Lost Lake As Much As I Ever Could

<blockquote>The sound of raindrops pelting down upon the wilderness soothed his wandering mind. It seemed as though change had finally descended upon Grizzly Hollow, and as hard as it had been to swallow the whole of his pride, he truly was glad that he and Borden were able to reconcile their differences.

With leadership now in the Lyall's hand, the Attaya was free to pursue his own desires, and he would begin by <i>finding her.</i> The little black bird he'd crossed during his last passage through the lakeland had, amazingly, branded a part of his heart with her gentle stare, and though weeks had passed since they'd met, he'd yet to end a day without thoughts of the shewolf. Was she okay, or even still in Relic Lore? Had she found success in the pack she'd waited for? Moreover, <i>did she think of him as he'd thought of her?</i> A part of him realized that he may have traveled in vain, and that Ava may have forgotten all about him. Still, he <i>longed for her.</i>

As he had many times before, the black and silver wolf descended the hidden, grassy slope that led to the hole in the hill. It was miles from the small cove where they had swam and talked, quite literally on the opposite end of the territory, but he couldn't - wouldn't - ever pass his old den by without paying his respects. The mud squished between his silver tipped toes as he approached the den mouth, casually extending his neck to probe the inside. <i>Still empty</i>, though his scent had faded. Dutifully, the man marked the entrance, renewing his claim to the small area. He may not live there anymore, but it was still <i>home</i>.

Time had, as always, done the territory well. The trees were thick and green, and young cattails lined the rocky shore of the lake, which pulsed beneath the falling rain. For some time he would sit like a statue at the waters edge, paying no attention to the droplets that penetrated his near-summer coat, nor the ones that slipped down the angles of his face. Here and there, he would blink the water from his eyes.

As midnight approached, and after he'd spent some quality time with the scene he'd come to endear, the shadow of a man would lift his muzzle skyward. The smooth chord of his song beckoned to the ebony lady, echoing out across the expanse of the territory like a desolate wind swept from the mountains.

<i>Tonight, he belonged only to her.</i></blockquote>

(This post was last modified: May 01, 2012, 02:04 AM by Kade.)

( <3 ooh, look, you snagged my 100th! )

Ava's attendance at the Lake that day was nothing out of the ordinary - in fact, it was quite ordinary indeed. One of the first places she had come to explore after crossing the borders of Relic Lore had literally become her home. Be it dutiful patrols or leisurely strolls she had covered a large amount of ground for one wolf on her own. Her dark paws had contributed to maintaining the mountain passes. She knew the spots of greenery where the mountain goats liked to feast, and where the rocky protrusions of the mountains gave way to little nooks and crannies. There was the rock she had claimed as her sunbathing perch in Riddle Heights. And yet another landmark there was: the spot where her and Kade had met. She sometimes looked fondly to whenever there was a moment of peace for her thoughts, the memory always reappearing in her mind's eye without difficulty. Lettie, the sweet, white-coated female she had come across in the orchard had pointed her the way to the Cedarwood forest - where he would be waiting with open arms, if she recalled correctly. Occasionally the idea came to her, whenever she went wandering, but she had never brought herself to approach another pack's borders. It was not her place. Besides, those fledgling roots of hers had taken to the mountains with the other Poison wolves - here she was planted and here she had grown.

What was out of the ordinary was that, for once, night had fallen and her mind finally sought sleep the way her body did. Instead of staying up and watching the little lights twinkle and shine over Relic Lore, Ava had actually turned to her den when the sky turned <span class='word'>aphotic</span>. That night the air smelled so lovely of fresh fallen rain so she sought rest at the mouth of her rock-built den beyond the poison path. The rise and fall of her reclined body hadn't yet found a metronomed beat. She was nearly asleep, but still falling, when from beyond the den came a voice she had heard before. Was that song part of her dream? It had been a time or two before that her unconscious mind had drawn inspiration from him to entertain her as she slept. What drew her from the darkness that was beginning to take her mind was the proximity - that had been no distant howl.

