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Post by Azoto on Aug 15, 2011 1:45:53 GMT -5
Wachiwa starts to speak, yet then settles, and sigh.s "I cannot say except that it was away. The strange wolf was a she-wolf we had never smelled before, any of us; not I, nor Asku, nor Hinto. I had thought to ask, Skahla, if you knew of any strange she-wolves in the area..? Maybe we have a guest I have not met with?" She.. sighs, and shakes her head. Ears twitch, however, as she catches the sound of an incoming wolf, and she smiles, to see Niyt and the pup in tow.
"Here now, we may have some answers," Wachiwa says, hopeful, "Niyt here found her brother, he had been taken. He escaped.. he should surely know, or have something to add, to what we need to know." She smiles warmly at this in thought, then looks to the stallions and the other two wolves present.
----
Anoki is willing to provide an answer, but at the moment, he's tired, and uncertain; until he sees the frame of his uncle, and his energy perks, as does his expression. He gives a yip of noise at the Alpha Tariro; and attempts to slide from Niyt's back to charge that way. But his landing causes a yelp of pain, and whimpering, as he starts licking his paws again.
"Unca Tariro!" He calls eagerly, but he remains where he landed, paws in pain, and once more obsessed with cleaning away the dirt imagined upon his paws and tail.
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Post by Therdde on Aug 15, 2011 14:13:03 GMT -5
One thing that the young alpha is very good at is thinking, planning, on the fly. Of course, it's largely because he all but refuses to plan out things beforehand, but it does come in useful, as little pieces, the pieces that matter to him, fall into place. Finally bringing himself to speak to Cliantha, though not comfortably so, he asks, "Your bird-friend... could it search the mountain? It will give it an area to focus, and it wouldn't just have to look for our missing pup. It could look for any large birds, too." And it's a better solution than what Skahla was originally thinking, that he was going to have to go enlist the help of some unknown bird. As far as Wachiwa's question... "The only strange wolves lurking about have been male, at least that I know of." So, the alpha thinks, perhaps some details have been mixed up?
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Post by Etenia on Aug 16, 2011 12:56:29 GMT -5
"Well good to see that we have found one pup!" A subtle calm takes over Cliantha's form. "However, we will need to act swiftly to find those that have caused such distress to our lives." She nickers loudly with one stomp to the ground.
Her eyes regard Skahla, "Yes, my bird-friend can take flight into the mountain, but I'll have to school her on what she needs to search for. She is small and I wouldn't want her to become prey so easily. "
Yet, her focus returns onto Anoki, waiting for the little pup to tell his tail of kidnap and escape.
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Post by Althaea on Aug 16, 2011 13:24:33 GMT -5
Tariro listens intently to the things being said wishing he was of more help here. Feeling much like an observer whos presence was just to fill the room he sighs, but that sigh is cut short with the arrival of ones his missed. Niyt's noted greeting brings the alpha a few steps forward; a look of utter shock in his eyes as he spots the pup with her. Was it Anoki? His hopes wished so. Before letting his excite get the better of him, Tariro shows his concern toward his niece.
"Niyt! Thank goodness you are alright." He had worried for her when he found out she had left to find her brother on her own. Moving up to her, crossing the river rushed, he gives the girl a nuzzle before turning his attention down to Anoki whose yelp causes a worried frown.
"Anoki, please be still... rest." Dipping his head down to the pup, Tariro smiles most appreciative to have him back. Nuzzling the pup now, a lick over the head following, he says, "You had me so worried Anoki, I was afraid I'd never see you again." Many have left him over these few moons, he was unsure if he could take losing anymore; the offspring of his brother most of all.
Looking up to everyone while taking a seat, he tries to give them his attention even though he'd rather place it upon his nephew solely. While the opportunity still stands, he waits for Anoki to explain how he managed to escape and about those who took him.
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Post by Tala on Aug 16, 2011 22:15:57 GMT -5
Orion blinks and glances over at the more movement all around, a faint nicker escaping him. "There all wolves.." He murmurs out to the mare at his side, as for the wolves himself he'll stay calm as long they do.. Still he never thought a bunch of wolves would be the ones showing up tonight. As everyone's attention turns to Anoki he too,turns and watches the pup, ears perking to take in the information.
