Wher whers wander {Reky//Chek}

Luckily, the graduates largely knew what they were doing. They probably knew their patrol shifts and routes better than Audren did, but still, the redhandler had spent the entire evening making sure that they were all settled well into their patrols and knew what they were doing. Some had not done solo patrols yet. Most were obviously doing a fine job. Even Hester of Hessk insisted that he was totally okay and told he she had better calm down. The boldness in his comment was a curious thing; things had changed now that they were not her students.

Needless to say, it had been strange for her to let go of them like that. A Turn and a half of taking them under her wing had changed so quickly and it made for a very chaotic evening. Her own personal schedule was entirely off due to her paranoia. She had meant to restock the towels and firewood in the handlers' quarters early enough to have plenty of time to relax before hers and Ausk's patrol. However, by the time she had found Damali and Damask to help, strapped saddlebags to an ornery alpha red, and made it across the moonlit bowl and into the cavernous storerooms to pick up the supplies, it was nearly time for the patrols to switch.

Audren was running late and Ausk converted her anxiety into irritability. Needless to say, it wasn't a very good start to the night.

"We'll be late for our patrols," Audren said to Damali, voice rushed like her footsteps were. It was the seventh night of the week; Darryl would be finishing the shift Damali was to pick up, and Baharl - Audren's. They should be alright for a few more minutes. "Shard it." Ausk stalked behind her, tail dragging and satchels laden with firewood. The darker red growled to no-one in particular.

In truth, the speed Audren was walking wouldn't save enough time to make it worth making Damali nervous. She caught herself and slowed, shaking her head at her own nonsense. It was one night. It wouldn't happen again. She hated to be late, but she also had to keep calm, lest Ausk translate it into hostility towards Damask. A fight between two reds would only slow them down even more. Still, the Alphahandler remained so focused on getting out of the northern caverns, across the bowl, to the handlers' quarters and then out to her shift that she hadn't been expecting the bright eyes of little Kisk.

She jumped, a gasp leaping in her throat. KISK, Ausk clarified with a snap of her jaws, and Audren sighed heavily. Her posture dropped. It was just Kire and Kisk, and she had been startled out of her wits. That was embarrassing. The red had, predictably, turned her shouting to her poor offspring as if they weren't related. KISK SCARE AUSK'S. AUSK SCARE--

When Ausk emerged from the shadows, Kire quite literally jumped a foot in the air. The red wher had always frightened her some and seeing her walk out of the shadows like that, even though Kisk had spotted her… Well, he had heard his mother anyway. Perhaps she needed to have a word to Kisk about not startling people he knew were probably meant to be there. Kire bowed her head quickly in something of a greeting to Audren, aware that the woman had been startled some but preferring to ignore that small hiccup.

Kisk waggled his tail excitedly but then cocked his head to the side as Ausk spoke to him. Well, shouted at him. As soon as the shouting started, Kisk dropped to the ground cowering, a small half growl-whimper escaping him. The snapped jaws had done at least something to deter the black wher but, like anything, Kisk was not overly upset for too long. As soon as his mother broke off he straightened again and waggled his tail enthusiastically, apparently convinced he was absolved of all crimes.

Kisk am guard! See MummyAusk! Tell Kire! Am learn good!!
Kisk you must be respectful, be sure to speak to Ausk with proper manners.
KISK AM RESPECTMANNERS!!
The reply did little to assuage Kire’s concerns.
“Well, Der and Fenrimere I think. Asterin may have left already… One of them may have arrived to take over.”

Meanwhile, Kisk had puffed himself up proudly when he spoke back to his mother and then sniffed something else. Raising his nose a little in the air he turned his head and spotted Damask. Two reds!? How exciting! They would surely want to play with him!! MummyAusk and DamaskBuddy!
Kisk am see Damask! Damask!!! Kisk am see you!!! SEE YOU!!! Kisk be amazing investigator.
He spoke very seriously to the other wher, almost nodding his head as though confirming the fact.

Remember… They are a lot larger than you…
Wasn’t that the truth… Kisk, not being the largest wher out there, was about a quarter of the size of the two reds. It put Kire on edge even though she knew the two handlers to be brilliant at their jobs. Not to mention both of them had been less than peaceful at the hatching…