Shadewood With all the fire we can breathe.

She expected to feel a lot of things about their decision not to return to the rise, though mostly Masquerade just felt a strong sense of resolve. She and @Riley were no longer adrift, torn between moving forward or turning back. Their path ahead would not be easy, yet she knew she and her mate would do everything in their power to establish a good place to raise their offspring.

She was partial to Shadewood, though she’d told Riley they ought to explore their options a little before making a decision. He had set out on his own today to scout a bit, leaving Masque to wander the woods. She wondered if looking elsewhere was a mistake or, at the very least, a waste of time. This place offered everything they could ever possibly need, as far as she could tell, so why look elsewhere?

Her dark paws carried her toward the center of the forest, where last week’s kill had been reduced to little more than bones and gristle. Masque knew she would find enough scraps to make a square breakfast. She licked her chops, long tail twitching as she walked, only for her entire body to go suddenly still as she detected the scent of an intruder.

Growling under her breath, the gray she-wolf hastened toward the doe’s carcass, making no effort to conceal her approach. When she came upon a large wolf eating their meat, Masquerade planted her feet in the dirt, teeth bared on a thunderous growl. Her ears thrust forward as her tail arched over her back, the picture of a wolf declaring dominance over a kill.

The stranger ignored her. The lack of reaction bewildered Masque, though only for a beat or two. With another savage snarl, she sprang at the stranger’s back.