Sunlit Path

Listening to everyone's input on the conversation, Nova couldn't help but interject a bit of optimism on Fang's remark on being trusted. "Aye, but I ain't the most trusting wolf ever, and yet somehow you all won me over. Being locked up by Rashid certainly helped that. I'd say if any of us were being trusting right now, it would be you, Blue" Nova explained, gesturing towards her. "You're putting a lot of faith in a couple of random wolves who are blind enough that they can't tell you from your family."

He wasn't sure why she had begun to follow them. After all, it was clear that they didn't know who she was, and for his part he had boiled over on her more than once. Nova wasn't even sure why HE was following this group, other than a faint hope that somehow this would lead to the end of Rashid for good. Granted, it was to ease the suffering of many generations of wolves to come if they took this wolf down, but there was no mistaking that there was a little revenge involved. He knew that was such a stupid thing to pursue, but what he thought and what he felt didn't always line up.

"Good to have you along though, anyway. You're one of the few wolves that can survive the trouble that we seem to stir up" Nova commented, looking over to Blue and then back on the trail.

"Heh, if I recall correctly, he was a much better pack mule too! Half the torment Ash made you go through was your own silly fault, Dearest Dey" Nova quickly shot back with a defensive laugh. With so many things that had happened between now and their little slave charade, he had thought it wouldn't come back up, in fact he had mostly forgotten about it. Well, she hadn't. And if she was going to start acting like how "Dey" did, his reaction was to treat her like Dey.

Reigning himself in a little bit, he followed up quickly. "Well, it was better than getting stewed by those Tenneth who were following us. Bet we're all glad their not on their tail anymore" he suggested, looking back around to the others and trying to get the attention off himself.

Durandel and Mydnyte

As they walked Fang looked curiously over his shoulder and asked, "Khan?" The confusion was written all over the Kamarian's face. "It's a long story." Durandel responded. Durandel then continued to listen at Nova's and Blue's little back and forth. After they were finished Durandel spoke up, "Yeah...that rock slide sure came at a convenient time." He added. As they continued to walk Mydnyte stuck his nose up as they headed further into the forest. "Hm." He muttered.

"What is it?" Fang asked. "I detect a trace hint of Aven, yet we must still be a little ways off from their lands." Mydnyte responded. "So what's the issue? Are we not moving at a fast enough pace?" Fang continued. "It's not that...I just find it odd that Aven were this far off from the Acacia Woods." Mydnyte answered. "Could be scouts? Besides this is a forest, their powers would not diminish in the slightest." Fang reasoned. "I guess...but you don't send scouts unless it's for reconnaissance," Mydnyte then paused, "Anyway we should pick up the pace now that you mention it." Mydnyte finished. Fang nodded as he motioned for everyone to move a little faster.

Nova

"Heh, well at least I never have had an identity crisis" Nova muttered, loud enough for others to hear if they were listening. He wasn't one to care about getting the last word in a verbal spar, normally he would run away if he felt threatened. But whether he had just grown used to sparring with her, or that he didn't feel threatened by her, he almost thought of it as a game by now to try to get the one up on her. Unless she managed to actually get under his fur, which she has come close to doing once or twice.

Remember what the others had been saying while he was thinking of what to say during their little squabble, he began to wonder along as well why the Aven would be so far out. Where they trying to have a few wolves lurking around to try and scare others off? Were they just guards, ready to run back to tell the others to protect they young from an attack? Who knew. "So, who are we meeting with at the Aven territory, again?" Nova asked, ignorantly. He had probably been told before, but he wanted some more clarification to give him something to think about. Well, besides the next thing to say to Dey, anyway.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Fang couldn't help but chuckle at little at their war of words. "Was it always like this?" He asked to whoever may answer. "It seems familiar." Mydnyte said offhandedly. "Yeah it's something you might want to get used to." Durandel joked. As they continued to walk Nova asked a question as Mydnyte looked over his shoulder at the Ausi and snorted.

"You two might remember her. She was that one Aven we rescued from Rashid...the one that looked like a fox?" Mydnyte answered while not facing them. "I believe her name IS Fox." Fang corrected. "Whatever I know it was something to do with a fox." Mydnyte dismissed. Durandel then racked his brain for any memories he had of a fox wolf or a wolf named Fox. It was then he did remember there was an Aven in their company. It was during the time they were imprisoned and forced to fight in those awful Elemental Battles.

"Yeah I believe I do remember," Durandel paused, "You still keep in contact with her?" He asked. "Occasionally." Mydnyte answered. He then looked over to Durandel and then back to the path before speaking. "We have been coordinating with her over the Borak situation with the Kita Pack. Normally I wouldn't care what happened to those Light Wolves...but, there has been some suspicious activity with them. Activity that seems a little too coincidental." Mydnyte ominously spoke.

"Yeah last I spoke with her I remember having her send a couple wolves to investigate that very thing." Fang added. "Yeah, well I guess will know the answer to our questions once we get to Springwood." Mydnyte spoke. "Hopefully." Fang wished.

