mahler had navigated them down from sagtannet, a path that fed down into flatlands he had recently visited. he would have liked to go through the canyon and taken the path that had once wound to diaspora, but those lands were claimed now, and by no wolf mahler would have liked to meet.
and so the gargoyle chose a more circuitous route, checking to see all were together before he led them northward, around the eastern edge of the sunspire. they crossed through the forest that bordered the smaller mountain, home to sure-footed goats. unbeknownst of the danger that lay in ursus, sagtannet strayed through a field of vivid wildflowers, splashed in a stench that rankled the man.
once beyond, mahler called for a short respite near a glade of foxes. here he was happy to defer to @Wylla and her remembered step of this land, and set himself to help @Star with @Marble and @Calcifer, in carrying or otherwise tending them. the rain had never ceased, and he had grown worried, as much for the youngest among them as now-soaked herbs he had brought from the mountain.
the fierce eisen eventually set off to scout onward; mahler watched her go, and then motioned to @Stag and to @Gracious for their status as warriors, looking about to make sure that @Astraeus was under a watchful eye. he rested with @Nyx a moment, exchanging a word or two, and then sought out @Takiyok with a gentle murmur of encouragement. thereafter, the shadowpriest gently encouraged @Ciri and @Elke back to their mother's side and @Phaedra to his own, to wait out the thickening rain for a few hours.
when his co-leader had presumably returned to inform them of swiftcurrent's situation, mahler went about to rouse sagtannet, and, letting the ability of wylla take forefront once more, set them to the path she chose.
the light dimmed; the water from the sky did not abate, and mahler was at last grateful to see the thin ghostliness of a sprawling aspen forest, butting up against the edge of a jagged peak. seeing little reason to travel at night, with so many pups, and two quite vulnerable, mahler suggested they resume again at light.
the sawtooth by now was quite far behind them; he did not like to think of the wild, fruitful place they had left. instead, the musiker shook as much water from his hackles as he was able, satisified himself that there was no track of cat or bear here, and took up a perch on some moonlit hillock to gaze through the aspens on first watch.