Willow Ridge Marco

@Alarick

She'd only returned a few hours before from her journey. One that she hoped would bring good fortune to the Ridge. There were still some things that she needed to figure out. There would be time for that later. Having not eaten much during her journey Avella had stopped to get something to eat before going in search of Alarick.

She wanted to check in with him and see how he was doing. She had been a little disappointed to have not really had a chance to talk to him before she'd left. So he was one of her first priorities. She wanted to make sure he was settled and see how he was feeling about Willow Ridge as his home.

She'd also missed him. She felt that it was time they spoke without the pressures of getting home or having to find food. So she'd gone in search of him. "Alarick," she called out hoping to get his attention.

This morning had been a lazy morning. The tawny hunter had spent most of his days working dutifully, keeping an eye on the prey trails and marking borders where he felt it appropriate. Sometimes though, his scheduling varied - and kept him out during the later hours of the night.

That had been the case last night, so to make up for it, he had slept in longer than he usually did. So when he heard his leader call for him, he was only just stirring from a makeshift nest between the roots of a larger willow tree. ”Over here,” he called back, sitting up and stretching, while his face flooded with just a little bit of embarrassment at having likely missed Avella’s initial return call from.. whatever the purpose of the trip she had taken, was.

It was nice, though, that she had apparently thought to check on him. Hopefully, though, it was not because she was angry.

She'd been looking for Alarick for a little while when worry start to creep in. He hadn't been there to greet her when she'd returned and she hadn't found him Avella hoped he wasn't out away from the territory scouting herds or hunting. She decided that she would look a little longer and if she didn't find him she'd have to wait until his return.

Luckily she wouldn't have to. The sound of his voice letting her know where he was reached her ears. She went toward it and found him sitting at the base of a tree. [B)"I missed you earlier,"[/b] she said as she approached though her tone didn't carry any anger.

[B)"I wanted to check in with you see how your doing. Make sure your settling in alright." [/b]

The familiar figure of his new leader advanced through the willow trees, drawn by his response to her. A quick visual scan did not reveal any anger in her stance, and as she spoke, it did not sound as if she were upset, either. Her words did prompt him to bow his head a little.

”Yes.. I apologize. I was out late last night, so I uh.. thought I would sleep a little later, today.” Internally, Al chastised himself for how utterly pathetic that excuse sounded. The grogginess and fog from sleep had not quite left his mind as of yet, though, so he gave his head a shake to clear it out.

Which helped at least a little bit. Avella spoke next that she had wanted to see how he was doing, though, a gesture the hunter appreciated. ”Quite alright, in fact. The ridge here is quiet, peaceful. The others are kind and devoted. With this being your family’s ancestral home, the foundation you have seems strong, and I like having a place to return to, each night. ” That was his analysis of and opinion on the situation, anyway.

Objectively, it seemed a wonderful place for him to settle, so far. If only he could get past the memories of his own family.

Once he'd called out to her she found him easily enough. She wasn't sure what he'd been doing before her arrival. That wasn't why she was there however she expressed her disappointment in not seeing him upon her return. The truth was she figured he was off taking care of one of his duties.

She stepped forward and touched her nose to his cheek in an effort to ease his mind. "You know my expectations Alarick. If it's your duties that kept you up late then you shouldn't feel guilty about sleeping in."

Knowing what she did of him she guessed that was probably the case. So far he'd proven himself an honorable man so she expected nothing less. The Ridge leader sat back on her haunches to listen as he spoke of his experience in the pack thus far.

As smile crossed her face, "I'm pleased to hear that things are going so well for you here. It also pleases to hear such nice things about the pack in general. I want you to be happy here Alarick. I want this to be a good place for wolves to come and make a home for themselves and it sounds like you're doing that?"

The leader sought to assure him that he did not need to worry, provided it had been his job that had kept him out late. That statement had been wholly truthful, but at this moment, Al marked yet another mental note for himself, to never try to deceive Avella. She seemed like the sort that would have the ability to see right through such things. It was not in him to commit such an act, anyway. To deceive was to lie, an action that was therefore sinful and abhorrent.

