentle nuzzle "As much as I hate leaving you so soon after meeting you again, I should try to find the mother." His paws slowly starting to lead him on a slightly southwestern direction. "I will be back tho since I have a lot to speak to you about when this is all over." Asku being more or less ignored as he has other things on his mind currently.
Niyt flicks her ear to the sound of motion and the renewed scent of blood, but she can't tell what's going on from those senses alone. She feels Tala leave her side and run off, and she turns her head in that direction. Not that she can see anything, but she wonders if... No. Askuwheteau, if that's who it is, will listen to the pup far better than he would Niyt. She turns back to her own brother, feeling how he shrank back at the sight of the bloodied wolf. The terror is rather less, for her; after all, she can't see how truly horrendous Asku looks. She lowers her head, nuzzling her brother as he whines and settling her paws close around him. At least now they're together again. Big sister Niyt can't solve everything, though, and it may be a long time before Anoki can once more be happy and unafraid. As Mori nuzzles down at her, she gives her brother another lick, and then lifts her head for a moment to nuzzle Mori back. "We'll have other chances to catch up. Good luck!" she says to him, and then lowers her head to Anoki once again, resting her muzzle along his back and simply holding him close for the moment.
Askuwheteau turns to look back at his baby sister as she wakes and follows after him, the grim look softens and he lowers his head to nuzzle at her and speaks softly, "Tala, do you remember the haunted cave I told you about? Down by the river with the ghost wolves Mlawatu and Kondo in it? Well I am hurt so bad because I went there last night to see what I could learn about where Ikuna is and who took him away. Mlawatu doesn't like boys as a rule and she hates me especially, but I have to go back now that I know more little ones have been stolen. I have to try and find out what the dead wolves can tell me about all this. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you when you were scared. I will try to be here now if you want me to be. I can wait to go to the cave. How are you feeling little sis?" He gently begins to groom Tala's ears pulling her tenderly into a brotherly hug.
Tala shifts on her paws while she peers up at her big brother, her ears lower at the sight of him, though instead of being fearful she is worried. A slight nod is offered at the question about the cave. She frowns while hoping up on her hindpaws to let her front paws rest against his cheeks while peering up at his eyes with her own. "You can't go back.. Look what happened.." Her head shake slowly while she drops back to so she is sitting. "I don't want to lose you too.." She murmurs out while lowering her head, ears folding back. As she is pulled close to Asku she doesn't fight it and just flops down to the ground, gving in rather quickly. "I miss Ikuna.. I miss ma and pa."
Niyt can't solve everything.. Their mother couldn't have solved this problem either. Anoki continues to lick.. He feels like his tail is dirty; it touched those things, it was touched by them. Dirty, dirty, dirty, he doesn't want the dirt to spread. he doesn't want to become like those Bad things, he doesn't want to be BAD. He whines softly, ears twitching a bit at the sound of the two wolves - Tala and Asku - Talking nearby, and he listens, eavesdropping only because he can't help it, honest. So dirty, his tail, so dirty. "Niyt.. My tail is dirty," he mumbles, before he looks towards Asku and Tala-- a ghost who dislikes boys? He perks his head a little, and then says softly: "D-don't go.. She doesn't have answers.. Ghosts can't go to the Bad Place.. Ghosts won't know about things they can't go to.."
There's another family here, one that hasn't yet had the happy reunion that Niyt and Anoki have. The blind wolf can't help but hear them, and her ears splay slightly. The other pup needs to be saved - as does this Kachina. Niyt knows she can't delay for long. She'll have to start her journey again; but this time with allies, and some knowledge of her destination. And most importantly of all, her brother. She lowers her head, nosing along Anoki's tail as he mentions it. She feels the scab there, now - along with all the dirt. "I'll clean it," she says. Why his tail? She doesn't know. But if that's what's important to him... she begins to lick it, with warm, slow swipes of her tongue. Bathtime, the sort that he always got after playing in the mud. Warm sisterly tongue, lapping over his tail, cleaning it of all the dirt - and of the touch of the big hairy thing.
