Frodo || Oak Warrior || 9 Years || M: Avalon, Mora, Sage, Cawls

Frodo does as his sister requests, turning to head to her and Sage’s den – the movement would help his joints anyway. “Sure thin’, Sis! See ya in a bit, then.”

On his way, he runs into Avalon. The larger dog calls his name, causing the older male to turn to the lieutenant. At his words, the miniature pinscher mix grins. It felt nice to have those who still thought of him in such ways, despite his age.

“That’s quite alright, Avalon. I ‘ave no bone ta pick witcha. I’m just honored that you even considered allowing me to join a patrol of sorts,” the fawn-black mutt replies with some slight chuckles, “As for the specific patrol, I’ll join any ya wish me ta. I’m not picky.”

After hearing this response, Frodo agrees and gives a cheerful “good day” before setting back on course to the Shaman’s den. At its entrance, he spotted the “reclusive” Sage – staring at the sky. The male always found the pup’s connection to the Ancestors rather interesting, though – unlike many – he did not find her odd for that connection. Rather, he held a sort of respect for it.

Padding up to the young beagle mix, he nods his head in greeting. “‘Ello, Sage. Whatcha doin’?”

The Shaman Apprentice jumps in surprise at his presence. Must ‘ave been lost in her head, he thinks.

“Frodo,” she responds curtly – her voice snappy and cold, “You here for the regular, I’m guessing?”

The shaggy mutt goes to answer, but quickly pauses as a very distant howl rings through the area. His pointy ears perk up, as do the ears of the apprentice beside him.

“Mora,” he murmurs quietly. He pads forward, his speed picking up as he goes. “Mora!”

A blur of fawn and black bullet rushes from the camp, moving at great speeds despite his poor joints. His tiny paws pound against the earth, propelling the small dogs forward in a straight line – like an arrow leaving a bow’s string. Cries sound from in front of him, shouting of a fox in the area. They were coming from his sister.

As much as the warrior wanted to stop and check on his sister, he had bigger matters to attend to. He surges past her, heading in the direction she came from. Snarls sounded from ahead as he reached a hill. There, he spotted Cawls and the dirty rat that decided to pick a fight with his sister. Right now, Cawls seemed to have the situation in control, but Frodo did not want to risk any changes.

Nymph || Oak Tribe || Warrior || M: Patrol team, Avalon, Mora , Frodo, Cawls

Nymph’s patience was growing thinner by the second. It was getting to the point where she was half tempted to just go on her own, despite the dangers that would definitely arise with that. Let alone most likely getting into trouble as well. A quiet growl fell from her maw in frustration, fidgeting in her spot with a few of the other members that were meant to be going on the patrol. Pawing at the dirt, she stretched out her toes, digging her nails into the ground only to lift from her haunches, moving around in little ways to try and distract herself. Not that it did much in helping. With another huff, the female flopped herself down onto the ground, laying flat on the ground with her hind legs out behind her and chin resting on her paws. Such a waste of time was all she could think.

Everyone was moving agonisingly slow, the patrol was fairly together and it was getting on her nerves. She sat near both Ringer and Cawls, though slightly closer to Cawls. Ringer was by every means strange and she would rather keep her distance from the male. Nymph wasn't sure where Mike was but he had to be near. It was mostly Avalon they were waiting for who seemed to be talking to Frodo, the older male who had greeted her this morning. At this rate by the time they got a move on, it might as well just be the afternoon patrol. She just hoped the hunting party had already left, everyone was going to start getting hungry. It was that thought that made her stomach growl, the idea of food definitely sounded appealing.

Just as she was about to push up again, the awkwardly small dog beside her ran off. She tilted her head a little, only just catching the end of a somewhat distressed howl. She debated following but figured they would call again if more help was needed. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to rush off if it wasn’t necessary. Even if she wanted to. The idea of someone getting hurt also had her itch, kicking the back of her shoulder to try and rid herself of the feeling.

