Wilder had been minding his business when the Warlord approached him. Oleander had mentioned in passing that he had done well training Vesper on basic defensive stances. That had been the start of the conversation that quickly evolved into "I need you to take a different Songbird out on a navigation trip." Of course, being an Apprentice, a lower ranking wolf, Wilder couldn't possibly say no to the Warlord himself. For as much as his insides steeled at the knowledge of another slave being with the Armada, he did his duty and politely agreed to the task. Plus, navigating did happen to be one of his specialties so at least he would get to enjoy his time out in the woods.

Snagging Yara from the warrens with a quick explanation of the Warlord's command, Wilder led the wolf north of the Col. Sticking close to the borders at first to ensure the pack's scent was still strong and safe from predators, he turns his attention to Yara. "What'd do ya notice about the terrain?" He inquired, vibrant red gaze flickering to her for a moment before moving back to the tree line they walked along. Wilder isn't much for small talk or being super social so he figured jumping into the lesson would be good enough.

Good enough until he got a good look as well. For now, he didn't pay the peculiar appearance of leaves much mind. It was spring after all and with recent heavy rains, he could understand why the leaves might appear more yellow. Overwatering never did the flora any good. Something about it did seem off though, but he couldn't quite put his paw on it.

Yara Grey

Yara followed Wilder closely, her steps light and cautious. As they moved through the Mile-High Woods, she listened attentively to his question and glanced around, taking in the details of their surroundings. The towering, gnarled trees that touched the sky created a natural ladder, and she felt a mixture of awe and intimidation.

"The ground here is damp," she began, her voice soft and measured. "It's not just from the recent rains. The soil seems to hold water longer, which could mean there's a natural spring nearby. The trees are closer together here, and the underbrush is thicker. It makes it harder to see far ahead, so we need to be more aware of sounds and scents."

As they moved deeper into the woods, Yara tried to stay alert, knowing she had to rely on her senses. She noticed how the sunlight filtered through the trees, creating patterns on the ground. "The light creates patterns that can help us navigate," she continued, her confidence growing slightly as she hoped she was answering correctly. "It's like a map if you know how to read it."

CODE BY SIN

His ear closest to her turns to listen to her soft, but measured tone. Unlike Vesper, she behaves very differently. It's not much to go off of, but he can only assume they had two very different upbringings. Now wasn't the time for his curiosity to be getting in the way. Not when the smell of rot wafts into his nostrils. Trying to focus on what she says, Wilder gives an affirming nod.

"Most the lan' north of these woods is all ice and snow. The groun' 'ere never really gets a chance to drain 'er dry," Wilder mentions, his western accent strong and perhaps hard to understand at times. "A map, hm," he glances around, toward the top of the gnarled and twisting trees and around to the brush and tree trunks that lined the trail. "Light won' do ya much good in 'ere," his voice is matter-of-fact without being condescending. "Cause there's so many branches an' the trees're all tight knit, only light yer really seein' is what makes it way through the canopy," he lifts his muzzle to point toward the sky where most of it is obscured by the blooming leaf canopy above.

Were those leaves speckled with black and grey? Maybe he was seeing things...

Yara Grey

Yara listened to Wilder's explanation, noting his western accent and the way it colored his words. It was a stark contrast to what she was used to, but she focused on understanding him. His mention of the land north being ice and snow made sense, explaining the perpetual dampness of the soil here. She appreciated his clarification about the light, realizing that her initial observation might not be as useful in this dense forest.

Her gaze followed Wilder's muzzle as he pointed up towards the canopy. The thick branches and tightly knit leaves indeed made it difficult for light to penetrate fully. As she looked closer, she noticed something peculiar. The leaves that had seemed yellow from a distance were now revealing black and grey speckles upon closer inspection. Her heart quickened, a sense of unease settling in her stomach. What could cause such discoloration in the foliage?

Driven by curiosity and a bit of dread, Yara cautiously moved closer to one of the trees to inspect the leaves. As she approached, a stronger, foul smell hit her nostrils. Peering around the tree, her eyes widened in horror as she saw the source of the stench: a deer, lying lifeless on the forest floor, its body partially decomposed. The sight of the decaying animal made her take a step back, her ears flattening in distress. She turned to Wilder, her voice barely a whisper. "There... there's a dead deer over here. Nothing attacked it, and it still looks too young to die from old age. Something's definitely not right."

