Bearclaw Valley lotys

It didn't take very long for the Guard to find himself back home in the familiar scent of the valley. To @Winslet however, it must be entirely new. With her traveling beside him, he found there wasn't much need for words. Not much use for any of it, in fact, their supple pace guiding them through the woodlands to the breach of the valley.

Cole paused, halting their gait. I'll trust y'll be respectful, won't'ya? He looked to the nymph of a girl, furs white and glimmering from the angle of the sun. He knew she'd be good.

He didn't wait to toss his head back against his shoulder blades, eliciting a thrumming howl for @Ameline, the Regina, or @Ancelin. He had a feeling that Ancelin would be more forthcoming...given that Ameline's been outta commission for the past few days.

Cole glanced towards Winslet for a flicker. A moment. Fleeting, perhaps, of desire that glossed his sclera. He wet his lips, waiting to see if either lady or lord answer his call.

the journey into the hearth of bearclaw was comfortably quiet. the sylph of a woman glided alongside cole. more often than not, her eyes gravitated toward him. admiring, wondering; she still knew so little about him. a craving instilled her, then, or perhaps it's slowly been inking into her veins.

she smiles up at him, bashful and sweet. her willowy tail swishes then, perhaps eagerly, to not only appease him but to appease whomever would come to greet her. to judge her. winnie was nervous, yes, but she felt a smidge more confident with cole at her side. 

his deep howl rang out. a beacon. and so she'd sit, tail curled neatly around her paws, for their arrival.

ancelin stopped on the way to answer cole's call, fetching himself a long few drinks of water and catching a few breaths before he went on. this was recruitment. big dude had earned a lot by his standards and just kept showing up. the bearclaw admired this greatly.
when the rex got there, cole was flanked by a sparrowy young wolf. "welcome to the valley," he told her, indigo eyes reflecting intrigue at what role she might take among them.
stature meant nothing; the queen was not hugely built and still would straight up kill whoever she needed in a way he could only hope to rival.
"our regina is ameline. i'm ancelin, her mate." he was welcoming beneath his scars, above the bearclaw twisted into the fur of his chest. "only one question: what can you do?"

The guard’s gaze lingered on Winslet for a moment as she sat neatly, her nervous energy clear in the soft swish of her tail. His expression softened briefly before turning to Ancelin, his posture steady and calm. He let his head dip to a bow before his Rex.

She’s got a kind soul, he said simply, his voice low but firm. His amber eyes shifted back to Winslet, a flicker of something protective in his gaze. He didn’t elaborate further; his favor for the young girl was clear enough in his tone and presence.

"it is a pleasure to meet you, ancelin. i am winslet." she spoke softly, and wore a calm, warm expression. cole spoke fondly of her—and the warmth in his tone wasn't lost on her. she smiled wider; bolstered, more confident with him beside her. 

she knew they'd need more than a kind soul, though. she pondered for a moment; what could she do? 

"with whelping season around the corner, i could be a wonderful pupsitter. i've always had a way with children." it was true; she had been fond of the children of kathhara before she'd left. often had she sat and entertained them, and enjoyed their rambunctious energy. 

"it would be an honor to be apart of bearclaw, and to guide its youth." she finished softly, her eyes hopeful as they flitted between ancelin and cole, hoping she'd made a good impression.

winslet was soft-spoken and readily helpful. poised against cole's great bulk, the contrast amused ancelin, who had no reason not to believe her. "that would be a big assist, winslet," the rex murmured. "at least one litter is planned but i imagine strongly there will be more than a few others."
chin jerked toward cole.
"i can tell you that if he vouches for you, it's gravy. welcome to bearclaw valley and make sure you touch base with ameline — here in a couple days."
at least! and he needed to get back, blood running like cinnamon inside his veins.

Cole’s gaze drifted to Winslet as she spoke, her soft words settling over him with an almost disarming warmth. The mention of children brought a tightness to his chest, a breath caught and held, and for a moment, he felt the weight of her potential place among them.

Good with children.

The thought lodged itself uncomfortably in his mind, pressing against something unspoken. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned his attention to Ancelin, catching the rex’s glance in his direction. The mention of litters hit him like a sudden wind, unbalancing. His brow furrowed slightly as he raised a questioning look, more to himself than to Ancelin.

Did he? No. No, he didn’t plan for a litter. That wasn’t something he had considered. Was it?

His jaw tightened slightly, but he kept his expression neutral, offering Ancelin a faint nod. Winslet’s hopeful energy deserved encouragement, not the weight of his own tangled thoughts.

She’ll do well here, he said simply, his voice steady, though the words were chosen carefully. She’s got more than enough to offer.

With that, he shifted his weight, letting the conversation flow back to its natural course while his thoughts churned quietly beneath the surface.