Grizzly Hollow Won't you hang on and be proud?

@Nineva

It had taken Elias a little longer than he would have liked, but he was back and he had news. Admittedly, this forest- and the hollow in particular- didn't feel like home. It was so unlike what he thought home should be like he had a hard time seeing it as anything more than a pitstop, a place Nin seemed to linger for one reason or another.

Slowing to a walk, Elias glanced around the open space of the Hollow. He didn't expect Nin to stay in one place the whole time but...she should be nearby, right? She said she would wait and believed her, but what if something happened? Surely not, Nin was tough, made of steel, he needn't worry about her for she was more than capable of holding her own. Glancing up at the sky, Elias smiled a little as the blueish-green hues painted the snow beneath his paws. What a lovely night, but selfishly he couldn't help but hope it got better.

"Nin?" He called out softly, scenting the air with a twitch or two of his black nose. What if she was sleeping and he'd woken her up? He winched at the thought, hoping he hadn't disturbed her too badly. "It's me, Elias."

(This post was last modified: Mar 18, 2018, 05:23 PM by Elias.)

She had just settled in for the night, curling up in that abandoned den that now held both old and new memories for her. Not yet asleep, her mind wandered far beyond her body, to the wolves around her, wondering what they were doing at this moment. The question of Elias was answered more quickly than she expected. His scent creeped across her twitching muzzle, and while she couldn't make out the words, there was a hum of something different within the air; his voice. Nineva rose quicker than she would like to admit, and escaped the den's confines to chase after his presence.

When she saw him, he seemed to look well. Not sad, not guilty as she had seen several times before. That raised those hopes that she wished she didn't have, a reflective smile forming on her lips. She woofed softly, keeping the peace of the night, as she trotted up to him and then, around him in successive circles, showing off her lack of stink.

"Notice a difference?" she asked with a lopsided grin.

(This post was last modified: Mar 18, 2018, 05:00 PM by Nineva.)

Elias wasn't left worrying for too long, soon enough Nineva bounded into sight- and what a sight she was! To say he had missed her would be an understatement, she was glorious and grand and....Hmm, there was something different about her, though he couldn't place what it was at first. Tilting his head, he watched her circle him as though she was the predator and he her prey. Funny how that seemed to happen a lot recently, but whatever it didn't matter at all. Not now.

Nin posed a question and there was an noticeable weight to her words, like she wanted him to pay closer attention, to come to a conclusion without any assistance. She looked as Nin as ever, strong and broad, cloudy like an overcast sky but there had to be more to it than that. So he sniffed, padded closer to press his nose into the thick fur of her next and did it again- only then did reality sink in. She wasn't stinky anymore.

Oh. OH!

Goodness gracious, his mouth hung agape for a moment before he had to mind to snap it shut as he inched away, just a little so he could still be in her space. He bowed down, his butt in the air as his tail wagged so fast it became a blur. This was good! This is what Nineva had wanted all along, they had done it! What a team they had made! The dynamic duo!

"Nin!" He cheered, fidgeting and wriggling,  with a grin bigger, goofier than Nin's. No one could out goof Elias, he was the reigning champ. "You did it!

It didn't even occur to him how he might smell, considering how that lady had rubbed all over him like a bear itching its back on a tree. He was too elated to even think about it, let along realise how it might seem.Not that he had done anything wrong but...he was on cloud nine, well and truly.

"I knew you could, always had faith in you." He said as he straightened up from his dancing and prancing. He always would, no matter what anyone said to him.

(This post was last modified: Mar 18, 2018, 05:43 PM by Elias. Edit Reason: whoops )

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

She would never admit aloud how adorable he was in that moment, initially oblivious but determined to catch on. When it did dawn on him, his excitement fed her own, and soon she was mirroring him, bear paws stomping the ground merrily.

"We did it," she corrected, certain that this would mean something to him as well, being a father. She would be lying if she said she wanted the parenting to be equal; if she felt Elias was not doing right by their children, she would not hesitate to remove him from their lives altogether. Ultimately, they would be what was most important to her. He deserved the chance, though, and she wanted dearly for her gut feelings about him to be right; that he was worthy.

"I'm so excited. I've already found a few places that might be good for a den. I don't want to have them here, where the Hollow used to be."

If they couldn't be born into her future pack, she at least wanted them to have a place that was still wholly their own.

It was then, as her jubilance ebbed and she focused again on Elias and how he was faring, that she realized how heavily he smelled still of heat. He hadn't... but why should she care?

"I take it you've made a decision?"

We did it.

Elias knew it to be the truth, he'd been present when the...making had occurred-his face flushed at the thought- but it was all so grand, wonderful that he had a hard time processing that his efforts had amounted to something. And not just anything, something great and promising! A shining beacon on the horizon that would light his way during his dark moments of doubt, yes, this had been the right decision. He could feel it.

Elias had no doubt about it, she looked-for once- just as merry as he did. And it was glorious- she was glorious. Allowing the excitement to simmer down, if only a little, he gulped in a big breath as he forced his paws to still, his tail to cease it's insistent wagging. Gosh, it was harder than it looked. Such joy wouldn't be contained, not without a fight anyway. It was time to get serious. Staring down at his bird-foot he gathered what little courage he had stored up inside of him and shoved it all together into one brave, if not wiggly mass. He could do this.

"Wherever you lead, I'll follow. From now till the end of my days, Nin. By your side is where I want to be."He even dipped down for good measure, his legs folding beneath him so his stomach touched the ground.