Cedarwood Forest nobody said it was easy

For @Kisla! This thread definitely turned into something I wasn't expecting haha. <3

He wandered for what seemed like days. Ever since the comical incident in the forest, he had little interaction with others and he was a social creature even if he didn’t want to admit it. He was always on his own, but he willingly stirred up trouble to interact with others even if it was a hostile one. Nowadays, he was trying to keep his troubled side at a low as to try to train himself not to be like that anymore. He needed to do it for Delilah. She needed to see that he could be a better man even though he showed her that he wasn’t. He needed this change for himself as well. Hook needed to be a different man or else this could happen to someone else. And that was not what he wanted at all.

Causing harm to an innocent woman went against his code and it killed Killian inside to think that it happened because of him. He may have no laid a paw on his Delilah, but because of his actions, she was dead now. And it was all because of him and the guilt ate him up inside.

As he went over the mountain and into another forest that smelled strongly of cedar and other wolves, he froze. He wasn’t sure if he should continue on and possibly come face to face with another. Killian wasn’t sure if he would be able to handle himself if a cache was nearby. As a lone wolf, he didn’t have the luxury of coming back to a big kill. He lived off scraps and small game. His mouth began to water at the thought of a cache filled with deer legs or the occasional waterfowl. Hook definitely loved his duck every now and then.

Without any more hesitation, he stalked forward through the cedar trees, his mind not sure what his true intentions were. Though part of him wanted to just run in there and steal from this unknown pack, he knew that if he did, Delilah would disapprove of him. Hook needed to earn this new “good guy” title and the one thing he tried to avoid was joining packs for any other reason than to lounge around and eat. He knew that his pride would win over and he would prove his worth for the food he was desperate for. For the sake of Delilah and proving himself to her, he stopped a good ways from the borders and waited. If this pack was the one for him, he would see if the borders were well guarded as they smelt like.

With her mate on the mend, the lithe Baranski felt more at ease leaving his side. Lachesis had done wondered in stepping up for them – to the point that she wondered if Maksim almost felt threatened by the pale medic. She, of course did not, for it was clear his loyalties lie firmly with the Baranski pair, but she was also not the one who was under another in the hierarchy now – if Naia had been above her, would it not tighten her chest in jealousy? As much as she loved the gentle woman.. did she not, at times, feel jealous to the honeyed wolf’s devotions to the man she herself called mate?

As loyal and caring as Maksim was.. did she not, at times, feel inadequate, and fearful that his attention would be taken with another more beautiful and gentle than herself?

These thoughts plagued her at times, though since the birth of her children, they had greatly lessened. After all, she was far too busy for her mind to wander much, and now that the cubs were six months of age, she found herself instead fretting over their growing thirst for adventure. She could not keep them locked within the confines of a den forever, but that did not stop the haunting dreams she had at night – Rissa’s frail body exposed and open upon a rock.. laid out by savages that had used her for nothing more than a sacrifice to their gods.

Her pace slowed as her stomach lurched then. Ice and others had taken care of them.. but from her experience, too many dark souls walked this world. And no matter what, she oculd not protect them forever.

It was a welcome distraction to the female when the scent of another caught her attention. She quickened her pace in the direction of the stranger, coming upon him only moments later. Green eyes roved over a swarthy form, and lifting herself to her full height, she was very much aware of how much he towered over her – and how very little the spitfire cared. He remained a respectful distance from their borders, and so, for now, she did not speak. She simply waited.

sparking up my heart