Morning and noon had come and gone, and Nayeli, who was habitually early to rise, had found her long legs growing tired before the day was truly done. She hadn't even managed to catch anything, or run into anyone today, which displeased her. Her current condition was becoming quite cumbersome - though at first she had been overwhelmed and happy and scared at this twist in her life, she now found herself growing only tired and confused with the present situation. Wondering where Triell was, she paced a wide circle around the den area, but when she couldn't locate him, she found herself seeking out something else - a place to rest.

Dark paws guided her back to a likely spot - a large slanted rock, exposed to the sun. Hopping up onto the slab with a touch less grace than usual, the Stormwright woman lay down, pleased to find the stone warm beneath her despite the clouds that chased each other across the sky. The Bend seemed almost empty today, something that struck a chord of fear deep within the woman. Shifting in search of a comfortable position, she tried to quiet the thoughts, tried to let the light spring zephyr toying through her fur lull her into sleep. Her worries were always quick to arise, usually needlessly. And yet her mood did not seem to want to lift - her swollen belly made it difficult to find a comfortable pose, and after a moment she rolled over onto her side, a light huff escaping the she-wolf, and the tip of her tail twitched irritably.

Nayeli closed her eyes for a moment, nodding as the green-eyed woman spoke. Jessie was right, of course – she thought back to the day when she'd first met Triell. Even then he'd spoken of Corinna's sons, referring to them as his nephews, and talking of his duty to protect and provide for them. She'd recognized the loyalty within him then, and when she'd seen that the rest of Oak Tree Bend took it to heart too, it had helped her come to the decision to stay here. She'd vowed to herself that day that to do her best to help care for and protect them. Not just Serach and Sceral, but all of the pack. At the time she had planned on repaying Triell and the pack for their kindness toward her and departing once spring unlocked the land from its iron grip, but since then, her plans had changed. Oak Tree Bend seemed a familial pack, and she had become a part of that family – her cubs may represent a bond between her and Triell, but he wasn't the only wolf here she had come to consider as close as kin. Nodding, she said nothing more on the subject – her worries were not entirely evaporated, but the Swiftpaw had helped remind Nayeli of that, had helped her regain some perspective. She still felt fear at the prospect of the unknown looming before her, at the idea of complications or other events she and Triell could do nothing about. But worrying wouldn't do much good, so if she couldn't put her anxiety to rest, at least she could push to the back of her mind for now and turn her thoughts to more practical matters.

Casting her gaze back to Jessie, she cupped an ear toward her words, the other still held askance to listen in on their surroundings. Nayeli hadn't thought of crossing the mountains since the winter, but now she was reminded of her old plans to travel among the packs and seek out rumors of her kin. Of course going now was out of the question; she'd decided to make a life here rather than continue on her wild goose chase. But she had never been one to give up easily, and now she wondered if there might be another way. Perhaps word of her, now a leader of the Bend, and her name, might spread on the other side of Mount Dire without her ever needing to go there herself. If another Stormwright was traveling through the Lore, Triell's kin would be able to tell them where to find her if they ever crossed paths. It was still quite the long shot, but it was better than nothing at all.

The thought of going on a hunt sounded like total freedom at the moment, and Nayeli grinned, shrugging aside the small pang of jealousy. She wasn't accustomed to being so tired, of having to be provided for rather than doing the providing. It felt almost as if she were a pup again herself – but it too would pass. "That's good news indeed," she said, remembering that winter's hunt. Hopefully they wouldn't need to worry about conflict with Magnolia Glen again... at least not until the winter returned. That was a chilling thought, and it made her glad in a slightly darker and more selfish way that Kisla would be returning to the other side of the mountains to have her pups. At least that was one pack they wouldn't have to compete with.

Dropping her head back to her paws, she took in a breath and held it for a moment before releasing it, forcing her mind to turn away from that dark avenue. It seemed being cooped up was causing her mind to leap far and wide today, and not always to the happiest of places. "Do you know much about the packs on the other side?" She asked her companion, grateful for Jessie's company and hoping that the small-talk would continue to soothe her nerves. This was one area in which Nayeli's knowledge was still quite lacking.

Nayeli's gaze fell back onto Jessie. As the dark lady filed away the information, she studied the silver lady while she spoke of Willow Ridge, of going over the mountains, and noted the way she had become quite business-like once more. Perhaps that was just the natural state of the scout, but it seemed to Nayeli that something was bothering her pack-mate. Without prying, she could only guess what it was, but she decided to leave that bit alone. There was something about the Swiftpaw's air that Nayeli had grown rather accustomed to - the Bend had known more than a few losses, only the most recent of which she herself had even been present for. Other than Corinna, Nayeli didn't know their faces or names. The longstanding members here all seemed to tiptoe quietly around certain subjects, and as a result her knowledge of the pack's history and relations hardly began to scratch the surface.

A long patrol over the mountains actually sounded like a good idea to her - there was a lot they could learn. But, they shouldn't send the head scout and second lady so far away with no plan or back-up. The thought of being without one or two of their best members was a chilling one, but in such a journey it was a possibility that had to be considered. Nayeli wondered what Triell would think of the idea, but her own enthusiasm for the plan was obvious as she sat upright, ears pointed straight toward Jessie and a questioning glint in her eye. The knowledge that could be gained was great, and the summer would be the best time to do it. Jessie hadn't missed her mark at all when she'd as much as told Nayeli she shouldn't go herself. She did wish it was possible, but perhaps she could still have eyes and ears out there. "I don't think you should go alone, and we'd need to make preparations for your absence... how long would such a trip take?" she asked, her gaze drifting off in speculation. Jessie would be far better at estimating an actual time-frame and route for the journey than herself. And who else to send, when they needed to keep the main group as strong as possible as well? It was a matter that could do with some thought.

A frown of concentration had overtaken Nayeli's features, her thoughts churning around the details as Jessie spoke. Nodding, she looked at the scout in consideration. Did she seem less enthusiastic about this plan, all of a sudden? The dark she-wolf curled her tail around her sitting form, the tip twitching slightly. After a moment it fell still again. "Perhaps traveling in a pair will slow the pace some, but I think it would be the safer plan... don't you?" On such a trek, they would need to hunt for food, and two were undoubtedly better than one at that. And of course, it ought to drastically increase the chances of one - or both, ideally - actually returning. Nayeli was willing to defer to the scout's wisdom on this matter, though. Surely Jessie had done more than enough to earn her rank, title and name. Drestig ought to be able to give the Swiftpaw lady the same respect... if not, Nayeli had a feeling they'd settle matters, one way or another. She doubted Jessie would provide the name of a wolf she thought she'd be unable to cooperate with. "Either way, you ought to be going soon." It would be a dire situation indeed if whoever went unable to make it back before the snows set in, especially if last winter was anything to judge by.

Shifting herself slightly, Nayeli took in a breath and then released it. "If you would... not mind it, could you keep an ear out for any rumors of the Stormwright name? And perhaps pursue any that you might happen to hear... within reason, of course," she asked, looking slowly back toward Jessie. Her hesitation was due to the fact that it was such a long shot - or a long dead hope, rather. The subject wasn't one she enjoyed bringing up, and yet she felt as if she had to ask - and she thought the other she-wolf might understand her asking such a favor.