Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » A little less wild. (semi-closed/ask)

Usually, the prospect of wandering within the boundaries of the Wild Land was something Ferous enjoyed. It was natural, majestic, and held memory even in the earth underfoot. More than once, Ferous' keen senses had detected the lingering essence of the pack patriarch haunting the land; it felt curious. Ferous was a wolf, and yet not. The form taken was indeed lupine; it was white in base, varying into mottled tones of gray with a black eye mask, black forepaws and a blackened, wingshaped patch over the center back. The creature was long legged and full furred, almost tangled in its pelt. Ferous found comfort in another unseen walking so close in stride, even if it was nearly a figment of imagination now. There was no howling announcement of presence; Ferous was not a loud one by nature. Following the river, past the falls, the plateau was in sight. There, the foreigner stood, letting wind and water's spray catch them. By night, the wilds looked unaging--timeless--and peaceful. Hating to disrupt that with(c)

--horrible news Ferous cast a dark gaze into the canyon below. Now, how to approach this?

Neji looked so much better since the fight with the ugly lettuce head, but he still lacked complete recovery. In fact he probably never would be 100% again, but at least he was able to do things now. He'd gone and adventured, but then slept for two days afterwards. He was able to play with the pups and get back to tending to the packlands like a good alpha mae should.

Which of course, included his squirrel hunting duties! Of which he was proudly plodding back to his ever so lovely mate. He had two squirrels dangling out of his mouth and his tail was wagging as hard as ever. "I gots us some squirrels!" He was high stepping and bouncing before dropping them at his mate's feet, his whole body was moving SO hard he was probably causing a small dust storm.

Bella had been sitting in front of her den, just watching and listening. She knew the moment that Ferous stepped onto the lands, and her ears twitched. She hadn't seen that one in a long time, but she was in no hurry to rush and find Ferous. If it was important, Ferous would come to her. Otherwise, Fer was free to roam the lands, she didn't concern Bella.

When Neji trotted up, her ears pricked forward and she'd give a woof as a greeting, "Both nice catches Nene. But you know I would really love it if you would catch that strange bird that sits in the mantree." She would look up at the lone tree, what was left of D. So far, nobody had been able to catch the bird, but it was strange and Bella wasn't sure what to think of it. It never answered their questions. She'd nose at the squirrels, "Hungry?"

...now may have been as good as ever to actually express something. The gnarled feeling in the pit of Ferous' chest was knotting up into the throat. Everything else felt empty like the gorge below. The mind was conflicted, battling mixes of reason, hope and despair. In the moment, having to come this far, the latter was winning. It all escaped in a long howl, pained and fluxuating, breaking as if on verge of tears. It was no mere request of entry. The head lowered, and all at once, the old spook clammed back up while taking a few calm paces toward the plateau, albeit with head hanging. There was no hesitance in approaching the plateau, if they did not come to meet.

Neji whuffled and leaned over to nose at his mate lightly, "I don't think the bird means any harm, plus that's a lot of work." And catching squirrels was more for fun. He shifted and flumped down next to her, landing hard on his side like he always did before he'd been injured. He twisted and started rolling on his back, pawing in the air, and making rawr raarrr noises.

"Not so much, but thought you might be." He was just rolling until the howl broke out and he flipped sharply onto his feet and woofed. Ahem, Neji alarm wolf. He whined and looked back to Bella, "Who is it?" Neji wasn't attuned to the lands, and he wasn't as able to sniff out trouble these days. Though...it didn't sound like the trouble he was used to.

Bella wuffed, "But he doesn't seem quite right." She had been about to eat one of those squirrels when the odd one gave a mournful howl. Bella was on her feet in a minute, her ears pricked forward. "Something is wrong..." She didn't know what, but she intended to find out. "Come on." She's going to head back up to the top of the plateau, to meet with Ferous and find out what was going on.

She would approach the older wolf slowly, sniffing at her. "What's wrong?" Bella might not have known right away, but given that howl, she figured something was.

The question earned protracted silence. The faux-wolf--smelling of fire and ash rather than fur--was at a lack of words. Neji would easily stand well above the white one, and Bella might feel comfort in another in just about her size range. "...How long has it been... Since you have seen, or even sensed Draeval?" words finally managed to form.

Neji looked at Bella, and she didn't have to say it twice before he's loping off towards Ferous. His movements were still off so Bella would probably be faster, despite his size. Neji would come up and stay a bit off Bella's shoulder. Ferous had never meant them any harm before, he couldn't imagine the wolf would now. But he was concerned never the less.

When the subject came to Draeval, Neji grunted. "You'd be better asking Chiara about him." Well? It was true.

Bella's ears laid back "A few weeks, but that isn't unusual for him. He doesn't spend much time at home." She wasn't the one that got the power to sense and call family, that was Goh's forte, and she wasn't sure where Goh was right now. "Why? Is something wrong with Draeval?" She'd give a faint whine noise and she'd shift from foot to foot. She was closer with Draeval than any of her other siblings.

At mention of Chiara, Bella's ears laid totally back, though that was her only reaction. She still wasn't sure what to make of the human woman.