”I do. Thank you,” the former hunter murmured, with a small bow of his head. He also made a note, however, to try to do better. To be more vigilant, and especially to begin actually integrating with some of the others. Perhaps he had Avella’s trust, but Al was not so sure how the others viewed him, yet. That was something he needed to work on.

His leader at least, appeared pleased with his opinion on the ridge - and she deserved to be. Al offered her another nod with the follow-up question. ”I would like to think so. Whether or not it works out for me, though.. I do think this is a good place. I am sure you will achieve exactly what you want, and you deserve it. You and Scully, both.” The sibling duo, while he did not know much of the brother, seemed particularly close. As he had said during the founding, Alarick was happy they had managed to fulfill their dream, and reclaim their ancestral homeland.

”I do want to request though, a few days for a trip? A woman came here, looking for someone. I offered to guide her to the pack across the mountains if she did not find a lead in the pack just north of us. It would not be just for her, though, I have a friend there I would like to visit, as well.” The trip was not set yet, for he had not seen anything from Embla in some time now. Whether or not she came back though, Al did hope to see Levi soon. To catch up, and to tell the other man the good news. Provided his leader agreed and could permit him to go, anyway.

Avella didn't believe that Alarick was up for any other reason than his duties. Though she knew what season it was and how men could be. Even still Alarick had never presented himself as someone who would be irresponsible in such ways. She felt lucky to have him among her ranks and hoped that pack life agreed with him. She was also pleased to see that he like the others seemed to be alright after her absence. Just as she thought they would Scully and Hagar had looked after things well.

"You're Welcome Alarick," she said with a quick nod. The Ridge leader had many goals for the pack but she was a patient woman. She knew that it would be time and small steps. Her biggest goal was to make Willow Ridge a welcoming place. Someplace wolves could come and have a better life than what being a loner could provide them.

What he said next surprised her a little. The way he'd phrased what he'd said suggested that he felt there was a chance the pack might not work out for him. She wanted to address it but she went with what he'd said after. "Thank you Alarick. That means a lot and makes me hopeful for the future of the pack," she said smiling. It only lasted for a moment though as her thoughts returned to what he'd said before. "Do you not think things will work out for you here?" She asked worried what hid answer would be.

Then he presented her a request of his own. To escort a woman across the mountain and visit a friend. Avella paused at this giving it a few moments thought. "I'll grant you your request," she finally said, "As long as you promise to come back safely." That the most important thing but she had a few other things. "Please try to be back within the month. I need you here Alarick," she told him. If things had gone her way after her trip she would be at a point where she might not be able to help out so much. "This pack your going to visit would it be the cove?" She asked curiously.

Whatever thoughts or reservations he had about staying here permanently, Al did note how incredibly nice it felt to be valued, once again. By a leader that seemed to appreciate his efforts, and trust him. As well as others that had allowed him into their home, to integrate into their group, despite knowing so little about him. To be productive and have a purpose, something to rise to and accomplish each day, was a wondrous feeling.

Alarick smiled contentedly as the other thanked him, too, though he bowed his head in a display of modesty. ”You have every reason to be hopeful. And proud, I think,” he spoke. The follow up question was something he did not quite know how to answer just yet, though, and it showed as his brows knitted together in thought.

”I miss my family,” he admitted after a short period of silence, deciding that was the most concise way he could respond in the moment. ”This place.. it is nice, but I just.. I cannot forget them. I am not sure I can give you a definite answer to that, right now.” Al did not want to disappoint or sadden his leader, as well as someone he had come to consider a friend as well. But, she had also asked him to be truthful with her, and that was a promise he also intended to keep.

