Post by Curiosity on Dec 20, 2008 1:00:04 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Storm, female wolf, Lazuli alpha
Miakoda, female wolf, Lazuli beta
Haze, male wolf
Larkspur, female wolf (spoofed by Haze)
Shikoba, female wolf
Bodhi, male wolf
Midnight, male wolf
Rye, male coyote (briefly)
(IC assumption that others of the Lazuli pack were present as well)
=== Grassy Plains ===
It's been about a day since they first stopped to rest, and a few of the stragglers who weren't with them immediately eventually tracked them down to join their party -- fortunately, before the rivers flooded completely this afternoon. Haze is laid by the pregnant and sleeping Larkspur's side, ears slicked back as he watches the fast-flowing deluge swirl so dangerously by only a few yards from where the pack currently sits. At least they made it just in time. He glances over in the direction of where he last saw Storm, wuffing quietly in her direction. "Do you think it's time we found some proper shelter? If we leave now, we can probably make it before dark."
The alpha is settled near where the water is, she'll know if the water rises anymore being where she is. Storm's ears perk forward and then back as she looks towards where Haze is, an nod is offered while she takes in a breath and slowlt pushes herself upwards stretching as she goes. "Yes.. I think we should get going. The rest should be able to follow.." She hopes at least. Her gaze drifts over the wolves here and she moves among them nosing each awake, along with murmuring it is time to leave.
Shikoba hasn't slept well at all. When the alpha wakes her, the young wolf very gradually rouses herself enough that she can climb to her feet, and maintain something like balance. "Wha... mmph. Are we moving again?" Her eyes wander over to the river, and promptly widen. When did it get so wide? Suddenly, Shikoba is very happy she didn't get left behind. "What happened?" She looks to Storm, having not a doubt that the alpha would somehow know the answer.
Miakoda had caught up with the pack, thankfully, before the floodwaters were able to cut her off from her family. The aging beta moves through the grasses, approaching Storm, pausing to nose a packmember awake as she hears the plans of continuing on. Her ears flick to Haze momentarily before she lifts her head to test the air that smells of too much water.
Bodhi offers a soft smile to Mia as he notes her while he continues to pace back and forth in silence while gazing at the river seemingly being deep in thought
Haze gently nuzzles Larkspur awake at the alpha female's affirmation, and rises to stretch out all four of his limbs before leading them on the last leg of their journey to a safer refuge, and somewhere that won't hold painfully fresh memories. "It's not far from here...just a little further to go," he says with a slightly crooked smile on his maw, loud enough for the rest to hear, as though attempting some sort of pep talk with the unrelated pack. Once they're all up and ready to move again, he turns to lead them directly south, away from the rushing river.
Storm looks to Miakoda, her tail slowly sways as she is glad that the other has joined them. She shifts towards her friend and bumps her head softly against the other's shoulder. "Mia.." Is said softly before she looks back to Haze and nods slightly. "Let's get going then.. Hopfully we will get there soon." This said as she starts to follow after Haze and Larkspur.
=== Sweeping Steppe ===
Shikoba lowers her head, not sure if she's asked the question loudly enough to be heard. It wasn't terribly important, though. In fact, she forgets all about it when the notices her mother, smiling in relief that she hadn't gotten left behind either. In all the confusion of moving, Shikoba hadn't taken notice whether she was with them or not. Silently, she follows after the rest of the pack, not sure what else to do at the moment.
Miakoda is not the epitome of relaxation on this walk, but who would be? Meandering outside of the forest and into unfamiliar land is stressful enough, but add on the fact that the river has created a barrier preventing them from going back is added badness! And so, Mia is a small wreck as she walks alongside Storm, eyeing Haze with a difficult to read expression on her face. "Where are we going, exactly?" asked, even if this has already been hashed out before her arrival. Her eyes move to and fro, eyeing the unfamiliar terrain, noting the sparse coverage available here. One calming factor is Shikoba, and a chuffing noise is given to her daughter as she moves nearer to her to bump her head to her shoulder. "Have you seen Moony?"
