☽ ── [ ✧ 𝒍𝒂 𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒊𝒍.​ ] closed

[འབྲོག་ཁྱི]

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────────── the night brings advice. ───────────────────── ✦ ──────
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Each year, the arriving winter drives the Red Pine pack from its home in the forest-
ed piedmont of Yellowstone and closer to the placid town of Wilson, Wyoming — be-
fore the snow has a chance to shut down the backroads. And each time, it seems to
be getting harder and harder to spend months near town while keeping their lycan-
thropy a secret. This year especially, the odds are stacked against them, as one of
the pack's members has come down with a mysterious illness, and the disinterest of
the alpha has left it up to the others to try and establish an understanding with the
only doctor in town — all the while the local sheriff has been dwelling into their ob-
session with wolves ever since a strange and shocking rencontre. ────────────
──────────────────────────────────────────────── ✦ ────
────── ✦ ───────────────────── the moon is on our side! ─────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────

[འབྲོག་ཁྱི]

┌────────────────────────────────┐

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The town of Wilson has a small population that dwindles to around a few hundred during the
winter months, as the town sits by a lake and a business by the name of Wilson Lakeside Cabins
Resort, which sees most of its traffic during the summer and early autumn. During the winter,
however, they are more than happy to accommodate the pack in the absence of tourists.

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┌────────────────────────────────┐

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The pack has a long history, with its former leadership being descended from the Red Pine Val-
ley pack, when they still resided in the Appalachians. But when the last Redwood passed, the
rank of alpha ended up among the Bancrofts, who had previously held the position of beta for
decades. ─────────────── history derived from 'rigor mortis' & 'a wolf by his teeth'. x

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Werewolves heal quickly from superfi-
cial injuries and they cannot contract
many human illnesses, but serious in-
juries take longer, although not as long
as it would for a human. Larger than
natural wolves. Bites are lethal to hu-
mans. ──── Shifting happens every
night at sunset, against their will. De-
pending on what their relationship to
their wolf is, they can either be fully
in control and remember everything,
or less so. Can also shift at will. ───
──────────────────────────

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The symptoms of the illness are similar
to that of a cold, paired with unpredict-
able shifting & possible fits of aggres-
sion. The delta has already tried to maul
at least one packmember they would oth
erwise never attack. ────────────
──────────────────────────
The matter of revealing their secret to
the doctor has caused some arguments
beforehand, and members may have dif-
fering opinions on how the situation
should be handled. ─────────────
──────────────────────────

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i. CS rules apply & are important, please do not try hinting at inappropriate topics.
ii. this is a semi-lit roleplay, make sure you're ready to write min. 300 words/post.
iii. you must be able to join the discord, it's vital for discussing plot and relationships.
iv. two characters max, you're allowed to reserve a second one after posting a form
for your first. v. reservations last 48 hours and are automatically forfeited if you
haven't completed your form by then. vi. do not post in the discussion or try to join
the discord unless you've received a reply from me. vii. diversity & creativity are
encouraged, all ethnicities and identities are welcome. ────────── discussion.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─────────────────────────── the night brings advice. ──── ✦ ────

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The roleplay begins with the pack
moving out of the pack house &
into the cabins of Wilson Lakeside
Resort, as they do every year. But
this time, they must find a way to
ask Wilson's only doctor for help
with their sick packmate, while
avoiding the attention of the local
sheriff. The alpha must choose a
beta, but the exile might cause
trouble in town.
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✦ [ character name ]
✧ age ✧ pronouns ✧ ──── closed

It was an unusual arrangement in th
e history ofxthe Red Pine pack for
the alpha and beta to be a married
couple, but the tale of Carol & Rod-
erick Bancroft was xa sweet one...
until their deaths in one of the wor
st fires the area has ever witnesse
d. Rank's been empty for 14 years.

