Honeyed Pasture nowhere left for me to go

He never strayed far from her woods — but on this day, with that scent on the wind, he made his way further inland. Perhaps he could have just howled. Surely, the other man would come to him, or at least respond in kind. But Dutch had caught another scent mixing with Alaric's, and shamefully, he did not particularly want to see his son.

Perhaps because he was uncertain whether Katmai wanted to see him.

So he searched silently for the other man, only brave enough to give a low, questioning bark when he scent grew stronger. Alaric? Are you there?

Alaric had noticed a flickering scent of someone he knew on the wind. But he had not went in search of it. Not yet. He was helping treepie and now he had returned for Willowbark, which he finally had. He had it tucked safely in a small ermine skin, and held carefully in his maw. 

Though his brown tipped ears quivered at the sound of a soft bark. he stopped to listen, gauging where it was coming from. And with a soft hum, he headed towards the noise.

They met somewhere in the middle, sparse woodland giving way to a snow-covered pasture. It was bitterly cold out of cover, but Dutch ranged outward anyway, striding purposefully toward the dark approaching figure. Alaric was recognizable even from a distance, and Dutch was filled with a mix of wistfulness and dread as they came to stand at conversational distance.

"It is good to see your face," he said to the man, his voice gruff with disuse, with some unnamed emotion. Alaric smelled of his son — a boon he hadn't expected.

The man the color of summer woods and snow after a day was walking towards him. Alaric didn't mind the cold so much, but he was a moving wolf. Dancing, running, jumping. Anything to keep the blood rushing and the warmth in his extremities. 

Impish gaze and smirk settled on face that softened into delight. How nice it was to see the wolf he had grown to like. And of course as always it was nice to notice something good looking. Alaric always found this wolf pleasing, but he found a lot pleasing. 

Alaric chuckled low and warm, as he dropped the willow bark from his maw. Likewise. I did not know you had returned. It is good to see you.

If Dutch would allow, he'd greet with a nose bump, and laughter in his gaze.

The affection was welcomed, foreign and somewhat uncomfortable as it felt to him. He was grateful for the welcome he received, and glad to see Alaric looking well.

"It hasn't been long," he replied, though he had certainly been around long enough to try and visit. Now he had a little more incentive. "Are you still at Moonspear?" he asked, ever curious. And, "Katmai is with you," he noted, pleased and relieved and aggrieved all at once. Alaric would look out for his son, he thought, for as long as he was under his eye. Not for Dutch himself, but because he was good like that.

"So much has changed," he murmured, his eyes far away.

Alaric could read the room and he quickly gave the man his space. Not wishing to give him anything to be upset about. This should be a good visit. 

Alaric scoffed gently, but didnt say anything. Though his gaze tightened a touch. It had been awhile. He didn't like abandonment, but he could take it far better than most. And they had only been friends anyway.

I am. I traveled a bit chasing after Tiuttuk and her sister Tikaani after the spear fell. I felt bad letting two little girls roam alone. But then my daughter Kinusi came back to start fresh and we followed along.

He laughed and nodded. Yes he and my daughter are paramours.

The fall of the spear — it hit him, but not as hard as it might have if his feelings were not so muted right then. Depression had taken its toll, but the blows he suffered were as numbed as his joy, lately. He had found, however, a new sort of contentedness with Marina.

"That's wonderful," he said, at first stunned and then quickly warmed by the news of Katmai and Kinusi. He gazed blankly at Alaric before a new smile broke his face in two. "That is — that's wonderful," he repeated, subsiding back into his thoughts for a moment. It seemed just right that Katmai had found love with Alaric's progeny.

"Hopefully, we will soon be in-laws," he suggested, his smile growing enough that his eyes crinkled at the corners. "He treats her well?"

Alaric had been devastated and angry when the spear had fallen. Truly. But there had also been relief. You could only hold the rotting rope for so long before it snapped. He knew this, and had held on anyway.

Alaric chuckled. Meet my daughter first. Then say that. there was a gentle teasing to his voice. But truth too. Kinusi was amazing to him and others. But she was also brash and loud and real. And sometimes some did not like that.

She's a good girl wonderful. But brokers no fools.

Alaric choked on his laughter. You havent met my daughter for sure. She would not let him treat her any less. She knows her worth and chokes you with it.

Dutch's smile turned to a smirk.

"It is good for a young man to be challenged," he claimed, his tail whisking. "Lest he think too highly of himself."

Katmai, he knew, suffered little of an ego. Kindle, on the other hand... Well. Dutch supposed his young brother could have grown up a bit in the intervening months.

"I am sure she is as wonderful as you are," Dutch asserted, smiling again at this description of a girl. "But I suppose I will meet her. I should see him soon. He departed so quickly — we did not have much of a goodbye."

This troubled him. Moreso, he was troubled when he wondered what sort of reception he might receive.

"How have you fared?" he asked, a frown touching his eyes more than his mouth as he shifted focus once more. "I am sorry to hear about your village, my friend."

Dutch could relate. He hadn't stuck around to see Moontide's inevitable fall, but... Well. It had seemed dead to him already with Chakliux and Marina both disappeared. He regretted his hastiness all the same, moreso now that he knew Marina had lived.

Alaric chuckled eyes alight with laughter. I agree, but i worry after your katmai. Kini can be very fierce in her beliefs and very knowing. Sometimes I worry she may hurt him accidentally. She can be sharp toothed.

Alaric shook his head. I would wager she is better as our children should be. You should come seek her out. See for yourself.

Alaric froze at the next question. The mask slipping just a bit. He had endured months of quiet contemplation. Of keeping two girls alive that hadn't had much experience outside of the spear. He had seen all those he cared for leave or disappear with nary a word. He had fared. But only just.

He lifted his head. It was a challenge, but i have weathered much worse. So it was what it was.

His ears twisted back at the idea of his son being hurt — but Dutch knew that this, too, was a inevitable and even necessary part of life. They could not protect their children from every hurt in the world.

He nodded in agreement, however, about coming to meet Kinusi. However she might treat Katmai, she was still a piece of a man he greatly admired.

"I will, and soon," he assured the other man.

As for their hardships — Dutch thought that these past two years were the worst he'd ever had to weather, even as they'd started at the best. It had broken him in ways he was still reckoning with, and he was still unsure about how to move on. But, it was what it was.

"My... My Marina, she is back on the coast still," he said to the man. "Nearing her heat. I must return to her. But I will come soon to say hello."

And goodbye, he imagined, though he did not yet know their plans.

Alaric did not think Kini would hurt anyone on purpose. She was gentle hearted and kind. But also quick tempered, realistic and very larger personality. Sometimes she would.

He tried to remember who Marina was but could not remember. Names and faces stretched over the years and he could not always place them. A gentle smile.

then you better get back to her. I'll be here

The quiet as I always am unspoken.

Dutch nodded in assent. He owed Alaric much, he thought. He owed quite a bit to a lot of wolves. But his first duty was now to Marina, and he could not focus on much else until he has seen her through this coming storm. So he said,

"Thank you," and, "Peace be, Alaric."

With one last look, Dutch turned to depart. He would see the man again soon.