Bitterroot Valley Who is Not Without Sin

Territory Map for reference ; tags just for mention, unless you'd like to hop in! <3

Barrett had heard of the lake from both @Sega and @Vanja, and found himself keen on seeing it with his own eyes. He moved westwards of the dens, of the clearing, pushing past mounds and listening for the sound of the wind pulling and lapping at the water. Soothing to the ears, no doubt.
When he arrived, he lumbered, slowly, towards the waters' edge, letting heavy steps thunder him towards the shore. He grew closer, and, once he was there, he touched his nose to the water. The coolness of it shot through his body; raised the fur of his neck, produced bumps on his skin. He blinked once, a shiver coursing through him, before he rose once more.
Pulled himself forwards, pelt meeting the water. Further and further in he went. Waded in, until he was in just below his shoulders. Now, he let his head fall into the lake, squeezing his eyes shut as he got every inch of his body wet. Bathing. Let the sounds of the world fade around him, just for a moment.
As he reared back upwards, a breath left him, and he turned, resurfacing from the lake. Shook his pelt out, keep his jaw shut tight, so that his teeth may not rattle from the cold of the water. Looked back to the water, now to the thicket of trees nearby. He huffed, before moving forwards.

Elowyn emerged from her Den and headed toward the lake. She was still getting to know the land, and the other wolves inhabiting it. She found her way to the lake and bent her head to lap up some water, but before she could, she noticed someone emerge from the water.

She watched him for a moment, though he didn't seem to notice her. "Hello," she said, somewhat startled by it.

There was a voice that sounded from behind him. A voice that he did not quite recognise, and so he turned, gaze falling upon a girl, small and slender with a pelt of snow and the forest floor during autumn. A year younger than he. But, she smelt of Great Sky, and so Barrett felt himself relax.
Howdy there, he replied, drawing himself closer to the girl. You doin' alright, this fine mornin'? Making gentle conversation.
Forming bonds within his pack, and what-not.

Elowyn nodded. "Oh, yes, I'm doing just fine," she said. She didn't recognize the other wolf, but that wasn't unusual. She'd not met many of her new pack mates.

"Are you from Great Sky?" she asked, stepping a bit closer. He seemed...friendly enough. She sniffed at the air in front of her to get a feel for his scent so that she'd recognize it in the future. This one, she definitely didn't recognize, though she wasn't surprised by that.

He gave a nod at her reply. Nothin' more to say, but he did wear a friendly smile 'pon his face.
Yes, ma'am, he answered. Got picked up by Sega a day or so ago. Haven't met too many folks 'round 'ere, yet, but, hey, talkin' to ya now, aren't I? And his tone was humorous; eyes creased with warmth. She stepped closer, and he invited her in. Made sure to memorise her scent, too.
You got a name, stranger? Asked the outlaw, his voice that of a light tease, though it rumbled out like gravel and smoke. Southern in inflection.

"Oh, yeah," she said. "Sega seems to bring in a lot of us," she said with a chuckle. "He brought me in a little while ago, and my friend Angel."

Her tail flicked when he asked about her name. "Yes, I am Elowyn Lazore," she introduced. "What about you? Got a name?" She watched curiously as she spoke to him, the wolf who appeared from the lake.

Angel, Sega had mentioned her on their hunt. Barrett felt himself growing curiouser and curiouser by the day as to the nature of this Angel, and whether or not she would be interested in showing Barrett how to put his clumsy paws to some good use when it came to the hides they retrieved from hunts.
It's a pleasure, Elowyn Lazore, he mused, bowing his head as if addressing royalty. Name's Callahan Ward, should'ya want mah name in full, too, moved his head to the side, back towards the lake, and gestured towards it. Not too bad for a swim, y'know, though it is mighty cold.
Those last words came with a chuckle that rocked his shoulders. A silent challenge, maybe, to see if she could withstand such temperatures.

Elowyn chuckled. "I'm simply used to giving my name in full," she explained. "I suppose my family is quite proud of their surname. "It's nice to meet you, Callahan Ward." She teased him a bit by adding his surname. 

"It would be mighty cold," Elowyn agreed, looking at the water. "It is winter after all." Her gaze shifted back to Callahan. 

She didn't rise to meet his silent challenge, though it's unclear if she didn't realize it was there, or if she didn't want to try.

Winter, he echoed. Yeah. You ready for it to get colder? Again, friendly conversation was all he offered; all he really needed to offer, in this situation. And it wasn't bad whatsoever. Found himself enjoying the company.
There were many things about winter that were implied rather than said: easy hunting for wolves such as themselves, though worsening sicknesses, and, of course, the potential for the conception of litters, as it was most common around this time. Where else would spring-babes come from?
Y'know, he said, seemingly pulling from his thoughts. I've been wonderin' if maybe Sega'll be wed, someday, his tone was less gossip and more tease. He wondered, too, if he and Sega could be considered friends. Hoped for that to be true. Wouldn't mind hunting alongside a brother once more. Bring some kid's to the group, huh? Raised his brows.
He himself was not against the idea of rearing a litter. Thought that he could be a good father. Could picture himself with a son—though, something of the thought stung. Something that he could not quite name.
But he refocused. You like kids, miss? He asked curiously, making small, quiet moves in an attempt to get to know his fellow packmates.