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ beta ✧ ─── ✧

✦ [ Anderson Bancroft ]
✧ 33 ✧ he/him/his ✧ ── chevreuil

Before Anders' time, the alpha was
the stalwart head of the pack, ded
icated to xguiding xits every move
with a firm but loving hand. x The
current alpha, however, is more in
terested in fixing up motors, xbut
at least he brings in a decent chunk
of funds during the boating season.

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ alpha ✧ alive ✧

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✦ [ Magnus Ahn ]
✧ 29 ✧ he/him/his ✧ ───── zyn

The delta used to be responsible
for organizing and coordinating th
e pack's hunts, selling excess meat
and pelts, and ensuring they were
stocked up on enough groceries to
feed a hungry pack of wolves ─ un-
til they fell ill. The delta's a trooper
but they need help. ─────────

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ delta ✧ sick ✧

✦ [ Luana Farine ]
✧ 32 ✧ she/her/hers ✧ ─── silver

The rho has the unique responsibil
ity ofxwatching over the pack dur-
ing their nightly shifts. x It is their
business to know xwho's where and
what's happening,xand when some-
thing goesx afoul, xthey are usually
the target of the alpha's reprimand
s ─ ... patience is truly a virtue. ─

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ rho ✧ alive ✧

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✦ [ Calliope Turner ]
✧ 30 ✧ she/her/hers ✧ ─ whisper

The sigma is ax 'pillar of the com
munity'-type, a real cornerstone in
the stead of the more-or-less absen
t alpha. xThey most often have a go
od handle on things,xcan keep their
cool under pressure, and are at the
forefront of any endeavor the pack
chooses to undertake.

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ sigma ✧ alive ✧

✦ [ Leigh Hayward ]
✧ 29 ✧ she/her/hers ✧ - chevreuil

Although they are only a distant rel
ative, the gamma xhasxRedwood
blood in their veins and what could
be a legitimate claim to the throne
of alpha. They've always tried to p
rove themselves asx worthy of the
role of beta, but have recently be-
come discontent with Anders' rule.

── ✧ Red Pine ✧ gamma ✧ alive ✧

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✦ [ Oscar Newman ]
✧ 32 ✧ he/him/his ✧ ─── eouvre.

subordinate; The conflicted has
let fear rule their life ever since th
ey can remember. They're at odds
with their wolf and have trouble re
membering their nights, but the rh
o has proved a reliable ally in watc
hing over them. They are against r
evealing the pack to the doctor. ──

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ sub ✧ alive ✧

✦ [ Seraphina Abendroth ]
✧ 27 ✧ she/her/hers ✧ ──── zyn

subordinate; The wildling has a
lways stayed behind in Yellowstone
before, xliving out the winter as a
wolfxand honing their survival skill
s, xand this will be their first time
joining the pack in Wilson, WY, ou
t of concern for the delta. They're
set on securing the doctor's help. ─

─── ✧ Red Pine ✧ sub ✧ alive ✧

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✦ [ Poppy Yuzuki ]
✧ 28 ✧ she/her/hers ✧ - whisper

The exile xwas driven out of Red
Pine pack by xAnderson after they
encountered the sheriff while shift-
ed, x nearly exposing their secret.
It is most likely that x even if they
harbour no ill will toward the pack
itself, they may bear a grudge to-
ward the alpha. ───────────

─── ✧ solitary ✧ exile ✧ alive ✧

✦ [ Theodore Wake ]
✧ 31 ✧ he/him/his ✧ ─── mulder,

The omega is the failed healer of
Red Pine pack. xThey were only in
the beginning of their training whe
n the previous healerx passed away
from old age. xThey valiantly attem
pted to fill the role anyway,x which
led to the death of a patient and th
eir consequent demotion to omega.

── ✧ Red Pine ✧ omega ✧ alive ✧

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✦ [ Abraham Zircon ]
✧ 34 ✧ they/them ✧ ── haunted

The sheriff x has the most power
within the town of Wilson, but they
also enjoy xthe trust of the popula-
tion thanks to their impeccable ser
vice. After running into a massive
wolf and drawing their weapon on
it, they have been obsessed with w
olves and their existence in Wilson.

