The Wild Series: Reign of Ashes (Muckwaters)

Main page for all Muckwaters related plot in the region. Please contain all characters and story posted here to this region in the main plot to avoid confusion. Even if your plot begins in this region, upon moving to another area please transition your rp to the correct page.  

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(Here is a video full of background sounds you can have in a separate tab to help with setting the mood for writing any scenes here in the Muckwaters. Feel free to keep this sound on in the background when you write or read!)

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:(Yes the hatchlings had playdates XD And omg, the porcupine!  I just saw that!)

Just as Nykoru was touching the shed skin, Syrune landed outside the hollow entrance, not seeing the mysterious substance over the other bird's shoulder. "... Have you seen your sister? It's time for us to...."

Even as Syrune was speaking she trailed off, seeing the distant shade of Ambyra flitting over the trees. "Oh. Nevermind. She's on her way... let's go." 

Without giving him a chance to answer, she lifted off the tree branch and glided out towards Ambyra, entrusting that Nykoru would follow.

"Hey!" Ambyra approached with a kindly smile, curving to come to Syrune's side. "Sorry, I got a bit distracted... there was a wolf by that huge tree over the hill... she looked a bit familiar."

"A wolf?" Syrune questioned, only half paying attention, her eyes on the horizon. 

"Yeah... she seemed lost." Ambyra noted, her gaze drifting towards the tree.

"Hmph. Not our problem. Wolves can fend for themselves just fine. We need to be on the lookout for Shades, there's no doubt they'll be after us by now."

(XD They're just like leaving Nykoru behind, lol. I think Syrune is low-key upset.)

(Aaw, cute! XD And yay! You got the reference! )

Nykoru flinched at Syrune's sudden arrival, his heart momentarily stopping in his chest. The shed skin in talon, he turned his head towards his adoptive mother. Before he even had the chance to open his beak, she had left to join his sister.

"..."

Hey, I found this...

The young falhawk sighed through his beak and tried to ignore the pang in his heart as he looked back down at the shed skin. Should he take it with him to show the other two or leave it? It was evidence that something had been in their temporary shelter during the short time they were away, but whatever had left it behind was gone now, and they would not be returning. So did it even matter that the girls knew about this? Would they even listen to him, or would they look at him oddly for carrying around such a strange...thing. Or would they just ignore him?
It made sense to leave it and just forget about it, but...of all the places for this skin to be left behind, why in the place the trio had spent the previous night.

Nykoru felt dumb, and slightly paranoid, for doing so, but he took the skin carefully out of his talons and exited the hollow. Seeing the girls in the distance, he took to the air and flew after them as fast as he could so as not to be left completely behind. He couldn't help but feel a little resentful that they had gone on ahead without waiting for him.

(XD Poor Nyko! )

(I'm sure they'll hug it out eventually XD)

Ambyra was the first to notice her brother falling in line behind them, nodding towards him to Syrune. The Red-tail gave Nykoru a small smile at his arrival, opening her beak to ask him about his hunt when she broke off, seeing what was in his talons. 

"Wh-" 

Before Syrune could ask, Ambyra was already on it. 
"What the heck is in your talons? Snake skin?" Ambyra questioned, raising a brow in confusion. Why in the world is he carrying that?


"Where did you find that?" Syrune asked, equally puzzled.

Oh hey, they acknowledged me. That's a relief, Nykoru thought, only somewhat sarcastically. But the odd looks they were giving him were making him second guess his decision to bring the skin. Then, as soon as he recognized his feelings of insecurity, he silently chastised himself to quit being such a juvenile before getting right to the point.

"It was in the hollow," the young falhawk informed, bringing the skin forward to give the two a better view of it, "I honestly don't know what it is. I want to say it is snake skin, but something doesn't feel right about this."

Nykoru then held it towards Syrune, inviting her to take it and examine it for herself.

Ambyra drifted away in her flight in disgust, opting to stay far away from the gross bit of skin. "Yuck! I did't even notice it when I picked through there yesterday." She let out a small shudder while Syrune rolled her eyes.

"It's probably just a snake, Nykoru." Syrune glanced over at the skin but didn't take it, turning to face the distant clouds dismissively.

"It wasn't there this morning..." Nykoru started replying to Ambyra, but his voice died off at the end. He looked to Syrune out of the corner of his eye and waited a moment before bringing his talons in. Silently, as he continued to glide after the females, he looked down at the skin he held, unraveling his talons a bit to see it better.

Just a snake...huh?

The skin was broken and turned inside out, like normal shed snake skins. It was...he didn't know what it was about this skin, but he just didn't think it looked like a snake skin should. But...what would he know? He'd only seen one or two snake skins in his life, so maybe some skins looked as demented as the one he was holding. Besides, what did it matter? The trio had left the hollow, so whatever had been there, snake or otherwise, was left behind. They wouldn't be seeing it again. With a sigh, Nyko opened his talons, letting the passing wind steal the skin away from him.

"...Ya. You're right," he muttered under his breath in agreement with Syrune.

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:From the brush a slender wolf emerged from out of the swamps. She was a chestnut brown with a cream colored belly and her tail and muzzle was dusted with silver from her age. She sniffed at the direction of the grey wolf that had rested at the trees nearby. Her head tilted and ears perked up. She didn't smell like one of her own, but didn't smell of the shadows haunting the swamps.

The older wolf padded delicately over a fallen log, tail stretched out long and paws spread out to gain better traction on the mossy surface. She prowled the trail to the newcomer with the grace and elegance of her pack.

"Excuse me," she called out calmly. "Are you lost, child?"

The she-wolf's ears twisted toward the sound of approaching pawsteps before she turned her head to look at the newcomer. At first sight of the other wolf, she immediately felt apprehension towards her, shown by her flattening ears and bristling fur. She watched the older wolf carefully, instinctively preparing to defend herself. But then, the strangest thing happened.

As the blue-eyed she-wolf watched the graceful movements of the older she-wolf, and then recognized the lack of hostility on her face, an image flashed through her head. A different she-wolf, in place of the newcomer, was looking down on her. Her crimson gaze was warm, her features gentle. Her soft gray fur billowed in the cold wind, snowflakes dancing across her figure, and the ground behind her was so white it seemed to glow. With a blink, the image was gone. The blue-eyed she-wolf was once again in the humid swamp, facing the older chestnut she-wolf.

"Excuse me, are you lost, child?"

By the time the question was asked, the fur along the blue-eyed she-wolf's back had lain flat. The previous apprehension had faded.

"...I...think so," she hesitantly replied, "Where am I?"

The older wolf smiled softly, she couldn't help but to be amused at the initial reaction of the newcomer, it reminded her of her own daughter.

"We call this place the Muckwaters," she started, her tail flicking at a fly that started buzzing around her hind quarters. "And you just so happened to find yourself in the middle of my territory. I am Alpha Velyria, great-granddaughter of pack matron Heira." The older wolf had a queenly aura and stood straight upon speaking her title. She shuffled on her paws, not carrying for the squishy dirt in between her toes. "You don't seem like you're a shadow-walker. And you look like you haven't had a good meal in quite sometime." Velyria smiled, starting to head off into the swamp. "Come child, there is a warm den and a good meal and fresh water back at my camp."