Askuwheteau looks into his little sister's eyes and nods, nothing can so melt the heart of this wolf as a pup in distress. "I'll stay here Tala, I won't go." He licks her cheek in a soft kiss and then places his cheek against her side cradling her gently, "I miss them too, but I promise Skahla and I will get Ikuna back safe and sound no matter what it takes." He then hears Anoki's voice and he looks up, "Lets go introduce ourselves to Niyt's little brother, he knows where ikuna is being kept. And Once we find out where it is We'll save him and all the pups and cubs the evil creatures took." He then stands fully again and begins to limp over towards the other pair of siblings drawing quite close before he lays down with a soft whimper of discomfort. Then he speaks to the young male just as he might an adult male his own age, "Hello young wolf, My name is Askuwheteau, that is my little sister Tala. We are very happy you got away safely. Tala, come here and say hello." He says opening his forepaws for the younger female to come cuddle into.
Tala ears perk forwards lightly at the talk of Asku staying and she presses back against his form, her eyes closing while she nuzzles against him. "You better not.." She offers with a soft tone, she would be very mad if he went, and would most likely follow after him to try and keep him out of trouble. She frowns slightly and takes in a soft breath. "Still.. There has to be another way to find him other then going back to that cave.." Her gaze turns back to Niyt, maw twitching but she soon nods and shifts following after her brother, and settles down within his forepaws once he is settled down. She lets her blue gaze rest upon Anoki, watching him a few moments. "Hi.."
Yellow eyes look back to the blue of Tala, and Anoki murmurs, softly, "Hi.." back, before he looks up to Asku, and considers him. "Your name is funny. Really long, too," he murmurs softly, as his sister grooms his tail. And yet at the same time.. she may wish to clean it away, but he deels like it is stubbron, and no amount of grooming can make it leave. he cringes a little as her tongue licks away a bit of the scab, but a little bleeding will be better for healing. His ears droop a little, and he murmurs, "I'm sorry the other woof got taked. I'm sorry I wanted him to go in the Bad Hole instead of me.. But.. but Kachina needs someone to watch over her, c'os she's small, smaller than the bird and the cat thing and the hairy snarl thing.." He says, softly, before he consuders again. "... Ghosts don't like people asking them questions they can't answer. But maybe she will come here if she knows something. My moosie would come here if he could help, but I don't think he can help any."
Niyt smiles, and nods a greeting to Asku and Tala as they approach. She continues grooming at Anoki's tail, cleaning the fur from dirt - and cleaning the wound, as well. When he cringes, she holds him a bit closer with his paws. This part hurts a bit, but that little trickle of blood means she's getting all the dirty scab off and letting it heal up clean and right so it won't get infected. She can't solve the less tangible sense of dirtiness, but at least she can do this much. She mostly lets her brother handle this conversation on his own, but when Anoki mentions his mouse, she smiles. "He was very worried about you, but... he was too scared to be able to explain anything."
Askuwheteau nuzzles his baby sister and smiles, "Wachiwa is trying to speak with the Spirits, I was contacting the dead. Maybe she will have something for us when she gets back." He then looks at the young male pup and shakes his head, "Oh I doubt Mlawatu will come here, she is trapped in a cave and can never leave it. But sometimes she can see things far away." Then he reaches out and lightly brushes a paw across the young male's ears, "I know you didn't want anything bad to happen to my little brother. You were scared, and you were worried for the little feline, it's good to care about those smaller then you." He leans forward looking the male pup in the eyes, "But don't you worry, when I find those bad evil animals, I promice I'll be the one making them cry, and I'll make them afraid. They will know exactly how you felt and how they made Ikuna and Kachina feel. I'll make them very sorry for the bad things they did. I'll pay them back ten times over. Okay?" Although Asku is trying to be comforting and his voice is still even and sweet sounding his words don't quite match his tone.
