Hearthwood River catch phrase.

Open for one.

There was no one here.

It wasn't a recent move, either. There was no heady scent, not anything fading away. Maybe a few trails, a few days old, but those were passing through, not wolves who lived and marked it. Hearthwood River had finally moved on, with Lachesis and his family. With anything that might be left of Bennet's own. She stared at the empty pack den, ears tipped to one side. She wasn't sure, really, if she was thankful or not. She'd yelled and she was sad and then she left -- and she drifted back, still uncertain of what she wanted to say. Still uncertain of what she was looking for.

Whatever it was, it wasn't here.

The female wasn't feeling particularly well -- a weak heat, or perhaps the early signs of it. She didn't recognize it, not immediately. Hadn't spent her time with several other females, didn't know that this was the telltale warning of what might come later. So Bennet stunk, and felt feverish, and crawled into the den to wait it out. There was no one to asks for herbs or remedies. She had nothing else to do.

He wasn’t sure why he was back here, to be honest, he wasn’t sure what he was doing at all. Since learning the truth behind his vision and having been reassured that there was no threat to the remainder of his old pack, the Captain had been adrift, wandering the lands surrounding their new home, unable to settle down among these wolves - many of whom he had never really known - yet, unsure what else to do with himself. He had left Ered Luin on the All Mother’s que, confident that the young dragon would be safe there, with a whole pack to protect him. But now that he was here, he was lost; Why did you call me back? Golden eyes turned to the sky, poking out between the sequoia tops, grey and inscrutable, offering no more help for a lost seafarer, trying to find his bearings. So, with no other clues to go after, he had returned to Kingsfall, because that was where he had been led, to the ruins of his old home. Hearthwood River seemed ghostly in its emptiness, abandoned by the wolves that had given it life. Now it was nothing, even the winter-drowsy river feeling dead, a far cry from the wild waters that had once almost swallowed him whole. It seemed decades ago, now. He reminisced about those days as he walked the still woods, back when they were all together, so carefree. Now they were scattered to the winds, who knew what had happened to Karina, or Atropos; Or Bennet? He’d all but abandoned the search for his younger sister, but it was still gnawing at the back of his mind, that same worry that had driven him from these lands in the first place. And he was about ready to leave again, there was nothing left here but painful memories. Or so he thought, but as the pack den came into sight, a strange scent reached him as well. Nostrils flared with this odd, sharp odor, wolfish, but with something else clinging to it, like a sickness. And yet, it seemed faintly familiar, some note of it ringing a distant bell in the young boys mind. One thing was sure: It was fresh, and the closer he walked to the dark opening among the redwood roots, the stronger it grew. With just a few steps left, he paused, sniffing again and finally calling tentatively: “Who’s there?” Word Count: 406 Thoughts "Speech"

Skudde-Textures @DA

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

At first, she’d thought she’d fallen asleep. Which she had, to some degree, dozing in and out of active thought – it seemed like the only good way to deal with the discomfort, really. Bennet didn’t know near enough to go around eating random plants (never mind that the most of them were buried with snow, and Lachesis probably took his caches with him wherever he’d gone).

The voice woke her and she sighed gently. Except she wasn’t actually asleep. The wolf’s eyes fluttered open as she yawned, only to realize the owner of that very familiar voice was staring right into the little home she’d made for herself. Bennet jolted, and then she whined, something high, and hurt, and joyful.

It was real.

Kyrios was standing right in front of her as a real wolf.

“You’re here! You’re okay!” Like she’d called him right out of imagination and into the flesh. Bennet struggled out of the den, whacking her head in her hurry (and not paying it any mind) as she went, entire body wiggling. “Where have you been!?”