Manifest Destiny (old Glaciems)

Walk | Talk | Think

The whole ordeal of losing the precious territory she and her adopted family lived in had been bad enough. She missed desperately the large, wide cave in which they would all rest, combining their body heat in order to beat back the bitter northern chill. She missed the forests, the snow, the bracing winds and glistening sunlight. What was worse was having to give all of that up completely. She knew the whole of them needed a new place to live, a new territory that they could claim as their home, but she had never expected that it would involve moving.

She had been reluctant about it from the start, lingering as long as she could while the pack began to trickle away, on the move to where they would now reside. But she could only stay away for so long. She had a responsibility that would keep her there, wolves who needed her tending and care, and she hated to think of them relapsing with their injuries because she had difficulty adjusting. Eventually Mercianne had caved and searched the territory at the last moment for those northern plants that she was familiar with and might need still to care for those who needed it. They were carried in her jaws delicately, the yellow-orange petals of the calendula bouncing alongside those of the poppies. Her steps were hurried as she tried to make good time, hoping to catch up with the others as the last stragglers arrived.

As she followed, leaving the snows of the north behind for warmer, denser forests, she began to notice how much of an adjustment would need to be made. It was so warm! Everything seemed to be either touched with the green of the plant life or the grey-brown of earth and stone, nothing brittle or hardy or overly strong. Everything was delicate and comfortable, well suited for the mountainside that they grew on. Merci could only hope to one day be as comfortable here herself.

Turning her attention upon the others as she came upon them, the wolves that she cared far too much for to abandon for a new leader, she spotted their leader, looking strong and powerful despite his recent battle and recovery, alongside his sister. It had been some time since she had seen Crusade among them, the once-Chief having gone out on diplomatic excursions that kept her busy. She smiled around the plants she carried to know that she still looked well. She let her gaze skim over the others, noting the familiar faces and, in particular, one of those in need of her care set to one side, her scarred, tattered face a painful mask of confusion. Quietly, not wanting to startle the now blind wolf, Mercianne tucked her head meekly and set her plants carefully down before approaching her slowly. "Ithurial," she asked gently as she came alongside the young she-wolf, her dark brown eyes skimming across her face and hoping she hadn't startled her, "how are you feeling? Do you need anything?"