It had taken days, though weeks was more telling of the length of his absence, but slowly he had managed to pepper his way back across the mountainous path that had blocked him for so long. The mysterious valley to the east of the Pass was not a gradual decline into forest like the side of the Pass he was familiar with, it had been an abrupt fall and a crashing land that had seen him in the unknown territory instead of the gruelling, but undeniably more gentle, incline from the west. The storm had felt sudden and abrupt to Indru when it had struck, the weather hadn't been pleasant, but it certainly wasn't dangerous, however it seemed with each of the steps that took him further up the Serpent's Pass it had only gotten worse above him without his notice. The volatile and dangerous nature of the mountains were not new to Indru, they had always been prone to avalanches and rock falls, but coupled with the alarming storms that have happened of late the damage of the rocks only intensified and it had not been hard for Indru to lose his grip on the crumbling surface and tumble down much further than he had gone before.

Beyond cuts, bruises and an ache from a pulled muscle that still left a slight limp on his hind leg Indru had not suffered many injuries but it did not take him long to realise that crossing back from the Pass was futile, at least with the bad weather. He had howled until his voice was hoarse but the winds from the storm had tossed them away idly, not helping the distance that he already needed them to travel and he was almost certain his howls had been useless. It was worse being trapped when he knew his family, his pack, was so nearby but without an accessible route hunger soon forced him down into a part of Relic Lore he had never stumbled into before. Each day he had searched for a pathway back but for a few weeks he was forced to retreat, defeated, for either shelter or food. It was only two days ago that he had made leeway, and a new rock fall had caused a ridge to collapse into something that could almost be a slope, but it was enough for Indru to scale the Pass enough that he was able to clamber out of the hidden valley and slowly navigate the treacherous mountain once more.

His crossing had been as quick as he had be able to make it, with snatches of sleep and even less snatches of food and while it was with a clearly much more malnourished form and bloody paws he had never been more relieved to be able to catch site of his familiar Relic Lore in the distance. Rather feebly he tired to howl once more, but his throat lacked the strength to make it carry as much as he wanted from the many weeks he spent howling desperately and instead he contented himself with half loping and half sliding down the incline back home. It was on this return journey, that took longer with him leaving a blood trail with his paws behind him, that he let his anxieties about his absence really set in. He had been missing during most of the breeding season, perhaps the most important time in the year for the leading pair and undeniable the most tense. Fear curled his stomach at thoughts of what could have happened, had Corinna mated with another? He wouldn't blame her, in his absence, but even the thought left him with a ache much worse than any physical wound could hurt. But worse, had she been ousted by another? A opportunistic mated pair perhaps, and then was she injured? A tremor of fear when through him as he thought of the fate of his cubs could have faced. The thoughts only made him move quicker.

He hurried home, but it was much slower than he wanted (as any speed would be), and all his energy went into maintaining his steady lope through the exhaustion his body felt. He was easy prey at the moment, he knew it, so unaware but at the moment he was not interested in anything but smelling her fresh, uninjured, scent along those borders. If Cori was safe he knew undoubtedly so were their children. Soon he reached forest, and then even sooner he neared the borders and though if he had sense he perhaps would have approached more cautiously, in case something had gone wrong, he could not bring himself to slow down as he rushed through the Grove, covered in dust from the Pass and still leaving a blood trail at his feet. A howl, one he would always recognise, broke out suddenly from nearby, closer than he would of dared wish for, and immediately he homed in, yowling in his newly hoarse voice as he neared her, unsure he would be able to even attempt a returning howl.

She didn't hesitate in her approach and neither did he, he was always so relieved, kept from her as he had been, it never registered straight away that she could be mad at him, that she didn't know what had happened. His tail waved furiously despite his exhaustion and his eyes closed in wave of contentment as he felt her nose press into his fur and he turned his head slightly to nip gently at her cheek before licking her softly around the base of her ears. She spoke then and it was here that his realisation kicked in and whined under his breath, pushing his nose against the side of her muzzle in a quick, but no less heartfelt, apology before he explained. I was climbing the pass, like usual, and it was fine when I left but by the time I reached the top a storm had hit and it's so treacherous sometimes but never this bad and I was deciding whether to climb back down or wait it out a huge rock fall had begun and I lost my balance and slipped down the other side. It came out in a rush, his voice cracking painfully both from lack of practice talking (these had been solitary weeks after all) and from the excessive time he had spent howling. I tried to climb back up, he began, slower, less panicked now, but, it's different to this side. It's a sharp, drop not this incline, and there was just no way anywhere. His tone on the last word expressed his anguish and frustration, knowing that his family were over the mountain just out of his reach and unaware had been impossible.

I tried howling—my voice, it's why it's like this—but it was useless even in perfect conditions I wasn't sure it would carry but most of the time it was storms. A exasperated sigh escaped him and instinctively he pushed his cheek against hers in comfort, reassuring himself she was safe, nuzzling into her nape. I had to eventually travel down into this part of Relic Lore I've never been in or starve and I kept trying to find away but it was only 2 days ago I managed it. Another rock fall gave me a route up and I came back as quick as I could. The run down as as basic as he could make it but Indru could only hope she would know how much he would have tried to get back. Life alone held no lure for Indru, and even less so since he had found Cori and started their family. I'm so sorry. He whispered back at last, defeated, as he waited for her to take it in.

