Bearclaw Valley bittersweet

The morning was heavy with a lingering chill, the kind that seeped into the bones and clung like a second skin. Grey clouds loomed low in the sky, casting the landscape in a muted light. Cole trudged through the soft crunch of snow underfoot, his breath fogging in the air as he followed the faint, familiar scent trail he’d come to know.

It didn’t take long to find her. @Anatolia.

There she was, curled tightly against the cold beneath a bare-branched tree. Her dark furs blended almost seamlessly with the roots around her, but Cole’s sharp eyes picked her out with ease. He approached quietly, his large frame moving with surprising care as he stepped closer.

Lowering his head, he gave her a gentle nudge with his nose, the coolness of his touch a stark contrast against the warmth of her coat. He huffed softly, the sound low and rumbling in the quiet morning, waiting for her to stir.