Things were changing and moving in a positive direction. Before the rest of the group, Celeste and Kuroki had gone out to the Whistling Willows to make sure no one else was setting up camp. It would be in bad taste if they attempted to take over someone else's spot! After they confirmed they were in the clear, they'd gone back to the desert outskirts to grab everyone else and their items. Not that they had a ton of stuff, but it was enough that Arne, Kuroki, and Vidarr almost looked like pack mules. Feeling rather queasy, Celeste took a break to set up a campfire. Nighttime was beginning to settle in as a brisk wind carried through the willows. Once the flames were nearly tall enough to singe the budding willows, she called out for the rest of the gang to join her. Nursing her upset stomach, the monochrome fae curled up on a fur as she waited for everyone's arrival. Tonight they would relax, eat, drink if anyone wanted, and tell stories before starting a new adventure.

Celeste's next post will be 3/10! If anyone wants additional threads w/ Celeste, lmk! <3

Ulmaria checked her pack one more time before slipping it over her shoulders and following along with the remnants of Ethyria, now dubbed the Stargazer Band. In all honesty she was more excited to be a member of a band than a pack and the new area they were making their home was a lovely little spot. Spring was starting to arrive, she could feel the warm breeze from the south rustling her fur and in time there would be a number of herbs to harvest and preserve.

As the sun set the chill of night moved in Ulmaria deposited her pack near her makeshift den and quickly headed to the fire as Celeste called for them. She scooted closer and smiled at the horned woman. "How are you feeling?"

Speech

Cy hadn't been feeling her best lately. She couldn't really place why, or what was wrong, but it wasn't the best thing. Maybe that was why she'd been feeling particularly pathetic lately. Right, she was just feeling off, not that she was getting soft. Or developing a fondness towards the rest of the band. It was definitely that she just was feeling low grade not so great, no more and no less. It also absolutely was not the fact that she'd made some questionable choices with Oki earlier this season. Nope. Hell, it wasn't like she was even in season when that happened-- Cy pushed those specific details out of her mind. The wraith rummaged through her things where they'd been set down, grumbling to herself for a moment. The glow of the fire was an inviting one, but she was cold. Dragging a fleecy sheep skin from her bedroll, she moved to join the rest of the group that was gathering around the fire. She flopped down heavily beside Celeste, on the other of the galaxy-wrapped girl. "If you gave me whatever you had, I'm going to be pissed." Cy was half kidding, moving to toss the loose end of her sheep skin over the smaller girl's shoulder. "Going to need to find another poor bastard to wait on us hand and foot, at this rate." Was she kidding? Maybe. Maybe not. Still, her tone is as cheerful as she can muster, feeling as worn out as she is. cyanide he said to be cool but i'm already coolest

Celeste watches quietly as her group comes to the fire. She is happy that she has found family within these wolves. They are as precious to her as if they were related by blood. Her eyes light up as Ulmaria comes to lay close to her. Returning the smile, she shrugs. "I believe I am over my sickness, but I have been so tired lately," Celeste remembers then that Ulmaria is also a healer. "Do you know of any remedies that would put a spring in my step?" She asks with a light laugh at the end. There were only so many things that could be wrong with her and one of them was something she was hoping wasn't true. Before her conversation with Ulmaria could continue, Cy came to plop down on her other side and toss a warm fur over them. Reaching over, Celeste gently touched her nose to Cy's cheek before rolling her eyes. "You deserve to get sick sometimes. Might keep you from running off so much," she teased as she stuck out her tongue. Another chuckle makes her shake her head and raise her brows slightly. "Well, I do suppose Oki would like a break from being mister strong man for us. Maybe we should find another hopeless romantic to wait on us," Celeste glances at Ulmaria with a joking wink because really... they were only half-serious.

Celeste's next post will be 3/20!

Zoey wasn’t bothered at all that they were now a band. It was a better outcome than she had thought - she could still stay with Miss Cel, Mister Oki, and Miss Cy too - as well as her new friend Ulmaria, whom she already considered a friend from their first meeting. She was quick to form friendships and attachments, particularly because she was so social. The close bond she felt with everyone in the band gave her warmth and comfort beyond measure; Zoey’s short life had been speckled by many an unfortunate event, and she truly hoped it was all behind her now. After all, the young scholar believed that, no matter what, there was no way to go but up and forward - looking to the future and the hope it brought, and not be bogged down by the sorrows of her past.

The goggled woman approached the group that had formed, a small fire blazing and snapping. The chestnut girl had skirted the ends of the desert for some more trinkets, but barely found any of notable study interest besides what appeared to be a circular item with a glas dome over it, and strange encryptions with two distinct arrows pointing to two symbols as a time (pocket watch..it’s a pocket watch). Eyes glittered with excitement, Zoey padded over to the group of familiar friends, grinning widely as she fished the relic out and sat back on her haunches, poking at it with fascination. She turned her head to greet Ulmaria with a smile, as well as Celeste and Cyanide, too. She’d heard the two women in particular hadn’t been feeling well, so she hoped she could cheer them up!

”Hi Ulmaria, Miss Cy, and Miss Cel!” She said, bushy tail sweeping behind her. It was coated in random burrs and dead leaves as her wild, cowlicked coat tended to accumulate, but she paid her own appearance no mind. She was just..happy to be here. In the company of wolves she cared about very much.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Skelle 2023

Arne shouldered his load without any complaint. If anything, the extra weight kept him grounded and prevented him from wandering off too far, and with Cel and Cy both green around the gills, it was probably best they all stuck together. As the wolves ahead picked a spot to settle he began to unpack the items he had carried allocating each to its intended owner.

While he would miss the warmth of the desert, at least moving as a band didn't prevent them from going back, so he couldn't be too sad about that. Arvid made a grunting noise and started shoving at his heel, something about mushrooms nearby? Not that it looked like Cel or Cy were up for a wild ride right now... "You guys looking for anythin' in particular for the menu tonight?" Despite his pack horse status, he still had energy to burn and why not squeeze in a bit of hunting where he could?

"speech".

running around like a clown on purpose

Celeste stated that she was mostly over her illness but had been feeling so tired lately. She asked if Ulmaria had any remedies to put a boost in her step. She smiled, tail wagging. "Yes! I have been drying some special tea leaves. I can make a tea with them that should help." Though her specialty tended toward combat medicine she was enjoying learning more and more about plants and herbal remedies. Teas of various kinds were becoming a new hobby and she enjoyed making drinks to be enjoyed at any time as well as those that could be used for healing.

"Maybe we should find another hopeless romantic to wait on us"

Celeste looked to Ulmaria who fidgeted uncomfortably, one ear flicking back. Surely the alphess didn't mean her? She didn't really consider herself a romantic. "Oh, um, I mean I'm happy to help carry things." It seemed logical since she was a very large wolf and her continued training as a fighter lended her added strength.

Zoey soon burst onto the scene along with a tusked man she hadn't been properly introduced to. "Hey Zoey!" At the mention of their dinner she looked to Celeste. She was up for eating just about any sort of hooved mammal, fish, or rabbit.

Speech