For Rudyard

Ellery figured she’d stop being so surprised by the different lands they came across, but her wonder never stopped. Each land only made her think more and more about how large the world beyond them really was. Despite that, she still missed her mother and Papa terribly, as well as her suddenly many siblings. She still couldn’t believe that Nineva had managed to have five whole pups in her last litter. If not for knowing how many pups the Archers tended to have, she might have wondered if her mother was an anomaly.

But, even as much as she missed them she knew she had a mission to do, which was round up Scully, Avella and her little brother, Clouse. Scully and Avella, her agemates, could at least take care of themselves, but Clouse was a different story. At 6 months old he was still so young and impressionable and she was sure the mischievous Scully had talked the youth into their escapade. The Archer boy was going to get a good cuffing from her when she finally found them, and Ancestors help them if anything had happened to the Hervok-Archer child.

The little band composed of Judas, Ramiel and Ellery had entered the continent a few days prior. They’d decided to stop for a break at the Willows, since it reminded the two Archer men of Willow Ridge. Plus, it was a place that still had a fair amount of prey, a good source of water and ample shelter. With winter moving in further everyday these were resources that couldn’t be ignored. Thus, they’d each gone out to find themselves something to eat.

The massive Hervok woman moved skillfully through the willows, flicking her ears in annoyance as their long limbs tickled her head. She held back a sneeze as one brushed her nose, her persian blue gaze watering. She blinked in annoyance, a scowl forming on her lips. How she missed the crags and twisting maze of stones that had comprised her youth.

"Speech"

Rudyard was excited he'd gotten mom to take him out to explore in the trees.  The motley grey pup was going to work on his hunting skills.  It was vastly important he became the best he could be which would surely exceed greatness.  He'd asked mom to let him try hunting alone so she wasn't right next to him, but he knew she was nearby and could see her farther back. The scent of his familiar prey target was nearby.  Rabbit! Forcing his tail to quit wagging he paused in the stride he'd been about to take and like a checklist being checked off he stopped his tail from wagging first, focused on where the wind was to shift his positioning, then looked to the ground, snuffed the air again and headed for the scent.  After a short distance, he sniffed something else and then saw motion.  Another wolf! The notion of sneaking up on them was one of his first thoughts, a slow glance back to where he was sure mom waited had him exhale the excitement he had felt at the idea of sneaking up on a stranger.  Mom wouldn't like it.  He kept to where he was, sniffing the air again and her scent.  The realization came a moment later this wolf was probably from the armada!  That would make the most sense since they were close.  Wagging his tail at the thought, but still not running out to the wolf he didn't know he called out, "Hey, who are you?  You're from the armada I bet, right?"  See, he sounded smart guessing where they were from probably. "Rudyard"

Of course she knew there were other packs nearby. A lot of them to be exact, but it was as good a place as any for them to start. They needed to ask around, see if any of them had come across the little group they were searching for and the best way to do that was smack dab in the middle of pack country. Though why they all choose to stay so close to each other she didn’t know. Surely there was some bad blood going on, after all that’s what had driven them out. She’d have to keep her eyes and ears open.

A small voice called out to her from behind a bush. She paused, head lifting and ears swirling in the direction of the sound before she gave a few quick sniffs. Hm, they seemed to be downwind, no wonder she hadn’t smelled them. But, she wasn’t all that concerned. From their voice she could tell they were a pup, which begged another question; where was their escort?

”And what makes you think that?” she asked, making no move in the direction of the cub. Her Persian blue gaze scanned the area around her, trying to see if the adult was in the area. She didn’t want to be starting any trouble when they’d just arrived. Making a bad impression wouldn’t get her the information she required.

"Speech"

Walk | "Talk" | think

“’Cause I’ve been there! I met lots of the armada, though not you.” Rudy was still quite happy over having gotten to travel all the way to another pack's turf.  It was true, he didn’t recognize this wolf and he had met several members of the armada but mostly it had been a time with the other puppies.  How many adults did he actually remember?  

“Since they’re close it makes sense.” Rudy nodded with his own assessment but then gave the large wolf a more thoughtful expression, “unless I’m wrong?”  Rudy preferred to be right whenever possible but if he was going to be wrong it might as well be to learn something new and interesting.  There was no reason to worry either way since he had an adult nearby that could come if trouble caused.

If she wasn’t from the armada then where would she be from?  What was the next closest pack from this direction? Rudy wasn’t really sure and that wouldn’t do.  The pup had a hungry desire to know just about everything so was already setting up a list of things he needed to find out later.  The pup also seemed content with their distance, neither going in closer but certainly showing no sign of leaving.

The child seemed quite sure of himself, full of confidence that reminded her of herself at that age. Though, she supposed she would have been more cautious around a stranger even if they were from a familiar pack. Either way she meant him no harm and it wasn’t like she wasn’t used to puppies at this point, so she played along. Maybe he’d learn a thing or two.

She tilted her head as if in thought and nodded, “Your thinking is pretty smart and would make sense. But, there’s a way to be sure.” That way, of course, was a wolf’s most vital asset. The nose. “Take a big sniff of my scent and tell me what you think. Am I from Armada, or not?” With her siblings, Ellery had always encouraged them to find things on their own. She would gently lead them in the right direction or give them a small hint, but she thought it was important to be self-sufficient.

"Speech"