Since joining the pack, Mercy felt himself refreshed, as though a new breath of life had begun to flow through him, giving him energy and purpose. While he was still protective of Aponi and did not know enough of the packmates to feel completely at ease when he was not directly by her side, he did feel some comfort in this pack; the alpha who had accepted him had been much different than Mapplethorpe and Naira, and they had been greeted in a much different fashion then he knew the wolves of Hollowheart Keep met lone wolves who came to their borders. While the introduction had been formal, it had not been painful, and he hadn't felt as though he was being interrogated. He did not feel that the leaders of this pack were condescending, nor did they use fear to create respect. It was a much different environment, and he felt much more at home here, given his upbringing in Nomad's Pass and Hollowheart Keep.

The air was sweet and warm, and the sunshine brought a faint smile to his features. The hardened, roughened guardian he'd become in the wilderness in the winter had faded away with the warmth of the dawn's sun and had awakened his former self- the peaceful hunter he'd been as an adolescent, before the threat of starvation had begun to eat away at patience and hope. He set out in the morning in search of a nice den for himself and Aponi; the pack's communal den was good, but he did not feel at home there, and did not wish to make Aponi feel nervous by living with a bunch of strangers. Aside from that, he was aware that the alpha female had given birth and he sought a bit of distance...And, if he happened upon something edible in the meantime, he could use that as a gift to the alpha pair, to celebrate the birth of their pups, however many there were.

He felt optimistic as he found an old badger den. It wasn't much in size, but he felt that he could probably make it large enough for the two of them. It was near a stream, and had a good foundation of clay reinforced by boulders that looked like they were made of granite. It reminded him of the cave they'd stayed in, despite the fact that this was much, much smaller, and he decided that it would do. He would work away on it and then surprise Aponi later on, even if it took him a few days to get the den to his satisfaction. It would have to be a beautiful home, to house a princess, even if in Magnolia Glen she was nothing but a subordinate.

He looked the den's mouth up and down before he began digging, standing up on his hind paws so he could scratch away at the earth at the top of the den's mouth, choosing to dig up a bit before he began to widen the entrance and dig down into the earth. The ground was moist and though it didn't come away in large clumps, he found the progress was tangible and that he actually liked digging. The mountain had been too hard and rocky for digging and the snow had kept him from doing so in the winter. Quite certain that he'd be able to fashion the nicest den Aponi had ever seen, the boy toiled away, tail waving contentedly to and fro behind him as he dug.

""

"speech"

@Mercy

Her made accommodations in the Glen were not yet to her liking, but in time the wanderer at heart would adjust. There as some difficulty when it came to settling in a new location, be it as a rogue or in the safety of a pack; the mind did not easily accept change when it occurred. And try as she may to make her dwelling beneath the trees feel like ‘home’, it was not the same as what was felt while within her community in the mountains. There she had been surrounded by the youths of the packs, but maintained a distance so as not to encroach upon their independent growth. Close that she could hear their voices when in play, but further from their doors that she could hear their whispered youthful secrets… nor the periodic attempts to sneak upon her whilst she slept. It was that comfort she was missing, she came to realize, but did not ponder on it for too longer. It was just another aspect she would have to grow used to be absent of.

But for the time, there was no better distraction than exploration. And in the instance of her leg, its like was needed.

Peeling out from her hole beneath the fragrant earth, the mountain wolf greeted the afternoon light with squinted eyes but a rested disposition. As she did earth day, she gave her leg a quick stretch estimating how much weight it would stand before the rhythmic throb of protest began. Fortunately, this day it could take much more than the previous, but not so much as to take her full weight; at least not yet. But the healing put the woman in better spirits, at least enough to pursue a short jog toward the quiet stream. Each day, she had noticed the levels were dwindling, but there was still enough to sustain the pack and its surrounding floral. Only when the flowers began to whilst or the leaves fell from the trees too soon would she worry.

With this placed in the back of her mind, she continued her jaunt, her heavy bulk rolling awkwardly as she skipped and limped to give her leg the stretch it needed. Each breath was drawn to expand her tired lungs, but there came a pause to its rhythm when something new graced her nostrils. Rather than halt, the female took a detour from her pursuit, winding through the new growth of trees to there the stream fed the softer soils near its bend. Alert, she ears perked forward to the sound of toiling in the earth. A few snaps of grass and sound clumps of moistened earth as it was shifted and tossed aside. Digging? Curiosity betrayed her usually impassive visage as she trotted closer to the source to investigate.

