Never Far Away

Winters bite never bothered him in this corner of Somnium. The snow covering the hillside had chill to it, had weight and occasionally a blizzard would roll through home and shelter would have to be taken within his den. But it always turned out ok in the land of the dead. Especially with Tahlia by his side. The she wolf in question lying in the snow beneath the old wolf and very much under assault by Bane's nips and nuzzles from an ambush preformed moments ago. His tail wagged lazily across the surface of the snow as it always did upon, even just catching a glimpse of his mate through the trees when they were both doing their own thing made Bane feel warmth in the fishers presence.

A gentle whine left his muzzle as he nudged Tahlia's neck, a nip administered against her collarbone before drawing his tongue along all the way up to her chin. Their noses touching, the grey male stared into his mates eyes as a passionate kiss was giving past her lips, a rumbling growl vocalized as he skewed his muzzle to press his tongue further into her maw. With a quick pant Bane broke apart, ears perked and alert as his attention was brought to the bottom of the hill. Laughter, a short foreign sound not vocalized by he or his mate. It had been different but strangely familiar, thinking that perhaps another had found their way here by chance and were passing through. Somnium was big, very big, and although throughout the years only a few glimpses of other wolves had been seen along the horizons and hilltops his curiosity was undiminished at potential contact.

The snowy forest betrayed no other secrets save for the trees with the Talutah mark carved into the trunk, and with a quick shush to Tahlia the wolf began to prowl forward towards the river. Carving a path through the snow was effortless, ears forward and searching for the source of the noise again. Hoping, waiting for another sound to confirm another was here. The urge to howl was snuffed out, surprise wanted in this venture. A further step was almost given, however the churned snow was a source of pause. The tracks had no beginning save for the path at led away towards the sounds of rushing water. Assured that he wasn't going mad by the find Bane swung his head back towards his mate with concern as if to silently ask if she saw what he did.

That scent however was unmistakable. It was burned into his memory. It's owner's face would always be recognize, her voice unmistakable and pelt one of a kind. With a renewed purpose to his loping gate Bane stuck his nose just above the crisp layer of snow and inhaled and set about following the tracks. Anais. His baby girl. Bane was dead certain of the scents owner, however a new anxiety awoke within him. Had she passed on as he and Tahlia had? Was the rest of the family ok? As each question surfacing and was just as quickly replaced by another the male’s pace evolved into a dead sprint. Powder sprayed behind him with each contact of snow before being ripped into the air by splayed paws. On the hunt one more time. And quickly he came upon a lone figure standing next to the river, the she wolf was facing away from him as he slowed harshly to a stop. Her pelt was the same as he had last seen it, restored eyes staring at the figure facing away from him in disbelief. “Anais?” Bane panted, wanting her to turn, to see his daughters face once more. The male paced to the side a step and hung his head low to try and catch a glimpse of a muzzle, a cheek. Anything to let him know that his baby girl was here before him.