CODE BY SIN

She seemed to take in his words with contemplative silence. Uncertain if that was a good or a bad thing, Wilder doesn't comment on it. Rather, he focuses on patrolling the woods, eyes alert and ears listening for any slight changes. What his nose does begin to pick up more and more as they venture further is the smell of rot and disease. That specific pungent scent that makes your nose wrinkle and stomach curdle.

He doesn't miss how Yara moves closer to a tree, her cautious movements clear that she was picking up the same things he was too. The tree she approaches appears different than the others surrounding them as well. It forces him to stop in his tracks as he notices the bark's pale and brittle state. Bright yellow mottled leaves hang limply from the thin, spindly branches that droop toward the ground. Clearly the tree was sick...

"Yara," Wilder calls out to the girl as she rounds the tree. It's then that she suddenly wheels backward, ears flattened, meeting him with a distressed look. He has to lean in to hear her whisper and he wishes he hadn't. A young deer dead from a mysterious cause? Concern pulls over his face, brows drawn downward as he steps around Yara to take a look for himself.

What he sees nearly makes him step backward as well. Steeling himself by holding his breath, Wilder forces himself to go closer to the dead animal. Bones protrude from the animal, lesions mar its skin, its eyes hollow and lifeless. Though the stench is foul, it doesn't match the level of decay on the deer. Pushing back the threat of bile climbing his throat, he pulls away from the tree and back to Yara. "Looks like the tree got whatever the deer got," he mentions quietly, a sliver of fear and uncertainty clouding his vermillion gaze. "I'll sen' my bird to inform the Warlord. Meantime, we shoul' get away an' head back," his tone is serious now as he takes one more look back to the dead tree and the deer laying at its base.

Would this spread to the pack?

Yara Grey

Yara felt a shiver run down her spine as Wilder stepped around her to examine the dead deer. She watched him closely, noting the way his expression changed to one of concern and fear. His assessment of the situation only confirmed her own unease. Whatever was affecting the tree and the deer seemed to be more than just a coincidence.

She took a step back as Wilder moved closer to the deer, her own stomach turning at the sight and smell of the decaying animal. The lesions and hollow eyes were a disturbing sight, and she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. When Wilder returned to her side and suggested they head back, she nodded quickly, eager to put some distance between themselves and the scene of death.

Following closely behind Wilder, Yara's mind raced with thoughts of what they had just encountered. The idea of the disease spreading to the pack was terrifying. She tried to keep her breathing steady, focusing on the path ahead as they made their way back to the Col. Her eyes kept darting around, alert for any signs of further trouble. Sickness was her biggest fear, after losing her family to it out on Silver Island. She seemed to stick a little closer to Wilder than she had on the way to the Woods. Despite her fear, she trusted Wilder to take the lead in this situation and the Warlord to know what to do.

CODE BY SIN

When the bird came to fetch him, he looked up at it in some surprise. Wilder had been in the pack long enough by now for him to recognise that the small colourful bird belonged to the apprentice. Was there an issue with the slave, had she escaped? Regardless of the reason, his wolf had called for him. He trotted down to the woods, and found the two of them backing out of woodland territory, a spooked expression on both of their faces.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, coming to a stop before Wilder. It was to his apprentice that the question was directed. Something had happened, and he needed to know what.


"Basilisk"

As they back out of the woods, their steps hurried, Wilder isn't surprised to see the Warlord approaching so soon. He was after all escorting a slave around their neighboring territory and any news from him wouldn't spell good news.

Stopping before the massive wolf, Wilder feels awkward having to peer upward at the wolf. It wasn't very often he met someone taller than himself. Clearing his throat, trying to swallow the acrid taste of bile, he points his muzzle to the woods behind him. "Disease. An oak is crumblin' wit' yeller leaves an' brittle bark. There's a dead doe at its base. No sign of foul play, can't be anythin' else," Wilder's tone is serious as he speaks to Basilisk. If whatever it was wasn't contained or eradicated quickly, the potential for it to spread to the wolves of Armada was an impending doom he wished to avoid.

Yara Grey

Yara kept her gaze steady as Basilisk approached, feeling a mix of fear and determination. The presence of the Warlord added to the gravity of the situation, but she knew it was crucial to relay what they had seen. The images of the diseased tree and the dead deer were etched vividly in her mind.

