Watch the Storm Calm Down Now

The moon shone each night, a new face turned for the world below as cryptic gods danced with dangers and joy above...yet still, her husband had not come home. She had no reason to fear, that she knew, but it did not mean she missed him any less. He belonged at her side, yet it was her who had ventured away from him time and time before. She held no right to judge him for wanting a turn away, nor how long it took him, so she would wait.

Life began to fall into a routine once more, even if the burden be more heavy. She could feel it in her body as muscles ached. On more than one occasion her stomach churned, perhaps from the overload of tasks she put unto herself, or perhaps the fish she decided to eat despite her wishes. At the very least, she could then save the meat of land for those who could not stomach fish, even if she too usually could not. She should be better, she knew, she could not lead if she worked to death, but it was also her role to put those who lived beneath her first.

Finding pause in her day, Ira took the chance to wander down to the peaceful Run. Day and day again did more travelers find their way here for the hunter's appeal, but she could not allow such wolves to hunt with twice the mouths to feed. To her relief, she would not smell a fresh scent now as she wandered to the river where she would pause to drink.

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Well.

She joined a pack.

Didn't really know about said-pack, bits here and there. Core-functions, who some were, the ranks and so ; didn't know the wolves just yet. Sometimes felt like there was eyes at the back of her head but generally ignored so, thinking it was just jitters of adjusting so. She never moved into another pack since her birth-one ; knowing that to the core and trying to adjust to a knew one was.. A bit difficult, to say. Especially starting from the bottom. She knew concepts of 'respect' and was begrudgingly following with it, just knowing she had to work her way through.

As all life, would be.

Guarding was her best priority, especially as she knew there was some freaks that were hovering around the run. Even she was somewhat lured around it so, but couldn't help but think back to the two foxes who were within the area.. She would search around, nosing to the ground to see if their scent was within the area, and promptly marking the hunting grounds when she smelled something was amiss. 

She saw the High Queen within the area, and approached with a slight bark, with the slightest bow of respect. That was correct, right? Been some time. At the time, Orlaith had forgotten to inform her ; as her joining of Vanderfell was a whirlwind of emotions, "Some time ago there was two foxes here that were freaks. They spoke of monsters.. Haven't seen them since, but it was before I joined Vanderfell."

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An ear flicked to listen behind her as the sound of heavy paws approached. A mere glance would confirm her guest's status, even if Orlaith's appearance was both familiar yet haunting. She would note the bow of her head as she finished drinking before turning to listen to the woman's report. Apparently, they had a bit of a fox problem. It was one way to sour her mood early, especially with her children wandering more and more beyond her reach despite her warnings. “And you have caught no trail?”

Perhaps they had simply gone on their way, an ending that would be in the best interest of all parties, but not one she was willing to accept so easily. “It would be best if we searched for any dens. If they did not move on then they have taken residence somewhere nearby. As to what monsters they elude, I imagine they could only mean wolves.” There were plenty nearby after all with three packs jammed around the Run. They truly were crazy if they had plans to stay in such a hot spot during spring.

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Orlaith shook her head, "I haven't seen them since, or even smelled around." And she made sure — even before Vanderfell, Orlaith was motioning around the area to catch sight of any of those loons again. Greatly they kept speaking about the monster, and she too was wary if such a true beast was around. Bear, wolf, something that scared them enough and believed they brought it over that could cause harm. She both wanted to face, and to fight it ; for the sake of mind after all.

Orlaith looked away from the High Queen and gazed to the out-parts of the forest, "I approached them in thought she was in need, didn't know she was just crazy. She seemed awfully calm about me, but the other, male one, assumed I did something to her." Something about it didn't seem like she was in fear of wolves. The only deduction that she could think was something like a bear or a cougar ; for both were equally terrifying to even a wolf, much less a fox. But she spoke like it was a demon.. Something that was dragged beyond — not something she believed in.

But enough that it brought a wariness that some danger was lurking, and now quite close to a pack she recently hails to.

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It would be fortunate news that the other had caught no further signs of their intruders' stay, though what came next was equally concerning. There had been a male and female wandering about. “If he was protective of the female then there is a chance they have mated. A thorough search should be conducted to ensure their kin are raised far from these woods.” Frankly she was not concerned with a stay coyote or two given how many eyes and ears they had to roam the mountains, but it was another mouth taking from her children's and if their numbers proved to be too much for the Run then they may be target of pesky creatures. “Show me where you encountered this pair. I wish to see where the scents lead no matter how stale they may now be.” At the very least if they could discern which way they exited her woods then they could keep extra eyes on that side of Ullarcraig to ensure they did not come back.

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"He screamed sister. I imagine that may mean a family is around. They weren't kits." She knew wolves had loner tendencies and also pack ones. Some preferred solitude, others preferred to be within groups, and some simply enjoyed strolling with one or two, a family usually. She did not know fox tendencies, and was especially now wary thinking if they were siblings, then that might mean a clan could be nearby of foxes. She narrowed a look into the forest, and didn't catch any like them, but could never be too certain.

