Post by Pavane on Jun 22, 2012 11:38:37 GMT -5
Lilac (fox), Minya (cougar), Aolani (swan), Kesh (lynx), Rockfall (wolf)
...and Ghast and Genghis (dogs).
---Merging Tributary---
(...a nice friendly conversation...)
Lilac says, "I was in the North for awhile ... but there are some mean dogs there that chased me out. It wasn't just me, either ... they are really mean and vicious. They chased out the Ute wolves too, from their own home! I've been worried from my friends. I know they took over dens that foxes used to live in ... I don't know what became of those other foxes."
Minya recognizes the fox when she gets closer and decides to come a bit closer first, but she recognizes the bird a bit later. She stops and after a while says, "Aolani?" She wasn't sure what the fox said before. She starts walking towards the river again.
Aolani nods, fluffing her feathers a bit before folding her wings once more. "Yes, the dogs... I overheard some wolves talking about them and stayed to listen out of curiosity. It's terrible if they are driving other foxes out of their homes, or worse... I hope they stay up north though. If they are driving wolves to move, I'd certainly hate for one to stumble upon me in the night..." Hearing her name again, she turns to Minya. "Yes? Oh, hello. Come to join us?"
Huh.. a cougar. Unusual sight to see one of those, though Kesh had seen cougars come and go in the area not so long ago. All the more reason to remain unseen, though, so her spying eyes and ear tufts continue to observe from on high.
Lilac tilts her head to the cougar, bowing her head quietly. She nods to Aolani. "Wolves are scary strong, a pack of them moreso ... I don't think anyone has a chance to stand up to those dogs if even a pack of wolves can't. I hope those dogs stay up there ... but more immediately, I hope to be able to find my friends, make sure they are okay and weren't killed by the dogs. I am glad you are okay ... have you seen other foxes lately?"
Minya says, "Hello." to Lilac and Aolani after a moment. She listens to Lilac while walking and stops near the river. She looks around and asks, "Have you seen..." What was his name? "Largo?" She asks. "It's quite hot today."
From the north comes a white dog and his shadow - well, sort of. A lean white dog - Ghast - and a massive black one - Genghis - come together through the trees. Ghast is grumbling. "Nobody listens. Nobody." Genghis grunts, and Ghast goes on. "They should listen. They should /behave/." As they come closer to the others here, Genghis grunts again, and Ghast perks his head, then goes silent as the pair continues approaching.
Aolani replies brightly to Lilac, happy to ease her worry about the foxes around here. "I have seen both foxes and coyotes around here, and haven't seen any dogs. I think everything is fine here." She then turns to Minya and answers about Largo. "No, I don't think I've seen him in a while." For the moment, she doesn't notice Kesh or the approaching dogs.
Now a pair of canids. Huh. This is something the lynx has witnessed before and it once more confounds her. As soon as two animals start conversing in this place, numerous others appear and begin to converse as well. All other times it's as silent as three merging rivers can be. A tufted ear flicks as she continues to peer down from her high perch, pondering less logical reasons for such oddness.
Lilac nods in reply to Minya. "Yes, just a ..." when a noise from the earth grabs her attention. Her ears are the first to identify it, and terror grasps the vixen, clinching her muscles, causing her to quiver and raising her hackles. Without another word, still not having noticed the felid in the tree, she darts straight at the tree in a very fast blur of motion, leaps as far up the trunk as she can in a single bound, and lands onto the side of the trunk with her forepaws barrel-grasping the tunk. In a clattering flurry of fox claws onto the tree trunk, she tries climbing her way up to the lowest available branch ...
Minya says, "I think..." Then she hears some voices. She quickly spots the dogs and watches them for a moment. "What are they?" she asks, and then looks at Lilac, who is already climbing the tree. She takes a few steps towards the tree and starts watching the dogs again.