Cawls | 2.5 | Oak Tribe | Warrior | M: Mora, Frodo, Nymph

Cawls hadn’t noticed when Mora had bolted. His mind was too busy with keeping the fox underneath him. He was heavily relieved when the fox made a yelping noise. He looked over his shoulder and saw one of the older dogs sinking his teeth into the creatures leg. He also noticed Nymph rising over the ridge. He couldn’t help but feel assured by her presence. Especially since her jaws gripped the fox’s grimy neck.

“Snap it.” He huffed in a low tone throughout the grit of fox fur in his teeth.

He wasn’t sure why he said that. He usually didn’t like to see dead things, although he liked to chase rodents. Perhaps it was the fiery spirit that roared in his chest that urged this blood-lust, this desire for something’s death. Whatever the reason, he felt guilty for it. He usually wasn’t like this and he was scared that this small taste of it would make him crazy for the metallic taste in his mouth or the feeling of having power over a subdued foe.

Avalon | 5 | Oak Tribe| Lieutenant | M: Mora, Nymph, Frodo

Avalon hadn’t heard Mora’s original screams for help. He was busy planning about the patrol. They would trace the perimeter of their territory like always but would renew their lines along the Ash territory so that it would be blatantly obvious whose land was whose. Since Mike hadn’t responded, he figured that they’d leave without him and he could join a later one.

His head sharply turned towards the entrance of their camp where Mora was screaming something alarming. A fox! He thought with alarm. Cawls? Perhaps there is more to him than what meets the eye. He saw Nymph dart off and he sprang after. He was concerned how well both she and Cawls could hold off a fox. As he lumbered forward, he noticed little Frodo. Once again, he had forgotten the older dog and once again he was ashamed. He always prided himself upon how he respected those in places of authority and his elders. But could he still say that after he had forgotten one of his seniors not once but twice in the same day? He was worried by this. He hadn’t noticed that he had stopped running and that he had rather paused in his step. Then he realized that the wind he was feeling was not one caused by himself, but rather by Mother Earth’s breathing. Naturally, he started his legs moving again.

He reached the fox a little after someone had told Nymph to snap the creature’s neck. He wasn’t sure who. He heard it whimper in pain. It certainly was not worth killing and he wanted to get the patrols out. The day was moving on without them as time waits for no-one. He would’ve told them just to let it go, but he was afraid that they’d argue and arguing would waste more time.

“Just kill it.” He said in almost a lazily annoyed tone. “If you don’t want to, I can. Or just release it. The day is passing and we still haven’t gotten the patrols out.”

Listening to the two males tell her to just kill the fox had her roll her eyes, especially when it was clear that she had those intentions in the first place. That was something she had planned to do ever since she laid her eyes on the vermin. It was Avalon's tone that riled her up a little, he sounded annoyed. Her tail lashed a bit and she bit down harder. If he hadn't taken so long talking to others they would already be on patrol. Now, even if she was told to let it go she wouldn't do so without mortally wounding it and allowing it to die a slow and painful death. With a final growl on her behalf, clearing her head, she clamped down onto the neck tighter and tighter until there was a satisfying snapping sound followed with the fox's body going limp.

Letting her frustration out on this creature had her muscles relax a little, watching it's body now lay lifeless, her tail came down and her fur evened out. She let out a shallow breath as her whole being calmed down. Nymph shot a glance over to their Lieutenant to make sure he was still there before looking over to Cawls and Frodo, silently looking them over with careful eyes to make sure neither had been hurt by the fox, that was the last thing they needed at a time like this, especially with Cawls being on the patrol with them and Frodo being on the older side. As cold and distant as she usually seemed, she did care for the members in the pack. She just showed it in her own way.

Looking away again, the female took a few steps closer to where they needed to head back but not over the hill quite yet, coming up to Avalon's side but keeping a step or two away from him. She glanced back at the fox before looking up at the male. "Would you like me to take the body off of the territory then catch up with you all after or shall we just leave it?" She asked, bowing her head respectively even if she didn't want to. She didn't want to attract anymore unwanted visitors with the smell of the dead fox but she wasn't sure what they should do. Nymph licked the blood off her maw, blinking as she awaited his response. If she wasn't awake enough before, she definitely was now.

