Great Bear Wilderness The sentinels

I wouldn't mind drawing it out just to get through this bit of dialogue if that's cool with you. <3

Her answer surprised him. He had not expected for Jinx to admit that she didn't believe in their survival, at least on that mountain. But the reasons provided drew a stark sense of understanding to the Ostrega. Mordecai had never lived on a mountain aside from his present residence and had found the difficulties in doing so. With borders as broad as their own to keep strangers away, it had also been a great deterrent for prey too. Not that the neighboring packs had done much to help either. But it was her declaration that intrigued him more, leaving him to drop the mixed feelings he had about their locale.

Where providing for themselves on that mountain would no doubt prove difficult in the seasons to come, the sprawling basin around them suggested that it offered more. He drew his gaze to the forestry around them, slowing his pace as Jinx came to a stop. It was only then that he met her gaze as she returned his question, and for a moment Mordecai looked at her unabashed. And then he turned away, this time locked in thought for a moment until a suitable answer arrived at the forefront of his mind and tongue.

“I would start preparing now. Figure out who we have that can hunt and hunt well, start tracking the herds. I would encourage that we use what's left to the warm season to pick up and sharpen our skills too. If we stay on the mountain, we'll have to defend ourselves. We'll have to defend our kills, too.” He felt bold, essentially trying to piece together what he himself would do. Thinking and thumbing back through memory for the very actions he had seen his own parents and grandparents take. However, the scrublands were a lot different than a northern coastal valley by a long stretch. They hadn't had much of a winter to contend with in Sedona, not like he anticipated there for whatever reason.

“But relocating wouldn't be a bad option either. It would give us distance from the threat of being assaulted, maybe give us an advantage to pick up any game that wanders away from the rivers and further inland. No doubt we're going to have those who desert us or otherwise turn up missing before and during the winter, but every little bit helps. As closely knit as everyone seems, I don't see anyone just freeloading off of us.” He looked back to her curiously then, tilting his head as though he would truly be able to ascertain what she thought.