"I suppose," she said. "I'm not a huge fan of the cold, though." Elowyn shook her head for a moment. "Thought, I am prepared. I have a warm den and a spot to hunt." She chuckled a bit.

"Where did that thought come from?" Elowyn asked, though she had to admit it was a curious idea. Would he? But, Callahan asked another question. "Kids are great," she said. "I think I'd like to have some, someday," she said. "Not quite ready for that, yet." She gave a nervous laugh. "What about you? Are you hoping for kids someday?"

Warm den and a spot to hunt, was there really any more to life than that? A place to eat, to sleep? Friends beside you? Barrett figured, then, that maybe that was all anyone really needed in life. Hell, it was good enough for him.
Well, y'know what comes with win'er, he said, tone carrying implications. Just think it'd be nice ta have some lil' ones scurryin' about, almost paternal. Found himself longing for something similiar.
O'course yer not ready, yer still just a girl, Barrett pointed out, smiling, still. Cheeks would begin to hurt, soon, if he kept this up. Oh, ain't no doubt about me wantin' some'a my own. Just don't know how great I'd be, 's the thing, gave a shrug. A careful roll of his shoulders. Barrett looked away and let his face fall into a neutral expression, before musing:
Reckon if I 'ad a boy, I'd name 'im Isaac, there was a pain that flickered behind his eyes. Or a girl, maybe Mary, or Beatrice. Like 'em both. Fancy sounding names, to him. Wanted to be able to give his kids that sort of life. Provide for them, the proper way.
He chuckled, now. Still, things change. Not so sure 'bout any'a that.

Elowyn seemed a bit embarrassed at the implication and was glad that Callahan continued. She nodded at his saying that she was just a girl. And when he talked about wanting some of his own, but being worried about being good at it, she thought for a moment before speaking. "Well, I'm sure you'd be great. Sometimes it's not about how good you are at it." She shrugged. "Sometimes it has a lot to do with doing your best."

Her lips parted in a smile as he talked about what he'd name his future kids. "Those names sound absolutely lovely," she said. "I'm sure you'd be able to use all of them eventually," she said with a chuckle.

"If you want to have pups, you will," she said. "Life can be finicky, though, can't it? Like you said, things change."

Wise words came from the girl, about not being good, but doing your best, and he raised his brows, nodding. Those some smart words, hun, he grinned. Reckon I'll be comittin' 'em to memory, because, even though his tone was humorous, or teasing, they did strike a genuine chord within him. Something he knew he was ought to remember.
All of 'em? Well, he chuckled. I'm hopin' I won't have three at once, don't know if tryin' mah best would be enough, then, but, I guess ya never know, and he nodded now, agreeing with her last sentence. Life sure was finicky. Found himself not really understanding it all time and time again. Still, though, he'd try, and try again. Knew that, someday, he was bound to find the right person. Bound to find the right life for himself.
Or, at the very least, he'd die trying.

He gave a sigh. You hungry? He asked the girl, taking a step back towards the clearing, where a food cache would certainly give way to their breakfast. Tail flicked lazily behind him.

Elowyn chuckled. "You might, I was born in a litter of three. Me, my sister, and my brother," she told him. "Three at once isn't outside the realm of possibilities."

When he asked if she was hungry, she suddenly felt like she was starving. "Yes," she answered. "Actually I am quite hungry."

She nodded to him to lead the way to the food cache her own tail flicking behind her. The younger wolf watched Callahan as they walked, still curious about him and glad that she spoke to him if it would lead to getting to know him.

A little piece of her, a look into her past; two siblings, she hinted at. And Barrett found himself curious, now. Curious of her life before these lands. Wondering, then, how much she would let him know. For now, he just nodded.
Follow me, then, he said, making a respectable pace towards the clearing within the valley. Long strides took him far, with earth-shaking steps and the low sweeping of his tail. The girl would have to move quickly, should she want to keep up with a man of his stature. Ya know much of yer life before this place? Came idle questioning, seeking knowledge.
Curious as to whether or not their situation was the same.

Elowyn hadn't expected the question. "Yeah, I do," she said. She was worried about telling him too much, only because she didn't want to depress him with her story.

"I mean, I remember a lot of my childhood, until I got separated from my family, and then I found a new pack and I was with them for a bit."

She grinned. "I could tell you about my childhood if you're just fishing for more information about me."

Seems like they were a little different in that regard, then, but nonetheless he'd give her a nod. She caught on quickly, however, and at this, Barrett chuckled. Ya caught me, he smiled. Tell me whatever yer good with sharin', hun. Got ears for a reason, huh? Warmth in his tone.
I ain't fishin', though, and he gave faux-defensiveness. Just curious 'bout a pack-mate, that's all, the word 'packmate' was odd on his tongue. Something he wasn't accustomed to saying. Not yet, anyway.
But his tone took that of seriousness, now. If just for a moment. Only share what yer good with sharin', yeah? Ain't no need ta make yerself uncomfortable, almost fatherly in guidance.

