The warmth of the day was softened against the surface of the day and cooled against its bulk. It sparkled also on its surface, casting golden shadows against the pale coat of the brute. He would let out a gentle, content sigh at the feel of the water against him. He could never get over at how different he felt within the embrace of water. His attention however was centred on the gentle female beside him and at her broken words his ears would pull ever so slightly back and he would move his head to nuzzle the side of her's gently. There was so much effort in her broken smile that it was hard to break free of the pain that blossomed in his chest. They made gentle progress towards the bank of the lake once more and he pulled himself free with a feeling of reluctance to leave its serenity. He shook out his coat again in a few determined shakes as she asked her question. ?We wont leave pack lands? He promised her, he wouldn't pull her from the safety of the pack in her current state, that he knew beyond a doubt. He moved his head towards hers again, as through he could transfer strength and life through the gentle touch of his nose against her cheek. ?The top of Whisperer's Gorge, in fact, where we can look down at the stream that runs through it? He explained himself, and pulling himself away he started off at a light walk, his wet paws crouching against the sun-warmed grass beneath him - Leaves Wolfpaw Lake - A short while later they where ascending the rocky terrain that brought them above Whisperer's Gorge. He could feel the nerves buzzing in his chest and his paws drew against the ground a little harder with every step as through with each step to towards that drop he grew in weight and reluctance. Despite his tourmal, he could not let his unease show. They where going here to lighten the mood and to see if he could find her some measure of peace and freedom again against this earth. They made it to the top and placed himself against the earth a little distance from the drop. He rolled on his back and looked up at the warmth of the open sky above them and closed his eyes, making a gentle humming noise in the back of his throat as he felt the wetness of his fur heat against him. ?Do you like the view?? He asked, althrough he himself had made no move to admire it. "Speech"

She was not without comfort as the pale man would gently nuzzle her, the hurt she held would not be disguised to him. They would draw near the shore, her paws carrying the girl steadily up the bank. As she went to shake herself free of the water she could feel herself thrown off balance, her movement leaving her again leaning on Alpine's side. He would just smile, bringing his nose to nuzzle her cheek encouragingly. He would assure her they would not leave Valhalla's borders. He would turn to set off, and her weak paws would carry her after him. His pace was easily matched, even for her sad state.?

They would bring themselves to the summit, Twig's nerves matching his own for different reasons. Her paws would stay underneath her, even the rocky terrain would not misplace her step. Her orchid eyes would roam over the expanse before her, the river's carving having left the land as Swiss cheese. She would hear as Alpine's soft hum would fill the air, she would shift herself to sit next to the man. "It's beautiful," her voice held that spark of wonder. Though she still could not help the thought of not being able to bring Fern to see the magical landscape. She would lower her legs to bring her closer to the sun-baked stone. The day starting to wear on her features, she knew she would need to spend some time resting before she would make it back to the den.?

Her felt her fur brush against his although he had not opened his eyes. It hold him that she was there beside him, and even through she did not, could not know it it was his turn to draw a little comfort from her presence. He could almost sense the drop so near them and feel the wind brush across it's lip and echo around his coat, reminding him of the terror he had felt so long ago as he looked down upon the broken, dying body of his brother and felt a true sense of helplessness. But her presence was a gentle barrier against that reminder, it was her scent first on the wind, before the taste of life and distance that the drop offered him. He had hummed under his breath, tasting her scent, felt the warmth of the sun and, impossibly, found a sense of contentment beside's one of his biggest fears. It was.. unbelievable. ?I'm glad you like it? he said softly in response to her wonderment words. He still did not open his eyes, but took the world in instead by his hearing and scent alone. He could hear the breath of wonder in her tone, the underling echo of her lose that had never quite left her and her sense of warmth and perhaps even an appreciation to his efforts that warmed him in a way even the sun could not. He knew that her hard-won smile was like seeing the sun again after days of rain and dark skies, it was a light and wonderment he would fight for, for however long it took. When he spoke next, his voice held a touch of heaviness from lethargy and drowsiness, the warmth of sun seemed to lull sleep into his bones. ?We should rest here a while? he mused, sighing with contentment, from the sun and her presence. For the moment he himself felt a peacefulness that outweighed guilt at finding it even as she still held that lose like a hole against his chest. He was peaceful, and a smile touched his mussel, he just hoped that she would feel a touch of his contentment and share in it with him. "Speech"

At first the resting she wolf would not see Alpine's closed eyes, her own gaze was far from focused on his sweet face. She would instead lose herself in the miles and miles of vastness before her. She would find herself becoming rather still, the calm of the higher altitude would hypnotize her to its beauty. She would be brought back to him as his words were whispered to the wind. Her heart ached to be whole again, just so she could gift him a smile. She knew that it had to be difficult to be around her and not become drawn into her seeping darkness. As she felt herself lowered to the earth he would speak again, reading her actions. Her head would swivel to his face as she observe his closed eyes, it was possible the sun was in them but she doubted that. Her sorrow would be for a moment replaced by curiosity, wondering if he didn't like heights. "No complaint from me. It's... Peaceful here." she would offer as she was drawn ever closer to him. The comfort, she didn't realize they shared, would ease her mourning body. She would feel her muscles relax as she let herself regain her energies.?

The warmth of the sun had almost completely dried his once damp coat and taken with it it's coolness. He didn't mind the heat through, with the slowly passing day and gently blowing wind. He sensed with his closed eyes a certain degree of contentment from the wolf beside him. He had already come to peace with the idea that it would be a long time coming before she truly accepted her new life, the one lived without her child, but he still searched for and found a little joy at these moments where she could almost feel restful and at peace, her pain a duller ache drifting inside her. He could almost forget the dreadful memories and the fate of his sibling, he could forget himself in her presence and find his own serenity, a strange twist considering it was her who fought so wildly to find such peace for her. His thoughts where jumbled, hard to put together and drifting in with her soft words as the peaceful warmth brought forth the feeling of drowsiness and it was hard to fight the feeling of sleep that drifted over him ?Mmm...? he drowsed in barely a response to her words, and then he gave up the fight and allowed himself to drift into sleep, despite the probability of its rudeness, enjoying the warmth her company brought, and his paws twitched in occasional dreaming. "Speech"

Their pelts would dry quickly from the radiating warmth of the sun and the baked earth. It would lull them into a peaceful state of drowsiness, she would only feel her painful sorrow as a dull ache. The comfort of Alpine's warm body beside her would soothe the rest of her qualms and worries as her mind began to fall still. Her eyes would slide shut, as she looked from the view to her companions features. He would murmur and answer for her before his body seemed to go slack. He would let himself fall into a calmed slumber, and Twig would not be far behind him. Her head would slowly fall to her paws as a sigh would leave her lips. Pushing herself against Alpine's plush coat she would quickly find herself lost to the comfort she felt swirling all around her. Ever so slowly she would drift away into dreams just as he had done moments before.?

-exit twig via sleep-