Ravensblood Forest If you're ever gonna find a silver lining

@Shigetoshi
Dated for the evening of June 17th.

The new region they'd found themselves in was quite vast, or so it seemed to Saoirse as they traveled--first towards the coast, though that plan had quickly changed when they came across a pack territory. She had convinced Shige to observe for a few hours, from a distance of course. She probably wasn't the only one thinking of their home, but something about the scent was...off-putting. Unfriendly.

They had gone back to following the river, then, walking for a time along a deep ravine. There, the night had been lit up by fireflies, all manner of buzzing insects that had nearly convinced her to beg for a few moments to stay. There was no time, however; they needed to keep moving.

Crossing the ravine had put them upwind of another pack, and though this one smelled friendlier they still didn't approach. Saoirse was content to watch their borders from afar while the duo rested, but ultimately they were driven back across the ravine and farther south, always following the river.

Currently, they were occupying a clearing deep in the trees. They had veered into this forest to hunt and rest, though thus far only the first had been accomplished. Two fat birds, one for each of them, and only then had Saoirse looked around and seen the way the trees bled. Only then had she noticed the other birds watching from the branches around them. It was enough to make her hackles rise, and she stood up and moved deliberately closer to Shigetoshi without saying a word, settling down right up against his side without taking her eyes off the trees.

This was still the best place to settle for a few hours, but she had the uncomfortable feeling the flock was sort of pissed about their dead companions.

Days spin.

One ends, another begins. Each brought new discoveries, and unsurprisingly, two of them were packs. The piebald butler sought to avoid them at all costs, for the last they needed was to end up back into a similar situation which they had just freshly left. He remains judgmental of them each; picking details in such a hypocritical manner that even he grows frustrated with himself.

Fortunately, they both agree to continue. Shigetoshi feels a numbness soaking in snow-tipped toes. Eventually it seeps into his bones, trailing up arms until the weight settles heavy on his brain. Mind fogged. Emotions and physique exhausted. He goes on, for Saoirse, for their far off fairytale of some better life on the horizon.

He lays, body taking in the rest greedily—as if fed a starved meal for the first time in weeks. The area is not kind, but it is away from packs and not outwardly dangerous such as the Tangle had been. Shigetoshi starts to doze, sleeping with blue eyes still open. His ears swerving carefully to any noises. Saoirse's breathing comforting.

Yet she gets to his feet, and the piebald male turns to look at her—question resting on the tip of his tongue. Alas, it is only to move closer. For any would find the many eyes staring holes into the back of their head uncomfortable.

Hime, do you wish to move?

Shige is almost asleep already, and she should be, too; but her mind is racing, and no matter how she tries she cannot relax enough to let sleep claim her. It's not just the birds, either, though she is grateful to huddle close to his side; there is...too much to mention.

Mm...no. It's fine, for now. She won't ask him to push himself any harder, not after all they've been through. She is uncomfortable, but she doesn't feel threatened, and the discomfort comes as much from the situation as a whole as it does from the many eyes glaring at them both.

Things are catching up to her, now. She lays her head atop her crossed legs, staring unseeing into the trees for a moment and content to let the warmth of her companion seep through her fur. Eventually, however, she can't hold the question in any longer.

How far...do you think will be far enough? She knows her father would prefer to hunt her to the ends of the earth, but really that wasn't feasible--and they had covered their tracks, as well as they could. It would be too much trouble to catch them after a certain point. Saoirse just wanted to know...when they could stop running.

His stance relaxes, mending back with the grassy earth. For a moment, they do not have to run. If it was his way, they would have never had to—Shigetoshi dreams of being strong enough to take on an army. Yet it'll always be a dream, never a reality. Running is their only option. The piebald steward stiffens at her side.

I'm reluctant to say this, Shigetoshi sighs under his breath, for he fears there is no distance great enough. But perhaps it will be wise to seek asylum in a local kingdom. They could double back, request the audience of the two packs they have passed, or they could find another... It makes his skin crawl, for Shigetoshi could not trust the iron shackles of servitude again. Yet their options are limited.

Shigetoshi's response isn't something she expected. The cream female tensed as well, her hackles rising as her face twisted into a grimace. Yet...he wasn't wrong. If a member of Cedar Pike caught up to them now, it would be nothing for them to be dragged back or killed for their treachery. If they were to submit to someone else, there would at least be hesitation; a weighing of consequences, a choice to be made.

