Bowen had watched her mother bring a sad, sad boy into the den. He had been put into one of the chambers where he promptly fell asleep. Resin told the pups that the boys mom was gone and that he was all alone. That was so sad! Bowen couldn't imagine losing her moms and, as she tried to feel what the boy was feeling, tears had filled her huge emerald eyes. Being all alone wasn't good, but he had them now. She had even asked her mothers if they were going to be his new family and after a few pointed looks between her mothers, they had decided that they would. On quiet paws, Bowen entered the chamber where the tired boy lay. His coat was still a little dirty, but she didn't care. The caramel cream girl simply didn't want him to feel like he was truly alone. With a fur clutched between her teeth, she crept into the room. Carefully, she pulled the fur over the sleeping boy, then went to leave. Something stopped her though. If she didn't want him to feel alone, then there should be someone here when he woke up. Just as gently and just as quietly. Bowen returned to the darkly furred boy. She snaked her way beneath the fur and curled up against him, careful not to wake him up. Now he wouldn't be alone. She would be here to make him feel better when he woke. However... the warmth of their bodies soon had the girl drifting into sleep herself. "Bowen"

Thankfully the boy was too exhausted to fight sleep when he'd been brought to the den and given a place to lay down. Although he fell right to sleep, it wasn't long before haunting memories corrupted his dreams and easily turned them into nightmares, reliving everything he'd just been through only fabricated by his mind to be much worse... if that was even possible.

He was still when the girl entered, though off and on the boy was twitching, kicking, and whining from his dreams. Too deep into his sleep to be woken up by such dreams, he suffered through it, and remained asleep as the girl entered and covered him with the warm fur. Even when the girl curled up beside him, he didn't stir until many minutes later, when the nightmares continued and jerked him abruptly from his sleep finally with a yelp. Wide eyes panicked for some time before he calmed a bit, realizing it was just a dream, and panting out his stress. It wasn't for another moment or two that he realized he had company and he started to shy away from the girl, but worried about waking her. Besides, the comfort of having someone else close was nice. Maybe it wasn't so bad... Grimshaw frowned, as he often did anyway, and reluctantly settled back down into the girl and the fur, hoping that now his dreams might be less frightening.


"Speech!"

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The yelp of alarm had Bowen's eyes flashing open. She watched the new boy struggle to accept that he was awake. Not wanting to disturb him as he worked through his ordeal, the small girl stayed still and feigned sleep. In time, he returned to the furs and curled up beside her once more. His breathing calmed and Bowen decided that it was okay to move and speak again. The tiny, russet and cream girl repositioned herself a bit, using her little teeth to pull the fur over them both once more. "You don't have to be afraid," she spoke in a soft whisper. "You're safe here. We'll all keep you safe, okay?" Though Bowen wasn't a fighter by any means, she wouldn't let anything happen to... wait... what was his name? "My name is Bowen. What's yours?" She had turned so that she could fix her vibrant green gaze upon the dark faced boy. His coloring was so unique. She really liked his coat. The subtle shifting of greens and purples... she'd never seen anything like it. Bowen wondered what he'd look like under the shining light of the sun. She bet he'd light up like a shiny rock. A treasure. "Bowen"

He noticed the stirring of the girl beside him, moving the fur before speaking. He didn't mean to wake her, but it was inevitable with his cry and movements. Her words somewhat reassured him, but what could a child like him do? He couldn't even save his own mother, what did she expect to be able to do for him? By the looks of it, she was much smaller than him, too. What was she gonna do, pluck a few hairs? Maybe she had a smart mouth or some other kind of skill to offer, but by appearances, he wasn't so sure she would keep to her word. He didn't answer, just looked down to the ground between them and sighed.

When she spoke again, he looked back at her. She had an interesting name, anyway. Mustering up the courage to speak, his voice came out low and soft. "Grimshaw." His voice was surprisingly deep for a young pup, only a sign of how big he really was going to get. He was already big, but this boy would be massive by the time he matured. Large paws and a deep voice were only the first signs, but even he didn't know how big he'd really get. He felt so large compared to the small girl, but she was just small.


"Speech!"

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He didn't seem to believe her and Bowen frowned. "I promise you're safe. My moms are really, really strong." She knew this to be a fact. Who didn't believe that their parents were the strongest wolves alive? She was childishly naive, but at least she wasn't entirely wrong. She did have extremely strong parents. The pack itself had quite a few fighters. Bowen firmly believed that their was no danger that could reach them in The Hallows. When the boy gave his name, Bowen smiled. "Grimshaw is a good name." Her smile then died away, green eyes becoming sullen. "Mom told us that you're sad. I don't know why you're sad, but I'm sorry." Reaching behind, she pulled the fur even closer around them, creating a little cocoon just for the two of them. "We're going to be friends though, so you'll never be alone, okay?" She was sure of it. It didn't even register in the girls mind that Grimshaw might not like her or that he might not want friends. They were simply going to be friends. That's how it was going to be. "Bowen"

One of the mom's was the one who brought him here, and she did look really strong. He hadn't met anyone else though, besides her and Bowen, but he'd only been here long enough to nap. He didn't even realize it until now, but he was pretty nervous to meet others. He really didn't want another family, he wanted his own mom back, but something told him this was what he was going to get whether he liked it or not. Of course, that didn't mean he had to like it... because he certainly wouldn't. Who wouldn't rather have their own parents look after them, even if it meant always being on the run and moving from place to place?