So Ava rose, following the call like it was her leash with a curious expression - still unsure if it had been the creation of her own slipping consciousness. The usual pace with which she wound through the territory had yet to be regained, what with her injured forepaw, but the lack of flight in her steps pained her more now than it ever did when she was out hunting or patrolling. There was such a <i>want</i> driving her forward that she didn't know how to explain, but the reasons why couldn't possibly concern her now... she just really wanted to get there.

Delicately she crept just beyond the path of nightshade and almost immediately caught a sniff of Grizzly Hollow on the wind. Arlette and Jedd had carried it with them as well, but she liked it best on <i>him</i>. Before she emerged completely Ava crouched, scanning the landscape before her. The scene was equal parts surreal and serene in the darkness where the light of the moon scattered across the territory courtesy of the gently falling rain. She was very nearly holding her breath as she searched for him; every time the starlight glinted in the falling droplets of water she caught her mind creating his image. It felt like ages that she hid, eyes roving as they searched for the male who had charmed her so completely. Ava came close to making the miserable return to her den but before she could curse her mind for being so cruel, there he was. Even from the distance away she recognized the dark figure as he sat on the bank of the lake, moonlight catching the silvers in his fur almost like a spotlight, though it was hardly neccessary - Ava's attention was drawn to him without any outside help.

Her approach was silent, careful even. It had been weeks since their first encounter and she knew certainly she was a different wolf. The smell she carried in her dark fur was nothing like that with which had had stumbled upon him first. Ava couldn't help but imagine, then, that perhaps he was different too. And despite all this there was a tug at her heart that drew her forward and threw caution to the wind. There was no explaining it, but she was happy he had returned.

"<b>You're nearly tresspassing. Shouldn't you know better?</b>" she said softly as she halted behind him no more than one of her lengths away. There was no malicious intent to be found, not in her gentle tones, neither from her posture, nor from her amber eyes as they shone in the darkness. There was even less of a threat in the ghost of a smile that tugged at her dark lips. That night she did not guard or investigate for the sake of Poison Path; this was very much so personal. Ava felt as though her paws were barely touching the ground; an inkling in her mind still told her it wasn't actually him right in front of her and her sleepy thoughts had concocted the picture entirely. Eagerness was apparent in her expression, hoping his response would solidify their existance in that moment so she would know it was real.

(This post was last modified: May 01, 2012, 05:29 AM by Ava.)

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Surprise<3

<blockquote><i>"You're nearly tresspassing. Shouldn't you know better?"</i>

The rustling of the leaves, as they danced in the current of the storm's winds, faded into silence as her voice called out from darkness. An ear would swivel backward as he held his breath and stance, and he savored one last moment of suspense. <i>She always was quick with her sarcasm, </i>but her gentle tone gave her fluttering heart away. The man rose to his feet and, without even an intention of fighting the coy grin from his lips, laid his burning, silver eyes upon the shewolf. Ava - more beautiful than the lake, the storm, or the moon itself.

Bold steps would bring him closer as he searched the amber depths of her stare. He had no words to offer just yet, and instead of issuing a quick quip of his own in return, the Attaya let the silence speak.

The air was cold, the droplets that continued to fall from the glowing clouds colder as they drenched his sopping coat. It was as though the shore were covered in diamonds, sparkling and put to shame in her presence. The tone of his voice was gentle and sincere as he addressed the lady intimately.

<b>"Well,"</b> he attempted to scoff at her, <b>"please excuse my poor route of navigation - I was thinking of you so hard,<i> I must've lost my way</i>."</b>

The days that had passed since he'd last been so close were, now in hindsight, a lonely glimpse of the dark, truly solitary life he'd embraced. There were moments when he'd peer back in time to the sunset that had cast its last rays of light upon her pristine, ebony coat and honey hued eyes as they held his own, and sometimes he believed he could feel the warmth, the way the pebbles felt as he'd nuzzled his face in the sand in reluctance...But it was just that, only a vibrant memory, and he'd known at once as he'd watched her last, evening departure that it would be hard in some way to let go of something so pure, and harder to forget.

