Snow swirled furiously through the air, making its way easily to the ground between the towering sequoia trees. Fresh powder formed a frosty sheet on week-old drifts, strewn about by rogue gusts of wind. The forest floor was heavily covered, well used trails obscured and smaller ones completely hidden under the crystalline blanket. But the snow, the wind, none of it mattered to one particular figure, barreling through the redwoods. Orren's paws thundered against the hard packed snow, heavy body digging a fresh path through the drifts as he made his way decidedly, his face distorted in anger.

He had just finished a final round of the territory to be doubly sure, and it was confirmed, his sister was nowhere to be found. It had taken him a while to notice; Way too long! But @Karina had been reclusive ever since they moved to Hearthwood, her absence wasn't s unusual; She didn't sleep in the communal den anymore and he often went for several days without seeing her. But when it had been much longer than that, long enough for her scent to grow stale, even in the places she would visit regularly, her brother began to grow truly uneasy. He had come to terms with the fact that the siblings were no longer close - had grown apart from each other as it were – at least mostly. But when Karina didn't even stop by to check on their parents, nor tended to the plants she would usually check on and weed out often, alarm bells went off in the big brother's head.

So he abandoned his hunting and methodically searched through the territory of Hearthwood River, trailing the borders, checking well trampled routes along the river and between larger caches. And he came up empty. There was no sign of Karina anywhere. Once Orren had come to this realization, there was no doubt in his mind of where to head next. He knew exactly who to look for and, unlike his sister's, the scent was easy enough to track down. Like a rabid bear, the young Baranski tore through snow and thicket, tail held high behind him. He went straight to the dragon's lair, too ful of anger to see or think anything else. "Kjors!" He roared, and as soon as he came upon the one eyed man, he took a dominant stance, eyes blazing like red hot flames; "Where is she?!"

The dragon turned, spreading his wings to engulf his aggressor in darkness. Full of foolhardy anger, the young champion barely slowed at the sight, baring his own teeth at the monster before him. There was no room for fear in his swollen chest, hardly room for reason, for he had come to confront the evil that had festered in his home for too long. The serpentine warning did nothing to shake Orren's armor, his eyes blazing just as angrily; Don't you see that that's exactly the problem?! The one eyed beast was a rogue, a serpent who answered to no one but himself. Right? And now he had torn the already broken Baranski family into even more shreds. "Liar!" The yearling spat at the pitiful excuse, squaring his shoulders and lowering his head against the demon's approach, fiery eyes glinting through his black helmet. "She tells you everything! You've got her wrapped around your claw… Along with everyone else!"

Old feelings of jealousy and powerlessness bubbled to the surface, his anger at himself for not realizing Karina's intentions sooner, so easily mirrored onto this stranger who had come into his life and stolen her away. Gone were memories of his own escapades out into the Cedarwood and beyond when he was barely old enough to travel, every rebellious act so easily swept into forgetfulness by self-righteous might. Orren had never been afraid to challenge his superiors, not even when those equaled family, and he certainly didn't fear this cloaked devil; Even though he probably should have. He had come for answers, and he was not leaving without; "Where did she go? Did you drive her out of here?!" The ice beneath his paws was leaf thin, cracks snaking along it even as he stood here, building his own demise. But behind this shaky, furious armor was a heart clenched in fear, worry filling up every fiber of his being. Because this was his sister, and she was out in the world all alone. A world that was all too vast and dark for her gentle heart.

He kept denying. How could he keep it up, did he not realize that Orren saw right through him? The yearling snarled his fury. But Kjors kept to his story, in no way attempting to hide his anger, but not moving to attack either; Oh I'd like to see him try! But even as the boy thought it, he could feel doubt starting to snake its way through his armor. For all his crying about lies, Orren had grown up surrounded by honesty. This was not to say that he didn't know what a lie was, or wouldn't speak one himself – he had plenty of times, and been caught too! And that was where the predicament arose, when you were caught you gave up, right? You admitted your lie and took the scolding. Orren had never seen any point in clinging to the untruth once you were found out, but Kjors kept insisting in his claim.

And that was what made the younger wolf listen more closely when the dragon continued speaking, growing uncertainty widening the cracks in his shield. In the back of his head, he heard Naia's voice from that night months ago, whispering about the dragon's ambition, reminding him to be mindful of his charms spell. But he also had to be fair, and in the end, other that this unsubstantial feeling in his gut, the only thing he could really blame the one eyed man for was drawing Karina away from her family. And now he was saying that she wasn't with him, that he didn't know where she was! Orren's eyes narrowed, brows furrowing in thought; "Ya' really don't know..?" He found himself starting to believe the other, he couldn't see why he would lie.

