Bearclaw Valley When my time comes around

Evening draped Bearclaw Valley in muted hues of amber and violet. The air was sharp, frost clinging to the ground. Cole moved steadily, following a familiar trail.
He was looking for @Tvar.
Pausing at the edge of a clearing, his dark eyes caught a shadowed figure ahead. A low chuff left his throat, carrying through the crisp night.

straightening, tvar turned to face the man, his breath curling into the cold air in faint, silver wisps. he dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment, his tail swaying once in a casual gesture of camaraderie.

cole, he huffed.

he started a path towards the other man, tail twitching between his hocks as he moves. he can't help but notice the scents entwining the man's; nephele, and someone else. the new girl, winslet. tvar snorts when he comes upon cole.

how many girlfriends do you got now? his head tilts. go on, remind me.

Cole tsked, shaking his head with a sharp exhale, his lips tugging into a faint smirk. Fuck off, he drawled, though the bite was softened by the flicker of amusement in his tone. His dark eyes tracked Tvar as he approached, the playful jab rolling off him like water off a duck's back.
He shifted his weight, broad shoulders rolling as he adjusted his stance. Towhee Jr., he said, voice lowering slightly as the teasing air dissipated. How's she holdin' up? Keepin' outta trouble, I hope?
There was a genuine edge to the question, concern laced in his words as his gaze fixed on Tvar, waiting for an answer.

tvar meets him with a huffing laugh, shaking his head slightly in thorough amusement. no, no, i'm serious. a tease, teeth flashing briefly beneath black lips. come on.

a jerk of his head, and they're walking the length of the clearing. black paws sinking into the earth, he moves carefully through snow and ice, giving his coat a brisk shake while he's at it. sending small flurries fleeing from where they had settled on his back and ruff.

towhee? he asks, glancing at the man. then, he huffs. she's fine. been getting sick here and there, but i'm keeping her fed. a smile.

Cole scoffed, shaking his head as he walked alongside Tvar. I ain't got one, he muttered, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. Them girls are too fuckin' young. Ain't right, even if I was interested.
He paused briefly to kick a stray branch out of their path, his gaze scanning the snow-dappled woods ahead. Good, he said when Tvar mentioned Towhee Jr., the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Keepin' her fed, that's what matters. She’ll pull through if she’s got folks lookin’ out for her.
He gestured ahead with his muzzle, signaling to continue their patrol. Rala apologized t'me. A leg lifted to spray against a passing tree. His voice was gruff, but his pace was steady, his presence solid and reliable as ever. Whatever that fuckin' meant.

right of you to think that way, he said after a moment, the low rumble of his voice carrying a weight of agreement—even if it left tvar in an odd predicament. he was quite a bit older than towhee herself. towhee’s strong. she’s got it. and if she doesn't got it, well, she's got me. there was a quiet certainty in his tone, his blue eyes fixed ahead. casting another glance at the man when he stopped to hike a leg over a brush.

not gonna leave her side unless she wants me to.

when cole mentioned rala, a brow arched slightly in curiosity. even if it hadn't been long, it already felt like lifetimes since tvar was stumped on the woman. he'd convinced himself it had been nothing more than a crush—even if dolce being picked over him stung like a briar in a wound. aye? what’d she say?

he cast a glance sideways at cole, his tail swishing faintly behind him. moving over a few feet to brush his scent along a group of sparse trees.

She didn’t know that stray would’ve wandered in, he muttered, stepping over a patch of uneven ground. His gaze flicked sideways toward Tvar, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Didn’t think she’d let herself get caught up, either. But looks like her and Dolce tied the knot. Guess he worked fast.
He paused, scanning the sparse woods ahead, then added, Can’t say I didn't see it comin’, but hell, who am I to judge? His tone was neutral, his shrug dismissive, though his steps carried a quiet deliberation. Dolce ain’t exactly subtle about what he wants. Nor is she.
Cole cast a glance back at Tvar as they continued on, his eyes briefly searching. That bother you any, or you just curious? he asked, his voice level but probing.

tvar’s ears flick back as cole speaks, his snort loud; obnoxious, and angry. he shouldn’t care—he tells himself that much—but the irritation bubbling under his skin says otherwise. so, he grunts: dolce’s just another brute, a claim laced with derision. he's fucking insecure. men like that are always looking for the next thing to claim. should've seen how he looked at me when he caught her scent on me. then comes a chuckle, though it isn't amused; it's dark, almost like he wished dolce tried something.

would've laid him out flat then and there. it's a fucking fact.

he steps over a fallen branch, his tail flicking sharply as his gaze sweeps the sparse woods ahead. and as far as rala goes, i've put her behind me. let her make her mistakes. i've got a woman with pups on the way and that's all i care about. there’s a bite to his words, the kind that comes from someone too used to watching others get dragged into messes they could’ve avoided.

he casts a glance toward cole, his lip twitching faintly. but what do i know? maybe they’ll prove me wrong.