Nova

"The devil's snout?!" Nova swore, as Blue ran by. Leave it to her to interrupt their peaceful morning. Hopefully this wasn't an ominous sign for things to come, he was daring to hope that they wouldn't have too many shenanigans to deal with on their way to see Fox, even with the Aven sentries that were out and about. She had had something stuck to her back, it almost looked like a bur or a thorn but she had gone by in such a blur it was hard to see. Well, lava would melt the thorn as well as her, and darkness wouldn't do anything, so Nova figured it was up to him and his ice to go get it off her right quick so they could get back to walking. It wasn't wise to keep Mydnyte waiting, anyway.

"I'll go stop her, STOP RUNNING BLUE" Nova said first to Durandel, and then yelling to the fleeing shewolf. He began to trot after her, moving quickly into a gallop as he realized she wasn't slowing down. Realizing it would take too much time to close the distance, she was moving like she was being chased by death itself, Nova realized he would have to try and perform surgery at twenty yards.

Remembering a trick he had done for ole' Cerise, where he had frozen a rope binding her to be brittle enough to break, the Ausi decided to pull the stunt again with the thorns, and freeze them so at least the weight of them would be off her. And then she'd stop freaking out. As accurate as he could while running through trees, Nova fired a bolt of frost directly at the small target on her back fifty feet away, wincing at what she would do to him if he missed.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel was walking calmly along until the peace was disturbed by something. Somethings got a hold on a Blue and she was freaking out. "Wait, WHAT!?" He shouted aloud, startled by her actions. Mydnyte's ears twitched as he barked, "What now!?" He looked over to see Blue run right pass them. The She-Wolf acted like she was under attack by the enemy, but there was nothing, no one around them. If there was they would've smelt the scent of a wolf from a mile away.

"We should help." Fang spoke up. Before he could do anything Nova was the first to act. Durandel watched on as he saw Nova fire a rather precise shot of ice at whatever attached itself to Blue. He wasn't sure if he hit his mark it was quite a few feet away for him to see. Mydnyte was both annoyed and astounded by Blue's overreaction. It didn't look like anything dangerous except maybe a large bur. One could expect to see a lot of plant life, especially large plant life as they get closer and closer to the Aven lands. "Dammit, she's going to have every wolf in this forest breathing down on our necks!" He growled.

"Did you get it? Is there anything I can do to help?" Durandel ran up to ask Nova. He wanted to quickly end this business before Mydnyte explodes, which he looks ready to do. "And I as well." Fang spoke up.

"Well...you can stop her from trying to kill me?" Nova said with a wince, guessing from a distance that he had knocked the shewolf flat with his attack. That last part of his remark was drowned out by her cries of pain, indeed her shrieks forced Nova to cover her own ears. Had this wolf completely lost her mind? He had no more doubts about her identity, this definitely wasn't BattleDemon.

As he got close enough to shove her face in the dirt to muffle her cries, which was sure to alert every creature with ears withing ten miles, she seemed to compose herself a little bit more. "Y'alright Blue?" is what Nova said, but what he mouthed and acted out to Durandel and Fang was whether they should just knock her out and carry her. It was a joke, but all jokes have their basis in some kind of truth, right?

Durandel and Mydnyte

Mydnyte growled in frustration over this farce. He looked with displeasure over to Fang who took it upon himself to run up to Blue to see how he could help. Durandel also rushed over falling in behind Nova as he looked to the wining Blue. "My ears are still ringing." Durandel commented. Fang shook his head at Nova, jokingly of course. "While that might seem easy I'm sure we could do something better." Fang then looked at Blue then at the thing stuck to her. It was a porcupine! A porcupine of all things! Fang would find it hilarious but if Mydnyte figured out that this was the reason for all this commotion, he would be furious!

"Well, we should remove the...what is that? A porcupine?" Durandel asked. "Yep, and trust me guys the faster we get rid of it, the lest chance we have Mydnyte breathing down our necks." Fang spoke. "Well at least it's not all bad, at least there's been some pleasant smelling flowers along this road." Durandel optimistically added. Fang nodded. "Yeah are you alright? That was a nasty trip." Durandel asked concerned.

Before much more could be done a rustling could be heard in the nearby brush. Mydnyte growled as he lept to their defense. "Did you hear that?" He asked. Fang too took a defensive position as he looked around. The brush was quite thick along the road, it could hide any number of wolves. Durandel looked around but saw or smelt nothing. "Fellas, it could just be another porcupine. There are loads of wild animals in these woods." Durandel reasoned. It was then they heard more rustling. "See? If it was an enemy they wouldn't make so much noise so quickly." It was then Mydnyte eyed him and then spoke, "Then tell me Lava Wolf...do you smell any other animals around here?" It was then Durandel smelt the air around him and to his shock, he was right. All he could smell was flowers.

