He had made the climb before, it wasn’t any easier here and now than it had been before. By the time he managed to sniff out the lake he was admittedly a little short on breath. A large wolf he was, a brawler, clear in his stance and his frame, but he was not an agile beast, and his weight only really slowed him down on climbs like this. If he hoped to make this place his home, he was going to have to work on his mountain climbing that was for sure.

Tentatively, he sniffed at the borders. So it was Athena now? He knew she had it in her, he had considered her himself, once. But it was never meant to be. He certainly wasn’t Leader material. He wasn’t even really pack wolf material... but the winter was coming.

The thought crossed his mind then... Winter, on the mountain? Was this really a smart move? Yes he had a ridiculously thick coat, but it would be a long trek down to find company... and again he wondered if he should have gone by the Hollow first... and there was that pretty little thing near the willows...

As the wind changed direction, he picked up on the last scent he expected to find here. With a snort his mind was set. Loopy bitch was here, he was going back down. But it couldn’t hurt to catch up. The howl was short and to the point. He waited.

His silvery tail waved behind him like a banner as the smaller woman approached. Her shiny white coat certainly was a sight for sore eyes. He trotted towards her happily as she yelled out to him, his answering bark of laughter sending a flock of small birds from a nearby tree into the air. It truly had been far too long.

He gave Athena a nudge to the cheek in greeting, as he took a moment to look around. This place was something different alright... the atmosphere had changed with the absence of Naira and Rhysis. He still couldn’t decide if it was for the better. He did miss the crazy black bastard at times.

“Well, there’s not much challenge in sheep and dogs just can’t hold a conversation like you can...” he quipped back at the new leader on the mountain with a teasing glint in his eye. She smelled strongly of another male and although that had never stopped him before, he would keep this one at the level of playful banter.

He had needed to get away from it all for a while, and the dart to the arse and waking up back in the woods had been enough to convince him it was time to go home. “So come on, spill...” he started with a smile. “Was it you that ate Hawke? Because I couldn’t find her anywhere...” he finished with a chuckle. He knew she would not weep over the news, but he did have some other catching up to do.

Turning serious, he met the lady’s fiery eyes. “But seriously, how long has there been a pack in the Willows? I go on vacation and everything falls apart behind me hmm?” He had more to mention about the pack in the Willows but he didn’t want to weigh her down all at once with his mindless banter. It was polite to take some time to listen as well.