Alpha... The highest power in a pack, the blue-eyed she-wolf recognized with a slight jolt. At learning that Velyria was an Alpha, the blue-eyed she-wolf's body language subtly changed to show more respect. It was a subconscious move, based on instinct, on her part.

As she listened to Velyria, the blue-eyed she-wolf realized the terms "Muckwaters", "Heira" and "shadow-walker" were unfamiliar to her. All she understood from the explanation was that she was on this Alpha's territory. She had questions of course, but they were forgotten at the mention of food and shelter, prompting her stomach to rumble loudly and her muscles to suddenly feel so tired. She also noticed how dry her throat felt.

"A-Ah... Thank you..." she quietly muttered. She took a hesitant step forward, grimacing as the moist dirt squished through her toes, before following after Velyria.

Velyria smiled hearing the younger wolf start walking after her. "Step where I step, child," she called out behind her. "This swamp can be full of nasty surprises if you're not careful." The older wolf cleared a rather large log with a single jump bound and waited for her new companion to do the same. "Where are you from child? Do you have a name?"

The blue-eyed she-wolf wondered what Velyria meant by 'nasty surprises', but seeing as she had no reason to do otherwise, she obeyed the alpha. She stopped for a moment behind the log, examining it before leaping over it as well. Her paws scraped over the wood, not painfully, but she successfully landed beside Velyria.

"I..." the she-wolf started, taking a moment to ponder the question. "...I...don't... I don't know," she finally replied, drawing a blank, "I think there was snow?... A mountain?... But I don't... And my name...it's..."
She stopped and thought hard.
What is my name? I know I have one, but...why can't I... ...I do have a name, right?...

"My... then my scouts had reported a bright flash from the swamps I didn't expect to find you..." the older wolf thought hard. She had known cases of memories issues with her pack upon injury but this some something she couldn't simply comprehend. She nodded slowly in understatement. "Well whoever you are you must be far from home, and you don't seem to have a bad flavor thus far."

As the older wolf she continued talking to the younger wolf--explaining the dangers of the murky waters and the tar pits that could swallow an adult elephant within moments. Velyria taught her that the rain that collected in the leaves of plants was safe to drink. As she was pointing out to the young wolf a mushroom that could make you feel full until you could hunt down a decent meal the ground started to rumble with thuds and nearby trees creaked. The older wold chuckled at the younger wolf and smiled slightly. "There there, child, it's nothing to be afraid of." As the older wolf spoke a herd of elephants broke through the dense tree line, shaking off the vines from their mighty tusks as they stomped through the vegetation. 

The elephants marched by peacefully, nodding their heads in respect to the alpha female and her companion. One in particular had symbols drawn on him with mud. They were mostly dabs, stripes, and some swirls that decorated his face and shoulders. He has dark grey skin and his ears were tattered and his legs and thighs were scarred from unruly creatures trying to nibble at his ankles.

"You see those symbols?" Velyria whispered to the younger wolf. "Those are how to tell that he is their king."

The king elephant approached the two wolves and the rest of his herd stopped behind him. He bowed his head to Velyria and in turn she kneeled to him. "Kneel." Velyria whispered to her companion quietly.

"Greetings, Alpha Velyria." the elephant started, his voice boomed throughout the trees. "And... who is your friend here?"

Bright flash? the blue-eyed she-wolf thought in curiosity.
...Bad...flavor? It was a strange phrase, but it had some familiarity behind it... And it was a good thing if she didn't have bad flavor, right? ...Something about that previous statement doesn't seem right...

Shrugging it off, the she-wolf continued walking with Velyria, taking in her surroundings while quietly listening to the alpha's teachings. She paid attention for the most part, especially when the older wolf was talking about things she had never heard of before, such as the tar pits. The term "elephant" tickled at her brain, but the meaning of the word was lost to her.
She was distracted from time to time by the unfamiliar aspects of the territory she was passing through, sometimes missing some of Velyria's words, but she quickly regained her focus each time.

As the blue-eyed she-wolf was crouched down beside the mushroom, examining it in curiosity, she was startled by the increasing rumble. She backed up to Velyria's side, her fur prickling in unease. The Alpha's words calmed her. That is, until the behemoth appeared.

NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF?! she mentally screamed as she stared up at the towering creature, her fur bushed out like the pines on a pine tree and eyes as wide as moons. What was this thing?!

...Oh ya. That was an elephant, she remembered. So stay away from those tar pits! A voice in the back of her head piped up unhelpfully.

The she-wolf glanced quickly to Velyria as the alpha moved to the ground, barely registering her order to kneel, which she hurriedly did. She was slowly getting over her initial panic, and Velyria's calm voice explaining the markings on the elephant's skin helped calm her down enough to quickly look over the markings. Later she would admit to herself that those markings looked pretty cool.

The she-wolf froze as the elephant turned his attention to her. She had no idea what to say. Her mind drew a huge blank. She could only stare in wide-eyed silence up at the large elephant.

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:
Velyria chuckled in amusement as she stood up. "She seems to be confused about who she is and where she came from."

The elephant nodded, seeming to understand the predicament. "Perhaps she has breathed the smoke of that foul demon stalking our lands."

Velyria looked to the she-wolf beside her. "Yes, yes that makes sense... thank you King Kul'Hani. We're on our way back to camp, but may I ask what brings you to this part of the swamp?"

The elephant king grew somber, his trunk hung limply from his face before he reached out to touch the face of the alpha wolf with it. "There has been another from my herd... drained of blood an organs... it'd be much easier to explain if you could keep up--we must make it to the graveyard by nightfall and your camp is along the way."

Velyria nodded as Kul'Hani gently wrapped his trunk around the wolf's middle and lifted her off the ground and placed her on his back. He soon did the same to the younger wolf, chuckling at the tenseness of her muscles and how bristled her fur was. "You must not be familiar with our kind, little one."

Smoke of the foul demon...drained of blood and organs...graveyard...

The she-wolf felt faint as she tried to keep up with the conversation she didn't understand. She wasn't even sure she wanted to understand.

She watched as the elephant reached for Velyria, subconsciously leaning away from the trunk as it neared her. Not expecting the older wolf to be lifted in the air, the she-wolf went rigid, making soft choking noises in the back of her throat as she watched Kul'Hani put Velyria on his back. And then before she could regain her senses, the elephant's trunk wrapped around her middle and her paws were no longer on the ground.

WHAT IS HAPPENING.

The blue-eyed she-wolf almost slid off Kul'Hani's back the moment she was set on it.

What. What. What, she repeated in her mind as she stared wide eyed straight ahead of her.

"What is happening?" she finally asked in a higher pitched voice.

Velyria chuckled, grabbing the she-wolf by her scruff and pulling her safely on the elephant's back. "Easy, child," she cooed. "I take it you've never been around elephants before?"