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Post by Pavane on Aug 16, 2011 23:29:39 GMT -5
Niyt tries to shift to let her brother slide off easily, but she frowns at the yelp he makes on the landing. Those paws of his are still giving him trouble. She noses at the pup, trying to comfort him, and then lifts her head to nuzzle back at her uncle. "I'm okay," she reassures him, and continues to smile as Tariro turns his attention to Anoki.
After a moment or three of that reunion, she gently nudges her brother. "Everyone's ready to help. Kachina is waiting," she tells him softly. There will be more time to catch up with family later.
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Post by Azoto on Aug 19, 2011 16:49:05 GMT -5
Wachiwa falls silent as the pup is brought in; and her head ducks again into a manner of submission, crouching low to the ground as she looks askance again to Skahla for forgiveness. There is time for that later though; so she holds her tongue. That there have only been male wolves in the area of 'strange' of late confuses her; Asku said very clearly the scent was female, and she herself was sure of the gender.
Perhaps in her lack of clarity over worry of what happened to Ikuna, she has been wrong? She frets silently.
-------------
Anoki whines impatiently at his Uncle at being told to rest. But but-- Ears droop and flatten at Niyt's gentle reminder, and he looks to his paws, feeling guilty for his joy at seeing his uncle! .. yes, that's right, there are still others. Anoki takes a deep breath, and recounts, slowly:
"I was in the grass where me an' Krisha was borned. C'os I know Krisha misses the grass, an' stuff, so I wanned to take her some grass so she'd feel better, an' this weird cat thing came. She was like, not as big as a cooga, but bigger'n'me, an' she had a really short tail onner butt. Anyway, she said there wus a nift surprise in the mountains, but then once we started walkin' it was gettin' late and I said I should go back home, an' she said if I tried, those big black scary birds would get me, the ones that were chasin' the rabbit.."
He stops, pauses, and scrunches his nose. He doesn't know if the others would know what he means. He knows Niyt would -- Niyt sort of saw it, too; that spectre of a hare running in the grass, never able to rest because she was chased by something that terrified her. His ears lay back, and he mumbles, "I didn't want no big black birds to eat me, so I kept walkin' but then she picked me up an' I lost track of where we was. Then she shoved me into The Bad Hole. I tried to get out, but I couldn't."
He frowns. "And then a big Bad Bird came, and it stuck a Cooga cub inn'ere. Her name is Kachina, and she was so scared, I promised I'd keep her safe, an' I tried to digs us out, but I couldn't. There was all this stone, an' after I stopped digging my paws were hurt an' bloody."
He huffs, then says, "... I promised I'd stay with Kachina, but.. but then things started to get scarier. At first the Big Bird would take me to a lake to get water, and the bad cat would bring fish to eat, and there was a big big big pig who would sit outside. But one day the pig stopped coming back to the hole.. an' after that the food stopped coming.. and we stopped getting to go out to get water.. And I started to feel... something bad. Something really bad."
He gulps then, and tries to tuck against Niyt and Tariro both. "Then they brought another woof to the Bad Hole, and while they was trying to put him in, I ran out. A big mean hairy thing that snarled alot chased me, an' bit my tail, but I ran, and I ran, and I ran.. and.. I ran a long long time. I forget how long I runned, but the sun was up and down a few times. An' then Mommy came, an' she lead me to a log I could hide behind so I could sleep, and my paws hurt really really bad then, and when I woke up, I heard something -- Mommy, I thought! So I went after what I was hearin' and I found Niyt an' other woofs."
He lets out a sharp breath, and then adds, with a whine, "I'm sorry again for bein' glad the other woof got stuck inna Bad Hole.. But I was scared they would hurt me for running.. and I'm scared for Kachina.."
