The shoreline that butts up against the back of Hearthstone has always fascinated the young Callie. While autumn is slowly turning into winter, chilling the air and bringing with it, more rain, the young pup cannot help but feel the tug to go and run along the golden sands. Today, she has worked up enough courage to follow through. Paws carefully pick their way down toward the water, the noonday sun high above and offering some warmth against the persistent chill. A gentle breeze rolls off the water, ruffling her hodgepodge-colored coat and sending a shiver racing along her spine.

As her paws touch the sand, Caladia pauses a moment to relish the feel of the tiny granules underneath her. Continuing her trek to the water’s edge, she opens her senses, taking note of everything around her. Gulls lazily wheel in the sky above her, calling out their hunger to the world below them, their light forms standing in stark contrast to the soft grey clouds that are beginning to roll in. They bring with them, the promise of rain and life. Yet, further out, on the horizon, dark clouds are beginning to gathering, boiling in anger and speaking of a storm that will hit the castle within the next few days.

Caladia stops on the very edge of the water, where the warm liquid can lick at her toes without fully submerge her paws. Inhaling the salt air deep into her lungs, the pup closes her mismatched eyes as enjoys the smell and mentally ticks off the animals that she can smell nearby. Satisfied that there are no predators are close by, the girl opens her eyes and turns herself toward the west where the pack that resides at falls lay beyond the long stretch of shoreline. She crouches slightly, coiling her muscles and holding the powerful stance for space of two breathes.

On the second breath, she holds it a moment, before slowly pushing the air past her lips and releasing the pent up energy in her muscles. Callie shots off down the beach, the wind whipping past her as her legs stretch out as far as they can while the girl sprints across the golden sand. Paws kick up some the granules, sending them flying every which way as she passes. Blood thunders in her ears as she races further and further away from the castle that she calls home.

Breathes come quickly as her legs churn, the girl pushing her body to go as fast as it can for as long as it can. Only when the trees of the neighboring packs land come into view does the young girl slow down, her short legs beginning to feel the burn of lactic acid in her muscles. Caladia carefully slows down until she comes to a complete stop, panting happily at the wonderful run she has just had.

Tongue hangs out of her mouth as she pants, trying to catch her breath before she turns around to walk back home. While she waits, her eyes scan the trees that seem to spring up of nowhere. Just as she readies to turn away and begin the trek back, a noise catches her attention. Low growls roll out of the tree line that are all too familiar to the young pup. A brown form appears as a coyote stalks out toward her, eyes filled with desperation and hunger as it eyes the pup.

Lips pull back to reveal her teeth as the young girl takes up her practiced defensive stance, knowing that, where there is one, there are more coyotes. Sure enough, two more shapes appear, resolving into similar forms, their ribs poking out underneath their coat as they slowly stalk toward her. The memory of the berry grove and how she had been cornered, scared, and alone flashes before her eyes and Callie pushes it away, determined to never again run from a fight.

However, that fight has taught her something and the pup tips her head back and calls to the pack wolves across the border. Caladia asks them for help while also informing them that there are predators lingering in their tree line. With that done, she squares up with the creatures, ready to fight them off and, hopefully, chase them away from the other pack’s lands. The quartet slowly circle each other, feigning attacks to probe each other’s response.

She attempts to buy time for someone to come and help as she half-heartedly lunges toward the predators, slapping the sand in front of them with her paws before retreating backward. They all growl threateningly, waiting for someone else to make the first move. The biggest of the trio grows tired of their game and kicks off the fight, attempting to rush Caladia and knock her over. While the pup still has some growing to do, she is not easily bullied and she meets the coyote with teeth and paws, ready to end this fight one way or another.


WC: 833
Total WC: 833 / 1500


"Caladia Carpathius"

With his new companion perched on his shoulders and peeking out over the top of his head as he went, he began showing the young stoat all of the places around the pack that he should know and beginning to introduce him to some of the herbs that he had learned from his father so far. When he had asked his mother for a companion to keep with him the same way she had her companions with her almost all the time he hadn't really known what kind of companion he'd want, but he had all of the faith that she would figure out what he needed and it seemed like his faith hadn't been misplaced. Little Copper had hardly left his side since they were introduced and was already proving to be very helpful in collecting harder to reach herbs and plants and even with hunting little rodents and the like. Sure, Copper wasn't as fierce looking as Ears or Whiskers, but he didn't need him to be. He just wanted a buddy to take around him him during his foraging trips and to help him out if he got in a scuffle and he was certainly good at both of those things!

Their exploring and explaining eventually brought him near the edge of the territory that was closest to the shore line and if he paid attention he could hear the whooshing crash of the waves against the sands in the distance. He generally tried to avoid leaving the pack lands just so he wouldn't risk getting himself in trouble, but he didn't mind getting close to the fringes of his mother's territory or maybe making a quick run down to the beach to collect things like seashells or driftwood. Sometimes he'd even find an interesting clump of seaweed or some crustaceans if he happened to wander that way right after the high tide retreated. He walked along the tree line, pausing occasionally to let Copper sniff at a new plant while he explained what it was so that Copper could even start collecting leaves and herbs on his own if he wanted. The stoat was small enough that he doubted there would ever be a reason for them to not be together, but just in case he was more than glad to show his companion some things he could do to be helpful or fill time!

However, this peaceful trip through this portion of forest was interrupted by the sound of a howl calling for help in the distance and the faint sound of growls and snaps through the foliage. His ears perked up with worry and even though he probably should have waited for one of the older members of the pack to answer first he still rushed toward the sound, feeling copper grip onto tuffs of his fur on his scruff to hold on as he began to run. He skidded to a top right at the edge of the trees where it opened up onto the beach, emerald gaze falling on the girl that was currently keeping three very hungry looking coyotes at bay. With a frown he frantically began to look around to find something that he could use to distract the coyotes further or maybe even scare them off. Even though this girl looked like she was ready to stand up to these hungry predators, he didn't think even the two of them could take all three on by themselves without ending up hurt and he certainly didn't want that to happen!

With a tug on his ear, Copper got his attention and pointed toward a branch that had fallen from a near by tree that was dried up with just some browning leaves clinging to it. The ermine then skittered down his back and wriggled into the pouch he was carrying to retrieve a set of flint and steel that was tucked inside. Dorian grinned at the clear suggestion the stoat was trying to make and quickly put the plan into action, grabbing the flit and steel that he had been practicing with and getting to work setting the branch on fire. With the branch now alight with flame, he bounded forward with some barks and growls that were slightly muffled by the unlit end of the branch that he was carrying in his mouth. He got the coyotes' attention very quickly and he went charging at them, swinging the flaming stick toward them and making them stumble and trip over themselves to get out of the way. Hungry or not, getting burned seemed to be not worth it in their eyes and the trio quickly turned and high-tailed it off of the beach, disappearing back into the brush. He grinned triumphantly, his tail wagging excitedly as he went to drop the branch in a near by puddle to put it out, glad that he had managed to scare off the predators before anything bad could happen.

WC: 826
Total: 1659 / 1500

"Dorian"