Ku'Hani shuffled as the two wolves settled on his back. "We're losing daylight, come then--" as he trailed off his lifted is trunk into the air and trumpetted, letting the others know the herd was preparing to move. The heard lurched forward and the swampy forests gave way--logs snapping under their feet and the trees buckled as they passed.

As they walked and spoke quietly amongst themselves, the lush green swamp started to fade and brown. All plant life was wilted and nothing, save for some insects, was living out here.

"Our home is dying," Kul'Hani started, his ears flapping as insects drew near. "The water is gone... this fish are dying. Most of the panthers have already fled north but their prince and his guard still remain here. Soon too I may move my people away from this place." The group passed under an archway of dead trees that tangled together as they grew, giving them some shelter from the sun. "All my life, and my father's life, and even my grandfather's life--no one can recall when the swamp has dried out like this. The very land itself calls out for aide. You can hear it in the wind, the crunching of the dried leaves."

As they passed under the archway one of the elephants trumpetted in alarm. "Something dripped on me!" she called out to the king. Kul'Hani stopped and felt something land on his face. He used his trunk to wipe it off of him. It was a mucus-green color with traces of a mysterious foam in it. It was grainy but also had the consistency of wet clay and was extremely sticky and dripped from his trunk as he observed it--the slime was also foreign to the king, having never seen anything like it in his lifetime.

"What the?" he tried to shake the substance off his trunk but all it did was fling it back into the younger she-wolf's face. His eyes looked up and his fellow herd members did the same. The slimy substance was covering the tops of the trees over them and slowly starting to drip down onto the restless herd.

Velyria stopped and looked around and started noticing traces of old spiderwebs, her fur bristled and looked to the younger wolf. "I don't like this..."

With Velyria's help, the younger she-wolf was set in place on Kul'Hani's back. She was laying down with all her legs clinging tightly to his sides, her nails digging into his thick skin. Then, after being asked about never being around elephants, she turned and gave Velyria a sassy 'ya think?' look.

The blue-eyed she-wolf flinched at Kul'Hani's trumpet and audibly gasped as he started walking forward, the jerking motion causing her to cling to his back tighter. She stared ahead with wide eyes for a moment as their surroundings began to pass them by, then looked to Velyria with the same scared look on her face.

I am riding on an elephant. Why am I riding on an elephant?

As the herd continued traveling, the blue-eyed she-wolf gradually relaxed, glancing back at the following elephants with her ears pricked towards their conversations. Then, as she swiveled her head back forward, she noticed the change in scenery. She sat up a little in interest, following the fading green to the dead brown that lay ahead.

What happened here?

Her unasked question was answered by Kul'Hani. She quietly listened to his words. It saddened her that this beautiful swamp was dying with no explanation. She remained silent out of respect for the dead place they traveled through.

On a side note, when the elephant mentioned panthers, another image popped into her head much like the one when she met Velyria. Only instead of a wolf, the blue-eyed she-wolf saw the face of a male black panther who was handsome for a cat. He was wearing a smirk, and though his eyes were friendly, there was also a glint of playfulness in them.

The image disappeared when she blinked in confusion. The red-eyed wolf and now the panther... Deep down, she knew these animals. She could clearly recall their familiar faces, but she could not remember who they were. What were their names? Who were they to her?
She was startled out of her thoughts by the trumpet of the female elephant. The young wolf looked back at her in confusion. Not seeing what was wrong, she turned back around only to have the mysterious slime splashed in her face.
"Hey!" she barked sharply, frantically wiping the green substance off with a forepaw. With some bits still in her cheek fur, she glared in annoyance at what came off on her arm.
"What is this?" she asked out loud in disgust. That disgust was quickly joined by unease as she, like all the other elephants and wolf around her, she looked up. She slowly nodded along with what Velyria said.

"Hey, uh... Elephant King? We should go..." she slowly stated, briefly wondering if she could survive jumping off Kul'Hani's back if he didn't start moving.

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:
Velyria chuckled in amusement as she stood up. "She seems to be confused about who she is and where she came from."

The elephant nodded, seeming to understand the predicament. "Perhaps she has breathed the smoke of that foul demon stalking our lands."

Velyria looked to the she-wolf beside her. "Yes, yes that makes sense... thank you King Kul'Hani. We're on our way back to camp, but may I ask what brings you to this part of the swamp?"

The elephant king grew somber, his trunk hung limply from his face before he reached out to touch the face of the alpha wolf with it. "There has been another from my herd... drained of blood an organs... it'd be much easier to explain if you could keep up--we must make it to the graveyard by nightfall and your camp is along the way."

Velyria nodded as Kul'Hani gently wrapped his trunk around the wolf's middle and lifted her off the ground and placed her on his back. He soon did the same to the younger wolf, chuckling at the tenseness of her muscles and how bristled her fur was. "You must not be familiar with our kind, little one."

Smoke of the foul demon...drained of blood and organs...graveyard...

The she-wolf felt faint as she tried to keep up with the conversation she didn't understand. She wasn't even sure she wanted to understand.

She watched as the elephant reached for Velyria, subconsciously leaning away from the trunk as it neared her. Not expecting the older wolf to be lifted in the air, the she-wolf went rigid, making soft choking noises in the back of her throat as she watched Kul'Hani put Velyria on his back. And then before she could regain her senses, the elephant's trunk wrapped around her middle and her paws were no longer on the ground.

WHAT IS HAPPENING.

The blue-eyed she-wolf almost slid off Kul'Hani's back the moment she was set on it.

What. What. What, she repeated in her mind as she stared wide eyed straight ahead of her.

"What is happening?" she finally asked in a higher pitched voice.

Velyria chuckled, grabbing the she-wolf by her scruff and pulling her safely on the elephant's back. "Easy, child," she cooed. "I take it you've never been around elephants before?"

Ku'Hani shuffled as the two wolves settled on his back. "We're losing daylight, come then--" as he trailed off his lifted is trunk into the air and trumpetted, letting the others know the herd was preparing to move. The heard lurched forward and the swampy forests gave way--logs snapping under their feet and the trees buckled as they passed.

As they walked and spoke quietly amongst themselves, the lush green swamp started to fade and brown. All plant life was wilted and nothing, save for some insects, was living out here.

"Our home is dying," Kul'Hani started, his ears flapping as insects drew near. "The water is gone... this fish are dying. Most of the panthers have already fled north but their prince and his guard still remain here. Soon too I may move my people away from this place." The group passed under an archway of dead trees that tangled together as they grew, giving them some shelter from the sun. "All my life, and my father's life, and even my grandfather's life--no one can recall when the swamp has dried out like this. The very land itself calls out for aide. You can hear it in the wind, the crunching of the dried leaves."

As they passed under the archway one of the elephants trumpetted in alarm. "Something dripped on me!" she called out to the king. Kul'Hani stopped and felt something land on his face. He used his trunk to wipe it off of him. It was a mucus-green color with traces of a mysterious foam in it. It was grainy but also had the consistency of wet clay and was extremely sticky and dripped from his trunk as he observed it--the slime was also foreign to the king, having never seen anything like it in his lifetime.