Bodhi retains his silence as he for the most part pads alongside Shikoba while studying the area around them, his tail actually wagging slightly as if seeming somewhat content with the wander even if its not the best of reasons to be be doing so
Being in the lead - as he's more familiar with the terrain into which they're headed - Haze doesn't notice the Lazuli beta's wary glances, but it's not as if he hasn't felt them from others in the pack already. He's been something of an outsider since his own pack, and here is no exception, though he's finally able to offer something of worth to the pack, even if it comes at the cost of everything that's caused the move south in the first place. The brindle-furred wolf seems to gain a bit of confidence with every step further into the lowlands, however, perhaps a result of his familiarity and sense of home within the area, not to mention his mate by his side - even if the pregnancy is taking a toll on her health.
Storm is quiet as she moves along, her gaze drifting over the pack too see who all is here, and well not here. She frowns slightly while taking in a breath before looking to Miakoda. "To where Larkspur and Haze were before coming home.." It is the only thing she could think of doing, moving away from the forest, away from the cougars.. An away from where Felstride died. "He wanted us to be safe.." This murmured softly to Miakoda, her ears lowering as she doesn't say who 'he' is but Mia should know by her expressions who it might be. While some in the pack might feel uneasy about following Haze, the alpha seems more relaxed mostly because Larkspur is with him and she knows her daughter would not lead the pack into harm's way, not after everything they have been through already.
Rye hears sounds coming and some voices. With a glance, he notices a wolf..... wait, a wolf pack.. Oh great that's not the right thing at this time. he makes sure his family is fairly concealed and using his own colouring, he moves around so he's a little distance away from them. As they get closer he does recognize one of the wolves for sure. He's met Bodhi many times. He also thinks he knows a few of the others, but He just wants to make sure they would only see him, and not notice anything else on here. he also hopes they keep moving along.
Shikoba casts another look toward Bodhi, tail swaying thoughtfully a moment before she starts to speak. "I... um, want to thank you again for helping me get across the river." She says quietly, looking a little embarrassed by the memory. She feeling a bump at her shoulder, and turns to smile at her mother, leaning the side of her head on Miakoda's neck. But when she asks about Moonbird, Shikoba looks startled. "Moon? No... no, I haven't." Her eyes scan the moving wolves hopefully, trying to pick out her brother among them.
Miakoda's eyes turn from Shikoba to regard Storm as she answers her. She nods wordlessly, giving another half glance to Haze. Her opinion of him seems nonexistant, which perhaps is a good thing considering her usual outlook towards new or strange wolves. She exhales a breath before glancing towards Bodhi as Shikoba thanks him. Lifing her head a bit, she nods towards the darker wolf. "What happened?" she inquires with a tilt of her head, but her expression falls a bit as Shikoba speaks of having not seen Moonbird. "Ah..well, I'm sure he'll catch up with us," she says, sounding more sure than she feels. "He is a ... He'll find his way," she says instead.
Bodhi smiles softly as he takes two steps close to Shikoba and leans his head in to offer a gentle nuzzle before taking a step away again "It was my pleasure to help you, and feel free to ask if you wish help with anything else" then looks over at Miakoda as he keeps his soft smile "i simply helped her cross the river when we were by it along with Storm"
Haze doesn't notice the camouflaged coyote off to the side, his hazel eyes focused on the path set in front of him; nor do any of the other packmates seem to spot him, and if they do they don't make an announcement of it, and so the other canine gets his wish. The Viridian-born male seems pretty determined to make sure they get to their intended destination without further incident, and so his paws carry them swiftly towards their temporary new home.
=== Cactus Patch ===
Storm follows along after Haze and Larkspur, her ears perked forward as she lisitons to the ones around her. Her mind is in a daze with all the new scents of the area. She glances one way and then another taking everything in, while a faint sigh escapes her.. The aging alpha already missed the forest. Her head lowers and her ears settle upon her head while her gaze goes back to resting in front of her as she pads along.
Midnight comes up along beside Storm offering her a light nose to the shoulder. Upon this journey he has been silent though wanting her to know that he's still there. The surroundings were foreign but at least they hads familiar beings which was better than being stuck alone. For a brief moment he looks among the others still learning most of them and vaguely recalling meeting Miakoda once before back in his wilder days.
