It'd been a long while since she and Athena had set out on their aimless journey. While they'd originally planned on heading north, she found that she couldn't help but wander back toward Fiori's own lands every so often. There was always a hint of hope in the back of her mind that maybe, someday, she might find a trace of Novel again, or at least of another Destruction that might know of her whereabouts or.. well, anything. But with each season that passed, that was looking even less likely. As hard as it was to move on entirely, she knew they had to. She and Athena had decided to find somewhere to settle down together, and now that she knew Hymn had interest in joining them she had even more reason to actually make a decision sooner rather than later. Perhaps it was time to start heading into lands she was less familiar with - slightly west, for starters? She had already encountered the borders of some claimed packlands but she had yet to take any initiative in figuring out if they would be suitable places for her family and Athena to stay. Today, she found herself somewhere familiar. She'd been born here, though she hadn't spent much of her life in these lands as her parents had been invited further east to live with the Destructions for the rest of their lives - or, what had turned into most of the rest of their lives. Unsure exactly how to proceed, Ara headed to find Athena. They traveled together sometimes, though Ara often went her own way too, but they made a point to meet up frequently. Her demeanor brightened slightly as her scent grew stronger, padding around the edge of the fenced-in field to look for her.

Now that the warmer weather was coming back in full force it made Athena realize now much she had adjusted to it. She remembered how miserable she had been the first spring and summer she had spent in Fiori after Amalia moved them down from the north. Her fur had always been thick and hard to deal with, but for some reason it didn't bother her quite as much as it used to. It seemed to just be another sign of how long it had actually been since those days. Some days it felt like it was just yesterday and some days it felt like so long ago that she could barely remember. Today was one of those far away days. It was a startling realization to have that she really had to concentrate to remember Amalia's voice. It was saddening and a relief all at once. This journey around Boreas with Ara had been good for her. She thought that maybe she might be able to finally move on. Or at least stop wondering and grieving. Ara's scent caught her attention and she smiled a little. Speaking of... Athena turned her steps to go find her traveling companion. She appreciated that the two of them could drift apart for a short time and still come back together just as easily. It was a relaxed, comforting sort of feeling to know that Ara was there when she needed her, but fine with being on her own as well. Athena found her fairly easily, spotting her walking along the fence line. Her tail wagged gently behind her and she gave Ara a quick bark to get her attention as she trotted over to meet her. "Talk" "You" Think

It was funny how life had a way of making things seem clear, even when you weren't sure they would ever be easy - traveling with Athena now seemed oddly fated, in a way, The two of them had both been without their wives and their children, and making a life together instead of wandering apart seemed fitting.. even if Ara wasn't quite sure how to classify her feelings for Athena. On one hand, she was certain her heart would always belong to Novel in the way that only one's first true love ever could, but the possibility of her returning was so slim now that she knew being realistic was the best course of action. Dwelling on the past didn't do her any good any more, and she had to keep those thoughts from her mind. It became significantly easier to focus on the present when Athena drew closer, a smile enveloping her own gentle features. "Hey you," Ara greeted her friend easily, her tail wagging gently behind her. "Enjoying the warmer weather?" Her grin widened, knowing very well that Athena was born in the north and that she likely got uncomfortable on the warmer days, though she figured she'd gotten used to the climate difference by now. She veered slightly away from the fence to greet her properly, pressing his nose lightly against Athena's cheek for a moment before pulling away. "I've been thinking we should start considering where to settle down," she offered, a bit tentatively. Ara couldn't help but worry that, for some reason, Athena might decide to change her mind about their idea. "I found one of my sons recently, and it turns out that he's had kids of his own.. and he'd like to join us, wherever we decide to go. What do you think?" Her gaze was expectant, hoping Athena might be receptive to the idea.

Athena returned Ara's grin at her mildly teasing comment about the weather. "Well... enjoy is a strong word," she replied with a chuckle. It certainly didn't bother her the way it used to, but she would be lying if she said she was enjoying it or looking forward to it. The winter and the colder parts of this continent would always be her preferred climate, but for now she was happy being wherever her friend was. Her playful grin shifted into more of a pleased smile when Ara turned toward her and pressed her nose to her cheek. Athena mimicked the motion before letting her dual-toned eyes find Ara's once the other woman pulled back a bit to speak again. It made sense that they would start deciding where to settle back down. Without her children around to keep her in one place she hadn't been thinking about it much, but they weren't getting any younger and she could appreciate the stability that a home gave them. When Ara spoke about finding one of her sons, Athena's eyes widened with surprise and her smile widened with happiness for her friend. "That's great, Ara! I think that's a great idea. I certainly don't feel like exploring without you and you should absolutely be with your son and grandchildren." Hopefully one day her children would return as well, but for now she could look forward to meeting Ara's son and getting comfortable in a new pack. It was nice to have things to look forward to again. For the longest time she wasn't sure if there was anything worth getting up for in the morning and now she had plenty. "Talk" "You" Think

Athena's obviously sarcastic comment elicited a soft chuckle from Ara. "Ah, well, we both know summer will be gone just as soon as it's arrived," she commented lightly, knowing as well as any that seasons seemed even more temporal as they aged. Somehow months, and even years, had gone by it what seemed like the blink of an eye. At least now, in her older age, she'd learned to appreciate the small things for what they were.. even if it meant weather being less than favorable. She thought for a moment about having to stock up on herbs before winter finally arrived, though she had a while yet before really worrying about that. Finding somewhere to settle down though was the first priority. While she did enjoy the warmer climates - and Athena the colder ones - there was no denying that they were aging, and settling for something more temperature, on both sides of the spectrum, seemed an ideal middle ground. She hoped that Hymn and his family would agree. Though her son had already told her he'd follow her, she knew that his own children - her grandchildren - would decide on their own. "I'm glad you agree," Ara admitted, her voice betraying more relief than she'd anticipated letting on. Whatever sort of easy companionship that she and Athena shared, well, she wasn't entirely sure how to classify it, but what she did know was that she wanted it to continue. "I do believe a pack has claimed some lands west of here. I think I'll scope them out and see if it's a good fit for us." Truthfully, Ara wasn't terribly picky on where they lived.. so long as a pack's leader was respectable, and their ideals mostly in line with her own, she could make herself useful almost anywhere, and she hoped Athena felt similarly.