But if Kjors was telling the truth, Karina was  nowhere around the pack lands, and nowhere else he knew of. Which meant that she was out in the world somewhere, alone. Gone. Which couldn't be true either, he wouldn't let it be! "No, no she's not!" Fresh anger flared red hot in the boy, though now it wasn't aimed so directly at the dragon. It couldn't happen, not Karina too. To his surprise, Orren felt tears sting in his eyes and quickly looked down, fighting back the anxiety and fear that was starting to burst through his protection of anger. Their family was broken enough already; No more! Voice much lower now, the young lad spoke determinately at the ground: "I won't let her be lost too! I'll find her."

No indeed. The dragon had lost his gem, and if Orren didn't get his tail on this, he was gonna lose his sister; NO! Whatever might have happened to switch around their dispositions so, the Baranski prince would not let the princess wander off and get lost. A sudden memory flashed in his mind, the two of them lost in the Cedarwoods when they were still just pups, hurt and hungry and fearing that they would never get home. It had been his fault then, his big mouth having chased Karina into the fog with him after, trying to right his wrong. Had it been his fault this time too? Maybe… He hadn't participated in the chewing out at the meeting, but he hadn't stopped it either. I should have, I should have stood up for her! Maybe then she wouldn't have felt the need to run away. The yearling shook his black-masked head, there was no point in second guessing, he couldn't change what had already passed. Back then they had managed, he catching fish, she treating his sprained paw; We'll do it again!

He straightened up, looking at Kjors as he exhaled, aggression seeming to fade from him as it had the younger wolf. The dragon's voice was surprisingly soft as he spoke, Orren's head tilting, ears perked at the words. He was right, they'd been bleeding for a while now. But someone had to go searching, they couldn't give up on Karina just like that. The bistre man seemed to realize so too, as he quietly offered advice. The boy nodded, face scrunched up in thought. He'd go, he had no other choice, he wouldn't let her become another Aleksei. So he straightened his back and looked into that one, golden eye, cool determination now taking the place of his anger. "I will." He assured, then wrinkled his brow for a moment, adding thoughtfully: "But… She was upset 'bout Kova. Ya' think she would've gone there, t' the Crest?" He'd like to think she wouldn't be that reckless, but a few days ago he would have also said she would never run off; How can I be sure?

There was a silent moment as the younger male looked openly at the older, the charcoal tip of his tail twitching frantically as his mind raced. It was Kjors' earlier words, about the missing, that churned in his head; Could he afford it? To abandon the pack like this? She's pack too! Yes, and she was family. Still there was worry in his voice when he asked, hesitantly: "Will you… Look after 'em while I'm gone? Ma' an' the others, make sure… Nothing happens?" It seemed silly in a way, he was a pack member after all, he should be doing that every day; Is doing it. Orren had followed Naia's suggestion, keeping watch of the Dragon, trying to get as close to him as he could. But what he had seen, contrary to their motive's, had only made him feel better about the man. He was still bitter about Karina, spending all of her time with this stranger and none with her family, but… He could see the charm. Kjors was interesting, strong, and Kisla seemed to trust him. In a way, this could be a test, what would the dark wolf say, and what would he do? Orren waited, jaws clenched tight, flaming eyes never straying from the other; I have to do this!

Another approving rumble, it seemed to be the Dragon's standard response. Orren only nodded. They found themselves in agreement, having reached a middle ground between their shared objectives of finding Karina, and caring for the pack as a whole. The burly lad even smiled, though it was a cool, steeled grimace, a show of his determination. Kjors in turn gained a stern look, a reaction to the mention of Round Stone Crest it seemed, his single eye gleaming coldly. Orren swallowed, his premonitions confirmed even before the bistre man spoke his answer. The words were clipped, though the young knight took no offence, he was as eager as the dragon now to get on with the mission. A nod was his way of response, the smile now replaced by a willfully tight line, his eyes smoldering like embers. Sure, he'd be careful, as much as possible; I just hope she is too..!

At least Kjors would be watching out for the rest of the pack, that much he promised, and Orren found himself relieved by that, truly believing that the Dragon's eye would stay watchful. He almost grinned, a strange mixture of feelings bubbling in his chest now that he was to be off on this quest, hopefully a short one of course, but still. He managed to keep the serious expression though, nodding again at the dark man's parting words; "Thank you." It was all he had to say. Hopefully his parents would be reassured by Kjors message, knowing that he was on Karina's trail and would bring her home. As for the reminder of haste, he only snorted, turning away from the brown-pelted wolf to head west, paws practically itching to get moving.

Highly arched, black tail waved at the older man as a salute, a determined fire in the yearlings eyes as he started off, a springy trot carrying him away from Kingsfall. Before he was out of earshot though, the boy paused, casting a last glance over his shoulder at the wolf he had sworn never to trust, yet had just entrusted with his family's safety. "I'll find her!" He called, a mutual promise between them. Then he disappeared beyond a ridge, off on his hunt to return the Dragon's lost gem.