Quilikahm & Others

Like a wraith in the forest, Quilikahm's tiny, cloven hooves made next to no sound as she ghosted trough the sodden, mildewed terrain. She stopped now and then, not to gather her barrings - Quil knew the Scar like back of her hoof - but to listen and scent for danger. Then she'd be off again, darting beneath long-fallen trees and through tangles of blackberry vines that did nothing to impede her impressively fast-pace stride.

Following behind the muntjac, an equally dark-coated young wolf plodded after. Her broad paws made more noise than her cervid guide, but then Reveni wasn't trying to be silent. And even if she was, the young wolf hadn't quite reached her first birthday yet, and still had plenty of training ahead of her to hone her skills. Still, whenever the little deer paused to soak in their surroundings, the keen-eyed Reveni did the same. Not only looking and listening for danger, but taking in the shape of the ground, the density of the trees, and the burble of nearby waterways as she began to build up a mental map of this dreary landscape.

Not more than a few steps behind Reveni were her two sisters, both far paler in color and splashed with a mix of grays, tans, and in Enumbria's case, a bold streak of black that ran down her back. The pair followed each other shoulder-to-shoulder, wit the much larger Enumbria seeming to take cue from the smaller Phiron as they trekked through the marsh. Now and then Enumbria would turn her muzzle for Phiron's ear to whisper something.

Trailing several yards behind these three youngsters, Tophee was shadowing the group at an easy pace. The ligeress wasn't quite a full-fledged adult herself, but her maturity had already far surpassed her brother's, and the cat's patient, calm demeanor made her a perfect candidate to join the training session today. Tophee didn't even raise a complaint as she was forced to go over the logs that Quil slipped so easily under, or around the bramble patches that threatened to leave thorns in her delicate paws if she wasn't careful.

Kazmei, Kandire, Trelstar, & Moonfall

Kazmei was jaunting briskly beside Tophee, a sighting that had become more common as the months went by. In the same time she'd also gotten use to the idea of her pups being the children of the entire pack, rather than her sole responsibility. She kept an eye on them, here and there, but like Tophee, the mother wolf's only role today was making sure the six adolescents stayed safe during their training with Quilikahm.

Ahead of her and intermingled with Blackmist's daughters, the three offspring of Saulk and Kazmei were expressing various levels of excitement about today's journey. Moonfall was just behind and to the side of Reveni, following the smaller wolf's lead as they navigating the damp terrain. Off to the side and slightly behind her, Kandire was nose-to-the-ground, eagerly taking in and learning all the new scents that this fungal environment had to offer. And last but not least, the only male in the group, Trelstar was a good three yards off to the right of the group, quietly keeping pace but otherwise keeping to himself.

Quilikahm & Others

The journey through the marsh carried on for another twenty minutes, until at last the muntjac stepped into a solid, rectangular depression in the ground. The space was flat and covered by a thick layer of leaves, moss, and detrius, and large enough to comfortably accommodate the entire group. Here she turned about to face the others, waiting quietly until they all had a chance to gather before she spoke. "Gather close, Children of the Haunters." She started, and immediately had the rapt attention of Reveni. "This platform is a sacred place, and one that is very important to our family."

Tophee settled in at the latter half of the platform, resting back on her haunches as she left space for Kazmei to sit beside her. Though she'd been brought here by Quili before, she'd never heard the full lecture the little deer was currently giving the children.

"Here is where we give offerings to the protector of this forest, a guardian between this world and the afterlife." Quili went on, her dark, beady eyes slipping from Reveni to Enumbria, who'd settled in with a wide-eyed look of wonder between Reveni and Phiron. "This guardian was sent to us by Imre herself after our Lady Risen was lost, and we come here to pay homage to her, and to seek her aid should we be beset by foes." The little deer gave pause, letting her words sink in while she gauged the many faces looking back at her.

"What's her name?" Phiron asked quietly, clearly enthralled by the short spiel.

With a smile, Quili nodded and answered, "Her name is Ederelus."

Kazmei, Kandire, Trelstar, & Moonfall

The ebon-faced Moonfall settled in just behind Reveni and began to sniff at the ground, seeing what she could learn of this curious platform that was important to the Haunter family. An ear was guided in Quili's direction, and after she heard the name of this forest guardian, the youngster had a query of her own, "What kind of offerings does she like?"

Trelstar had taken a moment to paw at the ground, clawing back some leaves to see what the platform itself looked like beneath all of the litter. Like his sister, one tall aud was directed at the muntjac, while his other senses were left perusing the surroundings.

Kandire was a little skeptical of it all, and the frown twisted into her muzzle expressed that. "If Ederelus is so important to the Haunters, why doesn't she live with us instead of out here?"

This question perked Kazmei's interest as well, but she'd long come to accept the eccentric ways of the Haunters. What she was more interested in was what Ederelus was. A wolf? A big cat like Tophee? Something entirely different?