Alone, vulnerable, there was no choice. What they had done had likely doomed the alliance her father was trying to build, and there would be no forgiveness for that. Worse was the idea that they would submit themselves to the whims of another Alpha, only to find they were no different than the last. Saoirse doesn't think she has it in her to run again.

She doesn't think she has it in her to keep running.

Wisdom often comes with uncomfortable truths, She murmured in return, her head bowed. What strength we lack can be made up in greater numbers, if we're willing to pay the price for it.

That still doesn't mean she wants to.

Every part of Shigetoshi hates what has transpired, but it is out of “cause-and-effect”. If Cedar Pike did not focus on their diplomatic prowess in return for sacrificing their own people, perhaps they would not be where they are now. Alas, the piebald steward is determined to fling blame anywhere but themselves. For he knows they, too, are in the wrong somewhere. It is just hard to admit such a thing in his core.

“We will be careful,” he murmurs, partly to himself. He rotates his paws until he is gripping at the grass below them. Around him, he hears the haunting caws of the ravens. “This time, we have a choice in the matter, Saoirse-sama.” His blue eyes flicker to her, although they keep from meeting her gaze directly. Nonetheless, it is something he wishes to make certain she knows. They will not join another kingdom, should they not feel it works for them. Time may not be on their side, but Shigetoshi is fine to use what they have to ensure such safety.

Saoirse keeps her eyes on the trees around them, watching the large birds watching them. She is deliberately avoiding the piebald's gaze, though she knows he won't force the issue. Indeed, his first thought is to reassure her, and she relaxes by inches, looking down instead. Her claws are going a bit ragged around the edges from all the traveling they've done, and there's some blood still on her toes. She licks it off and thinks about choices, and about consequences.

Fortunately, we always had a choice, or we wouldn't be here. She shoots a smile his way, weak but genuine. It may have been a terrible choice, leaving behind everything they knew, but it was still a choice. She shifted to lean further against him, lowering her head to her paws and gazing unseeing at the grass. I think I'd like to know the area more, before we follow...that path. What the current packs are like, what the politics are like. That sort of thing.

It would leave them vulnerable longer, but the knowledge would be a worthy trade-off.

Lips part, tempted to speak the words that linger on the tip of his tongue, and yet the piebald steward swallows them instead. He nods in agreement, for she is not wrong. They made choices along the way, but he feels many were forced from them. Their youth especially, for while they could have rebelled then, the consequences would have been grave.

I agree, Saoirse-sama. He resists the urge to lean back into her touch, for it is far from appropriate to do so. Yet, Shigetoshi makes no move to shy away from it, either. He remains steady as he can, in hopes that it can offer… some comfort in their situation. Perhaps we can check out the packs that we have passed in depth soon? He offers, although that requires backtracking the way they went.

Shige's continuing formality might bother her if she were in a state of mind to notice or question it. For now, however, it is familiar and comfortable, and so barely registers in her mind as she turns instead to planning.  She continues licking her paws as she thinks, an old habit her mother had tried to break her of, pale eyes flickering thoughtfully.

Soon, but not yet, She agreed, turning slightly to look the way they'd come. It wasn't safe to stay so close, no matter how far they had already come. Instead, her eyes lit and she sat up fully again, a plan hatching in her mind just as it had the night they left. We should continue south, for a while—if we follow the water, we're sure to pass more packs, and there will continue to be food nearby. Moving south and west, across these mountains—and more, if there were any—would put plenty of distance between them and any pursuit, and give them a chance to pass many packs. They can't be the only ones in the area—we can investigate them all.

It might end up being ambitious, but she had a feeling that is what it would take for her to settle comfortably.

A better plan is hatched, one that Shigetoshi cannot argue against. For certainly, packs will be formed near water, and food abundant in those areas. The piebald steward nods his head, firm and dutiful. Tension easing from stiff shoulders now that they had the next step in their journey plotted out.

Nonetheless, it will be a lot of work.

A wise plan, but remember not to overexert yourself. He does his best to remind her, for optimism is good in theory yet overestimating ones ability brought heartbreak... a feeling they are both undoubtedly familiar with. For now, we rest.

And rest the duo did, taking a breather and spending more time in the area then they had others. It leaves Shigetoshi feeling stressed nonetheless.