What else could he do to make the den perfect...Ideas flitted through his mind as Mercy brainstormed the ways to make a den that would please Aponi. He would have to catch something for her to eat, and maybe put it inside the den for her to find when he showed it to her. He would have to find something to make a bed for her, something to soften the ground...He was shedding out, so he had some of his own fur to add to the bedding, but he was certain he could find feathers to add to the bedding to make it softer and more worthy of her. He had to think for some time before he was able to come up with anything else, given that he was no expert in marketing or decorating, but eventually decided that he'd try and find something pretty that she might like, and put that in the den too. Flowers were pretty, he thought. He'd have to find one that had some sort of significance, though; not some simple meadow flower that meant absolutely nothing. He'd have to go up the slope of the mountain and find something that only grew at a higher altitude- that would impress her, he was sure.

Amid his brainstorming he found himself quite lost in thought and thus paid little attention to his surroundings, but when he drew back to take a better look at the progress he'd made he finally caught the scent of another wolf. At first, he didn't recognize the scent of the pack, given that he was still new to the area, and he bristled. This wasn't a wolf of Hollowheart Keep...But then again, neither was he, and he soon recognized the scent as that of a pack wolf, a pack mate of his. He was a Magnolia Glen wolf now. He paused for a few moments to test the wind and try to find more out about this other wolf, with the intention of seeking them out at some point so he could put a name and a face to the scent- but when he gazed off through the wooded surroundings, he saw something cream moving toward him.

She was a very large and impressive creature, with thick shoulders and a tough looking body. Had the wolf been further away and had he not already distinguished her scent as that of a female, he might have assumed that this was a male pack mate- but there was something gentler about her face and jawline that gave her a touch of femininity that her size had stolen from her. Her colouring was a beautiful blend of greys and charcoal along her shoulders and the saddle of her back, but the tan that coloured the rest of her body faded to cornsilk along her underside. He assumed, simply given the fact that he was both younger and very new to the pack, that she was of a superior rank, and so he decided to put his digging aside and greet her, lowering his head and allowing his lowered tail to wave softly from side to side between his ankles.

"speech"

@Mercy

It took perhaps a moment longer than her usual gait, before she at last came upon the source of the noise. Granted it was further out from the communal den that it would not cause disruption to the mother and her brood, however the mountainous woman was inclined to investigate this strangeness and perhaps bring a swift end to it before any other noticed. She was not yet protective of the pack or the pups by any means, but she did hold precedence to the silence and ease of the Glen.

And it was to her apparent surprise that the source would come in the form of a youth. Bi-colored eyes would note first the narrowing width of the youth’s paws, the stage in between adolescence and adulthood where all limbs were defining but still unfit to adult proportions. A swift scent of the air told of the male’s status within the Glen; not yet fully assimilated but endowed with the scent of the male lead. He was permitted on the grounds, but was newer than she had been, and like her, had adopted a further proximity from the pack’s heart. But was it not a child’s place to be nearest to the pack? Or at least closer to the den that the more experienced might see to their care?

She hadn’t assumed herself to be frowning as she approached him until she felt the lift of her bows as she drew to a halt. Her nose twitched inquisitively as it neared the youth’s coal dusted name, trusting his posture would not change as she inspected him more thoroughly. He did not smell of infection and looked quite healthy aside from the weathered signs of travel; the tell-tale slacking of his belly to suggest lack of nourishment. So why on earth would he stake his claim from the pack…?

The female huffed through flared nostrils before withdrawing her muzzle to recline on her haunches. She remained as silent as her approach amidst a stifle of a gasp in the presence of pain unintentionally done to her leg. Her eyes were fixed upon the boy, her head slightly askew as she questioned him with but an expectant look in her eyes.

As she approached, the boy made sure to keep his gaze averted. He knew the punishment for being insubordinate within Hollowheart Keep, and assumed that it would be the same here- any who stepped out of line would be forcefully put back in their place without so much as a verbal warning. At least, that was how his mother did things; she'd never been much of a talker. He noticed, though, that as she approached there was a slight disturbance to her gait; his eyes flickered up just enough to notice that it was one of her hind legs that seemed to be bothering her, but he didn't look long enough to try and find a wound if there was one, or to see if her limp was due to an old or internal injury. He couldn't smell blood, so he assumed she was relatively healed, though still sore. He froze in place when she came closer, but felt himself shrinking slightly as she came within what would have been his personal bubble, had she not popped it with her proximity.