─── ✧ Wilson ✧ sheriff ✧ alive ✧

✦ [ Hudson Murphy ]
✧ 36 ✧ he/him/his ✧ ──── Crono

The doctor is Wilson's sole medical
professional, and their presence in
town becomesxabsolutely vital dur-
ing x the winter months, xwhen the
trip to the nearest hospital might t
ake several hours. So far, they hav
e been living their life blissfully un-
aware of x the existence xof lycans.

─── ✧ Wilson ✧ doctor ✧ alive ✧

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[འབྲོག་ཁྱི]

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──────────────────────────
Wilson Sheriff's Station, near the town
square. ──────────────────
Wilson Emergency Room, located north
of town square. ──────────────
Wilson Auto Repair, a few minutes' walk
outside of town. Formerly owned by Rod
erick Bancroft, now by Anderson.
──────────────────────────
It is early winter, and the pack knows
it is time to move, because the first sn
ow has fallen. ─── Besides waterfowl,
other wildlife that can be seen near Wi
lson are bison, elk, moose, grizzly bea
rs, coyotes, various raptors, and even
bald eagles. ─── Many areas outside
of town and especially near Frigid Lake
are heavily forested, and the pack oft
en seeks refuge in these areas during
the night. ──────────────────
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Annelise park, located in central Wilson.
Named after Annelise Wilson, daughter
of the town's founder. Grassy areas, wa
lkways, a wooden bridge, and a duck p
ond, where trumpeter swans, canada
geese, blue-winged teals and mallards
have been spotted during the winter.
Wilson Lakeside Cabins Resort and the
nearby Frigid Lake. Between the lake-
side cabins the pack stay in and the m
ain building, there's a tall, old maple tr
ee that's decorated with twinkling ligh
ts during the dark winter months. Frig
id Lake is a popular spot even in the w
inter and among permanent Wilson res
idents, because it has many 'hidden ge
m' spots along its shores. Wilson Lake-
side also has a cafe: the Moose Point
Cafe. Located a few miles outside town.
──────────────────────────

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─────────────────────── ✦ ─────
──────────────────────────────

𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑵 / 𝑪̶𝑳̶𝑶̶𝑺̶𝑬̶𝑫̶.̶​

─────────────── 0/12 roles left.

the roleplay is now closed and starting.

community bulletin; ───────────────
Lakeside Christmas celebration

──────────────────────────────
───── ✦ ───────────────────────

moon rising behind pines, carl gustav carus, public domain

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[འབྲོག་ཁྱི]

────────── 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 ───── 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐓 ────── ◈ ──── ─ ─
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─ ─

LOCATION; pack house > lakeside cabins ─ TAGGING; Calliope ─ MENTIONED; Leigh, Luana ─ WC; 2,218

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*
Enormous flakes of woolly snow moved slowly past draping branches of emerald green. The sharp, rousing scent of fir trees fell in gentle touches, trapped close to the junctions of needles and boughs by the preserving frost. The deafening quiet, a soft and sinking void of sound, was only interrupted by the strident bugling of an elk somewhere deep in the forest, carrying on as hollow and distant. Anders knew this place and he knew this dream. They had seen the moose here, with its powerful shoulders moving under satiny, shining dark brown, and a wide crown of placid antler lined with tapering, deadly points. He had wanted to see it again.
indentindentindentBelow, he saw his own massive paws, covered in coppery fur, tipped with thick black claws, and lifting high to wade through the deep snow. A sense of dread started sour on the back of his tongue, then flowed, viscous, down his throat to settle in the pit of his stomach. This was the part he did not like: soon, a bird — something small, a passerine, like a sparrow or finch — would startle out of the cloaking folds of the ubiquitous trees, shake a lump of snow into the bank below, and he would look up, reflexively, to see the fast, beating wings streaking over his head. And he would find the snow turned into flaky, gray ash, and the sky darkened with billowing, black smoke pouring out of what was left of the roof as if it were a faucet.
indentindentindentThe snow-covered lawn underneath his feet — now human and bare — was streaked with soot as Anderson ran toward the old winter lodge. The heat pressed, stifling, to his skin, and he would pour sweat even in the chilling winter until it gleamed against the bright orange glow of the fire. He would get closer, and closer, and closer, until the only thing left to do would force him to step into the flames. And he does, he makes that choice again and again, and the heat sears his forearm as a tall beam collapses, blocking his path. Strong hands hook underneath his armpits and he is dragged away, thrown onto his back across the sooty snow as the old lodge burns, then caves, releasing a great spray of shining embers into the darkened sky.

