There were few left in Hideaway Strath, and the days were growing colder -- Winter would be soon, and as far as Grace knew it was only she and Zaavier. She was quite upset that not just Leto but Liri, too, had gone missing. There was another female around the valley too, but Grace didn't know if she was still there.
The russet girl was bored, really. She set off at her stalking limp to adventure that day, to the same place she'd met Archer.
Where was he?
The scent of others was evident, but the fact that there were no borders yet said that this was the hunting grounds of another pack. She hadn't met anyone from there yet, but perhaps today she would? Even with the rumbling of her stomach, she didn't dare to hunt -- provoking a pack in the wake of Winter would be bad for the fledgling Strath pack. For now, she just meandered around the forest, sniffing around at rocks and looking for seeds for the garden that was at home.
Maybe for a Silver Creek member but anyone welcome
Casmir had accepted Spring's offer, and had decided to try out leadership with a hunt. what would change? he wondered. the boy inexplicably searched inside himself for any lingering homesickness when it came to thoughts of Donnelaith, and found nothing but the bitter memories that had forced him to depart in the first place.
no. Silver Creek was his home now, to form into what he wished it to be. the scent of deer floated to him, and though the boy wasn't stupid enough to think he could take one down alone, perhaps he could mark it for later. but his eyes were instead drawn to the dark figure wandering around too close to his packlands.
Cas watched the wolf for a moment before approaching at a firm pace, ear and tail upthrust. "you're too close," he barked roughly, forgetting that he'd had his ass pounced for doing the same thing.
As Grace limped along through the forest, one particular scent became stronger -- it was not one she'd ever been very familiar with, but one she'd lived with, for a time, and Grace had a very good memory. Nonetheless, it was not until a form darker and larger than her came into view that she paused; his voice clicked it all into place, and her golden eyes went wide.
"Casmir?"
When he began to approach, the russet yearling crouched -- leg sticking out to the side awkwardly--, tail tucked firmly between her legs and ears slicked back. Her frame shuttered faintly, and her half-blurred gaze was turned up to him in hopes of peace.
"I haven't hunted anything Casmir, I promise. I mean no harm."
Casmir's eyes burned into the figure, who limped toward him with an odd gait. it wasn't until she was up close, and heard her voice, that he saw who it was. "Grace!" he barked, almost simultaneously with the girl giving her name. lowering his dickish stance, the boy trotted toward her, lowering his muzzle to scent her withers. "you're alone. and hurt. what happened?"
worry bloomed in his expression -- did she need a home? he wouldn't assume that until he heard from her what was going on.
Casmir approached much more kindly than Grace thought any Maplewood wolf would ever again dare see her, other than Shreya -- and she didn't at all blame them, except maybe her last run-in with Saena -- and though she flinched back at first, his words brought her previously clenched eyes open. The blurry one, with the recently healed scar, was from Saena herself -- which wound he meant, she couldn't be sure.
"I-I'm always alone and h-hurt, Casmir. Ironic, considering I'm a h-healer, right?"
She gave a small but whole-hearted smile from where she was and would would remain crouched on the forest floor.
"S-Saena found me a c-couple months ago a-and messed up my eye.... P-Plus its not like m-my leg helps."
he didn't know why she flinched, and his expression changed to one of incredulity when Grace revealed that Saena had been the one to scar her eye. his lips thinned into a hard line, but he shook it off. Saena had a good reason for such, he imagined, though he wished she wouldn't have hurt Grace. the boy lowered his dark muzzle to sniff at her hackles again, tailtip wagging in an affable manner behind him
"when Saena took us across the country to this place, she founded a pack called Silver Creek. she isn't there anymore -- long story," he added, a frown flitting across his face, "but Spring is its leader and I'm its Beta. you could have a home there, if you wanted."
Her worry doubled when Casmir's face hardened, but there was barely a word about it again -- when the dark male continued to sniff at her, Grace's muscles relaxed, but she didn't dare to move on the grounds of another pack. The Mayfair explained that the familar scent she'd been picking up was none other than the maplewood wolves themselves.... Only they weren't the pheonixes anymore. Silver Creek was the pack's new home -- inwardly, Grace praised Saena for truly going to the other side of the Teekon wilds to keep themselves away from the dragons -- but the white woma wasn't there anymore. Brow furrowing, Grace turned her hazy vision up at Casmir.
