Hoshor Plains run rabbit run

Rian was one of the first to step up and volunteer himself to find Tit.

He, too, had noted the boy's absence despite the sudden disassociation he felt following his breakdown earlier in the month. He constant chatter, or innane goofiness he offered always livened  the mood—either by getting on someone's good side, or their nerves. Even Rian, though he'd not had any direct interaction with him, was somewhat endeared to their youngest member because of his wild antics. Living vicariously through him or some such. He wasn't the type to get philosophical, especially when in the throes of one of his moods.

Rannoch led them down the trail, with Cypress just off his flank. Rian took up the rear, putting the rest of the group between him and his brothers. He was silent for the duration, but his eyes worked tirelessly in search of danger of signs of Titmouse. It didn't take long for Rannoch to pull up, and the rest to follow. But the exchange between the brothers, though it started lighthearted, quickly transformed. Rian, though he was off to the side, could sense the shift and if he were any closer he might be able to hear the frantic rattling of Cypress' heart as it launched into overdrive.

It took him an additional moment to spot what was causing so much alarm in his cousin, and his own heart bounded up into his throat. He swallowed thickly as the skin on the back of his neck began to tingle, and his hackles flared to full attention. 'Bear — Noch, it’s a bear —' Cypress stammered. He caught no more of what was said next as he moved through the group to join his brothers. But no sooner did he near them did their shadow shoot off into the grasses, nearly wrenching a cry of alarm from his throat that was quickly strangled into silence by his teeth as he bit down hard on his tongue. Alerting the bear now would surely be a death sentence for their brother. 

Though he wanted nothing more than to dart after Cypress but the former was faster and far more agile than Rian, and had already vanished into the field. Rian, realizing his mouth had been hanging open for god knows how long, exhaled and looked to Rannoch, both dumbstruck and desperate for a solution that wouldn't endanger them both, or the pack, further. 

A lance pierced his heart as a series of short, aggressive barks cut through the silence from somewhere near the bear. "Rannoch." He whined as his eyes rolled toward the noise, the stark whites reflecting his fear, and his tail raised high above his rump.