16 Posts.

---

Calandra had stopped glancing over her shoulder an hour ago, but she kept getting drifting thoughts that reflected her worry. Evadne and Indeygo were old enough to be on their own, but Calandra was a mother; she still wanted to keep them safe. So, despite having agreed to let them go off on their own, she was still second guessing her decision.

'If you let the fish go, there is no point chasing it downstream,' she quoted at herself, easing her fears. It did no good to worry herself to death during a visit that was supposed to be relaxing, especially since she had already made the choice to stop and stay. After all, she and Possum had a lot of catching up to do and her panicking wouldn't be conducive to a comfortable time.

She inspected him again for a moment before looking away. She didn't want him to think she was staring. It had been a long time since she had seen Possum. He had certainly grown into a strapping adult, that was for certain. Considering Possum's family's status as being one of the outlying families in Akiiki, Calandra knew he would have skills in hunting and probably fighting. She thought she might place her bet with Possum in a fight.

---

Possum noted her nerves easily--he couldn't blame her. He'd always had a soft-spot for children and helped Akiiki Chibale with pups whenever he could. They called him Uncle Possum...though his favorite had to be the innocent little Jaff, daughter of Moxii. The idea of Jaff and Orient going on an adventure of their own as teenagers--hell as ADULTS!--had him a little nervous himself. Offering Calandra a warm smile, he fell into step beside her, brushing his shoulder against hers. "They'll be alright. They seem like strong, beautiful children... You raised them well," he said softly.

They passed the borders without even a howl to warn Alas of their coming--Possum knew the motherly wolfess wouldn't mind a visitor, especially not one close to Possum's heart. He wagged his tail lightly at the smell, the feel, of home. "This way," he grinned, moving a little faster.

---

"Thank you," Cali replied, smiling at him. She still felt at ease with him, even after so many months apart. "They've grown so much since I took them in. I imagine Alas wouldn't even recognize them now."

For her part, she didn't notice that neither of them sent up a howl to announce their arrival. Her feet followed the path Possum was leading them on, just trying to keep pace with him. He was a good bit larger than her now and Cali found herself thankful that raising children had kept her in shape. Even if she hadn't been on a messenger mission in a while, the hunting training had certainly given her a fair bit of exercise.

I wonder how Ouranos is fairing without the children. I hope Rage recognizes him enough not to run him off the packlands now that Glen has dissolved. It was a reasonable concern, but yet another one she could do nothing about.

"Where are we going? Guest dens?" Calandra asked, trying to get her bearings in a relatively unfamiliar set of packlands.

---

"Oh, Alas remembers everyone," he chuckled lightly. "They would've been welcome too, but I can understand their need to keep moving." As usual, his large body was relaxed and at ease, his tail swinging behind him, low enough to be submissive but high enough to show his status. His ear twitched as he padded along, but he ignored it, as usual. His body was typically wierd-he'd gotten used to it over the years. As a pup, he'd been embarrassed and now...he found out most wolves typically just ignored it as well. Unless his muzzle twitched and he snarled at them. Then there came the 'whoops' comment. Possum wasn't a mean guy, honest!

"I figured you could stay with me in mine. The guest dens, although they're nice...aren't as homey." He paused, realizing what he was suggesting. "Unless of course you want to stay in the guest dens--it's up to you," he admitted with a sheepish grin.

---

Again that implication Cali wasn't sure he meant to make was there. This time she managed to control her body temperature and simply slid into a shrug as she walked.

"I don't mind. As long as there's enough room and you don't feel I'm intruding. It will give us plenty of time to catch up." She smiled at him again. She could hear wolves talking in the distance, but only a few. The birds and bugs made up the rest of the noise around them. "I'm surprised we haven't seen anyone else yet. Do you still prefer a nice den on the outskirts?"

It was a valid question. He'd said his parents were still around, but obviously he would have long since moved from their den into one of his own. His parents bred independent children. That didn't mean Possum liked feeling the crowding of denning close to the center of a pack.

---

"There's plenty of room," he smiled. "And I would be honored!" His tail wagged hearily and they slid past a couple of wolves arguing amiably, probably the girls Calandra had heard herself. They were sisters--Orient, with scribble markings like her father, was the bolder, ornery one and Jaff, with delicate tribals, had her ears flattened and growling at her sister. Possum's grin widened. "Oi, girls," he announced, making both female's heads jerk up. They were young, just having reached adulthood themselves. "Issues?"

---


Orient straightened, a smile quickly appearing on her maw. Possum was their...babysitter in the past...and so maybe Ori had a tiiiiiny crush on the badger-pelted male. He was just so strong and easy-going. Her tail began to wag as she darted to greet him, muzzle to muzzle. She shot Jaff a look as the smaller female backed away, eying the rusty female Possum was with uneasily. "Who's your friend, Possy?" Ori barked, turning her head to view the smaller female with a rust and cream pelt. She was pretty...but a little old for Possum...wasn't she?

---

Calandra smiled, but it faded as they came up to the two females she'd heard. No wonder she hadn't known they were there; the large rock had blocked them and the wind was blowing in entirely the wrong direction. Still, two and she hadn't known? She was clearly not as attentive as she should be.