He listened as she spoke for a bit, choosing not to answer until she said that she wasn't sure why he was sad. Perhaps it wasn't information to share, but it just came out unfortunately, and something about verbalizing made it a little worse for him. "My mom is dead because of me. I killed her. If I had just stayed where she told me to..." He trailed off, silver eyes casting away and burying between his paws. He barely even heard her when she spoke of being friends over his sniffling, but he scooted closer to her under the warmth of the blanket cocoon she had made.


"Speech!"

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Grimshaws words filled Bowen's eyes with tears. His mom was dead? He said that he killed her, but then he said that he should have stayed in one spot. Bowen was naive, but she wasn't stupid. To her, that meant that his actions had led to her death somehow. She couldn't imagine not having a mom. His sniffles brought on sniffles of her own. "Grim, I'm so sorry." As the boy curled up beneath the fur beside her, she curled right back up against him. She nuzzled into his cheek even as she cried with him. A sensitive soul, she couldn't help the tears that flowed. She didn't know how long they stayed there like that, but Bowen refused to leave him. He needed someone. You never left someone alone when they were sad. In the days that would come, she would never be too far from his side. She promised herself that. Not until he was a little less sad. Eventually, Bowen fell asleep even though she tried not to. The sadness and the fact that she was still little were just too much. The girl had worked her head beneath the chin of the larger pup and fell asleep with her head on his legs. Her little body was curled tightly against his. In her dreams, she beat away shadows with a stick. "Bowen"

Even if it wasn't the same, the comfort he got from the girl was helping some. Of course he'd rather be curled up with his mother, safe and warm, but this was the best he got. Bowen wasn't that bad, really, either. It was better than being alone. Much better than being alone. As he sniffled and she curled into him, he could feel her sniffles as well. Was she sad for him? He wasn't sure. He didn't understand, but it hardly mattered. He felt better having someone to hold and hold him back, even if it wasn't an ideal situation. It was better than nothing.

The girl pushed herself up under his chin but he didn't mind. Resting his head gently atop hers and relaxing into her was comforting and the warmth of another body was what he really needed right now to relax into a sleep far better than the nightmares he'd had minutes ago.


"Speech!"

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-Skip to morning- Morning came as mornings do. Outside the birds chirped and sang. The rest of the pups went out into the world to explore. Bowen stayed right where she was. Grimshaw had used her as a pillow and if he was asleep, there was no way that she was moving. All through the remainder of the night, she held onto him, making sure that he was okay. Grimshaw hurt inside and if being here was helping him sleep through that hurt, then she would be here for as long as he needed. Though she was still little more than a baby, Bowen already had a sense of right and wrong. Waking the older pup now while he was finally sleeping well would have been very wrong. "Bowen"

The night had passed easily and the morning came quickly, though Grim was content on sleeping through the day if it were allowed. Alas, his body became stiff from sleeping in one position all night and as soon as his conscious realized it, silver eyes peeked open and he began to stir. As he woke, he felt that Bowen was still with him and he tried to remain still. Unsure if she was awake too or not, he didn't want to move too much and wake her if she was still sleeping. Instead, he relaxed in the warm comfort of not being alone and allowed himself to enjoy it for only a little bit.

Bowen could tell by the subtle shift in the boys breathing that he was awake. They'd slept in considerably but it wasn't a big deal. Everyone else would understand. Grim had needed her. She was getting pretty stiff staying in the same position, however. "Grim," she said softly. "Are you awake?" She wanted to make sure that her assumption was correct. The girl gave a little wiggle. Not only was she stiff, but man did she have to pee! Tiny wolf meant tiny bladder.

Gently, Bowen worked to extract herself from the larger pups grasp. Once she freed herself, she rushed out of the den and into the surrounding woods. The sun was at the mid day mark. They had slept later than she thought.

"Yeah, I'm awake." He mumbled, failing to hold back a yawn as Bowen wiggled and soon freed herself from his grasp. Grim took this as a moment to stretch, straightening out his legs and arching his back as he worked his muscles out of their tight grip. As he rose, he yawned again as he watched Bowen leave without a word. His head tilted a bit, wondering where she'd gone off to. He was still a bit too asleep to realize he too haskd to relieve himself, but after a few more minutes of trying to focus and fully wake up, he finally began to make his way to the exit. Thankfully the others were gone and he didn't have to confront anyone else yet.

As he exited the den, eyes scanned for the girl and he headed off in her direction, stopping only one to relieve himself on a nearby tree.

