Vivarium - Westmoor Wakes

Blacked out, pop queen, amphetamine

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:50:22 -0400

Backdated to July 12, 4 days after the fight Assumed to be with (?)

Saga rocked on the back of... someone. Sometimes it was black fur, sometimes white, sometimes silver and red. Sometimes Saga was coherent enough to pay attention and.... most times, she was not. Her wounds were great, and only between luck and the scraps of moss she told the others to shove in the gaping lacerations did she make it home at all. Had it been an option, she would've asked them to find a chunk of bark big enough to drag her, but that would not have sufficed up the mountain. As it was, she was lucky she only had to walk sparcely, when carrying her was impossible. Even then, she needed someone on each side. She shook and panted with fever before the end of the first day, halfway home, and longed for 's wisdom, too weak to go looking for herbs herself. It took two to carry her, the wounds on her undercarriage so great she could not just drape like a pelt over one.

But the smell of Jakten woke her.

The scent of heavy against her senses.

She shifted, tried to lift her head, but the crackle of half-scabbed, half infected wounds stopped her; a whine keening from her bruised throat, jagged with wounds and patched with moss and spiderwebs. The sound reverberated deeper, and the flex of her stomach muscles made her flinch even harder -- the even deeper wounds crossing over and over again there stretching, pulling, cracking and oozing with the same half-infected and half scabbed dilemma; wounds desperately trying to heal but dirty and foul. Her eye fluttered open, and she was reminded that there was now only one -- and, go figure, the one her Mother had already mauled. Couldn't erase that memory at least, oh no. A ragged, gaping hole was all that remained of her right eye, tattered above and below and beside and -

Saga sucked a slow breath through her teeth, dizzy with the wave of pain that followed the panic. She wanted to tell someone to call for him, for her mate, the love of her life -- but she knew it would hurt. Her gaze flickered elsewhere, around her, that single crimson orb desperate for someone who understood.

Idly, she wondered if and had made it back without fuss, and how they were. She wondered how and had been in her absence. If missed their lessons every day -- how long it would be until they could start them again, considering she would now have to compensate for her new situation.

Saga shuddered a sigh and closed the singular eye once more, trembling, silent.

[ ᯽ ] Let it ease my pain

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:54:21 -0400

Skill — herbalist 1/5

The meadow was quiet that morning, still silver with early morning dew that the sun hadn’t scared away. Winnie moved through it at an unhurried pace, letting the tall grass brush against her legs as she followed the familiar trail of scents. Chamomile came first, soft and calming, then yarrow tucked between thicker stalks, and farther down the slope the sharper, greener bite of wild mint drifting up from the river. Summer offered the gift of widespread She paused when she reached a cluster of small white flowers, tilting her head slightly as if greeting an old acquaintance. “There you are,” she said softly, her tail giving a gentle sweep as she lowered herself to carefully gather a few sprigs of chamomile, leaving most of the plant untouched as she always did because meadow was not something to take from carelessly. There was other life here, some that needed these flowers to survive, just as she did.
A breeze moved through the grass, carrying the faint scent of pine from the nearby trees, and Winslet paused mid-step, lifting her head to listen. For a moment, everything stilled except the rustle of leaves and a distant bird call. She was aware that she was not entirely alone—the three men she’d welcomed into her life were probably somewhere nearby, lingering at the edges of her wandering like patient shadows who never quite interrupted her outings. The awareness of them didn’t disturb her; it simply sat there, warm and familiar, like another layer of the meadow itself. Satisfied that her world was still hers, she continued on her path.
A little farther along, she found yarrow growing beside a flat stone and nosed through the stems until she found the strongest ones, pulling them free with careful precision. “Good ones,” she murmured without thinking, then blinked at the sound of her own voice and glanced around as if someone might have been listening. Finding no one in sight—though she had the distinct feeling she was still being quietly accompanied—she smiled faintly to herself. “I’m allowed to talk to myself,” she decided as she continued down to the river.