The rise and fall of his chest was slow and steady as he breathed in every inch of her scent, his nose roving past her cheek affectionately without contact. If his memory of Ava had been of her youthful qualities, the sight meeting his sore eyes was completely contradictive of what he'd remembered. She had <i>blossomed</i>, and had apparently been taken care of well. The eagerness of her disposition was not lost, and his plume would sway slowly behind him as he looked forward to every second he would give to her tonight.</blockquote>

(This post was last modified: May 02, 2012, 04:10 AM by Kade.)

Ever patient she remained as he stood and faced her, watching his approach breathlessly - every feature just as handsome as she recalled it to be and entirely spellbound by that pale gaze. The dark she-wolf hung on the silence as her ears perked forward, almost desperate to hear the same voice that had been sung in the night sky. When he finally spoke the words were as smooth and satisfying as she had hoped they would be. The smile they brought to her face could not be hidden, and the sparkle that appeared in her eye proved that she'd had thoughts of him too. And much like when he had called earlier she was drawn closer, just a delicate step to lessen their proximal distance.

"<b>You lost your way and somehow ended up at the <i>Lost</i> Lake, huh?</b>" She smirked, really unable to hold back her horrifyingly cheesy humor and completely unabashedly at that. It was curious, how comfortable he made her feel, like his very presence instilled a sense of safety in the black-coated girl. And despite his humor, which so easily broke her still demeanor and brought out the wag to her tail and the toothy grin from her pale smile, the true value of his message hadn't been lost: he had a want for her (in whatever way it was) that echoed similarily of the way her mind liked to wander and find him. It wasn't rare that she would take comfort in the strange bond they shared and how it belonged to them, and only them. There was something so special and cherished about one of those singular encounters, the way they stuck out in the haze of memories like the most vibrant and beautiful flower in the whole bunch. Ava had intended to keep theirs that way, unsure if she would ever get the chance to expand on it - and now that she had been given one she was almost at a loss with her eagerness, fearful that somehow she'd screw it up.

But she found rather quickly there wasn't room for insecurity in the electric energy that surrounded them. There was something flirtatious barely hiding in his grin that she could feel herself mirroring in her own giddy expression. And despite the rain that dripped from their dark fur, she didn't want to be anywhere but <i>here</i>, where he had come for her. Whatever feeling was burning in her chest would not be dampened by a little water. Next to him it hardly mattered that she didn't know exactly what it was about his very presence that brought her sanctuary but also a vivid excitement. Weren't predictability and passion opposites? Despite how valiantly her heart seemed to fight for both. While it was chaos in her mind that one feeling was profound: she was really delighted to see him again.

"<b>Everything's been reminding me of you lately. I'm glad you came, Kade.</b>" Ava admitted, somewhat surprised at how easily the honest words had leapt from her tongue. There were more snippets of thought that had been swimming through her head, carelessly forming sentences that didn't seem to hold much sense in them at all. She wanted to say something more, but it was easy to lose all sensibility what with the way he gazed so warmly upon her.

As he came closer, a literal hair's breadth away from touching her cheek, she grew restless for his contact. Ava wasn't known for avoiding temptation and he was just very much <i>so</i> - she knew that too well. Almost as if she were unable to control herself - but more likely that Ava just didn't want to - she would plunge her muzzle into the wet fur of his neck, the gentle push she gave him just more proof that she'd missed him. She didn't give a rat's ass what her packmates might think of the smell that would rub off on her - <i>she</i> very well liked it and that was all that mattered to her that night. For that moment she would follow his lead and float freely in the memory his scent brought back to her, bright eyes closing as she sunk in to the reverie's paradise for the brief time.

