Lost Creek Hollow day trip

@Tiarnach

Leta had heard from her mother that the pack at the Hollow was no more. It was something she was disappointed to hear, but only because of herself. She had wanted to meet those her age there, but her residual fear of all that lay outside Easthollow had not allowed it. It was her own fault, she realized the night before. She was the only thing in her own way of all the exploring she wanted to do, and friends she wanted to make. This morning she mustered up some of her own courage, and spoke with @Greyback and @Valette in passing to let them know she was just going to check out the Hollow quickly. Given it was right next door to them, the trip would not take much time at all.

It really was quick. Leta arrived there before she knew it. Supervised by one of her elder siblings (still too young to go very far without escort, it seemed), Leta lingered at the borders... even though they were no longer borders. The scents were faded, at least where she stood, but it still did not feel right to her to move beyond them. Out of respect for what once was, Leta remained just outside of them for the while, sighing to herself.

The Creek is almost the same even without the pack. He hardly notices their absence, really. It doesn't affect him at all.
That's what he tells himself, anyway. It might be more effective if he didn't still find himself at the faded remnants of the border every day, pacing, keeping his attention trained outside the territory as if someone might emerge any day. As if Terance and Arbiter might appear to tell him that they've decided to return, that they were wrong to leave. He knows that won't happen — but the fact that he can't help hoping for it anyway bothers him a little. He doesn't need them, surely.
Yet here he is, pacing along the outskirts of the territory again. He pauses, distracted suddenly by scents on the cold winter breeze, fresher than the stale trails he's passed a hundred times. Ears flicking back against his skull, he sets off after them without hesitation. A frown tugs at his features when he spots a girl around his age lingering at the faded borders. Who're you? He calls as he approaches, voice level and passive but not quite welcoming. He's never seen this girl before, and he doesn't smell any of his former packmates on her, so he can't help feeling a touch wary.

She had not expected anyone to be moving around the outskirts nearby, though perhaps she ought to have considering the fact that now, it was free land. Leta had no idea that this place had been his prior residence, but what she could see was that he was, as he had noted himself, around her own age. Her features lit up and her tail waved without her realizing it, and the mocha Easthollowian thought herself very lucky. She had just been mourning the loss of (potential) future friends, and here was one such wolf now!

Her nose was not so sharp as to realize that his scent had been strongest of all, still lingering even though all others had more or less faded. Sharp enough for recognition to come into play, but she had yet to put two and two together yet. She was much too thrilled with the thought of making a new friend than connecting the dots.

His brusquely asked question was not met with any affront from her. Leta's voice is the opposite of his own: welcoming, friendly, and varying in pitch that reflected her thrill to see him: Oh!! Hi!! I'm Leta, she introduced, I'm from Easthollow—who're you? she asked, not once missing a beat.

He loved Leta. Cherished her—really. Which had led him to the current situation... His sweet girl had expressed wanting to explore outside the Hollow. It didn't surprise him, his daughter was always a free spirit, investing her time in learning everything she could. She knew no bounds or limits, and while he encouraged her as much as a weary parent could without overcrowding their child, he was weary of letting her go. Especially off on her own. He wasn't keen on the idea of her going, in fact he was going to forbid it. But with Valete's coaxing words he allowed it.

But only on his terms.

Greyback had trailed behind her silently as she explored, his presence tucked away and hidden at a distance too long downwind to be discovered. He tried his best to keep out of sight— his body hidden through the tree line and behind large rocks. Whenever she turned around he would duck. It was troublesome to say the least, hiding a body especially of his size, took great effort.

When Leta came upon the border he held fast, watching his daughter interact with the boy. They looked to be around the same age, something that washed relief but also dread over the patriarch. A thought in the back of his mind became present as he noticed how fast spring was approaching. Greyback wouldn't stand for some loner trying to get close to his youngest daughter, and at that he narrowed his gaze and huffed.