Bearclaw Valley fruitless

Things looked glum, and Laurel knew that she was the only one who could really do anything to change it right now. She needed to confront Xan, demand an answer from him, she needed to gather wolves for their pack, she needed to hunt and prepare for winter. She needed to be an inspiring leader, or whatever, to wolves like Indra and --

Mona.

Laurel swallowed difficultly as she heard her name and forced a smile to her face that was clearly not genuine. "Mona," she returned, only a semblance of cheer to her voice; whatever little she could muster. She could see from Mona's face -- and the fact she hadn't come running up to her and enthusiastically told her the good news -- that she hadn't found Lucas yet either, and that he hadn't come running back to their pack in the meantime. Laurel sighed, a crack in her crumbling façade, and said no more -- there were no words for how she felt.