Post by sidian on Dec 16, 2007 3:53:59 GMT -5
Place: Wooded Terrain -> Leafy Glen
Characters involved:
Wooded Terrain--
Keegan
Misery
Leafy Glen--
Keegan
Silver
Silvan
Sierra
Atreyu
============================================================================================
Keegan's progress back down the mountain was slow. Hindered not just by his strange tiredness and fatigue, but by his thoughts. Up in the snow capped forests, he'd found the unpleasant sight of a wolf, dead-- nearly a month so. He'd never seen him, but he was sure he belonged to a pack. Weren't a lot of strays up in the slopes, and he looked too fit to have been on his own for long. This spelled trouble.. as if things weren't bad enough with this illness. Before he knew it, he was approaching the hidden den from the south, head low and eyes heavy. He hardly remembered that he was returning without food, too.
Misery is laying in the den opening, head on her paws, while the pups slumber behind her in the den. Her ears are perked, and so she hears Keegan's approach and lifts her head curiously, eager to greet him, food or no food. When she sees him and his expression, she frowns, ears laying back worriedly.
Keegan's eyes turned to the coyote's, and normally, he'd try to put on some sort of reassurance that everything was okay. But not this time. Things were certainly turning south. "Misery.." That didn't stop him from giving her a soft nuzzle, sitting beside her. "How're the pups? Are they alright?"
Misery watches him with concern. "The pups are fine...I'm more worried about you at the moment. What's wrong?"
Keegan doesn't mention his health at the moment, not wanting to worry her with it. Not yet. "I found something up the mountain. A wolf, half frozen in the ice. Must have been dead for a month, maybe longer.. I think it could be one of Viridian's, but I don't know."
Misery blinks at that, slipping fully out of the den. She shakes herself, her form lean now since giving birth. She sits down. "Can you describe it?"
Keegan thinks back on the sight, giving her any sort of markings he could still see on the wolf's pelt. "He was young too. Still in his adolescence.. Maybe a year?" He honestly wasn't sure.. Wasn't much left.
Misery sits quietly for a moment in thought. This close to Viridian...It had to have been...She sighs, splaying her ears. She'd heard their howls, searching for him. "It's Auric..." she says softly, looking back to Keegan. "One of their pups from last year...He musta got lost in a blizzard..." She whines softly, thinking about her own pups, and will have to make sure to warn them about wandering in storms.
Keegan bows his head in thought, eyes looking away. A pup of Silver's then? It was odd.. Normally he wouldn't have dwelled on it as much, but now he had his own kids. In his own way, he could feel for Silver. Seemed Misery could too. "I don't remember ever catching his scent. I suppose it could have been longer. The snow was still thawing up there, so it must have been deep."
Misery tilts her head to peer up the hill, up toward the higher areas of the mountains. "Could you see what happened? Was he mauled by a bear or a cougar?" It's possible, but unlikely. Maybe he fell...Hmm..
Keegan looked up, following her gaze. "I'm not sure.. I wasn't the first to reach him. Something had it's share before I got there." He thought on it some more though, thinking about the remains. "I didn't see any marks that looked like the would have brought him down.. Nothing that a cougar or bear would make."
Misery dips her head in a bit of a nod. "He may have fallen...Silver needs to know, Kee." She sighs. "Poor Silver...I can't imagine..." she whines softly, looking back toward where her own pups slumber.
Keegan sighs, shutting his eyes. "I know.." He got lost in his thoughts for a few moments, the silence thick in the air. Almost reluctantly, he blinked back to the world. Was he really that tired? "I'll go and tell the Viridian."
Misery nods. She hesitates, tempted to go with, but very reluctant to leave her own pups after such news.
Keegan takes notice of that. "You stay here with the kids. I can handle it.." He offered a small smile, nosing at the yote's cheek. "I'll come back as quick as I can."
Misery circles around, then sits down at the den entrance. "All right...I'll be here...howl if you need me, I'll come running..." Even if it meant leaving the pups...Where was that crazy moose?
Keegan stood-- hoping it didn't show how much effort it took him. "Will do Mis." Then he turned and padded off, starting to make his way down the mountainside.
