Shrike, Trogon, & Piper

Mud clung to Shrike's legs, painting his gray coat a dark brown. Just behind him, his brother's normally silver coat was equally marred and matted with gunk, as both brothers had purposefully traveled the length of a muddy creek to try and mask their scent so Darling and the other adults wouldn't be able to track them and end their fun early. And so far, it seemed to be working. That, or their absence hadn't been noted yet.

Either way, Shrike was all smiles and lolling tongue as he loped into the prairie. The bite of cold wind did little to slow him, and even the angry-looking clouds above couldn't damper his high spirits. "Okay guys, I think the humans are close. This looks like good human habitat here."

Trogon padded up beside him and nodded after taking a quick survey of the rolling fields around them. "Yeah, seems about right. Plenty of food and space- this is prime human territory." The golden-eyed adolescent agreed with an air of confidence, then looked back to be sure Raven and the others were still keeping up.

Piper was struggling to maintain pace with his older cousins, whose longer legs made it easier for them to navigate the tall grasses. With his tongue lolling out and his sides heaving with effort, the little pale gray pup finally caught up to the pair. "This is where humans live?"

Scorponock and Raven

Scorp kept pace with Piper trying to get over the tall grass.Something doesn't feel right about thisHe said.

Raven ran leaping over some of the tall grass.

Shrike, Trogon, & Piper

Shrike looked back at his younger cousin, frowning, "What do you mean? Come on Scorpy, don't be a weenie now!" Shrike turned about and nudged the younger pup, "Besides, I can smell the humans - can't you?" He turned his muzzle to the air and sniffed dramatically, nostrils flaring and nose wiggling, "Yup, they're... oh, I'd say about a mile from here?"

Trogon wagged his tail excitedly, also taking the time to sniff the air, "Oh yeah, I can smell them too!" He exclaimed, even though he was sniffing in the complete opposite direction of his brother. "Hmmm... smells like a small herd of them. Probably a group of females and a few cubs."

Piper quirked his head, "Really?" Unable to smell anything of significance, the youngster looked between his older cousins and mimicked their actions anyway, sniffing the air and wagging his tail. He shivered a little when a burst of cold air swept through the group, followed by the splatter of a few half-frozen raindrops.

Scorponock & Raven

Scorponock snorted at him.all i smell are deer rabbit and feline think your mistaking the feline smell for humansHe said shaking his head.

Raven was silent as she ran ahead sniffing.

Shrike, Trogon, & Piper

Shrike tilted his head and sniffed again. With a frown he shook his head, "Nah, that's definitely human I smell. Besides, look-" He nosed at a tuft of grass beside him, its long, slender blades half brown and withered as the plant prepared for its winter hibernation, "-this is prime human food right here."

"They eat grass?" Piper asked with surprise, now looking between Scorponock and Shrike, not sure who knew more about the subject at hand.

"Well, yeah." Shrike went on matter-of-factly, "They're basically like bears, they eat meat and plants. Pretty much anything, really, but grass is one of their favorites. Other than wolves, that is." He grinned a little to see his cousin's eyes go wide at that remark. Shrike then flicked his gaze back to Scorp, "Humans smell a lot like felines, actually. We just have to sniff around more until we get a really good track on them."

While Shrike and Scorp were having their debate, Trogon bounded ahead with his sister, more interested in seeing humans than talking about them. In a matter of moments, the youngster had disappeared from sight in the long grass, and with the freezing rain beginning to fall, it would soon drown out the voices of his chattering siblings. But Trogon didn't consider these things - a naive pup eager to explore, he pushed himself faster to catch up with Raven.

Scorponock and Raven

He shook his head ...No these smells nothing like those humans her where there, human live in wierd structures not the open like thishe said. He had seen some houses.Plus they have those things on round objects that they ride i see noneo f those tracks herehe said.

Raven just kept going.

Shrike, Trogon, & Piper

Shrike turned fully about so that he was facing his younger cousin, "Well their dens are in the woods, and they migrate into the prairie during the day to eat." He continued to speak as if he were an expert on the subject, even though he was speaking on the fly and using whatever tidbits of knowledge he'd heard from the adults, "And they only ride those round thingies sometimes. Besides - oh my gosh - look!" Shrike feigned surprise and jumped back, looking wide-eyed at the ground. "That's a human print right there, see it? I knew we were on the right trail!"