We Die Alone, We Die Afraid

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:14:22 -0400

SKILL: Vagabond

SOUTHEAST TO THE PATH OF ETERNITY

What to do?

ITEM

ACT

RUN

Health
15/15
Vagabond
1/30

We Die Alone, We Die Afraid

Backdated to 7/31

The Overgrowth Strad, place of the Godsmouth wolves, had been a nice place to stay while he assessed his life. Southeast would forever be grateful, truly. But he felt that he had overstayed his welcome, and that now the yearn for journey and exploration once again seeped into his scrawny limbs. Antsy, not at all helped by the terrible green flowers that surrounded the temple like an impassable wall, prepared to disorient and trouble him the second he stepped outside.

And he could not stay here forever. Though, the boy hoped, his hunting was enough to keep his place within the temple, and to pay for his bedding, there was nothing they could give him that would surpass the Druid’s hospitality. The hallways echoed strangely, the ceiling blotted out the stars and light of a blue sky. Everywolf had a sort of stressed, tired look about them. This was not his vibe.

Machi? He stepped up to the toasted fellow, leader of this establishment, friend and guide. I’m going. Today. He sounded less confident than he would have liked, almost as though he were asking for a blessing or for permission. Where he tried to stand straight and bold, comforted by the familiar, friendly face, his posture slumped as their eyes met. Goodbye.

It had gone better than he thought, Southeast wondered, looking over his well-stocked travel pack. An idea better than one he could’ve had himself, he identified the herbs and the dried cuts of meat to keep him from ending up wallowing on the ground once again. His lips swooped upward with a chuckle as he thought back on the memory; The flowers, the bath, the talking. The message back to Camhanaich. A part of him wanted to beg the spirits to bless the Strad, but he couldn’t imagine they were on the best of terms. Still, he’d set up a crude offering of flowers and berries outside, just in case they looked.

Standing there, on the stone staircase, the food and medicine and trinkets and other things settled nicely in the skin he took with him, the boy braced himself. It would be a long journey, one he had made before, and he would make again. He had to.

Paws plucked up off the dirt, jaw clamped around his makeshift bag, and away he trotted into the growing daylight.

If anywolf asked, Godsmouth was the place to be!

i smell lithium now

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:29:09 -0400

for , caan tag for reference

sister fa'liya was more ghost than wolf. yesbaa was sure of it.

each step she took was weightless, as if she floated just a hair's width from the ground. just a moment away from being swept by the wind. she was not like brother , warm with flesh and blood. she always stayed far behind, and the girl only caught brief glimpses of her when she turned to look back. when they arrived in the grove yesbaa got to see fa'liya as more than a silhouette.

her sister, frailer than fluttering snow, though she wore the pitch blacks of their father. yesbaa approached her with a chunk of meat and curious eyes. she hardly knew her sister. maybe, sister didn't even want to see her.

she stays so golden solo

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:02:49 -0400

for | nen'tah tag for reference. sibs free to join!

brother yanggadi saghani, or gadi as she grew to call him, was always so different from her. she was different from most of her brothers (or so she hoped), but sometimes it felt like they only shared blood by accident. well, she could say that for the other boys too. except maybe . he was quiet, and cool.. like father. the others could be cool too, but nen'tah was born cool.

she rolled into his view, stylishly as always. let's play! yesbaa demanded from the forest floor, bumping against him with her legs.

i live to let you shine

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:17:25 -0400

for

the saatsine has grown accustomed to the grove. it was different from their previous home, but yesbaa didn't mind.

the girl approached a carcass though she had already eaten. slate eyes studied the carrion that plucked meat from saatsine's kill. they should work.
the chieftain's daughter crouched into a cat's stalk beneath the grass, waiting for when the bird's backs turned to her. each minute passed, another step she stole. her legs began to twitch, eager to spring. discipline, discipline! it was her lack of discipline for why she had to attempt this stunt in the first place!
only when the birds were just a tail's length away, she leaped high in the air and crashed down on the carcass. the brown blood that mushed underneath her feet stained her coat, and the birds flew up in screeching frenzy.

but nothing fell from their wings, only the cursing caws and occasional dives from the carrion to peck at her. the ground betrayed nothing, only caribou fluff and minuscule feathers. nothing like those her brothers wore. yesbaa slouched.