============================================================================================
Leafy Glen--
Silvan lies near the den, shifting every few moments in an atempt to get comfortable, but he isn't having any luck tonight. He just feels like there's somthing 'wrong', but cant put his paw on what it is. Maybe it's Silver's illness, though he hopes that's not serious that will pass quickly, but maybe that's what his dreams were about, somthing that would put the pack in danger that he would be powerless to stop.
Silver spent a fair deal of the previous night and day out of the den, but this morning she got a little wobbly and retired back inside, where she has stayed without a sound ever since. The only sound now comes from Sierra, who has climbed to the den entrance and is peering out curiously, her little ears perked as she watches Silvan pace.
Silvan perks his ears up a bit when he hears a sound from the den, smiling at Sierra when he sees her and padding over to nuzzle her. No reason to let the pups see him worried like this.
Sierra wags her little tail, nuzzling him back. "Da!" she yips, then tilts her head at him in concern. She's young, but she's preceptive enough to pick up on his mood, if only purely on instinct. "Da sad?" she inquires innocently. Her grasp on communication is improving, but she's still got a long way to go.
Atreyu poked his way up from the den, shaking a bit to clear some dirt from his thin fur. Mom was taking up all that room! She'd been doing so for a while now. Sierra had left too, so that was the last straw. He spotted his dad, moving over and giving Sierra attention. Then she talked! Again! More reason for Atreyu to just pout.
Keegan found his way to the valley easily. He'd almost been here before, when he first met Silvan by the lake. He'd practically pointed out the way. The land was thick with wolf scent, and his nose led him to the glen-- what must be the den sight. It was here he spotted the large alpha male, barely changed from the last time he'd spoken with him. None of the others seemed to be around.. "Silvan, right?", he asked and moved cautiously-- head low, ears splayed, tail swaying, as he approached the most sacred of Viridian land.
Silvan blinks a bit at Sierra's question, shaking his head a bit before giving her and Atreyu a lick. At the sound of an unfamiliar voice this close to the den his hackles rais out of instict, turning to face the intruder before recognizing Keegan. "Yes... You have permission to stay in our lands, but not to come near the den..."
The female pup perks up at the sound of a new voice, the smell of a new wolf. She peers around Silvan, both curious and frightened, shrinking back against her brother a bit.
Atreyu has just moved down to join his father before this stranger showed up. He froze, staring for a moment. That wasn't any of the others that watched after him.. That was for sure. Sierra shrank back against him, and he in turn shrank towards his father.
Keegan stops his approach after Silvan acknowledges him, taking the reminder about his boundaries as a sign that he was close enough. "I recall your warning, and believe me, it's not without reason that I broke my vow." He eased back up to his full height, sitting. "I have some bad news.. About your son Auric."
That stops him almost in his tracks. Silvan glances down to the pups and giving them a nuzzle to reashure them before saying, "What's happened to Auric?"
Sierra remains huddled next to Atreyu, wide blue eyes on this stranger. What's an Auric? She looks up at Silvan curiously, then at Atreyu...as if he'd know what this is all about.
Dad's reassurance does very little for Atreyu, only makes him press closer-- a small whine escaping him. His father's sudden seriousness didn't help either. He doesn't even notice Sierra's questioning gaze. Just that this was bad.
Keegan's eyes turned down to the pups around Silvan for a moment, before going back to the Alpha. "It was around the Amarath border, near the snow thaw. I found a wolf's body that looked like he might've gotten caught in a blizzard, or fell. From what I could tell. He could have been covered for months." He lowered his head, out of respect. "I told Misery about his markings. She told me it sounded like Auric, and that he was a pup from your pack born last year. The body looked about that age."
Silvan is silent for a while, glancing to the den and listening, wondering if Silver was awake to hear that, with her already ill news like this could be bad for both her and the pups. after a minute he looks back to Keegan, saying thank you for telling us... We didn't know what had happened to him, we thought he had left with his brother and sister..."
Sierra whimpers softly, infected by the prevailing mood of the adults. She nuzzles against her brother for comfort, licking his cheek and curling against him. From behind her in the den, there's a long, low whine.