Shikoba smiles softly to Bodhi after his offer. "Thanks, I will." She then nods in confirmation at what he tells her mother about the crossing. "I didn't know how to swim." She adds, looking down for a moment. Part of her is ashamed of that fact, but her heart is also heavy with worry for her brother. He's probably fine, but Shikoba has always felt protective of her brothers, so she can hardly help it.
Doesn't know how to swim? Miakoda watches her daughter curiously, then dips her head once. "I'm sure that will be alleviated soon out of necessity," she says before looking to Bodhi, but her eyes still turn frequently as their surroundings begin to change and change again. "Well ... thank you, Bodhi..." she says distantly as her eyes turn up to the towering cacti. Her pawsteps falter, and she glances to Storm, ears folding back. Changes changes. How many changes has this pack seen in her lifetime? Her head lowers a little, and it's a moment before she walks on, taking in the scents, all of which are unfamiliar. Midnight is noted and a memory is sparked by his scent, causing her head to raise fractionally. "I've seen you before...when?"
Bodhi looks over at Shikoba as he muses toughtfully "how would you feel about that once the river returns to its old levels or we find a small and nice place around here where we might be able to swim that i teach you how properly?" his gaze scanning the sorroundings for a few moments before returning to Shikoba, Miakoda given a warm smile and dip of his head as she thanks him
Haze glances back briefly at the Lazuli wolves trailing along behind him, offering a bit of a wry grin in their direction. "They're not the trees you're used to, but aren't they interesting?" he inquires, referring to the various shapes and sizes of cacti that have popped up in the dry area. "Just don't go sniffin' too close to 'em or anything...they sting." He definitely knows that from first-hand experience. "Just a little further now."
Storm ears perk forward as she looks to Midnight once his at her side, a faint smile is offered glad his still here with everyone. She nods slightly to Haze once he speaks up before turning her gaze towards Miakoda. "Mia, this is Midnight my cousin.. I think you might remember him from the past?"
Midnight looks over to Miakoda, "Tremayne..." he says lightly. She should remember him by the mention of that word. The name was his past, and this pack was all he has left. Looking back towards Storm he smiles weakly hoping this traveling will be done soon afterall he's not the young wolf he once was from the past.
Shikoba perks noticeably. "Really? I'd love to learn!" She replies cheerfully, her tail wagging lightly behind her. "... the water -will- go back to normal, right?" As they travel further into strange lands, she looks and sniffs around more and more. She's never seen anyplace like this. Are they going to stay here? She gives an uncertain glance at her mother.
"Tremayne," Miakoda echoes with her eyes on Midnight. She nods once before giving a distrusting look to those cactus things again, listening to Haze's warning. They sting? What a strange thing to say.. And what evil trees! A soft and slightly uneasy rumble rises from her throat as she gives a cactus the evil-eye, as if expecting it to jump out and attack. She pauses to give her coat a shake, perhaps trying to physically rid herself of her nerves. "Everything always goes back to normal," she says, sounding more sure of this than anything else. "Imbalance returns to balance in time, and when it returns, so eventually shall we."
Bodhi dips his head in full agreement with Miakoda "On that i fully agree, balance will always return in time" his gaze turning toward the mountains "the ice simply needs to melt properly first" a shake of his head as he turns his gaze back to Shikoba and grins at her "ayupp, i'd be more then happy to teach you, atleast then i'll be doing something quite useful compared to my usual running around and just gathering information that very seldom become needed"
=== Scattering of Trees ===
Haze finally reaches the area he's most familiar with, pausing and turning on his heels to face the gathered pack that's followed him all the way here. There are more trees here, at least, but certainly nothing worthy of being called a forest. "Well, here we are...the waterhole's to the east, and the cavern I mentioned is to the west. Make yourselves at home -- last time we were here, there weren't too many others around, so things should hopefully be pretty quiet for the most part." Which is likely a relief to Storm and her pack. The male takes a couple of sniffs around him just to make sure it still holds true, and also to see if he can find any familiar scents on the air.
