|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:18 pm
Rage bolted through the underbrush. It had not been long since Calandra had taken off on her journey. She said she would return, someday, but Rage had forgotten to tell her important information. Rage didn't need Cali to return home not knowing and be fearful of home, as this was her home, Rage was sure, and she needed to know.
Skidding to a stop on pine needles she raised her nose to the wind. Sniffing feverishly, trying to catch a scent. Closing her eyes she tried to focus. And at once, they shot open and black and red shot through the underbrush.
She howled out, forward, her howl no doubt bouncing off the trees and up into the canopy into the sky and air.
Wait she called Cali wait!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 3:43 pm
They were well into the borderlands of Outriders territory when Calandra heard Rage's howl, not close, but getting closer. The Alpha was following them? Rage wouldn't hinder their leaving unless it was important. As Calandra turned back to Evadne and Indeygo, she saw the disappointment in Evadne's eyes. The adolescent thought Rage was going to stop them now that she'd convinced her gullible mother to leave the packlands. Cali smiled and turned back towards Outriders.
"Go on," she suggested to them over her shoulder. "I'll catch up."
That said, and sure her children were following her directions, she turned her muzzle into the air and let out an answering howl.
Here. I will wait.
Rage was close so Cali held her ground, knowing the Alpha would find Calandra better if she wasn't trying to locate Rage at the same time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 8:23 pm
Rage's ears flicked when she heard the howl back and a breath of relief erupted from her throat, a smile almost crept across her maw from which she panted. Her long legs carried her body over and through the underbrush. She nearly toppled at one of the small stream banks but caught her footing beneath her.
What would Calandra think?
She should have thought this through?
Do not worry she howled forward. She was catching up, fast, soon, but she did not want to worry Calandra, her family. She was not an alpha brink on the decision of making them stay, she nearly had a message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 8:54 am
Calandra's children had long vanished into the underbrush by the time she saw Rage's black-and-red fur coming toward her. If she hadn't heard the howl warning her not to worry, Rage's swift pace would likely have had her concerned. What could have happened so soon after Cali had left?
Calandra began walking towards Rage, her ears and attentive expression showing she was alert, but not alarmed.
"Is everything all right?" She asked before Rage had a chance to say anything. It couldn't be too serious if Rage had told her not to worry, but whatever it was was important enough that it had sent Rage out in the wee hours of the morning to follow her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:26 pm
Rage skid and stopped, catching her breath. She swallowed air as if she had gone days without water, without food as if fasting from a large meal. Her neck hunched over, she shook her head and her back, ruffling her fur up.
"Yes, I just-" Rage breathed slowly this time, not trying to rush her body's response.
Patience, she told herself. Patience.
"I wanted to tell you of my plans, for the pack, for the future, just so you knew, for when you return. I hope your children have not thought I plan to keep you," she laughed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 7:16 pm
"They're fine. I sent them on ahead with the promise to catch up with them." Cali was still assessing Rage, making sure the other female was all right. The run didn't seem to have made the wolf any worse for wear, aside from tiring her out. Cali had to wonder how hard the Alpha had had to run to make such good time to catch up.
She smiled. "I am surprised you chased us down, but I appreciate the thought."
Cali had thought it couldn't be too bad, but it was strange. Alphas were usually not in the habit of just sharing willy-nilly with the gammas of the pack every time they had an idea. It had to be that Calandra was going to be away for months that prompted Rage's desire to disclose her ideas to someone other than her mate or (if this had been a stronger pack) her betas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:01 pm
Rage smiled and nodded. She took a seat to rest her legs. She was nearly on the other side of the packlands when she remembered. At least she took a shortcut.
Although, it was fairly uphill.
"I merely wanted to tell you, as well as for you to let your own know, that I'll soon be seeking new blood, new family for the Outriders." She stopped, contemplated how to continue.
:It is not that we don't have plenty of wolves now, but, it is time we reached out towards others again, and increased our numbers."
She hoped it wouldn't deter Cali from returning later, or have her think Rage was trying to replace her family.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:53 am
Calandra nodded, hardly needing to think about Rage's motivations. "Maybe, but we have lost some. When I took my last circuit, I saw so many dens, dens I thought were occupied, empty. They all looked as if they hadn't seen an occupant in seasons, and I never even knew they had left."
