Vale, like all of the other pups, had recently been exploring the sunrock. It was the first place  they'd been allowed to go, and Vale was itching for more adventure. So, when his dad approached him in the whelping den where he'd been napping, he got up immediately, carefully stepping over the forms of his sleeping siblings. He thought Asara stirred, but by then he and Avery were already out of the den. "Where're we going, dad?" he asked excitedly, little tail wagging behind him. Was it another adventure already?

Vale's eyes lit up — he'd never been allowed as far as the borders before. He enjoyed wandering, and getting the chance to explore with his dad? There was nothing better in his eyes. He was slightly unnerved when told they would have to cross the river — he'd seen his sisters fall into the spring, and that alone had been scary enough. But, he was determined to be brave, and so he followed his father until they came to a shallow spot. Vale crossed without much difficulty; his body seemed to know how to swim already, and he emerged on the other side, shaking out his pelt. "Where next, dad?" he asked, tail wagging as he grinned.

Vale took the chance to run through the forest, though he stayed close by his father. The trees were massive, and he noticed now they dripped large lines of red. He paused in his running as they neared the border, then edged closer to his father, asking nervously, "What's wrong with the trees?" Beyond them rose a mountain, plains, and some raised outcropping far in the distance; Vale had never been so far. He then asked, "What's out here? Mom says the river keeps going in the north, and there's an ocean past that!" But the south he didn't know. He hoped one day he'd be big enough to explore further.

Vale eyed the trees furtively, scuffing his paw on the forest floor. If it was just sap, then there was no reason to be unnerved by it; the boy sighed softly, then nodded. He looked to his father, his eyes drawn to the stump — he'd never asked his father about it, and he didn't think now was a good time.

Vale sucked in a deep breath at his father's bidding, then wrinkled his nose. It was a much stronger smell, and he could pick out both his mother's and father's scents. "I just smell you and mom... but different." He then moved to investigate a nearby tree, circling it, then lifted his leg against it smugly. He got to patrol with his dad while the girls probably were being babysat by Lorelai and Noir; he gave a little snicker, then bounded back to his father's side.

Vale nodded; he understood the danger... or, he at least had a healthy fear of the unknown. He was still a boy, and for now, he was content to remain within the confines of the forest — there was still a lot of it to explore, after all. "Can we patrol the north next?" he asked as the pair headed back towards the dens.

The boy nodded, deciding that it did make sense. He said nothing else as they made their way back to the dens, but he did leave a mark of his own on a couple of sequoia's as they got closer to the tunnels. Before he ran to his mother's side, he said, "Thanks for taking me out today, I had a lot of fun!" He hoped this was only the first of many adventures with his father.