Gold-orange spotted ears canted back to press into the thick feathers of his mane as Niall examined the growing ice ledge that was forming at the river's edge. When a quick swipe of his claws made no mark, the sentry grasped his spear and tried to thrust it through the thickening crust, only for the head to skate over the solid water, leaving a furrow in the ice...but nothing more.
"Shite," Niall grimaced as he pulled back, returning his spear to the special harness he wore to carry the weapon with him. His mam and gran needed to know this immediately. They were preparing for the Yule festival, the whole herd was, but if he was reading the signs right, they had something more dangerous to worry about.
Deciding that time was more important than stealth for a change, Niall looked about for one of the larger trees that broke through the thick coverage that would bear his weight. It had been a weird learning to climb trees, but he had to admit his da had been onto something as he hauled himself up, thick claws digging into the aged bark while his whip-like tail anchored him from branch to branch until he was high enough that he could launch himself skyward without having to fight the tree canopy.
Up in the air, it was even more obvious that a squall was coming. It took effort for the stallion not to shudder as he could feel the heaviness in the air. The thick tree canopy had buffered much of the wind from the ground, but up here, there was nothing stopping the icy winds from cutting through his feathers as he raced back towards the herd's home. He just had to find mam, she would know what to do!
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the swamplands, on one of the many islands that made up the marshlands, the Wodes herd was busy as they prepared for their Yule festival, the Sealgair and Cruinniche hard at work making a feast that would feed the living and honor the dead. The Dealbhadair and Caraidean coordinated as they hung garlands and decorations around the grove, all under the careful eye of the Draoidh.
Freddie hummed as she watched their people with a proud gaze, all of them working together to prepare for the festival as it should be. Yule was one of the most important festivals of the year, a time to honor those who had come before them and rejoined the ancestors. Her ears perked, hearing a loud hurring as one of her sons landed behind her. Turning her head to see which boy it was, a bright smile started across her face, seeing Niall, only for the look to fade to one of concern as the boy who most resembled her beloved bowed his head to her with a rumble, "Draoidh, I come with grave news."
Grimacing, she nodded for him to follow her from the grove, not wanting to alarm the herd, "Report."
Niall paced beside his mam, the end of his tail flicking to and fro like an anxious feline as he spoke, "There is a later winter storm coming. The river is freezing quickly, and I could not strike for water at the edge. My spear barely made a dent. When I took to the sky, I could feel the currents, the thickness in the air. We do not have long until it is upon us."
Oh, oh, this was....Freddie took a deep breath before letting it out in a slow, deep sigh as she stopped in her pacing to think. Yule was too important to simply put aside, but if what Niall reported was true (and her son was no liar), then they couldn't afford to waste the resources that they would need to hold them over until this late storm passed them by.
"Alright, here is what we will do. Go get Sorcha and Rosalva, tell them to go over the stores so that we have an accurate accounting of what we have set aside. I will go alert the Arch Druidess as well as the Sisters." She nodded, already making plans as she switched her path to head towards the den that her brother shared with his mate, Mickey. She would need the kitsune to get his sisters with him and go hunting before the creatures of the marshes bedded down.
"Yes, Draoidh," Niall rumbled, bowing his head only to stop when Fred chuckled, pausing in her own journey to turn back and nose at his cheek affectionately.
"I am so proud of you, Mo Stór. You have saved many lives today with your quick thinking."
Niall had to duck his head at that, making a soft churring sound as he leaned his head against his mam's. Though he took after his da in looks, at heart the big stallion was an utter mam's boy. "Thank you mam."
Pressing a last kiss to his cheek, Fred nudged him, "Away with you now, we have much to do and not long to do it in."
Churring again at her, Niall hurried off in search of his sister and the frankly rather intimidating mare that oversaw the gardens. Sorcha may be spooky, but Rosalva ruled her green kingdom with an iron hoof, and maybe he and his siblings had caused more than a few disasters raiding the gardens for snacks as foals....Hmmm, maybe he should go find Sorcha first; she was better at talking to people than he was. Yes, that is what he would do!
Fred sighed softly, watching her son go before taking another deep breath, letting it out slowly again as she tried to calm her racing mind. Panicking would do nothing; what she needed was to speak to her mother, but Peach was in meditation before the ritual this evening. Still, there was nothing for it. The living took precedence over the dead. With that in mind, the mare went in search of her mother.
(FWC:1,003)