Ears lay back as Anoki thinks about hit. His moose was scared, too? And worried? He frowns, looking at his paws, and then murmurs, "He can't go there, the Moosie. Kachina's birdie couldn't go there either. It's a place spirits can't go.. But it's also not a nice place." He frowns and then says softly: ".. Niyt, you remember the hare..? The one who was scared about the bird black birds..? And she couldn't leave the grass because she couldn't find the way to the wind..?" He looks up to his sister, and then to Asku: ".. The big black birds.. the cat-thing and the big bird thing.. I think the big black birds the hare was scared of know about the Bad Ones. and the Bad Hole. The Cat-thing said if I didn't get in the hole, the big black birds would find me."
Tala ears perk sligtly and she ndos a moment while listing to her brother and shifts to let her head settle against one of his forepaws while listening to the conversation. "You have a mouse that is a ghost?" This is questioned to Anoki, she looks rather confused over the talk of ghosts. Well when it comes odown to 'ghosts' she always thought they wasn't actually real.. Though seeing how hurt her brother it much be real. She licks aross her nose a few times. "Why would the birds help the bad animals?" Its all rather confusing for her..
As Asku speaks of vengeance, Niyt frowns slightly. "Be careful," she tells him softly. "No matter how twisted they have become, they too had a mother, and were once good. Stop them. Kill them, yes. But if you will not show the mercy of death for their sake, do it for the pups. Do not give them more nightmares. Just show them that the terror is over." Then she lowers her head as her brother speaks her name. It takes her a moment to remember, and then she nods to him. "The birds? Hmm." She considers on that a moment, then nods again. "The black birds... they are not always bad, but they are closer to darkness than most. It is... easy... for them to become twisted. Mad, or evil."
Askuwheteau tilts one ear to listen to the conversation between the pups but he also has an ear for Niyt's words, and they make sense to him. He nods, "I will temper my anger, But only for the pups sake. I don't care at all what these creatures once were, I don't care that they had a mother once. That is nothing to me. What they are now is all that matters. But you make sense, more sense then Hinto's blind desire for peace. For the little ones I will hold back my wroth, but only for them."
Laying his head down on one of his sister's paws, Anoki looks up at Asku thoughtfully, before he says: "You don't want to kill them. They'll come back as angry ghosts. Bad angry ghosts, and they will have a lot of power because they are Bad, not like the little ghosts that come from the moosies and the hares." He frowns, uttering a yip at his sister's continued cleaning of his tail, which has finally come clean of scan and dirt, before he whines softly. "Niiiiit.." he kicks ar her with one paw lightly, but not hard enough to hurt. He squints his eyes then at Asku, and murmurs, "Your angry will make you a Bad Ghost too if you don't find a way to become unangry."
Niyt nods to Askuwheteau. She hardly expected him to accept mercy for itself; not when even she can understand his fury, can feel its twin waiting to awaken. She holds her brother closer. Yes, she understands Asku's anger - but let this thing be ended, not dragged on forever, with heroes turned villains on the stage of terror. "That is reason enough," she replies softly in between licks. When Anoki kicks at her muzzle, she catches at his paw lightly with her mouth, holding it for a moment before letting go. "We can bury them in the hole where there aren't ghosts. Then they can't be bad ghosts." Or perhaps there will be some other answer, but she'll figure that out once she better understands what's going on.
Askuwheteau looks down at the little pup and as his sister falls asleep in his paws he leans down and noses at the male pup, "There is nothing wrong with being angry Anoki, there is never anything wrong with anything you feel. It's good to feel mad when bad animals do bad things, It shows you know right from wrong and it shows you love your family, think about how you might feel if your big sister got taken away and somebody scared her and then hurt her. It's never wrong to feel anything Anoki, but sometimes what we do about those feelings can be wrong. I almost did something wrong because I was angry abouth those evil animals. But It's not wrong for me to be angry. And you know what?" He lowers his voice a touch, "There are much scarier things in this world then angry Ghosts, things that walk and breath, are made of flesh and bone and blood, and cannot be killed by fang or claw or anything else. I know lots of stories, the good thing is that for every bad thing out in the world there is a good thing just as powerful and sometimes more so. I have lots of stories about those also. Maybe I could tell you some of my stories sometime. I know the pups of Ute love my stories, well the nice ones anyway, sometimes they like the adventure stories also."
