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The return from the raid had been… somber. She and Bae-Syl had lost Baecette, the boy passing after his fight with his illness and for several days she had been mourning and processing that loss. Lucette had also focused on being there to support her family while they grieved. Gavroche, the poor thing, blamed himself for not being a better healer, for not knowing enough to help his brother, and Lucy worried that Sou and Vitani might feel the same. But… how could her children have known a better way to treat an illness that neither she nor their uncle recognized? Lucette would watch them, doing her best to help them heal. But she knew one of the best ways to do that was to show them that they could still get back to their duties while still grieving.

Speaking with Alexander had revealed that a new wolf had joined Ethne. The wolf, El, or Eltrys, had taken a den out in Cattail Creek beneath a large fallen tree. Lucette knew the one - it had been a spot she considered when she was making her temporary den at the creek to stay with Bae-Syl when he first came to Ethne. It was near one of the gardens that her father left behind in his passing. She tended to that one while her brother had picked up the task of tending to most of the others. The trip out here was a reminder to speak with Dorian more as well; she loved her brother dearly and wanted to make sure he was recovering the best he could from everything that had happened to their family.

It was funny how you could walk into a place you’ve been before and feel like you were seeing it for the very first time. You noticed how green everything was in spring... Small, rigid-leafed plants grew among the grass alongside other weeds and wild blooms like dandelions. The soil here, a mix of silt and clay closer to water, was fertile, allowing plant life to grow and flourish. No doubt as spring continued more mixes of wild grass, weed, and flora alike would begin to pop up here. Much of the territory was covered in the shade of oak or willow trees, too. The branches stretch upward and out to create an umbrella-esc coverage over the ground below. The shade they offered was a blessing in summer and offered relief from the heat for all manner of creatures that lived here. From beasts of prey and birds to the wolves that lived here all benefited from the territory.

After making her way to the fallen tree, she could see that mushrooms had started growing around the base. Not that this was surprising, it was close enough to the water and so well shaded here that the little shrooms would have no trouble at all thriving. She took notice of the moss around the bark as well, gathering together not just on the fallen tree but on many of those around it. A good resource to note when she needed to collect some later for her healing supplies. Her gaze then flicks to the opening of the den, and, for a moment she wonders if she has come too early… The day is just beginning, after all… Pushing the thought aside, she calls softly to the wolf who should be inside.

“Eltrys, is it? My name is Lucette, I’ve come to give you an official tour around Ethne’s lands.” She was sure Hay had given a basic tour, but it couldn’t hurt to show the newcomer where certain resources could be found, right?

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Navigation (Cattail Creek) - 1/3

"Speech!"

"Speech"

He had woken with the early morning birdsong coming into his comfortable warm den. He didn't think he had truly slept that well in a long long time. He lay in his den listening to the birds, feeling the warmth, and the deep rich soil smell of clay, of worm casings, and of leaf litter filling his nose. So different from his youth full of incense, burning leaves, and oil, the murmur of servants and priests shuffling and fussing around him at all hours of the day and night. He wondered if his mother would be happy for him here, so far away from his birthright, from the lies, from the -

His thoughts were broken by the sound of small paw steps ambling toward his new den and kept his eyes closed. Haydee? He couldn't help the quickening of his breath as he wondered if she was walking by or coming to see where he picked his den.

He noted the bright morning sun streaming across the entrance of his den and the trickling of the water became clearer as he focused his attention more on the outside, those will become familiar features of his new home here. A duck quacked somewhere to its children to hurry along.

A different voice said his name, a voice he hadn't met yet. Oh, curiously his breath slowed in disappointment. Interesting, he noted his attentions and eagerness to see her again. He'll put those thoughts in a corner of his den here then, pick them up later.

He opened his glacial blue eyes in the darkness, perhaps they reflected the light to Lucette in a formidable way.

"Excellent." He expressed this in a rich baritone as he stretched and entered the broader world outside his den. He looked down to find a little wolf-like fox or was it a fox-like wolf? She stood a few inches shorter than the young leader of Ethne.

"A pleasure to meet you Lucette." He tilted his head, "A relative of Haydee Kidieo I take it?"

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An earthy colored male with baritone chords was the one that greeted her. He came into the world beyond the den and Lucette gave a small nod of greeting to acknowledge him. “That is correct,” Lucette told him. “I’m Hay’s older sister. Most of our siblings are her littermates. Then there’s me and Saga.” She chuckled softly. “Saga is a polar bear, so if you see her around please do not attack her. She is meant to be here.” The woman told him. She motioned with her paw, turning back toward the territory.

Lucette would lead the way to what had once been a trail used long ago through the path of the creek. The dirt path was winding through the territory, mostly covered with leaf litter and weeds growing at its edges, but it was still the easiest way through the territory with a set path. “This trail leads through the territory of the creek, all the way down to the mouth where it bleeds into the ocean up to the pool of the falls.” Lucette explained. “Much of it goes right beside the creek here too. It is a beautiful little trail to walk along and clear your head.”

Sunlight fell through the gaps of the leaves of the trees, casting dappled lights upon them. Some birds would swoop low past the branches above them. Oh, was this a nesting spot? Lucette looked up and, sure enough, her eyes almost immediately fell on one such nest as a mother bird tended to her young. “How have you been settling in, Eltrys? My brother says that you are a Woodsman like he is.”

"Speech," 'Thought.'

"Speech"

The male nodded in understanding, he had wondered what that polar bear smell was about as he had walked the woods a few times. He followed the small russet woman listening as she described the length of the trail that ran close to the creek.

"I didn't realize it reached all the way to the ocean." He noted, looking down the trail as if he could spy the waves from here. He then followed her gaze to the branches above them, a nest of birds fussing about, tiny hatchlings reaching up to their mother.  
When she asked his status of settlement he drifted his icy blue eyes down to her and let his nose slowly follow suit.
"Your brother Alex? Yes, he's a fine hunter! Without him, I might have taken on a foe I was not prepared for! You have these creatures, anteaters I believe he called them. I was grateful for his advice."

"I believe I am settling in well." He mentioned with an inward breath, "It is very different than where I grew up and it's refreshing. A quiet little paradise you have here, though I've heard there's some trouble with neighbors."

"And you Lucette? Were you born here? Where do your specialties lay?" He asked cordially.