Lost Creek Hollow there is black coal filling up our homes

idk why this is so long, i am rambly af today

Root didn't seem deterred by the fact that they had a run of bad luck and he took that for a good sign. While he unquestionably itched to get back out to the borders himself, he was nowhere near the shape that he should have been to do it. It was a nagging sensation that would not leave him, and Mordecai knew himself well enough to know that he would make the attempt sooner than later. He had done the same with the Plateau after his unfortunate venture near Blackfeather Woods; it would be no different here.

A smile crossed his healing features briefly when she referred to Harlyn, as he knew full and well that her assumption was correct. There wouldn't be any getting out of it now if he had tried; if someone so new to their fold could spot the nature of their relationship, it may as well have been official in capacity alone. And if Harlyn's suspicions were correct, he would do more than make good on it as the next few weeks unfolded. But for now, he was corralled into looking after himself just as much as he was looked after.

"I'm sure you'll cross paths with them soon enough," he said, though surprised Luke had not crossed paths with her. But he hadn't seen the blue-nosed beta since he had come to find Mordecai some days ago. His best guess was to assume Luke was out trying to find the next herd for them to go after, provided their own numbers could handle it. For the others, he couldn't decide one way or another if they would find her, or she would find them. Ilya seemed the most likely to him to come across, if only for the fact that the small she-wolf had a friendly air about her. The others, he couldn't speak for them, and he knew that she would not meet Andalusia until she had returned from the wilderness.

"How long were you on the road for?" he opted to ask, willing to keep their conversation going. She didn't seem too travel weary, but a lot could change within a few days. Decent food, company, all of that was enough to raise up spirits and improve situations. It had always been the case with him, though he hadn't been travel-worn and rough in a long time.