Bearclaw Valley There isn't much left

Sven knew as a leader he did not need to share his misfortunes with others. No one really needed to know that Kvarsheim was no more. It would be evident if anyone went that way. But a part of him knew that he could not let that stand. He could not possibly let someone who was looking for help to come to the Stone circle and they all be gone.

So he had hunted all day and night. Catching a few grouse and carried them by their necks towards the borders of the bear wolves. They had always treated him well and he would like to give them a gift before he went about his way. He stopped at the borders a respectable distance and lifted his nose for @Ancelin or @Ameline and then he lay the grouse at his feet and watched. His tail curled about his paws. Patient.

with new little ones, ancelin was on higher aggression alert. unfortunately it was the polite pewter man at his borders which received a glimpse of this: the ragged-furred rex barreling out of dew-wet branches, bearclaw curled into the pelt at his chest and the rest of him studded with twigs, tiny bones, sap.
a snort. he drew up, tail lashing, and sniffed the air. a loner with little threat and some familiarity. "were you at the big hunt last fall?" ancelin asked, aggro ebbing as curiosity took its place.
a gift. a solemn face. a joiner? a messenger? he waited.

Surprise widened his eyes. But he was a Lodbruk and he had done nothing wrong. So he stood his ground or more so kept his seat. He was not past the borders. And he was bringing gifts. The sight that met him was what nightmares were made of if you were prone to them. But Sven felt as if he was living a nightmare, so he wasn't as perturbed as he may have been a different time. 

I was. I am of Kvarsheim. A small sad smile. 

He pressed the grouse forward. Kvarsheim has fallen and I wanted to drop one more gift and let you know. So if you were to ever need help and we weren't there. But if I am in the area of course and I can come to your aid for anything I hope you will call on me.

he shouldn't feel smug at such misfortune, but all ancelin selfishly thought of then was when he had gone to offer aid to an ailing pack. well — to absorb them. but they could have been stone circle in the valley. now this guy had nothing.
he was struck by shame then; the man had lost much and here ancelin was, gloating.
"i'm sorry to hear that. i hope you and whoever else is still there knows you can always come here, for hunting, or shelter, or just to talk."
"never got your name? i'm ancelin. ameline is queen here. i'll make sure she hears what's happened." he felt like the valley should do something, but didn't know what.

Sven did not know if this news would matter to this wolf. Perhaps it was nothing to him. And even so that was fine. Sven had done what he must.

Sven nodded. Thank you. Most have dispersed, but I'll pass it along. Maybe take you up on it someday.

Sven drew a paw across the dirt in thought. I'm Sven. I have met your queen. She hunted with me when I was much younger. Helped me to learn.

"ameline is always very memorable," ancelin agreed, charmed by the mutual regard for his mate. he studied sven curiously. "where will you go? i mean, you don't have to tell me, but you could always stick around."
not pity. friendship, though ancelin could understand wanting to ditch the place where your home had come down.

Sven smiled. The man was not wrong. He did not nor would he forget the queen of this place easily. She had been a bit of a lifeline for a kid who was learning to be a leader on his own. HE would always hold her in high regard for that alone. For making him feel okay about his birthright. 

I'm not sure. I would love to reform someday. And I honestly don't know if I would go far. My father is buried there. I was born there. I will travel for a time. Then return and reweigh my options. Clearly I need to grow as a wolf and leader if I want to try again.

Sven blinked and smiled. Thanks. Perhaps I'll return then. If you're okay with that. I need to clear my head first.

sven spoke with a mature resolution, and ancelin accepted this with a bob of his head. "just say the word. no one will mind. you can stay, rest, hunt with us." why was he feeling so generous?
"if anyone comes this way looking for you, should i tell them you plan to be back this way?" ancelin inquired, wondering if that was a possibility at all. whatever it was, though, he would like to reunite kvarsheim wolves, if only for the sake of the valley.

It was nice of Ancelin to offer. And Sven put it to the bsck of his mind. He'd repay them somehow someday. Thank you. and he meant it, truly.

A frown in thought. He didn't know who would come looking. Most everyone had dispersed, but he nodded. Yes that's fine. I'll be back. I may not even get far. Start to walk and miss it and come back. Who knows.

"we'll be here." ancelin nodded at the stone circle man, thought better of it, and reached for a stone-shadow cache. "here," half a rabbit. "traveling food."
it was the least he could do, right?
there were no spirits ancelin might call upon to bless this journey. he only half-waved, intending to watch until sven was gone from sight.