“We can spend the night here, if y'want? I think we both need a good kip.”

Lena and Lila had been walking for a fair few days now, trudging across forest and up a bloody mountain side, so regular rest was a necessity for the both of them. Lila, being the younger of the two girls, wasn't as well travelled, which was something Lena kept in mind as made sure to offer regular stops. There were short breaks where they could focus less on travel and more on play and long ones, where the nights were spent curled up fast asleep, ready to greet the new day with replenished energy.

The black pup never requested a stop—either due to stubbornness to prove she could do it, or just wanting to show that she was just as capable as every other wolf—so Lena was more than happy to be the one to ask to kick her paws up. She felt like she'd done more than enough long distance walking to last her a couple of years, considering where she'd come from to even arrive in Relic Lore.

It was also incredibly difficult traversing mountains in winter, so making sure the adrenaline was out of her system helped Lena focus. After all, there was ice and snow that made what would usually be easy routes dangerous, and until solid ground was found the two would have to be quiet and well behaved, as to not disturb the tonnes of white powder. Avalanches were not fun and Lena would have no part in their chaos. The moment they felt mountain stone underfoot though, all rules were off the table, and the Bend wolves could actually enjoy the peace and quiet such a high place offered. By making noise. And burning energy that they probably should have been saving for running and walking.

But no one was watching them, so did it really matter that they were trying to shake off the anxious tension that Oak Tree Bend seemed to be plagued by? Not to Lena. Letting a kid enjoy herself in such a rough time was way more important than getting the job done super quickly.

“It's got flat ground, kinda, and a good view. I reckon you could see Oak Tree Bend from up here!” She grinned at Lila, tail wagging as she lowered to a sit, with paws throbbing from the amount of walking it had taken to get this far. “You know, I'm proper glad I have such an experienced mountaineer to help me along, else I'd be in serious trouble on some of these slopes.” She tossed in a playful wink, just for good measure.

Lena squinted, neck craning forward, before giving a long, drawn out and very theatrical “hmmm” in response. She might have been exaggerating a little bit about being able to see Oak Tree Bend—she wasn't a bird, so she could have no idea how the bend's patch of canopy was different to the rest of the wood—but this was all meant to be an encouragement boost for her young travelling companion. After all, praise meant revitalised vigor! Or something like that. So finally, after an age, Lena straightened her position and, with a wage of her tail, beamed down at Lila. “Yep! I think that's it! Good eye!”

With a chuckle and a twinkle in her eye, Lena lowered herself down so she was laying on the cold stone beneath. “Nah. I was a little bit older than you, I think. I have a family, back home, and … and I miss 'em. But, I had a point to prove, I came searchin' for answers.” And got more than I bargined for, not that I'm complainin'. “Y'see, I came here from pretty far away. So I guess I picked up a few things whilst travellin'. I wouldn't recommend it though. I think my paws nearly dropped off by the end of it all!”

She wasn't looking forward to the journey back either. She had a life here now, had friends and an uncle and a grandfather. Leaving would be tough—it'd be heart breaking for everyone—but this couldn't possibly be a permanent arrangement, could it? She knew it. Serach knew it. And yet …

“Anyway, let's get some shut eye, yeah? S'almost high moon.” Lena rolled onto her back and stretched her legs into the air as if trying to kick at the stars. “Unless y'wanted to do somethin' else?”