The Southern tip of Verdantis’ claim was a peculiarity that Quinnat had often felt unnerved by previously. The fluctuations in gravity could be sudden and mystifying in places and the regular swirls of colour in the sky were distracting - for an on-duty Sentry, at least. The pockets of air that lifted a wingless wolf’s paws off the ground in Cloud Bend could almost definitely be used to the Kingdom’s advantage but it was hard to keep his eyes on things at ground level - like most threats - when the sky was putting on such a show.
The constant presence of something to marvel at above his head tested Quinn’s focus on a normal day but that challenge had been softened in the preceding few days, snuffed out by a growing worry which took precedence: Mercedes had vanished.
Quinnat had initially focused on Whitewater and the Muddy River, which seemed more saturated in scents, searching with such fervour that he’d all but worn a path from the rapids to the delta. There was still no sign of their Monarch by the time he’d paced around the Southern border and turned back for the heart of Cloud Bend, searching through the night. The stars gleamed at him but Quinn felt no joy in gazing at them as he picked through the lush vegetation beside the river that snaked through the valley.
Only when the reflections of the stars in the river started to fade, replaced by a pink hue, did he admit it to himself. There was no sign, no scent, no sight to fill him with confidence or fear. Only questions remained and one in particular blared in his head like a siren:
How do we move forward?
There was no getting around it: Verdantis needed leadership. Since the Duskorna woman had trespassed and taken Shifty with her, Quinn had ruminated on when the next run-in with the opposing group would be - and how Verdantis could prepare themselves. He had entertained the idea of leading before, safe in the knowledge that the seat was taken - but it had never been something he’d had to consider with any real seriousness. Now was different; now there was no escaping the gravity of the choice laid out before him. How he wished he had his sister to call on for advice.
But no - his sister had banished him from their previous home, leaving Quinn alone. When he’d found Verdantis, he was no longer alone. The Kingdom wasn’t the same as a treasured sibling - but Quinn wanted to protect it and its citizens. Verdantis had given him back a life worth living. He wanted to protect it now.
He'd enlisted Dos to spread the word as far and as swiftly as possible in hopes of reaching as many Verdantians as possible.
Hopefully most would be on their way, but for anyone who was nearby, Quinnat tipped his head back and let out a summoning howl.
The constant presence of something to marvel at above his head tested Quinn’s focus on a normal day but that challenge had been softened in the preceding few days, snuffed out by a growing worry which took precedence: Mercedes had vanished.
Quinnat had initially focused on Whitewater and the Muddy River, which seemed more saturated in scents, searching with such fervour that he’d all but worn a path from the rapids to the delta. There was still no sign of their Monarch by the time he’d paced around the Southern border and turned back for the heart of Cloud Bend, searching through the night. The stars gleamed at him but Quinn felt no joy in gazing at them as he picked through the lush vegetation beside the river that snaked through the valley.
Only when the reflections of the stars in the river started to fade, replaced by a pink hue, did he admit it to himself. There was no sign, no scent, no sight to fill him with confidence or fear. Only questions remained and one in particular blared in his head like a siren:
How do we move forward?
There was no getting around it: Verdantis needed leadership. Since the Duskorna woman had trespassed and taken Shifty with her, Quinn had ruminated on when the next run-in with the opposing group would be - and how Verdantis could prepare themselves. He had entertained the idea of leading before, safe in the knowledge that the seat was taken - but it had never been something he’d had to consider with any real seriousness. Now was different; now there was no escaping the gravity of the choice laid out before him. How he wished he had his sister to call on for advice.
But no - his sister had banished him from their previous home, leaving Quinn alone. When he’d found Verdantis, he was no longer alone. The Kingdom wasn’t the same as a treasured sibling - but Quinn wanted to protect it and its citizens. Verdantis had given him back a life worth living. He wanted to protect it now.
He'd enlisted Dos to spread the word as far and as swiftly as possible in hopes of reaching as many Verdantians as possible.
Hopefully most would be on their way, but for anyone who was nearby, Quinnat tipped his head back and let out a summoning howl.