Qanik

in defense of the innocent

An already long journey had been made longer yet by the youth of her sons, but Qanik could remain in the north no longer. She had been uneasy about denning so close to Roman's former pack after having left on such harsh terms but when she'd been heavily pregnant, and later when the pups were still too young for any sort of journey, it had seemed the only option. Now though her unease had been simply growing, and with her body recovered finally from her ordeal she had gathered the two boys, explained where they were going, and set out to find them a new home and safety.

Her slow quest had brought them meandering in a steadily southern direction. She'd taken turns carrying each of them to give them a break, but they had still been tired at the end of the day each time and she couldn't blame them. She'd stopped early last night rather than show up with tired and cranky pups - her boys were good boys, but even good kids could give a bad impression after walking so long - but now here she was. Ready to join a pack.

Again.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, placed a comforting lick on one of the boys' brow, and raised her thick muzzle to send out a call for a ranking wolf to meet her there.



speech.

cowardice is the only sin

The rains had started to ease in the last day or so and today would be greeted with sunshine. It seemed like a good start to things and the members where at last able to stretch their legs without drowning or the worry of being lost in the heavy wake of the storm. It seemed like a good start and the boy held high hopes for the day. He was wondering his lands, inspecting the damage done by the storm. He found fallen trees and well his river was swollen it was on the edge of his territory and did not pose a danger to his wolves if they went about his normal lives. His lake was deep and murky, a change from the soft clear blue it usually boosted, but he was certain it would die down with the disappearance of the storms. He had turned onto his second territory, Tall Grass Plains, which had been far less ravaged by the weather when he would hear the sound of call, beckoning to him. The boy would smile, he knew today held promise and their would be a lightness to his step as made his way towards the caller. He would stop before the family of three with a smile and nod his head towards them. ?Greetings, I am Crucifix, the Prima of Solstice, what brings you to my borders?? he asked gently. "Speech"

A call would ring out from the border, pulling her attention from her napping kids. Her crown would lift, glancing between the cave entrance and her kids. She was going stir crazy in here. Rising, she would wait to ensure that they stayed asleep before she slipped from the den. Cru had already been out and about so he would not get a chance to protest. Picking up an easy trot she would head for the border within the plains. Nostrils would quiver, picking up Cru scents immediately. A sly grin would lift her lips as she approached. He would not be overly happy that she was away from the kids, but she couldn't spend another day locked in the cave.

The storm had passed, but the earth was still wet, mud everywhere and puddles of water making navigating a litter tricky. Slowing to a walk, her gaze would flicker from Cru to the pale stranger. A smile would lift her lips as she came to stand beside her mate. "And I am Sibelle, Regime of Solstice." Her singular gaze would search the woman's gaze, finding her to be a complete stranger.

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Miksa could not believe how different the territory was here compared to the rocky forest where he and his brother had been born. It was like his mother had dragged them to an entirely different world than what he was used to, everything bright and green and warm. And soggy. Clouds had been a near constant since they had traveled south, and occasionally rain or sprinkles too, but today there was sunshine enough to make the grounds easier to walk on and considering all the walking that his family had been doing lately the mostly white boy was incredibly happy about it.

He could still feel a bit of mud between his toes as he stood beside his mother and Shtiya and carefully he flexed them, staring down at his paws with critical yellow eyes. How many steps had he taken to get here? How much ground covered? It felt like a lot, and now this new, strange place as going to be their home. Thinking of that conversation his mother had had with them, Miksa lifted his bright stare to glance outward across the plains and felt his breath catch when he noticed someone coming. The plan his mother had spoken of seemed to be going according to plan.

The changes made him anxious, nervous, and quietly the boy tucked himself a little more closely against his mother's white side, wishing somehow that he could blend right in there and remain unnoticed while the adults conversed and went about all the technicalities that came with getting a new home.

