Bearclaw Valley oh captain, who is your captain?

as the chestnut-feathered raptor fluttered onto a gnarled branch, indra was busy picking her way over the fresh-turned earth. the den, two trees collapsed on their eaves and filled with dragged sticks for shelter, was devoid of laurel's presence. indra wasn't alarmed -- it was likely her sister was out hunting, or simply taking a walk.

ridge's question prompted a gruff snort; not out of derision, but simply out of frustration -- where would she start? would he even understand? surely, pack life was as alien to him as the blue sky beyond was to her. "it's complicated. laurel's the only thing that matters to me here. there's another wolf, who looks like me who i like, but that's it." she owed him a better explanation, she was sure -- but didn't know how to even broach the topic. "it's just better that way. safer. we needed a place for winter."