Even then, days after the deed had been done Askan wasn't entirely sure what to think of Hawthorn. It wasn't as though Reyes had pup-napped her, but would the wolves of the Notch see it that way? As far as he was aware she was about the same age as the Rye pups, maybe a little older? But that wasn't the point he was trying to make. She was old enough to have a mind of her own, to make choices, but was she really old enough to leave home and live with-what was practically-a group of strangers?

Under their care she would be safe, there was no denying that, but Askan couldn't help but question the morality of the situation. What was the right thing to do? Take her back to the Notch and pretend none of this had happened? Or welcome her properly into their fold as a member of the gang?

Dropping to his haunches, Askan raised a hind leg and began to kick and itch away at the thick fur around his throat. It was a dilemma he hadn't expected to encounter and honestly, even if he had he wasn't sure that would have helped.

It was all so tricky tricky tricky. The sooner they settled the better, but as of then they would just have to make do with wandering these woods till they found something worthy of them.

Speak of the devil. Not long after he'd been thinking of her, Askan heard the grey smudge call out to him, her voice soft and tentative. Not a note of alarm or worry, good.

"Yeah?" He asked, as he placed his leg back on the floor. "You hungry? Bored?"

"Explore huh?"

That wasn't how he'd usually spend his free time but he didn't see the harm in it. Perhaps it would do them both some good. Stretch their legs and in turn help familiarise themselves with the terrain. If they were going to settle here like Askan wanted then it would better if Hawthorn learned her way around sooner rather than later.The last thing he wanted was for the pup to get lost. Temporarily or otherwise,Askan had taken her under his wing, therefore it was his duty to ensure she was safe. No natter what she would be safe and well and most important of all, happy.

"Yeah, sure. Don't see why not."Askan told her, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he pushed himself to his feet.

Joining her atop the fallen tree, Askan walked along it as though he was a tightrope walker, but not a very good one. He'd never had the best sense of balance, nor was he very lithe or agile on his feet. His sisters had him beat in that regard, especially Lenae. Damn, she'd been like a little bolt of lightning, like a flash and she was off doing whatever. Chasing after butterflies probably.

Damn, he missed her, so much more than the others.

Shaking his head-which was a mistake-Askan wobbled and fell, or rather stumbled off the tree. To his credit he landed on his feet, so he didn't make a complete arse out of himself. But seeing how easy Hawthorn made it look, well he couldn't help but frown and for once curse his bulk.

"Let's pretend you didn't see that."Askan told her, trying and failing to look deadly serious."So come on, pick a direction and we'll go, see what there is to see and all that."

Askan's ear twitched at the sound of her laughter. Being laughed at was never his idea of a good time, but he supposed he could let it slide. It was harmless, really, even he could see that. So with a dramatic roll of his eyes, he followed after her like an oversized shadow.

She was certainly in a hurry, but considering he'd looked after the Rye pups more times than he could count he was more than used to this sort of thing. He kept pace with her easily, slowing down when she stopped to sniff at things and speeding up when her attention was snatched by something rustling around in the undergrowth.

The only difference now was that this wasn't his home, nor was this one of Drestig and Jessie's children. Hawthorne was a bit of an oddity to the Selwyn. Aside from the fact that Reyes had found her during a storm at the Fjord he knew next to nothing about her. Not who her parents were or even what pack-if any-she'd come from. If his mate knew such things then he'd neglected to tell him. But that was neither here nor there

"So," Askan began, his tone as casual as he could muster."Where did you live before Reyes found you? He said you got lost but...you're not missing home are you? Being missed in return?"

Maybe it was a little too much to ask a kid, but she wasn't a baby anymore. She had a mind of her own and if she wasn't being missed then...They'd just have to make up for that fact and look after her twice as better than before.

She was a Fir wolf? Well then...that would explain a thing or two. When he'd first met her there had been a lingering scent on her coat, one he couldn't quite put his paw on. He recognised the smell but hadn't encountered it enough for it to be particularly memorable. What'd even had happened to that pack? From what he'd been told  Gent and his mate didn't lead anymore, that Emrys and his lady friend had taken over, but aside from that he knew next to nothing.

What had they been doing this whole time? Their presence was so minimal in the north that in all honesty, he'd entirely forgotten about them. Gent had been a force to be reckoned with, a big black beast that emitted a staggering sense of authority. Askan wasn't surprised that it was he alone who made the wolves of the Notch seem strong. And that without him the pack had withered into a shadow of its former self.

It was kind of pathetic really, but he wouldn't hold it against the pup. None of it was her fault, nor could she help that she'd been born into a-if Askan was being brutally honest-dump of a pack.

"It's okay to miss home sometimes...Between you and me, I miss my home too. Miss my family, wish I could have done things differently but there's no use in thinking about the past all the time. It'll just make you sad, you know?"A feeling he was very familiar with.

Bending down, he picked up a stick and tested its strength between his jaws. The wood cracked and splintered and he spat it out, squinting as though he'd just licked something sour. He nosed another stick towards her, wondering if she'd want to do the same, a game of tug of war perhaps?

"It's important to have fun. As long as you're having plenty of it and you've got a full stomach everything will be fine, or at least that's what I think."

That was over simplifying things of course but it was a good start. Once she'd worked out those things then it everything else that followed should be as smooth as silk. Or at the very least Askan would do his best to ensure it was so.

Askan didn't know how she'd respond to his-feeble-attempts at cheering her up, but to his relief they seemed to have worked. Having fun and not very hungry, what more could he ask for? He eyed her as she picked up the stick and swung it about, as though she was wielding a sword and fighting off invisible foes. The thought made him huff in amusement but her silent offer for a game of tug=of war-made him break out into a grin. Oh yes, this was something he could do with ease. Kid or not he was willing to kick her arse....in terms of tug-of-war anyway.

Turning to her as casually as he could manage, he paused for a moment as though he was considering it, only to bend down and grab the stick with his jaws. He adjusted his grip, chomped down hard and bowed down, his butt and tail wiggling as he did so. Without warning, he yanked back and started their little war. He was going to win, but he damn well hoped she intended to give him a run for his money. It'd been a while since he'd had a good tussle with anyone who wasn't Reyes these days.

"'Um on."He muttered around the stick."'Ull."