Home at last

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban slipped through the bushes into the waterfall clearing. The calm rumbling of the waterfall put her mind slightly more at ease. The familiar sound that she slept and lived around all the time, sheltering her and her pack from the world. Behind it, she could smell Tsuki and Kage, but the scents from everyone else were faded. She wondered what they were doing there alone-especially without Dawn. Where was she? Hitoban turned to Bounder, sensing something was going on she didn't know about, and spoke to him.

"If you would wait here for a moment, I'll bring out the others."

It wasn't right to bring a guest into their den behind the waterfall without at least previously knowing about it. She nimbly slunk up the side of the cliff and behind the waterfall. What she saw made her gasp.

Her boys, Tsuki and Kage, were suspended in midair, appearing to be asleep. She stood, mouth agape, at the spectacle. She circled them for a second, not knowing what to think, and then started losing her cool. Where was everyone else? Why were these two like this? Why wasn't Dawn up here resting? So many questions swarmed in her head, and she had to lay down before she went back out to where Bounder was. She took long, deep breaths, calming herself, and finally jumped back out of the den. She smiled at Bounder, pretending like nothing was wrong, and spoke again.

"Sorry, but I need to go into the other den. It will take a minute, so please be patient." With another smile, she went back into the waterfall den. She shuddered slightly as she passed Tsuki and Kage, and slipped down the hole into the grotto.

[ooc]This has moved into the grotto board, but this thread is still up if you want to post Bounder's thoughts. Hitoban will return momentarily.[/ooc]

[Bounder]

(ooc: kk)

He followed behind her, the rabbit still hanging limply between jagged fangs. Bounder didn't know as to where they were headed, but he sure was glad to have her as his guide. Odds were he'd of gotten lost if not for her. He stopped behind her with one ear forward. The sound of water falling reached his ears. The waterfall, where last he'd been turned away, but only because he'd interrupted their meeting. He hopped on a rock before turning around, his eyes on the rocks up above them. He could make out some figures, but just barely, behind the thundering falls. Most likely some more of her friends. He turned back around to see her going on ahead. He was to stay put, for now.

"Alright."

He watched her climb up the rocks, and then she was gone. He munched on the rabbit while waiting for her, his tail thumping against the stone every few seconds. He wondered as to what they were talking about, and if they would let him join the pack. And then she was back. Something was wrong, but she wouldn't say what. The timber looked up and then back to her, a curious look on his face. He then offered a grin of his own.

"I'll be here," he nodded.

Something was bothering her. The question was: what?

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban padded swiftly into the den with a short look at the apparently sleeping boys, and sat waiting for Mar to join her.

[Tsukikage]

Mar trudged into the den, stopping to take a long, rather sad look at his sons, still floating in mid-air.
"I don't want to lose any more of my family, Hitoban." He said. It was one of the few times he'd addressed her by her name instead of 'Little Miss'. His large red body moved towards her, and came downward with a thump. He took a deep breath, and began.
"I don't want to lose any of you, because you are all important to me now. That's why this has to be done. The boys have some sort of demon or parasite that feeds on emotions -- strong ones, too. The kind of emotions Tsuki and Kage have for you and Dawn. So... we had to put them into a sleep-state, like this. Hopefully, the thing will starve and die, and they'll return to normal. As for Rin... her health has apparently been poor her whole life. She's been a little touch-and-go for a good while now..."

[hitobannofokkusu]

It wasn't that Hitoban didn't care about Rin. She wished her friend wasn't in such poor condition, and hoped she got better soon. But Tsuki, however, was first on her priority list. She'd like to think that there was something that she could have done to prevent this, but she couldn't think of anything. She turned her head to look at the two suspended in midair, and after a moment rose and padded over to them. She stared at Tsuki for a long time, silent tears rolling down her cheeks, and struggled not to nuzzle him. She figured she shouldn't touch him, at least not right now. She didn't know if she'd be able to handle it if he was unresponsive...

So instead, she did what any good Alphess would do. She composed herself, took a deep breath, and turned back to Mar. Her words were quick and short-orderly if you will-as she told him all she had to say.

