At the request of Basilisk and Ignita, Charlie had gone to make a den for himself in one of the caves along the beach. It was different from what he was used to, the smell of the water making his fur prickle as he remembered the flood that had flashed through the Armada. It felt strange… to be home and yet to be distant from his packmates. He kept himself busy with checking fishing nets and, when he could, hunting game and leaving it on the outskirts of the Col for the rest of the pack. He prayed that the solution would be found soon. He wanted to see his family again, to know that they were alright.

That morning found Charlie by the water checking the nets. One of them had gotten tangled during the thrashing of some fish trying to get away, and Charlie stood in the water working to untangle it to reset it. His brow furrowed as he worked with his paws, a grunt of frustration passing his lips as his efforts seemed to make it worse. He hadn’t dealt with the nets before but was trying his best. Was there some trick to them that he wasn’t aware of? Ears flicked back as the fanged male took a step back.

“Maybe just a quick break…”

"Speech," 'Thought.'

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The cure was being passed around the pack, and the last of the quarantines were lifting. The tainted meat had been burned, and new procedures had been set up to avoid any meat from the Mile High woods from entering their stock. They had survived the Blight from the efforts of those not infected hunting elsewhere. Like Charlton, who had been catching what he could along the beach.

It was time to bring his cousin home properly. The earth beneath his paws shifted from hard packed earth to sand as he made his way along the beach. He found the smaller wolf taking a step back from the nets, a look of frustration on his maw. “Charlie!” he called out.


"Basilisk"

A call from Basilisk brought Charlie’s attention to the Warlord. Ears pricked forward, the tawny wolf pulled himself away from the nets to greet him. A small nod was given, a light smile on his maw. “Bas,” He greeted his nephew softly. “It is good to see you again. How has everyone been fairing?” He worried for the rest of his packmates, and about the blight that they had been suffering from. Were they recovering okay? Were there still others that were badly sick? Not knowing had troubled him a great deal, and only keeping his paws busy served as a distraction. But with Bas here now… was that to bring good news about the pack? He could certainly hope so.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

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Basilisk could hear the worry in his Uncle's voice as he moved forward to clasp the tawny wolf on the shoulder. “Everyones well on their way to recovery, Oleander’s cure is holding. It's time for you to come home properly.” He commanded his warrior. It was time for Charlie to settle back into the ranks, and help rebuild his home.

“There's been a few major changes as well. I’ve abandoned Mile High territory and taken up Gale Gorge and Caves of the Past instead. Both territories need a lot of work to do, and all hands on deck are appreciated.” Charlie was coming home, but there was a lot of work to do.


"Basilisk"

The news came as a relief and Charlie’s expression softened. The cure has been found and the Armada was recovering. He’d be able to return home properly, too. “This is wonderful news.” He’d be able to rest again knowing that the pack was alright, that just like the last natural strain on the land they had overcome it. There was additional news as well, major changes to the territory the pack had, although understandably so. The corners of his mouth lifted in a playful smile and there was a shine in his eyes as he spoke.

“If they are tasks to get me away from the nets, I'm sure they will be a welcome distraction.” His words were light and a little teasing, but the unspoken implications made it clear that Charlie was on board to help. His tail waved back and forth behind him, curiosity nagging at him. He figured the woods had been abandoned due to the blight, although he would miss them. “Why don't we walk back to the Col and you can fill me in on the things you’d like done? There should be no shortage of paws ready to help, but two territories worth is a lot of land to convert into usable sections.”

"Speech," 'Thought.'

Basilisk snorted softly at that. It definitely seemed that Charlton and the nets were not the closest of friends. But he understood the other had been doing what he could to contribute to the pack, despite the situation. Basilisk nodded his agreement, and started to lead Charlton back to the Col - which was, and always would be, the heart of the pack. The most easily defensible position of the pack by far. Through the Gorge held promise of being defensible as well.

“Now you're getting it.” He teased Charlie back, because the tawny wolf was right, and only speaking out loud what they both knew. There was going to a lot of work ahead of them, for all the wolves of the Armada.

"Basilisk"