He waved his tail back and forth a bit more quickly in an appeasing gesture but remained very still otherwise so that she could inspect him, sniffing his coat. He knew he smelled new, and that she might not like him because of it. He knew his mother didn't like newcomers, but he didn't intend to be that sort of wolf when he and Aponi established their own pack. He knew that out of the two of them, Aponi would likely be the one wearing the pants, and preferred to think of himself as being the more open of the two of them when it came to meeting strangers. While she was close, Mercy inhaled her scent as well, and licked his lips slightly when she finally withdrew and settled back onto her haunches, albeit after making a small sound which Mercy interpreted as being a result of the pain one of her legs gave her. He winced. He didn't like to see others in pain.

She was quiet and didn't ask him anything, and Mercy, having known better than to raise his gaze, did not catch her look, but was able to assume after a moment of silence that she expected answers from him. He bobbed his head in a congenial fashion, though it still remained lower than his shoulders, like a dog who knows he'd done something wrong. His features were a bit nervous, but still quite optimistic. He was still in quite a good mood, despite having had someone new come very close to him. "I'm Mercy," He said, his voice calm and sweet. "I'm, uh, I'm new to the pack," He said, with a sheepish grin that said though you probably already knew that. He flicked one ear forward, a hopeful gesture that might entice an introduction from his companion.

@Mercy

Waiting quite comfortably for his reply, she observed the youth’s posture. As she had only the rebellious pups of her mountain home as reference, this presentation was quite the contrast from what she was used to. Rather than enduring the nips and trifling prods of her charges, this one was quite docile if not accepting of her presence. An indication that the boy was not born of the wild but of a pack… which raised some questions to mind.

Though they were kept silent as the boy introduced himself albeit nervously. Such behavior was unbecoming of a growing male, though the female did not fault his nervousness. There was a time when she had been in his position as a yearling. To assure him that all ways well, despite her placid features, she offered to him a faint smile upon her lips. “Goodday Mercy,” she uttered, her voice hardly rising above a whisper. “I am K’arnae,” she dipped her muzzle. “I haven’t been with the pack long either… no need for your to be nervous.” And it was true, the woman was quite fond of children whether or not they were fond of her. The young were important to the wellbeing of the pack, and if they could not find comfort in the place that was their home, then they could not grow with ease to their fullest potential.

“But I ask,” she continued with her voice as calm as soft as it had begun. “…why you are away from the pack. Young ones are to be near the whole and protected.” At least, that was how she had interpreted it.

With her size, she reminded Mercy of Naira. But unlike Naira, who had a sharpness about her- which likely came from being a leader who needed to make sure she kept a certain reputation- there was a mildness about this female that put him a bit more at ease. Mercy had never had to join a pack he hadn't been born into, so the novelty of this made him quite nervous. She was quite still and patient, and when she spoke it was with a voice that was calm and mature, quiet. She seemed to know that she had his full attention, and she wouldn't need to speak loudly in order to make sure he wasn't daydreaming about something else. It was almost captivating; he was used to a much harsher tone, or one that was flat and sarcastic. She was reassuring him, and he lifted his head a bit, grateful that she was being so kind.

It turned out that they were in a similar situation- neither of them had been a part of the pack very long, and this made him feel even more comfortable- knowing that he had something in common with her. He lifted his gaze enough to see, in his peripheral vision, the shade of a smile on her lips, which evoked one on the boy's features as well. "Thanks. I guess I just didn't know what to expect," He admitted. And that was the truth- she could have easily made a show of putting him in his place, simply because he was new and he would have accepted it. He had begun to sense already, though, having met the alpha male and this female, that things were different in the Glen. And different in a good way. Rather than picking up on the 'bite-first-ask-questions-later' technique his mother used, Mercy had always leaned toward being milder in manners. "It's nice to meet you."

The way she spoke to him, so soft and gentle, made him feel like she thought he was younger than he felt he was- and when she asked him about finding a den away from the communal den, he realized that she likely did think he was younger than he was...But this wasn't necessarily the truth. Mercy so wanted to be treated like an adult that any sign of another wolf treating him like a puppy made him feel less mature than he thought he was. Still, he didn't let it go to his head, and instead answered as rationally as he could. "I wanted to dig a den for my friend and I. We joined the pack together, we've been travelling together for a little while." He didn't want to say that he didn't trust the other packmates, or that he'd become co-dependent, even though he knew that was the truth. "And the alphas just had pups; I figured they'd want a bit of space, especially where we're new and all." He said. That much was an honest answer, and while he was at it, he couldn't help but confess one more thing. "I kind of just...Wanted to make a nice place for her. Aponi, my friend." He said with a sheepish grin.