Storm nods slightly as Midnight brings up the old packs name, one she hasn't heard in a rather long time. She looks to Miakoda, watching her curiously a few moments before her attention turns to Haze as he speaks up once more. The alpha pauses and looks one way then another as she sniffs at the scents to get use to them. "Thank you Haze for leading us here.. It looks like it will be safe from the water that is for sure." An hopefully also from the cougars that threatened them in the forest. Her gaze turns to the pack. "Everyone should rest, an in the morning we can start exploring the area." Everyone save for her that is, she is going to look around before getting any rest in at the moment.
Shikoba tilts her head, an optimistic shine in her eyes. "So we're going back home then, someday?" But she's now slightly distracted by the funny looking trees with the pointed leaves. Once the pack slows to a stop, she wanders over to one, sniffing at it, then placing her forepaws up and staring toward the top. How is she supposed to rest when there's all these strange things to look at?
Bodhi surveys the area toughtfully and furrows his brows deeply as he looks toward Haze "Would my memory be correct from the one time i explored this area when tracking down Larkspur that there is an oasis to the east of us?" his head cocking slightly before looking turning to face shikoba and heading over toward her as he awaits the answer wanting to make sure she is safe "Yes, we will be going back home someday."
Haze bobs his head to Storm, offering a shy little smile when he answers her: "No problem." At Bodhi's question, he nods, but when Larkspur offers a plaintive little whine in his direction, his attentions quickly return to her. Guiding her pregnant form over towards the half-hidden cavern cut into the base of the mountainside, he leads her away into the quiet, cool den so that she can rest out of the heat, leaving the rest of the Lazuli behind to explore their new refugee camp.
Storm looks to Haze and offers him a faint smile back before watching he and her daughter move into the cave. "Perhaps one day we will return to the forest.." Though she knows that will not be her decision much longer. Her gaze turns towards the others. "I'll be back soon." Is all the alpha offers while she starts to slowly move off, heading towards the waterhole that Haze spoke off to get a better idea of what this new place looks like.
Storm, female wolf, Lazuli alpha
Miakoda, female wolf, Lazuli beta
Haze, male wolf
Larkspur, female wolf (spoofed by Haze)
Shikoba, female wolf
Bodhi, male wolf
Midnight, male wolf
Rye, male coyote (briefly)
(IC assumption that others of the Lazuli pack were present as well)
=== Grassy Plains ===
It's been about a day since they first stopped to rest, and a few of the stragglers who weren't with them immediately eventually tracked them down to join their party -- fortunately, before the rivers flooded completely this afternoon. Haze is laid by the pregnant and sleeping Larkspur's side, ears slicked back as he watches the fast-flowing deluge swirl so dangerously by only a few yards from where the pack currently sits. At least they made it just in time. He glances over in the direction of where he last saw Storm, wuffing quietly in her direction. "Do you think it's time we found some proper shelter? If we leave now, we can probably make it before dark."
The alpha is settled near where the water is, she'll know if the water rises anymore being where she is. Storm's ears perk forward and then back as she looks towards where Haze is, an nod is offered while she takes in a breath and slowlt pushes herself upwards stretching as she goes. "Yes.. I think we should get going. The rest should be able to follow.." She hopes at least. Her gaze drifts over the wolves here and she moves among them nosing each awake, along with murmuring it is time to leave.
Shikoba hasn't slept well at all. When the alpha wakes her, the young wolf very gradually rouses herself enough that she can climb to her feet, and maintain something like balance. "Wha... mmph. Are we moving again?" Her eyes wander over to the river, and promptly widen. When did it get so wide? Suddenly, Shikoba is very happy she didn't get left behind. "What happened?" She looks to Storm, having not a doubt that the alpha would somehow know the answer.
Miakoda had caught up with the pack, thankfully, before the floodwaters were able to cut her off from her family. The aging beta moves through the grasses, approaching Storm, pausing to nose a packmember awake as she hears the plans of continuing on. Her ears flick to Haze momentarily before she lifts her head to test the air that smells of too much water.