indentindentindentThere was a blistering underneath the surface of the skin on his forearm, a phantom crawling beneath a gnarled scar. Anders drifted toward waking and awareness — when he was nineteen, he had often started awake from this dream, darted up in his bed and tried stifling the flames with his blankets, but he was still and benumbed now as he opened his eyes and rasped a hand over his bearded mouth. Dim, blue light leaked past the curtains and onto the swells and dimples of the sheets bunched where his bed met the white boards of the wall. A presence stirred on the floor, blunt nails clacked against the hardwood floor, and soon Anders was drowning in Petey's hasty kisses.
indentindent"I'm getting up and you'll get your breakfast," he reassured the dog and drew his sturdy fingers across the silky golden fur atop his head.
indentindentindentAnders set his feet onto the floor as Petey jumped down from the edge of the bed and tangled himself in his legs, all the while his entire body was wiggling from the force of his wagging tail. As this beast of six legs, two heads, and one blur of a tail, they made their way out of his bedroom door and into the kitchen, which had already been stripped bare of almost anything movable or edible — the appliances had been packed into storage and the food had disappeared into wolfish maws. Anders was only freed of the retriever squirming between his legs once he had set the promised breakfast in his bowl and found himself a cup of coffee, and settled with it to lean against the edge of the countertop, while one of the few radio stations they received out at the edges of Yellowstone sputtered the morning's weather forecast.
indentindentindentWe'll be expecting flurries this evening... Anders' mind drifted to the previous night and the lucid memories from the hours until he had crawled back into his bed to catch some sleep before morning. The moon had been waxing, and so the foothills were brightly illuminated and the falling of the first snow had rendered everything into a palette of beige, white, and sage green. For himself, the night had been as any other: the thoughts and instincts of his wolf had meandered and flowed past, he had indulged or ignored them as he pleased, and while some of the rest of the pack had howled to signal to each other, he had followed his own paths, ducking under low-hanging branches and swimming through frozen underbrush in his flowing trot.
indentindentindentAway from the cities and the lights of the town, the stars in the sky morphed into galaxies and brilliant clouds of colour, and he could always feel that tether of connection in his chest that tugged as he moved underneath the dome of faraway space. The skies would be dimmer in Wilson, but not by much. He had overheard grumbling for varied reasons from the members of Red Pine pack, but Anders himself did not much mind wintering over in town, considering he already spent his days there. What bothered him the most was losing an entire day of work at the shop to moving and winterizing the house, because there was no one else to open the business — or that he would trust to open — and it happened to be prime season with everyone preparing their trucks for the icy roads.