Man, were they ever gonna be done walking? They'd walked and walked and walked and then...they walked some more! He was tired of walking! Everything was interesting and there was so much to see, but his paws hurt. He wanted a nap. Shtiya wanted his stuff too. It made him sad that he had to leave it all behind. Well, he didn't have to leave everything behind. At the start of the journey, the boy had stuffed his cheeks full of trinkets. More than once he'd nearly swallowed one of the hooves he was carrying. Bit by bit, trinket by trinket, the pup was forced to discard his treasures. Each loss had made him sad, but his mouth hurt and he hated not being able to ask questions. Now the only treasure he had left was a short piece of chain he'd recently found. It was only five lengths long and more rust than metal, but it so unusual and unnatural that the little boy fell in love with it immediately. They stopped walking. They stopped walking!! His momma licked the top of his head and he briefly turned gleeful eyes up to look at her before casting them across their surroundings. Where were they, exactly? "Mah-" Bleh, the treasure! He spit it out and the floodgates opened. "Momma! Where are we? Whatcha doing? Who ya talking to?" A brute arrived and the boy, having never met a stranger, regarded him with a curious expression before answering him as if the older wolf's question had been for him instead of his mother. "I dunno, my momma brought me. What are we doing on his broaders...broroders...br..brodders? BRORDERS." Why was it such a hard word? Shtiya's ears went back and he took a deep breath before trying again. "...Borders?" Yes!! Pleased with himself, the boy beamed up at the grown ups. It was then that another wolf arrived and Shtiya, without missing a beat, jumped into the conversation once more. "Hi lady! I'm Shtiya! What's a re-gee uh...a regeema? Regee...Reg-reg-Regime!" ""

Their arrival at the boarders caused Shtiya to erupt with questions, but before his mother could answer not one but both leaders of the pack appeared and his questions quickly became focused on them, while Miksa pressed himself against her shyly. Qanik brushed Miksa reassuringly with her muzzle before tapping the other boy. "Mind your manners, Shtiya," she murmured softly in admonishment. She bowed her head respectfully to the pair who had appeared at her call. "Greetings. I am Qanik, and these are my sons, Miksa and Shtiya," she gestured to each of the boys in turn as she said their names. "We have traveled down from the north, from Waterfall Peak, to seek a new home." She took a deep, steadying breath, then spoke the words that she'd only spoken once before. "We would like to join your pack, if you'd have us." OOC: Sorry such a crappy tag. Just wanted to get things back on track.

As he spoke to the woman he would see movement at the corner of her eyes, a touch of red that warmed his heart, through he didn't look up till she was beside him, and it was then that he flashed a warm smile towards her. The pups the woman was bringing where curious, he took them in and noticed one was quite, watchful even well the other attempted words only vaguely familiar to it. He hid his smile as the mother told off the chatty one, she seemed familiar with Motherhood, even if Fatherhood was still an utter mystery to Crucifix.



She began to speak then,and Crucifix gave her his attention, nodding his head to the giving of names, his and his mates already told. He thought for a moment when she finished, as a single mother she would have her hands full with the pups, but he still had to ask. ?What are you strengths, Qanik? In Solstice we like to place a wolf where they can do the best, but also train them at a second profession as well, and this will also require you to tend two training meetings out of three, Hunting, Warrior training, and a healer conference. This will also go to your pups when they come of age. How old are they now? When they turn one they need to decide where they would like to train first? he explained some of the workings of Solstice as well as asking her a few questions, and waited then for her response.

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Two children stood with the woman, one shy and quiet, and other not so much. He would first bombard Cru with questions before doing the same to her. A smile would lift her lips. "Regime is an Alpha." She would peer down at him, her expression similar to her tones of being light and friendly. Her gaze would lift as his mother spoke, introducing them. She would dip her head in greeting, her interest spiking as the woman wished to join. Cru would speak first, and so she would fall silent, listening as he explained their general rules to the woman. Her gaze would rest easily on the woman, her thoughts roaming. Her children were still young, soon they would have playmates with her own children. Perhaps this woman was a warrior, she would make a fine addition to the pack. A small smile toyed with her lips, haunches slowly reclining towards the earth. Her tail tucked against her hips as she waited for a break in the conversation, should it be needed, to offer some insight to the little family.

"Speech"
'thoughts'