Elowyn chuckled. "I'm sure you weren't fishing," she teased. "But, no there's not a whole lot to say," she said. "I grew up with my siblings, Kira and Tuck. There was a river that we grew up close to, so water is quite a bit of a comfort to me," she admitted. "Which is also crazy because I lost my family from a flood, so you'd think water would scare me, right?"

She paused. "What about you, Callahan?" she asked after a moment, not wanting to go too far into her stuff. "What was your time before this place like?"

He led them quietly back to the clearing, of which was getting closer with every step. Listening silently as Elowyn spoke. Ears twitching towards her, as if a silent signal that he, of course, was involved with anything and everything that she had to say. Chuckled with a breath of melancholy at the thought of water scaring her, for quite the validly dark reason.
I'm sorry, he murmured, now. Fer what happened to yer family. Shit's—eh, stuff's—tough to handle. I get it, came soothing tones. But, when the question was turned back on him, Barrett did not have much of an answer. Rather, he said: I wish I knew, with a grim scoff. But, look's like comin' 'ere wiped all my memories, for whatever reason... But left behind was a pain. A pain so great that it invaded his mind well he slept. Cursed his heart when he woke. He shook it from his mind.
The leftover meat from his and Sega's hunt grew strong on the wind, the scent carrying towards them as they approached the valley. Almost there, he observed, gesturing forwards with his nose. His face hardened, now.
Swallowed the growing lump in his throat.

Elowyn's expression shifted to one of sadness when Callahan told her that he didn't remember his past, that coming here had wiped his memory.

"Oh my gosh, Callahan," she said. "That's so sad." She shook her head. "I wonder why that happened." She stopped herself from trying to come up with ideas as they walked. Or, at least from telling Callahan her ideas.

"Almost there," she repeated, suddenly feeling bad for turning the question back onto him. "But, you don't have to be sorry for what happened to my family. I've been doing fine without them. I've held my own, ya know." She changed the subject back to her issues to try to lighten things a bit.

He didn't need pity. Wouldn't spite her for it, but he'd be honest with himself and know that the thought of it prickled up his spine and gathered in his throat in a way that made him wildly uncomfortable. Dunno, was all he gave as an answer, shrugging his shoulders as they went.
I'm mighty proud of ya, Elowyn, he said. His tone was genuine. Warm. He looked to her and nodded. 'S good, too, that ya've found someplace to stay. Means ya've got them survival instincts, a'least, see, maybe that was what you truly needed to survive. He hummed.
Closer they got, until they were within the clearing, and Barrett was headed towards the carcass that he and Sega had taken down just a day or so prior. When he found it, he took a chunk for himself, and with a lazy flick of his tail, invited Elowyn to do the same. When she did, he would turn to head back to the clearing, where they could soak up some sun and eat and converse.
All those lovely pack-ish things.

"Thanks. I had help along the way. Found family, I guess you'd call it." She smiled in thought when she mentioned it

As they approached the carcass, Elowyn let Callahan get his piece before taking some for herself and following him to where they would eat. 

"So, how do you like Great Sky, so far?" she asked as she found a spot to sit and start eating.

When they were sat within the clearing, Barrett began to eat, taking careful bites from his chunk of meat. Savouring it. The outlaw didn't need a big breakfast, but he was sure careful not to waste whatever he may eat.
Elowyn poised a question, and he made sure his mouth was clean before speaking. 's nice here, he answered. Sega's good, n' I met a lady. Her name's Twitch, ya met her? The thought of the woman made his smile grow, but otherwise he refused to acknowledge the faint warmth that spread throughout him, rather, turning the question back to the girl.
Otherwise, he would continue. Don't think I've met any others, he hummed. Disappointing, he thought. But there would be time enough for him to meet them. A big hunt soon, he knew. He'd make the most of it.

Elowyn thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I have not met her," she said. Though she wasn't quite sure why she thought about it, since she'd met three others since finding Great Sky: Miska, Sega, and Angel.

She watched as he smiled a bit more and raised an eyebrow. "Do you..like this Twitch?" she asked, smirking just a bit. "But, I'm sure you'll meet the others. I have only met a few of the other wolves so far."

Like her? He echoed, brows shooting upwards. He thought of @Vanja, now. Of their race, their lake-visit. Their laughs. His screw-ups. She had said that he didn't know anything about him. He knew that he longed to know more.
I... dunno much about her, he murmured. Doesn't mean I don't wanna know more, just... I dunno, don't wanna fuck it up, y'know? He shook his head, turned away for a moment. Looked back to the girl and continued. It's none o'yer problem, hun, so don't worry 'bout it. Just my rantin's n' ravin's, he chuckled dryly. Stood, now.
Before he would speak again, he sucked in a breath. He'd finished his chunk, by now. Reckon I need some air, he released the air from his lungs with those words. An almost apologetic look sat upon his face. Nothin' against ya, just need a moment to myself, but he would wait before turning away, giving the girl a moment in case there was anything else she wanted to say. He was well-mannered enough, believe it or not.

feel free to archive with your next! I love these two haha