While they had come to a collective agreement during their meeting with Ember things still felt strained. Arion didn’t like it. Whatever was going on between the two girls was their issue, not his, but it was beginning to feel like it was becoming his problem. A frown creased his dark features as they maneuvered through the trees, putting distance between themselves and the Pines. The smudge could not deny he was curious as to what business Ember had to attend to before joining them, but he dared not question it. Joining Oak Tree Bend had been her choice after all. Arion knew she wouldn’t be far behind them.
It had been quite some time since the smudge had ventured this far south. But this time there was no going back; no returning home. There was no home to return to. It had been quite some time since Broken Timbers had actually felt like home, and it had crumbled before Arion’s eyes. Truthfully he was not as bothered by the disintegration as he should have been—to Arion, it was an opportunity for a new adventure. He still had Nalda and Ember with him—that was all that mattered. They were his family. R couldn’t imagine being separated from them, even if they didn’t always get along with each other.
Traveling with Nalda made it feel as though they were just on another expedition; exploring the unknown and getting into heaps of trouble. It reminded him of the good old days, when the uncomfortable weight of anxiety wasn’t nestled between his shoulders. He was actually able to enjoy himself, even despite his demons lurking in the shadows of his mind. But he had always enjoyed his time with the agouti. She always found a way to make him forget about his problems and reminded him to just be, even if she wasn’t aware of it. He was thankful for their friendship—he would have left the Lore behind if it had not been for her (and Ember).
Once they reached the edge of Oak Tree territory he stopped, his pale gaze turning to his companion. He dared not venture too close, for he did not want to make a bad first impression. His lips curled into a soft smile as he turned his nose to the sky, hoping Nalda would join him, in calling for a wolf of the Bend.