O O C | w00t! :) Pressing fast-forward? Y/Y? …set the stage for March/Spring? And, warning, long post is long (and maybe rushed, feel free to fill in or elaborate on anything I might’ve skipped over). x_x;

Edging towards the trees after tearing out a section of the deer’s vertebrae, Borden trekked along at a more leisurely pace. He was glad to hear they were all enthusiastic in continuing forward. Relic Lore is said to be so vast it would take several days to cross; Borden wished he had known that. He had miscalculated his location by a few miles and by the time they had settled for the night, they had reached Heartleaf Creek. The tentative leader came to rest at the base of a tree after stowing away the morsel of meat and bone he had carried, encouraging his companions to do the same; by morning they would basically “rinse and repeat.” Wake up, eat or hunt, travel, stop to rest, travel, rest in the evening then sleep… Wake up, eat or hunt, travel, stop to rest, travel, rest in the evening then sleep…

Sleeping in wasn’t a big deal, but whoever was the last to open their eyes received a gentle nudge with his onyx nose. Over the next couple of days, the scenery gave way to wide spaces and trees with green pine needles instead of sprouting leaves. Borden’s pace became obviously slow by the time the band of wolves had found their way into Cedarwood. Each one of his steps was deliberately placed and seemingly every little sound – a fox scurrying to its den, a crow taking flight, a deer fleeing from their approach, a lone wolf making itself scarce – made him stop for a mere second to scan their immediate surroundings before moving on.

Calm, collected, cool… Be calm, be collected, be cool. For each stop he made, he silently reassured himself. Who knew the forest could be so much different than the Mountain or the Thicket? His heart thumped in his chest every time drew in a breath after holding it captive in his chest for several moments at a time. When evening came, he hadn’t said more than his usual “good morning” and encouraging statement that went along the lines of “come along now.” In fact, he didn’t even stop as sky began to darken into a dark indigo.

After some time he stopped at the sight of what looked like a bear’s den. “Wait,” he instructed with a whisper. He crept up to the entrance of the hollow, surprised that the familiar scent of what should have been hibernating inside was faint, nearly undetectable. The bear that had once occupied this den hadn’t been here for quite some time. The male poked his head inside before crawling in and coming back out.

Peering back into the dark hole then over to where his pack waited, he barked that it was safe… All clear. A few steps into the snow brought him out of the downward tunnel with a smile; while it had been his duty as a leader to scout things out and ensure his group of followers could benefit from the locations he deemed fit, it was up to his mate to give the sign of approval. His tail wagged and he lowered onto his haunches. Now, he could fully rest for the night.

Even if the newly discovered den was only a temporary sleeping site, he was absolutely fine with it. At least they would slumber in the safety of a well-protected hideout before moving on to the next location. Or, in the event that Jayse found the den suitable for them – just for her and Borden, or for the four of them – the masked male was simply glad to have found it. Its discovery was well worth strolling into the night.

O O C | XD Not sure why I didn’t think twice about having Borden look down there, but… heh, glad it /was/ actually abandoned to begin with.

As Jayse drew near, Borden watched as she investigated the site, cautiously taking in the faint scents that still lingered before heading inside. At the den entrance, he waited; he was even somewhat worried she might think the previous owner would return. March had yet to arrive and he was sure the bears around here were still in the middle of their winter nap (assuming they were like the ones that lived and occasionally terrorized Bertram Valley). The bear that had claimed this well-built lair should have been in there, sleeping, rather than out and about while snow still blanketed the ground. His gaze went out to the siblings who still stood a good distance away, carefully watching and listening.

He looked at his beloved quietly as she emerged from the tunnel, wordlessly letting him know that this would be the place they would stay... This would be the place where they would build a home, bond with their pack, acquire a few more members, and perhapsone day, raise a family. The last part of the thought made his smile broaden and the invitation for Vlarindara and Raigo to check out their new home made his soul brim over with joy. Away from the hardships of the Thicket and Wildwood, far from the rocky ledges of Mount Dire, the Lyall silently vowed to keep his pack safe, to stop at nothing to ensure these three wolves and whoever dared to join them would want for nothing more as long as they were under his care. This humble dwelling, a simple but cozy hole underneath the earth would become a representation of not just a new beginning for all of them but also a place for reassurance and comfort. It would be their safehold, their sanctuary hidden away from the rest of the world.

A fourth, deeper howl joined in, echoing and further confirming the messages his pack had sent into the night sky. These cries of elation, of confidence and vigor, would declare that the wolves of Grizzly Hollow had risen.

{Presto.}