Bearclaw Valley cursed to hold a weight you cannot bare

Gannet had hoped to return by the time Autumn rose, but they'd been held up. Even now @Mona had remained behind, assisting her brother, but she'd given her blessing for Gannet to take Ashlar and see how the hollow fared. Gannet felt badly leaving her alone to look after an ailing Casmir, but Ashlar was keen on coming back and Gannet had not wanted the boy to come alone. He was perhaps old enough, but just.

Unfortunately they had arrived too late. The Hollow was gone, dispersed elsewhere. "It happens, sometimes," he'd explained, but Gannet felt the disappointment in his stomach as well. He'd promised to return and had failed, and now the pack was gone.

Now he cut a path south, and planned to perhaps stop by Moonspear before leaving. He hadn't traveled this way very often, but he recognized the valley they passed through. Bearclaw Valley, he said softly to his shadow, who was staring above with open fascination at the surrounding cliffsides.

Then Gannet froze as a stranger crossed nearby. He didn't call out, but did watch him carefully. He seemed engrossed in something. A hunt?

i couldn't wait <3