The Sunspire weather-beaten in a losing battle

And just like that, Legion was gone.

Their tenure had been short. This place and this family had not even begun to feel like home. Their borders, still green in shape and scent. These lands were no longer theirs to keep.

The others had dispersed their separate ways. It was not too late to follow, but Merrit's loyalty remained bound by blood. He had decided on Legion by way of strategy. Now, they had no strategy. No allies, but Moonspear, and they were a strong contender for home and hearth, yet Merrit wondered how Kallik might fare beneath their rigour. He was a strong boy, and full of potential, but as much as Merrit admired and respected Hydra, he felt an aversion to bringing his cousin there to train beneath her.

And the end of things, the decision was theirs to make together. He tipped back his nose and called for @Kallik, keen to hear his cousin's thoughts.

There hadn't been enough time for him to form any kind of attachment to this pack or these mountains, but it had offered some much needed stability—something that had been lacking from his life lately. So he wasn't so much sad to see it end, but more like worried about being without a home yet again. He felt like every time he tried to move on and become stronger than the scared child he had been so far, the universe kept shoving him down.

His cousin's call pulled him from his anxious thoughts. At least there was one constant in his life—the thought both comforted and terrified him; he was afraid the universe would take his only remaining family, too, especially if he got too used to Merrit being in his life. Regardless of his worries, Kallik respected him and would not make him wait too long for his call to be answered. 

He tracked him down and trotted quietly over to him, sitting down and offering a quick nod in greeting. He assumed there was a reason he was called here, and so he waiting silently for Merrit to speak.

Merrit waited, absorbed by thought, when the crunch of footfalls against the snow brought him to attention. His cousin was soon with him -- quiet, as he'd ever been -- but Merrit had grown used to this, and he did not mind. He offered a short, wordless hello, a nod in return.

"We must find somewhere new to go," he didn't bother beating around, like he had, at times, with mother. "Legion has dispersed. I thought this time, we might decide what to do together." He didn't know if Kallik had any preference, or if he was simply okay to go with Merrit whereever he went. Merrit didn't know if Kallik even wanted to follow him at all, but the raven hoped he would.

"I know of a pack not far from here. They were allies with Easthollow," he began. The most logical decision, but, "we can also explore. See the area, and see if there are any others who might receive us." A bit riskier, but doable. His cousin wasn't a pup anymore, in mind or in body.

There was always a third option, one he had only considered in the briefest sense. "We could also start something new, something of our own."

His hazel eyes settled on the boy, for before, they had wandered somewhere off along the horizon, focused on nothing tangible. Now, they centred on Kallik -- not invasive, only curious to see which thoughts might come to his tongue, and which might only show on his face. "What do you think?"

He wasn't surprised to find that the topic of conversation would be their future. What did surprise him was that his cousin wanted to include him in the decision of where they would go next. Not that Merrit had ever made him feel like his opinion wasn't important, it was just strange to be considered old enough to weigh in on such important matters. He was suddenly nervous about what to say, though he kept his expression thoughtful as he considered each option proposed to him. 

Merrit first mentioned a pack nearby that was once allies of their former pack. It sounded safe, but then so had legion, and look where they ended up—back where they started, just the two of them with no place to call home. On the surface it sounded like a good plan, but he was hesitant to try the same thing again and expect a different result.

He was intrigued by the idea of exploring. He didn't know much outside of Easthollow and the mountain they currently stood on. It would be interesting to see what else was out there. But the idea of joining another pack steered him right back to the problem with their first option—what if that pack failed too, and they were dispersed yet again. He wanted to explore new places, but only if he had a safe place to return; he craved the stability of a home—like he had felt in Easthollow before everything fell apart. 

Starting something of their own. It sounded difficult and would mean they might spend a while trying to reform a home again, but something about having something they created caused a flicker of hope in his chest. It had been a long time since he felt that. Maybe they could build up a pack and keep it stable. Maybe they couldn't. He was finding he was willing to try even if the outcome was the same as the first two choices. Something about this plan made him feel like he could actually do something worthwhile.

Like our own pack? he asked, showing more interest in that than anything else in months. Where would we even start? How would they go about this? He didn't know the first thing about starting a pack, and he feared he would be more of a burden than anything else.

His cousin's answer surprised him -- and yet, in a way that Merrit had hoped for. A thin smile ghosted the man's face, the first real reflection of something better.

Merrit nodded, to show his cousin that he had understood him right. "That's an excellent question," he praised, impressed by Kallik's thoughtfulness, his calm approach to the idea. "We would start with you and me," of course, this was a given - but he felt it important to say. They had gone through so much already, lost so much already, the statement was more for self-reassurance they would not lose each other as well. That they were in this together. That this would be theirs.

"and, together, we would set out to explore and find a land worth settling in. There are many wolves around the Wilds in search of homes. Many dispersals, who have left their families to find their own. For many, that is the way of wolf." Easthollow had been different, but living with Clary and her small pack had taught him that their way of life had been far from the norm. "Along the way, we would seek them, too."

This is what Clary, Tuathal, and Killian had taught him, and he thought to say more, but he did not wish to overwhelm Kallik with his words. Admittedly he did not know much about his cousin, but he thought him one who listened and considered. Merrit left the space open for the boy to ask questions or lend suggestions, and so direct their conversation.

Kallik listened intently to his cousin's answer, taking in the words and letting them paint pictures in his mind. Surprisingly, he found it easy to imagine such a life with Merrit; he could see them exploring and meeting new wolves, possibly some that would want to join them as they searched for something that could be theirs. But as surely as he could see this possible future, he could also see how it could all go wrong. He could lose his cousin and be all alone, left to deal with yet another loss. The thought made him want to build up more walls—protect himself, tell Merrit they should find somewhere to settle and not take a chance on something that could be as painful as it could be rewarding. But he was starting to recognize that need to conceal himself from others was weak, and he didn't want to be weak anymore; he wanted to be strong, he wanted to find a new home with Merrit. 

Okay, he said after a long, thoughtful silence. I like the idea of a place that is ours, he continued. Do you really think we can find others to join us? he asked, curious to know what his cousin was thinking.