Mudminnow River Call her Miss Mirage 'cause it's over, there's no way to hold her

@Crowfeather <3

The river had no end. Kel had followed it over countless miles, a decision made long before it was ever necessary to act on it, but now he followed it only for the sake of having a path to follow. Fourteen days of travel. Sixteen since the fall of Willowspire, and this river was the only thing left to Kelsier. They were meant to follow the river, all of them. He told himself a dozen times that they had forgotten or perhaps picked the wrong river, but no, his packmates weren't so foolish as that. They would have remembered.
It seemed Kel was the only one left to remember. He didn't think about where he would go, what he would do; he didn't bother trying to wrap his mind around the fact that the last year of his life, everything he'd worked for and known and loved, was simply gone. That would come later. Reality wasn't going anywhere. Right now he needed to survive. He had a river to follow — until it ended, or he broke. Whichever came first.

Kelsier was not the only one following the river that day. Crowfeather had taken to the bank, trotting as though the waters would lead him to something extraordinary. The tripod felt the energy in his body. The words that Silvertongue had shared with him were still fresh in his mind. 

A man with kind eyes. Was there such a wolf for Crowfeather? As he hurried through the snow, he couldn’t help but feel that he’d already had it, that he had ruined it. 

Ahead of the three-legged wolf was another man. Through his pluming breath, Crowfeather caught sight of the figure. The tripod slowed his pace and waved his tail tentatively.

He saw someone; someone dark of coat and bright of eye, and his heart leapt into his throat. Adrian! He wasn't alone after all, then. Kel's own pace picked up, closer now, until he realized that he was mistaken and his stomach dropped. No. This was a stranger, someone with a missing leg and a hesitancy about him that didn't match Adrian at all.
But this was the first person he'd seen in days. Hi, Kel said breathlessly, his heart still racing from thinking for a wild hopeful moment that one of his packmates had found him. I thought you were ah, someone else. Have you seen anyone else passing this way? From a place called Willowspire? If they were ahead of him, maybe they had met people along the way, and this stranger would have word of them.

The other man was the first to speak up. A breathless greeting was offered and then an explanation for his outright friendly approach. This man had thought that Crowfeather was someone else. The tripod’s ears fell to his head.

Oh, no… You’re the first I’ve seen, today.

The dark figure drew a little closer to the other man. His honey gaze was warm, gentle, as he watched the shape of the other wolf. They were strong. Their physique matched many of the warriors of the Starsea. It looked like he had been out there in the cold for a while. Crowfeather wondered if he was looking for the individual from Willowspire.

Willowspire – is that your clan? It’s got a lovely name.

Kel's own ears fell when the stranger explained that he hadn't seen anyone else. Today, and it had been two weeks, but surely if he recognized the name he would have spoken up regardless. Discouraged again, Kel nodded and didn't speak for a moment. Yeah, Quieter now, after the small pause in their conversation. It was. Snowstorm, a couple weeks ago, separated everyone. We had a plan for something like that; follow the river. This river. He glanced at it and wondered if it was even worth continuing. They weren't ahead of him. They couldn't be behind him. He had traveled very slowly, those first few days. Turned back once, even. He hadn't even found a scent.

A snowstorm had separated him from his group. Their plan had been to follow the river.

Crowfeather looked to the waters with pricked ears. It was a sound plan, following the naturally flowing water to a single destination. The Star couldn’t help but wonder where they had planned to land. He did not think that he could visit the river daily to assist this stranger, but he wanted to try to help.

How far did you plan to follow it? I can journey with you a short ways to see if we find any of your clan.

The Star offered a nervous smile. He hoped that the other wolf would agree. Crowfeather could ask him about his travels, about the world he might have come from. It wasn’t often that he met new wolves.

Kel let out a breath when the dark wolf offered to travel further down the river with him. He looked away from the river and smiled back, but it was tinged with sadness. It's generous of you to offer, but I wonder if it might be time to write it off as a lost cause. It's looking like I'm the only one who made it this far, He wouldn't think of them as dead. He would think of them as lost, and hope that someone found them. It just couldn't be Kel; that last look at the river had made him realize that if he spent any more time staring at it and pinning his hopes on it, he would lose his mind. Now that he was talking to someone, he didn't want to go back to that fearful solitude.

The shadow could feel his heart sink at the other man’s words. He was willing to count it as a loss, move on. He suggested that he had been the only one who had made it that far down the river.

Crowfeather looked certainly along the bank of the flowing water. He wished that he had been there, that he could confirm something more for this man. It was difficult to lose family. The Star couldn’t see how he was holding such a brave face, so accepting of these horrible circumstances. It was difficult to swallow the feeling that he needed to offer something to this man.

You could stay in our home, until you know more.

The tripod’s voice quavered uncertainly.

It’s not far.

Kelsier had expected condolences, maybe, and a quick end to their conversation. He dreaded it, but knew it was perhaps best that he be alone with his grief for now. Instead he received an offer. That's generous. Thank you, The words were more autopilot than anything; polite nothings while he quickly sorted through how he felt about it. They weren't even on a first name basis, but the proposal wasn't anything binding, and Kel felt that he wasn't in any position to say no when something was offered.
I'll stay. For awhile. I'm Kel, He paused and realized his mistake. Kelsier Ivylock. He realized how tired he was; it would be nice to sleep somewhere safe again. At least for a little while.

Ivylock, Crowfeather echoed softly, finding that he liked the surname of this wolf.

I’m Crowfeather, he then chirped in reply, honey eyes sparking. A smile found his dark features. Kelsier Ivylock sounded like a strong name. Just Crowfeather… I haven’t got- We only get one name, he added nervously.

It was good to know that they could get new members. Kel seemed like a kind sort of man. He carried trouble upon his shoulders, but he did so without letting it draw from him. Crowfeather wished that he could stand so boldly against the tribulation he had faced.

Come on, I’ll show you Riverclan. We can get you something to eat, the tripod motioned with a swinging snout for their peaceful hollow home.

Thank you, Crowfeather, Kel dipped his head. He would worry later about things like the length of his stay and repaying the debt he was incurring here. Right now he knew it was best that he follow. He did need food, and rest, and company. Maybe then he could start to let himself feel something. When survival was no longer the focus. Kelsier followed wherever Crowfeather led him; the only thought that stuck with him was that Crowfeather was a very fitting name for the stranger who, he would later realize, had saved his life.
Kelsier would have kept going until he just couldn't anymore, if left to his own devices.

I am going to make us another, if you are alright with that. ^^ <3

Kelsier was grateful. Crowfeather wished that he could ease some of the worry the other man might have felt for his family. It must have been hard, not knowing if they were safe. The dark tripod thought of his young brother who had gone missing at an early age. Just one missing member had damaged their family beyond repair. What would losing a whole family do to Kel?

Crowfeather set his heart on making Riverclan a place of peace for their newest joiner. He wanted to be certain that Kelsier could find serenity in their quiet hollow. As he walked the path back to Riverclan, he thought of various things that he could give to the other man – gifts to welcome him home.