Healing Me From My Past

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:02:53 -0400

It was the afternoon, and Snuh had no idea as to the weather around her. She didn't know if it was sunny or about to rain, nor did she care at all. All that mattered to her was the wolf she was wrapped around. Her and Kane were laying together underneath a large tree, both large wolves cuddled close together, side by side, with Snuh leaning back against Kane's frame.

The more time they spent together, the more happy she was feeling. This was nothing close to where she thought she was going to be with her newfound freedom. She could've been roaming the lands, having all the fun times and playful moments she could have with anyone. Yet, here she was, cuddling up close to Kane, whom she felt more and more close to, and who she didn't want to leave. She looked into his dual-colored eyes, smiled, before burying her nose in his neck fluff, taking in his scent as she lavished him with affectionate grooming.

goodbye song

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:40:01 -0400

for
SKILL: ranger 1/5

if eira heard sauron and ingram fight, then she was not very flattered by it.

it had been months since he last saw his flame, and the young man wondered solemnly if she was snuffed out. by jakten? ingram? or had she decided sauron would've been too much trouble and fled. the world itself could've swallowed her, and he would be none the wiser.

since then he's returned to his duties full time, regaining all the sleep he lost during those adventurous nights. he was back to being the good son that he always was.

the patrol became interesting when he caught a scent that matched none that he knew among jakten. it was not eira's either; he couldn't forget her.
stalking through the trees and along cliff edges, he pursued the trail hastily. teeth bared and hopes kept tempered. the trail lead beyond the territory boundary, but there was nothing wrong with extending that line just a little, right?

And the eagle flies with the dove

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:51:24 -0400

It felt good to rest together, just the two of them. He and hadn't been alone, properly, in .... a long, long time, he thought. Years. Sure, they often stole away together, went for walks, but when it became apparent the rest of the herd wasn't magically going to appear into this new land with them at the exact same moment, he figured -- fine. Fine, they would wait here, and see if whatever happened to he and Moth... happened to the others?
He didn't understand. He hated feeling so powerless, so unsure. For three years, he had earned his herd! He had protected them, kept them on fertile feeding grounds, gave them little fawns to raise by him. One by one, he built something to be proud of; something bigger than the place he had been born to, to be sure! It was his greatest joy, knowing he held more members -doe and stag alike- than his own sire.

Just to wake one dusk to see an empty forest he didn't recognize.

What bullshit.

But resting, laying quietly in the fields with Moth, it was nice. Calming, comforting. He had never lost sight of what he was building for, but it was always nice to have a reminder - especially one so through. Soon he'd know their new direction, and they would start again, because the one thing that helped settle Cherry at the end of the day was that no matter how vast the herd he had lost was...

's scent was still on the wind, as if even this strange new place knew that in all things... the trio must go together.

He wasn't sure yet if he wanted to try and catch up to the song of his soul yet. Their relationship had long since twisted from something merely comfort and support, tainted by... Jealousy? Cherry never was quite sure what had soured between them. Maybe just feelings. He wasn't good at feelings, especially not with Jube. They both wanted the same things, he thought, and yet they always seemed to fight! Always arguing, and for what? He didn't know that either.

But they danced around one another, always moving, never far apart but ever distant.