"Okay, well I have a guest outside, probably thinking I've lost my mind, and I can't just ignore him. He's been here once before and I'm almost positive he wishes to join my pack. I need to deal with him, but I don't think..." She paused here, almost losing her perfect mask, but quickly regained her composure and continued. "It wouldn't be wise to leave these two out here, in front of the whole world. I think they should be taken back into the nursery for their...sleep." She gestured to the doorway in the back left corner of the den. "That way, no one will have to experience...unpleasant feelings every day." She said everyone, but really Hitoban knew it would only be she and Dawn that felt it every day, because they'd be the only ones that were there every day. They slept there, after all.

Hitoban took another deep breath, and her tone softened. She smiled at Mar, a small, kind of sad smile, and stepped toward him.

"As you know, this pack has many problems with...protection. I was going to ask you-if you don't have...anything else to do..." She paused, wondering if saying something like that would hurt him. She cringed on the inside, and moved on. "I would like it if you would become the Captain of the Guard. Shimo and Neo would be the body, if they'd like. It's just..." Hitoban became a little emotional again, though she didn't want to. "I just don't think...I don't think I'm doing as well a job of taking care of my pack as I'd hope to. Dawn needs extra protection-almost like you're protecting seven instead of one-and now Tsuki and Kage are...incapacitated. They will need to be protected too. But, if I'm always here, watching over others, when will we eat?"

She took another breath, just to pause. She felt she was rambling. "The point is, I need your help, and I thought I would just make it official."

[Tsukikage]

Mar bowed his head slightly. "I already said that this is my family, Hitoban. And I will do everything I can to protect it. I don't need any official title to protect the ones I love. As for the boys..." He paused and cringed at how thoughtless they'd been. Of course, leaving them in here was a bad idea... idiot! "Um... I'm not really sure if they can be moved, but I'll talk with Shimo and Neo, and see if anything can be done. I'm sorry I hadn't thought of that before, that was thoughtless of me, forgive me."
He bowed lower for a moment, then looked out at the water. "If you need some time, I can deal with the guest, for now. No one would blame you."

[Rynn]

Fallen padded into the clearing dragging a rather large buck behind her, she paused just inside the clearing and glanced around, upon spotting Bounder she started towards him, she dropped the buck and sat down facing Bounder. "Hello again, we didn't exactly get a chance to introduce ourselves....the names Fallen, and you are?"

[Bounder]

Having finished his rabbit, Bounder got up, and made for the water. Not much of a meal, but just enough meat to fill his belly, for now. He stepped into the lake and swam for awhile before heading back to shore. He then shook himself off and hopped back on the rock.

"Wonder what's up," he mumbled.

Should he have followed her? No, she'd told him to stay put, and that's just what he was going to do. Still, he was getting a mite restless. He kicked at a pebble and watched it roll off the rock and on into the grass. Ho hum, this was no fun at all. Maybe a quick run through the woods would liven things up. But not too far. He hopped off the rock and turned in the direction of the woods...

Only to stop a few seconds later. Another wolf had just entered the clearing. It was the wolf from before, and this time she came bearing much larger game. Bounder smiled at her, his tail wagging slowly.

"True, we didn't, though it is nice to see you again," he nodded. "My name is Bounder." He sat down close by. "You a part of the pack as well?"

[Rynn]

Fallen blinked as she was asked if she belonged to the pack, "No, no I don't think I am any more than a guest to these lands." she paused, "Kaze, Rin and myself all belonged to a pack once long ago but Rin was exiled and we followed after her, so we dont' really have a pack anymore, and I can't guarantee how much longer Rin will stay after she gets better, if she does at all...." Fallen sighed,"Sorry bout the small rant, the packs up tight and I am a little as well and its just stressful sometimes, it is a pleasure to meet you though Bounder." She then turned and licked at a painful looking gash that was on her shoulder, she hadn't felt it when she took down the buck, but she had felt a twinge of pain in her shoulder when she had been dragging the buck back.

[Bounder]

"I see," he replied. "I am also a guest."