Ghast looks over the various creatures here, and sniffs at the scents left behind by others. "Hey, not bad, not bad." He steps forward and up onto a log, Genghis trailing behind him with a dour expression. "Now," says Ghast, grinning as he looks over the scrabbling fox, the wondering cougar, the oblivious swan. "I hope you've all been behaving yourselves?"
Aolani tenses up herself as she sees Lilac suddenly take off and go climbing up a tree. She spreads her wings and backs up toward the river as she turns her attention to the two dogs as they come clearly into view, pulling her neck down into a tightly curved 's' shape. "Behaving ourselves? What do you mean? Are you running the forests now?"
And now they're all congregating around the base of her perch. Great. Kesh hunches down and rises up enough to crawl towards the side of the tree most easily ascended and peered down it towards the scared vulpine scrambling up it, ears laid back as her short tail waggles quickly. Oooooh... no. Go away you all.
Lilac manages to scramble onto the lower branch, well out of leaping range of the dogs. She wraps her paws around the limb to hold herself on securely, glaring at the dogs. Not sure what else to do, she decides to send out warnings, arching her muzzle skyward and yowling warnings to others.
At the Merging Tributary, Lilac screams.
At the Trickling River, Althaea howls.
Minya asks, "Who are you?" She moves closer to the tree again and looks at it for a moment, but doesn't start climbing yet. She starts watching the dogs again, this time with a bit of fear.
Running the forests? Ghast smirks, savoring the thought for a long moment. "...No," he finally says. "I would not wish to be responsible for all this." He frowns, casting his gaze about. "No. But I /do/ hope you are behaving yourselves. I would not like to find out otherwise." His lip curls, ever so slightly. Genghis remains beside him, but the larger black-furred dog looks, if anything... a little bored. His gaze settles on Lilac as she screams, and becomes less bored and more annoyed. Grunt. Ghast looks up at Lilac. "Oh, do shut up. At least /try/ and behave." His gaze goes to Minya next, and he smiles. "Ah, hello dear. I am Ghast. This fellow is Genghis. We are here with Bone's pack. Ruffians, some of them, but we must work with what we have, yes?"
Aolani keeps her wings spread wide, whether it was to defend herself or to easily fly away if the need arose, who knew, but she continues to watch the dogs very closely. She is liking these dogs less and less the longer they are around. "What do you want, why do you care if we are 'behaving' by your assessment?"
Lilac clings tightly to the limb in case the dogs attempt to knock her out of the tree. "Go away! How many of my friends have you killed?" she snarls at the dogs from her spot on the limb. "I don't want whatever you are selling!"
Minya moves closer to the tree again and her side hits the tree. She is still watching them and her fear slowly grows.
"All right-thinking people should care," says Ghast disdainfully to Aolani. "There's too much laziness in the world. Too many corners being cut. It's disgraceful." He looks again over the various creatures here, and shakes his head. "We'll be back," he says, and looks up at Lilac with a smirk. "Shoulda been polite." With that, he trots north again, Genghis following him.
Aolani watches as the dogs leave, and slowly makes her way toward Lilac's tree, looking up at her. "Polite? Did they give us any reason to be polite, coming in here and acting like it's their duty to go around making sure everyone is 'behaving themselves'. I was really thinking they were going to do something to try and punish one of us for something..."
Lilac doesn't start to relax until the dogs have gone, and even then she only manages to regain her breathing by starting to pant heavily, taking several moments to regain her composure to speak. "We need to warn the others. And largo ... yes, I've seen Largo, just a few days ago. They didn't just oust the Ute because they wanted their land! They clearly want blood! They have all of Ute's hunting grounds for themselves," she screeches, her eyes wide in fear. "There's no reason for them to follow the refugees they displaced down here except to sate a thirst for blood and bullying!"
Fresh pawsteps approach from the west, also sounding canid -- and larger than a fox. A wolf steps into view, male, appearing prime-aged. The wolf lopes in at a good clip, panting from a run; he seems to have come in response to the fox's call. He notes the lynx and fox in the tree, the swan in the water, and the young cougress near the tree. "Did someone call dog?" he asks amid pants. "Were there dogs here?"
