Lost Lake Do you believe in luck?

RE: Nash, you stumble upon a dead skunk, covered in maggots.  All Welcome!

The snapping turtle incident a few days prior left Nash feeling even more unsettled. The beasts weren't usually particularly aggressive, but this one had openly attacked them. While his title was now 'leader' rather than 'guardian', the man still felt the need to protect - more so, now. What was a leader if not a protector? That's what Al had died for, anyway. They were big prints to fill.

Nash hadn't ventured beyond their borders in a while, so he decided today would be the best day to do so. He should check the pass and see if he could identify any herds before snow fell, maybe plan a hunt with the yearlings. The one good thing about winter was how long their caches kept, if they stored them correctly.

As he padded around the lake, Nash couldn't help a sigh. He should have invited one of them along with him, or perhaps Aquene - or even his brother. He should really spend more time with him while he was here.

Father/son bonding? <3

Dual colored eyes looked over the invisible line that marked the border of his home. Not once had he ever dared to cross it, no matter how tempting it was. The young boy stood on the correct side while gathering the courage to cross the forbidden line. He had been following the scent of his father, curious to where the larger ebony man went every day. The Eastfall man's scent was getting weaker by the moment and the child knew it was now or never.

With a deep inhale Matos stepped across the border, pausing as if something physical would happen for him for crossing. When it didn't his dark audits perked up and his tailed wagged happily behind him. The comforting view of the lake was still there so the child didn't think he was in a entirely different world. It pretty much looked the same as within the cove. Matos wondered if this was what the entire world looked like.

His curiosity about the world outside his home was put on the back burner when his father came into view. He paused for a moment, afraid of the repercussions for going outside the borders. It couldn't be that bad though if dad was out there? Right? "Dad!" the almost lookalike boy called out. His curiosity of where one of his role models was going outweighed his fear of getting in trouble . "Where ya goin'?" He asked as he caught up giving his dad a wide grin, his tail wagging enthusiastically.

Nash was lost in his thoughts, reflecting on his duties. He recalled the ways he'd fulfilled them and the ways he'd failed - some of them quite spectacularly. He was so absorbed, in fact, he didn't notice he'd been followed until his son's voice rang out through the forest. He paused and glanced back to watch the black form bound up, grinning up with glee.

The leader eyed the boy with fond exasperation. Of all his children, Matos was by far the kindest and least likely to get into trouble. Most of the time. "What are you doing out here? It's dangerous," he scolded, but it was softened by his own smile. He shook his head with a huffed chuckle. "I'm patrolling the lake," he explained. "Come on then." he jerked his head toward the path he was taking and continued on his way, leaving space for his eldest to fall into step next to him should he desire to do so.

(This post was last modified: Sep 30, 2022, 03:41 AM by Nash.)

He was excited to see where his dad was off to, completely disregarding the prospect of getting in trouble. That was until his fathers stern tone reached his dark audits. They fell against his skull as he came to a stop next to the larger man. Dual colored gaze looked up at him with slight guilt. He knew he wasnt supposed to cross the border but he just wanted to join his dad. The scolding didnt last long as Nash let out a chuckle before explaining he was patrolling the lake. Mat's oversized fluffy audits shot up as the cove alpha beckoned him to follow.

"The whole lake?!" The boy breathed trying to imagine how long that would take. It was absolutely ginormous to the small pup. He easily fell in step with his father, his dark tail waving excitedly behind him.

Nash really should be more irked about his son following him beyond the borders without permission, but the boy was growing fast and was the least likely of his children to get into trouble. He loved all of his children, of course, but Mat was the easiest to spend time with. For now, anyway. He hoped his daughters would settle down as they grew.

He couldn't help a small chuckle at Matty's amazement. "Yes, the whole lake. It's not very big right now; you should have seen it the summer before you were born." His mind wandered back over the summer just passed and thought of everyone off the mountain who had to travel for water. "We are extremely lucky to have had water at all this year. Our neighbors had to travel at least a day for a drink. They even came here a few times to collect water, just before you were born."

Before all the tragedy struck, he added quietly. Tragedies his children helped him to bear.

He opened his mouth to go on, only to be struck by a terrible stench. He pulled up short, wrinkling his nose. What in the mountain could that be?