When he finished she stepped back and he let her, watching her carefully but more than willing to give her space to think everything over. A hush fell between them but Indru took the opportunity to glance over here, comfort in her healthy state calming his anxieties at her being injured, and then in turn he knew the cubs were safe. If her mental state wasn't enough of a tell, Indru could smell them distinctly on her fur, mingled in with their mothers scent, and he couldn't help himself drawing in the smell and relishing in the comfort of it as he waited for Corinna.

He let her speak without interruption as she had done him, both eager to hear her voice and the information she supplied him even though his anger at himself for his absence rose familiarly again. Panic flared through him and echoed on his face at the mention of the den and more specifically Kisla and it was only rational thought of Cori being able to discuss it so calmly that kept him from interrupting. The shewolf, Naira, rung a bell but his memory of her was foggy and vague but even so it did not stop the feeling of rage she now summoned in him. To threaten Corinna's rights to motherhood was among the biggest crimes to Indru and it was not something he planned to let slide.

As her voice broke he closed the gap between them, unable not to comfort her and pushed himself against her, mingling their fur, as he tried to give her the strength he wasn't even sure he had himself. I'm sorry, he began, a whine curling under his words and he nipped along the side of her throat, I'm so sorry, he whispered again as he neared her ears, his tongue washing the fur around them lovingly. Then slowly he leaned forward to try and gently curl his jaws around hers, dominance far from his mind with the soft grip he held that Corinna could easily break, it was comfort he wished to give, a reassurance that he was back and that they were still bonded. Corinna was undeniably strong, but Indru was trying to show he could share her burdens now if she wished it.

There was always something missing when Indru wasn't home, even if it was just a simple journey outside the borders, but when he was away for a prolonged while the relief he felt when returning was physically noticeable, he felt replenished even after his long journey home and lack of food in his stomach. It wouldn't be an immediate process but steps were being taken in the right direction to strengthen the pack to it's full capacity once more, and with Corinna so nearby and safe he couldn't be too worried.

He was relieved she could take comfort from him as he was willing to soothe her burdens in any way she needed him too. After a time she broke the gentle hold he had on her muzzle and he put up no resistance even though he was unable to resist quickly licking the side of her muzzle as she drew away from him, his infamous toothy smirk flashing on his muzzle briefly as he did so, tail waving. His heart soared to be near her again, and to know that their cubs were so nearby and safe. He loved Cori effortlessly and he knew it was only her that would ever have the ability to give him the energy of a cub when he was so exhausted previously.

If you're going, he retorted quickly at her question, a smile curling his face as he pushed himself up against her, rubbing their fur together and relishing in the fact that his fur would soon be covered with the smell of her and vice versa. Wherever you go, I go. It would be a long while before he dared stray far (perhaps even before he was allowed) as it seemed things were not in his favour when he did explore, and nothing would take him from her and their cubs now. At her next words he smiled softly, excitement filling him as he thought of the three bodies that were the only things in the world that could compete with the love he held for the one pressed up against him. I missed you so much, he whispered as he pushed his nose deep into her fur and inhaled, drawing both of their fresh scents into his nose as mixed as they now were.

A smile curled his muzzle as he felt his mate's teeth nip gently at his shoulder and he turned to watch her from the corner of his eye, seeing her checking his wellbeing like she had earlier. It had not been so bad, though he had ate sparingly and very small meals due to his much greater interest in finding a way home and the difficult of the terrain to hunt, he had manage to at least keep most of his physical prowess and strength and his exhaustion at the long journey home was only temporary.

At Corinna's mention of the other members of the pack, more specifically Triell, apprehension curled in his stomach. Besides Corinna and their cubs it was Triell's opinion that Indru valued most highly, he was not as certain of how his return would be received as Corinna was, but regardless he would be over the moon to be able to see Triell again. However, before he was lost in his worrying thoughts for too long he felt Corinna's tongue wash over his raw paws soothingly and he lowered his head to nip gently at her ears in thanks as she continued to clean his wounds.

As much as he didn't want her to have to miss him, he couldn't help but be relieved that she had in his absence, especially when the rawness of being parted from her and his family was still fresh. He watched her green eyes close and sighed lightly under his breath, wondering whether the happy smile on his face was now a permanent fixture. Home was not something he thought he would ever take lightly now, and was she mentioned it his tail waved as his smile turned into a grin in response, a playfully indignant yowl escaping him as she bounded past and separated them. As she looked back he saw the invitation in her eyes to follow and he rushed forward with little thought for any injuries but only to close the gap between them. As he reached her tail he slowed his pace and nipped along her side, from her back leg to her nape, as he drew pace and walked besides her, brushing his fur up against her once again as determined as he was not to leave her side wherever she was going at the moment.