Barrow Fields going to california with an achin' in my heart

@Samaantine -- backdated to several days before he goes to find Pema

Thankfully, the sickness that had brought Sunny and Aditya to the brink of death had merely given him the sniffles, and a few rattling coughs here and there. Other than those small symptoms, Shale was hale and hearty, and found himself traveling a little wider outside the territory, looking for prey.

This morning, he'd clambered up the Wall and exited the other side, paws sinking gently into the snow-covered fields overlooking the coast. He had caught the scent of big game lingering north of the mountains; if he could fell a deer and bring a leg back, caching the rest for later, they would be in good shape. There were no packs near here, or so he thought; the kill would be safe from all but scavengers.

The gray male was a small silver dot on the plains as he traveled, nose lifted, keen on locking on to a trail. A few fruitless hours passed by, and Shale had grown frustrated, ready to turn and head back. He didn't want to be caught on the side of the mountains when night fell; he'd much prefer the warmth of his own den, snoring next to his family.

With an exasperated sigh, Shale stood still, pelt rippling in the sea-breeze, his amber eyes cold and firm as he scanned the horizon in one last desperate search.