Atreyu manages to look away from the stranger when he heard his sister's whimper, and felt her lick and curl beside him. She's upset.. so he'll tend to her, laying between Sierra and this newcomer, licking at her ears.
Keegan shakes his head, "There isn't a need to thank me. The news had to be shared with you. It's a loss.. I don't even want to imagine." A whine came from the den, much louder than any pup's. Silver? It must be. "I.. didn't think she was here." Much less inside the den. If she were feeding the pups, those two would be in there too. Right?
Silvan looks back to the den and sighs when he hears the whine, nodding to keegan after a moment. He can't think of anything to say at the moment, leaning toward the den and asking, "Silver?"
Silver doesn't respond, just whines softly again. Sierra looks back at the sound. "Ma sad?" she inquires faintly, looking to Atreyu. Mother and not Mother are sad, damnit! Be a good big brother and fix it!
Atreyu blinks back towards home, then at Sierra. She looked like she wanted -him- to do something... But what? He didn't know why they were all acting like this! He just wanted to play!
Keegan watches the goings on from his required distance, not moving as Silvan edged towards the den. She'd heard, he took it.. He wasn't sure what else there was to say. Could any thing he said help the two parents in their grief? No.
Silvan is torn. He needs to make sure Silver is okay, but he cant leave the pups alone up here, especialy with a stranger. After a few moments he looks back to Keegan, saying, "Thank you again for telling us about what happened... But I think it's best if you go now. I know where to find you if I need you."
Sierra remains in the den entrance, unsure of where to go or what to do. She'd only a month and a half old! What do you expect? She could go back down there with Mother, but Mother is acting strangely, and it's getting so stuffy down there. Besides, Atreyu and Father are out here. She lets out a little squeaky whimper and glomps onto Atreyu's ear out of frustration.
Atreyu is really no better off. He looks as depressed as a pup his age can. Mother was sad, father was sad, and Sierra... Sierra was just being demanding. Why couldn't -she- fix this? She was the one that could talk, not him! And now she was glomping his ear? Grrrr..
Keegan's ears perk, then he nods-- working himself to his paws again. The strain reminded him, however. "Silvan.. There was something else. About an illness. I'm not sure if you've heard or not." He knew not what had Silver hidden in the den. As far as he knew, the Viridian hadn't a clue what was spreading through the mountain ranges. "I'm unsure how widespread it is, but I've ran into a few travelers that were off in search of a cure. I'm not sure how reliable the information is.." He wasn't sure if he could believe most of it himself. "But it may prove helpful for you and yours."
Silvan nods again to The other male, considering weather he should keep Silver's condition a secret or not, but decideds that he should trust their ally, saying, "Silver has been ill as well... We've sent a messanger along with the group, and should hear from him soon." before nuzzling the two pups again, not wanting to distress them with the mood that's taken over the glen.
Sierra seems a little reassured by the nuzzling, but is still confused. She does, however, have Atreyu's ear firmly in mouth, and she is quickly distracted by this. She leans on her brother, pawing at him and pushing.
Atreyu would have been more reassured if he didn't have Sierra about to knock him over. That grip on his ear was tight too. He shakes his head to free the seized ear, tugging it away with all he could muster.
Keegan blinks. That would explain why Silver was hidden away like she was. He wondered. Did she feel like he did? Was she worse off? How bad was this going to get..? "If you already have a messenger with them, then you probably know about the squirrel's instructions, and about the cougar they were supposed to meet further South, near or maybe in the Amaranth border. Supposedly, the cure is 'beyond the rivers', but none of the group seemed to know just how far. The cougar was supposed to tell them that."
Silvan nods a bit, keeping an eye on the pups and an ear turned back to listen to what's going on in the den, "We sent our raven with them, but we havent heard back yet."
Sierra ceases her attack on Atreyu and tips her head back to yawn widely, the play forgotten. She looks back up at Silvan and the big white stranger, curiosity warring with fatigue. What're those big wolves talking about?
