I can feel it

Though the day was a beautiful one, at least as far as winter was concerned, Jay's mood was uncharacteristically dour. It'd been awhile now since the raid on her pack, but only now - now that she was getting a little older and beginning to understand what happened more - was it beginning to weigh heavy on her heart.

Jay hadn't been part of the raid on Avalon - no, she was far too young still - but she was no less affected by it as the adults who had participated seemed to be. She'd never really known wolves like that until they'd arrived, unannounced and wanting to take what was not theirs, and coming to terms with that reality felt hard for her. Her little family here was so good that it felt hard to imagine someone taking from them, especially when they'd give willingly to those in need.

Maybe getting away from lands familiar to her would help? Maybe not, but it felt worth a try. She'd never really gone this far before, always sticking close to home, and only recently had her parents started to fully loosen the reins on her and her siblings. They were almost yearlings now, after all, and though they weren't overly protective it was no surprise they were cautious after the unexpected raid.

She'd found this valley awhile ago, a strangely fertile cut of land that seemed a little out of place where it lay, and Jay's interest was piqued. For at least a half hour now she was circling the edge, scoping it out and searching for a way down. She wasn't the only one who had been drawn to this place, though. The smell of prey animals, a scarcity in the midst of winter, was stronger here than she'd expected. She smelled all sorts of critters, from bunnies to mice and weasels and even birds. Maybe she could catch herself a snack. It was a welcome distraction from her sullen thoughts, at least she thought.