It was early morning still, and Lirim was relatively quiet, save for the gentle sounds of wildlife that lingered nearby. To the north, songbirds were singing their early song, moving quietly from one willow tree to the next, and directly south of the the fertile green Emerald Valley was buzzing with the sound of insects and the rustling of prey through the thick grasses. The sun had barely crept above the horizon, casting a bright array of colors across the sky to the east, and for a long while she stood at the edge of the valley's western edge and watched the sunrise. As the minutes passed, and as the sun made its presence fully known, the once dimly-lit valley grew bright again. It was hard to feel anything but truly, deeply grateful as she sat and watched the sunrise and reflected upon everything she had gained in this last year. It was hard to recall how long it'd been since Fiori had disbanded, perhaps nearly two years now, but finally she'd found some relief from the crippling loneliness that had plagued her heart for so long. Lirim was exactly where she belonged right now, of that she was certain, and she was glad that Athena had finally decided to join her. She couldn't imagining spending her remaining days anywhere quite so peaceful, and she breathed a content sigh as she began her journey down into the valley. It was not a terribly difficult journey, but her body was aging more quickly than she liked, and she was cautious as she made her descent into the luscious canyon bellow. She hoped she might find something to carry back with her - she was wearing her tattered satchel, which hung loosely down the side of her body - but even if she found nothing of great use, she'd enjoy the beauty of the morning just the same.

Rin decided today, that he wouldn't lie around in his den. It was a rare thing for him to do, being out in daylight where any pack member could see him. But honestly, he did a good enough job avoiding the other members that he didn't think they'd even notice his presence this early. He hadn't been able to sleep most of the night, so he had gone out for a long walk outside of pack lands. He was now just returning, his frail form toeing the lines of the border as he walked along it. He couldn't help but wonder where Faite and Fortune had gone off to...and during his walk, he hoped in his heart of hearts that he would be able to catch just the smallest hint of their scents, but of course, there was no trace. There hadn't been in months, and he decided that it wasn't worth it to keep on trying. Throughout his life, he had never been able to find his calling or even a slice of happiness. It had been spent in misery, and pain, and suffering if he had to describe his life. But alas, perhaps it was all he deserved. The skinny male was tiring as he walked, so he decided to stop for a rest. Still on the borderline, Rin sat and stared out across the horizon. He hadn't been paying much attention to his surroundings, so he was completely unaware of a nearby presence..

Ara hadn't expected to see anyone else out here so early. Of course, the valley wasn't an ideal place to make a den - as far as she knew, most wolves slept somewhere in the comfort of the Whistling Willows - and since she'd risen early today she expected most Lirim wolves might still be asleep. Not that company wasn't appreciated; no, Ara was interested in (eventually) getting to know her packmates, and soon she planned to call a training session for the youngest wolves in the pack, and anyone else interested in the most basics of healing. Perhaps today she could collect some herbs that might be useful for such a meeting. She knew agrimony grew plentifully here, and she could already smell the familiar scent of lavender lingering in the air as she began her descent into the valley. Something unrelated to the plants that grew here caught her attention. From the corner of her eye she saw the silhouette of someone at the edge of the valley, not too far off from her. Though he wasn't immediately familiar, she recognized his scent faintly as belonging to Lirim as a breeze brought a whiff of toward her. A gentle smile painted her features as the woman slowly turned to get a better look at who had accidentally joined her. Well, she had to guess it was an accident, since he didn't seem to notice her immediately. Not wanting to be rude, Ara announced her presence with a soft clearing of her throat, before loping toward him - back up the slope of the valley, only in his direction this time. "Good morning," she called out, her voice gentle as she got a better look at him. He must've been somewhat close to her age, though somehow his appearance told that his life had been much harder than hers, at least physically. Empathy shone in her blue eyes as she approached, chest heaving slightly from the slight climb. "You're from Lirim too, right?" She hoped he might want some company, though would gladly leave him be if he didn't.