Peregrine sulked, and glared at Tsiry. They both crouched by the water's edge, mostly obscured among the shoots of young cattails. Her coat was caked with mud and matted in some places, and had lost a bit of it's sheen. She was used to affecting a disheveled appearance, never having given it much thought before, but this was something else entirely. Tsiry blinked. Peregrine scoffed and withdrew, as if she had been slapped. "You were following us for weeks?! You honestly expect me to believe that?" Tsiry blinked again. Peregrine looked away, sighing and shaking her head. For heaven's sake, the lemur was bright orange! To think they'd been trailed for longer than a heartbeat without Peregrine sensing her friend was more than she'd ever concede. From all she could remember, they'd made it down to the southern continent before she realized she was being given something to addle her. She had begun to starve herself, and looked the worst for it, but it was enough to plan and execute an escape. One harrowing flight down a flood-fed river was enough to separate her from the rogues who had lured her away from her borders. All the while she had feared that she was lost forever from her companion and dearest friend. Of course, Tsiry had been there when she'd awoken, battered and bruised, on the creek's bank. The lemur continued to stare at her with those vibrant blue eyes, that Pere had never simultaneously wanted to see so much and so little of. "You bastard," she whispered, ghosting out alongside a harsh exhale. "You couldn't have done anything sooner?" Tsiry let out an offended huff and turned away, throwing her small hands up in  frustration. Peregrine couldn't help but laugh, and struggled to her feet. She was weak, but she could never miss an opportunity to needle the prosimian when she was her most agitated. Peregrine nosed at her ribs, causing Tsiry to flinch and let out a sharp, "Eek!" The lemur whirled on her, and before Peregrine knew it she was splashing through the shallows, trying her hardest to keep just out of reach. "Talk" "You" Think "Tsiry"

"Now this is where we shoud've been durning the winter!"  Rœkia grinned slyly at Wolf as he flew above her head but he simply chattered at her in response.  The silly thing had instisted on going up north to play in the snow.  Rœkia had been less than thrilled but at least she'd gotten a few nice jars out of the deal.  In one she now had the dying poison frog.  She'd been trying to keep it alive, having Wolf use his talents to catch the creature insects after poking some holes in the lid but it just wasn't working.  Of course having everything rattling around in her backpack probably wasn't helping matters.  Oh well!  The poison would likely still be good and coupled with the roiling bacteria of a decaying body she had a once in a lifetime weapon… but no target. Flitting like a wraith along the lazy creek she wound her way around the cattails, lightly picking a few and stuffing them in her bag.  They weren't what she was after though.  She just needed some horsetail and to calm her nerves a bit.  There had been to many close calls of late and- "Eek" Rœkia swirled around with a snarl, hackles raised wondering if she'd managed to find another dam cannibal when she spied an all to familiar form, muddy, haggard, and flailing through the water.  Her hackles stayed raised and she fell silent.  A torrent of emotions spilling through her chest.  Fury at having been abandoned without a word, relief at seeing her friend was ok, confusion as to where the fuck Peregrine had got off to.  She felt Wolf land atop her shoulder blades and felt relief and reassurance at his presence.  Clearly her throat she leveled at stare at Peregrine. "Well, you look like absolute shit. I hope you have a good reason for disappearing like you did and that it involves me poisoning the ever-living hell out of some crusty, rotted soul." "Talk" Wolf Think

Okay, admittedly, the last wolf she'd expected to run into was Roe. She arose, fur thoroughly soaked and dripping. It was painfully obvious that her frame had thinned, but you would never guess that she was malnourished with the way she leapt in surprise. With all but feline grace she spun on her heel, yelping and promptly losing her balance, only to catch it again just at the last moment. Anything to avoid taking another dunk in the brisk spring melt. She staggered upright, and drew in a breath to gasp... only to choke on the ragged intake. Tsiry watched in disbelief, shaking her head as Peregrine hacked and heaved. "M-Mags," Peregrine gasped out for old times sake. "Y-you can't creep up on someone like that." Tsiry let out a groan. To be honest, she couldn't really tell her friend what had happened. The last thing she remembered was enjoying a nice meal, then finding a group of lowlife scuttling around on her borders and chasing them a bit farther than she should have. In retrospect it should have been obvious that they were taunting her. Everything went dark not long after. "I was taken captive by a band of scum, they lured me from our borders and... incapacitated me." She shifted, still uncomfortable admitting her blatant mistakes. "They must have been giving me something to addle me, because I remember almost nothing about the journey down. Eventually Tsiry found me, and when she was able to evade my captors, began to steal what food they gave me. After a few days I came back to my senses and escaped." She looked down at herself, still soaking and very skinny. "Only slightly worse for wear," she added on with a small laugh and a weak grin. She didn't expect Roekia to be happy with her under any circumstances, and she didn't even really expect the woman to believe her, except that Peregrine truly did look down on her luck. All she was really hoping for at this point was that Roe would give her a head start to keep calling out apologies while her pale friend ran her down. Peregrine wondered if she perhaps had any idea what had been done to her. She had already spent a fair portion of her freedom contemplating revenge, and that seemed like a good place to start. "Talk" "You" Think "Tsiry"