Piper was now confused, but inched forward to peer at the 'print' in the ground. Though he couldn't see anything that looked remotely like a paw print, the youngster wagged his tail anyway, and looked to Scorp for confirmation.

----

Before long, Trogon had lost sight and sound of his brother and cousins, and was having a hard time following Raven. The wind was beginning to pick up, causing the grass around them to dance and sway, and sending heavy drops of rain into his eyes. "Raven? Raven, where are you?" Feeling a small seed of panic, Trogon began to run even faster, not knowing which directing his sibling had gone.

Scorponock

He snorted.you know nothing and that is a feline print not a human Human feet are weird stop acting like you know you don'tHe said.

Raven finally stopped when she couldn't hear her siblings and she was soaked from the rain. She started to howl but it was getting windy

Shrike, Trogon, & Piper

"Nu-uh, that's a human print!" Shrike argued, still in a voice of confident with his head held up and his ears perked cheerfully above his head. His imagination was a wild thing, and it fed into his creative explanation of the humans now, even if most of what he said was utterly false, "See how the toes are round like that? Yup, classic human paw. See Piper?"

Piper couldn't even see the feline print, let alone imagine a human one. "Uh...." Again he looked uncertainly between his brother and cousin, but again couldn't decide who knew more. "I dunno."

"That's okay Pip, you'll get an eye for them like me, someday." Determined to prove to to his peers that he was the cool older cousin who knew everything, Shrike sent his tail into an excited wag and nodded his head in a random direction, "C'mon this way, I'll show you the humans." With utmost assuredness, the adolescent struck off to the south east, moving in the opposite direction of Raven and Trogon. Shivering under the pelting rain, Piper scrambled after him.

---

"Raven?" He thought he heard a howl, but the shifting winds and increasingly heavy rain made it difficult to pinpoint the source of the call. The youngster pushed his legs to their limit, running hard and fast, traveling due north...

Scorponock

He snorted.Mom showed me the pawprint of a human so i would know . They have no toes or anything and they got wierd lines across ithe said shaking his head. He rolledh is eyes. but made to follow even though he knew this was the wrong place.

Raven was scared now. She kept howling as she tried to find shelter from the rain.

Shrike & Piper

Without missing a beat, Shrike had an explanation for the paw print discrepancies, "They can retract their toes, just like how the cats retract their claws. Dad told me cats can do that, and humans are basically like cats." The adolescent paused to shake his coat at this point, just now beginning to find the sleeting rain bothersome. Blinking against the increasing winds, he bounded forward again and pressed onward, still unaware that they were leaving two of their adventuring party behind. Boldly, the naive group leader led his two cousins into Galar's Marsh.

By this point, Trogon had become hopelessly lost from his siblings, neither hearing his brother's voice, nor his sister's howling. Cold and frightened, he continued to run until he too left the bounds of the Prairie.

Raven

Raven founda thorny bush and crowled into it and curled up there was nothing she could do.

Scorponock snorted at him.Believe what you wanthe said shaking his head he wasn't only talking about no claws but he followed Shrike.

Indigo

The slow transition from autumn into winter left the Valley in a period of windy, bleak weather. While thick-furred and insulated, Indigo trembles as he bounds leisurely across the prairie. He remains downwind on his trek, mostly to keep in check the multitude of scents that wry their way across the land. Humans tend to adventure out here on occasion, and after several vacant seasons, the felines have returned to the area. Indigo's azure eyes scan the expanse of dancing prairie grass, scrambling upon a collection of boulders to better scan the prairie. Somewhere in the wind, he smells a fresher scent of canine. His tail wags a bit, sensing the juvenile age of this traveling group. They're a distance away, and Indigo, in general, doesn't desire contact.