Oh noes, his sister has his paw. Nooooo-wait, she let go. Anoki rolls over onto his back, and then swats a little forepaw for Niyt's mouth, though it's a weak attempt to play. One ear twitches at Asku's offer of stories, but Anoki closes his eyes, and murmurs, "I like Mommy's stories better... But I have to listen really hard to hear them now because she's with the wind.." He opens his eyes, and looks up at Niyt: "... But she can tell me them, right? Still, if I listen, now." He sighs, and lets his paws fold over his chest a little, and then looks over at Asku. "Niyt.. Is Daddy still okay..? What about Unc'a Tariro?"
On the question of anger, as an emotion, Niyt has a less clear answer. She laughs gently as Anoki bats at her, leaning her head down and nosing at his belly. It's a start, so far as playing goes. But then there's more serious questions again. There are so many of them, these days! "She can. But you should listen to other stories, too - so that when, a long long time from now, you go and join her, you can tell her stories too." When he asks about the rest of the family, she sighs. "Daddy... after mama left, he went out for a long walk, to be alone. He'll... come back when he's ready." That parental betrayal hurts, but her father was so heartbroken over the loss of their mother. He really wasn't quite himself, and perhaps... perhaps he will come back some day. Niyt doesn't know. "But uncle Tariro is okay. I haven't seen him in a while, because I was looking for you... but he was okay." She hopes he still is! It's been a long time.
Askuwheteau smiles and nods at the puppy and Niyt, "A mom's stories are always the best, I remember the stories my Ma and Pa used to tell me." He leans down and places his chin atop Tala as he remembers this, "No matter how much time goes by you never really forget that."
Anoki stretches a paw out for Niyt's face then, and smiles warmly, "Good.. about Unc'a Tariro. .. but.. I dunno about Daddy. I hope he comes back." He then looks over, counting Tala, and the other sleeping pups that had been lingering about and he asks, "... There's a lot more little woofs around here than home, Niyt.. why don't we come live here, alla the fambly? Then I wouldn't haffa play only with Krisha alla time." He tilts his head in thought up at the older sister of his, and waits for words.
As much as Ahiga loves to claim that he's not a pup...he sure still sleeps like one. He's been out for most of the day, perhaps tuckered out from stress and worry. Passed out near Tala and whoever else may be near her, the young male snorts in his sleep and rolls over to one side, momentarily getting caught up in a bout of sleep kicking, which eventually wakens him. "Ungh.." His eyes squint open, though a wide yawn squeezes them shut again as he rolls onto his back, feeling very lazy and momentarily forgetting that things aren't as calm and lethargic as he's feeling right now. .. Five more minutes...then he promises he'll wake up. Maybe.
"So do I," replies Niyt with a sigh. She does worry about their father so. At her brother's suggestion, she starts to shake her head - and then pauses. Well, why not? Cerulean is a pack running lean these days. There are practical questions, of course, but... Cerulean and Ute were allies. Why not strengthen that alliance? So, instead of saying no, Niyt says, "I don't know, Anoki. They might not want us living here, or uncle Tariro and the rest might not want to move. But... perhaps we could at least come closer, and arrange more visiting. It would be nice to have more friends." She tilts her head up, perking an ear towards Askuwheteau. She's not going to put him on the spot by actually asking, but... he may have something to say anyhow.
Askuwheteau turns and smiles gently as he notices Ahiga waking up bit by bit, "Hey Ahiga, sleep well?" He turns and a thoughtful look crosses his muzzle at the idea put forth by the Cerulean pup, then as Niyt cants an ear his way he tilts his head at her softly replying, "You might very well be welcomed, joining the packs would take some talking about, mostly between our Alphas and your Alphas., But if you chose to move your lands closer, perhaps having a joined border we would welcome that I am sure without a second thought, allowing more visiting, and at least one side of our lands niether of us would have to worry about. Making border patrols shorter and easier to manage, I'm sure both sets of Alphas would enjoy that benefit. Our alpha male is my older brother Skalha, I will talk to him about the possability of uniting the packs, at least give him food for thought and perhaps once this matter is taken care of I will personally act as the Ute liason. I'm sure Keaughe would have wanted a member of her family doing that. Of course that may be a good job for our other sister Nutaryuk...if she wants the position of course."
