While Dreven and Atka's claim on the Heartwood was not so strong as if they had been a full pack she did not wish to invite too many outside of their own number into the forest so she dragged what she could the rest of the way where she needed it. In her mind she pictured the stream that would have suitable fish that she had observed in her other explorations of the Heartwood and determined the quickest course. Taking that she hefted her spoils in that direction. Once there she separated the pelt as best she could from the meat and cached half for herself and then half in a location she could easily direct Dreven or Atka to before doing as Rodyn had suggested and allowing the fish to have a meal but not before taking what tallow she could so that as she left the pelt sitting in the shallows she could rummage for some berries. Not able to find any in the ashy earth nearby she bolted down the fat and laid herself out near the river to wait for the fish to do their job.

She spent the day exploring what she could while still within sprinting distance of the stream. It was not as tedious as she had feared and the skull she had set out as well in case the pair of wolves would have some use for it and the antlers as well. While Heph would have been happy to chew on the antlers she was less excited about the prospect of attempting to gnaw around the awkward shape of the head. The next dawn she pulled the sopping wet pelt from the river as well as the mostly bone white skull and antlers and set it out for the sun to dry. After that she was reluctant to leave it to the elements and any scavengers who might find even the toughest parts of the hide worth their trouble for the winter.

So instead she did her best to climb the trees with low branches that spread themselves out in long patterns close to the ground but though she amassed a smattering of bruises she could not manage to leap onto the lowest branches. Panting she spent the rest of they day observing the patterns of the bird's flight trying to figure how she would hunt such a flighted creature before giving it up to idle musings. Once the pelt was mostly dry she took the lighter leather up on her back and began walking the edges of the territory and then inwards in hopes of picking up a recent trail of Dreven or Atka to follow.

Dreven wound his large brown body through the ashy trees. Red Eyes searing through the gloom. Though it was a pretty fall day out. The darkness that permeated beneath the trees changed the trajectory of things.

He could hear the rushing of the small river that ran through the territorial markers, but he stayed away from it, preferring to move along the edges of the borders. Keeping any and all intruders awa.


It was upon one such excursion he came across Heph. He gave a chuff in her direction and a smirk that he always shared.

Hello there.

She tipped her head, half in greeting and half in laughter to return his own when she finally realized that her path had managed to cross with one of the wolves she was looking for. "Greetings." Though the pelt on her back belied the truth of her words she spoke jokingly, surprisingly light and almost still stuck in her previous laughter. "I come bearing gifts, and news." Now that Dreven was there she took the time to let the pelt slide off her back trying to settle it gently but not wanting to mark it up too much with her teeth. She was not accustomed to carrying delicate things in her mouth.

She offered a small explanation for the things, he would find the antlers and skull when he dug up the rest of the cache. They would make a nice treat for Atka if they did not have a litter but if they did hopefully they would stave off some teething pains from the noses and paws of the parents since Heph had no plans to linger to help them care for pups. "A pelt would weigh me down in my travels I'm afraid. My hunting partner took part of the meat and I cached some for myself but the rest is in the hollow of a group of tightly packed trees east of here." She considered what Shey had told her and wondered what the wolf in front of her would find useful, waiting for his response as she sorted through her own thoughts. There was no reason to tell him of the personal quest Rodyn was on, but the information on Paleo, Mereo, and even Redtail Rise might be useful if the pair ever left the Heartwood.

Heph was one of those wolves, that could sound so formal and so whimsical all at the same time. It took some getting used to for the dark scarred wolf. Though he eyed her with interest at the other skin upon her back?

Carrying your bed with you?

Then a smirk curled his lips again. A gift, eh? Does it need broken in too?

Though at her next words, his ears moved forward and eyes showed a cold knowledge and interest.

What news? Good I hope?

He listened as well as he could, as she explained the antlers the skull. Truth be told, pups hadn't crossed Dreven's mind. And he wasn't even sure if he was father material really. He probably had some bastards out there running around, but had he cared for them, not a whit. Would he care for any Atka bore him. Hell yea he would, He'd suck, but he would. However, he didn't even know if she wanted to ruin her figure for it. He should probably, maybe find that out.

Heph laughed the movement which shook her shoulders slid into a wide grin as she added, slightly suggestive. "Two might be better than one in that regard." Dreven seemed to take the appearance of the pelt in a stride although she supposed whether or not it would actually prove any use to him and Atka would be seen with time.

But the conversation quickly turned to the more pressing information she wanted to share, while she was unsure if it was the sort of thing he wished to know it was better that she find out than continue to seek out things of a similar ilk once she travelled north and return with little to show for it. While the idea that she would only have her own travels did not bother her she would like to remain on friendly terms with the little group that included mostly her, Atka, and now Dreven it seemed. "Nothing bad. I met a wolf who told me about a pack east of here called Redtail Rise and another who told me they attacked even outside of their own borders. Also east there are rumors of a pack called Mereo with a rather terrifying leader who sounds to be amassing a pack full of warriors but I haven't been there to confirm. And it seems just a little to the northwest of here a pack called Moonglow has settled, but since one of their members said they might attempt some trade they sound more friendly than anything." Her voice was slow more from trying to recall memories accurately than anything else but deliberate and she did not mince words.