"What the?" he tried to shake the substance off his trunk but all it did was fling it back into the younger she-wolf's face. His eyes looked up and his fellow herd members did the same. The slimy substance was covering the tops of the trees over them and slowly starting to drip down onto the restless herd.

Velyria stopped and looked around and started noticing traces of old spiderwebs, her fur bristled and looked to the younger wolf. "I don't like this..."

With Velyria's help, the younger she-wolf was set in place on Kul'Hani's back. She was laying down with all her legs clinging tightly to his sides, her nails digging into his thick skin. Then, after being asked about never being around elephants, she turned and gave Velyria a sassy 'ya think?' look.

The blue-eyed she-wolf flinched at Kul'Hani's trumpet and audibly gasped as he started walking forward, the jerking motion causing her to cling to his back tighter. She stared ahead with wide eyes for a moment as their surroundings began to pass them by, then looked to Velyria with the same scared look on her face.

I am riding on an elephant. Why am I riding on an elephant?

As the herd continued traveling, the blue-eyed she-wolf gradually relaxed, glancing back at the following elephants with her ears pricked towards their conversations. Then, as she swiveled her head back forward, she noticed the change in scenery. She sat up a little in interest, following the fading green to the dead brown that lay ahead.

What happened here?

Her unasked question was answered by Kul'Hani. She quietly listened to his words. It saddened her that this beautiful swamp was dying with no explanation. She remained silent out of respect for the dead place they traveled through.

On a side note, when the elephant mentioned panthers, another image popped into her head much like the one when she met Velyria. Only instead of a wolf, the blue-eyed she-wolf saw the face of a male black panther who was handsome for a cat. He was wearing a smirk, and though his eyes were friendly, there was also a glint of playfulness in them.

The image disappeared when she blinked in confusion. The red-eyed wolf and now the panther... Deep down, she knew these animals. She could clearly recall their familiar faces, but she could not remember who they were. What were their names? Who were they to her?
She was startled out of her thoughts by the trumpet of the female elephant. The young wolf looked back at her in confusion. Not seeing what was wrong, she turned back around only to have the mysterious slime splashed in her face.
"Hey!" she barked sharply, frantically wiping the green substance off with a forepaw. With some bits still in her cheek fur, she glared in annoyance at what came off on her arm.
"What is this?" she asked out loud in disgust. That disgust was quickly joined by unease as she, like all the other elephants and wolf around her, she looked up. She slowly nodded along with what Velyria said.

"Hey, uh... Elephant King? We should go..." she slowly stated, briefly wondering if she could survive jumping off Kul'Hani's back if he didn't start moving.

The elphants in unison let out a massive roar of trumpets and they surged forward.

Velyria lunged forward and grabbed the young wolf by her scruff, bumping and bouncing along trying her best to keep herself on her old friend's back.

The stampede had settled and even though it had only last for a few moments, the herd managed to make their way back to the more healthier part of the swamps.

"I'm sorry," Kul'Hani started. "Truly I am... are you alright, friends?"

"I am," Velyria replied, relief heavy in her voice. "That was just unexpected... when we get pack to camp."

"At first I thought that was just sap--but that slime was something I have never seen before.." Kul'Hani's voice was laced with concern. "Perhaps it has something to do with the shadow-walkers." The elephant king drew to a halt outside an inconspicuous wall of vines. "Alright, Alpha Velyria, and you child, we are here." Velyria was the first he were to relieve from his back, and the young she-wolf was soon to follow. He was thankful at least the younger wolf liked going down more than going up. The sun was just starting to set as the elephants started back on their journey.

"Be safe, old friend," Velyria smiled up at the elephant.

Kul'Hani chuckled as he turned to rejoin his herd. "Oh it'll take more than some shadow-walkers to take down this old bull." 

Velyria watched the herd disappear into the trees when she turned to the younger wolf and smiled. "Welcome to Thornbrook," she pushed through the vines and had the young wolf follow her.

Thornbrook was a modest settlement. It was mostly concealed by walls of vines that and dense trees, which had been hollowed out to form dens for the residents. A small creek ran through the center of the camp and two wolves stared into the water intently, and then would snap their jaws and pull out a wriggling fish and toss it into a pile behind them. Another wolf pushed through the vines by the pair. The other wolf muffled a greeting when he had a stick in his mouth pulling a sled-type contraption made from old wood and huge dried leaves with vines attaching the stick to the sled itself. On the sled was several dead frogs and turtles, one of the snapping turtles still had a little fight in it and nipped at the young female's tail as it went by.

"Careful of those snappers, child, they can take off a toe or the tip of your tail if you're not careful." Velyria continued her way into the camp, encouraging the younger wolf to follow her. They passed the two wolves fishing and made their way to a larger tree that had been dug out. A wolf emerged carrying a not-so fresh frog in her mouth and placed it into the creek to help attract more fish. The female stopped and smiled at the alpha. "Greetings, your majesty," she bowed her head to Velyria and then turned her head to the other wolf. "Well you must not have a bad flavor since you're in here, newcomer. You hungry?"

The blue-eyed she-wolf let out a scream as the elephants stampeded forward all at once. She would have fallen off of Kul'Hani had Velyria not grabbed onto her scruff. After that, she was left in a daze, barely comprehending what was happening all around her. She only regained her senses after her paws were once more on the ground.

I don't want to do that again... she thought as she watched Kul'Hani's herd leave. Her legs were still shaking as she turned to face Velyria.

Thornbrook? she thought as she followed the alpha in. The moment she stepped into the camp, she felt a change in the atmosphere. Though she still regarded everything around her warily, she felt a comfort here that started to put her at ease. The camp was cozy, she decided at first glance.
Her gaze was drawn to the two wolves beside the creek, and she couldn't help but stare in amazement as they caught their fish. Then, hearing the movement of vines behind her, she looked back to see the wolf pulling the sled full of prey animals. The third image overtook her vision the moment she saw him.

The scene was a sloping forest covered in melting slow. A young male wolf with pure white fur was standing halfway on an unfinished sled, grinning like a moron at her while his tail wagged back and forth rapidly like an overexcited pup.
When the blue-eyed she-wolf blinked, the Muckwater's wolf was back, pulling his sled past her.

Why does this keep on happening? she thought, right before the turtle snapped at her.
With a startled yell, the young she-wolf jumped back, and, hearing what Velyria said about how the turtle could take off body parts, she pressed her tail in between her legs, staring at the older wolf in horror. After a moment, she sighed in exasperation and followed her.

Food? she thought as she eyed the new wolf. Without hesitation, she nodded.

"...Hey, Alpha?" she finally spoke as she started following her acquaintances to get something to eat, "What are shadow-walkers?"
Having heard the alpha and the elephant king mention the name several times, it was something that had been bothering her in the back of her mind, a question begging to be asked.

Wildwing wrote:The blue-eyed she-wolf let out a scream as the elephants stampeded forward all at once. She would have fallen off of Kul'Hani had Velyria not grabbed onto her scruff. After that, she was left in a daze, barely comprehending what was happening all around her. She only regained her senses after her paws were once more on the ground.