Bodhi offers a soft smile to Mia as he notes her while he continues to pace back and forth in silence while gazing at the river seemingly being deep in thought
Haze gently nuzzles Larkspur awake at the alpha female's affirmation, and rises to stretch out all four of his limbs before leading them on the last leg of their journey to a safer refuge, and somewhere that won't hold painfully fresh memories. "It's not far from here...just a little further to go," he says with a slightly crooked smile on his maw, loud enough for the rest to hear, as though attempting some sort of pep talk with the unrelated pack. Once they're all up and ready to move again, he turns to lead them directly south, away from the rushing river.
Storm looks to Miakoda, her tail slowly sways as she is glad that the other has joined them. She shifts towards her friend and bumps her head softly against the other's shoulder. "Mia.." Is said softly before she looks back to Haze and nods slightly. "Let's get going then.. Hopfully we will get there soon." This said as she starts to follow after Haze and Larkspur.
=== Sweeping Steppe ===
Shikoba lowers her head, not sure if she's asked the question loudly enough to be heard. It wasn't terribly important, though. In fact, she forgets all about it when the notices her mother, smiling in relief that she hadn't gotten left behind either. In all the confusion of moving, Shikoba hadn't taken notice whether she was with them or not. Silently, she follows after the rest of the pack, not sure what else to do at the moment.
Miakoda is not the epitome of relaxation on this walk, but who would be? Meandering outside of the forest and into unfamiliar land is stressful enough, but add on the fact that the river has created a barrier preventing them from going back is added badness! And so, Mia is a small wreck as she walks alongside Storm, eyeing Haze with a difficult to read expression on her face. "Where are we going, exactly?" asked, even if this has already been hashed out before her arrival. Her eyes move to and fro, eyeing the unfamiliar terrain, noting the sparse coverage available here. One calming factor is Shikoba, and a chuffing noise is given to her daughter as she moves nearer to her to bump her head to her shoulder. "Have you seen Moony?"
Bodhi retains his silence as he for the most part pads alongside Shikoba while studying the area around them, his tail actually wagging slightly as if seeming somewhat content with the wander even if its not the best of reasons to be be doing so
Being in the lead - as he's more familiar with the terrain into which they're headed - Haze doesn't notice the Lazuli beta's wary glances, but it's not as if he hasn't felt them from others in the pack already. He's been something of an outsider since his own pack, and here is no exception, though he's finally able to offer something of worth to the pack, even if it comes at the cost of everything that's caused the move south in the first place. The brindle-furred wolf seems to gain a bit of confidence with every step further into the lowlands, however, perhaps a result of his familiarity and sense of home within the area, not to mention his mate by his side - even if the pregnancy is taking a toll on her health.
Storm is quiet as she moves along, her gaze drifting over the pack too see who all is here, and well not here. She frowns slightly while taking in a breath before looking to Miakoda. "To where Larkspur and Haze were before coming home.." It is the only thing she could think of doing, moving away from the forest, away from the cougars.. An away from where Felstride died. "He wanted us to be safe.." This murmured softly to Miakoda, her ears lowering as she doesn't say who 'he' is but Mia should know by her expressions who it might be. While some in the pack might feel uneasy about following Haze, the alpha seems more relaxed mostly because Larkspur is with him and she knows her daughter would not lead the pack into harm's way, not after everything they have been through already.
Rye hears sounds coming and some voices. With a glance, he notices a wolf..... wait, a wolf pack.. Oh great that's not the right thing at this time. he makes sure his family is fairly concealed and using his own colouring, he moves around so he's a little distance away from them. As they get closer he does recognize one of the wolves for sure. He's met Bodhi many times. He also thinks he knows a few of the others, but He just wants to make sure they would only see him, and not notice anything else on here. he also hopes they keep moving along.
Shikoba casts another look toward Bodhi, tail swaying thoughtfully a moment before she starts to speak. "I... um, want to thank you again for helping me get across the river." She says quietly, looking a little embarrassed by the memory. She feeling a bump at her shoulder, and turns to smile at her mother, leaning the side of her head on Miakoda's neck. But when she asks about Moonbird, Shikoba looks startled. "Moon? No... no, I haven't." Her eyes scan the moving wolves hopefully, trying to pick out her brother among them.
