Lost Creek Hollow the carriage ride

it had been a long day, and ashlar was uncommonly ready to sleep around dusk. mona had lulled him with made-up tales of his grandfather and namesake, lasher, and watched fondly as her boy settled into slumber. a wide yawn spread her jaws; mona slipped from where she had made them both a little pallet beneath the stars, just for tonight.
unbeknownst to the stalwart, this had been one of merrick's favorite places. now she climbed the tall flat stone where her friend's son had laid on more than on occasion, lifting her murkwater eyes to the clear night.
it was not the constellations that came to mind, however; it was @Gannet.

While Liffey and Rannoch were away with the Redhawks, Gannet was charged with keeping an eye on theirs as well as Lasher. His hopes had been to pay a visit to his family himself, but it wasn't his way to mind waiting. He could go when they returned, and continue to learn what he could here in the meantime.

His thoughts were there tonight, though, as he roamed the hollow's depths. He hadn't seen Raven in ages, and now he wondered if any of them even considered him family anymore. They'd never sought to reclaim him from the Moonspear, but Towhee he recalled not being thrilled in his choice to not return to them. The idea of family and pack being one and the same wasn't one Gannet practiced, and it had gotten him into trouble in the past before.

This inevitably led him to thinking of his new family, and almost mindlessly his steps turned to where Mona and Ashlar had taken to staying. He was quiet as he approached, not wanting to bother them, but it appeared Mona was now out and Ashlar away for the night. He drew up silently alongside the rock where she sat, but didn't break the calm.

the man faded to the back of her mind, and the face of her mother came forefront to mona’s awareness. what was rowan doing now? had she and casmir gone on to have more children?
for reasons unknown, the thought caused a spark of bitterness to blossom upon her tongue, and the firebrand’s gaze darkened somewhat.
however, as if summoned, the moonhued form of gannet materialized. the two shared a long moment of silence before mona turned her eyes upon him. ”want to come up?” she murmured, indicating the plentiful amount of space alongside her.

It was a while before she broke the silence, but that was part of why he enjoyed her company so much. Just like with Sarah, he never felt pressed. It was comfortable here.

She finally did speak, but it was to invite him up. She was looking at the stars too... just like Liffey had been. He wondered if maybe he was missing something, not wanting to look himself. It was an odd thought.

He smiled though as he accepted with a quiet nod and a leap. It was an awkward jump to make with his forever-crooked hind leg, but he managed it relatively well. Only a few things were still difficult. He sat down, paused, then looked up. What do you see up there? he asked, curious. He'd never thought to ask before.

he rose to lie alongside her, and though heat prickled beneath the fur of mona's cheeks at the brush of his pelt, she remained composed. "constellations, mainly, but i can't really recall the names these days." that and she had only ever been fond of the beauty of stars, not their lore necessarily. still, she lifted a paw in gesture to a four-squared shape with a long arc coming out of one end. 
"i'm told that's the big dipper," came her soft voice, teeth flashing in a smile, "but don't ask me what a dipper is."

Constellations, he repeated, looking up. He'd never been a wolf to look for meaning beneath what was there, or to take symbolism. For such an emotionally sensitive creature, when it came to the physical world, he was a wolf who was grounded entirely in the reality of what he could see and touch.

I don't see, he said softly, hoping she wouldn't mind, but they are pretty. It was the only thing that he too admired about the night sky. It was a lovely sight, not lovelier than the day, but different. Who told you? If a wolf had taught her the meaning in the stars, then they must have been an interesting one to know. He had a keen interest in teachers lately, and hearing of hers would make him happy.

as he looked heavenward, mona allowed herself to glance at the pale line of his jaw. he was handsome in an understated way, a drawing together of the details that comprised a sensitive countenance and expressive gaze, something mona did not often see in males.
they were a guarded lot. gannet was refreshing. ”it’s hard to describe, but ... there is a square made up of four stars, and then three for the handle ... there.”
for once mona’s gaze did not waver with pain; a smile laced her expression. ”my father, casmir. he taught me.”