Grezig heard the howl and made her way over, weaving between the trees of the birch and pine forest and into the open grassland. It had been some time since she had spoken to Elixir and she felt a bit guilty for that, seeing as how she was a beta and it was her job to keep up with the members of the pack. Well, she was partly rectifying that now, so, there was no reason to beat herself up about it. She saw Elixir’s dark form ahead and chuffed in greeting. “Elixir,” she said, bowing her head. “Did you need something? How have you been?”

Then she stopped as she noticed wounds on the gamma’s body that had not previously been there. Her body went still, hazel eyes moving from wound to wound. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Her voice was quiet and deadly and promised pain upon whoever had harmed her packmate. Grezig was fiercely loyal to her pack members, for she saw no distinction between them and family. Someone had hurt a family member and someone would pay the price.

Grezig listened silently with her usual somber-faced expression. She wanted to ask Elixir more questions about the attack but was acutely aware of causing more trauma if she came across as interrogatory. Besides, it didn’t seem like Elixir really knew anything beyond what she’d already said. Grezig sighed, unsure of how to proceed, and decided to drop the issue. “Well…” she began, trying to think of something constructive to say. “Get your wounds looked at by Liri if you haven’t already. And maybe stay within the pack territory for a while, or have someone escort you if you need to leave.” She paused, aware of how much she sounded like a parent. “I think that would be best.”

She ceased talking, then, feeling awkward and still protective of the Gamma. She glanced at the wolfdog, then let her gaze travel elsewhere, and listened to the birds in the trees for a few moments. She cleared her throat. “You will be happy to know that I have… come to appreciate the beauty of this territory. Something I had not previously been able to see. I like the sound of the river and the wind in the trees. I find it soothing.” She kept her gaze firmly stuck on nothing, out in the distance, too embarrassed about this admission to look directly at Elixir. She wondered what the wolfdog would think of this.

Grezig was relieved to hear that Elixir was on the mend, and made a small noise of approval in the back of her throat. “Good,” she said.

Elixir expressed her own approval, then, that Grezig had finally been able to see the beauty of something. Grezig felt her body grow hot in embarrassment—for this was a subject she was not used to—but was otherwise pleased. “A special place,” she repeated, looking around. “Yes. This place is special. It is my home. Our home.” That was about all the sentiment that you’d get out of Grezig. She fell silent again, content to sit quietly with Elixir in silent companionship.

’I don’t think it’s this place that’s home, I think it’s the ones we found it with.’

“Yes,” Grezig agreed, seeing the logic (and the sentiment) in the statement. “If the pack disbands, I will follow Kavik… and Liri… anywhere.” She wasn’t sure what made her say it, and her hesitance in bringing Liri into the words bothered her. More and more she felt that Kavik needed someone by his side that wasn’t Liri. But these thoughts were selfish and stupid and she refused to act on them. She fell silent, feeling uncomfortable, and kept her gaze away from Elixir. What was wrong with her?

“Yes,” Grezig agreed, again. Then she found she had nothing else to say. She cast her gaze upon the wolfdog for a moment, looking over the Gamma, then turned her face to their surroundings. Discomfort was still there, in the pit of her stomach, so she decided she’d had enough talk for now. “I must get back to my patrols,” she said, standing. “We will speak another time, I trust.” She gave the Gamma a small bow of her head, and then turned and wandered away again, towards the trees. She needed to do some thinking, decipher what she thought about Liri and Kavik as a couple, and her place in this pack if she continued down this road…

[Exit.]