Bearclaw Valley Too bad but that’s the life you lead

The most lifted under a red and golden dawn, leaving a heavy frost on the meadow as the pack of wolves roved back toward the Valley. Beyond the silver field, the treeline rose, and the entrance to the sunken valley loomed. Ameline breathed a sigh of relief; she could smell @Milan and felt grateful that the faithful woman had kept their valley protected in their absence. 

It was a larger band of wolves that returned to the Valley. Alongside @Ancelin, Ameline moved, leading newcomers @Cole and @Arnarkla toward their new home. She chuckled as her daughters ran on ahead once the valley came into view. She reached to nip at @Adalynn’s ear. 

They were stronger now; all the time she and Ancelin had put into establishing their home might be finally realized once more, and she found her heart leap with joy at the thought of giving their children a real family to grow up with.

Cole trailed behind the others, letting the familiar chatter of packmates and the sight of bounding young ones fill the brisk morning air. The frost clung to the meadow, silver under the warm hues of dawn, stretching toward the dense treeline that marked the valley’s entrance. He took it all in, the rise and fall of the land ahead, the quiet, deep roots of something stable and strong—a true home for those lucky enough to find it.

As the others filtered through the valley’s edge, he let out a low murmur, more to himself than anyone else, What a view.

home! home home!

new faces ran alongside the bearclaws. she'd gotten to know them from a distance, sticking close to her kin in case one of these strangers revealed an ugly side to themselves.

now she felt a little better in not sticking too close to mother. the warmth of her kiss was enough to remind the girl that family stood next to her always. or maybe she was just happy to be back home.

mhm~ she hummed to the giant dust colored man, skipping past him to trot along down.

The mountain wolf had hung back, kept pace at a distance. Being surrounded by new faces had kept her mind from drifting over the course of travel but she had permitted to glance away at times, taking in the land around them. The snow-capped mountains that towered near continued to call. For the time being, she ignored them. Surely she would find the time to explore herself, stretch her mountaineering muscles and witness all the spires had to offer.

At the approach of the sunken valley, the wraith continued to linger behind. She watched the whelps dart away to their home. An ear flicked at Cole's comment from where he stood near the edge. Her head tilted back and her nostrils flared, bringing in all of the scents she would have to grow accustomed to.

The scent of wolf brought Milan to the borders. The thought of a skirmish or the trouble of turning away another lone wolf was unpleasant, so it brought her all the more joy to see Ameline in the group headed towards the valley. Those accompanying her must be the rest of Bearclaw, she decided.

While she had not faced much issue defending the valley, the role of full-time defense certainly was not for her. Inaira had been the only one to bother her in the time Ameline was gone, but if she'd had trouble controlling her, what was Milana expected to do against a larger enemy?

Waiting patiently at the edge of the valley her tail remained low as it waved.

here is a map! <3

as their girls ranged ahead, ancelin growled gently, bumping his shoulder against that of ameline. they had a strong core again, one that would hold he believed.
to be back within the valley pleased ancelin deeply. inhaling great draughts of the cold air, he grinned wildly at the others and dashed after the four, sending one or two squealing as he chased them down the red-dirt path, beyond the sentinel stone, and into the primeval trees which had stood in bearclaw as long as the world.