Calandra's eyes reflected her sorrow at the loss of members, even ones she hardly knew. Losing members meant the pack was lost. If Evadne and Indeygo found their siblings, perhaps... well, perhaps they would be able to bring them back, to help Rage increase the Outriders's numbers. She said nothing about it, however. It was a long shot they would find anyone anyway, and if they did there was no guarantee the other wolf would want to leave the pack they were with.
"I haven't always been the best with communicating with the others in Outriders," she admitted softly, looking for a moment like the quiet creature she'd been when she first ran into Phib and Cassidy on the borders of the pack. "But they are still pack. New blood would be welcome. Once they're agreed, they become family, after all. There's no harm in bringing in new wolves."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:06 pm
"I just wanted you to know, Cali, so that you, and your fam, when-if," she stopped, her her tongue. She knew not what order to say it in. "For when you come back, that you need not be worried if you see unfamiliar faces." Rage smiled, hoped that indeed Cali would return, the Outriders would be different without her.
"I'm sorry, to have kept you from your journey, but, are you sure, you don't need escort, even for a while? I could call one of the guards, I'm sure it would be no worry on their shoulders."
Rage just wanted to be sure they would be safe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:56 pm
Calandra smiled at Rage's worry, touched in a way at the alpha's concern for them. "We'll be fine. As a mother I hate to admit it, but my children are old enough to take care of themselves most of the time. I'm just going along because I can't trust them on their own just yet. They haven't had as much experience with the world as I have." She shook her head. "With three we should be fine. No guards, but thank you."
"When we return." She said it firmly and met Rage's gaze. "When we return I'll seek you out and make sure that, whether or not the recruiting is going well, the Outriders members who remain will always come back. It may just take more time than we expect."
For some reason, the thought of time reminded her of Ouranos. She glanced past Rage, back toward Outriders territory. She had warned him she was leaving, of course, but she hadn't given a definite return date, which made sense since she didn't really have one. Still, she'd heard things about the Glen. Would he still be here when she returned? Would the new recruits have changed Outriders beyond the comfortable boundaries of her recognition?
"Would you mind trying to keep my den open?" She asked, smiling as she looked back to Rage to show it was half a joke. She really did want to keep her den, but it was more to soothe the tension than anything. This wasn't Calandra's first foray into the world; Rage had nothing to worry about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:55 pm
Rage felt relieved at Calandra's words.
She would return.
She would.
Rage swayed her tail and looked past Calandra, out there, her children waited. They would depart, and who new how many moons would pass until Calandra would return.
She smiled at the request, and nodded.
"Consider it done, none shall reside within it or close in proximity, privacy is key, especially when having my children, old as they are, running around still," she laughed.
It was getting soon to say goodbye, but she did not want to do so, not just yet.
"Do something for me then, in your wake while you are away?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:02 am
Calandra smiled at the reference to Rage's own children. Mothers understood one another in a way no other wolves could. It was good to know you could rely on your pack, on your alpha in particular, when it came to needing things. She was going to miss it here, but maybe some wandering was just what she needed to remember why she had felt so relieved to find a home here. It would make her appreciate the feeling of being settled more.
Do something? Cali wondered as she listened to Rage's vague question.
"A request of me? Anything." Rage wouldn't ask anything that was dangerous to Calandra or her children, and if Calandra could give back in repayment for Rage's understanding, she would be glad to do it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:52 pm
Rage smiled and dipped her head a bit. She swayed her tail, the smile playing across her maw fully. She remmebered when there was a time when she could barely bring herself to smile when she was a pup, but this packland had changed all of that.
"When you return, tell me, tell us all with your voice."
A simple request.
"Just, howl. Howl when you come home."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:18 pm
Rage really was going to miss them.
Calandra felt a stab of regret that she had to leave when faced with Rage's desire for them to return. They hadn't even left the area yet, but she was already planning for their return. Calandra was glad she had no reason to stay away for longer; it wouldn't break her alpha's heart, but it would be a blow to her to lose any member of the pack.
"As soon as I get back. I promise."
Calandra stood again and glanced over her shoulder. "I should chase them before they get too far." They wouldn't run away before she could get to them, but Cali could picture Evadne urging her brother to get as far as possible before they slowed down for her. She looked back to Rage and nodded.
"See you soon."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:36 pm
Rage nodded and watched as Calandra began on her journey again.
She turned and started heading for home, slower than the pace she had come this way.
She only hoped she would hear Cali's call soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
