He held no favor to move far from home since the snow had first blanketed the Glen only months before. The harshness of the season had denied any passage past the mountain - a lesson unfortunately learned by the fallen Inkheart. The swarthy male would still best his thoughts form time to time, lulling him to a stoical silence as the countless faces of his pack had drifted away.. whether by death, or by mere disappearance. Inkheart had only been one of many, followed in turn by the beloved Lucero, and even the inky healer, @Eek. The pack had once thrived upon large numbers, and yet now they were a kingdom dwindled -- worse still, he barely recognized the members he called 'pack,' and while he might have been the one to accept them within his haven, it did not seem to stir the same bond of brethern he had felt with the original members of the pack.

His paws led him astray though, on this day. He had left before dawn broke across the land and still the ivory beast did not see fit to turn back. He had not spoken to @Borlla since the day of their misdeed to Oak Tree Bend, and he had not attempted such. His nights were spent sleeping outside of the den they had dug the prior year -- she was bearing the next generation of the Glen cubs, and yet he could not bring himself to look at her yet. He was not even sure he knew her anymore.

So he traveled, steering clear of the crimson hills where he had found his son's frozen and lifeless form. Away from the serene retreat that he called home.. and toward the more testing terrain of the rocky slopes. He had crossed the mountain twice now, and yet it was not something that had beckoned to him until today. Unsure of where his paws led him, his mind played back to the days of Willow Ridge. Would this year have been different, had he stayed? If he had raised @Elettra 's children, would they have come to call him father? The ebony she-wolf had not been thought of during the winter months, and yet now, with Borlla's betrayal to the pack and her childish decision, he found his thoughts straying to the curves of her figure once more.

It was the sharp metallic scent of blood that pulled him from these musings, and as he loped along the base of the mountain, it was then his bright eyes would find the small trail of the red liquid. Blinking, he followed the trail, his eyes finally landing upon the creamy figure of a she-wolf.. unmoving. Stiffening, the regal creature prowled forward now, his muscles taut as he regarded her still form silently. Dead, perhaps? Another taken by the mountain's wrath.. it was certainly well named. And yet just then his eyes caught the ever so gentle rise and fall of her chest, indicating life remained in her lungs. Moving closer, his muzzle swung down, nudging her cheek gingerly, though a stoical mask lay upon his facade.

The ivory regal pondered the situation at this point -- the whine that escaped the creature's muzzle was testament to the pain that likely coursed across her body, and the gentle curling of her body as she attempted to remove herself from his touch. She meant nothing to him -- or so, logic would argue. And yet as his eyes skimmed across her battered figure, he was harshly reminded of Borlla and the treacherous fall she had taken the past autumn.

It was because of this that the rogue became something more.

He shifted his weight then, a soft sigh pressing past his lips as all tension escaped him. His eyes roved her figure, seeking out the injuries to determine whether she could even possibly live or not.. perhaps, the most kind thing to do would be to simply end her suffering and allow her to pass in to the next life. And yet his inspection thus far seemed to prove the point as moot. Blood seemed to come from her head, which was of concern -- trauma to such a tender area could be great. Otherwise, she seemed more battered, spare for a few cuts... and perhaps the limb she seemed to favor and move awkwardly when curling.

You'll want to lie still, he determined softly, his fiery eyes falling upon the crown of her head. That mountain can be unforgivable.. It was a gentle rumble, and while it seemed light in nature, it was certainly no joke. Magnolia Glen had suffered many times from its dangerous slopes. Yet now, unfortunately, they found themselves without a healer. Where does it hurt the most?

Having been stern before in his ways to an extent, the winter that had passed as well as the loss of his son and countless pack mates had jade him deeply – gone was the trust that lingered from his eyes upon a new soul, or the prospect of a lone wolf seeking refuge to his home. Each wolf that had deemed loyalty to the Glen through the harsher winter months had left spare for one – the very one he had punished the most, @Neoma. Her presence was still only tolerated, though the punishment was not in turn to make her feel inferior, but to give her realization of how to hold oneself among the hierarchy of wolves.

Now, as he looked down upon the creamy female, he was sorely reminded of Borlla’s own tumble.. and yet also removed from the pain and sympathy he had felt for his mate. When they had brought her battered body back to him.. he would have given anything to have traded places with her.. to endure the pain and the healing that would need to occur. He did not feel that here – could not bring himself to care so much for a stranger, and yet his empathy had not faded from him fully.

His eyes scoured her figure, noting the cuts, the crimson that stained her fur. His eyes lingered upon the sharp rock embedded within her, allowing a rumble of displeasure to sneak past his lips at the sight. He was no healer, nor did the Glen hold one in their ranks after Eek’s disappearance. Yet even he knew it could not stay there.

Slipping around her, the alabaster wolf lowered his muzzle to inspect the rock closer, his eyes only briefly flickering over her features to gauge her reaction to his invasion of her privacy. I have a pack a few hours from here. We do not have a healer, but you can rest within our lands until you are well again and seek to leave. There was a small pause as he straightened slightly, his eyes regarding her quietly. But we’ll need to remove that before you walk.

She seemed not to want his aid – her ears slid back at the prospect of more pain, and yet no word or even sound of complaint escaped her muzzle at that point. Already he wondered about her – was she loyal? Such a wolf as herself could certainly do well in the Glen, and was even perhaps what the pack needed at this time after the winter months had finally shed away. First, however, there was the task of getting her there.. and then allowing her time to heal.

She was a brave thing he noted, as her muzzle gripped to the rock. His fiery eyes swept over her features as she pulled, releasing the wound and blood.. her own jaws clenching slightly to the hardened stone. He did not flinch outwardly, though within he could only imagine the pain she felt now. As she hobbled to her paws, his eyes once more moved to her wound, seeing if the blood would slow at all. It would do them no good to have her die of blood loss during their travels.. and even then, Magnolia Glen was without a healer – was he truly doing her any favors by bringing her home with him?

Eastern of here, he ushered, turning now and beginning to climb down the now more even side of the mountain to reach the base. My lands are called Magnolia Glen. His muzzle would swing back every so often to catch glimpse of her, reassuring himself she was still able to follow him as he slowed his pace for the injured she-wolf. As they moved, his nose quivered, his eyes moving from the horizon that promised him home and to the remains of a carcass. Chuffing softly, he slipped forward, his nose pressing to the meat as he looked it over. It seemed perfectly edible. Sidestepping, his muzzle dipped in her direction, beckoning her to his side to see if she wanted something to settle her stomach before he took a chunk for himself – and more importantly, a piece that would feed his mate and children.

With nourishment in their belly, the male was more confident she would last their travel, and without another word after a few silent moments, he lead her to her new home.