The navy evening was beginning to fade, and a sliver of pale lavender-grey was brightening the horizon as dawn approached. Cherry had wandered a few steps from Moth and their grazing spot to a nice, thick tree against which he tossed his antlers; obeying the sudden urge to mark the tree and feel the satisfaction of feeling its bark crumble beneath his sharp tines after a morning snack. Today, he thought, he would send them east after Jube. He tried to keep a day or two between them so that they weren't always stepping into each others way, but the scents of the fluttering beast weren't lost even to the elements.

Well theres a rose in a fisted glove

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:24:49 -0400

It was a sense of wrongness that woke Cherry Blossom Flowers That Glide On The Summer Wind. Ever since he was old enough to be aware of danger, he had slept with one ear twitching, aware of the slightest shifts in the world around him; the quieting or rousing of birdsong, trembles through the earth, or even --perhaps especially-- the tickle of a spiders fine leg upon his ear or bare scars. The one that webbed between his mighty crown now was young still, and quite small, but in his own growing beside her mother before her he was well adapted to the slight touches - and she in knowing that he would protect her and her egg sacs from all things that would harm her in the coming years, cast his antlers through swarms of bugs to keep her well fed in return for being a nights watchman.

She was there now, her spindly legs tickling the fine hairs of his inner ears to a desperate tune.

Sleep shed quickly, and there was no grogginess left as he lifted first his head from where it had been draped against Moth's warm spine in a tender hug, their legs tangled together as he watched their back - and they his. Ears flickered about him, and the stag laid stock still, save for the flaring of his nostrils. Woods surrounded them still, but not the right kind, and not here. It was gloomy, and growing dark, and Cherry Blossom had gone to bed with his wife in the throes of their massive herd, clumped together in the span between two hills! Not in this... strange, foggy forest. Gently, he nudged against his lovers tawny flank, rousing them if they were not already before pulling himself tall to his ebony hooves. Fear fluttered in his heart, an instinct that had long kept him -and his herd- alive. Mist swirled around him in faint wisps as he moved carefully away from Moth's legs, and one foot lifted, stomped -- hard.

Cherry's head bobbed and his tail flapped, snorting when he received no response and grunting out a louder sound.

The woods were quiet. But his does, his herd, they would not have left him! Not like cowards in the night. Nor would they have LEFT with some coward who would not even deign to wake the herds sire! No, something was amiss.
But at least he had Moth. They, of all the herd, would not be far from him long willingly. As many does as he fought to keep, to maintain the herd, he knew he never had to worry about Moth leaving him-as The Bird had left them. Moth was different. They were the one he gathered trophies to impress! Does for them both to have attention lavished upon them, company for his beloved wife whenever duty or conquest distracted him, a herd in which to thrive alongside their own kind. The bigger the herd, the more entire the safety! More eyes to watch, more ears to listen, more stomping hooves to get past. Even other antlers, as well; he didn't mind other stags, so long as they bend their necks to him and kept their eyes to does outside his herd.

Yes, he hoped it would tempt the gaze of the proud golden bird as well, but it was in the depth of his longing and adoration for two that Cherry Blossom erected his empire. He and Moth would benefit where the bird had flown the coop, but maybe one day, a grand enough show would bring him home again to complete their family.

His frosted gaze moved to Moth, then, scarred forehead wrinkling.

Something is amiss, my gentle wing.

His nostrils flared again.

Cricket wasn't near, either. Cherry shook his head and bleated for the boy, though he was hardly considered a fawn anymore. Cherry didn't kick yearlings from his herd just because they grew too large! He still, three years later, resented his own father for it -- for making his mother weep, for leaving him behind, for leaving Jube on his own, for forcing Moth's first decision to follow him instead of staying where they were happy. For making Cherry fight for his right to see Moth come with him instead of remain, like he was no more than some rival stealing away some other doe and not a boy in love with his childhood best friend being cast away from them.

He had never been far from them since.

Cricket had not been far from them since he'd been born -- his son, his first son! The fawn he and Moth had waited for over two long years.

He turned to Moth now, eyes crinkling with tender softness.

