Broken Boulder thursday, i don't care 'bout you

@Delight -- set couple days after the Runion whump

Zamael couldn't think of a wolf with worse luck lately than Alarian. Physical damage notwithstanding, there was some drama with the Morningside wolves that he didn't quite understand, and his brother was at odds with Queenie, as well (who'd have thought it, with her sunny personality!). He did his best to keep Alarian afloat, to not let him fall into the abyss like he'd done so many times before; it wasn't possible for him, now. He was leader, here--he could rest and recover, but he couldn't abandon these wolves to wallow in the darkness of depression. No matter how enticing it seemed.

When he wasn't with his brother, Zamael paced the borders, avoiding the den mother when possible--turns out two assholes did not a friendship make--and taking stock of the natural wonders of Broken Boulder. Flowers, plants, trees, whatever. Looking at pretty things was better than dealing with all the shit that had gone down, and besides, he wasn't leader here. Just like Hotel California, he could check out whenever the fuck he wanted.

His fiery eyes scanned the horizon to the south, feeling the urge to cut and run. He hadn't yet told Alarian of his plan to bring him and Eris back to their ancestral grounds. He had a sinking feeling that they wouldn't take it well at all. Well, no shit. Even with both Arnlith and Runion dead, the pair of them had made a new life for themselves here; no matter how shitty it was, Zamael couldn't see them jumping up and down at the chance to go home.

But if he didn't bring them back within the next couple of seasons, the tribes would start to ask questions. They'd send sentries, looking for him. And should they find the trio at Broken Boulder, returning would be even less of a question--and there would be a massive fight on their hands if--when?--that time came.