Fully relieved, Bo gave her little body a shake before moving back towards the den. She saw Grim coming towards her and tucked her ears bashfully for a moment. "Sorry, I really had to go." She hadn't meant to run out on him, but when you had to go, you had to go.

Bowen approached the larger boy, tail wagging. "Whaaaat do you want to do today? Are you hungry? We could eat some breakfast. Then I could show you around the Hallows." The girl lowered her green eyes, brow furrowing. "Unless you aren't going to stay with us." Mom had brought him home but that didn't mean that he had to stay. It would have to be his choice. Bowen really hoped that he did decide to stay. With his mom gone, he would be safe here. Plus she really liked him even though he was quiet.

After relieving himself, he was thankful to see Bowen returning to him. A light smile crossed his lips as his trail barely started to wag. It stopped moments later, but happened enough to show his true excitement in her return. Her questions as she approached got him thinking, but her offer of getting some breakfast and showing him around was better than any idea he couldve possibly come up with

"I have no where else to go... I'd like to stay, I think." he nodded once, trying to make himself feel certain about what he'd just said. "Breakfast sounds good, though." his stomach grumbled, and he realized he hadn't eaten since before the accident.

Sadness melted away as her new friend said that he wanted to stay. Bowen gave him one of her beaming smiles. "I'm glad. I'd be sad if you left. I don't have many friends other than my brothers and sisters." There was the other litter of pups but she'd only met Emile. He was very nice, but Bowen wanted to have a lot of friends. She was too sweet and too nice to keep to herself.

Since Grim said that he was hungry and his stomach agreed, Bowen motioned for him to follow her. She led him past their den and out a ways. There was a deep den dugout into the ground. It was so deep that it was cold inside from the hard packed ground all around it. The cold temperature helped keep the food from rotting, mom said. "There's lots of food in here. You can pick whatever kind you want!" The moms tried to keep it organized by type of meat and age of meat. So the things that would spoil first were in the front. Bowen picked up a piece of rabbit for herself and waited for Grim to decide so they could go back above ground and eat in the sun.

His tail wagged a bit at her excitement of him staying, her own emotions feeding over to him a bit before he caught himself and stopped. He wasn't happy about staying, but she certainly made it a little better and that much he was thankful for. At least he had someone instead of being alone, though he wondered how long it would be before someone else close to him got hurt. He never wanted anything to hurt Bowen, she was too pure for that.

He was led over to the food cache and his silver gaze was in awe at all the food. He'd never seen so much food in his life! How could they have so much?! Mother had such a hard time hunting, but the wolves here seemed to have it down pat. He had to admit he was a little excited to have a full belly for the first time in a long while, but tried not to let it show too much. Reaching inside, he grabbed at the first thing he saw and took a chunk of meat that looked like it could feed at least a few puppies. Grim was a growing boy, after all.

Once Grim chose his meal, Bowen ducked back out of the kill den. She moved back towards the dens where it would be safer and settled down in a patch of sunlight. Her little tail swished back and forth in the grass as she began to consume the rabbit. She was finished long before Grim was and lay there licking the rabbit remnants from her dark paws.

Bo sprawled out on her stomach, hind legs stretched outward. "So what would you like to do now? Want to play?" She didn't know what Grim liked to do and she wasn't sure if talking about what he liked would make him sad again. Bo definitely didn't want to make him sad. He was doing okay now. The cinnamon and cream girl merely smiled and waited for an answer.

Following Bowen back to the dens with a mouthful of meat, he remained quiet and contentedly trailed behind her. Once settled, he ate his mean in peace until he was finished long after the smaller girl. He'd eaten it all, hardly leaving room for even a drink in his full stomach. Bowen seemed to enjoy her meal as well, now eager to move along and do something else.

"Play?" The word hung on his lips, unsure. The last time he tried to play hadn't ended so well and he struggled with the consideration of doing it again. What if something happened to Bowen this time? "No... It's not safe. I don't want you get get hurt, too." He shook his head and frowned. Even if they were surrounded by the walls of the pack, anything could happen. "How about uh... You show me around?" he offered, hoping that a tour would take her mind off the dangerous act of playing.

With their bellies full, Bowen's mind moved on to other things. She wanted to play, but the prospect of doing so seemed to make Grim react negatively. Get hurt? While playing? She didn't think that he would hurt her, but if he didn't want to then she wouldn't make him. "Okay," she said softly, ears drooping a bit. The bigger pup then suggested that she show him around and it brightened Bowen's spirits some. "I can do that!"

Bowen led Grim from the den that they shared outward, showing him where the kill den was in proximity. She also showed him where the den of Emile and his family was just in case they ever wanted to play. Bowen showed Grim the river that led to the waterfall and warned him that they weren't allowed to touch the water yet because it was dangerous. Next, she took him to the pathway that led down to the hot springs.

"The springs are supposed to help heal you. I don't know how, but that's what mom says." The girl dipped one dark toe into the warm water and giggled as the sulfur tickled her nose. "We aren't allowed in the big ones and we definitely aren't allowed without an adult around. Some of the springs are too hot." The girl hoped that she was an adequate tour guide.