Minya watches the dogs and listens. "I... don't understand what they want." she says. Then she spots the wolf and watches him curiously, with a bit of fear, as he gets closer.
Aolani nods in agreement with Lilac. "The fact that they are down this far seems bad I agree, particularly with their cocky attitude." She then turns to Rockfall as the wolf comes into view, having heard him approach. "They just left to the north." She says as she points an outstretched wing in a more exact direction.
Lilac flattens her ears in concern. "Are you ... one of the Ute?" she asks the wolf. She clings a bit more tightly again to the branch, not entirely certain what the wolf wants.
Rockfall shakes his head. "I am Rockfall, a Cerulean ... the Ute refugees are guests of our pack for now," he says. He follows along where the swan indicates, sniffing intently as he moves in that direction until he encounters one of the dogs' pawsteps. He sniffs intently, lifting a forepaw, follows the track with his nose right on the ground, finds another pawprint belonging to the other dog. He sniffs intently for several minutes, studying the scent, then lifting his head and gazing in the direction it went. He asks, "How many were there?" he asks, tracking around to see if he can find any more dog scents.
Minya says, "I don't like them." She watches Rockfall and when he asks, she says, "Two."
Aolani nods in agreement with Minya as she folds her wings again, finally starting to relax a bit. She turns her attention to Lilac. "Are you alright? You can get back down from there right?"
Lilac asks the wolf, "What are you going to do?" She looks to the fox. "I'm a bit ... afraid," she says. "I'll be alright, I just need to calm down."
Rockfall stares off in the directions the dogs had gone and paces a bit, but makes no effort to go after them. Certainly not alone -- he's not stupid! He turns back to face them. "I will report this to my pack leader, Alpha Coinin," he says. "I guess this answers the question of whether the dogs will settle with their conquests or not," he says. He looks to each. "Cerulean is peaceful. I do not know what the plan will be ... we might defend our border, but we may have to move our pack to safety if they prove too many. We have young of our own that are our highest priority to look after. We do not know how many dogs there are ... but there are enough to be a serious threat. I do not mean to sound callous, but ... we may not be able to protect everyone, so ... if any of you have friends, especially friends with vulnerable young ... I suggest you at least make preparations to get them to safety. I cannot promise we can hold our own territory." He looks to the southeast, toward the high plains. "So far as we know, there have been no known dangers in that direction for some time, since the last of those monstrous boars. We think there are a herd of horses, but have not seen them for some time." He turns to the young cougress. "Are you of Amaranth?" he asks her.
Minya listens to the wolf and nods. "Yes, I am. My name is Minya." she replies to the wolf. "I started my journey some time ago."
Lilac cautiously rises, turning around on the limb. She carefully gauges the distance to the ground before carefully dropping down from the branch onto the ground with and "oof!"
Aolani watches as Lilac leaps from the tree, then turns back to Rockfall, almost feeling glad that she didn't end up having a clutch of cygnets this year, as much as she had wanted to. They wouldn't be ready to fly yet, and moving them would not be easy. "There isn't much water down there though is there? I only know of the Oasis, and I'm not sure if that is even there all year... It was also rather ocupied the last time I was down in that area... I need at least a good river, preferably a pond or a lake."
Rockfall flattens his ears. "I'm afraid I do not have detailed knowledge, but there is enough water to sustain a horse herd. Sometimes they have gone to the Waterfall pool, though ... I am not ordering anyone to leave, certainly and ... perhaps my alpha will come up with a plan to be able to defend and hold our territory ... but we suffer badly from a lack of knowledge. I just want all to be safe. We don't know how many dogs there are." He looks to Minya. "I don't know what your Journey is about ... my pack has not had much contact with your tribe ... but I cannot assure your safety, either. Those dogs are nothing to trifle with, even for a cougar."
Minya nods and says, "I'll be careful. These two looked quite scary. I hope they won't come to my home."