I don't want to do that again... she thought as she watched Kul'Hani's herd leave. Her legs were still shaking as she turned to face Velyria.

Thornbrook? she thought as she followed the alpha in. The moment she stepped into the camp, she felt a change in the atmosphere. Though she still regarded everything around her warily, she felt a comfort here that started to put her at ease. The camp was cozy, she decided at first glance.
Her gaze was drawn to the two wolves beside the creek, and she couldn't help but stare in amazement as they caught their fish. Then, hearing the movement of vines behind her, she looked back to see the wolf pulling the sled full of prey animals. The third image overtook her vision the moment she saw him.

The scene was a sloping forest covered in melting slow. A young male wolf with pure white fur was standing halfway on an unfinished sled, grinning like a moron at her while his tail wagged back and forth rapidly like an overexcited pup.
When the blue-eyed she-wolf blinked, the Muckwater's wolf was back, pulling his sled past her.

Why does this keep on happening? she thought, right before the turtle snapped at her.
With a startled yell, the young she-wolf jumped back, and, hearing what Velyria said about how the turtle could take off body parts, she pressed her tail in between her legs, staring at the older wolf in horror. After a moment, she sighed in exasperation and followed her.

Food? she thought as she eyed the new wolf. Without hesitation, she nodded.

"...Hey, Alpha?" she finally spoke as she started following her acquaintances to get something to eat, "What are shadow-walkers?"
Having heard the alpha and the elephant king mention the name several times, it was something that had been bothering her in the back of her mind, a question begging to be asked.

The alpha had instructed the other she-wolf to collect some fish for the newcomer. The questions about the shadow-walkers made her turn her attention to the Northern wolf. "No one really knows for sure what they are," she started. "They look normal but their eyes are dark as the night sky. When angry they erupt into a violent display of black fire. One shadow-walker has the has the strength of ten wolves.. thankfully they are few and far between." The alpha was interrupted when the other female reappeared from the food stores.

She clutched two trout in her maw and had a pup set a leaf on the ground before the Northern wolf and then she proceeded to set the fish on the leaf for her. The two trout were caked in white crystals and just a smidge of mud and clay.

"The crystals help keep the heat from making our food rot away," Velyria explained. "The taste will leave your mouth dry but you can try to wipe them away."

The other female looked to the pup at her heels and smiled. "Corvan sweetie go to the watering hole and get our new friend a bowl of water."

"Yes Momma!" the pup cheered as he pranced over to a large plant whose large leaves had formed deep wells of rain water from within. The pup had carefully placed a half-turtle shell under the leaf and carefully nudged the leaf until water dripped from it. When the shell was about half full the pup pushed the shell over to the she-wolf's fish. He looked up at her and smiled big. "There ya go miss!" the pup sat, his little tail wagging.

"...They sound..." the she-wolf started, having sat down as Velyria told her about the shadow-walkers, "...Are they monsters?"

She looked over as the female returned with the food. Noticing the pup, she watched in curiosity as he set the leaf down in front of her, and then raised an eyebrow as the female set the fish on top of it. At hearing about the crystal, she nodded and began brushing them off with a paw. When she got as much of them off as she could, she leaned down to take a bite when the turtle shell full of water was set down beside her muzzle. She lifted her head and looked down at the pup.

Once again, for a split second, reality was replaced with something else. She was looking down at a small, fuzzy furred she-pup with achingly familiar pelt patterns. The she-pup was looking right back up at her with a bright smile that lit up her world.

When that image disappeared, the blue-eyed she-wolf felt as if her breath had been stolen. The feeling faded after a moment and she was left staring down at the male-pup in confusion.

"Um...Thank you. ...Corvan," she thanked before hesitantly dipping her head to lap up some of the water. Then she took a bite of one of the trout, flinching at the unexpected flavor, but swallowing it down anyway.

"...It's good," she muttered sincerely after taking another bite.

Wildwing wrote:"...They sound..." the she-wolf started, having sat down as Velyria told her about the shadow-walkers, "...Are they monsters?"

She looked over as the female returned with the food. Noticing the pup, she watched in curiosity as he set the leaf down in front of her, and then raised an eyebrow as the female set the fish on top of it. At hearing about the crystal, she nodded and began brushing them off with a paw. When she got as much of them off as she could, she leaned down to take a bite when the turtle shell full of water was set down beside her muzzle. She lifted her head and looked down at the pup.

Once again, for a split second, reality was replaced with something else. She was looking down at a small, fuzzy furred she-pup with achingly familiar pelt patterns. The she-pup was looking right back up at her with a bright smile that lit up her world.

When that image disappeared, the blue-eyed she-wolf felt as if her breath had been stolen. The feeling faded after a moment and she was left staring down at the male-pup in confusion.

"Um...Thank you. ...Corvan," she thanked before hesitantly dipping her head to lap up some of the water. Then she took a bite of one of the trout, flinching at the unexpected flavor, but swallowing it down anyway.

"...It's good," she muttered sincerely after taking another bite.

Velyria had noticed the sharp pain in the she-wolf's eyes are she ate. The older wolf excused the other female and the pup and sat next to her. "I understand," she started. "I lost pups too, Aimarra, Aspen... I've lost many litters." The alpha grew somber. "It's still hard to talk about sometimes."

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:"...They sound..." the she-wolf started, having sat down as Velyria told her about the shadow-walkers, "...Are they monsters?"

She looked over as the female returned with the food. Noticing the pup, she watched in curiosity as he set the leaf down in front of her, and then raised an eyebrow as the female set the fish on top of it. At hearing about the crystal, she nodded and began brushing them off with a paw. When she got as much of them off as she could, she leaned down to take a bite when the turtle shell full of water was set down beside her muzzle. She lifted her head and looked down at the pup.

Once again, for a split second, reality was replaced with something else. She was looking down at a small, fuzzy furred she-pup with achingly familiar pelt patterns. The she-pup was looking right back up at her with a bright smile that lit up her world.

When that image disappeared, the blue-eyed she-wolf felt as if her breath had been stolen. The feeling faded after a moment and she was left staring down at the male-pup in confusion.

"Um...Thank you. ...Corvan," she thanked before hesitantly dipping her head to lap up some of the water. Then she took a bite of one of the trout, flinching at the unexpected flavor, but swallowing it down anyway.

"...It's good," she muttered sincerely after taking another bite.

Velyria had noticed the sharp pain in the she-wolf's eyes are she ate. The older wolf excused the other female and the pup and sat next to her. "I understand," she started. "I lost pups too, Aimarra, Aspen... I've lost many litters." The alpha grew somber. "It's still hard to talk about sometimes."

The blue-eyed she-wolf looked to Velyria in surprise, confused for a moment about why the alpha brought this up.
"...But...I don't have pups..." she said in confusion. She furrowed her eyebrows.

Do I have pups? I don't think I do...

"I'm sorry to hear...though... What happened to them?"

She asked the question the way a pup who didn't know any better would.