Listening to Wilder explain the situation, Yara felt a surge of courage. She couldn't let fear paralyze her, not now. She stepped forward, her voice strong despite the underlying tremor of fear. "The leaves were mottled with black and grey spots, and the bark of the tree looked brittle and pale," she added to Wilder's report, her tone spoken for clarity and delivered on a soft voice. "The deer had lesions and was already decomposing. This disease is affecting both the plants and animals. We need to act quickly to contain it, we need to burn it."

Her eyes locked onto Basilisk's, hoping her words conveyed the urgency of the situation. She had seen the devastating effects of disease firsthand, and the thought of it spreading through the pack was terrifying. She knew she was just a Songbird, but her past made it hard for her to leave herself silent about this. She had to trust in the Warlord's leadership and do whatever she could to help prevent the disease from spreading further, so once she was finished speaking she took a step back beside Wilder and lowered her lighter colored muzzle.

CODE BY SIN

Wilder spoke up, explaining what he had seen. A dead animal, a diseased tree. Wilder believed the two were connected, and Basilisk was inclined to believe him. He flicked his ears towards Yara when she spoke, and he gave a very slight nod of his head towards her. He had heard her, and understood what she was getting at.

He raised his head and howled for Oleander, putting urgency in the tone so the wolf would come immediately. He nodded his head towards his own bird, who soared the skies above him. “Grab Orso, get someone to bundle some wood and firestarters in a pack and send him here.” he ordered the bird. He would let Oleander see for himself, and he looked at the two wolves with him. “Unless Oleander says otherwise, the three of us are quarantined until we understand what happened.” He ordered them. No contact with anyone else, and he would stop Oleander a shout away from them, the healer wolf could take whatever precautions he felt fit to from there.

The call rang out for him and he dropped his task without a moment's thought. The call was urgent and it had his name in it, which meant it was probably health-related. Oleander's mind raced to wonder what it was about as he dashed to grab his emergency field kit and meet the Warlord by the trees.

Bas stopped him with a shout before she got too close and the boy froze. Why? He put his basket down and stood, observing Wilder, the new songbird, and Basilisk. They didn't look in hurt or pain, the girl looked appropriately submissive but not worse for wear.

He blinked as he came to understand the situation when it was explained to him. He agreed to the quarantine. "Anyone in the forest needs to stay in the forest, and anyone still in the Col stays." He nodded and spoke loudly, then suddenly his eyes were wide, "Bas, my dad's in there, please find anyone else that may be in there and keep them there." Little did he know the quarantine would be too late. Was Wylan in there? Nope, he can't get caught up in worrying about direct family. He was the head healer and he had to keep his head for everyone's sake.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

The urgent call for Ollie had her head poking out of the storage with curiosity. She trotted out of the storage and followed behind the white healer. She lingered behind him for a moment listening to the conversation and as soon as the word quarantine was mentioned she narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

She bolted. Golden paws raced across the dirt, over the invisible line between the Col and the woods but was stopped by both Ollie and Bas shouting at her.

"Let me see it!" She demanded of them. Her eyes locked on Bas with worry and disbelief.

"Speech"

Wilder’s gaze is only for the Warlord as the Songbird adds to his report. Her information is accurate and all he can do is nod to confirm her words. There is a seriousness to the situation that he can’t explain. That slow creeping feeling of fear as his mind reels. What were they to do?

Basilisk’s commanding howl leaves an unsettling feeling with Wilder that doesn’t help the fear that begins to overtake him. Had joining a pack been bad news after all? Standing in silence as they awaited Oleander, Wilder tries not to focus on the bad. They would be okay…

When Oleander shows up, Wilder looks to the pale healer. The decision, the news, the quarantine. Quarantine? His eyes narrow. “So we’re sposed to just stay out here? With the disease?” The concern is laced between the words, clear that he didn’t quite agree to being stuck in death forest.

Yara Grey

A shiver ran down Yara's spine at the mention of the word quarantine, the memories of her family's suffering through their bought of disease running through her mind. She pushed those thoughts aside as Basilisk called for the pack's lead healer, trying to best to focus on the present. Her fear was real, but so was her determination to see the end of this disease.