But then she would pull away, retreating from the past to look upon her present, pleasant surprise. Her grin was sly, almost prompting of him to say something about his random (and well welcomed) arrival before she went off. Ava could feel the chattiness growing from her felicity, and once she got started it was unlikely he'd make a word in edgewise. It was peculiar how she was compelled to share with him her building thoughts - she must've really liked him that much.

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<blockquote>The sparkling of his companion's eyes was <i>just</i> what he'd longed to see, and, taking her ironic notion in stride with an elated sigh, his gaze would lower to the sodden earth shyly.

<b>"Yes,"</b> he breathed lightheartedly. Reflectively, the Lost Lake mirrored a large part of the man. He had been a lost soul as long as his memory had chronicled - the irony made perfect sense, in his world. But he was quick to push such awkward inward babble away, hanging on Ava's words intently. <i>"Everything's been reminding me of you lately. I'm glad you came, Kade."</i> At first thought it was horrific to him that <i>her</i> world could be dark and dreary - scarred - as he was, enough so that the things in it could be a constant reminder...

A budding affection slowly crept deep within as he realized her words meant something much more beautiful than that.

She was irresistible, and the gravity between the dark pair was becoming increasingly unyielding - until the treasured jewel of a girl closed the shred of distance inbetween. The force of her touch was slight in comparison to the explosion of emotion he felt as he gently leaned into her body, craning his thick neck to slide his muzzle tenderly between the blades of her shoulders. As his eyes fluttered closed, he could feel the thumping of her beating heart against his chest, and it was almost as though she were a part of him. The embrace was an unexpected surprise, and one he would <i>never</i> forget.

Ava pulled away and the smile on his face widened tenfold. <b>"I wish I could flatter you by saying that I'd managed to lose my way here by chance, you know, whilst I was trying to accomplish some epic feat..."</b> The Guardian broke the hold of her gaze as his eyes wandered down the angles of her face. <b>"...but truthfully, I'm not lost. I am here <i>for you</i>."</b>

The man's chest swelled with pride as his toes gripped the sand underfoot nervously.

<b>"Just to...<i>see</i> you..."</b> The chosen words fumbled from his lips, but the Attaya was sure his honorable determination was written upon his dark, silver featured mask.

<b>"How are you?"</b>
</blockquote>

(This post was last modified: May 02, 2012, 07:55 PM by Kade.)

<i>I am here for you. Just to see you.</i> Those touching words, no matter what difficulty he'd faced in speaking them, made her feel warmer than any ray of sun ever had. Not even the night's consistent rainfall could take from her such a delight. As she returned her gold-toned eyes to his silvery gaze Ava let her bashful smile reveal that she'd caught the same feeling as he.

"<b>Well,</b>" she started carefully. It was such a simple question, but where to begin what had befallen her in what short time she'd made her stay in Relic Lore? "<b>Lost Lake is my home now. Only discrete part of it, <i>technically</i>, but isn't that funny? I think Swift River's out to get us. A tree caught on fire and almost killed me, and then the Lagoon flooded and that almost killed me too. I got in a fight with someone who might have been a legitimate psychopath. And somehow, everything still worked out. I think it might be a good life that I've found.</b>" Her words melted into a laugh; how <i>good</i> it felt to share her ridiculous trials! Ava's humor did not go long, as she peered at her companion's paws as though attempting to harvest courage from the muddy ground. "<b>Of course, the best part is that I met someone who's really great, and I think he might think I'm really great too. After all,</b>" Amber eyes flicked upon Kade once more, "<b>He did brave a storm for me.</b>"

And speaking of... there was no sense in catching hypothermia, if she wanted to continue seeing him (and she did). A sly grin plastered across her face and she loped forward, carelessly sliding against his body while her eyes sought a shelter she knew was nearby. Hopeful he would follow her lead the shadow of a girl was off, once more cursing that crazy bitch for ruining the perfect pattern of her lope. It was painful to feel the drive of excitement and be incapable of using such a bountiful adrenaline, no matter how slight the limp. Usually such a thought would've caused her blood to boil - it had several times before. But with a glance stolen in the direction of Kade she couldn't help but <i>not</i> be upset. It suddenly seemed so stupid to care about the other nonsense that went on beyond the scope of the moment right then and there, much less to get angry about it.

