Vagabonds

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.