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:"...They sound..." the she-wolf started, having sat down as Velyria told her about the shadow-walkers, "...Are they monsters?"

She looked over as the female returned with the food. Noticing the pup, she watched in curiosity as he set the leaf down in front of her, and then raised an eyebrow as the female set the fish on top of it. At hearing about the crystal, she nodded and began brushing them off with a paw. When she got as much of them off as she could, she leaned down to take a bite when the turtle shell full of water was set down beside her muzzle. She lifted her head and looked down at the pup.

Once again, for a split second, reality was replaced with something else. She was looking down at a small, fuzzy furred she-pup with achingly familiar pelt patterns. The she-pup was looking right back up at her with a bright smile that lit up her world.

When that image disappeared, the blue-eyed she-wolf felt as if her breath had been stolen. The feeling faded after a moment and she was left staring down at the male-pup in confusion.

"Um...Thank you. ...Corvan," she thanked before hesitantly dipping her head to lap up some of the water. Then she took a bite of one of the trout, flinching at the unexpected flavor, but swallowing it down anyway.

"...It's good," she muttered sincerely after taking another bite.

Velyria had noticed the sharp pain in the she-wolf's eyes are she ate. The older wolf excused the other female and the pup and sat next to her. "I understand," she started. "I lost pups too, Aimarra, Aspen... I've lost many litters." The alpha grew somber. "It's still hard to talk about sometimes."

The blue-eyed she-wolf looked to Velyria in surprise, confused for a moment about why the alpha brought this up.
"...But...I don't have pups..." she said in confusion. She furrowed her eyebrows.

Do I have pups? I don't think I do...

"I'm sorry to hear...though... What happened to them?"

She asked the question the way a pup who didn't know any better would.

The alpha looked at the younger wolf and smiled. "Perhaps some other time, child." The alpha rose to her feet. "The sun is setting, we have a den for you to rest in for the night. It's this way--" the alpha rose to her feet and strolled over to a cypress tree which the roots had been dug under to allow more space and the outside was caked in mud to save for the entrance. "It's not much but it'll keep you warm while you sleep." The older she-wolf smiled.

The she-wolf blinked and then nodded. She stood up and followed after Velyria, leaving the skeletons of her fish behind.
She approached the den, poking her head somewhat through the entrance and sniffing inside. It seemed like a good enough to sleep for the night. She turned to Velyria and told her so.
"And where will you be?" she asked, "Just in case I..."

(Aww, Naji might get scared in the middle of the night!  )

Wildwing wrote:The she-wolf blinked and then nodded. She stood up and followed after Velyria, leaving the skeletons of her fish behind.
She approached the den, poking her head somewhat through the entrance and sniffing inside. It seemed like a good enough to sleep for the night. She turned to Velyria and told her so.
"And where will you be?" she asked, "Just in case I..."

The older wolf smiled softly. "I'll be right over there," she turned her head over to a small cave, almost hidden from view because of a shrub. "And don't fret too much, some of the scouts patrolling the camp at night my stop by to make sure you're okay. Good night, child." The older wolf turned and made her way to her den and disappeared past the entrance.

The pair of wolves that were fishing started putting their catch in the food stores. The she-wolf who was incharge of the food and her pup smiled at the Northern wolf as they went to their den together. As the other wolves were settling down others started to emerge from their dens. These wolves looked gruffer and scarred. Obviously these scouts that the alpha had referred to previously. They all eyed the she-wolf but didn't speak to her, but their gaze was that as if saying a promise to keep her safe throughout the night. The five scouts pushed their way past the vine curtain and disappeared into the night.

Jaystep wrote:(Aww, Naji might get scared in the middle of the night!  )

(Najmah: *hits Jay over the head with Moonpelt's rubber mallet*)

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:The she-wolf blinked and then nodded. She stood up and followed after Velyria, leaving the skeletons of her fish behind.
She approached the den, poking her head somewhat through the entrance and sniffing inside. It seemed like a good enough to sleep for the night. She turned to Velyria and told her so.
"And where will you be?" she asked, "Just in case I..."

The older wolf smiled softly. "I'll be right over there," she turned her head over to a small cave, almost hidden from view because of a shrub. "And don't fret too much, some of the scouts patrolling the camp at night my stop by to make sure you're okay. Good night, child." The older wolf turned and made her way to her den and disappeared past the entrance.

The pair of wolves that were fishing started putting their catch in the food stores. The she-wolf who was incharge of the food and her pup smiled at the Northern wolf as they went to their den together. As the other wolves were settling down others started to emerge from their dens. These wolves looked gruffer and scarred. Obviously these scouts that the alpha had referred to previously. They all eyed the she-wolf but didn't speak to her, but their gaze was that as if saying a promise to keep her safe throughout the night. The five scouts pushed their way past the vine curtain and disappeared into the night.

The she-wolf looked over to the shrub that hid Velyria's cave and nodded.
"Good night," she replied as the alpha departed, "A-And-! U-Uh... ...Thank you..."
She muttered her thanks quietly, embarrassment reddening her cheeks. Then, after Velyria left, she stood in the camp longer, watching the members of this pack get ready for the night. She blinked at the new scouts, saying nothing as they looked her over before leaving the camp. Without another sound, the she-wolf turned and entered her den.

In the middle of the night, not being able to sleep, she crept back outside and shook herself. After awkwardly standing in front of the cyprus tree, glancing around for any wolves that might still be awake, she began moving through the camp. She slowly walked past the stream, looking into the water as she did. It was too dark to see the details of her reflection.
After several minutes of slowly padding beside the stream in thought, she eventually stopped at an area where the branches overhead parted to reveal a good portion of the night sky. A moment later, she laid down, rolled on her back and looked up to watch the stars.

"Beautiful night isn't it?" a male voice floated on the wind. As the she-wolf rolled to her stomach and looked around for the phantom in the night a panther dropped from the trees, along with two others of his species. All that could been scene of the incoming trio was their eyes, all shimmering yellow in the moonlight. "No need to call out, darling, Velyria's scouts granted me passage," the panther's voice was very smooth and appeasing to the ears and he had a regal aura radiating from him. "I am Korra--prince of panthers... if my people were still here that is."

The two guards sat silently behind the prince, not speaking a word--ears were back and posture was rigid, ready to strike down any foe that would come near their prince.

"You have been through a lot today and I must pick at your brain, not literally of course. You intrigue me--a blank slate that fell into our home with no recollection of anything prior to this very day." The panther gave a toothy smile when the wolf seemed confused at his knowledge. "My guards and I have nothing to go back to--the shadow-walkers killed most of my people and the ones that survived fled north. A prince without his people just... wanders around."

(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

((Well he's Moony's partner in crime so Naji better prepare herself. He can be quite the handful but right now he's in #PrinceMode ))

The panther took note of the she-wolf's scars. he himself was in pristine condition--a result of a sheltered princely up-bringing. "My, you must have faced quite the adversary," the panther smiled again--his smile was probably pretty goofy-looking with his eyes shut, ears back, and teeth exposed but it came from the heart. "But my father always told me that the body is a canvas and scars are the art that tells a story."