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Post by Therdde on Aug 20, 2011 10:35:36 GMT -5
Skahla catches the glance from Wachiwa, and though he knows what she wants... he doesn't address her. Not here. Pack business can stay between pack members, instead of being shared with all the animals in this strange little conference. Skahla remains quiet for a time, not trying to talk over the hurt pup as he speaks about what he has been through... and about the other wolf, who must be Skahla's brother, right?
Frowning, the young alpha finally speaks, addressing Cliantha, "We're not asking anyone to risk getting hurt to help us retrieve our pup. I would do what I can to keep your bird friend safe, I assure you." Because there's no chance that Skahla, even as young and uncertain as he is, is going to remain hidden away inside his own territory while his brother is at risk of having to endure the same terrors that this other little pup did.
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Post by Etenia on Aug 20, 2011 21:36:01 GMT -5
Cliantha gives a nods and glance to Orion, "Yes, it seems so that these beasts have targeted mainly the wolves and us." her voice is rather soft so she can hears the others while she comments to Orion.
Her attention is riveted by the story as her ears flicker and stay perked up. "A bad hole. I will also speak to others as I can to help track this hole. If I knew a rough estimated area of where it is, I'm sure information can be found out about it. There isn't many big birds and large pigs like that everyday. The large pig is dead but still I'm sure others would have noticed where the pick frequented."
She bows her head once to Skahla, "I know you would. I will see if there are more that can help. It is often better to have a team than just having one go alone. Strength being in numbers."
Back to Anoki, "You did well, little one, to escape so you may help us from the others. Are we expecting the cougars to join this group to aid in our situation, considering they have a missing Kachina?" She takes a look around, staring into the dark shadows beyond the gathering.
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Post by Althaea on Aug 21, 2011 18:26:55 GMT -5
Tariro listens to his nephew's story, unsure of what to make of it by its end. What was the point of taking youth from their homes, keeping them in a hole and feeding them just enough to survive... Looking over to the others he listens to them wondering how they plan to resolve this matter and begin the search. What was taken from him has been recovered and leaving was certainly a possibility but he couldn't just leave the others in such a predicament; not when so little is known.
Looking down to Anoki he says, "Don't worry, we'll find Kachina and this other. Return them safely home." Whether his words meant much now or not didn't really matter right now; he was just trying to comfort.
Turning back toward the others, Tariro stands and offers her services. "If there is anything that I can do, please... send me in whatever direction." Sitting idly by wasn't his style and having been raised in the mountains/forest he knew them well enough to search for this said 'bad hole' and possibly meet up and assist the cougars.
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Post by Tala on Aug 21, 2011 19:08:41 GMT -5
"I can assure you the large pig is dead.. He was taken care of the moment he tried to take a foal." Orion offers with a slight shake of his head as he recalls the encounter with that thing, and the scars he still carries. A soft breath escapes him at the thought of it all and he takes in a soft breath. "I'll offer my help when ever I can.. Need to get your family back and help the other one that is still there as well.
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Post by Pavane on Aug 21, 2011 20:34:48 GMT -5
Niyt listens to her brother speak, though she's heard much of this story before. Still, perhaps there will be some new information on another hearing, some piece that will fall into place.
When he mentions the scary birds, she nods. She knows about those sharp-tongued and casually vicious crows. They are scavengers of the dead, and so they lurk around the scenes of evil; and some of them are not above perpetrating a little of their own. They are not the great villains here, though. Only petty ones.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, she smiles slightly as Anoki continues his tale. She's proud of him, for his courage in handling the Bad Things - and his willingness to help now, to tell the rest what they need to know. He's still just a kid, but he's going to be a quite fine wolf when he grows up.
Still just a kid, though. So she leans herself against him when he gets nervous, curling her body to make a little pocket between herself and Tariro to hold Anoki. They're here. It's okay.
She nods to her brother once he finishes. "Well said," she tells him quietly. A bit wandering, yes. But for a pup? Well said. Report made. Job done. And from here… Niyt turns her head to listen as the others offer aid in various ways. From here, this rather disparate group will work together.
But it's still lacking, in one regard. There are no cougars here. Only three groups have gathered here.
There are four villains. One is dead, but three remain. Three groups gathered here, three villains living - but one group absent, and one villain is dead. The score is tied.