indentindentindentThe light layer of snow crunched underneath Anders' boots and the frost in the air nipped at his fingers as he stepped outside into the blue dawn, with only Petey and the distant, haunting calls of a great horned owl as his company — he had actually seen this sort of an owl only once, and he could remember its round dinner plate-like eyes reminding him of yellow, melted candle wax. Strands of white, gossamer winter light were beginning to leak past the horizon and form into a thin morning as Anders quietly listed what there was still left to do, while Petey disappeared toward the edge of the woods, nose on the ground and pale tail gently swaying. He had already gathered all of the outside furniture into the shed, caulked the windows that leaked cold air, and checked the insulation on the pipes lest they burst while they were gone.
indentindentindentChilly fingers of air curled into the sleeves of his winter jacket as he eyed the roof on his way to the shed. A handful of frost had laid itself in the nooks and divots of the roof, but none of the shingles seemed to be damaged and would last fine. The door of the shed creaked and complained as he found himself a hammer and a box of nails, and the wooden sheets he would use to board up the windows to avoid a repeat of the one early spring they had returned to find a shattered windowpane and the living room buried underneath a foot of snow. The sharp falls of the hammer carried far in the cold, but considering how most of the pack had either gone the previous night or should have already been up to finish packing, Anders did not really care who his hammering happened to wake.
*
indentindentindentThe serrated noise of metal rumpling and a side-view mirror shattering pierced through the still morning as Leighton Alexandra Hayward was thrown clear of the porch, only to crack her spine against the side of the brown pick-up truck idling at the foot of the stairs, and thud ungracefully to the frozen ground as the breath was knocked from her in one opaque gust. A hare with hoary grey emerging around its flank started from the tall snow-covered grass growing near the mailbox and dashed for the woods, shedding the rime from the plants and down to the ground in its brisk wake. Petey's deep barking sounded from the trees before he appeared onto the yard with frost in his whiskers and nose twitching amid huffs of milky breath.
indentindentindent"I win," was all Lee managed as she clambered up onto all fours, and it was hardly a wheeze that she squeezed out of her lungs, which seized and momentarily denied her the breath and chance to make another droll remark like the one that had landed her there. It could only be considered a win in the game known as "make Anderson blow a gasket", and it might have been her biggest one to date, alongside the frying pan incident and the one with the door. Petey rounded the tailgate of the truck and dived to assault her face with a wet tongue, and Lee extended a forearm to keep the retriever at bay. Anders descended the stairs with a cardboard box in his arms, filled with the food that had been left in the fridge — and he had estimated that, in this weather, it should keep fine in the bed of his truck for the drive to Wilson.
indentindentindent"I just know how much you love fixing this truck, so I thought I'd give you a hand," she croaked, followed by a few breathy chuckles of derisive laughter. She gestured at the pieces of shattered mirror on the ground, although that meant Petey regained access to her face, and she had to swiftly return the hand to where it had been preventively pressed against his chest. The tailgate slammed shut and Lee rolled to sit on the frozen ground, propping herself up against the dented driver's side door. Anders opened the door on the other side and called Petey to jump onto the seat and ride shotgun, and once the retriever was out of her face, Lee dusted off her ballcap and yanked it back onto her head.
indentindentindentAnders' legs appeared into her field of view and she looked up with a smug sneer on her face. Anders frowned.
indentindent"Get outta my sight, Leigh. Go pack. Last time I'm tellin' you," he advised, all the while thinking how much of a relief the winter would be for him, considering it meant not sharing a roof with Lee, even if they would be next-door neighbours, but that was a detail he would allow himself to forget for just a few hours. For a moment, Lee did not move and the grin did not fade, because Lee did not a. apologize, b. admit her mistakes, or c. learn anything from them.
indentindent"One day I'll get you to laugh at a Bancroft joke. Amelia would have appreciated them, just saying," she retorted, but before Anders could get it into his head to throw her again, she rolled out of his way and gave him a mock salute. Anders chose not to reward Lee with another reaction and quietly climbed into his truck, just as Lee sat herself down onto the weathered steps and wiped the dribble of blood coming from her nose onto her sleeve with a grimace.
indentindent"Enjoying the view?" was the last thing Anders heard coming from Lee's mouth before he closed the door, and considering the shamelessly flirtatious tone — and the fact that he had left her with the responsibility of locking up — it must have been aimed at none other than Luana.
*
indentindentindentThe wind was toying with the light dusting of snow on the road as Anders pulled out of the pack house's driveway and turned the headlights toward Wilson, Wyoming. The rising of the bright sun had warmed the day a little, and it had gone from thin and chilly to seeming as if the air were thick with a crisp cold and the mists hanging above the passing fields were radiating light of their own. He kept one hand on the wheel while patting Petey with the other. His fur was still cool to the touch and he had managed to crust snow onto his chest, which was now dripping onto the carpet draped across the passenger seat.
indentindentindentAnders turned on the radio as the forests and fields that stretched for miles slowly turned into houses and picket fences. The turn to Wilson Lakeside Cabins resort was marked with a carefully painted sign at the side of the road, and a few miles before he would truly be entering town, he turned onto a dirt road. The view on the left side of the truck soon opened up from tall evergreens to a crystal clear lake reflecting the trees on its shores, and he followed the bank past the main building and to a row of cabins near the water's edge. He brought the truck to a halt in front of the one to which he had been handed the keys so that he could unload his things, only to catch sight of Cal — as if she had been waiting for him. There was an uncomfortable tightening in his chest as he disembarked, but he nonetheless circled to the passenger side to let Petey out as if he had not seen her standing there.