The difference was he'd never belonged to a pack. His father was part of one at one time in his life, but he'd thrown it all away to be with Bounder's mother. They'd set off on their own, determined to beat the odds, and for awhile, things were great. Then she became pregnant. Everything went to hell after that, according to his father. Canyon had never wanted to be a father in the first place.

"You mustn't think that way," he said. "for things can always get better." True, they could always get worse as well, but best they not think that way. "I'm sure she'll be fine as long as she has family to help her. And you're not bothering me in the least." He chuckled softly. "By all means, continue if it makes you feel better. I know all about stress, and what it can do to you." He looked down at that, his smile lessening. "I don't have a home anymore, or a family at all for that matter. My mother is dead and my brother has vanished. Not that it matters, I suppose. He wants nothing to do with me, and my father... well, let's just say if I never see him again, it'll be too soon." He looked up, a sullen expression on his face. "I hate him..."

Was she hurt?

It appeared so. "That's a nasty looking cut," he said. He moved a bit closer, his eyes on the wound. "Anything I can do to help?"

[Rynn]

Fallen listened to Bounders' tale, and smiled kindly at him when he asked if there was anything he could do to help about her shoulder, "No, I'll be okay but thanks for the offer..." she paused and then switched subjects, "I don't even know if our pack is still alive...without a leader though are they really a pack at all? Or just a close knit group of rouges?" she sighed, "But I guess it doesn't matter there's no going back for us, everyone we were related to by blood in that pack are dead...so it doesn't matter if the others are alive, those I care about are here and that's all I need to keep myself going..." She closed her eyes and smiled slightly, "I normaly don't rant this much...I must be more stressed than I thought I was.."

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban, after a moment of contemplating silence, looking from the talking figures outside to anywhere in the den but the sleeping pair, finally made her decision. She had to suck it up and be a leader, or the rest of her friends might fall apart. But, that didn't mean that she couldn't have a little someone to fall back on if she did decide that she needed a moment alone. She turned to Mar, a small smile on her face.

"I think I can handle a little conversation with guests. If you wouldn't mind, would you come with me? The whole point of bringing him back here was so that Tsuki could meet him, but that's...clearly not happening. Dawn's busy as well, and I just can't go alone. So come if you wish, and don't if you'd rather not."

Hitoban turned and slunk out and down the side of the cliff.

[Tsukikage]

Mar shook his head, chuckling and thinking to himself, I will do whatever it takes, Little Miss...

His head turned left and right, then down at the guests. "Oh, there you are! You must be our guests, hmm? I'm sorry Tsuki is unavailable to great you in person, but he sent me with his regards." He smiled and bowed his head cordially. "I am Tsuki's father, Mar, and I'll be assisting Hitoban for the time being."

[Bounder]

Bounder was beginning to like Fallen more and more. She was quite open and easy to talk to. "Anytime," he replied. He fell silent while mulling it over. "I suppose, providing there's someone to lead the others back home. Someone to keep things in order. I wouldn't worry too much about them." And she wasn't. Most of her family was dead; her siblings were all she had left. "That's the spirit," he snickered. Too bad he and his brother didn't see eye to eye like the rest of them did. He could use some family support right about now, and it sounded as though she could use some as well. "Think nothing of it," he said. "Sometimes it helps us feel better."

The sound of voices made him look up. Hitoban had returned with a rather large wolf by her side. Bounder dipped his head to them both as a sign of respect. "Indeed we are," he replied. "My name is Bounder. Thank you for allowing us to visit with you."

He looked at Hitoban, who seemed a bit distracted.

"Is something wrong, Lady Hitoban?"

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban snapped her head at Bounder's question, with a small smile. She shook her head and said, "It's nothing of great concern." She'd never tell, but secretly she was screaming none of your business! She sat down at Mar's side and wondered how to go about this. Normally, the guest would be invited in, visit with the Alphas, hang with the pack for a while, and then after a bit they would all determine whether the guest would stay or go. Unfortunately, that couldn't be done right now. Everything was in turmoil, and the other Alpha couldn't talk. So instead, she decided they would just converse over Fallen's kill.

"So Bounder, what has life been like since I've seen you last?" She figured he might have told her before, but she didn't remember a scrap of it-too much had happened since then.