Their journey was pleasantly a short one. Their destination was a small protrusion, far from the mountain's finest - just a little rise of rock sticking out from the mountainside that could barely be called a cliff. But there was a large boulder alongside of it, and between that rock and the underside of the precipice was a low-roofed nook. At its best it was a nice place to stay cool during the day and it didn't even have a beautiful view of the Lake, but it would at least prevent any further saturation of their dark coats by the endless rain. A rough shake preceded her entrance tot he intimate space - since, you know, if she happened to pelt Kade with a little water it wouldn't make a difference in the rain - and she snuck far in so there would be room for the two wolves. Laying within the stone-walled confine she realized it was by no means was it <i>roomy</i>, but Ava didn't mind at all...

Once settled, she would nestle her head upon her paws, shining eyes remaining with that of her company. "<b>And what's become of you?</b>" came her question, her voice much softer now that the sound of the fall of rain had subsided.

Truth be told Ava <i>was</i> truly happy. Somehow she had settled in to Relic Lore, forging these bonds out of no where and creating her life anew. Now she was free, having emerged from a cocoon of a broken family and a wolf she used to be, and living a better life. As her eyes roved across the scars of her complex company, she was praying that he was truly happy too.

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<blockquote>Ava had quite the story to tell, feverishly unloading all sorts of juicy details to be soaked up by a wide-eyed Kade. She certainly managed to get herself into plenty of trouble, and her mention of her brushes with death raised the fur from his back. However, it was good to know that she'd found her place in Relic Lore and was enjoying pack life. Not to mention her home was the one place he'd rather be aside from the Hollow, a rather lucky circumstance. The ebony lady's next words were truly heartfelt. <i>"I met someone who's really great, and I think he might think I'm really great too. He did brave a storm for me."</i>

He reached for her delicately, landing a soft lick of affection upon her cheek. As much as he'd have liked to entertain her with a playful interrogation concerning the mysterious man whose face he'd have to rip off for gaining her interest, he offered her, instead, the words written upon his healing heart. <b>"It won't be the last storm I'll conquer <i>for you</i>."</b> He took a moment to engage her gaze reassuringly before the woman took off in her own, uniquely energetic fashion, and in an instant he was right behind her. It pained him to see the way she favored her injured paw as she danced onward, and here and there he would stretch his neck to make sure she wouldn't fall in a hole or off another cliff - God knows if there were one to fall off of, she would be the wolf to lose her balance. <b>"Careful-"</b> he would murmur from time to time.

After a short trek it would appear that Ava had found just the place she'd been looking for, or at least one that would serve to protect the pair from the elements as the storm rumbled on through the night. Distant thundering drummed to the east, and the play of lightning among the mountains' peaks illuminated the lakeland powerfully. The man was right behind her as she wiggled her way into the narrow space, plopping carelessly at her side before openly snuggling close.