Lilac looks in the direction the wolf had pointed, then looks to the swan. "We'll need to find everyone. Have you seen Felix lately?" she asks the swan.
Aolani nods to Lilac. "I have seen him somewhat recently. I can go out for a search tomorrow, should be able to find and relay the word of what is going on to pretty much everyone if I go out for a flight around the area."
Rockfall snorts. "This is ... terrible," he says, shaking his head. "I was starting to believe they would stay where they had conquered. I must inform my alpha," he says, looking to each. "Please watch out for each other, and ... if the dogs return, please let one of our pack know. We're the online line of defense for now." He looks to the cougress. "I wonder if perhaps I should suggest to Coinin sending an envoy to your tribe. I doubt the dogs would be strong enough to take on a cougar clan, but ... still ... I wouldn't feel right not letting your tribe know of the dangers down here for yourself, Kachina and any other Amaranth that might be down here alone."
Minya nods. "Someone should warn them." she says. "There weren't any cubs when I left, but..." she pauses for a moment. She turns her head and asks Aolani, "How long would it take you to get to the lake above the waterfall?"
Lilac stays quiet, looking between them. "Is there no one that can fight?" she asks. "I bet Largo would ... at least, for Felix."
Aolani looks up, noting the fading sunlight and stretching her wings a bit at Minya's question. "I can get there tonight. I'd just probably would want to stay there because I don't like to fly at night."
Rockfall looks to the fox. "Its a matter of the right time. Throwing ourselves at them, when we don't know how many there are, may be unwise. If they outnumber my pack, trying to hold our territory would only cost us lives. It will be up to my alpha to decide how we proceed. I'm sure, somehow, we'll need a way to scout them out, determine their numbers, and then we can tell if we can hold our territory or not." He dips his head in a bow to the swan. "I would appreciate your effort to warn them." He looks to the cougress. "I saw Kachina not far from here. Do you know if there are any other Amaranth down here, below the mountains?"
Minya says, "I could maybe... I'm not sure. I have never been in a fight like that." She replies to Aolani, "You could probably find someone near the lake or not too far from it. Just don't let them eat you." She grins slightly and replies to Rockfall, "I don't think there are any except Kachina... maybe my sister, Kulara."
Aolani nods, fluffing her feathers a bit at the thought of the cougars up at the lake eating her. "Hopefully they won't be quick to devour the messenger..." She then turns to Rockfall. "When I return, I would gladly offer to watch the dogs from the air and try to figure out both thier numbers, and their movements. It's the best I can do, since I'm not able to fight." She finally gives her wings a few warmup flaps, getting ready to take flight.
Lilac says, "I am going to go search for Felix, Largo, and the other coyotes and foxes," she says. She looks to Aolani, unable to shake her fear or worry. "Please fly safe, Aolani." With that, she sets off to search for the others.
Rockfall says to the swan, "Be careful if you do. And be careful with the Amaranth." He gazes at the young cougress, a bit apprehensive. "I wish I had spent more time considering learning more about your tribe," he says. He looks back toward the river merge to the west. "I need to get back to my pack," he says to all, then turns back to the cougress. "If you can find them ... it might be a good idea to get with Kachina or your sister Kulara, keep each other safe in numbers. I don't presume to rule over you, of course."
Minya says to Aolani, "Thank you." She watches her for a few moments, then says, "I have never been so close to a wolf. I have no idea where Kachina is. Kulara... I'm not sure she started her quest, but I think she's old enough now."
Aolani nods to Minya, but doesn't say another word before quickly running off down the grassy edge of the river and taking flight. She climbs into the sky, clearing the trees before turning in the direction of the waterfall, still climbing higher into the sky as she flies away.
Rockfall flicks his ears. "I am pretty sure you have nothing to fear from any of my pack ... the very last thing Cerulean would need right now is a war with Amaranth. Those dogs, though, I don't think have such peaceful intentions. For now, I must report to my alpha." With that, he dips his head in a quick bow, then heads back west where most of the Ceruleans have gathered
Minya nods to the wolf and watches him as he leaves. Then she turns and starts walking slowly... so much new information.