Memory corruption, save myself from self destruction.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:44:41 -0400

Skill:

Set on 8/10/2026

Abaddon had decided he wanted something to put on his shoulders, and he'd make something for Blossom too when he found the right animal, and the fox he'd caught the night before was ideal. It was a vibrant shade of red orange that would reflect off his monochrome pelt perfectly, though he'd need to deconstruct it and do whatever else was needed for it to be made into something wearable. Even Abaddon knew that he couldn't sling a freshly skinned pelt over his shoulders, it would be quite messy.

He woke early evening when the sun was still setting and let out a loud squeaky yawn, his jaws closing with a loud clack before he stood slowly. The Devil let out a groan, stretching himself out with his forelegs first before bending his spine downwards and in towards the ground, he walked his front legs out to stretch out the back ones and kicked one up in the air to better the stretch.

Once he had finished he licked his lips, grabbed the carcass from the night before, and lifted it in his jaws to trot outside the den to begin his work. First he began to carefully skin the Vulpe, tugging back skin and fur from muscles and tendons. Once that was done he carried the leftover meat into the den for later and trotted back out to grab the skin, he placed the bloodied side down on the stone nearby the cavern they lived in and began to scrape it up and down across the stone.

Once he had sufficiently cleaned it he laid it down, fur side on the stone, to dry out the leftover blood remnants, the sun almost set by this point Abaddon sighed and hopped up on top of the cavern of his den to watch the rest of the dying light fade away.

A thousand voices in my head, A million thoughts need to be said.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:32:37 -0400

Skill: Death touched

He didn't typically choose to "hunt" inside the borders, but going to the Hollow was too far, too far, too far away from her. It took him too long to get back and when he did he was tired, exhausted, and he didn't like coming home to feel like he'd been struck by a boulder to give his princess nothing when she expected everything.

What was everything from him? What feelings did he really have? What emotions did he really experience to be able to give her? What did she expect of him? What was he?

Abaddon snorted through his nose as he left the den that evening, earlier than usual, and he kissed Blossom tenderly on her crown before he would leave the den and head towards the forested parts of the mountain. The lower reaches of Mistveil were shrouded and dark, the moon was absent, and the clouds were ominous, The Destroyer snorted through his nose as he tried to pick up scents in the mists.

Eventually he caught the scent of a fox and he trotted off in it's direction as a distant roll of thunder echoed through the top reaches of the peaks. He didn't stop, didn't lose focus as he padded through the large giants that overtook the base of the reaches above him, eyes on the area before him as his nose went to work on the ground. Eventually he caught sight of the animal and he barked at it before they gave chase.

Abaddon ran after the vulpes, his jaws open as his tongue fell from the side, his legs pumped wildly below him as they zigged and zagged through the trunks until eventually Abaddon was able to grab its tail and yank it backwards. He dug his paws into the earth as he yanked the thing towards him, it screamed and he flung it to the side. It's claws skidded in the earth as Abaddon took a paw and held it down.

It struggled and snapped at him as he laughed deeply, loudly, and went to work on it. The Devil would snap off ears, rip out fur, peel back flesh, he would inflict bite wounds and break bones. He would destroy.

When he was finished he decided he'd take it home to skin and lifted the thing in his jaws to trot back towards the upper reaches of the mountain.

A Stranger Passed This Way

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:50:26 -0400

Saatsine.

had warned Nate about them. Now their scent came on a westerly wind. And with strangers in the Strand up North — Nate was starting to feel a little boxed in, in a way he didn't like.

He ought to leave this, diplomacy, to an Eagle Chief. But until Walosi sat Council and chose one, a Raven Chief was the only leader of any sort they had. And if the Eagle Chief was made , as Nate hoped, well... it felt unkind to set her to the task of reaching out to the Long Marchers straightaway. From what she and the Seal Hunter told, there was bad blood on the snow.

Still, he hoped reaching out a hand - er - paw... might mend some bridges. Or at least, make them less of a burn risk.