Miakoda's eyes turn from Shikoba to regard Storm as she answers her. She nods wordlessly, giving another half glance to Haze. Her opinion of him seems nonexistant, which perhaps is a good thing considering her usual outlook towards new or strange wolves. She exhales a breath before glancing towards Bodhi as Shikoba thanks him. Lifing her head a bit, she nods towards the darker wolf. "What happened?" she inquires with a tilt of her head, but her expression falls a bit as Shikoba speaks of having not seen Moonbird. "Ah..well, I'm sure he'll catch up with us," she says, sounding more sure than she feels. "He is a ... He'll find his way," she says instead.
Bodhi smiles softly as he takes two steps close to Shikoba and leans his head in to offer a gentle nuzzle before taking a step away again "It was my pleasure to help you, and feel free to ask if you wish help with anything else" then looks over at Miakoda as he keeps his soft smile "i simply helped her cross the river when we were by it along with Storm"
Haze doesn't notice the camouflaged coyote off to the side, his hazel eyes focused on the path set in front of him; nor do any of the other packmates seem to spot him, and if they do they don't make an announcement of it, and so the other canine gets his wish. The Viridian-born male seems pretty determined to make sure they get to their intended destination without further incident, and so his paws carry them swiftly towards their temporary new home.
=== Cactus Patch ===
Storm follows along after Haze and Larkspur, her ears perked forward as she lisitons to the ones around her. Her mind is in a daze with all the new scents of the area. She glances one way and then another taking everything in, while a faint sigh escapes her.. The aging alpha already missed the forest. Her head lowers and her ears settle upon her head while her gaze goes back to resting in front of her as she pads along.
Midnight comes up along beside Storm offering her a light nose to the shoulder. Upon this journey he has been silent though wanting her to know that he's still there. The surroundings were foreign but at least they hads familiar beings which was better than being stuck alone. For a brief moment he looks among the others still learning most of them and vaguely recalling meeting Miakoda once before back in his wilder days.
Shikoba smiles softly to Bodhi after his offer. "Thanks, I will." She then nods in confirmation at what he tells her mother about the crossing. "I didn't know how to swim." She adds, looking down for a moment. Part of her is ashamed of that fact, but her heart is also heavy with worry for her brother. He's probably fine, but Shikoba has always felt protective of her brothers, so she can hardly help it.
Doesn't know how to swim? Miakoda watches her daughter curiously, then dips her head once. "I'm sure that will be alleviated soon out of necessity," she says before looking to Bodhi, but her eyes still turn frequently as their surroundings begin to change and change again. "Well ... thank you, Bodhi..." she says distantly as her eyes turn up to the towering cacti. Her pawsteps falter, and she glances to Storm, ears folding back. Changes changes. How many changes has this pack seen in her lifetime? Her head lowers a little, and it's a moment before she walks on, taking in the scents, all of which are unfamiliar. Midnight is noted and a memory is sparked by his scent, causing her head to raise fractionally. "I've seen you before...when?"
Bodhi looks over at Shikoba as he muses toughtfully "how would you feel about that once the river returns to its old levels or we find a small and nice place around here where we might be able to swim that i teach you how properly?" his gaze scanning the sorroundings for a few moments before returning to Shikoba, Miakoda given a warm smile and dip of his head as she thanks him
Haze glances back briefly at the Lazuli wolves trailing along behind him, offering a bit of a wry grin in their direction. "They're not the trees you're used to, but aren't they interesting?" he inquires, referring to the various shapes and sizes of cacti that have popped up in the dry area. "Just don't go sniffin' too close to 'em or anything...they sting." He definitely knows that from first-hand experience. "Just a little further now."
Storm ears perk forward as she looks to Midnight once his at her side, a faint smile is offered glad his still here with everyone. She nods slightly to Haze once he speaks up before turning her gaze towards Miakoda. "Mia, this is Midnight my cousin.. I think you might remember him from the past?"
