there was something that kept the warrior bound to shadewood. it wasn’t loyalty to cry. issun was never really loyal to him in the first place. joining his group was an impulsive decision. if he could go back in time and pledge to a different pack he would’ve. cry was a madman. how could anyone let a bear rule the woods? how could anyone let an outsider lurk near their borders and take advantage of their supplies? supplies meant for not only them but their children as well.
if he wasn’t going back for cry, it had to be minori. well, that was part of the reason. he still loved her but he couldn’t ignore what she had done. higoro was living on their land for awhile and she knew about it that whole time. this would’ve been different if he were some random wolf. issun would be angry of course, but not hurt. given their history, issun couldn’t help but be suspicious. a bastard child, a broken marriage, and then and old lover appears at your doorstep. it didn’t take a genius to know why she kept it to herself.
so if it wasn’t cry and it wasn’t minori, then what could it be? he hated shadewood, but he loved deku. it was as simple as that. nothing could keep him away from his son. so despite an aching body and a heavy heart, he made his way back to that cursed place.
he was almost there. issun had taken a break at a land he knew all to well. this was the place he had come to way back when he was set on creating his own pack. simpler times.
issun limped through the woods, examining the surroundings. he stopped by a riverbed to take a drink.
They were almost finished setting up, which was great. The closer the group got to their goal the closer Dingo got to his vacation, and honestly it couldn't come fast enough! He had begun studying the maze of paths within the 'strath after his conversation with Towhee — under the guise of keeping the realm safe for the kids, he could spend hours roaming and investigating, finding all the secret paths and hideaways for later use, and nobody would know of his ulterior motive. The man became so engrossed in his task that he failed to notice crossing the scent barrier between home and everywhere else. Dingo trekked due north of where the claim sat.
It wasn't long before he noticed his error and rather than correct himself or turn back, he opted to roll with it. If he ever got caught with his proverbial pants down it would be good to have an extraction plan in place. Phox had instructed him at some point that the resident packs were getting a nice little shuffle, territory-wise, and that the Redhawks who lived so close were coming even closer. It led Dingo to this place, smack-dab in the middle of where the territories began. It was a little bit disconcerting to think about how utterly screwed Dingo would be if the Pho-Hee partnership were to decide he should be forcibly removed at some point in the future — so he'd have to really study these trails just in case.
He didn't get far though. The young man noticed the warm scent of wolf among the trees and would've passed on by had the scent not been attached to a body. Just around a bend in the path, among a segment of mixed spruce trees and sunbaked ferns, Dingo noticed the swarthy figure. At first he thought it might be Phox trailing him (maybe he had cottoned on to Dingo's darker desires somehow) — but the stranger moved differently. They walked with purpose, like they knew the place, but also with a hitch to their step. Dingo drew closer and realized there was a hidden riverbed a ways ahead, and that's what had drawn the stranger's attention.
Dingo had enough wolves to contend with, so he shouted through the trees: Boy this pace has gotten popular. Hey, dude! Good spot for a pit-stop, but 'less you are lookin' to pull your weight for my boss, I suggest you keep on truckin', aye?
which was a little more obnoxious than he meant, but, whatever. He closed the distance but halted before he encroached to far upon the thirsty wolf, studying him.
everything was so quiet just moments before, now the leaves shook in rhythm with the call. issun was surprised to say the least. he sprang up and wildly glanced around. his eyes locked on a golden man, who crept closer and closer.
boss?
was he referring to one of the neighboring pack leaders? they haven’t crossed his mind in awhile now, not since they moved to the keep anyways.
The boy was slight of figure as far as Dingo could tell, at least right off the bat. His initial glimpse of them was a confusing one; they were moving quickly and there were small idiosyncrasies to their silhouette. The lack of a tail, the smattering of freckles.
Once the boy calmed down, Dingo's smile grew a little. He caught him murmuring and pivoted his ears. Yeah my boss, Towhee. Used to live -- I unno, somewhere near here. Moved in to the 'strath with her kids. And unless someone can vouch for you, I suggest you skeedaddle.
Although as he said this, he remained calm and as charming as can be - no point in bristling or causing a fuss with someone as easily spooked as this shadow.