((Owls probably paint. When in doubt say the owls can do it XD))

(Actually Owls DO paint. Gryphons too, though they favor an art form called Living Tapestries in which each thread is imbued with magic, causing the cloth to portray motion. Owls, while not quite as advanced, have an impressive gallery of famous works off the coast of the Isle of Storms opposite Kale's Hollow. Known as the Smoothstone Archives, this galleria of works of art also doubles as a Human History Museum, which has quite a lot of the facts wrong due to the long time difference. While all forms of art are welcome and accepted from any species, owls dominated the entries added to the Archives until the fourth year in the tenth age, when Zarrock led an attack that decimated the Archives, and the surviving art was taken into hiding by the owls who worked as caretakers.)

Jaystep wrote:(Actually Owls DO paint. Gryphons too, though they favor an art form called Living Tapestries in which each thread is imbued with magic, causing the cloth to portray motion. Owls, while not quite as advanced, have an impressive gallery of famous works off the coast of the Isle of Storms opposite Kale's Hollow. Known as the Smoothstone Archives, this galleria of works of art also doubles as a Human History Museum, which has quite a lot of the facts wrong due to the long time difference. While all forms of art are welcome and accepted from any species, owls dominated the entries added to the Archives until the fourth year in the tenth age, when Zarrock led an attack that decimated the Archives, and the surviving art was taken into hiding by the owls who worked as caretakers.)

(Whoa! That's really cool! Man, owls are awesome! I hope we'll be able to see the surviving art in future RP!)

(Fayru: *eyetwitch* Pardon. Zarrock did what?)

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

((Well he's Moony's partner in crime so Naji better prepare herself. He can be quite the handful but right now he's in #PrinceMode ))

The panther took note of the she-wolf's scars. he himself was in pristine condition--a result of a sheltered princely up-bringing. "My, you must have faced quite the adversary," the panther smiled again--his smile was probably pretty goofy-looking with his eyes shut, ears back, and teeth exposed but it came from the heart. "But my father always told me that the body is a canvas and scars are the art that tells a story."

((Owls probably paint. When in doubt say the owls can do it XD))

(Oh dear! This'll be awesome!)

(Najmah: What the heck?! Why is this panther so smooth?! *angry blushing face*)

The she-wolf looked to Korra as he spoke, looking at him oddly at the strange, goofy grin on his face. In that moment, another memory fragment was recalled. She saw the white male wolf she had seen before, only this time he was wearing the same exact expression the panther was wearing now.

What the-?

Something about that memory left her feeling annoyed, but yet...affectionate. The ghost of something was hovering just in her head. If she could capture it, she would remember... And so she reached for it. But it was gone before she could grab it.
She felt she should've been frustrated, but instead she felt...sad... What was going on?

Her attention was once again taken by Korra, the panther who had just now triggered the best chance she had at regaining something significant so far, just by smiling. Would that happen again, if she kept talking to him?

"...What is a canvas?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head, "And what is 'art'?"

She didn't understand what he told her, but it seemed like a compliment. It at least sounded nice.

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

((Well he's Moony's partner in crime so Naji better prepare herself. He can be quite the handful but right now he's in #PrinceMode ))

The panther took note of the she-wolf's scars. he himself was in pristine condition--a result of a sheltered princely up-bringing. "My, you must have faced quite the adversary," the panther smiled again--his smile was probably pretty goofy-looking with his eyes shut, ears back, and teeth exposed but it came from the heart. "But my father always told me that the body is a canvas and scars are the art that tells a story."

((Owls probably paint. When in doubt say the owls can do it XD))

(Oh dear! This'll be awesome!)

(Najmah: What the heck?! Why is this panther so smooth?! *angry blushing face*)

The she-wolf looked to Korra as he spoke, looking at him oddly at the strange, goofy grin on his face. In that moment, another memory fragment was recalled. She saw the white male wolf she had seen before, only this time he was wearing the same exact expression the panther was wearing now.

What the-?

Something about that memory left her feeling annoyed, but yet...affectionate. The ghost of something was hovering just in her head. If she could capture it, she would remember... And so she reached for it. But it was gone before she could grab it.
She felt she should've been frustrated, but instead she felt...sad... What was going on?

Her attention was once again taken by Korra, the panther who had just now triggered the best chance she had at regaining something significant so far, just by smiling. Would that happen again, if she kept talking to him?

"...What is a canvas?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head, "And what is 'art'?"

She didn't understand what he told her, but it seemed like a compliment. It at least sounded nice.

(( All aboard the USS Norra! Or is it the Kajmah? ..... *toots sail boat horn*))

The panther froze for a second, he too wasn't quite sure what an art was--but he recalled something the barn owls would talk about. He regained his composure and after clearing this throat he continued to speak. He wasn't quite sure if he knew what he was talking about but he tried to sell it the best he could. "Well.. a canvas is tree bark that you make art on.... and art is what comes from your soul. It's how your true essence manifests itself."

Yeah, yeah that sounds pretty good. I mean I'd buy it. 

(Drellan: *low growl at Korra* .... *steps closer to Najmah and Raiya* This ship is already at sea.)

Jaystep wrote:(Drellan: *low growl at Korra* .... *steps closer to Najmah and Raiya* This ship is already at sea.)

((*donning boat captain hat* YOU CANNOT CONTROL ME #IfIDieYoungBuryMeInKajmah ))

Ruki wrote:

Jaystep wrote:(Drellan: *low growl at Korra* .... *steps closer to Najmah and Raiya* This ship is already at sea.)

((*donning boat captain hat* YOU CANNOT CONTROL ME #IfIDieYoungBuryMeInKajmah ))

(I'm not gonna lie, I kinda ship Norra/Kajmah! *behind Ruki wearing sailor's hat* Toot toot! All abOARD! *making hand motions with boat noises*)

(Najmah: WILD!! *gestures madly to Drellan and Raiya* *looks at Wild with angry "WHAT-THE-HECK?!"*)

(XD)

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

((Well he's Moony's partner in crime so Naji better prepare herself. He can be quite the handful but right now he's in #PrinceMode ))

The panther took note of the she-wolf's scars. he himself was in pristine condition--a result of a sheltered princely up-bringing. "My, you must have faced quite the adversary," the panther smiled again--his smile was probably pretty goofy-looking with his eyes shut, ears back, and teeth exposed but it came from the heart. "But my father always told me that the body is a canvas and scars are the art that tells a story."

((Owls probably paint. When in doubt say the owls can do it XD))

(Oh dear! This'll be awesome!)

(Najmah: What the heck?! Why is this panther so smooth?! *angry blushing face*)

The she-wolf looked to Korra as he spoke, looking at him oddly at the strange, goofy grin on his face. In that moment, another memory fragment was recalled. She saw the white male wolf she had seen before, only this time he was wearing the same exact expression the panther was wearing now.

What the-?

Something about that memory left her feeling annoyed, but yet...affectionate. The ghost of something was hovering just in her head. If she could capture it, she would remember... And so she reached for it. But it was gone before she could grab it.
She felt she should've been frustrated, but instead she felt...sad... What was going on?