...and Ghast and Genghis (dogs).
---Merging Tributary---
(...a nice friendly conversation...)
Lilac says, "I was in the North for awhile ... but there are some mean dogs there that chased me out. It wasn't just me, either ... they are really mean and vicious. They chased out the Ute wolves too, from their own home! I've been worried from my friends. I know they took over dens that foxes used to live in ... I don't know what became of those other foxes."
Minya recognizes the fox when she gets closer and decides to come a bit closer first, but she recognizes the bird a bit later. She stops and after a while says, "Aolani?" She wasn't sure what the fox said before. She starts walking towards the river again.
Aolani nods, fluffing her feathers a bit before folding her wings once more. "Yes, the dogs... I overheard some wolves talking about them and stayed to listen out of curiosity. It's terrible if they are driving other foxes out of their homes, or worse... I hope they stay up north though. If they are driving wolves to move, I'd certainly hate for one to stumble upon me in the night..." Hearing her name again, she turns to Minya. "Yes? Oh, hello. Come to join us?"
Huh.. a cougar. Unusual sight to see one of those, though Kesh had seen cougars come and go in the area not so long ago. All the more reason to remain unseen, though, so her spying eyes and ear tufts continue to observe from on high.
Lilac tilts her head to the cougar, bowing her head quietly. She nods to Aolani. "Wolves are scary strong, a pack of them moreso ... I don't think anyone has a chance to stand up to those dogs if even a pack of wolves can't. I hope those dogs stay up there ... but more immediately, I hope to be able to find my friends, make sure they are okay and weren't killed by the dogs. I am glad you are okay ... have you seen other foxes lately?"
Minya says, "Hello." to Lilac and Aolani after a moment. She listens to Lilac while walking and stops near the river. She looks around and asks, "Have you seen..." What was his name? "Largo?" She asks. "It's quite hot today."
From the north comes a white dog and his shadow - well, sort of. A lean white dog - Ghast - and a massive black one - Genghis - come together through the trees. Ghast is grumbling. "Nobody listens. Nobody." Genghis grunts, and Ghast goes on. "They should listen. They should /behave/." As they come closer to the others here, Genghis grunts again, and Ghast perks his head, then goes silent as the pair continues approaching.
Aolani replies brightly to Lilac, happy to ease her worry about the foxes around here. "I have seen both foxes and coyotes around here, and haven't seen any dogs. I think everything is fine here." She then turns to Minya and answers about Largo. "No, I don't think I've seen him in a while." For the moment, she doesn't notice Kesh or the approaching dogs.
Now a pair of canids. Huh. This is something the lynx has witnessed before and it once more confounds her. As soon as two animals start conversing in this place, numerous others appear and begin to converse as well. All other times it's as silent as three merging rivers can be. A tufted ear flicks as she continues to peer down from her high perch, pondering less logical reasons for such oddness.
Lilac nods in reply to Minya. "Yes, just a ..." when a noise from the earth grabs her attention. Her ears are the first to identify it, and terror grasps the vixen, clinching her muscles, causing her to quiver and raising her hackles. Without another word, still not having noticed the felid in the tree, she darts straight at the tree in a very fast blur of motion, leaps as far up the trunk as she can in a single bound, and lands onto the side of the trunk with her forepaws barrel-grasping the tunk. In a clattering flurry of fox claws onto the tree trunk, she tries climbing her way up to the lowest available branch ...
Minya says, "I think..." Then she hears some voices. She quickly spots the dogs and watches them for a moment. "What are they?" she asks, and then looks at Lilac, who is already climbing the tree. She takes a few steps towards the tree and starts watching the dogs again.
Ghast looks over the various creatures here, and sniffs at the scents left behind by others. "Hey, not bad, not bad." He steps forward and up onto a log, Genghis trailing behind him with a dour expression. "Now," says Ghast, grinning as he looks over the scrabbling fox, the wondering cougar, the oblivious swan. "I hope you've all been behaving yourselves?"
