The Sunspire two bottle a whiskey for the way

Alliance thread @Liri @Rannoch, @Terance, @Wraen

Rue had traveled this route westward last summer, but somehow the journey seemed entirely different with the mountains to her left, a friend to her right, and a home to which they would return.  The mountainsides were ablaze with autumn colors, brightening Rue's spirits as well as the view. Autumn could be enjoyed to its fullest, now that Rue had a pack to support her and little reason to fear the foreshadow of winter. 

Rue's gaze flicked to her traveling partner. She had been trying to keep a low-key watch over the alphess, knowing that she was likely still feeling that scrape she sustained fighting off the bear. It pained Rue to leave Blacktail Deer Plateau behind when there was a monster like that on the loose, but pursuing alliances would provide a different kind of protection to the pack. Kavik and Grezig were more than capable of guarding their physical holdings, so Rue and Liri would see to their political interests. 

Rue might have suggested they take a rest, if she hadn't just gotten a whiff of a pack's scent. She slowed, nose quivering in the chilly air. "Borderlands ahead," she reported to Liri, turning to the alphess with a questioning look. Had they arrived at their destination?