Clouds clung to the sky but Karabela was grateful for the cover as she worked her way down to the base of the canyon. Rested up from the siege she felt her heart tugging her to go for an expedition and so she'd taken a leave of absence from Abaven to enjoy a short vacation to the far south of Alacritis. This canyon was just begging to be explored! So many little caves and crevices…. if only it weren't for the steep incline that made navigating the canyon far from leisurable. Oh well, at least she was going to get a good work out… then maybe she could challenge Mercy. It probably wouldn't stop the other woman from giving her snoody little glares but it would make Raba feel a lot better to tear into the others vanity. Finally, reaching the base of the canyon, Raba strolled over to the stream that ran through the heart of it to gulp down some water.

His mother would love these canyons… Káti rested his head on his paws as he peered out the entrance of one of the caves he'd turned into a temporary den while he tried to work some things out. Vitality had up and disappeared and Káti's connection to the other Diamachi wasn't as strong. Despite his best efforts he was feeing more alone than ever and for some reason it was driving him to seek out solitude rather than company. Turquoise eyes gazed out across the canyon when he noticed a dark shape descending into it. Huh? Another wolf? She was young, probably about her age. Quietly he crept out of the cave he'd been hiding in and began sliding his way down to the canyon floor to get a better look. Slipping quickly behind a rock formation he peered at her. Content simply to watch and imagine little stories about her. Maybe she was a runaway princess being chased by bandits… oh, oh, or a pirate! Yea she was probably a pirate and had some buried treasure hidden somewhere nearby. "Speech"

Karabela's drinking slowed but it didn't completely let up as she became aware of someone watching her. She could just feel it. It made the fur on the back of her next stand up. Raba's body shifted, her eyes glancing cagily to the side before she caught sight of bright blue eyes ducking just behind a rock formation. Aha! There was her little spy. Well, he was going to be in for a nasty surprise quite shortly. Her defenses set as she turned, body slinking low. As soon as the boy would peer out again from behind his rock her limbs would uncoil and spring as she sought to slam her body into his and knock the smaller male over. She'd teach him a thing or too.

Káti slowly peeked out from behind the boulder again only for the girl to pounce on him and pin him on his back. He squeaked in surprise, his tail flipping up between his legs in submission as he stared up at her bared and gleaming teeth. "Wait! Don't hurt me I didn't mean any harm!" He hoped she'd listen. "I just… I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here." He gazed up at her golden eyes, searching for something, any hint that might let him know he wasn't about to get severely beaten or worse. "I… are you a pirate? Are you looking for buried treasure?" "Speech"

Karabela grinned as she knocked the boy over to his backside, a wicked grin on her face but for once she wouldn't speak. She'd stare down at him threateningly and watch as he stuttered, freely spilling information without any prompting from her whatsoever in his fear. However, when the boy would mention 'pirate' and 'treasure' Karabela's facade would fall and she burst out laughing. A pirate? Her? Well… it did have something of a ring to it but she wasn't sure what she'd really count as treasure. Raba climbed off the boy. "No, silly. I'm not a pirate. I'm an explorer! And I'm here to investigate this canyon. What about you? What are you doing here? Say! Do you want to go exploring with me? We can be a team, come on!" Without waiting for the boy to give her a yes or a no she took off down the base of the canyon grinning as she strode along the rapids.

Káti stared in open-mouthed shock as the girl started laughing, stating she was an explorer and then she asked a bunch of questions leaving him stuttering to answer before she hopped off him and took off. Káti scrambled to his feet and dashed after her as the started to turn the sharp bend in the middle of the canyon. "Hey! Wait for me!" He strolled up beside the girl, eyeing her curiously with a sideways glance of his turquoise eyes. She was an odd one that was for sure… and he smiled softly. "As it just so happens I'm an explorer to. I'm looking for some good places where healing plants grow but I don't think this is one of them. My name's Káti Thyre by the way… what's yours?" "Speech"

Karabela scampered up a steep embankment to poke her nose in one of the caves that looked out over the shallow river. She paused as she watched the boy scramble up after her. Well, well… so she'd managed to befriend yet another healer. She really could not understand the fascination with plants but it was good to meet another explorer. She found having a partner could make the experience more interesting. Raba stopped suddenly and whirled on the boy so fast she nearly cracked her neck when he stated his name. Thyre. Káti Thyre. "Thyre! You're a Thyre?! I am too! I'm Karabela Thyre. Did you know my mom Dægmar Thyre?" Of all the luck had she managed to actually find another member of her family? Just how many were out there?

Káti ran right into the back of the girl as she stopped then skittered back as she whirled on him. For a second he thought she was going to attack him but then she started speaking and again he struggled to get a word in edge wise. But whoa wait…. her last name was Thyre too? Thyre wasn't a common last name he was almost certain they had to be related and then she mentioned the name Dægmar and his tail wagged back and forth, tongue lolling out as he grinned. "Yea, yea I know Dægmar! Well I know of her. She's my aunt, a fierce warrior, my mom told me all sorts of stories about her….. wait Dægmar's your mom? Cool! I'd love to meet her sometime." "Speech"

Wow, so this was her cousin? Crazy! And Dægmar had a sister? "This is crazy, you should definitely come visit me in Abaven sometime." Then he mentioned wanting to meet Dægmar and her smile faded. Slowly she pushed past him and headed down the incline, pausing only to glance back at him. "I'm sorry Káti…. she passed away…. c'mon there's a big cave over on the other side of the river that's just begging to be explored." She didn't wait and instead slid down to the embankment, eying the shallow river for a moment before jumping in, nearly gasping at the shock of the cool water. Pushing off the bottom she scrambled onto the far bank, shaking off her coat as she got to the other side. She made a beeline for the cave, slipping into the cool dark and eyeing a few bats that clung to the ceiling. She wasn't sure why the sudden mention of her mother had prompted her to close off like that. There was just so much information to process.

Káti watched Karabela take off, a sinking feeling settling into the pit of his stomach at the news of his aunts death. Obviously he hadn't been close to her but all the same… following his cousin he forded the river… with a bit more trouble than she had, his shorter frame unable to reach the bottom. Finally he managed to cross and shook out his pelt. Cautiously he entered the cave just behind Karabela. "I'm sorry…" he whispered, uncertain what else to say. They sat there like that, in silence for some time before he spoke again. "I know this is strange of me to ask but… I'd like to pay my respects to her if I could. If not though I understand." "Speech"

Karabela turned slowly to Káti, willing herself to smile softly at his apology and the desire to pay respect to her mother, a woman he didn't even really know. "Sure… but where she passed is on packlands in Imperium. We'd be skinned alive if we go there but her mortal wounds were dealt in the far north… in the Red Forest…" she sighed and shook her head. "That's also now pack land but it was towards the north of the Red Forest. How about we meet there the next full moon. You can tell me more about yourself and our family…. I…. I need to go." She pushed quickly past him and disappeared down the canyon in a dead run, the sudden emotions starting to climb up her chest and for some reason she felt she could not show any sign of weakness in front of this boy. She didn't dare do so. Couldn't.

i goofed wrong thread