Noctisardor Bypass i've build a wall behind every step i've taken

potential pack formation thread :)

Laurel had moved to Noctarsidor Bypass soon after she and Xan had turned up at the borders of Rivenwood. It seemed that they'd arrived when things were just being wrapped up at their old home. Ironic that she had passed the Bypass and decided that was not for her because she knew it was Terance's old lot that lived there. How good it felt to have revenge for the sins they had committed against her and her brood in years past to see them driven out to make place for her; and hopefully, her future children.

Deciding that she would try and make a good impression off the get-go, Laurel was out that day marking the borders of the Bypass so that the pack's new claim could be confirmed well enough. She didn't feel good, but it was easy enough to pretend to feel good now that she was in a totally new pack. She no longer had the comfort of showing how miserable she truly was.

Only I know the truth now, love. Well, and Alexander. It was weird that he'd call Xan that. Laurel never had. There was something haunting about the fact that he did. He knows nothing, Laurel thought to herself, gloomily. That's what you think. Haven't you seen the way he acts around you? Oh, dearest, you are so blind. Laurel scoffed to herself at that and decided to ignore Iliksis' voice for now while she rubbed her scent — and a few loose hairs — on a low piece of shrubbery.

he had not ceased thinking of wylla since she had come to visit. it was unhealthy for him to dwell so long upon it, and yet he could not stop.
the gargoyle kept up his pattern of patrolling and marking, though his heart was unsatisfied. 
he hoped in the weeks to come that rivenwood might know its future, so that he could step away from the helm at last.
but he said nothing of this as he came upon laurel, and gave a wave of his dark plume in greeting. she painted their scent upon the land. approval marked his gaze. "how are you settling?"

It was Mahler who drew up beside her. Two wolves each wearing a mask, cloaked in lies because the truth was too bitter and ugly to wear out in the open.

When he first approached Laurel startled visibly, but soon managed to calm herself down. Her heart continued to raise despite his friendly demeanor. It was different now that Xan did not stand beside her. Do you really think he could protect you? Different to see a man, a powerful man at that, approach her. If he wanted anything, she was powerless. Laurel kept a guarded distance between them with this fresh on her mind, though there was a friendly wave of her tail and a smile on her face.

The mask came on easy enough.

I'm doing good. You didn't lie, it's a nice place. Laurel offered him a kind, almost bubbly smile. I haven't seen Xan around for a bit, but I'm sure he's somewhere. He had promised to stay with her (perhaps that not so much in words, but he'd promised to protect her and he wanted this family, too) so surely he found not be gone. Much like her, he'd been very on his own in Easthollow. Perhaps, where she tried to make the best of it and make their position here more permanent, for Xan it was the same in Rivenwood as it had been at the hollow.

he paused. without her husband about, he wondered if laurel might seek another man for the season. "it is a large territory. perhaps he has gone to explore." his attention shifted to rubbing his shoulders against the bole of a nearby tree. graphite tufts of fur left behind, the gargoyle found his work satisfactory and pressed on. 
"have you been to this place before?" he inquired. the bypass was a landmark, and she seemed familiar with the layout of the land. at least enough to find rivenwood's first location. but he did not wish to pry into laurel directly, preferring that she volunteer whatever information about herself that she saw fit.

Yeah, perhaps, Laurel said. She felt a twist in her gut, unsure what she would do if it was true that he was gone. Perhaps everything had been too much for him. Valette's death, leaving Easthollow... He'd been a recluse there, like herself, and perhaps settling in another home was a lot. Or perhaps he was simply continuing his recluse lifestyle here. It was too early to tell. Perhaps he'd show up again soon and her worries were all for nothing.

Following his example, Laurel dropped to the ground and rolled around, leaving a bit of her tanned hair there. Then they moved on.