<i>"And what's become of you?"</i> He smiled softly, his gaze shifting between her two vibrant amber eyes. <b>"Well..."</b> he started, taking a moment to sum up his more recent adventures. <b>"I've lost my leadership of Grizzly Hollow, though I wouldn't have it any other way. I was really only a figurehead, a stand-in until Borden returned to take his place...Borden Lyall,"</b> he clarified, sure that she wouldn't have a clue about who he was speaking of. <b>"Things in Cedarwood Forest have been in disarray since the winter months, but I think things may actually settle down. And the lady of the pack, Jaysyek Lyall, is now an expecting mother - it'll be her second litter, I believe - so that is exciting, though I've yet to see her since I'd met you. Also, we've lost a few family members..."</b> He would grow quiet, unallowing for his lips to quiver in grief over the unexpected losses. <b>"Trisden and Hocus, two of the pups, have seemed to disappear...It's been pretty hard...Our Second, or former Second, Elettra Archer has also departed from the pack, sadly. We were never the best of friends, but she was one of the few who did support my rise and I never expected to see her go."</b> All of the depressing talk only made him cherish the moments he spent with Ava now, as they hid together from the horrors of the world. <b>"Aside from all of that, well...I've been lost in my thoughts of you and my plans to find you. I am glad you were nearly where I'd left you, or else I'd have been trapsing through Relic Lore all season searching."</b>

He nibbled at the corner of her closest ear, gently licking the extraneous traces of water remaining on his companion's face. His thoughts wandered as he questioned subjectively who the psychopath who'd laid a claw or tooth on her was. Hopefully he would never come across the wolf, for if he did he would spill its blood until the rivers ran red. Quietly, he waited for any questions she might throw his way before he made the inquiry, contently leaning his head against her shoulder.</blockquote>

(This post was last modified: May 05, 2012, 05:09 AM by Kade.)

( Alright, I just have to say how literally amazing your writing is and how speechless I am every time I finish reading one of your posts <3 )

Ava welcomed him as close as he desired, pressing herself into his fur with no mind to the droplets of water that clung to his silver accents - they were both equally damp anyway. An appreciative smile appeared on her maw as she remarked inwardly how the element that had chosen them was water. Hopefully there wouldn't always be a torrential downpour during their meetings, but she gladly received the idea that perhaps something else was out for them besides their two beating hearts.

Despite the many questions that beckoned to be answered she listened as intently as she ever had before, for this was her first glimpse at what lay beneath that steel-colored gaze of his. Truth be told she knew nothing of the pack within the Cedarwood forest, having met only three of its inhabitants. One a filthy traitor, one a sweet young girl, and one the best man she'd ever met - each a standout encounter in their own right. It was easy to realize they'd helped her shape her perceptions about the man's home but had given her no insight to the life he had among the spacious trees. Borden and Jaysyek Lyall? Trisden, Hocus, Elettra Archer? Ava knew none of the names but it made their stories none less unfortunate. While he would speak of leadership lost and rocky circumstances and death and departure, the dark she-wolf would snuggle closer and nuzzle her head into his strong shoulder - just a brief reminder that, at least now, he was not alone. A comforting flick of her tongue sought Kade's cheek. "<b>I'm sorry,</b>" she murmured, though the words seemed too slight to bring him peace.

Ava lifted her head, eyes flashing briefly as lightning clawed through the black clouds. "<b>I know you're worth much more than a figurehead,</b>" she said, her voice quiet while her gaze held the depth of what she meant. Even if it wasn't what he had wanted in Grizzly Hollow necessarily it didn't meant he hadn't the makings of a king. For a moment her jaws parted, for he had been right in assuming there were inquiries to come following his piece - but the moment was short and they closed with a click, resuming her contemplative expression. As wonderstruck as she was there were few sentences that even came together in her mind. Ava nearly just asked him to go on, to keep talking about his life, for she wanted to know him all. She wanted to know if Trisden and Hocus were related to Lettie. She wanted to know what she had to do with the Cedarwood Forest's expecting leader that Kade hadn't seen her in the time after their first meeting. She wanted to know what he made of all the things that had transpired; where did he go from here? Yet the inflections in Kade's voice had been clear, and she refused to pain him further. There wasn't much room in their crawlspace for her selfish want.

