OOC: Located at Vlar's previous and most likely permanent Den - Further description and images will be on her extra page once I get them.. :)

Her return to Grizzly Hollow and subsequent meeting with Jaysyek had shown the white female that once and for all - she was no longer welcomed on the lands of the pack.. Something she had accepted the night she'd left for the second time, her own selfish desires drawing her away. Thoughts of Raigo and Borden - both wolves she wished to see again had pulled her paws away from the pack borders, and far to the north - where she'd encountered the injured and emaciated Borden. Their... Conversation had left further pain in her breast, a darkened weight that settled onto her shoulders, dragging her down, forcing her into servitude to her emotions.

The fresh injury over her right eye, one that took her sight was still weeping blood, the crimson liquid leaving goopy tracks down her ivory face. Her walk wasn't limping or stunted - after all it wasn't her legs that were injured mostly.. Though the females head hung low enough between her shoulders that her nose just barely brushed the ground. Plumed tail that had once arched animatedly and dominantly over her back hung low, the longer strands of white fur brushing the ground and picking up debris of all kinds. There was a single destination in mind - a cave nestled in the southern edge of the Mountain of Dire.

The secluded location appealed to the broken lady, nestled in a place that hardly any canine traffic passed through.. Thankfully. The trees and lands began to look familiar, and with a relieved sigh, she saw the half moon clearing that marked her den site. A weary smile tugged at her lips as she crossed the line of trees, stopping a moment in the clearing before moving to the pool of water that had been hollowed into the rock bedding on the ground. The water was the sweetest thing she had ever tasted - naturally filtered by the rains and waters that washed down the mountain to dribble steadily into the pool. It had deepened since her last visit -and she could make out deep claw scores at the bottom, wondering what creature had deigned to deepen the water source.

A nervous look took over the ivory female and she lifted her single working eye to the triangular mouth of her cave before creeping towards it. An inquisitive nose entered the opening before scenting about - finding nothing...untoward.. stale musty scents. She stepped further into the den, the entrance a bit hard to squeeze into - but once she cleared the mouth, it opened up into a much larger interior that could easily and comfortably have fit three or four adults.. And it was warm - thanks to the underground hot spring that flowed beneath the ground. She turned after ensuring her den was clear. and padded out into the sunlight, lifting her muzzle to look up at the sky she could see above the trees. There was plenty of daylight left..

Preferring to remain in solitude, the white female ventured out of her clearing and began the arduous task of gathering as many nasty looking branches, bushes and other things she could find.. to drag them to the ring of trees that surrounded her home - planting them close enough together that she kept snagging her fur on them. It would take her weeks, if not months to create enough of a 'barrier' that seemed imposing and natural enough to keep other wolves out.. or from venturing into her home. She just.. wanted to be left alone. Her jaws locked once more around the thick, thorny branch belonging to a bush, dragging it towards the fortifications surrounding her home.

OOC: B'aww... the reunion.. ;-; Though I wonder how long it will be for them to realize it. XD

The crack of a branch brought the lady's jaws open in a silent, warning snarl, her single amber eye casting around the area for the source of the sound. The orb landed on a shock of white, the fur standing out in stark contrast to the green foliage around him. The branch had been dropped as she shifted, her long legs adjusting to give herself more of a balanced set. Her ivory fangs were still in one piece, even if her face and ears weren't. Technically, she had no real claim to this territory, but that didn't stop her from trying to anyway. After all it was *HER* home..not his.. and it was HER patch of land, damnit.

A low growl trickled from the scarred lips of the large female, her plumed tail curling tightly over her back in a display of dominance. Had she been anywhere but *HER* home, she would probably had made haste and run as far as she could.. but here, there was no where to run. Despite being broken - she still had a fighting spirit.. A spirit that told her to stand her ground and protect what was hers.

OOC: Poor Shatter.. Vlar's being a grumpy ass...

She shifted slightly, placing herself more securely between her home and this...newcomer. Little did he know that this *was* all she had.. This little spit of land, though her densite wasn't visible this far into the trees. It was still hers.. her only refuge.. place of safety. Vlarindara laced injured and bitten ears against her neck, fur around her shoulders and spine standing on edge.. the long strands still hanging limp despite her anger towards Shatter. She had no recognition to the younger male - her brother had been even younger than she when she'd been parted from the pack.

"What would you know of protection? What would you know of duty, family?" Where...was this coming from? The white female snarled, her single amber eye glittering angrilly at the other ivory canine, taking a step backwards, towards her den. "Only as strong as your weakest link - that's what protection is... " She lowered her head, a sigh escaping her lips before she turned, moving to pick up her bramble covered vine. "Do as you wish...this is rogue territory.." What was with the sudden change of demeanor? Vlarindara really didn't know - she just...didn't seem to have it in her to remain angry. She knew that had he wanted to press the issue, he would win.. what with her freshly blinded eye. So instead.. she just set about trying to fortify her home.. hoping that by ignoring the male he'd go away.

OOC: Zomg.. Silly Vlar is silly.. and whiplashy >.O

"Something to keep inquisitive souls *out* of my home." Vlarindara growled slightly, but placed her spikey bramble on top of the growing pile, careful where she placed it lest she get her own hide impaled on the sharpened thorns of the mess. A sigh touched her lips as she watched him, knowing that.. he wasn't going to go away. She could at least offer him.. some sort of hospitality.. After all - she wasn't completely different. "I haven't hunted anything to eat..so there's no food, but there's water if you wish it." The white wolfs head was low as she moved around the bramble 'fence' and into the last few feet of trees before they gave way to the semi-circle opening of lush grass. A veritable paradise.. and it was *hers*.

In silence, she moved towards the large, flat rock that gathered the water dribbling off the mountain and cooled her throat on the sweet liquid. Lifting her head, she glanced quietly at him before moving over to the large rock close to the outer rim of her home and climbed up onto it to sprawl out somewhat bonelessly, her head dropping heavily to her paws. She said nothing to him - though.. some secret part of her enjoyed the company of another living being... one that had little to no reason to chase her away.. unless he intended to try and steal her home.. But..would she really fight to defend it? Or.. would she just roll belly up and allow him to take it.

She glanced at him, her amber eye watching him before she closed it again, a quiet sigh parting from her lips before she turned her head so as not to look at him. "I intend to leave an opening.. just large enough that I might slip out.. " Duh... that.. or she might just barricade herself in the clearing.. and simply live out her life alone. However, when he asked why a fort, she simply shrugged, curling her plumed tail closer to her injured face, hiding behind it. "When you betrayed those that already know where you've lived, extra protection is always welcome."

Vlarindara lifted her head from where she had hidden it, frowning quietly at him before resting her head back on her paws. "Betas tend to upset their pack alphas when they leave with no reason behind their actions." Why was she telling him this..? Perhaps because she was enjoying.. someone to talk to?