"Saena left what she fought so hard to keep safe? What about Indra, Milo, and Laurel?"
She had no idea that Milo was dead or the girls were with her own adopted mother in Larksong Grotto -- or at least around there, in Indra's case -- but it was in that moment that the Beta's offer settled on her.
The woman had another oppurtunity to be a part of the first pack she'd ever joined. To become friends with those she hadn't before, to improve on those she'd started. Although it was a sharp thorn in her ribs to remember that Esaro wasn't here, nor would he ever be, Grace wondered if it was wiser to stay here. Zaavier's scent had faded from the Strath, as far as she'd noticed, along with everyone else. With Winter coming, it was a better idea to bunk down here where she failed the first time.
"You'd take me back?"
at the mention of the kids, Cas' face fell again, and he shook his muzzle. "it ... it doesn't matter. not now. one day i'll explain." but for now what mattered was getting Grace back to Silver Creek and installing her in some sort of role there. "of course i'd take you back. what's done is done. you left, sure, but you're here now." he hadn't forgotten the respect with which Grace had taken her departure, just moments before Saena had led her wolves across the world.
and anyway, Saena no longer led them. Casmir understood the reasons his rust-marked cousin had given for not wanting to come back, but he still was in the process of unpacking the resentment he held for her actions -- she'd left them twice now, and she could blame the Creek all she wanted for losing Indra and Laurel, but the Mayfair felt that had she never left the first time, her daughters wouldn't be with Reek. of course, he knew this was cruel and illogical, and guilt swept him as the thought made itself known.
the boy turned his hard golden gaze back on Grace. "come on," he murmured. "let's go home."
Casmir, without a doubt, remembered her polite leave from the pack unlike his cousin-- whether he knew it was in the shadow of her mother and mentor, the very one that resided in the pack of their enemy and lived with the daughters the Beta so craved -- and Grace was pulled back to her last meeting with Shreya. She'd never succeeding in finding Esaro after that to pass on her words, but the three tips had been engraved into her mind with a ferocity she couldn't begin to understand:
One. A humble life can be a happy one. It's easy to be envious of great deeds, skill and power, but sometimes all you need for happiness is a good friend and a place to rest your head at the end of the day.
Two. Think carefully about all the ways your actions can be perceived, because not everyone cares for good intentions.
And three.... if you fancy someone, don't eat a lot of fish before speaking to them.
The yearlings inky maw turned up in a smile at the memory, but wasn't left to linger long before Casmir was turning. Grace took the lack of a clear answer as the worst case: Milo, Indra, and Laurel were dead. That, in itself, gave her an idea as to why Saena had been so upset, seeing her in the Maplewood. It hadn't -- entirely -- been because she was being selfish and territorial, the woman had been hurting. Guilt overcame her as the little Rose struggled to, once again, make a decision that could possibly make or break her. Was this the happy life Shreya had talked about? Graec was not envious of the Silver Creek wolves, nor did she want power: all the yearling wanted for herself was to be welcomed, needed, and skillful in her chosen trade to better help those around her. It wouldn't be totally new here, either.... It would be foolish to turn such an offer away.
As the ebony man turned his golden gaze back at Grace, watching for her reaction, the yearling felt her mind decide to give this a try even as her long legs righted themselves beneath her. After a moment of gathering her balance -- in a haze of doubt, guilt, and worry, nonetheless -- the russet yearling limped her way after the Beta.
"Coming, Casmir."
To hell with Hideaway Strath, Liri and Leto, even Zaavier -- they had left her. In the next few days, she could go back and re-gather the seeds of her garden and the bundled herbs. Those things were invaluable to any pack in the looming Winter, and Silver Creek could be stronger for it. She couldn't wait for everyone to see how much she'd grown, both physically, mentally, and trade-wise.
I really was gunna send her back over to the Sunspires, but Cas is one smooth-talker. xD Silver Creek it is! Glad to be back (AGAIN)!