It was well and truly time he got out from under his parents thumb. The den was getting crowded, especially with the size he had grown into. He packed what meagre supplies he had. Tying them up in a skin, and bundling them over his shoulder. His family was out for the day, thank goodness. He didn’t want to be fussed over. He gave his home one last look, before backing out of the den and into the bright of day. Free! He was a child no more, and he was more than pleased to toss that mantle off his shoulders. He’d already chosen somewhere to stay. There was a den in the Col if he wanted it, but for the moment he wanted to explore the idea of living in the forest. He wanted the tree house that Mortis had made. It was big, made with a dire wolf in mind. And sturdy, with good living space. He was just arriving at the base of the tree when he blinked in surprise, and found Hazel making her way to the same spot. “Hey Haze, whatcha doing?” "Speech"

There were... there were a lot of things going on, really. A lot of things happening. Hazel still wasn't quite feeling like herself, but that feeling had persisted since the accident. Disconnected, detached from all the things that made her, her. That, and the shifting of the seasons were enough to remind her just how much she'd matured, and would continue to mature. A scary thought... a scary thought for a girl that really probably shouldn't have made it this far. If she was going to be grown up, it meant she could live out on her own. With no one directly on hand to ask for permission, Hazel figured she'd just go for it and ask for forgiveness later. She needed to be somewhere she wouldn't be stifled, somewhere she could breathe and have her own space. Maybe that would help, maybe she could collect her thoughts, maybe she could start to sleep better... maybe. It was worth a try. Carefully, Hazel wrapped her things into one of the skins that made up her bed. The rest of the things, she could come back for later. This was the essentials for now. Hazel knew that the treehouse would still be there, solid and sturdy as ever. She'd move into that, heck, it was the best den in the pack. Without a glance over her shoulder, she set off in the direction of her favorite hideaway. She heard Bas calling her name, and at once Hazel wondered if he had the same idea, was feeling the same way. They were the same age, born to the same season, after all. "I figured while everyone was gone, I'd be able to move out before anyone could stop me." She grinned, tail wagging lightly behind her. "Are you running away from home?" Hazel joked, a smirk playing on her lips. "Speech"

Basilisk took her in, looking her up and down. Even as he kept his head turned ever so slightly to the side. Doing his best to hide his torn ear from sight. He took note of the packed stuff and the determined expression on his friend's face. hmm he thought. Pausing for a long time as he stood there opposite her. His own wrapped up skin of belongings on his broad shoulders. And then. He tossed his stuff to the ground with a cry. “I’m picking my room first!” he yelled. He had realised the situation, and he was overjoyed and the thought of having Hazel as a roommate. Going from living under his parents roof to with a friend was going to be a big chance, and he was going to embrace it. Loudly. He bolted up the tree house, ignoring his strewn belongings as he raced to pick a room before the smaller and equally as boisterous and aggressive wolf could outdo him. "Speech"

The torn ear doesn't quite escape Hazel's notice. She knows him too well, and she knows that he's trying to hide something. There were more important things for now, but she'd be beating up whoever did that much damage-- mark her words. If someone was going to beat up her best friend, they weren't going to get away with it for long. Hazel would make absolutely sure of that. She'd set her pack down to talk, somewhere beside his. The look on his face was a strange one as he tossed his and-- oh! A grin broke across Hazel's face, eyes lighting up. She couldn't help but let a laugh go from her throat, claws digging hard into the ground beneath her paws as she took off after him. He was taller, with longer limbs, but was he faster? Hazel didn't think so, not that she'd admit it even if he was. The yearling reached out, trying to grab at Bas's heels as she chased after him. Though he was first up the tree, Hazel attempted to pounce on her friend once they both made it to the landing at the top. She'd gathered herself, leaping forward with a giggle. If he wanted to pick his room, he'd have to really earn it. In truth, she really didn't mind which room he got, all Hazel knew is that whichever one Bas wanted, she also wanted, and she'd willingly make that his problem too. "Speech"

He felt reaching claws grabbing their way around his back ankle. The sudden weight of it almost tipped his balance, and he dug into the wood with his mutated claws hard enough to leave gouges. It was enough to allow him to pull free of his determined free and finish hauling himself up the tree house. The moment he cleared the landing however, he found sudden weight on him. He let out an oof as the reddish wolf landed on him, and he rolled so he didn’t hit the wooden planks too hard. With Hazel on him however there wasn’t too much he could do. He turned his head towards her, one ear perked and the other a tattering. I got up first fair and square” he grumbled, though it was clear he was teasing. He was also fully aware that it hadn’t been all that ‘fair’ not when he had been prepared to run before she had been. “I want the room in the right, i’m declaring it mine” he continued, giving her a stern eye to see if she’d let him take the win. "Speech"

"Way to damage the house before we even move in!" Hazel tried to pretend to be offended, but it was hard through the laughter. She sprinted up after Basilisk, tail wagging wildly behind her. There was something so fun, so exciting about the newness of it all. Best friends, attached at the hip, and now they could live together too? Fucken excellent. From where she came to rest on top of the larger wolf, she had a better view of just how much damage had befallen his ear. Without thinking, she reached down and poked at it with her nose, equal parts concern and curiosity. He wouldn't be getting away without explaining that, she was sure of it. "Who do I need to beat up?" Though her tone was light, her threat was latent. Hazel could and would fuck up anyone who'd hurt her best friend, even if she knew he could do a good enough job defending himself. "Fair my ass!" She was grinning, shifting to let the boy up. She strode to the room on the right and sat on her haunches, head tilting endearingly to the side. "Oh you want this room? This one right here?" Tilting from one side to the other, a brilliant light in her eyes. "Whatcha going to do about it then?" At least around Bas, she could be herself. Her light was coming back. She could be okay. "Speech"