When Oleander arrived, Yara listened as the Warlord and him exchanged their words. She could see the urgency in Oleander's eyes when he mentioned his father was in the woods. She listened to him, her heart sinking with flashbacks of her own parents.. their cough. She shook her head. The idea of being stuck in the forest with the disease was terrifying, but she knew there was no other option if they were to prevent the spread. Her gaze flicked to Wilder, noticing his concern and understanding it completely.

She glanced back at Basilisk, then at Oleander, her eyes reflecting both her determination to help and the underlying fear and memories that were haunting her. "I trust you to know what is best, Warlord. What can we do out here to make the most out of our quarantine and ensure we don't bring it back?" She assumed it would be up to them to search for Wylan, or start the fire. Her mind raced with possibilities, but she knew the healers would have the best answers. For now, all she could do was follow their lead and hope that their actions would keep the rest of the pack safe.

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Oleander arrived with haste, and Basilisk’s barked order kept him back. He raised his voice and brought the healer up to speed on what Wilder had told him. Fear and anger flashed through him hot as lightning when Ignita appeared on Ollie's heels. “Stop!” He barked, loud and angry, at the same time as Ollie's shout. His eyes when they landed in her were angry and forceful. The message in them was clear. [I]You will stay there.[i] Thank any gods listening that she actually stayed. 


He turned to Wilder, that anger still flush in his veins, though he kept his voice measured. “If you're more worried about your own hide, there are cliffs that butt up against the woods to the North that don't lead into the Col. you can stay there and I'll ensure food is delivered to your door.” And he would forever remember the wolf putting himself before the pack. He nodded his head to Yara, and then to Ollie. “I believe Yara has some experience in sickness and quarantine, keep her appraised and see if she can add some ideas to your own” her timing almost felt like a gift, and he would use it.


“I need you to stay on that side, both of you. Ollie, Tell me what you need before we burn the tree and deer. if there's any healers brave enough, send one in here to do some research of their own and liaison with you” -and tend to say wolves that got sick and were put on this side. But with Wilders' fear, he kept those words to himself- “Iggy, you need to be in charge of spreading information. However you need to. Pack meetings, howls, small groups… you're in charge on that side. Look after my wolves, Iggy. If Ollie doesn't trust the woods, you need to find a new hunting ground. You'll need to maximise resource gathering, you've  mind for organisation and I'm sure you'll think of things I'm missing. “And Iggy… send a bird to Spider. Tell them… tell them to stay away. It's not safe.” He couldn't help the emotion that leaked through his voice. “I'll find any wolves on this side and keep them separate from us in case this hasn't spread to them yet. And everyone? We don't know if this is contagious, take a breath. This is worse case scenario planning.”

As soon as Ignita looked as if she was gonna bolt he shouted and made to grab her. The girl was as unruly as Vesper! He placed his leg in front of her as she held herself back.

He listened to Basilisk as he started his orders. Viridian eyes flicked to the new girl, meeting her gaze and giving her a nod in a silent introduction.

As Bas started to talk to Iggy he straightened up, she didn't seem so keen on bolting now. And it looks like he'll have to start deferring to her in this process.

He looked back to Bas as he mentioned sending a bird to Spider and pricking his ears. He hadn't realized Spider was away. His mouth went dry when he thought about what he might need. But then Ignita leaned into him and offered him some encouragement. He nodded his head and gave himself a deep breath.

"I'll need samples of any affected plants and animals. I'll send someone with a basket." He said and started his trek back to the clinic, would Saia or Gossy volunteer to be the quarantine healer? Gossy just recovered, he'd be remiss to send him back into that in case he hadn't fully recovered...


"Speech"

Ignita set her jaw as Ollie restrained her for a moment and then kept his paw in front of her. Her eyes were glued to Basilisk as he made his orders clear. She sat up straighter and appreciated Ollie pulling his arm back. She still wanted to bolt, she wanted to see this blight with her own eyes. She wanted to measure how many trees were affected if there were any dead birds. But no, she was being called to organize, not discover. She ran her tongue over her teeth. She nodded at his instructions, already her mind running rampant on how to find the solutions. He was right, she was better used out here.

She noticed Ollie's posture and the fear in his eyes, his breathing shallow. She did not agree that such a heavy burden of being lead healer had fallen on the boy's shoulder's so young, he wasn't even a full year and a half yet.

She leaned closer to him, "You've got this. We've got this. It'll be okay Ollie, we can do this together." She could see the poor boy's entire support system was on the other side of that line. His father, his siblings probably, and Bas. "Ask for samples of any plants." He added animals, good call, see if this disease tainted any meat.