This was probably a bad idea.

But he intended to be charming. And he'd come out on the good end of plenty of bad ideas, before. Nate possessed an unfortunate curiosity about it that felt practical in the right light. From experience, herds didn't respect borders, much. And wolves didn't have barbed wire. If caribou passed into the Nestle, the Saatsine might follow. Better nobody had to be surprised if it happened.

So with sent to scout ahead, Nate crossed Walosi's border into no-wolves land, and howled a greeting to the wanderers there. Anybody home?

Knowledge is both my weapon and my curse

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:45:35 -0400

Screams. That’s all Tsukiko could remember when she gasped awake, her heart hammering against her ribcage. She took slow and even breaths, she needed her mind steady, even if it was pounding like something was desperately trying to escape it. The rest of her body, a new body it seemed, felt fine. But she couldn’t remember how she got here, or what happened. When she tried, the pounding only seemed to get louder. And her throat felt like she had tried to swallow the sun itself.

She stood steadily and her pale eyes observed the area before her, all she could see were trees. When she looked up, the sky seemed dark and overcast with a swift breeze whispering to her through the trees. The scent of wisteria swirled around her…it was an attractive scent, she had to admit. Though there was more to them if you were an apothecary. While the seeds and extract could be used for healing purposes, they had to be cleaned carefully because the plant itself had a toxic resin.

Poison.

She smiled to herself at the thought, a giddyness she knew too well bubbling up inside her. She had to find that wisteria, but first she must find water. She wasn’t sure why she was reborn, what was her purpose here? Could she really be that much use here as an apothecary?

Hold my soul away, will it waste?

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:41:26 -0400

Skill: Death touched

The ether was overgrown with clouds, darkness enveloped the evening causing the sky to be choked out by thick bloated shadows. The rains fell heavily down on Mythris with a loud shushing sound that echoed through the tree's on the mountaintop almost like a waterfall. Abaddon stalked through the darkness, his eyes switching left and right as he tried to find something, anything, his urges were on high tonight and he had to satiate them before he went home. He couldn't take them home to her.

He ran. His legs pumped wildly beneath him as he raced, his body flying through the murk. After he flew through the area for a while he finally found a trail and zeroed in on the scent of rabbit, lucky he did too for the rains were certainly threatening to wash away the scent trail. He slowed and trailed along the markers of where the thing had been, zigzagging along its hopping points until he finally caught sight of it. He wanted the chase, wanted the challenge, even though there would be none, and he let out a sharp bark into the area.

The rabbit nearly screamed with fright as it leapt into the air and went running off. Abaddon didn't give it a chance and he raced after it, it put up a good chase for a while but eventually his brain started ticking inside his cranium and he winced. Abaddon lowered his head and sped forwards into the downpour until he caught up to the poor victim. He launched it into the air and snapped it by the scruff to hold it still below him.

It wriggled and writhed, trying to escape the paws of death as his mouth came down to breath hot puffs on the fur below it. He breathed in the fear as he snipped one of it's ears off.

It screamed and writhed more, pumping its own legs to try and get away but when it realized it couldn't it went limp and let out a small whimper. Abaddon then proceeded to torture the hell out of the brown creature until it bled out onto the ground below him.

When he was finished the body was covered in bitemarks, it was missing a front leg and an ear, it was mangled and broken.

He felt accomplished. Sighing heavily as the tension left his body he lifted the rabbit and trotted off into the mud towards the den.

When he arrived home it was still dark as the dickens, still pouring like it'd never rained before, and he stepped into the mouth and stood there in total silence. A dark presence in the shadows of stone surrounding him and the one inside. He hoped she was still inside. He didn't know what he'd do if she weren't there when he got back at night.

He let a few minutes pass before he stepped into the den fully to drop the rabbit in the middle and stand there over it as if it were his finest work... But it wasn't, it was merely a product of his demons.