Lorcan awoke slowly from a long, blissful sleep. Groggily his dark lashes fluttered open and his bright golden eyes peered out into the familiar darkness which filled the infirmary chamber. The first thing the male noticed was how quiet it was. There were no voices echoing down from the higher chambers of the communal den and it seemed that not even the birds were feeling particularly vocal at that hour. This only made him wonder if perhaps he had managed to wake up in the middle of the night.

The male released a weary sigh and placed his chin on his outstretched paws.

He missed all the social interaction that came with being in a pack. Lorcan enjoyed the company of other wolves and it was something he particularly craved now after being cooped up in the dark on his own for so long. Furrowing his brows stubbornly, he turned his gaze towards the gloomy tunnel which linked the infirmary to the main den and licked anxiously at his lips. A soft whine whistled in his dry throat, quietly calling out to anybody who may have been close enough to hear him.

Much to the male’s relief, it wasn’t long after his pitiful attempt to gain himself some company that he heard the tell-tale scratching of somebody crawling down towards him. Pricking his ears up curiously and giving a few enthusiastic sniffs towards the entrance tunnel, Lorcan could not control his excitement as he smelt it to be young @Adeltra. His tail thumped eagerly against the hard stone of the infirmary chamber as he spotted dark form finally enter.

“Much better now that you have come to visit.” He quickly admitted in response to her usual question, having genuinely looked forward to her next arrival.

Sighing more contentedly this time, Lorcan rolled lazily over onto his side and released some of his excitement by rubbing his muzzle up against the soft furs that lined the infirmary floor. The male felt relaxed around the girl. She was sweet and innocent and in some ways she reminded him of his own daughter, for he guessed them to both be around the same age.

Falling still again, he lifted his head to glance up towards her, searching for her warm amber gaze. “Where is everyone? It sounds so quiet up there today…” He asked in a whisper, not actually knowing if the sun was even up anymore or if everyone was actually asleep, as he remembered how eerily quiet the dens had been before she had arrived.

Lorcan offered a warm smile towards @Adeltra as she made herself comfortable beside him, watching out of the corner of his eye as she lay down upon the various furs which scattered the infirmary floor. The dark chamber was easily large enough for the both of them, which pleased him, as he hoped to enjoy some time in the young girl’s company.

He felt a little foolish when he heard that it was only mid-afternoon and that the rest of the pack were just busy with their duties. “Oh..” He said, his voice breaking out of embarrassment as he diverted his gaze awkwardly. “What about you? What have you been doing?” He asked quickly, trying to brush off his previous mistake, as his curious golden eyes rose to meet her amber gaze again.

The male felt a little nervous when he caught the dark girl staring at him. Lorcan pushed his ears back against his head and swept his tongue awkwardly across his charcoal lips, waiting for her to say something. The question Adeltra then posed to him caught him by surprise. His golden eyes widened and then glanced towards the gloomy tunnel which exited the infirmary chamber, unsure. The thought of basking in the sunlight was appealing. “Do you think your mother and the others would mind?” He asked, giving an eager wave of his tail, as he shifted to crawl closer towards the exit tunnel.

The male nodded in confirmation before listening to Adeltra explain what she had spent her time doing that morning. A single white brow raised at her answer. Ravenna had put her on border patrol, which was no small deal. It was vital for the survival of the pack that the borders remained clearly marked. It was also a role which came with a risk of danger. There was no telling who the young girl could meet at the edge of the territory.

Lorcan’s thoughts drifted to his daughter then, as he wondered what @Inna and Lachesis had Oksana doing each day. If she was anything like her mother, she would make an excellent guardian or hunter.

Golden eyes blinked as his mind returned to the present and he refocused on the dark girl in front of him. “That is a big responsibility for someone your age.” He commented with a friendly wave of his tail and small smile. “Does the guardian role interest you?” Lorcan was curious. She was still young, and perhaps a little small, but with some determination and a bit of training he was confident she could make an efficient guardian for Willow Ridge. After all, Adeltra had been the first to find him at the borders.

Lorcan inched his way towards the tunnel which exited the infirmary and lead upwards to the main den chamber, but paused to ask Adeltra if she was sure when he became uncertain about if he was permitted to leave. His ears perked up when she quickly corrected him about Ravenna being her mother, then flattened back down awkwardly. He should have known better by now than to presume. The male felt silent as he sensed a sadness wash over the girl and, after some coaxing, shuffled his way carefully through the small tunnel and into the main den chamber.

Immediately his dark lashes clenched shut, reacting to the bright ray of sunlight that beamed into the large chamber and made his eyes burn. Crawling blindly towards the warmth of the sun, Lorcan curled himself up near the cave entrance and turned back to peer towards @Adeltra as his eyes continued to adjust. “H-how long has your mother been gone for?” He asked nervously, unsure if the question would just upset the girl further.

The corners of his charcoal lips curled up into an amused smile when Adeltra confessed to being nosy. Despite her embarrassment, Lorcan did not believe there was anything wrong with the girl’s curiosity. The more she knew and learnt, the greater the chances of her avoiding trouble. The male nodded his head with interest, his golden eyes staring at her through the gloom of the infirmary chamber, before he commented. “Maybe you would make a good scout instead.” A single brow raised. Lorcan was curious to see how she would react to his suggestion. “It’s something to think about.” He added with a casual shrug of his shoulders.

As Lorcan settled down at the mouth of the den, bathed beneath a ray of golden sunlight, he turned back to see the dark figure of the girl as she followed up behind him. The male released a soft sigh as Adeltra then moved to rest up beside him, her dark fur pressed into the pale fur of his side, much like Oksana’s had. Though it made him a little sad, Lorcan did not protest. The girl had been so kind to him, he did not wish to push her away simply because she reminded him of his daughter, so carefully the male adjusted his body slightly to allow @Adeltra to get comfortable.

Lorcan wasn’t sure if he should have asked about the girl’s mother, but as always, his curiosity got the better of him. He was relieved when he noticed the small smile that pulled at her lips before she answered him, happy to know that he had not upset her too much with his question. The male listened eagerly. Her story was one that Lorcan himself could relate and empathise with. When she began to blame herself, the father wished to interject, but he didn’t. He let her finish before he responded.

“You shouldn’t listen to your brother.” He began, leaning over to give the girl a gentle nudge, a caring smile gracing his scarred features. “Maybe someone would have found you if you’d stayed put, or maybe the storm would have washed your scent away and you would have starved out there on your own. It’s difficult to tell in those kind of situations…” He explained, hoping that it would help Adeltra not to be too harsh on herself. “I was caught out by a flash flood in my last pack and went missing for over a month. I felt awful for making my family and pack worry about me, but it couldn’t be helped. Sometimes these things just happen.” He said quietly, before finally turning his gaze towards the bright snow-covered terrain outside.

“I’m sure your mother will return home soon though. She must miss you both.” Lorcan added optimistically, as a last word of encouragement.