Swift River Swift Thoughts meets Swift River

Takes place within a day or so of this thread. Gwen has some stuff to sort out so don't be surprised if she's a bit snippy


Not having a definite plan upon even coming to this land, Gwendolyn had just decided to retrace her steps back down the mountain. And as she did, it almost felt as she got lower and lower, that a great weight was lifting off her shoulders and more importantly, her heart.

She’d found out what happened to her father, for what reason other than some sort of closure, she wasn’t 100% sure but her heart no longer beat irregularly at the thought of her mother being alone up in the clouds. It felt at peace to know all was well for now.

Yet still, feeling as if she still had to figure out what to do now and where to go, Gwendolyn slowed as her senses slowly came back to her, as she’d been walking without much thought or paying much attention to where her paws were taking her. There was a slight...tingling crawling up her paws, slowly but surely, as if the woods she had unknowingly entered had a sort of power that called to her. Is this why her paws had carried her here? It felt somewhat peaceful here, almost like it was the perfect place for her to sort through her thoughts and emotions once more.  

Eyes sweeping the area, her ears pricked up at the sounds of a rushing river close by. Where there was water, was bound to be a decent spot to rest as well. Even if it was cold as a fish’s scales in winter. Trotting towards the sounds of water, it didn’t take her long to find the water source and even quicker for her to dip her nose down and lap up some water. Many rocks and boulders surrounded her, which made her feel slightly safer than before, as it seemed like it’d make it harder for someone to sneak up on her.  

If you know what I know that I know

It's been a long time comin

Even in the chill of winter this place was different than other woodlands. There was a steady energy under the blanket of snow, and he could feel it the further he entered the grove. He wasn't positive if he cared for it, his dark hair on edge. Uncertain what exactly it was. The Archer-Lyall was fairly {word}placid[/i] wolf. This..he'd never quite herad of this. But he did know he'd never been here, and as far as he remembered no pack had been here. They'd have to like that...sensation.

What kept Vareth here was how popular it was with the other wildlife. There were frequent trails of deer, and if he was patient, watchful, maybe he could find an opportunity. If not a wounded or sickly deer there seemed to be plenty of rabbits. Definitely, not his favorite because it took a different kind of effort. It was about cunning, and speed not so much strength.

Speaking of rabbits, he froze mid stride as one poked its head out of the undergrowth. Taking it's time checking the area before it took a few hops forward, then hurried off into a sad mess of twigs. It probably was a pretty bush in the summer. Maybe. Slowly, he eased forward in hopes to get closer without upsetting it unaware how closer he was getting to the river.

table by cade

Still caught up in her thoughts as she finished her drink, Gwen wasn’t sure if she entirely liked the feel of the place that she’d picked to stop in, as peaceful as it did feel as she stepped away from the edge. There was still something slightly...unnerving about it and the way it made her feel. Part of her didn’t want to feel at peace so soon after finding such a flat ending to her journey. For some reason, part of her still wanted to rage and scream and yell at how she’d traveled so far to find him. Deep down, there was a very small part of her that wished he was alive so she could -

...could what? Meet him just to yell at him for breaking her mother’s heart? Her mother had made peace with his leaving, having mostly understood his pain. Snap and snarl at him for leaving his daughter behind, that he had no idea even existed? He’d been dead most of her life. So even if the man was alive, he’d be an old man now. Gwendolyn was sure she’d have handled his death much worse for having known him.

In fact, it made for an easier way to mourn, she supposed. Her life had been content growing up with just her mother, the dark furred woman having worked hard to feed her and keep her warm in both body and love. While her mother had told her stories of how kind and gentle her father was, it was never the real thing so how could she miss something she never truly had?

The man was dead, buried in the old abandoned grounds of an old pack that no longer existed yet somehow mattered more than his own family. So it had to be enough for her, at least for now. Perhaps one day, she’d go visit his grave and see this old territory he’d grown to love. But for now, there was still an open sore that could be looked at another time.  

Flopping beside the river for a moment, as she wondered what to do next, Gwen caught the scent of another wolf on the wind. Pricking her ears, Gwen carefully scented the air to see which direction they were coming from.