Heph answered him back with laughter in her gaze, and his eyes lit up with teasing light. Or three? I can take turns? Hell I can watch.

He winked at her with red eyes and smiled. Thank you though, truly.

She spoke quickly, but with freeing words, and straight sentences. And what she had to say filled him with slight unease. They were in a rather populated area it seemed, and he wasn't certain how he felt about it. An itch to move grew larger and he wanted to pack them all up and go. Maybe just travel. He wondered if he and Atka shouldn't just do that, travel with Heph wherever she planned to go, but that was a thought he tabled for now.


Dreven nodded his head. Yea I've smelled some wolves near this Moonglow, the other two I'm not sure. Down near Mereo there used to be two packs, one run by Vex and one Run by fury. She's the one who has offered us a place to stay if we should so like it come winter. Vex was more of a selfish being than anything else.

Dreven briefly remembered her only agreeing to allies if he fucked her, thank god, he wasn't with Atka then, because he was pretty certain his little Snow probably wouldn't have liked that too much.

Heph laughed raucously at the insinuation and for a moment she was tempted to at least pursue the conversation down those lines - less out of any serious desire, but more out of appreciation for Dreven's own wit. She supposed it was a trait he at least somewhat shared with Atka although it manifested slightly differently, neither seemed overly concerned with her jokes and more than willing to play along in those short verbal exchanges giving them a pleasant atmosphere.

She appreciated the background he offered, and her mind turned over that information. Though it was a curious state of affairs that given so much territory to expand out into two strong packs might have decided to settle so near each other she supposed there must have been other factors in play. Heph did not mind selfish wolves, but she guessed that more had to do with her own life as a loner meaning she never had to stick around them too much if she did not want to, but she guessed that if she had to meet one more than once the trait would bother her.

But the mention of Fury turned her thoughts towards the more immediate future. "Have you three decided where you will spend the winter? If I'm not mistaken it'll be coming soon." There was a slight bounce in her words indicating that she was willing to proven incorrect, after all she was still at least somewhat new to the Teekon wilds so perhaps winter came much more slowly there, but if the changing of the seasons and the change in the winds was anything to go by she thought that winter would be there sooner rather than later.

Dreven liked that he managed to make her laugh. Truth be told, he wasn't certain where he stood with Heph. She was kind to him and Atka, and she made him laugh, but he wasn't sure if she just tolerated him because of Atka or if they actually got along. It didn't matter either way, anyway, he was mostly just curious.


Dreven sighed and shook his head. Khasni has disappeared again. I recently found a meadow that Atka liked more than any other place we've been. So i've been tossing around the idea of just going to the Strath or staying here come winter and then just settling in our own little claim come spring. I also thought of traveling, but i'm not much of a traveler.


He nodded and looked around. It will probably be here this week.

Heph nodded along, while prolonging the decision might have meant more time to prepare it did mean that if they did not stay then all of them would be swiftly departing the Heartwood come winter. But she did not let that trouble her. Whatever would come would come and if Dreven and Atka decided to move she knew she could not change the outcome of that decision any more than if they decided to stay. Although she found it strange that Khasni would go missing when she professed a connection to the area she did not know the other wolf well enough to question whether this was truly odd. She let out a slight chuckle as he admitted he was not one for wandering, but felt compelled to add since she was more apt to her travels "That is fair, although if it's traveling that would help I could scout out the best routes if you've heard of promising locations so your journey would not be overlong." While she was not sure where that might take her it would still allow her to roam and since she had seen so little of the Wilds she was fairly sure it would be to parts unknown which would keep her satisfied. She listened to his assessment with a more even expression, while she was glad to hear that winter was coming soon she knew that the sooner that it came the closer she drew to departing from Atka and even the company of Dreven would be missed in his own way. But she also felt the winter winds calling her to move and she was curious to see more of that land when it was covered in snow and the tracks of animals were easier to discern.

Dreven felt strange at the thought of leaving the she wolf in front of him. Though they were not friends, but aquantainces and it was clear her fondness for Atka was what kept her here. He also held a certain fondness for her, and he would have liked to have her with them, just as he always wanted Atka with him. IT was a strange feeling, growing to ecompass another. Perhaps he had been stunted in the pit and was making up for lost time, but he couldn't be sure. Not really.

A smile lit up his trademark eyes and he dipped his head down. I will gladly take the words of yours about places. And I will take you myself to the place that Atka loves so you can always find us. Don't forget we are here. It would make my snow unhappy, and perhaps irk me just a little.

He lifted head to meet her gaze. And if you ever decide you want to settle. Please know you have a home with us.

Heph was slightly startled at the reiteration of the offer, but she could not hide that she was pleased by it and she returned that tip of her head and for a moment her smile was more genuine and warm than sharp and biting. "Thank you, it means quite a bit to me -" But her voice quickly dipped from sincere into laughter as she tilted her head to the side and squinted at his visage as if examining it once again. "the opportunity to see such a handsome face if I wish - Atka's too."  She enjoyed Dreven's company, and it seemed that in time, or perhaps sooner than she thought, they might be able to get along even without the threat of Aka's disappointment or even fury. Her expression turned softer again, less bright though not drawn by any means. "If I ever settle...." There was a moment when she trailed off and let a sharp smile take its place. It was a difficult thing for her to imagine but she could see herself setting with Dreven and Atka if she ever did.