Here they were, perched at the edge of the borders of a pack that he knew nothing about. But what he could see definitely intrigued him. For as long as he could remember there had been packs that had wanted to claim these lands and the reasons to him seemed obvious. The barn just ahead of them loomed tall in the distance, and he wished he could peer inside to see what might be happening inside. Hopefully he'd find out soon enough though. Checking to make sure Twig was ready for him to announce their arrival here, he tipped his head back and let loose a call for the leader of the pack that had recently appeared here. If it didn't suit them they could simply move along, but he wanted to at least see if this was somewhere they could call home.

Though she wasn’t born in Abaven lands she had lived the majority of her life there. Leaving was heartbreaking, but she had her strength in the man beside her. However wrong it felt to leave, she always felt right when she was next to her mate. Corvus was everything, and home was where he was no matter where they might settle. She followed Corvus here, unaware of the pack and history that resided here. For the first time Twig felt like she had a little hope, or at least a little curiosity.

She leaned into Corvus as he tipped back his head and summoned the alpha. From what she could tell it was relatively small and new, maybe a perfect place for them to rebuild their lives.

"Autumn Twig Memoire"

An unfamiliar voice calling from the border drew Corbie from her work with an optimistic view. A pair of wolves awaited her there, a duo with an interesting aesthetic. The female was small, delicate, and pale, the male tall, strong, and darkly earthen, but they clearly gravitated around one another in the way that those who have been together and cared deeply for a long time tend to do. It was a lovely sight, and brought a soft smile to Corbie's muzzle. "Hello," she said to them both. "My name is Corbie, I am alpha here in Avalon. What can I do for the two of you?

Corvus wasn't a wolf that cared for change very much, and that hadn't changed even after all the change he had endured. That was just a thing he'd learned - life seemed to be in constant fluctuation and sometimes fighting the tides of change only seemed to make them grow stronger. The fact that he knew this was why he and Twig had ended up here, carried away from Abaven's lands since its dissolution and seeking a new place to settle down and call home. Could this be it? He certainly hoped so, but only time would tell.

He returned Corbie's smile easily, leaning a little more against Twig. Her presence was a constant comfort, the reason he was able to face each day with a smile, no matter how difficult things might be. This new beginning was no exception. "My name is Corvus Destruction - and this is my wife," he tilted his head to the side toward Twig, giving her a moment to introduce herself if she chose to. The love he felt for her was clear as day. "We come from a pack called Abaven that no longer exists. We're looking for somewhere new to call home. These lands you've picked are familiar to me - I'm curious what your vision for Avalon is and if we'd fit in here." His words were blunt, straight to the point. He knew he could thrive wherever he laid down roots but he wanted to make sure that Corbie's ideals matched that of himself and his wife first.

They weren’t left to wait for very long. Twig’s violet eyes lifted to watch the she wolf approach them. Her high contrasting coat was gorgeous, and her form held the confidence and authority of an alpha. She introduced herself as such. Corvus’ weight leaned on her a little heavier as Corbie asked their business here. She could see his smile, and her own rest lightly upon her lips. However pleasant and polite the heavy change had put her out of sorts and cautious. The thought of returning to stability was too much of a temptation to pass up.

Corvus introduced himself, and her as his wife. "Twig, if it pleases you.” She offered softly in the pause Corvus left for her to speak her own name. He went on to ask about Avalon and the striped she wolf offered a nod in agreement. She couldn’t imagine living very long without being in a pack, even if it was not the one she had held so dear. Twig would give Corbie and Avalon a chance, maybe this was where their path led.

"Autumn Twig Memoire"

Corbie nodded in greeting to both the newcomers as they offered their names. "A pleasure to meet you both," she told them, before giving Corvus' words more serious thought. They were from the now-defunct Abaven. Corbie was glad that more Abaven wolves had found their way to her pack. She could only hope those who hadn't had found living situations that more suited them, and that they weren't struggling. She worried sometimes, feeling somehow responsible for them since she had replaced their pack with her own. "In a lot of ways Avalon seeks to emulate Abaven," she said slowly. "We are politically neutral and seek no unnecessary quarrel. Anyone can find hospitality here regardless of their history, and learn from us or trade here. Our focus is more strongly on our livestock and what we can craft from what we grow here, and of our stewardship of the lands we live on. We do make certain we are able to protect ourselves and the beasts and lands under our protection, when we need to."

In a way, Corbie reminded him of Theory, at least initially - she had a calmly confident aura about her that made Corvus feel immediately at ease. He knew better than to put all his trust in a stranger though, but it was hard to not be hopeful about this potential home. He wasn't sure where they'd go next if things didn't work out here. But thankfully he didn't think he'd have to wonder for long, for it sounded like Corbie both knew of Abaven's downfall and was willing to take in stragglers, or at least consider it. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Politically neutral, with a focus on crafting and livestock. All things that sounded perfectly fine by him. "Those things all sound good to me," Corvus agreed. He'd let Twig give her two cents but he knew a crafting-focused pack would appeal to her as well. "I was a high-ranking fighter within Abaven. Defending my home and family is what I do best." He could do whatever was needed of him, of course, but that was where his interests lie the most - carving out a home for himself and Twig and defending it fiercely. Still he wondered if he hadn't done everything he could to save Abaven, but he wasn't sure dwelling on that now would do him any good.

Reality was sometimes difficult to face, and Twig had been forced to face many of these harsh realities. Losing her nephews, losing their children, losing their pack… Accepting that Abaven was gone was high on the list of life altering moments. In these times of weakness she clung tightly to the joys that life had also given her. Being able to call herself an aunt, having Corvus beside her to share in this life and the challenges they were faced with. As well as the prospect of starting again. Despite their age, life wasn’t done throwing them curve balls. While she still drew in breath Twig would hold onto her hope.

As long as Corvus was at her side she would face the difficulties and challenges with bravery and stoicism. Her husband deserved nothing less.

Corbie nodded her head as she exchanged pleasantries and then offered her assessment of her pack. To the point that she mentioned emulating Abaven and its beliefs. While it would never be the same, she could feel the spirit of the pack she had devoted so many of her years to. Really, Twig wished that Abaven would rise again, so that she and Corvus could go home. However, wishes were just that, reality was much different. Their best bet was to submit and try to make their place in the next best alternative. Which, from where they stood, Avalon would be the best of them.

"As far as I can see, Avalon would be the best place to rebuild our home. If you would have us.”

"Autumn Twig Memoire"

Both wolves indicated that they wished to join, and Corbie nodded. She couldn't imagine what they were going through, losing a beloved family home and forced to find another. She had, after all, never really had a HOME before she had raised Avalon. But that had been the point of fighting for it, hadn't it? To give those in need a home to rely on. "We are more than happy to welcome you both," she assured them. "You will find ready company among the guardians, Corvus. We are always glad for those willing to defend Avalon." She smiled at them both, then added, "Please, you must both be tired after coming so far. Why don't you both come get settled?" She could speak with Twig another time about what rank, if any, the older woman wished to carry.