Cedarwood Forest don't translate that

January 18th; Mid-morning; Freezing fog; -2 ° F, -19 ° C

Grief had taken its toll. Through the first of the winter months and through the quiet dawn of the new year, Rook had stripped himself down, emotionally and physically. Once well-built, his barrel-shaped chest hinted now only at the possibility of what he could have been with regular, weekly meals. It had been tough to merely pray his sorrow away - no, he had resorted to several means of releasing his inner feelings. In nearly every place where he and @Quil had searched for Cinder, he clawed at the trees, broke their brittle branches and uprooted the dry grass blades from their places beneath the snow. He wanted to make sure that whoever else happened to come upon that place, he wanted them to know that he, Rook Lyall, had been there...

Steely, mismatched eyes scanned the edges of his family's expanse of forest, unsure if he could try again to return home. Sleeping on the edges of what was once his domain, he supposed it was best to keep @Tomen from witnessing his fits of rage and disappointment. The cycles of grieving had long since passed, however, and there was merely nothing left for the young patriarch to feel but a longing for something familiar.

Being back at square one where the home he was coming back to was still missing its core members. He knew by now that some was better than none. At the very least, he was aware that @Veho was still there, shouldering the responsibilities that were once his to bear.

His heart felt as if he skipped a beat; and, all too suddenly, it was as if he remembered what he had left behind. What love and security he had abandoned, if only briefly, to take care of himself and to attempt to put his mate's worries to rest. Things would be different this time around, he decided. Especially now when he truly believed that a truce had been executed at last between Grizzly Hollow and Willow Ridge, his Uncle Angier's side of the family. Things would be all right. Better even.

With the slow lifting of his paw, he drew forward, perusing the bases of the trees for the places where his pack mates had been, if only to add his own signature scent to it with the touch of his toes.

(This post was last modified: Jan 19, 2016, 06:05 AM by Rook.)

Chances are I have a BEN WHISHAW gif for that.

Reach for the stars

She had settled in well. To her new role, that is. Saying that she had felt just as at home among her pack mates, was up for question. Jynx Dirol knew better than to get too comfortable with her position at the top. From the very start, she had understood that it was not meant to last. But for however long that may be, depended on the mental and emotional stability of Quil and Rook, when they returned. Hell, her mind wasn't even made up if she would stay here come spring, endure her conflicting emotions and try to thrive, or to find her calling elsewhere.

She liked to think that she had done a damn good job over the past few weeks. Along with Veho's assistance, she had accepted the newest member, Crystal into their ranks, boosting their numbers further. She had held a meeting with the pack, and assured all of them that alongside Veho, Grizzly Hollow was in capable paws. And she had even rallied some of their numbers to a hunt, taking advantage of herd of deer that had dared to pass through. Not a bad way to start her track record.

Rising from the comforts of a well deserved nap in the den, the increasingly confident female slowly eased out into the open. Vivid yellow eyes blinked open, squinting only briefly against the harsh, glaring light of the winter sun. She huffed softly, ears pivoting back. There were caches she needed to check, and maybe to try and re-fill. It seemed that the arrival of the deer herd just a week ago, had marked the end of their good fortune. Now, as she had made her daily rounds, there was hardly any traces of prey at all. Only the scarcely seen mouse, which were always quick to burrow back under the snow for cover. Hopefully, this dry spell would not last long. Large paws, useful in deep snow, plowed her through the substance easily, leaving a deep trail in her wake. She noticed Veho was nowhere about. A sigh came, exiting her nose in a cool mist of air. She hated feeling so disconnected, despite her position in the pack. But...someone was around. Someone she had not seen in a long time. The wisps of discarded fur clinging to the bark of the trees gave him away. The scent entangled in it, even more so. Rook was back and actively up and around. A cross mixture between concern and hopefulness etched themselves onto her face as she drove ahead a little more quickly, trying to locate the true King, who was not yet in sight, but so close by.

(This post was last modified: Jan 19, 2016, 02:26 AM by Jynx.)

Leaving Grizzly Hollow in the paws and jaws of his most trusted companion - @Veho - had been a good call as anticipated. Who Veho had chosen to fill Quil's role in her stead, he wasn't so sure; he had let Quil take charge of that (while he had whispered some lengthy goodbyes to his other significant other). One of his bear-like ears swiveled to one side as he was made aware of someone or something nearby. He withdrew his paw from the base of a rough-barked tree and assessed his surroundings, looking hard at the gaps between the ancient giants. The thin veil of fog didn't help in the slightest either; and it was here that he remembered to brace himself, to recall who he was beyond the Hollow: Gaheris. A lone, wandering knight...

He inhaled deeply, the frigid air chilling his lungs. A bit of shake, which was more due to the cold rather than nerves, in his left paw urged him to begin moving; perhaps he could find his pursuer or seeker first. Eager ears pressed forward atop his skull and his alertness was rewarded with the subtle scampering of this individual somewhere off to his right.

Rook stopped in his tracks and he dared to let his tail wag out of mere curiosity. "Hello?" he called out into the haze, alerting the other to his precise location now. "Is someone there?"

Chances are I have a BEN WHISHAW gif for that.

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Reach for the stars

Her dark nose skimmed over the snow coating the ground, searching for any further clues as to the whereabouts of the Lyall. She would like to see him again. To catch up and check on how he was faring, since his return. Luckily, she did not have to wait long until her presence was somewhat noticed. His clearly recognizable voice called out in curiosity, searching. Lifting her head up, golden eyes blinked slowly, softly. He had not spotted her yet, and so she made her way forth, out of the more dense patch of woodland, into the clear.

"It's just me...Wacipi." Was her soft reply as she strode into view, tail hanging in a neutral dip at her heels. Taking a moment, she looked the former Leader over, to ensure he was physically well. Satisfied, she stepped closer, but not by much. "I see that you have come back to us." A smile wanted to form on her lips, but was cut short. Her brows furrowed. "But what of Quil? Is she not with you?" There was no trace of her scent, mixed with his own. Why had she not returned. Uncertain of his mental and emotional state, Jynx eyed the fresh gouges made in the nearby tree curiously, but said nothing of it. Rook had been through a lot recently, and if he was still recovering, it was not in her business to intrude. She was simply here for an update...and news, if he had any to share.