Winter was well and truly here, much to Serach's great distress. He had not expected to still be at the helm of the Bend by this point, but @Triell had remained content to step back and focus his attention on his youngest litter, leaving the concerns of winter on the shoulders of Serach and Spieden. Those were unsturdy shoulders, though, and not for the first time in the recent weeks Serach shook his head to rid himself of the thought. He needed to confront Spieden about it, but the arrival of his father had thrown a wrench into those plans - he had simply been too distracted trying to relive and recapture a life he had once thought completely lost to him. So it was not with great ease that the young Bend leader walked along his borders that day; there was simply too much on his mind for that.

Nose to the ground, the man was investigating the fading scent of an animal who had crossed his territory marker when he discovered the scent of something far more interesting. Ruenna, he thought as he lifted his head and looked in the direction the scent trail led. Leaving the stranger scent behind with a spot of warm warning urine, he decided to follow and see how she was doing. It had been a while since they had been able to chat.

To his surprise, the scent trail did not lead back into the Bend territory, but kept close to the pack's borders. Strange, but not especially unusual. There were many members who took pride - or solace - in helping Serach maintain and upkeep that especially important invisible line. What was unusual was what he saw when he finally found her. Laying against the ground, her body moved only in the form of her paw which repeatedly reached for a branch that lay beside her. Pausing to take in the spectacle, he could only announce himself with a mirth-filled, "Are you really that bored?"

She was slow to react, and Serach furrowed his brow. That wasn't like her at all, and for a split second, he wondered if maybe she was feeling ill. Perhaps a cache had spoiled? But then her head lifted from the ground and his concerned face transitioned back into a smile. But she didn't offer him a response to teasing question, or even really offer him a greeting. Pale yellow eyes growing wide, he stared at her as a waterfall of words emerged. That by itself was not so uncommon for Ruenna, but it did seem unlike her to launch into story without so much as an introduction. Despite his discomfort, however, the Bend leader remained quiet as she talked, his wolf-brain trying to figure out what in the world she was talking about.

When she finished, he stood there quietly while he tried to find the words to respond. It had connected for him, at least in part. The cliff of her's was a metaphor, although he wasn't entirely sure what about. What he was sure of though, was that he didn't want Ruenna to jump, so that's what he told her. "Rue...are you okay? I mean truly, okay?" He asked, his voice quiet but clearly concerned. "I don't know what cliff you're on right now, but I do know I don't want you to jump." This was entirely new territory for him, and he was scared to say the wrong thing and drive away the happy and inquisitive cousin he had come to care for.