...actually, Bella got the family ties, and Goh an extra bond to the land to balance out his chaos with law; it was the elements Wehfre bequeathed to Bella to charge the stones and balances, and the teachings of the air, to lend her towards mastering of their domain. But that was neither here nor there. Neji's words made Ferous flinch. "Chiara sits in her place in the woods and cries. A device tells her that he is dead. A small quirk leaves me holding out hope that he may still live. ...I hoped you could help me, but I suppose not. I apologize for being the bearer of terrible news." the tone was dejected, head down.

Neji looked at his mate and whined softly, leaning his head down to bump lightly against her. He was a big beast but he was gentle when it counted. He looked back to Ferous and his ears drooped down, "...are you sure?" Draeval was a friend to Neji, and he wasn't sure how his friend would just...disappear.

Neji sat down and looked like the big bear sized wolf was going to wail in his own right, which please don't let him. He's got a horrible cry. He just didn't know what to say, and he wasn't sure what to do either. He was such a socially awkward creature, and definitely no where near as smooth as his sire.

Bella growled at Ferous, she had never been one to deal with emotions well. "If there is hope then you give up too easily. Tell us what we must do." He'd mentioned a device, and Bella would snort, "If the device is broken, what does that have to do with my brother?" Neji's trying to be helpful, but Bella snaps at him and starts pacing like the agitated animal that she is.

Bella didn't even know anything about Chiara, other than what Neji had told her. "He has many children, could those not be used to track him?" Some even Ferous didn't know about!

Neji earned a sigh. "Not certain. I plan to experiment as I can. There is a vague pulse of energy within it, but it does not actually read his life force; still, it does not slow in tempo and thus encourages me that fresh power must be occasionally entering." Ferous wasn't appreciative of the attitude, even if it was understandable. A noticeable bristle rose. "I give up too quickly? Do not bark at me, I came here as I was the one still carrying hope. I would like to believe it is broken, but it isn't even mechanical. It merely takes ruse of an object called a clock, which tells the passing of days. His clock has ceased, and I must be very careful in studying it lest I do more harm than good. In theory I might know how to abuse its features and turn it backwards, but I dare not do harm. I do not know what you are capable of searching. I chose to come because the magic of this pack is deep, and mystical, and on a core of family I have no full inkling of. Do not ask me what you are capable of. Tell me."

Neji flicked his ears and then he's getting snapped at. So sitting there he rolled out his hips and lowered his head looking quite like a useless black lump. He looked towards Chiara's cabin, he was going to have to visit her. After he could be there for his mate. But for now he'd do what he needed here. Which, sadly he wasn't able to do much at all.

Bella barely kept herself from snapping at Ferous again, and her tail was lashing. She stopped her pacing, "Wait here." She's going to head into one of the dens, probably Wehfre's old den, since it had been abandoned. She'll use the quiet to focus her thoughts as she tries to seek out her brother. Unfortunately, she feels nothing different. He was cut off, but that wasn't unusual for him. Draeval was a hard one to keep track of.

Her ears twitched, and she headed back out to them, "He feels the same as always, as in, I cannot feel him. He feels...missing. But he'll appear missing and then come back all the time." Her ears drooped, "He'll come back. He always comes back..."

See what your absence does, Drae? Two bitches are about to fight because of you! Luckily, it seemed to subside even if Ferous deflected head and gaze aside, lifting it in defiance and annoyance. The news made ears sink. "I see. ...I hoped for something more definitive but I'm not sure what I expected. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. If you have any news, come to the woman's cabin. I may be there, and if not, she will answer. I am also occupied taking care of our father and uncle." an about-face turned towards the tree. "And him?" it did seem to stir now and then, but it had yet to get up and walk away or anything dramatic.

Neji lifted his head at Fer when Bella went off and pawed in the air at her, "Draeval and Bella are close, don't take it personally. She's used to him not being around, but it's different if he's gone." He looked over the plateau and whined through his nose. "She's lost a lot." Ferous probably knew that though, but Neji just needed to say something anything. He felt useless and that was pitiful.

Bella wanted to do something, anything more. "If I feel him come back I will tell the human woman in the cabin." Even if she hated humans. Her tail was lashing, and now her thoughts were consumed with finding her brother. Maybe Jyuzmar would have a better idea. Bella would have to contact her soon.

As for the tree, Bella would sniff in that direction. "No change in the tree, but there is a weird bird." She'd look at Ferous, "It doesn't feel right. Maybe you could catch it?" She's pricking her ears towards the tree, "Look. It's there." If Ferous looked, she might spot a tiny yellow bird in the tree. One guess as to who that was.

Neji's assurance vaguely relaxed the tensed figure. Bella's words drew a nod and... Ferous squinted to see. "A canary?" the thought escaped while Ferous wandered up to the tree. Hopefully nobody would be shocked by the abrupt transformation, sides of the pelt stretching into wings which hoisted the wolf up, though by the time it reached the tree it was a familiar owl, compacted appropriately. A closer inspection betrayed a gauntlet that cemented the bird's identity. "Spending time with D?" had gabriel even noticed the appropriately colored wolf? "You're creeping the wolves out, you know. Can't you talk to them?" you're one to talk, you creeper.