Her attention was once again taken by Korra, the panther who had just now triggered the best chance she had at regaining something significant so far, just by smiling. Would that happen again, if she kept talking to him?

"...What is a canvas?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head, "And what is 'art'?"

She didn't understand what he told her, but it seemed like a compliment. It at least sounded nice.

(( All aboard the USS Norra! Or is it the Kajmah? ..... *toots sail boat horn*))

The panther froze for a second, he too wasn't quite sure what an art was--but he recalled something the barn owls would talk about. He regained his composure and after clearing this throat he continued to speak. He wasn't quite sure if he knew what he was talking about but he tried to sell it the best he could. "Well.. a canvas is tree bark that you make art on.... and art is what comes from your soul. It's how your true essence manifests itself."

Yeah, yeah that sounds pretty good. I mean I'd buy it. 

(How about Najrra? Or Kormah? )

"Whoa, what?" the she-wolf exclaimed with a small yelp to her voice, taking his words literally. "You're saying people can do that with their soul? On tree bark? How-? Where can I find this "art"? I have to see it!"

Her eyes were wide in both disbelief and amazement as she tried to image one's "true essence" being carved in tree bark.

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Jaystep wrote:(Drellan: *low growl at Korra* .... *steps closer to Najmah and Raiya* This ship is already at sea.)

((*donning boat captain hat* YOU CANNOT CONTROL ME #IfIDieYoungBuryMeInKajmah ))

(I'm not gonna lie, I kinda ship Norra/Kajmah! *behind Ruki wearing sailor's hat* Toot toot! All abOARD! *making hand motions with boat noises*)

(Najmah: WILD!! *gestures madly to Drellan and Raiya* *looks at Wild with angry "WHAT-THE-HECK?!"*)

(XD)

((It'd be one of those "one-night" romances what was kinda awkward and no one wants to talk about it. Like Korra took Najmah to see a movie and he ate all the popcorn and so they never went out again))

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Ruki wrote:

Wildwing wrote:(I did not know Najmah was going to be meeting the panthers face to face yet, so is it alright if we all pretend she just now had the brief flashback about that male panther who's name she doesn't remember yet? )


The she-wolf stood tense, regarding Korra with instinctive suspicion. For some reason, she felt an emotion akin to a flame flare inside her when the panther prince stated her situation. She felt she had just been jabbed at, even if that necessarily wasn't the case.

"It's not that I remember nothing!" she interrupted in reply to having no recollection of anything before that day, "I remember their faces... Whoever they were. Wolves. A panther..."


A prince without his people? Why does that seem familiar to me...

((Sure! It was better than Unnamed Wolf Scout 5 stopping by  ))

"Ah, a she-wolf haunted by familiar yet unfamiliar faces," the prince cooed. "Most interesting." The sun was slowly starting to creep up over the vines and the she-wolf was finally revealed to him. As the sun revealed the she-wolf, the panther prince was revealed as well. His shining yellow eyes turned brilliant green. His fur was a black as the midnight sky though it shimmered almost a deep violet in color as the sun hit it.

My she is quite the wolf... must be one of those Northern girls...


The panther tilted his head. He rose form his haunches and started into the she-wolf's eyes, slowly creeping up to get a better look. "Your eyes.... I've seen them before..." the panther's ears and tail twitched with intrigue. "Tell me... do you know of a wolf named Moon?"

I'd recognize those eyes anywhere... I just hope she has an idea who I'm talking about... 

(XD True dat!)

(You know what, I kinda like Korra! I hope he can befriend Najmah somehow XD But Naji's going to be Naji, so... )


The she-wolf's annoyance was forgotten when the sun's rays hit the panther's form. She was startled and awed by the changes in his appearance, his eyes being what got to her the most. She was so dazed that she didn't realize he was walking to her until he intruded the outer layer of her personal bubble.
The blue-eyed she-wolf blinked rapidly before taking a step back when the panther started getting too close. The fur along her spine began to prickle and her lips started twitching, as if they were about to pull back into a snarl.

"Sorry, can't say I do," she immediately replied. But as she thought about it afterwards, she couldn't help but feel that the name held some sort of meaning to her...

Moon...

The she-wolf looked away, her gaze sweeping across the stream beside her. But upon seeing something in the water's surface, she froze in shock. Forgetting the panther, she turned to the stream and looked down at what had caught her attention: her reflection.

That's me...

She only briefly looked herself over, because what really captured her gaze were the ugly scars across her chest. Subconsciously, she placed one of her forepaws over the tokens of a battle she did not remember.

What are these? How in the world did I...?

((Well he's Moony's partner in crime so Naji better prepare herself. He can be quite the handful but right now he's in #PrinceMode ))

The panther took note of the she-wolf's scars. he himself was in pristine condition--a result of a sheltered princely up-bringing. "My, you must have faced quite the adversary," the panther smiled again--his smile was probably pretty goofy-looking with his eyes shut, ears back, and teeth exposed but it came from the heart. "But my father always told me that the body is a canvas and scars are the art that tells a story."

((Owls probably paint. When in doubt say the owls can do it XD))

(Oh dear! This'll be awesome!)

(Najmah: What the heck?! Why is this panther so smooth?! *angry blushing face*)

The she-wolf looked to Korra as he spoke, looking at him oddly at the strange, goofy grin on his face. In that moment, another memory fragment was recalled. She saw the white male wolf she had seen before, only this time he was wearing the same exact expression the panther was wearing now.

What the-?

Something about that memory left her feeling annoyed, but yet...affectionate. The ghost of something was hovering just in her head. If she could capture it, she would remember... And so she reached for it. But it was gone before she could grab it.
She felt she should've been frustrated, but instead she felt...sad... What was going on?

Her attention was once again taken by Korra, the panther who had just now triggered the best chance she had at regaining something significant so far, just by smiling. Would that happen again, if she kept talking to him?

"...What is a canvas?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head, "And what is 'art'?"

She didn't understand what he told her, but it seemed like a compliment. It at least sounded nice.

(( All aboard the USS Norra! Or is it the Kajmah? ..... *toots sail boat horn*))

The panther froze for a second, he too wasn't quite sure what an art was--but he recalled something the barn owls would talk about. He regained his composure and after clearing this throat he continued to speak. He wasn't quite sure if he knew what he was talking about but he tried to sell it the best he could. "Well.. a canvas is tree bark that you make art on.... and art is what comes from your soul. It's how your true essence manifests itself."

Yeah, yeah that sounds pretty good. I mean I'd buy it. 

(How about Najrra? Or Kormah? )

"Whoa, what?" the she-wolf exclaimed with a small yelp to her voice, taking his words literally. "You're saying people can do that with their soul? On tree bark? How-? Where can I find this "art"? I have to see it!"

Her eyes were wide in both disbelief and amazement as she tried to image one's "true essence" being carved in tree bark.

"Ever since the swamps started to dry out the owls have long since taken it away to Light knows where," the prince was trying to recall the name of the island that the owls talked about but it slipped his mind.