The guard nodded, a grim line forming across his lips as he listened. Too many cocky sons of bitches been walking around— Cole was the one to damn recruit the man, but he'd only set sights on the polar cub since arriving.
Damn straight, he agreed, his tone low and resolute. Coulda taken that fucker. Wouldn’t even be a fight worth rememberin’. His lip twitched faintly as he side-eyed Tvar, sharing in the shared irritation bubbling between them. But he let it rest. Tvar seemed content, and Cole could live with that, too.
With a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. The valley’s gettin’ damn big. Seems like everyone’s pairin’ up, gettin’ comfortable. Regina’s expectin’, too. There was a weight to his words, not quite disapproval but the acknowledgment of how much the pack was growing, how fast things were changing. There was a churn in his own chest as he swallowed the lump in his throat, thinking Nephele's stormcloak body, Winslet's widening eyes.
Guess that’s the way it goes, though, he added after a beat, something darker written on his features. I'll show'ya what I been makin'. Needa better eye on it.

“growing fast,” he mutters, agreeing without adding much else. he doesn’t need to; change was inevitable, and with it came all the complications of leadership, loyalty, and shifting dynamics.

at the mention of regina expecting, tvar’s jaw tightens briefly, but the tension eases with a huff. “big valley needs more pups, i guess,” he says. his own thoughts drift briefly, unbidden, to towhee and the life they’d soon be bringing into the pack. the thought is grounding, if not a little overwhelming.

cole’s offer breaks through his introspection, and tvar’s ears tilt forward, his curiosity piqued. “this got something to do with the coyotes?” a faint smirk ghosts across his lips, his usual stoicism cracking just slightly. “lead the way, then.”

Without a word, he turned and started moving, his broad frame cutting through the snow with an easy stride. He glanced over his shoulder once to make sure Tvar followed before setting his eyes forward again.
Damn coyotes, Cole muttered after a beat, his voice gruff. And rogues. Can't have ‘em gettin’ too comfortable near the borders.
As they approached the dead tree, its jagged edges already showed signs of his handiwork—sharp, splintered spires scattered nearby, their pointed ends gleaming faintly in the cold morning light. He motioned toward them with a flick of his muzzle.
Sharp enough to make ‘em think twice, he said simply, stepping closer to run a paw over one of the stakes. Figured we start placin’ these around the borders. Too many threats sniffin’ around lately. Gotta send a clear message.
Cole turned to Tvar, his eyes glinting with quiet confidence. You can give these soft ones to Towhee, he gestured to the other pile. Good for den reinforcement.

tvar studies the stakes, his sharp gaze tracing the jagged edges of cole’s handiwork. he steps closer, his paw brushing lightly over one of the sharpened spires, and chuckles.

impressive, comes a rumble of approval. you’re right. this’ll make anyone think twice before sniffing too close. his gaze shifts to the softer pile cole mentioned, and a faint smile tugs at his lips as he thinks of towhee’s den fortified with the same care.

i’ll take these to towhee now, tvar adds, nodding toward the softer stakes as he moves to gather them. she’ll appreciate it. his blue eyes flick back to cole. and i’ll catch up with you in the morning—early patrol. i’ll help reinforce whatever’s left.

he dips his head slightly and turns to stride off, large silhouette disappearing into the good night.

exit tvar

It pleased the guard to know another man sought what he knew of his work. Cole may be obsessive in nature, but he knows how ruthless whelping season can be. The last thing he wants is the loss of any pups.
I’ll see you then, he agreed. Bright and early. It made him think of Annie. How much she hated the mornings and fought against him with growls and premature teeth.
And he hoped, too, that he’d be of service to Towhee. For bringing her here and now burdening her with a pregnancy—which he wasn’t sure she wanted, but the burning heat came all the same— it was one of the least things he could do. Support.