Anew [Mortis]

It was a bit passed Midday as Dove sought out large, leathery leaves for his purpose. He'd decided, after his Sirius' . . . interaction the other day that he would make Lover's Mangrove his home. It was as good a place as many (that he knew of), and he supposed if he became dissatisfied with it eventually, that he could always move. Briefly, fleetingly, Sirius' words came back to him, a claim veiled in an offer, that if Dove belonged to him, he would all but slay his enemies at the borders of his territory. A shiver paced the length of Dove's spine.

There was apart of him -- a very small, very quiet part of him -- that wanted to take Sirius up on the offer, if only to see if all packs would be as cruel as the kingdom had been. And then, there was the part of him that knew better, knew that nothing good could come of being beholden to another so easily. He'd had it once, he decided with a huff, and he would not suffer it again. Another collar for his throat, as he'd put it, not so long ago.

Dove studied the large leaves he'd gathered from the beach near the mangrove forest. He'd been working since the early morning to remove roots and foliage from beneath one of the largest trees he'd found, and by midday, he'd finally carved out a space big enough for three wolves of his size to lay side by side beneath the monstrous plant. He glanced behind, wondering if mangrove bark had any medicinal properties but ultimately decided that, for now, he would toss the remainders of his task back to nature for her to decide what to do with. His mouth ached from slowly and arduously ripping the roots apart, but still, he considered how next to continue, unwilling to let the hard work ahead deter him from his goal.

He set to placing the atop this new abode, weaving them under smaller roots to keep them in place. He was stretched up, perched on his hind legs as he used his mouth and paws as gently as possible to do so.