Another rustling came as vines quickly sprang forth and surrounded them! It was then the brush parted to reveal a squad of Aven warriors as they surrounded the small group. The Aven growled defensively as a wolf, presumably their leader, spoke, "So then? What business does an Ice Wolf, a Lava Wolf, and," The Aven eyed the others and noticed the shadows beneath the black wolves moving in peculiar ways, "Shadow Wolves, eh? Quite the eclectic bunch you are." He observed. The Aven didn't seem quite pleased to see them and didn't show any intent of being hospitable anytime soon. They were especially displeased to see Durandel as some snarled and bared their fangs at him.

Mydnyte for once stopped growling as he stepped forward, "Listen here, we mean you and your kin no harm, Forest Wolf." He spoke. "Hm, I find that difficult to believe since you're in the company of such a destructive wolf." The Aven spoke glaring at Durandel. Durandel couldn't help but growl a little at the disrespect shown to him. "It's true. We are here to meet with one of your own actually." Fang spoke up. "Really? And who might that be pray tell?" The Aven asked. "Fox." Mydnyte answered. The Aven were taken aback at their knowledge of one of their own. "Who are all of you? Spies?!" The Forest Wolf barked. "No, were not!" Durandel yelled at them. "Be silent!" Mydnyte barked at him.

"Look, if we were all spies then we would be pretty poor excuses for ones right? I mean for starters we took a clearly, public path and two, well we wouldn't make so much noise that it could raise the dead, now would we?" Fang reasoned. The Aven took his points into consideration and decided to take a second glance at these intruders. He noticed the one on the ground had...a porcupine stuck to her?! He then laughed a hardy laugh at the sight. His squad looked at him peculiarly. "I am sorry my friends but look at the one on the ground! See what's stuck to her!" He then chuckled. The other Aven looked and laughed as well. "I remember my first time getting stuck by one of those as a pup, here let me help." It was then the Aven called down a branch from a nearby tree as it snaked it's way down to his muzzle. He then picked an nut from the tree and tossed it before the creature. Smelling it the Porcupine wiggled it's way off of Blue, although not in the most gentle of fashion as it ran for the nut. It then scurried off.

"Porcupine's like salty things, like nuts, you should be fine once you get whatever quills stuck in you out." The Aven spoke. He then turned to the rest of the group, "Well I guess you aren't spies, but what do you want with Fox?" He asked. "Fox is an ally of ours, I am Mydnyte perhaps she's spoken about me?" He asked. The Aven racked his brain for any confirmation and the remembered something, "Wait a minute? Weren't you one of the ones that helped rescued her?" He asked. "Yes, you know about that?" "Of course we do! It's quite a riveting and inspirational story to us Aven. Hm, so you wish to speak with her?" The Aven asked. "Yes if you could? We're heading to Springwood to meet her." Fang responded. "Very well, follow us we'll take you down one of our hidden paths to the Woods." The Aven spoke. As the vines snaked away the Aven parted the brush to reveal a new path that leads deeper into the forest. As the Forest Wolves moved forward, Mydnyte looked at the others and beckoned them to follow.

Taking his cue, Nova began to move along with the others as they started off into one of their hidden forest trails. From the looks of it, there might as well not ever be a path, there wasn't even so much as a game trail where deer or the like went through. The way was strangely clear, however, and despite the path looking to be wild and untamed, Nova was suprised by the levelness of the way, and the lack of the usual rocks and brambles that got in his paws whenever he walked through savage forest.

"Mydnyte up there seems to know all the right things to say, huh" Nova commented as he walked up next to Durandel. He was glad that the Kamarians were there to help them get from point A to point B, even if the journey in the middle was filled with minor annoyances and set backs. Some of those set backs were caused by circumstance, others were caused by...porcupines.

He hadn't gone far when he realized Blue was still have problems, and he began to have a strange wish that Ash was still here so that the two of them could goad each other along. The two of them went together like oil and water, of course, but at least they kept each other moving. Guess he was going to have to be the annoying one in place of Ash. "I'll go lend her a paw real quick, she looks like she is about to break down in the middle of the trail" Nova mentioned to his companion, feeling bold.

"Come on, sulky, they're just needles" Nova cooed, coming around to her backside. In one quick motion, he grabbed a hold of some of the quills she probably wouldn't reach with his teeth, and gave them a forceful tug to try and get them out quickly, planning on spitting them off the trail once they came out. Notably, he stayed behind her in case she decided to make a snap at him.

Nova

Taking advantage of Blue's tensing up, Nova quickly grabbed another mouthful of the smaller needles that revealed themselves when she changed position. It wasn't too difficult to keep them out of his tongue, he just had to grab them at the right angle. The hard part was knowing just how hard to pull.

"Heh, and you think I am?" Nova responded once he got his mouth clear, inspecting her backside to see if there were any other offending needles. "The only times I have opened my mouth is to wind you up or to get Durandel turned into a gem slave. There's a reason I usually travel alone. You want a good travel companion, look to Khan up there. He has the patience of the gods" Nova said back, looking from the back of her head up to where Durandel was walking up ahead, before walking up next to her to keep ahead of the closing trail. The Aven's warning was coming true, as they moved the foliage seemed to wrap around were they just were, concealing any tracks they were making.