It was the second time in recent months that Serach had shared the story of the Bend's founding. It was easier the second time around, although Serach couldn't deny that it felt strange to share it. It was, in a very real sense his story of how he came to be, but despite its significance, there was a certain level of detachment too it. He had obviously never met Rissa, or any of his siblings from his mother's second litter for that matter, and so it was hard to understand his mother's motivation for wanting to move. So when Drestig asked if it was more comforting to be here, where the boy's mother had lived out her final days, Serach could only shrug his shoulders. "I guess so, but it's not like I have to be in the Bend to remember her or be reminded of her," he tried to explain, hoping that Drestig would understand. There were memories of his childhood that were recalled at specific locations inside the pack's territory, but Serach's love for his mother was unaffected by distance and, after his visit to Kisla, was almost stronger away from the Bend. "Don't apologize either...for not knowing," he added, his lips twisting upwards into a smile. "Most of the wolves who live here now don't know. Triell and Jessie are the only ones left who would remember, I think." The rest had all come along after - most had never known the pack's founder at all.

"What about you?" He asked, straightening up as he looked at Drestig. "How did you end up here? I'm sure there were other packs that you could have made your home." After sharing his own origin story, it was only fair that Drestig reciprocated, and for as much as the boy resented the newcomers' lack of knowledge about the Bend, he had made little of his own efforts to understand the lives and stories of his packmates before they had arrived at their borders and become family.

Serach could see the look of surprise on Drestig's face. Serach's lips pulled back and he bared his teeth in a wolfy grin. He had shared with Drestig far more than he had ever really shared with anyone. His reluctance wasn't intentional, but it was a history that not many of the Bend's current members had ever wanted to know. It was strange for him too, he realized as his grin faded away in anticipation of Drestig's response. It was a story that had resulted in his conception and his very being, and yet, the story of the Swift River wolves and how they came to be the Oak Tree Bend wolves was not his story, at least, not in the sense that he had lived it. It felt good though, to share it with someone as important to the boy as Drestig.

Settled back onto his haunches, he moved his tail in a ludic way as he listened attentively. He was puzzled by Drestig's answer - it seemed any and all wolves who came to the pack's borders looking for shelter were there because they were actively looking for a place to live. Drestig had always seemed so deliberate...it was strange to think of his ending up at the Bend an accident. Pitch Pine Trail... his brow furrowed at the name, his faced bunched up in a puzzled expression as he tried to place it. He had heard of them, he supposed, but not for a long time. He had been a pup when @Fenru had discovered their presence nearby, and as Drestig revealed that the pack had disbanded soon after he had joined it, Serach realized that he had not been too much older when that had occurred. It had not been a long-lived venture, then, he thought, thankful that for all of its highs and lows, the Bend had never been truly threatened in such a way.

"I'm glad you ended up here," he confessed when Drestig had finished, nudging the bottom of the older male's muzzle with his nose. "You're too good for the Glen wolves, and we needed you here. So I'm glad you stayed." He smiled, his admiration for Drestig coming through in his tone and voice. It was absolutely true. Drestig had been an important member of the Bend for a long time, and was especially important now that he had taken up leadership of the pack in Triell's stead.

In a burst of uncharacteristic mischief, Serach hoisted himself to his feet and playfully headbutted Drestig's shoulder. He growled, lowering the front half of his body into a bow, his tail waving happily above his back as he invited Drestig to play. They had bonded over their discussion, and would continue to bond over a playful spar session.