".. Your sister was Keaughe..?" Anoki asks, ears lifting a bit. He only vaguely remembers the other wolf, but-- "... I saw her.. She wanted me to tell the Snake that she was sorry she stepped on him. And the snake wanted me to tell her family if I found them that it was sorry it bit her in surprise." Anoki looks up at Niyt, and then to the other pup, rousing a bit. "... M-my mom an' Daddy.. Could see dead things. and could dream about things that didn't happen yet but would. I can see dead things, too. But not like Niyt.. Her seeing is special," he turns, and then sitting up, reaches to put paws on her cheeks by her eyes, leaning in to lick at them. "She is the best sister ever an' one day I want to be just like her."
"Hi Asku," yawns Ahiga, prying his eyes open a little. Meh. Why is waking up so difficult to do? He licks his nose and rolls onto his stomach, slowly sitting up. Blearily does he peer at the faces of the others about, weakly recognizing them from the previous day. .. The previous day! It all comes back to him in an instant. The lost pup. The found pup. His worry. The angry feelings. He shakes his head briskly to clear his sleepy thoughts. "Is Ikuna back? Did ya find'm when I was sleeping?" he asks, tilting his head up to Asku. And...wait, did he hear that right? That guy can see... /dead/ things? He blinks, glancing that way with a slithyl bewildered look.
So, there's the answer - not no, but not quite yes either. Niyt nods. "I can speak to Tariro, when next I see him." Since, well, he's the alpha, in addition to being their uncle. That makes the Cerulean half of the persuasion rather easier. As Asku explains about his brother, and his other sister, she does realize that allying closer with Ute will have to mean actually understanding their politics and history. Erk. But even with that downside, it still seems a good proposition. As Anoki speaks about Keaughe and the snake's ghosts, she smiles, and nuzzles down at his belly. When he sits up and paws at her cheeks by those blind eyes, her smile turns a little sad. There's already one way she wishes her brother was less like her - their childhood captures and suffering. "Oh, little moon," she tells him. "You will find your orbit."
Askuwheteau reaches out to brush a paw over Ahiga's head, "We have a good idea where he is, Anoki here is frightened but he says he wants to go back and help save Ikuna and the others when we figure out who is going, but I begin to wonder if waiting for Skahla is a good idea, I have not seen him in some time, I am not entirely sure where he is at the moment, It might be just myself Chewy and Helaku that must go, or perhaps it is better if I stay lest my anger get the better of me when I find those responsable and I lose my head. Maybe Hinto or Mori would be better to take my place, but again those two have not got a history for making good decisions, and I think their gentleness may make them err on the other side and become too forgiving. Hinto might even let the villians live." He turns to look down at Anoki and his expression grows a bit sad, "Oh...so that is how Keaughe died...my big sister was bitten by a snake. How...ironic. It almost sounds like fate." He lifts his paw to his right eyebrow, to a place where he was.
Anoki mmmfs softly, and then rolls again, to face his sister, curling up, sucking against Niyt's chestfur again hungrilly, starting to knead his paws like a pup might in trying to coax food out. And in this he also starts to doze.
Ahiga's brows lift at this...what could be good news, and he lifts his head up after Asku's large paw brushes over his headfur. "Really?" the word is said in a somewhat squeaky voice, a telltale sign of his excitement. Though he knows the answer, the question spills out anyway. "Can I go too? I wanna help. I can help bring'm back," he says, tail beginning to wag a bit. But the motion stops in a moment, and the grin that almost spreads over his face is interrupted. "Asku, you've /gotta/ go. You're the best one, 'n pluse you're his brother. If ya don't go an' the /old/ wolf does, we're gonna lose!"