@Mercy

The boy seemed to grow more comfortable as she spoke, which in turn made it easier for the older female to do the same. She was not at worried regarding the impression she might make on the yearling, but was more with how he would treat the others of the upon the conclusion of their meeting; she did not want to give the young male more reason to be nervous than what was appropriately called for. He had a reason to be cautious when around new faces, but it was not her intentions to add to that apprehension. If she could, she desired to lessen it for the sake of his development.

Patiently, she waited for young Mercy to explain his choice of location, while minding her expressions to remain calm and open. The mountain wolf knew herself to be an expressive thing when the opportunity arouse; quite a contrast to her usual mask of indifference. But when it came to younger faces, it was though nothing existed save for the portrait of herself. She could frighten with a hard twitch of her brow, or give comfort by even the smallest of smiles. It had taken time and care to manicure her visage to hold a mild composure, but it never seemed to last when faced with the prospective future.

Her brows raised with intrigue as the grey yearling spoke indicative that he held her whole attention. Admittedly, she was surprised to hear his reasoning, finding it considerate given the birth that had recently taken place, as well as curious toward his motivations to crafting a den for his friend. It was not uncommon for wolves, especially young ones to share a den. But wouldn’t his friend have been there with him? Canting her muzzling slightly, she raised a skeptical brow as the glimmer of a smile curled a corner of her muzzle. “That is kind of you,” she applauded. “But wouldn’t it go faster if your friend was helping you?”

He was relieved that she seemed to accept his answer, and that she didn't push him to live in the communal den. Truth be told, he hadn't particularly enjoyed living in a communal den even when he'd lived in the Keep. In the winter it had been swell- just for the purpose of having body heat from other wolves that he could mooch in cold winter nights, but before they'd left the mountain, he'd found the communal den stifling and overcrowded, even though there had been plenty of space for all. He wanted to get out on his own and make his own den, but his mother hadn't allowed it. He'd wanted to be independent when he'd gone through his defiant stage, and had wanted to go and find a den of his own, but it hadn't been practical. Now that he had the opportunity to do so, he was seizing it as soon as he could. And it was exciting.

The boy grinned again and blushed beneath his silver fur when she asked him exactly why Aponi wasn't helping him dig the den. He looked over toward it, and in his mind he already saw the finished product; a den with smoothe walls, a nice fur and feather bed, a nice flower or two from the mountain...He saw himself, but an adult, filled-out version of himself and Aponi looking sleek and beautiful. He saw the perfect den for the two of them, and saw the happy look on Aponi's face when he showed it to her. Their own private den,one they could live in for as long as they stayed in Magnolia den. His gift to her. He laughed softly, and shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "I want it to be a surprise." He said quietly.

He knew that from that, she would make an assumption. He knew she'd likely found him out- he was a yearling who'd fallen head over heels for a girl, and who wanted to make something for her to make her happy, and to make her like him even more. He cared for her, and wanted to make sure she had the best of everything. He was slightly embarrassed, knowing that K'arnae would probably ask more about Aponi. He didn't want it getting back to Aponi- not before he had the chance to make it known, but didn't expect K'arnae to go running off in search of Aponi with the intention of ruining his surprise.

@Mercy

It was apparent that they more they spoke, the more open the young male was becoming especially when it came to the matter of the den. While she had only been curious in regards to his companion, the yearling seemed quite taken with the idea of making this den ready for his Aponi’s return. She looked towards the den with an inquisitive eye, noting its size and just how far the young male had come along on his own. If he hoped to accommodate himself and another, then surely a great deal of effort would need to go into it, lest his efforts fall short before the ‘surprise’ was revealed.

And of course, she did not miss the change in his tone, nor the prolonged glance he gave to the den as if looking beyond its exterior toward something more. He looked to be dreaming while standing… or perhaps imagining something he desired. Not unlike the eager eyes of a pup wanting to see the world beyond their mother’s den. This boy was indeed dreaming of something the female just did not understand. But when he returned his gaze to her, she simply received him with a light smile.

“Do you need help, then?” she offered, gesturing with her muzzle to the opening maw of the den. Her tail curled alongside her wounded thigh as she braced her forelegs against the ground to aid in her rise. The pain was sharp, but bearable for the time being. At least long enough to support her weight for such a simple task. However she did not step towards the den for a moment as she offered him another alternative. “Or did you want to complete the den on your own?” She may not have understood the bond shared between the youth and his friend, but she was aware of a youth’s need to worth in their own accomplishments. If this task was but one, she would not intrude upon it.