Aolani tenses up herself as she sees Lilac suddenly take off and go climbing up a tree. She spreads her wings and backs up toward the river as she turns her attention to the two dogs as they come clearly into view, pulling her neck down into a tightly curved 's' shape. "Behaving ourselves? What do you mean? Are you running the forests now?"
And now they're all congregating around the base of her perch. Great. Kesh hunches down and rises up enough to crawl towards the side of the tree most easily ascended and peered down it towards the scared vulpine scrambling up it, ears laid back as her short tail waggles quickly. Oooooh... no. Go away you all.
Lilac manages to scramble onto the lower branch, well out of leaping range of the dogs. She wraps her paws around the limb to hold herself on securely, glaring at the dogs. Not sure what else to do, she decides to send out warnings, arching her muzzle skyward and yowling warnings to others.
At the Merging Tributary, Lilac screams.
At the Trickling River, Althaea howls.
Minya asks, "Who are you?" She moves closer to the tree again and looks at it for a moment, but doesn't start climbing yet. She starts watching the dogs again, this time with a bit of fear.
Running the forests? Ghast smirks, savoring the thought for a long moment. "...No," he finally says. "I would not wish to be responsible for all this." He frowns, casting his gaze about. "No. But I /do/ hope you are behaving yourselves. I would not like to find out otherwise." His lip curls, ever so slightly. Genghis remains beside him, but the larger black-furred dog looks, if anything... a little bored. His gaze settles on Lilac as she screams, and becomes less bored and more annoyed. Grunt. Ghast looks up at Lilac. "Oh, do shut up. At least /try/ and behave." His gaze goes to Minya next, and he smiles. "Ah, hello dear. I am Ghast. This fellow is Genghis. We are here with Bone's pack. Ruffians, some of them, but we must work with what we have, yes?"
Aolani keeps her wings spread wide, whether it was to defend herself or to easily fly away if the need arose, who knew, but she continues to watch the dogs very closely. She is liking these dogs less and less the longer they are around. "What do you want, why do you care if we are 'behaving' by your assessment?"
Lilac clings tightly to the limb in case the dogs attempt to knock her out of the tree. "Go away! How many of my friends have you killed?" she snarls at the dogs from her spot on the limb. "I don't want whatever you are selling!"
Minya moves closer to the tree again and her side hits the tree. She is still watching them and her fear slowly grows.
"All right-thinking people should care," says Ghast disdainfully to Aolani. "There's too much laziness in the world. Too many corners being cut. It's disgraceful." He looks again over the various creatures here, and shakes his head. "We'll be back," he says, and looks up at Lilac with a smirk. "Shoulda been polite." With that, he trots north again, Genghis following him.
Aolani watches as the dogs leave, and slowly makes her way toward Lilac's tree, looking up at her. "Polite? Did they give us any reason to be polite, coming in here and acting like it's their duty to go around making sure everyone is 'behaving themselves'. I was really thinking they were going to do something to try and punish one of us for something..."
Lilac doesn't start to relax until the dogs have gone, and even then she only manages to regain her breathing by starting to pant heavily, taking several moments to regain her composure to speak. "We need to warn the others. And largo ... yes, I've seen Largo, just a few days ago. They didn't just oust the Ute because they wanted their land! They clearly want blood! They have all of Ute's hunting grounds for themselves," she screeches, her eyes wide in fear. "There's no reason for them to follow the refugees they displaced down here except to sate a thirst for blood and bullying!"
Fresh pawsteps approach from the west, also sounding canid -- and larger than a fox. A wolf steps into view, male, appearing prime-aged. The wolf lopes in at a good clip, panting from a run; he seems to have come in response to the fox's call. He notes the lynx and fox in the tree, the swan in the water, and the young cougress near the tree. "Did someone call dog?" he asks amid pants. "Were there dogs here?"