[whispersome]

☽ ─── 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑
LOCATION: Lakeside Cabins • TAGGED: Anders • MENTIONED: Magnus, the pack

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ On the outskirts of Wilson, morning broke steadily, but when the sun broke free of the horizon, it did so with a certain boisterousness. It breached the clouds bit by bit, peeking free of the cover to illuminate the land below and provide at least some buffeting warmth in spite of the overall chill. And Calliope, perched just outside the cabin she’d been assigned to, was there to behold its might.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Fur having melted into flesh, she was keen on taking in the sights she hadn’t had the chance to bask in since the year prior. Only here, cast in sunlight and driven by more than pack mentality, could she truly appreciate them, anyway. From the soft, cloud-strewn sky to the lush trees, it was difficult to deny the area’s beauty, although humble nature like this had always had a certain appeal to Cal. She hadn’t been born into a life where she was exposed to it on such a regular basis, but she had come to embrace it quite readily.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ The cool air was pleasant as it brushed her cheeks, even if she had to tighten her silk scarf against a sharp gust of wind. Around her, it was early enough in both the season and the day that things were still quiet. Almost too much so, in fact—but Calliope suspected she would soon have the opposite opinion, so she decided to savor it while she could. She had arrived ahead of most of the rest of the pack, as she preferred to do each year, leaving behind a careful discussion of what still had to be done around the house and reminders of cabin etiquette, speeches long-term members of the pack had likely grown weary of listening to. But if recent events were anything to go by, they were more important this year than ever.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Calliope cast a sympathetic glance about, even without the intended recipient of it visible. Displaying a level of fine control around the rest of the pack was crucial; in its alpha’s general absence, she had half-accepted and half-stumbled into something of a leadership role. Being someone others could trust and rely on had long been a source of pride for her. Things tended to roll off her shoulders easily, too—earning Calliope’s earnest distrust or dislike was a difficult endeavor, and so long as the circumstances were right, it was often even easier to win her back. This, though—this was something well beyond what she was prepared to handle.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ She heard—and saw, with how it fogged the air—more than felt the heavy sigh that left her. Subconsciously, Calliope realized, she had been walking without aim, roaming the almost empty resort grounds. The prints of her boots in the disturbed snow behind her served testament to her path, looping in absent patterns and leading to her current location, which was neither—to her faint relief—the middle of the woods nor a precarious cliff overlooking the lake. Instead, a cabin, albeit not her own, loomed at her back. Calliope sighed, tugged at her gloves (which had not proved true to their claims of being one-size-fits-all), and considered the likelihood of being able to snag one more moment of solitary peace back in her cabin.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ The whir of a motor brought a swift answer to that thought. It did not, however, provoke annoyance or bitterness. Calliope was moving before the truck had even sputtered to a stop, soles crunching through the snow-flecked grass. By the time the driver’s door opened, she was standing still several feet away, arms loosely crossed and eyes on Anders’s movements.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ “Anderson,” she called by way of greeting, clipped in contrast to her usual warmth. As Petey emerged from the passenger side, she spared him with a far more benevolent smile, but her expression evened back out—albeit only into impassivity at worst—as her gaze rose back toward Anders. His valiant attempt to ignore her presence was met with tight lips. Her tone, however, was without edge when she added, “I’m glad to see you arrived safely.”