Spring off of the boulders, Indigo carries on his way. His ears suddenly spring up as a little sound catches his attention. For a brief moment, Indigo considers it just the wind, but even as the sturdy buffet of the wind relents, it still rings out. Someone is lost. The wolfdog debates for a moment before following his senses towards the panicky howl. Finally his nose catches the scent as well, directing him down a grassy ridge and to a collection of thorny bushes. Finally he sees the little form of Raven curled up behind the protective snares of the thorns. The wolfdog gives a gentle woof to seize Raven's attention, maintaining his distance. "Are you alone out here?" Indigo quizzes, perplexity crossing his face. Why would a pup be all on her lonesome in this dangerous area?

Raven

Raven had known this human hunting had been a bad idea. Now she was seperated from her whole family and who knew if she'd ever get home. The wind and rain seems relentless and surely their scents would be gone come morning. She had siest her howling as she laid curled in the bushs. It was maybe an hour before she heard something and lifting her cold head from her paws she peers outI wasn't She said as she hadn't been.we got separatedShe mumbles.

Indigo

The wolfdog blinks sympathetically at the little mess of a furball concealed within the thorny vegetation. He wags his tail gently, trying to further convey his friendliness and a lack of danger. Padding slowly through the tall grasses, Indigo places himself a bit closer for them to talk. Indigo blinks at the spitting rain, ducking underneath some of the peripheral branches of the bushes. "It's okay," Indigo murmurs to Raven. "My name is Indigo...maybe I can help you find them? Do...do you know where you're from? Or perhaps do you know your alphas?" Indigo was mostly a loner in this valley, but he knew a few names. If all else failed, perhaps the duo could find someone else who might be able to point the lost pup back home.

Raven

She sat there.ravenShe said.and idk where they'd of gone.She whimpered.Tayzeka and Starscream are our alpha'sShe said.

Indigo

Swishing his tail a bit, Indigo thoughtfully tries to maul over the names of her alphas. A wolf like Starscream had been around for many years, and even a loner like Indigo knew the stories. Unfortunately, Indigo can't recall the place Starscream heralded as home. The brute gives a little defeated huff, trying to consider his next options to helping Raven find her home. "Well, with the rain now, we probably can't track the party you were with," Indigo explains, frowning, "I...I know the name of your alpha, but I can't say I recall where exactly you call home." Shuffling his paws, Indigo tries to conjure another plan. He couldn't just leave Raven hopeless in finding her family. Finally, it dawns on him. "I know somebody, though, who probably knows. When the rain lets up, we could travel to him. It shouldn't be too far. Can you do that?"

Raven

She stayed where she was mostly curled up as she listens to him.Why had they gone on such a foolish errand. I think soShe said her teeth chattering.

Indigo You're cold," he points out, nudging the pup softly. His vivid blue eyes are gentle. "If you huddle next to me, you'll warm up." He knows he's asking a lot from the lost pup, and tries his best to leave her the option in trusting him. But it's cold and wet, and while Indigo is made to endure this weather, Raven probably won't on her own.

Raven

As of right now the pup didn't care if he might mean harm. She moved closer to him and curled up without a word.

Indigo

For a moment, Indigo sits motionless as Raven maneuvers herself into the warmth of his pelt. He's been a loner for so long that the companionship of even a pup felt foreign. Indigo shifts his tail so that Raven is wrapped comfortably in his fur, her little head the only thing popping out. Indigo rests his head on his paws, gazing out across the rainy prairie.

While he intended on staying awake the entire time, the brute dozes off. The sudden stillness of the rain letting up several hours later rouses the wolfdog from this sleep. He stifles a quiet yawn, blinking his eyes open and glancing over at Raven. He leans over, nudging the pup gently. "Hey," he whispers, "The rain stopped. We can go find my friend, and I think we'll be able to find where your pack is."

Raven

Raven had fallen asleep and only woke at the nudge. She yawns and stretches as she gets up.OkayShe said shaking herself a little.

Indigo

Crouching down, Indigo ducks and begins to crawl out from underneath the bush. Thorns snag at his fur, and the brute forces himself forward. He gives himself a firm shake as he reaches the clearing, water clinging to the exterior layer of his fur. Even underneath the bush, Indigo managed to get damp. Turning to Raven, his tail wags a bit. "Follow me. It won't be too far...besides, probably not as far as here from your home," Indigo beckons, slowly trotting a few steps. He keeps his pace managed so that Raven can keep up, heading for the Ashen Domes.