What had started as an adventure in the weeks prior was slowly becoming a more urgent search. The mood had changed somehow once the River wolves had entered Kingsfall; it was as if everyone sensed they were close, that these were the trees they would settle down among if only they could find their haven. Naia had spent the journey a fairly consistent quarter-day’s travel ahead of the group, only having company when someone wished to stretch their legs a little more—Orren in particular. They were all weary, especially because they could feel their journey drawing to a close, but even so Naia continued to press forward. She would not rest until they found not just a safe place, but their permanent home where Kisla could deliver and finally enjoy some much-earned relaxation.

The woods seemed particularly beautiful tonight; marvelous and mystifying all at once. In the crowded Cedarwoods, Naia had grown used to the stale scent of wolves blanketing the other scents of the forest. Kingsfall, with its regal name, was quite different—without so much foot traffic it seemed to be bursting with smells, plant and animal life alike. Naia felt that she was wandering through a newborn forest, bathed in moonlight and never before touched by wolfkind.  

Naia finally came upon the river she had been hearing and smelling. She paused to find the best way to cross, stooping to lap up a quick drink from between her paws. The travel worn scout didn’t realize just how much this spot on the river reminded her of home until the scent of the nearby Baranski pair enveloped her. A strong feeling of equal parts comfort and nostalgia wrapped around her heart and squeezed. “Maksim? Kisla?” she called softly, hardly louder than speaking voice. Though she could not tell which shadow obscured the pair she knew from their entwining scents that they were near enough to hear. She waited until she found their eyes twinkling in the light of the moon before speaking again. “I think it’s perfect.”

The Baranski pair had not been wandering alone tonight, it seemed. Lachesis’s scent in the night’s breeze preceded his appearance, the healer’s pale pelt exposing him beneath the light of the moon. Naia moved to join her family, knowing that the ground she stood on would soon become the pack’s densite but for now it was just theirs—the leads and their Seconds. Their secret.  Though her expression was obscured in the shadows, the scout was grinning ear to ear, as evidenced by the twinkling in her honey eyes. Maksim instructed her to inform the rest of the pack of their discovery and Naia agreed immediately. “Sunrise, yes Sir,” repeated the dutiful scout.  She hesitated only briefly before turning to leave, wanting to relish the feeling of discovery and closeness for just a moment longer. Maksim then set Lachesis to a task as well, and the Timber woman understood that—perhaps—the lead couple wanted some privacy to enjoy the moment.  

Orren piped up, and Naia turned realized the near-yearling was present as well. He smelled so much of his mother she had missed his scent downwind, but Naia should have known that wherever Kisla was the young man would only be a step behind. “You’re welcome to join me as I scout the territory,” she offered to @Orren, “I can’t think of anyone better to ground the pack’s first caches.” As much as Naia wished for the boy to take to scouting, it was obvious he lived and breathed for hunting. That much was made clear to her during the journey, when she could only persuade Orren to leave Kisla’s side with the promise of a hunting lesson. Scouting and hunting did go paw in paw though, especially now as they were establishing brand new territory. Naia knew that Orren would not pass up such an important task as choosing the locations of their food stores. “Now let’s wake your brother!” she barked as she disappeared into the trees. That was yet another chance she knew Orren would find irresistible; the chance to tease Aleksei—who so often outshined his siblings—about sleeping through the discovery of their new home.

--exit Naia