Jade Fern Grove defying gravity,

@Paloma Malvado  ; nephele tag for reference!

Cole padded along the outer borders of Bearclaw Valley, his breath forming small clouds in the crisp morning air. The cold gnawed at him, slipping beneath his coat and prickling his skin with every step. He had never been one for the chill, preferring the warmth of sunlit afternoons over the biting dawn, but duty was duty. He’d scout the borders, cold or not.

As he moved, his thoughts drifted to @Nephele and her daughters, a warmth blossoming in his chest that the morning frost couldn’t touch. Their faces lingered in his mind, each memory a comfort against the brisk air. It had been a while since he’d last crossed paths with them, and he wondered how they were faring in this cold season.

Shaking off his reverie, Cole focused his attention back on the task at hand, eyes sharp as he scanned the surroundings. Every scent, every broken twig along the trail was noted, but his mind continued to wander back to Nephele’s soft look and the bright eyes of her girls.