Northstar Vale Right Beside You

He lifted his gift to the new Epoch parents to his pack, a maneuver she had not witnessed before. Granted, the few Meadow had dared let in to her life for any duration had also not been as kind to strangers—nor as conversational.

As if to clear her head, the she-wolf gave a light stretch of her shoulders, head tilting to indicate the direction they would travel. There was a moment of awkwardness for her—should she offer to help assist him in carrying the load, where he already seemed prepared? Was it rude not to?

Overthinking in her usual manner, she instead averted her gaze solidly to the vale ahead, silver paws beginning to lead him in a direction more suitable for a cache and closer to Arsenio and Tamar’s hearth and home.

She was silent for a moment, contemplating his words over, before finally she stole a glance to him, honeyed eyes seeking his own icy gaze. “I’m new here.” Obviously, she added quietly. “Are the nearby packs troublesome? Would we need extra at our borders?”