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ It was true, after all; while in the current weather, there weren’t as many hazards in traveling as there might be in even a few short days, few endeavors were risk-free. And it was, in however dulled a form, a relief to catch Anders here. Neither was quite open enough to consider the other a close friend, but Calliope had been in the Red Pine pack for years now, and long-term acquaintance had given itself to some level of fondness. There were layers of obligation and necessity to their dynamic, a certain deference owed of her, but Calliope did respect Anders beyond that—or at the very least, she respected what he represented, and what she believed he could be. That, though, worsened rather than eased her current state.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ “I assume everyone else will be here soon,” she went on, eyeing the sky. Her teeth caught for a second at her lower lip, but just as fast, before the quiet ripple of her jaw became visible, she released it. She turned back to face Anders, angling for even a second’s worth of eye contact. “That was what I wanted to talk to you about, actually, at least tangentially. Do you have a moment? If you need to start setting things up—” she swept a hand between his truck and the cabin before them “—that’s all right; we can multitask.”

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Her phrasing and voice were handled with delicate care, staying well within the bounds of politeness and concern, an earnest quality to them. But the set of her shoulders and face made their undercurrent clear: The time for this conversation had come. If anything, indeed, it was long overdue.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Hackles lowering back down as soon as they had even hinted at rising, Calliope made her way carefully closer, bending and extending a hand for Petey to inspect. If this situation was to go sour, she could at least try to win some of his affection.

[Crono]

𝐻𝓊𝒹𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝑀𝓊𝓇𝓅𝒽𝓎
Male ~ Thirty-Six ~ The Doctor ~ Profile
Location: Wilson Emergency Room ~ (Tags: Open) (Mentions: N/A)

Hudson's morning was like any other. Shower, cleanup, eat breakfast whilst contemplating what needed to be done throughout the day. At home the man followed a schedule, a ritual even. He did however change up his meals to keep things fresh, today it was some eggs and toast. Once everything was finished Hud left the apartment he lived in and started his walk to work. It was cold out, and he was rethinking his process of transportation with the sound of crunching snow beneath his feet. Most days he did indeed walk as the Emergency Room wasn't too far, but it was far enough that when it was raining or the cold just hit him full force, he'd simply drive there. Still though, he kept his pace, deciding he'd gone too far to turn back now.

Hudson watched as bits of the town came to life as he moved. Places were opening up, and those that had opened earlier were getting their first customers of the day. Occasionally one of the townspeople would make eye contact and offer a smile, or shout a good morning to the local doctor. When he first came here Hudson could see that while they welcomed him, he'd need time to gain their trust and acceptance. These days he felt that from most of those he spoke to or treated. As a Doctor he'd gained respect if nothing else, and that was enough for him.

Once he arrived at the Emergency Room he spotted his only co-worker waiting outside for him. "Good morning Katie." He offered in greeting to the short haired brunette. "Morning Doc!" Came her faux enthusiastic reply that was met by a sigh from the man as he unlocked the door for them to enter. Katherine Finch worked the desk, took any calls, and kept the place and documents organized. And Hudson was constantly thanking her for it, because without the help he'd be unable to find anything. The two made a good team for what was the only medical service in town, despite being like siblings who pick at and bicker with one another on a daily basis.

Stepping inside he could hear Katie greet someone else followed by two women chuckling before following after him. Hudson flipped on the lights, turning to see Nancy Chamberlain who had an appointment this morning. "Right on time I see Mrs. Chamberlain." Hudson spoke with a smile as the older woman moved further inside. "And I see the two of you are late." She replied with a smile. Katie was quick to throw Hudson under the bus for being late as they headed towards the private room, claiming she'd been here on time. Wasting no time Hudson moved with his patient to one of the private rooms after swapping out his thick coat for the lab coat.