"Hello," Calandra replied softly when the girls' attention was on her. She was never entirely comfortable with strangers, even ones within a pack she was friendly with, but there was no sense in being rude either. "I'm Calandra, from the Outriders. Just stopping by briefly and then I'll be passing through." It was important they not view her as a thread either. Alas and Possum knew her and were kind; she couldn't be sure everyone in the pack would take as kindly to her being in their territory.

Well, Possum was her guide, so that made it a bit different than her just wandering into their den areas as if she owned the place. The skittishness of the smaller of the two girls reminded her to stay on her guard, though. Scared wolves were often aggressively defensive wolves.

---

Possum smiled at the girls as Calandra stepped up and introduced herself. "Yes, this is the infamous Cali," he grinned, shaking his head. Orient and Jaff looked at her with new curiosity. "She's been a friend of mine since I was your age." His long brush of a tail wagged as he sat down. "Cali, these are my...wards. Or were, before they grew up and got beautiful." He shot her a smile. "Orient and her sister, Jaff. They're Alas's great granddaughters, if you couldn't tell by the pink coats."

---

Orient pricked her ears up. Calandra. That name -was- familiar. Possum had told the pups tales, being a great storyteller, about his adventures to the Outriders pack. He'd spoken so warmly of Calandra, but Ori always envisioned someone...younger. She flicked an ear, then offered the other she-wolf an easy smile. Not that she was jealous! Okay, maybe she was. Just a bit. Because Possum was swooning, ever so slightly, over the female. And this Cali...she was a wanderer, she just had the feeling. Love him and leave him, and Possum deserved so much more than that.

---

Jaff stayed silent, her pale eyes fixed on her sister, guaging her reaction. Possum was definitely into his lady-friend. Which meant Ori was S-O-L. She could've smiled. Maybe there was a little more than sibling rivalry between the girls; maybe not. She watched as Ori sat down close to Possum. Jaff shrugged. "We've been told stories about you," she said, her own voice stronger than her feeble appearance showed. Her eyes slid across Calandra's rusty pelt and for a moment, she too felt a rush of envy.

---

“I certainly hope they weren’t exaggerated,” Calandra replied to Jaff, then her warm teal eyes moved to Possum and she smiled slightly, teasingly, at him. “’Infamous,’ hm? I didn’t realize I was the figure of bedtime tales. I’m sure you had to have embellished my passing through a bit to make them interesting enough for pups to take notice.”

He was telling stories? When they were alone again, she would have to ask him exactly what he’d been coming up with for his charges in Akiiki Chibale. The pair had seen their fair share of beautiful sights on their trip to Outriders, but Cali couldn’t think of anything particularly exciting that had occurred. Well, aside from the hunt he’d participated in at Outriders. And maybe the plunge into that river. That was it, though.

“Either way,” she looked back to Orient and Jaff, sensing some kind of undercurrent she couldn’t put her finger on. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

---

Possum smiled warmly at her, warmth rising to his face at the grin she shot him. Oh, he wasn't embarrassed by the tales, not by far. They were daring, beautiful stories woven to keep a litter of five entertained, with enough danger for the rowdy pups and intrigue and love for the soft-hearted. He wagged his tail, nipping at Orient's cheek. "I'm taking Cali back to my den. If you need me, don't hesitate to visit, girls. We'd welcome you." He smiled at the sisters--true they were always at war with one another, but that was sibling rivalry for you. Standing, he picked up a paw and motioned with it. "Cali?" Dipping his head, he turned away and padded off for the dens.

---


Orient offered a bright, if not false, smile to Calandra. "Enjoy your stay. I'm sure Grandmama would love to see you again. We can tell her you're visiting." Her long tail wagged, but as she turned her back on them, she shot Jaff a look that clearly spewed her dislike. Her Possum... Hers. Sure, he was years older than her, but she was young and beautiful. She huffed and quickly padded off. Maybe she'd spin a tale of her own.

---

Jaff bowed her head to the pair of older wolves, then watched Ori dart off into the woods. She was so freaking spoiled--had to have everything her way. It rubbed Jaff wrong, made the smaller she-wolf huffy. "Have a good time catching up, Possum," she said with a smile before slinking after her sister. Though she seemed the sulkier of the two, Orient was...a devil. And she had to be stopped and the only one wily enough to her tricks was Jaff herself. Flicking her tail, she headed in Orient's direction.

----


Calandra felt that strange undercurrent stir again as Orient wished them well and turned away after receiving a nod from Cali. Cali hadn’t survived on her own as an adolescent without having developed a sense of who had her well-being in mind and who didn’t. She just hoped that the discomfort she felt about Orient was the sign of uncomfortable surroundings or Orient being a bit put out at being dismissed by Possum.

Jaff’s respectful bow was a little less stilted than her sister’s, and it made it easier for Calandra to nod at them. As far as first meetings went that one had been fairly painless, anyway.

She turned without more than the goodbye nods she passed to the sisters and silently trailed Possum back to his den, feeling the same odd flush that had run through her when Possum had spoken of his excitement at having her there when he mentioned them as a “we” staying in his den together. She’d have to talk to him about that if it came up again. So many implications. Possum couldn’t be aware he was making them. He couldn’t be.

-FIN