@Leo and @Magg still hadn't returned from their scouting trip and Nash was trying very hard not to worry... but so much could have gone wrong. He knew there were avalanches in the pass and while there had been no sign of either wolf it didn't mean they weren't buried somewhere, waiting for the spring thaw to reveal the loss. Nash knew the pair were skilled and while Leo was with her, nothing would happen to Magg. He wouldn't allow it. He was dependable. So for now, Nash patrolled a wider range to make up for the loss of his guardians.

Today he journeyed to the far side of the lake, a place he no longer spent a lot of time. He knew he should come here more to look for signs of bear or cougar, but the further he was from home the longer it would take for him to get there if something happened. Apparently today was a good day for this, because he heard a call announcing a presence. His ears perked. This was the sort of thing he was used to hearing at their borders, not here. Still he turned his paws and picked up his pace until he saw the youngster waiting at the mouth of the poison path. It was a lucky thing it was winter and most of the plants were currently covered by snow. "Hello," Nash said amicably, trotting closer to the stranger. "I'm Nash, the leader of the pack across the lake. How can I help you?" Clearly he wanted something, or he wouldn't have called out.

The boy seemed both young and nervous, so Nash sat to try and make himself less intimidating. He knew he could be, especially now that he was used to carrying himself as a leader. He smiled as Cypress introduced himself and rambled about the paths. "There's a lot of nightshade here," he explained. "It's poisonous, but a long time ago someone lived here, and their paths remain. We call the place Poison Path. My pack, Sanguine Cove, is on the opposite side of the lake."

Cypress continued on, asking for a place to stay, and Nash's ears pricked in interest. "We would be happy to have you at the Cove. We're small at the moment, but our resolve is strong and we take good care of our own. Have you lived on a mountain before?" It was an important question, he felt; there would be things to teach the boy if he hadn't lived like this in the past.

Nash couldn't help but smile at the boy's attitude. It would be good to have someone so optimistic in their ranks. Good for Magg, when she returned. It would be good for her to have another friend, especially if they didn't find Galen. He was nervous with how long they'd been gone. Still, it was winter and the snow was deep; maybe they were just going slow to stay safe.

Everything would be fine.

He chuffed out a small laugh. "Travel can be good for the soul," he said. "It brings experience, and if you have successfully travelled far, it means you are adaptable enough to survive in the special challenges a mountain offers. We can teach you." Nash got the impression he would be an avid learner, anyway. Maybe Diantha would appreciate having someone to direct; she could use a task and mentoring another yearling would be a good place to start.