They need every advantage they can get.
"We should seek the cougars," she says. "But we should not let it delay us for long."
Seemingly contradictory needs. How can they be reconciled? They must find Kachina's family, and yet… if they delay to do so, Kachina and Ikuna may pay the price. She lowers her head, thinking for a moment.
There must be some answer. She ponders on what Anoki said, on what the wind has whispered, what the others here have mentioned… and on the fragments her brother told earlier.
And there, perhaps, it is. She noses her brother, and speaks to him quietly.
"Little moon. You said something about Kachina's birdie…"
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Post by Azoto on Aug 22, 2011 15:09:58 GMT -5
Anoki settles more comfortably into the pocket of Wolf Sister and Wolf Uncle made by Tariro and Niyt than he has any other 'pocket' of anything in days. He wants to cling to his uncle; his sister he has already clung to without reguard for the last few days among the Ute while she regathered her strength, and he stuffed his face till he thought he could burst. But his Uncle, his /HERO/ uncle, who is not quite his dad, but is close enough, that's someone he wants.
But when spoken to again by Niyt, his ears twitch a little, and then lat back. He mumbles, "Issa Dead Birdie, Niyt, like my moosie. But she said it couldn't follow her there either. I think it's stuck where her and her mommy and brother were." He considers this thought, then it does seem to dawn: "If we can find the birdie, we can find Kachina's family, can't we!" He says, with sudden pride in his breast, puffing out. "And then they can help us!"
He beams happily at this revalation, before he looks back to the horses. They're, like, huge, but not scary, per se. He sniffs at the air, trying to catch their scent, and takes notice of Orion's scars, eyes going slightly wide as scenes and words tell him this stallion killed one of the BAD ONES and that he is a great hero. Anoki sinks a little fearfully against Niyt a moment, but ends up watching Orion closer now. Such a strong fellow, a hero. Clearly, horses are not things to trifle with.
----
Wachiwa listens, then admits softly: "There may be a reason in this for taking young and keeping them only barely fed. Niyt mentioned there are things in this world one does not mess with, and I believe her. This may be an attempt to gain power from something darker than any of us know; something that even the Great Spirits cannot stop; for they could not see it to tell me what it was when I sought them out."
The she-wolf considers these things silently in thought, slipping into quiet meditation of the situation. She is not the wisest of her pack, nor is she the most gifted in anything but the ability to make the puppies smile when she tries hard enough. But sometimes, she is prone to bouts of clarity and wisdom.
"... There may be a spirit of death that these animals worship; one that if granted the sacrifice of young lives, would bless them in their hunts.. I have never heard of a bird so big as what took our Ikuna away naturally, and from what you have said of the .. boar? it, too, was of unnatural size.."
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Post by Therdde on Aug 22, 2011 18:04:35 GMT -5
It's something of a struggle for Skahla to overcome his recent solitude and independence to entertain the idea that he shouldn't go wandering off alone, searching for beasts that have been kidnapping young animals to use for... horrible... things.
That, of course, begs the question what he should do next, since he's not very good at just standing around. Luckily, it's not too hard for him to find an answer. "One of my predecessors had a long relationship with the cougars, and some of our pack members might still know how best to approach them. I will do what I can to see about contacting them." It seems, after all, the best way he can help without charging blindly for wherever the animals that took his brother might be.
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Post by Etenia on Aug 23, 2011 11:37:57 GMT -5
"Then we shall seek out the cougars." Cliantha looks to the others as if they decision has been made. "I will speak to my bird-friend and also await more information about the cougars so I can help my bird-friend cover more mountain ground. The cougars will hopefully have information about the mountain that can help and also tells us where they've already looked for their lost one."
She steps back with no time to lose. "Thank you all for showing up so we may work together to handle such a harrowing situations that seems to be affecting all of us. If you see a yellow warbler, she will come by the name of Hollyhock. Please allow no harm to come to her. I shall recruit others to help us as well."
She snorts then stomps the ground with one hoof, giving a bow of her head to others in a show of respect.
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