Heartleaf Creek holdin' you tonight

Viorel is taking the littles for a walk outside the borders @Nix @Isla @Asmund @Llinea it is also open to another adult or yearling if someone wants top hop in @Clover @Vasco @Rochus @Seri @Archer @Eros @Oleander @Kateri
Early morning, clear sky, 60F/16C

Viorel had scouted around the area early in the morning to search for danger, something he had been doing extra for the last few weeks. This morning though he took extra care since he had promised the cubs that he would take them outside of the borders for a while. He had been putting it offer ever since Inger had been murdered, but he also knew the longer he kept them locked down the more likely they were to sneak out and put themselves in danger.

He had also alerted the other adults and yearling of his plans so they would stick nearby in case he needed to call for danger. Realistically he had done everything he could do to keep everyone safe for their little field trip, but he still felt a sense of unease as he waited at the border. Sighing once with one final scan of the area, still good, then he gave a short call, the signal that the pups could come meet him.

With his first litters this would have been a joyous, playful, most likely silly occasion, but this year everything felt different. It was as if his stomach and heart had filled with rocks.

Isla had been conflicted about this. Really. She was settled somewhere between being too lazy on wanting to go out on a family trip and yet too jealous of the thought of being left out. So when her father called, she moved at a slow jog. Although it seemed it couldn't be that slow. Nobody else had arrived yet!

She flopped down onto her rear in front of her father. A tired grin played at her features. Where to? Even if her current posture suggested she'd rather melt into the earth than go on a long trip anywhere.

Good thing she at least had the drive to stay in the loop.

The dark pup knew a trip was coming and he was rather excited by the prospect of it all. He hadn't been lost on the fact thatbsomething serious had happened but he still hadn't quite figured out what it was. What he knew was that because of it he and his sister's had been more restricted in what they could do and where they could go. So a trip outside the borders seemed like a good remedy to him.

At his father's call he was ready to get moving. He'd been waiting just outside the den laying on his back looking up at the sky watching as the clouds moved across it. He didn't have to hear the call twice, he knew it and knew what it was for. Nix was on his feet and running in the direction of the border.

He found his father and Isla there already. He brushed affectionately against Isla's side all the while wondering how she'd beat him there. He would have to try that much harder next time. He'd also heard his sister's question so waited to hear what their father would answer.

Kateri hadn't made an official decision about whether she wpukd go along either Vi and the pups. Lately there hadn't really been much Kateri had committed to. Since her father had died and she'd returned from the visit to the cove life just felt different. Sometimes she felt like she wasn't even there or that she was living in some kind of dream. She drifted through each day not entirely sure what was going on or what she was supposed to be doing.

The only thing that kept her grounded and from feeling like she was just going to float away on the wind was Archer. She was so thankful to have him in her life and as much as she might want to be there for her mother, Leo, and Stella they all had someone to help them through their grief in the Cove. Could they blame her for having someone outside of it to help her in her grief. She knew what they would say if she said anything so it was best to not say anything at all.

It was a split second decision that she made to join the outing. The fleeting thought that it might be good for her drifted through her mind. Before she could stop herself her paws were moving in the direction of the call. She was at the border before she really knew it. Viorel amd two of the pups were there too. "I'm here," she said as she came into view.

The oldest of this year’s Valle litter was somewhere she was definitely not supposed to be. She knew that her father was planning on taking them on a supervised walk, but she was not overly interested in that. Sephrina already had less freedom than her siblings due to her eyes - something she was not pleased with - and when they had all been locked down it had felt like what little freedom she did have had been ripped away unfairly. None of them had been told Inger had been murdered, and even if they had she wouldn’t know what murder was, she only knew it wasn’t fair.

Sephrina had been skulking around just beyond the borders, somewhere she knew she was not supposed to be. Unfortunately, this was the exact area that they were apparently going on their family walk. Trying to walk nonchalantly out to join the group she actively avoided her father’s gaze, knowing that he was not going to be pleased with her. Instead she joined her siblings and whispered teasingly, ”slowpokes.” Not only was their dad going to be disappointed in her, Nix probably would be too. Oh well, too late to change it now.

His children gathered fairly quickly, and the leader was pleasantly surprised to see that Kateri would also be joining them. He felt a little less pleasantly about seeing Sephrina sneak into the group from outside the territory, and had to ignore the flutter of panic in his chest. He shot her a stern look but said nothing, if the situation with Eros had taught him anything it was to handle things privately, not publicly.

Beaming down at the other two he answered, ”Well, I thought we could go explore the creek further up North, unless you have another idea?” He waited for them to answer, before beginning the slow process of getting everyone moving. He allowed the children to take the lead before falling in step with Kateri at the back of the group. From here they could watch for danger while allowing the pups to have some kind of freedom.

After a minute or two he murmured, ”Thank you for joining us today, it’s nice to see you.” He knew this had not been an easy time for the teen, and he appreciated her making the effort to still be an active member of the pack. He eyed her quickly, hoping that she would not react negatively to what he had said.

Asmund heard the alpha call, and it caused a chill to run up his spine. Like hell he was going anywhere. With a scowl and gritted fangs, he wormed his way even further underneath the brush he'd been hiding beneath. No one had suggested he would be forced into anything, but he didn't even want to be asked or otherwise prodded about the decision.

He'd be perfectly happy if they all just left him alone.

Az's only post, just to explain why he isn't showing. <3

She lazily leaned against Nix when he arrived, her sister showing up from somewhere else. With words of course. Words that made Isla roll her eyes. She also stuck out her tongue a little, but it was more through a playful grin than anything truly malicious. Probably.

Their dad was already explaining something but she had missed half the words in turning her attention onto her siblings. Regardless it seemed time to move. So she'd take her sweet time in moving along. Although she did try to amble up to her sister. Already forming a plan that she imagined their brother wouldn't take part in.

Wanna cut real far ahead?

Nix frowned when his sister appeared from beyond the borders. What did she think she was doing going out there on her own. His gaze went to their father who hebsuspected wouldn't be very happy about Seph's disregard for the rules. Besides that one of the yearlings had also showed up to go with them. Nix was excited for this trip outside the border since it would be his first time. He hadn't been one to disobey the rules as tempting as the idea seemed to be. Especially since something really bad had happened he just didn't know what it was.

Nix's gaze was on his father when he spoke asking if they had any other ideas. The dark boy shook his head. No, he didn't since he didn't really know what was out there to explore. His gaze did however turn toward Sephrina. "I don't but maybe Seph does?" He said not minding at all if he called her out for disobeying.

Finally they were on the move and that was a relief since he was bored with the waiting. He walked out ahead of their father and the yearling who he knew as Kat. He of course had no idea where they where going but he pretended that he did.

Kateri had sat back on her haunches to wait for the trip to begin. She was actually pretty content to watch the father interact with his children. Though it did make her miss her father she didn't mind. She was glad for the three Valle pups to still be able to have their father because she knew what it was like to have lost hers.

When she caught sight of the one called Sephrina sneaking into to the group she frowned. Kateri knew the dangers that were outside the borders. Now more than ever since Inger's death. She did sometimes worry that the wolf that killed her would come back.

When they finally started moving Kateri fell into step next to Viorel. Her mismatched gaze turning toward him as he spoke to her. "You're welcome. I thought it would be good for me so it's nice to be seen," she offered the leader a smile. She just hoped that she would do a good job helping with the pups while on the trip.