Breeze / 6 / Female/ Oak Tribe / Alpha

Breeze caught up with Naruto just outside the camp, eager to talk to him before their patrol later this evening. She caught her breath before sitting down, pricking her ears to make sure they were out of hearing distance, before talking in an urgent tone.

“Naruto, Avalon and I have agreed that it is probably not safe for a two dog patrol to go out, so Avalon will join us this evening. He has promised to give us space and privacy, so I hope that you and I can still talk.” She chuckled slightly. “I had better let you get to your patrol, I think they’re leaving now.”

She wiated to see his reaction, before realising that she should probably get back to camp. Avalon would be leaving soon she thought, and the camp will go into havoc after recent events if she was not there. She blinked slowly at him before stretching and looking at him, wondering what their conversation later would bring. Worried that she was looking slightly too intently at him, she straightened up and omitted a small yawn. “Sorry, I didn’t exactly sleep well last night.” She giggled. Her legs felt tired, but her mind was whirring.

Avalon | 5 | Oak Tribe| Lieutenant | M: Nymph, Frodo, Cawls, Ringer

If Avalon sensed Nymph’s irritation, he didn’t show it. He was still annoyed at both himself and to the fact that the sun was up farther than what he preferred. They’d head straight to camp, collect the other dogs, and head out immediately. They’d eat late and he’d have to eat fast if he was to catch up with Naruto and Breeze.

He huffed. He had forgotten that the body would have to go and regretted the decision of killing it. If it wasn’t so close to camp he would’ve told her to leave it. However, dead things seem to attract unwanted dogs and scavengers like coyotes.

“Dispose of it.” He answered grimly. “Take Cawls with you; you’re in charge. After you’re done, you can catch up to us.” He was uncomfortable that they were only two, but they both seemed able for the task.

He turned towards Frodo, “You and I are going back to camp. After you get your remedy from Mora, we’ll go out on the patrol.” Hopefully his remedy won’t take long, he added in his thoughts.

With that, he turned back to camp. He hoped that what he had decided was good and that it would go smoothly. When he arrived at the camp he announced that the fox had been subdued and that its body was being taken cared of.

“We’ve got a tight schedule and we’re late.” He informed Ringer. He felt that he owed the giant dog that much. “Cawls and Nymph are disposing the body and will meet us after they’re done. Frodo is going to join our patrol, too.”

Sage || Oak Shaman Apprentice || 1 Year, 10 Months || M: Mora, Frodo, Nymph

“‘Ello, Sage. Whatcha doin’?”

Sage jumps at the sudden address – not that she’d ever admit to that though. She had been focusing on the Ancestors for so long she lost track of the real world.

Turning to Frodo with a slight scowl, she greets him. “Frodo,” her voice was curt, leaving little room for discussion, “You here for the regular, I’m guessing?”

The shaggy mutt opens his maw to answer, but stops as his ears perk up. The beagle mix perks hers up as well to strain her ears, picking up the very end of what seemed to be a desperate howl. She… had never heard this howl before. Then again, she hasn’t heard many in the first place. Either way, chills run down her spine at its sound.

“Mora. Mora!” Frodo bolts out of camp at speeds the apprentice never thought an old dog – or even one with his health problems – could move. Her fur stands up along spine as her heart sinks into her stomach. If Mora was hurt then…

Sage shakes her head, ridding her mind of her thoughts. She goes to follow but quickly stops. I should remain in the camp. If Mora gets hurt, the Tribe will need someone to heal them, she lifts her head up once more, Ancestors, please don’t take her away too.

Suddenly, Mora herself burst into camp – Thank you, Ancestors – shouting of a fox and of Cawls who was currently taking it on alone. Nymph, another warrior, shoots from the camp to follow the fawn and black mutt – likely to help the two fight the danger. Avalon followed suit.

Ignoring both the warriors and her mentor’s words, Sage rushes forward – checking her mentor for any injuries. “Are you okay, Mora?” She speaks in an emotionless voice, forcing down the quaver that almost came out.