Minya watches the dogs and listens. "I... don't understand what they want." she says. Then she spots the wolf and watches him curiously, with a bit of fear, as he gets closer.
Aolani nods in agreement with Lilac. "The fact that they are down this far seems bad I agree, particularly with their cocky attitude." She then turns to Rockfall as the wolf comes into view, having heard him approach. "They just left to the north." She says as she points an outstretched wing in a more exact direction.
Lilac flattens her ears in concern. "Are you ... one of the Ute?" she asks the wolf. She clings a bit more tightly again to the branch, not entirely certain what the wolf wants.
Rockfall shakes his head. "I am Rockfall, a Cerulean ... the Ute refugees are guests of our pack for now," he says. He follows along where the swan indicates, sniffing intently as he moves in that direction until he encounters one of the dogs' pawsteps. He sniffs intently, lifting a forepaw, follows the track with his nose right on the ground, finds another pawprint belonging to the other dog. He sniffs intently for several minutes, studying the scent, then lifting his head and gazing in the direction it went. He asks, "How many were there?" he asks, tracking around to see if he can find any more dog scents.
Minya says, "I don't like them." She watches Rockfall and when he asks, she says, "Two."
Aolani nods in agreement with Minya as she folds her wings again, finally starting to relax a bit. She turns her attention to Lilac. "Are you alright? You can get back down from there right?"
Lilac asks the wolf, "What are you going to do?" She looks to the fox. "I'm a bit ... afraid," she says. "I'll be alright, I just need to calm down."
Rockfall stares off in the directions the dogs had gone and paces a bit, but makes no effort to go after them. Certainly not alone -- he's not stupid! He turns back to face them. "I will report this to my pack leader, Alpha Coinin," he says. "I guess this answers the question of whether the dogs will settle with their conquests or not," he says. He looks to each. "Cerulean is peaceful. I do not know what the plan will be ... we might defend our border, but we may have to move our pack to safety if they prove too many. We have young of our own that are our highest priority to look after. We do not know how many dogs there are ... but there are enough to be a serious threat. I do not mean to sound callous, but ... we may not be able to protect everyone, so ... if any of you have friends, especially friends with vulnerable young ... I suggest you at least make preparations to get them to safety. I cannot promise we can hold our own territory." He looks to the southeast, toward the high plains. "So far as we know, there have been no known dangers in that direction for some time, since the last of those monstrous boars. We think there are a herd of horses, but have not seen them for some time." He turns to the young cougress. "Are you of Amaranth?" he asks her.
Minya listens to the wolf and nods. "Yes, I am. My name is Minya." she replies to the wolf. "I started my journey some time ago."
Lilac cautiously rises, turning around on the limb. She carefully gauges the distance to the ground before carefully dropping down from the branch onto the ground with and "oof!"
Aolani watches as Lilac leaps from the tree, then turns back to Rockfall, almost feeling glad that she didn't end up having a clutch of cygnets this year, as much as she had wanted to. They wouldn't be ready to fly yet, and moving them would not be easy. "There isn't much water down there though is there? I only know of the Oasis, and I'm not sure if that is even there all year... It was also rather ocupied the last time I was down in that area... I need at least a good river, preferably a pond or a lake."
Rockfall flattens his ears. "I'm afraid I do not have detailed knowledge, but there is enough water to sustain a horse herd. Sometimes they have gone to the Waterfall pool, though ... I am not ordering anyone to leave, certainly and ... perhaps my alpha will come up with a plan to be able to defend and hold our territory ... but we suffer badly from a lack of knowledge. I just want all to be safe. We don't know how many dogs there are." He looks to Minya. "I don't know what your Journey is about ... my pack has not had much contact with your tribe ... but I cannot assure your safety, either. Those dogs are nothing to trifle with, even for a cougar."
Minya nods and says, "I'll be careful. These two looked quite scary. I hope they won't come to my home."
Lilac looks in the direction the wolf had pointed, then looks to the swan. "We'll need to find everyone. Have you seen Felix lately?" she asks the swan.