Atreyu's struggle comes to an end, with him falling flat on his back. He was still pulling against Sierra, remember? He blinks, upside down and not quite sure how he got there.. He just stared up at Dad for a second.
Keegan nods. Nothing else to say. "I hope he brings back good news.. and I'll keep an eye and ear out for anything else that may be helpful." He turned again, to take his leave-- but his eyes lingered on the den for a moment. He shook his head, mumbling a solemn "I'm sorry.." before beginning his trek out of the valley.
Silvan sighs and mutters, "I am too..." while he waits for the other male to be far enough away that he can safely leave the pups alone for the few moments it will take to check on Silver, scooting halfway down the tunnel so he'll be able to see her, "Hun... You okay?"
Silver is sprawled in the den, as best she can be anyway. The other pups are curled against her belly where they fell asleep after nursing. "Did I hear right.." she says wearily. "About...Auric..."
Keegan has left.
Sierra waits outside, blinking at Atreyu's predicament. She giggles softly, but is interrupted by a fresh yawn. )
Atreyu doesn't seem able to move.. His own eyes drifting to a close, before opening again. He was more tired than he thought. Likely he'd be asleep here in a bit if he just lays there.
Silvan sighs and nods, nuzzling silver before saying, "Yes... I'm sorry hun..." before backing out of the den, nosing the pups back toward it, and mom, thinking she probably needs all the company she can get.
Once Dad's back outside, Sierra gets up and heads in, back toward Mother. She isn't feeling well and could use her pups for company, Sierra's sure. She pauses to give Silvan's nose a little lick before heading in.
Atreyu unceremoniously rolls over, yawning wide and just laying there for a moment-- before climbing up the slope and down into the den after his sister. He'd curl up with his mother, not sure why she was so sad. She just needed them right now.
Silvan sighs and lays back down next to the den, filing away one more thing to feel horrible about when he's not busy being the aplpha.
Silver whimpers softly, closing her eyes as Silvan withdraws. She doesn't say anything else..it's all fuzzy, it feels like a nightmare. Maybe she'll wake up and Auric will be there, her missing son. As her pups rejoin her, she curls around them, panting faintly and praying for sleep to take her.
Characters involved:
Wooded Terrain--
Keegan
Misery
Leafy Glen--
Keegan
Silver
Silvan
Sierra
Atreyu
============================================================================================
Keegan's progress back down the mountain was slow. Hindered not just by his strange tiredness and fatigue, but by his thoughts. Up in the snow capped forests, he'd found the unpleasant sight of a wolf, dead-- nearly a month so. He'd never seen him, but he was sure he belonged to a pack. Weren't a lot of strays up in the slopes, and he looked too fit to have been on his own for long. This spelled trouble.. as if things weren't bad enough with this illness. Before he knew it, he was approaching the hidden den from the south, head low and eyes heavy. He hardly remembered that he was returning without food, too.
Misery is laying in the den opening, head on her paws, while the pups slumber behind her in the den. Her ears are perked, and so she hears Keegan's approach and lifts her head curiously, eager to greet him, food or no food. When she sees him and his expression, she frowns, ears laying back worriedly.
Keegan's eyes turned to the coyote's, and normally, he'd try to put on some sort of reassurance that everything was okay. But not this time. Things were certainly turning south. "Misery.." That didn't stop him from giving her a soft nuzzle, sitting beside her. "How're the pups? Are they alright?"
Misery watches him with concern. "The pups are fine...I'm more worried about you at the moment. What's wrong?"
Keegan doesn't mention his health at the moment, not wanting to worry her with it. Not yet. "I found something up the mountain. A wolf, half frozen in the ice. Must have been dead for a month, maybe longer.. I think it could be one of Viridian's, but I don't know."
Misery blinks at that, slipping fully out of the den. She shakes herself, her form lean now since giving birth. She sits down. "Can you describe it?"
Keegan thinks back on the sight, giving her any sort of markings he could still see on the wolf's pelt. "He was young too. Still in his adolescence.. Maybe a year?" He honestly wasn't sure.. Wasn't much left.
