Silence on the border. The dark leader was letting go of himself, leaving things behind, letting his mind fragment away. Thoughts of Azariah were released onto the ice cold wind. For once he began to feel warm, Nina had been a pillar for him, and now it was time for him to do the same for the pack. For he had to be his strongest to prepared the pack for spring, when he knew Koda's challenge would come. If the dark male lost to him, would the pack be protected? would @Nina be protected? would he have more children only to leave again? Hollow didn't even know if he could withstand losing everything he had built in Koda's absence. It seemed that soon everything had to shift one way or another and the Nite male did not know what would happen, or what would become of him. Though he hoped desperately for the pack to be okay.

Snow had settled onto his shoulders and he sighed letting his anxiety leave for a moment, everything was fine, Hollow still ruled the pack with Nina, he had time to get everyone situated before spring. Plus they were not yet deathly starved, as long as winter eased it's grip soon as it should they would survived. a twinge of pride caught Hollow off guard, Bane and Ashton, along with Danica would all be yearlings soon. True wolves whom could either leave or stay, but they would be adults. Hollow grinned at the thought, if that was what being a father would be like, Hollow hoped one day he could feel it again. But his ultimate goal was achieved, Azariah was gone, where he did not know, but it not seem that she would ever return. Hollow was letting her go.

The cold was still bitter and the wind sliced through everything like a hot blade. It felt as though fire had sunged his ears numb and his paws were much the same. His thoughts had sorted themselves with the admission that Azariah was gone, it was very simple, Winter then spring. They needed to make it through the cold first and the only way to do that would be with two strong leaders. Not one whom couldn't keep his head, With that thought he felt he had finally straigtened everything out, and his other problems could be focused on. The pups would need feeding, the pack would need to eat as much as possible with the sparse food he had to work hard and neglect his beloved borders some to acheive this goal.

A scent drifted to him just as he heard Nina's voice, and her teeth chattering loudly in the cold. "Clearing my head." as he spoke his words came in a cloud of white smoke. It was then that he realized how cold Nina must be for the chill was beginning to tear back into his body causing small vibrations to start from his legs and travel up. "Come, back into the trees, we must find somewhere warmer to t-talk." he said, chattering his own last word as he rose. The movement caused a great wind to suddenly freeze him to the bone.

With that, Hollow began to pres against Nina in attempt to make her move. Once again a tingling sensation was brought about by feeling her next to him, but it was ignored, It was cold and he could share his body heat with her for their short journey to a small cluster of dead trees he had only just spotted. If anything it would provide warmth.

His mind caught fire when she asked. When Nina asked help of him, it seemed she had problems so major that they made his seem pale and insignificant. But Hollow felt as though the answer to this was double sided. On one side he had been her mate, and if she wished to keep that, it would mean she was being unfaithful. But in the same stretch, If he had wrecked her heart badly enough with his leaving then she wasn't being unfaithful. In truth it was almost impossible to answer. But Hollow knew that in his heart, after what had happened with Azariah leaving, he could never love her the same way again. As much as the dark male loved her, she had betrayed his heart.

"I think your heart knows the best answer to that Nina. Which means you already know whether or not he is still your mate. But you either have avoided the answer or don't want to know. All I know is that if Azariah were to come home right now I would be thrilled... But I know I could never see her the same way. If it helps any." Hollow was looking at her now, as if she had both her eyes, so un concerned by her lack of an eye. He had become almost oblivious of the fact that it was missing. His breath rolled out in clouds of white, but the trees had already helped to break up the wind enough to warm him and he tried to block what he could for Nina.

Silence surrounded them for a few short moments before Nina's voice met his ears, her eye was shining and her lips parted in a small smile. Hollow felt himself warm substantially at it, when she told him he sounded like her. It was true the dark male spent a lot of time around Nina, but he had never found her speech strange as so many others had. But then maybe that was why it wasn't a far stretch for him to sound like the she wolf he lead beside. A smile played upon his own facade as he replied, "Well Nina, there are worse wolves to sound like."He felt her connect with his shoulder and another shot of electricity went down his spine. Hollow shuddered a little and focused once more as her head turned away to stare into the thickets.

She seemed deep in thought for long moments and Hollow began to wonder what it was she was thinking of, for if she renounced Koda as a mate, Hollow truly did not know what any of it would mean... would that make him her mate? Would he want that? Why would he not want that? Would another male challenge him? There were so many questions, and every single one of them surfaced as the words left her lips. A glance in his direction sent an odd spike down his spine, almost as if he wanted to hear that. But Hollow kept himself stable, and instead of falling to pieces in confusion he simply asked her "So what will you do now Nina?" His face was calm and solid, but if she could see underneath, the dark male shuddered at the thought.

Nina leaned into the dark male, and he into her, his head rested on hers. Hollow felt right now, with Nina by his side like this, as though they had gone from young wild male saved by a regal lady, to so much more. He felt in his heart that things were swaying in that direction anyways, and honestly betrayals all slipped from his mind as he enjoyed the feel of her pressed against him. Hollow inhaled Nina's scent and said nothing while she answered him but he made a noise of acknowledgement deep in his chest. The deep rumble faded away as the she wolf next to him seemed to drift away for a moment and the dark male was caught off guard. When the scent crossed her it hit him as well and he moved in tandem as he felt her stir.

Hollow strode with Nina at first in silence then just before they reached the carcass, he brushed his muzzle across hers. When he withdrew his head he spoke in her ear. "You first, miss Nina." His eyes held a teasing glow in them for her, trying to loosen her mood. Hopefully it would work, meanwhile Hollow let her eat her fill before gorging himself on the carcass as well. It wasn't the best meal but it was the best he'd had in a while, as he cleaned the blood from his paws and muzzle the dark male paused to say her once. "Something is still on your mind Nina, I can tell." He finished cleaning his paws and stared intently at her, waiting for the she wolf to respond, Nina should know him well enough to see that he payed attention to everything, Hollow was a protector of every threat, inner and outer to everyone who so needed it, as long as he could.