She nodded to Bas about getting a message to Spider, Galileo would probably work, actually, one of the ravens would be better. Galileo probably doesn't know Spider yet.

Her legs steady beneath her she lifted her head steadfast and ready. This was a real crisis, and her mind was laser-focused, no time to shift and flop about to hem and haw.

She lifted her voice to the others, strong and loud as if she was naturally built for the stage, "We'll be all right! Contingency plans are my specialty! I'm sure once we have more information we can make better decisions. Keep your heads up and look out for each other!" She laid her eyes on her lover.
"We got this, my love, If someone can take stock of how many trees are affected, and any patterns that crop up, it'll be essential. Look out for anything that might be out of the ordinary, anything can help. What plants are affected or unaffected, birds, and any symptoms that crop up."

A howl enters the sky over the Col behind her and Ollie, from the Obelisk. It sounds like Tethys!

"We'll do our work! You do yours!" She calls to them after Tethys's call clears the sky. She sounded alarmed! She spots Ollie already making his way to her.

"Ignita"

The appearance of the Warlord’s lady shows a streak of obvious anger that leaves Wilder stepping backward. When the fury is turned on him, the slicing words making his lips pull up into a sneer, he gives his head a shake.

“Yer know that’s not what I meant. Anyones that gotta quarantine should go somewhere else. It don’t make sense to stay where the sickness is,” Wilder is quick to defend himself, fur bristling along his spine. More worried about his own butt? If he was, he wouldn’t have worried calling for the Warlord to begin with. Did they seriously just want to keep all the wolves - sick or not - right where the disease was? How was that logical? Risking so many lives…

But once the attention isn’t on him, he takes a calming breath. Listening to the barking orders of the Warlod and Oleander, Wilder attempts to remain calm. This would be his one and only chance to show that he did want to stick around. Did he though? He was in it for the long haul now… he couldn’t just ditch his new friends, Tethys, Spider, Vesper. Vesper…

“Jus’ tell me what ya need help with an’ point me in the right direction,” Wilder offers after a moment. If keeping the others safe meant staying here and burning the woods down, he would do it.

Yara Grey

As the Warlord barked orders, Yara felt a sense of responsibility settle on her shoulders. She appreciated Basilisk recognizing her experience with sickness and quarantine. Nodding in acknowledgment, she looked around at the other wolves, trying to gauge their reactions and prepare herself for whatever came next. The urgency of the situation required them all to act quickly and decisively.

When Wilder offered his help, Yara stepped forward, her voice steady. "I am willing to assist with gathering samples for the healers to analyze. I am the one who has been closest to the deer already. It would make sense not to risk anyone else," she said, her tone resolute despite the fear such an idea brought to her. "We need to identify the source and extent of this disease as soon as possible. If.. someone can accompany me, as I know I am still a Songbird, I can also help ensure that any affected areas are clearly marked and avoided by others." She may have started off as a captive, but.. it was hard not to like these wolves. She wouldn't want them to suffer the same fate as her family.

She turned to Oleander, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and concern. "Whatever you need, I'll do it. We have to contain this and keep the Armada safe." With that, she prepared herself for whatever task they decided was best for her to help with first.

CODE BY SIN

His reindeer companion arrived then with the bag, his bird perched on its back. He stopped them with a paw a good distance away. “Drop the bag there” he ordered, and the bird used a talon to do so. “The woods are out of bounds, stick with Ignita. Keep her safe, and listen to what she says.” He ordered them.


Oleander was already heading back to the clinic with a promise of a basket, but he's us the bag his companions had provided. “I will, take care of yourself.” He told Ignita, forcing himself to turn his back on her. The longer he looked at her, the harder this would be. He heard her receding paws and knew she was following the healer. His companions followed after her. He trotted over and grabbed the abandoned bag, turning back to his wolf companions “point made. You're in charge of figuring out where to put people, the sick and the unknown.” He told Wilder, he turned back to Yara, and lifted the bag he had claimed. “I'm already heading there to do exactly that, and I'll take your assistance.” He agreed. If she was willing to brave whatever this is, he'd keep her with him. He'd likely need the help. He nodded his head to Wilder “will you start organising the wolves in the woods while we collect and burn?”