But the dark male eased her worry with his touch (so adept, it seemed, he was at doing that) and she nuzzled up to him and found no better sanctuary from the storm than the warmth of his chest. Most of her inquisition she had bit back, but finally she let slip her most salient thought: "<b>Are you going to stay?</b>" It wasn't her decision to make, far less her place to say anything, but she couldn't help but hope Kade would phoenix his way from the ashes. One could always light fire anew from smouldering embers - that was the hope she clung to.

(This post was last modified: May 06, 2012, 11:19 PM by Ava.)

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Thank you :)

<blockquote>It was obvious that she had many questions - he could nearly see them written across her face as they would come and go - but Ava offered her support and, at times, her silence. Eventually her first inquiry would emerge, and it was not one that he had expected. <i>"Are you going to stay?</i> The pitter patter of a fluttering heart was surely revealed as she pressed herself into his chest, and he regarded the curves of her back and the dark patterns of her coat as he took in a quiet breath. The air that swirled in the tight place they shared grew thick and hot as the chemistry between them ignited, felt in every discrete touch and embrace, and it sent a trembling shiver down the brute's spine. A moist nose would graze the point of her shoulder, roving up the side of her neck before his lips met the curve of the shewolf's ear.

<b>"<i>Yes,"</i></b> he whispered. </blockquote>

The dark-furred girl found her other questions extraneous and easily forgotten as she felt the wet of his nose trailing through her fur, half holding her breath. Once the word, the only word, was breathed into her ear she shuddered to account for both pleasure and relief, giving up and sinking even deeper into the man with no mind for anything but him. Gingerly she regarded every bit of connection between the two, from the way their bodies fit together hidden from the storm to even the single furs that barely grazed one another. And with nothing at all physically between them it was easy to succumb to what perfection they two created. Ava truly was <i>so happy</i> Kade had returned for her.

It didn't hit her all at once, thankfully, but rather the reality of their situation slowly trickled down from some logical part of her brain that had been easily blinded by such romance. She wasn't in over her head, as that would imply some form of incapability, but she certainly was chest-deep in commitment to the Poisoned wolves. What was it about that handsome man that made her willing to throw it away? Then she inhaled his scent with a breath as deep as she could, and remembered for nothing else made her heart burn so longingly.

Somewhere internally her feeling and her duty battled to see who would be honored. They still had to watch their backs for Swift River, who would doubtlessly come for them perhaps once the pups were born and old enough to withstand their leaders at war. There was also Copper Rock Creek's leader who had come in search of Rhysis. Then there was that mangled wolf Naira and Ava had taken into their care that was, miraculously, still alive. Soon to be the most demanding were the brood growing graciously within Naira's belly. And of course, on top of that, there were the bonds she had forged with her Leader and Second that had somehow grown from what weak litle threads tied them together into steel. There was no doubt that Ava, who had once identified herself with being the fourth pillar to allow Poison Path to stand and <i>nothing more</i> had really grown in to its foundation. Uprooting herself was probably not in her actual best interest.

Could he follow her here? Perhaps not. It would pain her if she ever returned home and found it overrun with someone else's pack. Well, it had basically already happened at Feather Valley, but the idea still did not please her. Once again the story he had just spun wheeled through her mind; he couldn't leave Grizzly Hollow after all the hardships that had befallen the pack in the Cedarwood Forest. The future was certainly difficult to grasp, but she felt no devastation. Somehow she imagined Kade wouldn't stray far from her life... she wouldn't do so to him. A gentle breath eased itself from her jaws, and then she spoke.

"<b>Surprisingly, Grizzly Hollow hasn't laid claim to our heads. Well, <i>yet</i>. So I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if I maybe wandered your way every once and again.</b>" For a second she paused, holding back a sigh as she realized her free time was only waning as the pups came nearer and nearer. Hopefully they wouldn't be quite the handful she was anticipating... but that was unlikely. "<b>Rhysis is surprisingly lenient about what we devote our leisurely hours to... so long as we do our duty and don't lead any wolf from any River close to home.</b>" And he was, of course, no wolf from any River...

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