After a few minutes of basic checkup's the two reappeared in the main area. "Everything checks out. But I won't have your blood tests back for at least a few days, but I'll be sure to give you a call when I do." The older woman nodded and thanked him before leaving. But not before teasing the two of them for not having much of a life outside of work, though she was quick to slip through the door before Hudson or Katie could even complain or make an excuse. Instead they simply looked at each other, shrugged, and went back to work.

[`silver]

𝐋𝐔𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄
tags; leigh location; pack house mentions; anderson, theodore word count; 735

Luana was always the last to leave the pack house when the temperatures grew cool and the flurries of white perched atop deep verdant arbors. The weight of the frost was something she remembered all too well, her shoulders growing rigid with reveries that clouded her in their inescapable, unmoving grasp. She washed down any bubbling guilt that threatened to choke her throat with a sip of her warm tea, closing her eyes as she focused on the shape of the mug she had in her hands. It was scorching. Her senses told her to release the heated ceramic, but she ignored it in order to anchor herself—to ensure that she was standing where she was, truly existing in the middle of the kitchen with the sink prodding at her lower back and the weak sunlight pouring in through the window behind her. The brief sensation of warmth trickling from both sides eased her tension at a gradual pace enough that her eyes finally opened to deep brown slits of relief.

The aged, stained wood paneling of the cabin that held years of memories, thick blankets stitched with makeshift patches resting gently on creaky wooden furniture and faded rugs that have been washed time and time again from unruly paws and boots alike sitting in their assigned places around the living room. They would all be here when they returned in the spring, she told herself, the pack would return to the home that welcomed them warmly as it always has once Spring arrived. Luana breathed a steadying sigh just as she watched Anders make his way to the front door, her head tilting slightly at the awful creaking of metal coming from outside. What could possibly—the hard thunk of a body hitting the side of a vehicle had Luana taking a long, knowing sip, soon emptying her mug.

She could already imagine the smug look on Lee’s face in hearing her interact with Anders whom was likely avoiding any sort of reaction so he wouldn’t feed into the troublemaker’s habits. After taking a moment to clean and dry her mug, Luana grabbed a few tissues from the cupboard along with slinging her duffel bag over her shoulder, giving the main room one last sweeping look to confirm everything was as it should be before keys rattled into her hand. If anyone needed anything additional, they would have to let her know unless they wanted to risk Anders’s wrath. Unless Cal has a key as well? With a shrug to adjust the bag rubbing up against her shoulder, she slipped onto the porch just as Lee was giving Anders a mock salute before his truck revved up with a glimpse into the vehicle telling her Petey had taken his spot beside the man. A brief smile flashed onto her lips at the sight of the golden head and floppy ears freckled with a light spray of melting snow. How nice it would’ve been to give him a quick little rub behind the ears. The scent of blood wafted into her senses once Lee settled onto the porch stairs, Luana’s hand slipping into her jacket pocket to retrieve a tissue which she squatted down and promptly pinched the bridge of Lee’s nose, shoving the tissue up her bloodied side in a quick motion. She had to be fast or Lee would definitely try to slap her hands away in order to keep a bloody grin prominent in Anders’s rear view mirror.

“I hope you’ve packed all your things already, I locked everything up.” She grinned at how funny Lee looked with a tissue sticking out of her nose but her words were serious, as if she wouldn’t open anything back up knowing that Lee likely wasted a bunch of her time not preparing for the pack move. “You’ll have to get through me if you left something.” Judging by Theodore’s fading scent, he too had cleared out prior. Likely much earlier in the morning. She plopped down next to the woman, resting her arms atop her bag that had moved into her lap as she scanned the area with a longing look. ”Unless of course, you took initiative for a change this year and listened to Anders?” She couldn’t linger for too long since she had yet to figure out whom had made it to the cabins, but hopefully any stragglers would swiftly find their way home before they had to get herded by the impending dusk later in the day. Whatever the case was, she could tease Lee for a little while.