Misery sits quietly for a moment in thought. This close to Viridian...It had to have been...She sighs, splaying her ears. She'd heard their howls, searching for him. "It's Auric..." she says softly, looking back to Keegan. "One of their pups from last year...He musta got lost in a blizzard..." She whines softly, thinking about her own pups, and will have to make sure to warn them about wandering in storms.
Keegan bows his head in thought, eyes looking away. A pup of Silver's then? It was odd.. Normally he wouldn't have dwelled on it as much, but now he had his own kids. In his own way, he could feel for Silver. Seemed Misery could too. "I don't remember ever catching his scent. I suppose it could have been longer. The snow was still thawing up there, so it must have been deep."
Misery tilts her head to peer up the hill, up toward the higher areas of the mountains. "Could you see what happened? Was he mauled by a bear or a cougar?" It's possible, but unlikely. Maybe he fell...Hmm..
Keegan looked up, following her gaze. "I'm not sure.. I wasn't the first to reach him. Something had it's share before I got there." He thought on it some more though, thinking about the remains. "I didn't see any marks that looked like the would have brought him down.. Nothing that a cougar or bear would make."
Misery dips her head in a bit of a nod. "He may have fallen...Silver needs to know, Kee." She sighs. "Poor Silver...I can't imagine..." she whines softly, looking back toward where her own pups slumber.
Keegan sighs, shutting his eyes. "I know.." He got lost in his thoughts for a few moments, the silence thick in the air. Almost reluctantly, he blinked back to the world. Was he really that tired? "I'll go and tell the Viridian."
Misery nods. She hesitates, tempted to go with, but very reluctant to leave her own pups after such news.
Keegan takes notice of that. "You stay here with the kids. I can handle it.." He offered a small smile, nosing at the yote's cheek. "I'll come back as quick as I can."
Misery circles around, then sits down at the den entrance. "All right...I'll be here...howl if you need me, I'll come running..." Even if it meant leaving the pups...Where was that crazy moose?
Keegan stood-- hoping it didn't show how much effort it took him. "Will do Mis." Then he turned and padded off, starting to make his way down the mountainside.
============================================================================================
Leafy Glen--
Silvan lies near the den, shifting every few moments in an atempt to get comfortable, but he isn't having any luck tonight. He just feels like there's somthing 'wrong', but cant put his paw on what it is. Maybe it's Silver's illness, though he hopes that's not serious that will pass quickly, but maybe that's what his dreams were about, somthing that would put the pack in danger that he would be powerless to stop.
Silver spent a fair deal of the previous night and day out of the den, but this morning she got a little wobbly and retired back inside, where she has stayed without a sound ever since. The only sound now comes from Sierra, who has climbed to the den entrance and is peering out curiously, her little ears perked as she watches Silvan pace.
Silvan perks his ears up a bit when he hears a sound from the den, smiling at Sierra when he sees her and padding over to nuzzle her. No reason to let the pups see him worried like this.
Sierra wags her little tail, nuzzling him back. "Da!" she yips, then tilts her head at him in concern. She's young, but she's preceptive enough to pick up on his mood, if only purely on instinct. "Da sad?" she inquires innocently. Her grasp on communication is improving, but she's still got a long way to go.
Atreyu poked his way up from the den, shaking a bit to clear some dirt from his thin fur. Mom was taking up all that room! She'd been doing so for a while now. Sierra had left too, so that was the last straw. He spotted his dad, moving over and giving Sierra attention. Then she talked! Again! More reason for Atreyu to just pout.
Keegan found his way to the valley easily. He'd almost been here before, when he first met Silvan by the lake. He'd practically pointed out the way. The land was thick with wolf scent, and his nose led him to the glen-- what must be the den sight. It was here he spotted the large alpha male, barely changed from the last time he'd spoken with him. None of the others seemed to be around.. "Silvan, right?", he asked and moved cautiously-- head low, ears splayed, tail swaying, as he approached the most sacred of Viridian land.
Silvan blinks a bit at Sierra's question, shaking his head a bit before giving her and Atreyu a lick. At the sound of an unfamiliar voice this close to the den his hackles rais out of instict, turning to face the intruder before recognizing Keegan. "Yes... You have permission to stay in our lands, but not to come near the den..."
