Blacktail Deer Plateau Hey, you stole my banana.

Elixir was hoping to catch the Beta to congratulate her. It was a good position to have and one that Grezig deserved through and through. She hadn’t saw much of Grezig since they had settled though but it wasn’t the woman’s fault it fell on her own conscious, being stand off from the pack made it that way. Since her fight with the shadow it had made it hard to feel at home but now that they had been here a while she was becoming more and more at peace with the land, wanting to connect with the pack even more so than when they were traveling.

Elixir was near the open lands when she tipped her head back and howled for @Grezig, hoping to catch her at a good time. Maybe she could help her more with her fighting or they could talk about finally settling down here in the oasis. For now her eyes rested on the horizon, she watched as small critters moved the tall grass and insects fly in the air.

Grezig heard the howl and made her way over, weaving between the trees of the birch and pine forest and into the open grassland. It had been some time since she had spoken to Elixir and she felt a bit guilty for that, seeing as how she was a beta and it was her job to keep up with the members of the pack. Well, she was partly rectifying that now, so, there was no reason to beat herself up about it. She saw Elixir’s dark form ahead and chuffed in greeting. “Elixir,” she said, bowing her head. “Did you need something? How have you been?”

Then she stopped as she noticed wounds on the gamma’s body that had not previously been there. Her body went still, hazel eyes moving from wound to wound. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Her voice was quiet and deadly and promised pain upon whoever had harmed her packmate. Grezig was fiercely loyal to her pack members, for she saw no distinction between them and family. Someone had hurt a family member and someone would pay the price.

As she was drifting off into space watching the nothings going on in the horizon her ears caught a slight sound of something approaching. She was slightly alerted until she heard a familiar voice that let her muscles relax in her body some. “Nothing specific, we just haven’t seen each other since we settle and I thought it would be nice to finally talk. “ she said softly and laid her eyes on her. A small welcoming smile came upon her lips. 

When Grezig mentioned her wound she sort of winced like it was happening again but then looked at the woman. “I’m not sure who he was, it was like a shadow came out of the darkness and just attacked. I’m glad I’m still kicking though he easily could have killed me right then and there. I bolted after I got free.” She said with pain clear in her voice. Elixir was thankful she had such caring pack members.

Grezig listened silently with her usual somber-faced expression. She wanted to ask Elixir more questions about the attack but was acutely aware of causing more trauma if she came across as interrogatory. Besides, it didn’t seem like Elixir really knew anything beyond what she’d already said. Grezig sighed, unsure of how to proceed, and decided to drop the issue. “Well…” she began, trying to think of something constructive to say. “Get your wounds looked at by Liri if you haven’t already. And maybe stay within the pack territory for a while, or have someone escort you if you need to leave.” She paused, aware of how much she sounded like a parent. “I think that would be best.”

She ceased talking, then, feeling awkward and still protective of the Gamma. She glanced at the wolfdog, then let her gaze travel elsewhere, and listened to the birds in the trees for a few moments. She cleared her throat. “You will be happy to know that I have… come to appreciate the beauty of this territory. Something I had not previously been able to see. I like the sound of the river and the wind in the trees. I find it soothing.” She kept her gaze firmly stuck on nothing, out in the distance, too embarrassed about this admission to look directly at Elixir. She wondered what the wolfdog would think of this.

SO SORRY for the wait on this! I haven’t had Internet for three days! D:

Elixir nodded at her advice, Liri had already seen them when the wolfdog was gathering berries in the woods. "She inspected it. She said it should heal good and gave me some herbs to help it. It feels better than it has in a while so I'm sure I'll be back to myself soon." she said and looked at Grezig reassuringly. It was true, it felt way better but still was tense when weather changed. When shes just 2 she feels like shes 4 when it rains or a storm is brewing. 

The wolfdog became excited to hear that she had taken in the beauty of their home and found something that helped her relax. A small wag of her tail let Grezig know she approved before she even spoke about the comment. "I'm so glad that you were able to establish that. It just takes a special place to do the trick i think." she looked out as she spoke the words watching the breeze. Elixir was closer to Grezig than most of the pack and hoped that the woman wouldn't worry about her. The wolfdog considered her a close friend.

Grezig was relieved to hear that Elixir was on the mend, and made a small noise of approval in the back of her throat. “Good,” she said.

Elixir expressed her own approval, then, that Grezig had finally been able to see the beauty of something. Grezig felt her body grow hot in embarrassment—for this was a subject she was not used to—but was otherwise pleased. “A special place,” she repeated, looking around. “Yes. This place is special. It is my home. Our home.” That was about all the sentiment that you’d get out of Grezig. She fell silent again, content to sit quietly with Elixir in silent companionship.

Elixir nodded, it was their home, which was a long time coming after traveling for so long. That was the beauty of it to Elixir, the wait for such an amazing place. To have patience in life is key and when so many wolves can band together and know that they need one thing but get tested and still push through to find it, well that was it for her. 

“I think our home is special. We’ve all been together for long before we found this place, I don’t think it’s this place that’s Home I think it’s the ones we found it with. “ she said. Her eyes were staring out into the horizon as she flashed back to the times they had before BDP.

’I don’t think it’s this place that’s home, I think it’s the ones we found it with.’

“Yes,” Grezig agreed, seeing the logic (and the sentiment) in the statement. “If the pack disbands, I will follow Kavik… and Liri… anywhere.” She wasn’t sure what made her say it, and her hesitance in bringing Liri into the words bothered her. More and more she felt that Kavik needed someone by his side that wasn’t Liri. But these thoughts were selfish and stupid and she refused to act on them. She fell silent, feeling uncomfortable, and kept her gaze away from Elixir. What was wrong with her?

Elixir thought about what she had said about if the pack had disbanded. While she pondered she didn’t catch the feeling Grezig had about adding Liri in the equation. 

After her thinking session she nodded, “I would too.” She said after she thought about what they had done for her and how good they were as Alphas. “I love how close we all are. It’s helpful. “ she chose to say. Liri was starting to become a close friend to the wolfdog and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Grezig she felt was a good friend to and wouldn’t want to lose her either. Without them she wouldn’t feel as safe here as she does.

“Yes,” Grezig agreed, again. Then she found she had nothing else to say. She cast her gaze upon the wolfdog for a moment, looking over the Gamma, then turned her face to their surroundings. Discomfort was still there, in the pit of her stomach, so she decided she’d had enough talk for now. “I must get back to my patrols,” she said, standing. “We will speak another time, I trust.” She gave the Gamma a small bow of her head, and then turned and wandered away again, towards the trees. She needed to do some thinking, decipher what she thought about Liri and Kavik as a couple, and her place in this pack if she continued down this road…

[Exit.]

Elixir smiled at her as she said they would speak another time, she always did love when they interacted. A nod was all she gave before the woman left. One look was given before she turned to go toward the woods. It would be a good day to study the plants and learn more. After all it seemed a bit slow in the territory so far.