Midnight looks over to Miakoda, "Tremayne..." he says lightly. She should remember him by the mention of that word. The name was his past, and this pack was all he has left. Looking back towards Storm he smiles weakly hoping this traveling will be done soon afterall he's not the young wolf he once was from the past.
Shikoba perks noticeably. "Really? I'd love to learn!" She replies cheerfully, her tail wagging lightly behind her. "... the water -will- go back to normal, right?" As they travel further into strange lands, she looks and sniffs around more and more. She's never seen anyplace like this. Are they going to stay here? She gives an uncertain glance at her mother.
"Tremayne," Miakoda echoes with her eyes on Midnight. She nods once before giving a distrusting look to those cactus things again, listening to Haze's warning. They sting? What a strange thing to say.. And what evil trees! A soft and slightly uneasy rumble rises from her throat as she gives a cactus the evil-eye, as if expecting it to jump out and attack. She pauses to give her coat a shake, perhaps trying to physically rid herself of her nerves. "Everything always goes back to normal," she says, sounding more sure of this than anything else. "Imbalance returns to balance in time, and when it returns, so eventually shall we."
Bodhi dips his head in full agreement with Miakoda "On that i fully agree, balance will always return in time" his gaze turning toward the mountains "the ice simply needs to melt properly first" a shake of his head as he turns his gaze back to Shikoba and grins at her "ayupp, i'd be more then happy to teach you, atleast then i'll be doing something quite useful compared to my usual running around and just gathering information that very seldom become needed"
=== Scattering of Trees ===
Haze finally reaches the area he's most familiar with, pausing and turning on his heels to face the gathered pack that's followed him all the way here. There are more trees here, at least, but certainly nothing worthy of being called a forest. "Well, here we are...the waterhole's to the east, and the cavern I mentioned is to the west. Make yourselves at home -- last time we were here, there weren't too many others around, so things should hopefully be pretty quiet for the most part." Which is likely a relief to Storm and her pack. The male takes a couple of sniffs around him just to make sure it still holds true, and also to see if he can find any familiar scents on the air.
Storm nods slightly as Midnight brings up the old packs name, one she hasn't heard in a rather long time. She looks to Miakoda, watching her curiously a few moments before her attention turns to Haze as he speaks up once more. The alpha pauses and looks one way then another as she sniffs at the scents to get use to them. "Thank you Haze for leading us here.. It looks like it will be safe from the water that is for sure." An hopefully also from the cougars that threatened them in the forest. Her gaze turns to the pack. "Everyone should rest, an in the morning we can start exploring the area." Everyone save for her that is, she is going to look around before getting any rest in at the moment.
Shikoba tilts her head, an optimistic shine in her eyes. "So we're going back home then, someday?" But she's now slightly distracted by the funny looking trees with the pointed leaves. Once the pack slows to a stop, she wanders over to one, sniffing at it, then placing her forepaws up and staring toward the top. How is she supposed to rest when there's all these strange things to look at?
Bodhi surveys the area toughtfully and furrows his brows deeply as he looks toward Haze "Would my memory be correct from the one time i explored this area when tracking down Larkspur that there is an oasis to the east of us?" his head cocking slightly before looking turning to face shikoba and heading over toward her as he awaits the answer wanting to make sure she is safe "Yes, we will be going back home someday."
Haze bobs his head to Storm, offering a shy little smile when he answers her: "No problem." At Bodhi's question, he nods, but when Larkspur offers a plaintive little whine in his direction, his attentions quickly return to her. Guiding her pregnant form over towards the half-hidden cavern cut into the base of the mountainside, he leads her away into the quiet, cool den so that she can rest out of the heat, leaving the rest of the Lazuli behind to explore their new refugee camp.
Storm looks to Haze and offers him a faint smile back before watching he and her daughter move into the cave. "Perhaps one day we will return to the forest.." Though she knows that will not be her decision much longer. Her gaze turns towards the others. "I'll be back soon." Is all the alpha offers while she starts to slowly move off, heading towards the waterhole that Haze spoke off to get a better idea of what this new place looks like.