Blackfeather Woods But now here we are

We’re back! One post per round, no posting order. Next round will begin on the 17th. This thread likely won’t be that long due to their obvious need to rest post-travel. @Vaati @Astrid @Potema @Aries @Relmyna @Rouge @Maevra @Koume @Iliksis @Ithrik @Shivali (Tagging for visibility, unless any of them are still hanging around (again—sorry for the tags, guys!): @Cicero @Euron @Maegi @Ramsay)

The journey was a long one, lengthened by paranoia and the phantom’s need to look; the absence of the children had not gone unnoticed, especially when they all gathered to travel, and he couldn’t hide his worrying over their safety. He wanted to search for them, or at least for the girl, but refrained from doing so—and would continue to, for as long as his conscience would allow. They were not his own, not even close, but the young Maegi had a fire in her that kept him interested. He wanted to help her through life, ensure that she could achieve all that she was meant to—and so, once the pack was nestled safely into the shadows of their home, he would search for her despite how low his chances of finding her truly were.

Their entry was a silent one, the songs of return prohibited from being sung; the enemy might still be lurking, it would be unwise to alert them. But he led them, still, deep into the forest and towards the Redgrove. It was there that he stopped, silently awaiting the gathering of those still breathing around him. And once there were there, he began.

“We were chased from our home, forced to live in an area where we were never meant to be.”—his voice was low but audible, coated in the wisdom of an aged mind—“But we will not allow that to happen again. Those of us that are still here, whose hearts still beat and long for vengeance—we will continue to grow.” He was not used to losing, to being evicted from his home. With those things came an awful feeling, one that he was loath to experience again. “We lost once, but we will never lose again. The next time an enemy comes into our land and disrespects us like that, we will kill them. But until that day, should it ever come, let us mourn those we’ve lost and begin rebuilding our home—all of us, together.”

In time, there would be some for him to approach, worthy wolves ready to be welcomed into the inner circle of the pack and join the Brotherhood. But for now, as he gazed at them all, he would allow them to rest—to regain their strengths and begin anew, to train so fiercely that they might never feel the bitter pain of defeat again.