The female pup perks up at the sound of a new voice, the smell of a new wolf. She peers around Silvan, both curious and frightened, shrinking back against her brother a bit.
Atreyu has just moved down to join his father before this stranger showed up. He froze, staring for a moment. That wasn't any of the others that watched after him.. That was for sure. Sierra shrank back against him, and he in turn shrank towards his father.
Keegan stops his approach after Silvan acknowledges him, taking the reminder about his boundaries as a sign that he was close enough. "I recall your warning, and believe me, it's not without reason that I broke my vow." He eased back up to his full height, sitting. "I have some bad news.. About your son Auric."
That stops him almost in his tracks. Silvan glances down to the pups and giving them a nuzzle to reashure them before saying, "What's happened to Auric?"
Sierra remains huddled next to Atreyu, wide blue eyes on this stranger. What's an Auric? She looks up at Silvan curiously, then at Atreyu...as if he'd know what this is all about.
Dad's reassurance does very little for Atreyu, only makes him press closer-- a small whine escaping him. His father's sudden seriousness didn't help either. He doesn't even notice Sierra's questioning gaze. Just that this was bad.
Keegan's eyes turned down to the pups around Silvan for a moment, before going back to the Alpha. "It was around the Amarath border, near the snow thaw. I found a wolf's body that looked like he might've gotten caught in a blizzard, or fell. From what I could tell. He could have been covered for months." He lowered his head, out of respect. "I told Misery about his markings. She told me it sounded like Auric, and that he was a pup from your pack born last year. The body looked about that age."
Silvan is silent for a while, glancing to the den and listening, wondering if Silver was awake to hear that, with her already ill news like this could be bad for both her and the pups. after a minute he looks back to Keegan, saying thank you for telling us... We didn't know what had happened to him, we thought he had left with his brother and sister..."
Sierra whimpers softly, infected by the prevailing mood of the adults. She nuzzles against her brother for comfort, licking his cheek and curling against him. From behind her in the den, there's a long, low whine.
Atreyu manages to look away from the stranger when he heard his sister's whimper, and felt her lick and curl beside him. She's upset.. so he'll tend to her, laying between Sierra and this newcomer, licking at her ears.
Keegan shakes his head, "There isn't a need to thank me. The news had to be shared with you. It's a loss.. I don't even want to imagine." A whine came from the den, much louder than any pup's. Silver? It must be. "I.. didn't think she was here." Much less inside the den. If she were feeding the pups, those two would be in there too. Right?
Silvan looks back to the den and sighs when he hears the whine, nodding to keegan after a moment. He can't think of anything to say at the moment, leaning toward the den and asking, "Silver?"
Silver doesn't respond, just whines softly again. Sierra looks back at the sound. "Ma sad?" she inquires faintly, looking to Atreyu. Mother and not Mother are sad, damnit! Be a good big brother and fix it!
Atreyu blinks back towards home, then at Sierra. She looked like she wanted -him- to do something... But what? He didn't know why they were all acting like this! He just wanted to play!
Keegan watches the goings on from his required distance, not moving as Silvan edged towards the den. She'd heard, he took it.. He wasn't sure what else there was to say. Could any thing he said help the two parents in their grief? No.
Silvan is torn. He needs to make sure Silver is okay, but he cant leave the pups alone up here, especialy with a stranger. After a few moments he looks back to Keegan, saying, "Thank you again for telling us about what happened... But I think it's best if you go now. I know where to find you if I need you."
Sierra remains in the den entrance, unsure of where to go or what to do. She'd only a month and a half old! What do you expect? She could go back down there with Mother, but Mother is acting strangely, and it's getting so stuffy down there. Besides, Atreyu and Father are out here. She lets out a little squeaky whimper and glomps onto Atreyu's ear out of frustration.
Atreyu is really no better off. He looks as depressed as a pup his age can. Mother was sad, father was sad, and Sierra... Sierra was just being demanding. Why couldn't -she- fix this? She was the one that could talk, not him! And now she was glomping his ear? Grrrr..