Aolani nods to Lilac. "I have seen him somewhat recently. I can go out for a search tomorrow, should be able to find and relay the word of what is going on to pretty much everyone if I go out for a flight around the area."
Rockfall snorts. "This is ... terrible," he says, shaking his head. "I was starting to believe they would stay where they had conquered. I must inform my alpha," he says, looking to each. "Please watch out for each other, and ... if the dogs return, please let one of our pack know. We're the online line of defense for now." He looks to the cougress. "I wonder if perhaps I should suggest to Coinin sending an envoy to your tribe. I doubt the dogs would be strong enough to take on a cougar clan, but ... still ... I wouldn't feel right not letting your tribe know of the dangers down here for yourself, Kachina and any other Amaranth that might be down here alone."
Minya nods. "Someone should warn them." she says. "There weren't any cubs when I left, but..." she pauses for a moment. She turns her head and asks Aolani, "How long would it take you to get to the lake above the waterfall?"
Lilac stays quiet, looking between them. "Is there no one that can fight?" she asks. "I bet Largo would ... at least, for Felix."
Aolani looks up, noting the fading sunlight and stretching her wings a bit at Minya's question. "I can get there tonight. I'd just probably would want to stay there because I don't like to fly at night."
Rockfall looks to the fox. "Its a matter of the right time. Throwing ourselves at them, when we don't know how many there are, may be unwise. If they outnumber my pack, trying to hold our territory would only cost us lives. It will be up to my alpha to decide how we proceed. I'm sure, somehow, we'll need a way to scout them out, determine their numbers, and then we can tell if we can hold our territory or not." He dips his head in a bow to the swan. "I would appreciate your effort to warn them." He looks to the cougress. "I saw Kachina not far from here. Do you know if there are any other Amaranth down here, below the mountains?"
Minya says, "I could maybe... I'm not sure. I have never been in a fight like that." She replies to Aolani, "You could probably find someone near the lake or not too far from it. Just don't let them eat you." She grins slightly and replies to Rockfall, "I don't think there are any except Kachina... maybe my sister, Kulara."
Aolani nods, fluffing her feathers a bit at the thought of the cougars up at the lake eating her. "Hopefully they won't be quick to devour the messenger..." She then turns to Rockfall. "When I return, I would gladly offer to watch the dogs from the air and try to figure out both thier numbers, and their movements. It's the best I can do, since I'm not able to fight." She finally gives her wings a few warmup flaps, getting ready to take flight.
Lilac says, "I am going to go search for Felix, Largo, and the other coyotes and foxes," she says. She looks to Aolani, unable to shake her fear or worry. "Please fly safe, Aolani." With that, she sets off to search for the others.
Rockfall says to the swan, "Be careful if you do. And be careful with the Amaranth." He gazes at the young cougress, a bit apprehensive. "I wish I had spent more time considering learning more about your tribe," he says. He looks back toward the river merge to the west. "I need to get back to my pack," he says to all, then turns back to the cougress. "If you can find them ... it might be a good idea to get with Kachina or your sister Kulara, keep each other safe in numbers. I don't presume to rule over you, of course."
Minya says to Aolani, "Thank you." She watches her for a few moments, then says, "I have never been so close to a wolf. I have no idea where Kachina is. Kulara... I'm not sure she started her quest, but I think she's old enough now."
Aolani nods to Minya, but doesn't say another word before quickly running off down the grassy edge of the river and taking flight. She climbs into the sky, clearing the trees before turning in the direction of the waterfall, still climbing higher into the sky as she flies away.
Rockfall flicks his ears. "I am pretty sure you have nothing to fear from any of my pack ... the very last thing Cerulean would need right now is a war with Amaranth. Those dogs, though, I don't think have such peaceful intentions. For now, I must report to my alpha." With that, he dips his head in a quick bow, then heads back west where most of the Ceruleans have gathered
Minya nods to the wolf and watches him as he leaves. Then she turns and starts walking slowly... so much new information.