Niyt nods to Askuwheteau. "Afra killed the snake that took Keaughe, but it was too late," she says. As Anoki presses against her and begins to suckle at her fur, she nuzzles down at him gently, and then lifts her head again as he slips off to sleep. "You know your pack better than I," she says to Asku on the matter of who should stay and go. "There are three to fight." Or so Anoki said. "A bird, a cat, and a... hairy smelly thing." She smiles a bit, despite the seriousness of the situation. When Ahiga speaks, she turns her head to him. "But you have an even more important job, Ahiga," she says. "You need to keep Tala safe. If Askuwheteau has to worry about her being hurt, he won't be able to fight well."
Askuwheteau looks at his paws thoughtfully then closes his eyes listening to both the adult and the pup. Then he looks at Ahiga and with all seriousness he nods, "If I do go Ahiga I really will need you to look after Tala for me. The three most able bodied adults available are myself, Wachiwa, and Helaku. I'll need you to make sure Tala is protected, do you think you can do it if I post you as her guardian?" He made it official, Asku knew the young male was of an age that he wanted to be treated like an adult and so he gave his little friend some responsability. "Now if I do give you this job Ahiga I'll be counting on you completely, this is a fully grown up job. I have to know that you'll take it seriously. And don't take any foolish risks yourself. If something happens and the bird or some stranger appears here you have to protect yourself as well. Remember a guard wolf is useless if he gets himself killed. Do I have your word?" He leans down to look Ahiga seriously in the eye.
Ahiga turns both his ears and eyes to Niyt as she speaks to him. It's the first time he's actually looked at her, and....woah. Crazy eyes! He blinks rapidly, a little caught off guard by her vacant gaze, although of course he isn't aware that they're vacant, merely weird. But ther are more important things being said, and he focuses on her words rather than her appearance for now, brows furrowing a bit as he nods. She has a point. Someone needs to make sure no more evil birds swoop down to steal his last remaining pal. And Asku's official offer seals the deal, and he inhales a slight breath and nods like the little soldier he is. "Yes. Yeah I can do it. I'll watch Tala 'n I won't do nothin' stupid, I promise." His blue green eyes are wide with earnest as he nods again at Asku, and he does the same to Niyt too. "I can do it."
There's an aspect of placating the boy in this - but there's also truth. Ahiga is still too young to keep up with adults on a long journey. But there /is/ danger here, and guarding home is no less important than going on this mission. Not as glamorous. But just as important! Niyt nods along gravely as Askuwheteau explains all that to his young friend. She can't see Ahiga's nod, but she hears his assent, and she smiles and nods in return. Almost like she saw the gesture, only not, because she's got the timing just a little off and her eyes don't quite focus on him even though her head sort of turns in that direction. "Good."
Askuwheteau nods and then stands up fully looking too Niyt, "Niyt will you be going with us? If so Your little brother and you will probably have to stay a bit back from the action, I mean no insult but even a bird or a feline may be able to hurt him or you, he is still young and you because you cannot see and so can't defend against something that dives out of the air." He glances at Anoki as the boy sleeps, "And if you and the rest of Cerulean are to become our neighbors or even form a new pack with us so that the pups can play together I would hate to see either of you hurt before Ikuna and the other young wolves get a chance to play with him."
Ahiga gazes over at the frailish looking boy that Niyt watches over, ears pricking a bit. Play with him? Currently, it looks like a good pounce might break the poor kid, though Ahiga keeps his comments to himself. When his anger is in check, he actually is a pretty nice kid! And as the adults talk tactics, he draws quiet. Having just awakened, he's not sleepy in the slightest, and his mind is whirling over a thousand thoughts. It's enough to keep him still for a while, concentrating on sending encouraging thoughts to Ikuna, wherever he may be. We're comin' for you, don't you worry! And Asku will tear that dumb bird's beak off.
"I will come," says Niyt. "But you are right. I am not a warrior." She smiles wryly, and lowers her head slightly in acknowledgement. "If this were just a matter of teeth and claws, I would be better left behind. But..." She frowns. "There is more going on here. These creatures have some purpose that reaches to the spiritual. For that, I may be the best warrior you have." She says it matter-of-factly, without boasting, then tilts her head down and noses her brother. "So may he, I suppose." That makes her frown, though; not wanting to think of her brother becoming injured in a fight against spirits.