Keegan's ears perk, then he nods-- working himself to his paws again. The strain reminded him, however. "Silvan.. There was something else. About an illness. I'm not sure if you've heard or not." He knew not what had Silver hidden in the den. As far as he knew, the Viridian hadn't a clue what was spreading through the mountain ranges. "I'm unsure how widespread it is, but I've ran into a few travelers that were off in search of a cure. I'm not sure how reliable the information is.." He wasn't sure if he could believe most of it himself. "But it may prove helpful for you and yours."
Silvan nods again to The other male, considering weather he should keep Silver's condition a secret or not, but decideds that he should trust their ally, saying, "Silver has been ill as well... We've sent a messanger along with the group, and should hear from him soon." before nuzzling the two pups again, not wanting to distress them with the mood that's taken over the glen.
Sierra seems a little reassured by the nuzzling, but is still confused. She does, however, have Atreyu's ear firmly in mouth, and she is quickly distracted by this. She leans on her brother, pawing at him and pushing.
Atreyu would have been more reassured if he didn't have Sierra about to knock him over. That grip on his ear was tight too. He shakes his head to free the seized ear, tugging it away with all he could muster.
Keegan blinks. That would explain why Silver was hidden away like she was. He wondered. Did she feel like he did? Was she worse off? How bad was this going to get..? "If you already have a messenger with them, then you probably know about the squirrel's instructions, and about the cougar they were supposed to meet further South, near or maybe in the Amaranth border. Supposedly, the cure is 'beyond the rivers', but none of the group seemed to know just how far. The cougar was supposed to tell them that."
Silvan nods a bit, keeping an eye on the pups and an ear turned back to listen to what's going on in the den, "We sent our raven with them, but we havent heard back yet."
Sierra ceases her attack on Atreyu and tips her head back to yawn widely, the play forgotten. She looks back up at Silvan and the big white stranger, curiosity warring with fatigue. What're those big wolves talking about?
Atreyu's struggle comes to an end, with him falling flat on his back. He was still pulling against Sierra, remember? He blinks, upside down and not quite sure how he got there.. He just stared up at Dad for a second.
Keegan nods. Nothing else to say. "I hope he brings back good news.. and I'll keep an eye and ear out for anything else that may be helpful." He turned again, to take his leave-- but his eyes lingered on the den for a moment. He shook his head, mumbling a solemn "I'm sorry.." before beginning his trek out of the valley.
Silvan sighs and mutters, "I am too..." while he waits for the other male to be far enough away that he can safely leave the pups alone for the few moments it will take to check on Silver, scooting halfway down the tunnel so he'll be able to see her, "Hun... You okay?"
Silver is sprawled in the den, as best she can be anyway. The other pups are curled against her belly where they fell asleep after nursing. "Did I hear right.." she says wearily. "About...Auric..."
Keegan has left.
Sierra waits outside, blinking at Atreyu's predicament. She giggles softly, but is interrupted by a fresh yawn. )
Atreyu doesn't seem able to move.. His own eyes drifting to a close, before opening again. He was more tired than he thought. Likely he'd be asleep here in a bit if he just lays there.
Silvan sighs and nods, nuzzling silver before saying, "Yes... I'm sorry hun..." before backing out of the den, nosing the pups back toward it, and mom, thinking she probably needs all the company she can get.
Once Dad's back outside, Sierra gets up and heads in, back toward Mother. She isn't feeling well and could use her pups for company, Sierra's sure. She pauses to give Silvan's nose a little lick before heading in.
Atreyu unceremoniously rolls over, yawning wide and just laying there for a moment-- before climbing up the slope and down into the den after his sister. He'd curl up with his mother, not sure why she was so sad. She just needed them right now.
Silvan sighs and lays back down next to the den, filing away one more thing to feel horrible about when he's not busy being the aplpha.
Silver whimpers softly, closing her eyes as Silvan withdraws. She doesn't say anything else..it's all fuzzy, it feels like a nightmare. Maybe she'll wake up and Auric will be there, her missing son. As her pups rejoin her, she curls around them, panting faintly and praying for sleep to take her.