His entire world had shifted. His birth pack, the only home he had ever known, had disbanded. Broken Timber Pines was no more and Arion was technically homeless. The smudge stuck to Nalda and Ember like glue, as they were the only ‘family’ he had left. He had never really connected with the other members of the pack; if it had not been for the girls, he would have fled the lands after the disbandment of the Pines. There was talk of going south, joining the pack that made their home in the woods below. Arion didn’t really know where he wanted to go. He didn’t really want to go anywhere. The Pines had not felt like home for quite some time, and without family in the Lore, would anywhere truly be home? The smudge almost wished that his father would suddenly reappear and give him a sense of belonging, but he knew it would never happen. His father was as good as dead.

While they mulled over their decision of where to go Arion explored the nearby territories. There was still so much of the neighbouring areas that he had yet to explore. R was still tentative about getting close to the mountains, for visions of his mother’s broken body filled his thoughts as soon as the rock came into sight, but he knew he needed to overcome his fear. Especially if he wanted to travel west—although he wouldn’t make that journey until after winter had left the lands of Lore.

Today he skirted the base of the mountain, his inky body streaking across the foothills. He followed the river, his pace slow as he observed his new surroundings. This wasn’t so bad—this he could work with. The ghost of a smile found it's way onto his dark maw as he inhaled, deeply, his sea-green eyes focused on nothing but the pace before him. He dismissed the feeling of stress that consumed him; he would worry about where to call home when he met back up with Nalda and Ember. Until then, he wanted to enjoy being alone. 

It felt weird, being isolated. While it felt wrong, terribly wrong, it was also oddly… comforting? Was that the right description? Arion had been surrounded by others since birth—even with a disappearing father and absent mother, the smudge was never alone. Ember and Nalda had been his support system (as well as Bracken, prior to her own disappearance) and had always been there for him when he needed them. He couldn’t imagine his life without them, even with their differences. They were family—all they had was each other.

The appearance of another had taken the smudge by surprise, his blue eyes widening as a girl with the same coloured fur marched towards him. Was he infringing upon pack borders? Brows pinched together he frowned, nostrils flaring as he inhaled the surroundings scents. No, there wasn’t a border for miles… the closest pack had been the Pines… so why was this girl acting so defensive? Blinking, his head fell to the side, his toes curling into the ground as curiosity lapped hungrily at his throat. “Uh, hi,” he started, lamely, unsure of what else to say. As far as the smudge was concerned, he wasn’t doing anything wrong, so why the strange greeting?

His stance softened with her expression, his ears resuming their former positions. He was nearing his second year and he had been startled by a pup! A frown creased his features at the thought: how incredibly foolish of him. If Nalda had seen him she would have laughed at him, he was sure of it. The smudge blamed it on being wrapped up in his head, distracted by memories he wanted to sweep under the rug.

The stranger responded to his greeting, her voice steady and welcoming. He was curious as to where she hailed from, for her fur did not hold the oaky scent that slung to Sahalie. Was she of the mountains, like Neha and Cernan? Questions hesitated on the tip of his tongue but they quickly retreated as the raven girl spoke. He blinked slowly at the inquiry, his brows knitting together. “Well enough, I s’ppose,” he answered with a soft roll of his shoulders, dismissing the question. “And you?” As the words rolled into the space between them the smudge’s head tipped to the side. She was interesting to say the least, and quite different from the fiery personalities he had grown up with. Good different.