Rœkia watched with mild amusement as Peregrine spun around and lost her balance, just managing to catch herself but amusement turned to worry at the hitch in Peregrine's voice. The spotted femmes' brow furrowed as she marched straight for her friend. "Peregrine what happened, are you ok? Let me have a look at you." Peregrine was a state, her fur looked unkempt and she was clearly malnourished. "Come, follow me. I'm not setting my bag down in the water." She strode back toward the shore and with a sharp jerk she'd dropped the bag to the ground and immediately began rummaging in it, pulling out clumps of herbs until she pulled a fat little prairie dog out of the main compartment. She'd been saving it for later as a snack but Peregrine clearly needed it more. She set it down for her friend. "Eat this, you look half-starved." Peregrine spoke of her journey and she wasn't more than a few words in before Rœkia was glaring out across the horizon with her hackles raised, barely managing to suppress a growl. So that was why Aerie had fallen? Some disgusting low life's had kidnapped her alphess, her friend and lord knows what had been done to her while she'd been incapacitated. Rœkia knew a thing or two about being subjected to the ministrations of others while barely conscious and immediately jumped to the worst conclusion. Hatred boiled in her gut so hot and black that she almost couldn't bring herself to speak. When she finally did she met Peregrine's gaze her voice coming out low and cold. "I'm going to kill them… slowly and with the most creative assortment of herbs I can find." A sharp laugh suddenly spilled out of her lungs and she shook her head. "Sorry, I just believe in having a clean earth and we really must take out our trash. But that can wait, you need to be cared for and I'm just the matronly sort to do it." "Matronly as a rattlesnake," called out Wolf. "Tell you what Peregrine, you can eat my magpie, just give me a second and I'll catch him." Wolf took off into the trees before sticking his tongue out at the speckled woman. Rœkia's gaze softened as she looked over her friend. "Tell me what you need, anything and I will do it." "Talk" Wolf Think

Thankfully, Roekia did not seem angry with her once she'd heard what had happened. Relief took the breath from her chest, and Peregrine found herself sagging. Roe motioned for them to head to dry land, and with a sluggish gait she followed. Tsiry scuttled along in her wake, bounding up to settle on Peregrine's shoulders. Pere shivered as the cold water leaked into her fur. Roe pulled a prairie dog from her satchel, causing the russet woman to break out into a smile. Of course her friend would be prepared for anything. She gave her a grateful sigh and began to tuck in. She ripped up the hind quarters and tossed them to her friend, insisting on sharing the hard-caught meal. Roekia promised vengeance, and Peregrine smiled. "Take me with you, would you? You know I love to watch you work." It was true to, she respected the woman's casual brutality. It was an admirable trait, an enviable one even! She chuckled at wolf's addition, helpless except to agree, even if her friend did not seem to appreciate it. She offered her services, but Peregrine could only shrug. "I need to regain my strength, and I want to see what has become of the wolves who'd pledged themselves to Aerie. Of course, tracking down and quartering the louts who hobbled me is a priority as well, but first I think I'd like a good night's sleep." She laughed, and though it was a weak thing it came from the heart. She was dreadfully tired, but just as happy to have found Roekia again. She hoped the woman would not mind if she wanted to stick close by her side for a while. "Talk" "You" Think "Tsiry"

Rœkia watched Peregrine with rapt attention, trying to take in the woman's every movement, the way her muscles clung to her frame as she sought out evidence of injury beyond malnutrition. The gears in her head were already turning, cooking up delicious ways to get vengeance on those that abused her friend and tore down the one pack she'd actually been willing to join. Rœkia had always been vindictive but she wasn't one to rush into her plans. No, she needed any information Peregrine could provide on these brutes and then with careful planning, like a gardener tending her garden, she'd reap the fruits of her labor with as much gusto as the grim reaper! Rœkia eyed the hindquarters of the prairie dog that her friend had tossed at her. She wanted to hurl them back at Pere's face and insist that the other eat all of the meal but she knew better than that and so she took a moment to dig in herself, even allowing Wolf to swoop down and peck flesh from one of the legs. She grinned at Peregrine's request. "Oh, darling it would be my pleasure! We can't get proper revenge without giving you the chance to witness them writhing. No poisoning is ever complete without the chance to taunt the victim's failing body. In fact, I insist you choose the poisons. Plant… or animal." She slipped her jaws into her bag and pulled out the poison dart frog she'd managed to seize back in the glowshroom cavern. She'd gone to great pains to keep it alive, at least until she could learn if the poison would keep or if it needed to be fresh. "I'm afraid there's not much to tell of the wolves who pledged loyalty to Aerie. From what I know they've all just split, joined other packs or are wandering as loners but I haven't really run into any of them yet. But I agree, recover your strength… and then we'll plot." Rœkia finished her half then moved along side Peregrine, offering her body should the other need a shoulder to lean on. "I have a makeshift den not far from here. It might be a bit small for two of us but I think we can manage." "Talk" Wolf Think