Home at last

[Bounder]

(ooc: lol, almost expected her to say that last bit)

The timber nodded, his ears wilting rigidly. She didn't have to say anything. The air was ripe with tension, meaning something was up, but whatever it was, it didn't include him. And he was wise enough to know that.

"Alright, I guess," he said. "I'm looking for someone."

That someone was Marus, his brother. Marus may want nothing to do with him, but Bounder was determined to set things right. He owed that to Marus.

"I haven't been able to find him just yet, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop looking for him." He smiled weakly. "I got turned around awhile back, and that's when you found me. Lost and alone, with no idea as to where I was headed. Thank goodness you found me when you did." He chuckled softly. "Otherwise, I'd still be lost."

[Tsukikage]

With the kind of luck we've had around here, it might have been better to stay lost... Mar thought bitterly. His face made a short grimace before returning to the cordial smile he'd donned for the occasion.
"Well," Mar bowed, "I'm afraid I've other matters to attend to, so if you all will excuse me."
With awaiting a response, he left. He couldn't stand being fake, and putting on a face... besides, he did say he'd try and get the boys moved to a more private chamber. Either way, it was an excuse to get away so he could let his guard down a little. He took a few deep breaths, to clear his thoughts, then went to find Shimo and Neo.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban did an inward double-take when Mar excused himself. She stared after him, feeling helpless now. She turned reluctantly back to Fallen and Bounder. Fallen knew what was going on-at least, Hitoban thought she did-but Bounder was completely in the dark. She figured it wouldn't hurt to tell him at least partially why everyone was acting so strangely.

"I'm sorry about all this Bounder. It seems you've come at a rather bad time again. The thing is, Tsuki and Kage are both ill, and so is Rin. Everyone else is taking care of the three of them. Dawn, my Beta, is resting because she is pregnant. There just isn't much going on that a guest should have to witness. So I'm afraid, for now, we'll just have to stay out here, and you can see Tsuki another day. If you would like, you can stay in the grotto until the boys get better. But if you'd rather not, I understand."

Hitoban was talking in riddles, but it made perfect sense to her. Why would a guest want to watch someone suffer on a medical table, the whole pack crowded around the sick one? A guest was supposed to see the pack as they were on a normal basis. Well, Hitoban thought bitterly, this kind of is what the pack is like normally...

[Bounder]

Bounder watched Mar get up, his expression troubled, a faraway look in his eyes. The timber was put off at first, but then he remembered that things were getting a bit hectic. He listened to Hitoban, and lowered his gaze. Apparently, his timing couldn't be worse. Three of them were ill, and the beta was pregnant.

"I can go, if you like."

Or he could stay here, in the grotto. She had just offered him a place to stay, at least for now. "Yes, thank you," he said, his tail wagging slowly. "I'll stay in the grotto."

Mainly because he had nowhere else to go. Of course, if they needed it later, he'd gladly make room. He didn't want to get in the way, or be a burden to anyone.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban nodded her head in affirmation. He would stay in the grotto for a while, and see what the pack was really like. If he was sane at all, he'd run for his life. No telling what would happen to him if he stayed.

She turned toward the pool of water and stood by the edge. She turned back to give instructions.

"Dive in and follow me. Take a deep breath before you get in. It will be cold, so don't freak out. There will be a small hole in the bottom. Go through it and swim up. You will come out in the grotto."

With that, she jumped in and started swimming for the bottom.

[Bounder]

He fell in line behind her, and made for the hole in the ground. So this was the entrance, hmm? Interesting.

He sucked in as much air as he possibly could before following her into the hole. The dive alone sent a shiver up his spine, the water chilling him to the bone. She'd warned him ahead of time, but nothing could have prepared him for this. It was as though a hundred knives were slicing into his body. This wasn't just cold; it was below freezing to him. He tried not to think about it. Instead, he focused on getting out of here. She said there was a hole at the bottom, right? There had to be a way out of here... right?

Yes, if memory served him correctly. He swam to the bottom, and felt around for the exit. It took him a moment to realize the hole was right in front of him. He swam through it and kicked up, making for the entryway up ahead. When his face broke through the surface of the water, he inhaled spasmodically and gasped for air. Once he could see again, he crawled ashore, and shook himself off, before collapsing upon the bank, his sides heaving in and out slowly.

"Nothing to it," he wheezed, though he'd have to remember to take things a little more slowly the next time around. Odds were Hitoban had entered beforehand. He just needed a moment's rest, and then he would get up and move on.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban swam easily through the familiar tunnel, entering the grotto with ease and shaking herself off. She gave notice to the others that a guest was coming, so they wouldn't be taken by surprise. They all acknowledged her, and Bounder soon surfaced. He was dripping and gasping, like a fish out of water. Hitoban smiled at him, saying "You'll get used to it. This is the grotto."

[ooc]His reply will be in the thread in the grotto.[/ooc]