For, it was something that extended both ways. The hunter let a grateful smile work its way back across his countenance as the other approved his outing, as long as he promised to come back safely, and be back within a month. ”I have every intention of coming back safely, and I certainly should not need a month. Ten days, maybe, at the most. If I were to be out any longer, it would only be if someone else was in a bad spot, and.. really needed help.” He could not exactly promise that he would come back safely, of course. But the latter he was fairly sure he could commit to, barring any really drastic circumstances.

Avella dropped the name of a pack, to which he could only tip his head slightly. ”I am not sure? It is the one near the red fern forest, across the mountains and to the north.” Levi had not said their name, but hopefully a more specific explanation of where the pack resided would answer his leader’s question.

With the pack still being so new and there still being so many things to figure out Avella hadn't had time for deep thinking. Mostly about what she'd accomplished. How with Scully's help she'd been able to rewstablish Willow Ridge. Reclaim there lands amd build a pack from nothing. She'd done what her great grandmother Elettra had done. That she considered something to be proud of. She only hoped that she could keep her pack going as long as her great grandmother and those after had been able to.

Avella smiled at Alaricks sentiment. "Well you know being proud is part of being an Archer," she half joked. The fact of the matter was she hadn't met an Archer yet who wasn't proud to be one. "But your right. I should also be grateful to all of you for joining me and helping me to reach this point " she was which was why she took their care and safety to seriously.

She nodded when he spoke of missing his family. This wasn't the first time he'd spoken of them so she knew they were on his mind a lot. "I understand Alarick. I really do amd I do hope that one day you can see them again. I also understand that you may not be able to give me definites right now but when you can I hope that you can come and speak with me." The last thing she wanted was for him to feel as though he couldn't come and speak with her.

He wanted to go on a trip which Avella was fine with. She'd miss the man of course but she also didn't see any reason not to let him go. She had a couple of conditions though which he readily agreed to. "Good, I'd hate to see anything happen to you. Ten days sounds fair to me and should something like that happen if your able could you send word?" She asked because she would worry if he was gone too much longer than that. She hoped he'd go there and back and everything woukd be alright for him.

She was however curious about this pack he planned to visit and as he described it to her she knew it wasn't the cove. "That is not the cove pack. They are on the mountain. This pack your visiting I have not learned of until now. Do you think you can do me a favor while you are there?"

Being proud was part of being an Archer, the woman spoke. A sentiment he did not doubt, and something he could understand. He had been proud of his name, too, back home. Here, though, it meant nothing. Nobody knew of it, or of his family. Here, he was just Alarick. Hunter, friend, packmate. His name meant nothing to anyone, except for how he presented it. While esteem or honor were never things he had actively sought, it was odd, to no longer have it. But that was not a concern he would burden anyone else with.

This was not just about him, after all. ”We may be a team now, but without you, none of us would be here. The credit is.. mostly yours.” While Avella’s more humble admission was something he could respect, the credit for building this pack and bringing it together belonged primarily to the Archer siblings.

Still, though, their concern for the others was something to be commended. Perhaps it was Avella’s pride in her family that allowed her to understand his situation, something the hunter was grateful for. Her request, too, was something he would honor. ”Thank you, for understanding. As soon as I know, I will tell you,” Alarick promised with a nod.

Ten days, she also said, sounded fair. That was what he would strive for, whenever he decided to begin the journey, then. If Embla did not come back after a few more weeks, he would probably set out on his own, then. ”If something happens, I will do my best to send word,” the hunter also promised. He did not anticipate any hiccups on the journey, but one could never know.

Most curiously, too, the pack Levi was in, apparently was not the cove. The cove, Avella explained, lived in the actual mountains. How, or why, anyone could possibly want to live there was beyond him, but he did not let himself contemplate that for long, and instead focused on his leader. She had also apparently not heard of the pack he had spoken of, and requested a favor.

”I would be honored to,” Al spoke with barely veiled enthusiasm, eyes alight with excitement. He believed he had a fair idea of where this was going, and the possibility of being some kind of official emissary was an exciting one, in addition to being a great honor.