When he asked if she had been here before, she visibly hesitated for a moment. I knew the wolves who used to live here. When I was pregnant two years ago, they turned me away at their borders. She sounded bitter about that, as if she had not yet let go of it. That's why I did not think to join them. She glanced around, then looked at Mahler with a confident smile as she said, It seems it was the right choice. It was better to be part of the conqueror's pack than those conquered, after all.

whatever mahler had expected, it was not this admission. arbiter had been aloof; this revelation showed a colder side to who he assumed had turned laurel away.
the man dug along the base of one tree, rearing to claw away curling strips of bark. "a foolish decision," mahler declared, returning laurel's smile. "children are the lifeblood of any pack. turning a mother out to starve is cruel and unvise."
"arbiter vas not even here vhen i decided to take this land. her volves barely fought, and ran as soon as they could. a bloodless victory," he chuffed, turning his lavender eyes on a squirrel that scampered across their path at a distance. "i am glad that returning here is a better thing for you this time."

It was such a long time ago, and much time had passed since then. Now, she was here; she had not lived here, as it had been at Lost Creek Hollow at the time, but Laurel decided not to bore Mahler with such details. There was a beamed smile on her face when he said it was a foolish decision, as it made her feel validated as a member of this guy's pack. It made some of her uneasiness around the fact that he was a man slide away.

Arbiter... Laurel didn't really remember any wolf like that, but maybe it was a new one. she was unaware of the name changes.

It wasn't exactly returning here for her, but Laurel just nodded and decided against commenting on that. Yeah. I hope that Rivenwood will treat me well. Better than the past, she hoped, both for Rivenwood and Mahler.

"i think that ve vill be," mahler said with another quick smile. the ease with which rivenwood had taken the bypass had begun to make the graf suspicious, but again, he stamped this down and kept their conversation pleasant.
"vhat other aspirations do you have? this place is beautiful in spring and has many sorts of flowers that grow," he mused aloud. "many years ago i meant to claim it for myself, and lived here for a time."

Laurel smiled at him and then she moved to a nearby shrubbery where she left some of her fur and scent again.

When Mahler asked her about aspirations Laurel paused in her step briefly, as if she felt caught out. He mentioned the flowers and she said, I look forward to seeing it in spring. Spring... What more would that bring for her? The children she so desired? Another chance at being a mother? I don't have many aspirations these days, she admitted. Other than to live a quiet, good life with a family and good wolves around me. The past proved that aspirations brought little good. Bearclaw valley and her leadership there had brought her nothing. Trying to court Xan in the past had brought her nothing. Thinking you were smarter than me has brought you nothing. Laurel frowned as she thought of her life's failures.

She just wanted some peace, now. Peace, good wolves, a real family and beautiful flowers seemed like a good plan.

Time would tell if she would receive any or all of those.

"you and i have similar vants," mahler commented, looking at laurel with perhaps a new attitude. a family. calm. the spring to come. all these things had been simple blessings to the gargoyle. it was pleasant to speak with someone who shared the same.
"i have come to believe that vorking tovard goodness does not alvays grant goodness. you must be more genuine than good." the truth of him, of his selfishness; it had dashed his potential with wylla and set mahler upon a fateful path.
but now, as he walked with laurel, claiming rivenwood's new home and speaking of sweeter things, he felt as though there could be hope for a true smile again, a true breath of unfettered air.

It was strange, the way walking with him made her feel. Laurel had come to his borders filled with beautiful lies and a mask upon her face. Even though she had not dropped her guard nor her mask, it was as if it was easier now to hold it up. As if it did not cost her as much effort.

Mahler said something about goodness. That it wasn't enough. It was a bit deep for Laurel, and caused a twist in her gut as she thought about it. What even did being genuine bring? She couldn't be that; it would only make those around her sad.

Laurel remained silent for a moment to process what he said; his initial remark about being similar to her had put a smile on her face, but now she felt conflicted. She sniffed a nearby rock a little long, as if she'd found an interesting smell, even though there was nothing. Then she moved her head past the rock, leaving some hairs and saliva on the rock.

In the end, she just murmured a soft mm-mm in agreement and smiled warmly at Mahler.

Then she continued the patrol, feeling a little better than before; feeling good about spring, for the first time in a long while.

We can fade it here maybe?