Blackfeather Woods i have seen the fall of babylon

after choosing to dissolve what had been formed of the vartija wintersbane's intentions are clear: leave the wilds ( again ) and head for enok tundra. it was about high time, he feels, that he connects in full with his mother's people. to inspire a pack around his tundrian heritage no longer sat right with him when he hasn't spent any time living among the true tundrians. his path is set and though he intends to curve north and leave the wilds behind him for the time being, his legs carry him south first. he knows he shouldn't but there are two things he has to do before he can set off for the place he'd only heard in lotte's stories. he thought he'd given himself the closure he needed when he visited relmyna's grave but he wants to see it once more, and maybe if he's lucky say goodbye to astara because despite the chilling quiet she'd greeted him with the last time they'd seen one another wintersbane still cares for her.

the second task was to visit lotte's grave again. both trips will set his travels back a bit but with spring upon the world he doesn't think it'll hinder him too bad. he curves south to blackfeather woods, confident that relmyna's twins hadn't left the territory, first ...and the scent of wolves — maegi and mou-screech-whatever he went by these days ( winterbane's still not clear on that ) scents startle him. they are strong and they are not alone. a unforeseen wrench thrown in his plans. if they're in the process of claiming it then he doubts his intrusion into the territory would be appreciated.

he paces back and forth, weighing his options carefully before tossing his head back and letting loose a howl.