Bearclaw Valley "—learn to use these things."

It was like walking through a neighborhood where everything was the same, except it was empty. Where you could walk by places that were so familiar and yet living in these liminal spaces, suspended in time in one's memory until you experience them again, and see the truth.

He came to the storehouse.

That's not what it was, now. The valley had reclaimed what hadn't been touched in years. Glaukos found his way to it and as he passed by what would have been the entrance, he saw only the invasive vines that had by now dominated everything. He saw how the stonework had eroded. He saw how the shape of the opening had somehow become smaller (but in fact he had grown immense since his last visit here).

A part of him expected to smell herbs, tinctures, and the like; but as Glaukos came to the mouth of this place he cleared some of the vines with some tugs of his teeth, and all he could find was the vegetal scent of springtime.

As he withdraws, he snorts to clear the smell from his sinuses and looks around at the surrounding paths, each having become overgrown from disuse as well.

Slowly, she began to emerge from her hormone-riddled state, that had clouded her judgement and impulses. She found herself becoming more vigilant, more defensive over the Valley’s security, and more hopeful that the small family would thrive. 

The new comer still aroused some suspicion from her, curiosity as well. So she tracked him deeper into the valley, scenting his tracks where they disappeared into shadow. Her eyes glinting, she moved to follow and see what the larder might contain when the massive man himself emerged from the space, blinking in the sunlight. 

”What’th that?” She asked, gesturing past him to the dark entrance from which he had emerged.

When he wedged himself in the doorway, the sun was beaming down and made it impossible for him to see his surroundings. As Glaukos stepped through to a patch of shadow his eyes began to adjust and it was as if the light-and-dark of it all coalesced in to the shape of the girl from earlier; she seemed curious of the space he'd found.

Glaukos shook the tension from his shoulders and felt some of the greenery which he'd caught there, fall free from the tangle of his coat. It was once a healer's cache. He couldn't remember who had worked there before his assignment as a boy, and barely could he piece together those memories of himself either; but he had known it was here, and finding it felt like a form of confirmation that Ursus had once inhabited the space at all.

He glances at the girl, noticing the strong scent of the boy all over her; no doubt they were victims of the season the same way he had been. He chose not to comment on that.

She hummed and nodded. She squinted slightly, recalling the visit that Arlette and Arric had paid them not long ago. ”Theemth like a good plathe for herbth to grow. Had a vithitor from a neighbourin’ pack comin’ here, wantin’ to look foh herbth.” She said. She supposed anything in there would be useless by now, dried to dust. 

”You know of anythin’ that might be of particular value in thith valley?” She asked. Sure Arlette might know- but if they had something that was of true value, and perhaps grew in miniscule supplies, it could be worth bargaining for.

Whatever had been stored here had gone to ground, quite literally. The internal structure was netted by various species of invasive vine species, while stored seeds had either withered on their shelves or sprouted and become a host of new life, at least a few times over.

Glaukos was curious for all of five seconds when he heard others had come to this place, even briefly, and was not exactly surprised. Bearclaw was well stocked with flora and fauna that any decently trained person could put to use.

It has been years since I've been here, but I will keep a look out. Glaukos would need some activity to help promote the healing of his body, and while he excelled at patrolling, he would put aside some time to explore his old home to find what might be of use.

How long have you and your man been here?

The land must have changed some since the last time Glaukos had been here; he seemed either unable or unwilling to immediately recall the location of any particular herbs. Perhaps, she realized, he hadn’t been a healer. Maybe he’d gone to the herb store for the memory of whoever it was who had stored herbs there before. 

The valley was full of ghosts, it seemed. A history as broad as the valley itself. 

”Thinth the fall,” She said. ”We foun’ two orphanth here tho we thettled down for the wintuh. Gonna be more little oneth runnin’ around in a couple month,” She stated proudly- though in truth, the assumption was likely a bit bold. Only days ago had her season ended, but she felt confident she would conceive.

So this place wasn't entirely new territory to her, or her mate. It was a curious thing to imagine Bearclaw inhabited again; Glaukos did not know how to identify the feeling in his gut when he learned that children would be running through the valley as he once had.

His mind wandered to another place.

Before arriving here I was living nearby, at the bypass. If things don't work out for you here, you might find a space there - it is called Rivenwood. Ameline did not appear "in need", and it wasn't like Glaukos to recruit (let alone for a place that had banished him) but he shared the information anyway.

Neither Ameline or her mate were well known to him at this time but, being first time parents, and being in such a position himself, Glaukos could appreciate the dangers of the season without support. Even with Etienne to help, Druid had been incredibly ill.

I will go patrol; if I find anything of use to you, I'll let you know.

For a moment, she was intrigued by what Glaukos said- and found herself wondering if she had passed through the bypass in her days as a scout; but she was quick to bristle slightly when he made a suggestion. ”We will be fine here,” She replied, studying his features for a moment. Was he making the suggestion so as to hint that they should leave- so that he might have his birthplace to himself?

She tried to summon some warmth to her eyes when he offered to patrol, but while her lips curved faintly, the emotion did not translate. ”Thank you,” She said, still lightly ruffled by her newfound suspicion.