Orlaith then nodded, and gestured over near a clearing, somewhere near the middle of the run, but closer to the edge of the plains itself. An open clearing where she still remembered their troubles ; the scent now stale but when she bent and sniffed lightly at the grass, her own, and even theirs, was still vaguely there. The fear they had as well was something that lingered — but like they came, they left.

She looked at Ira, wondering what her further opinion was.

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Ira only frowned at the word sister. To her knowledge, a gathering of foxes included the parents and their very young. Never had she seen a family linger and stick together after growing independent, but then again never had they lingered long enough for her to find out. This world was different. There were those who said the same when the topic of predators and prey came to light. The rules of natural order no longer followed the set she had been raised on and that much was demonstrated by the union of a wolf and beast.

Who knew what a fox may be capable of next?

Ira would follow Orlaith's lead as she led to the eastern reaches of the Run all the while keeping her nose to the ground for scents. They were fortunate to find only stale scents, though she too would pick up the hints of fox as they reached their destination. “What chances are there that the woman is pregnant?” Beast concerns or not, a fox usually ran from adult wolves. For one to charge with threats suggested there was more than what they could see at the surface. “I smell naught of recent ventures beyond this point. A perimeter check should ensure a permanent departure. I care little for where they may go so long as they stay beyond our reach. That being said, we should extend patrols or hunting parties to the reaches of Ullarcraig to ensure we have no repeat offenders or new threats growing beneath our noses.”

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Orlaith thought for a moment, "she didn't look like it, though maybe it could explain that male's sudden hostility." Her gaze lifted up and looked into the forests ; any signs of their adventures remaining through. Though in truth they left quite shortly after, leaving a hurricane of emotions to Orlaith who wasn't pleased by their behavior of craze and aggression. She not wish for that to come back, but the talk of monsters kept them onto her mind. 

"I'm more wondering what they mean on monsters and that it followed them. Wolf or otherwise, that would mean something could be around." An eye to the forest and back in thought, as she hummed lightly with a narrowed gaze. Not only to worry about the foxes that could be wandering around, but something else that had a keen eye to cause trouble. She nodded with an agreement though, and made a mental note to broaden her patrols a bit beyond the territorial stretch ; just to catch if any of them were wandering outside of the Vanderfell claims.

"Alright."

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It was true, there was more to consider beyond the foxes themselves. Ideally, she wished to believe they were the monsters they feared so much...but if they had spouted nonsense to Orlaith in the first place, then perhaps it was not a wolf after all. “There are many wolves crossing through Ullarcraig presently. Some are injured or perhaps beastly in appearance...but you are correct. There may be another threat beyond our reach to consider.” Momentairally she considered @Kuhn, though she doubted the man would be foolish enough to follow into a land where his enemies held the upper hand given the state they had left him and his companion in...but that did not mean it was not possible either.

“If you recall, Vandefell recently assisted in the hunt of a striped beast. His kind is similar to a cougar, though his pelt more vibrant. We did not succeed...I do not wish it so, but I can not deny the minor possibility that they may have referred to him as well. If that is so, none should venture alone. He can easily kill any one of us, even when swarmed. Presently he is severely injured. If he has followed then it will be to his death.” It had been the only reason she joined Shiroshika in the first place. Reiko offered to bridge an alliance, but it was her people, her children, who mattered most.

If he had truly terrorized and threatened children on claimed land, she would not allow him to do the same here. Ira was no stranger to failure, though where she failed once, she never would again. The roan woman let her thoughts trail off as she stared out towards the plains. “Let us retreat to the Summit for now. We shall send a party to ensure there is no trace of him nor any other beast in the area.”

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"Tigers rival bears, they are not beasts able to be left alone." She nodded, knowing well of such a threat that roamed within the tundra, and the factor that was now an enemy of two or more packs. She understood well on such a wariness, and highly agreed on forcing so down and yet ; wished to be there not knowing well she was there, and had fallen to it's very fangs. Now returned, would she protectively guard against the pack that life continually brings her back to. She was set, into her duties.

If the foxes inferred him.. Maybe that would explain such an intense fear, "I will join the party," so said Orlaith in the determination to provide such help as she could not before. She didn't like the idea of such groups being targeted, much less not even knowing who the true threat was out there. Whether it inferred the tiger.. Or something else altogether ; the warrior was determined to join the fray.

And she would nod once more, a final wiff around the area that detected only the stale scents, before turning away with the other.

Though Orlaith never did see how off the leader was. She wasn't the smartest cookie when it came to the signs.

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Ira only nodded to the phoenix's offer. She held no interest in pursuing this cat should it be Kuhn or not, so long as it remained far from her domain. Ira never was a woman of conquest or many desires, only a place to nurture her young and live in what peace she could find. “None will travel beyond the borders even should the party contain many. There are fear tactics that may be at play to separate our numbers or draw out individuals to pick off. For now, we remain on the defensive and pray they tire of waiting.” For better or for worse, all lost their patience at some point. She only prayed that patience would result in leaving as opposed to a counterattack, but for now the duo would return to share their findings with the rest.

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