Nadeem & Others

On the other side of the Valley, Nadeem was leading two trucks carrying the second captive pack of wolves for release. They'd long since left the pavement and were traveling on rugged backroads that lead further from Atroe City, and would eventually bring them to the far edge of the bay where the trees were thick and there were no landing docks or boat ramps to be seen.

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Larkspur felt anxious. The darkness of early morning was beginning to lighten up and offer more detail to what she could see of the world through the slits in her kennel. They were traveling so fast - at least it seemed fast to her - that the young wolf couldn't easily make sense of the blur of colors and shapes that passed by. One thing that piqued her interest was the salty tang of ocean water, and in the distance, the lap and crash of waves against rocks.

Eventually the truck she was riding in came to a stop, and her attention snapped immediately to other things. The rumble of the engine cut off. The engine pinged and tinged as it cooled in the brisk air. A door opened and slammed shut, sending a small tremor through her kennel. She shuffled in her crate and cocked her head when the tailgate was lowered. A blanket on the front of the kennel kept her from getting an clearer view of what was going on, but soon she saw the arms of humans passing by either side of her cage, and heard their funny voices talking. One peered into the crate at her, his dark eyes and brown face as easily recognized as his soft voice - this was Nadeem.

Larkspur drew back uncertainly. Humans were strange creatures, if not mostly harmless ones. Light brown eyes shifted to the human on the other side of the crate, or what she could see of her. Suddenly her crate moved, and before Lark knew it, she was being hauled out of the truck and carried out across the ground. Nearby, Kurk and Snowpelt were being similarly moved from their truck and hauled out across ground... "...Kurk?" She whined hesitantly, mostly wanting to hear her alpha's voice, and know that he was nearby.

Kurk

Kurk did not like these enclosed cages. His ears were back and his tail over his back as he stood in the crate. He growled at the humans carrying his cage.Im hereHe spoke back to his pack mates. Their pack was small so he knew they would probably have trouble but first he wanted out.

Snowpelt had been born into captivity and was only a year old. She had been introduced first to Lark then kurk was introduced. Being two females they got along fine with him. She laid in her crate and was silent. Her ears were back.

Larkspur & *Humans*

After a few minutes, Lark's crate was lowered to the ground, in an open field near the bay. On her left, she could hear the footsteps of other humans who were carrying Kurk and Snowpelt. His voice was a source of assurance to her, and went a ways to calm her anxiously thrumming heart.

One by one, the blankets covering the fronts of their kennels were removed. Larkspur got her first glimpse of the land; an endless expanse of gray-blue water stretched out further than even a hawk could see, and off to the side, a thick forest of trees crowded the land and spilled out into the field in the form of young saplings and shrubs. There were no fences, no strange human buildings, no buzzing of electricity...

Larkspur was snapped out of her mesmerized stare when the gate of her kennel was eased open. The wolfess stepped forward and peeked her head out, looking from side to side, then upwards. What was going on...? Were the humans moving them to a new enclosure? It must be an awfully big one, but as eager as she was to get out of the crate, fear of the unknown crippled Larkspur. This was foreign territory. Blinking hesitantly at the pale light that was slowly beginning to grow on the horizon, the wolf backed into her crate again.

Kurk & Snowpelt

Kurk felt his cage lowered to the ground and he watched the cloth pulled away and his door opened. He eyed the outside for a minute before sticking his head out and sniffing the ground. Slowly he took a step out and slowly he was out of his crate. However; he didn't go far as he would not leave his two pack members.

Snowpelt stayed in her cage just staring out of it. She saw Kurk sniffing around and staying close but that didn't make her brave enough to even poke her head out.

Kos, Kehlakar, Vespet

Kos seemed unafraid throughout the trip, though he had learned to hide his fear for the sake of his pack. His brother, Kehlakar, had usually been the same way. This time, though, Kehlakar was clearly anxious, pacing in his cage and occasionally whimpering. Vespet, on the other hand, frequently howled. The mix of anxiety and the bumpy motion of the truck had made the lithe female ill halfway through the trip. She was so timid, so fearful.

Finally, the truck came to a stop. When the cages were lowered and the blankets removed, Vespet's whimpering softened and soon subsided. The one-eyed Kos quickly exited his cage when it was opened, soon followed by Kehlakar. However, Vespet retreated further back into her cage, unwilling to venture out.

Larkspur & *Humans*

Retreating back to their vehicles, the group of biologists kept their distance from the wolves, hoping not to spook them any more than they already were. For Larkspur, that wasn't the real issue anyway. The young wolf edged to the front of her crate again and peeked her muzzle out, then took a ginger step forward to place her paw on the dewy grass beyond the kennel. She then shot an anxious glance to Kurk and the two brothers, and found greater reassurance with their presence and the calmer attitude they were portraying.

When she couldn't locate Snowpelt or Vespet, the latter's previous whine came to mind and finally coaxed Lark out of her crate. Her tail was low but not tucked so tightly against her now, and a little confidence came into her step as she searched the line of crates around her. Upon finding Vespet's, Lark wagged her tail encouragingly and peeked her muzzle inside, "Come out with is, Ves. The coast is clear."

Kurk & Snowpelt

Kurk the alpha male moved towards the crates keeping his eyes on the humans warily backing away. He sniffed at Snowpelt in her crate.Come its safeHe said to her before moving to ves as well. we must go Ves its safe. He said. He had to encourage his pack that they were safe. He glanced over the crates and kept an eye on the humans.

Snowpelt saw Kurks face and finally with his reassurance she took a step out of the crate and peered around. When she spotted the others not to far she ran to them.