Benedict he'd hunted enough. not looking for praise or promotion, Benedict had worked tirelessly instead to just provide for the pack that took him in. he'd brought Abaven fish, hunted with Shaye, included himself in Valhalla's hunt on behalf of his pack and wandered far to find anything of value. he had earned rest for at least... a few hours? then it was off to work again. laying among the tall grasses on the pack's land, he'd close his eyes and allow the autumn breeze to beat against his fur. with summer's humidity gone, he felt it'd be a cold winter coming up. he was just glad to have found a pack that accepted him. especially when they had gone through their own problems as of late. Benedict heard a woman had died - not the old woman that had perished in the fire - and by a feline's claws. he was reminded of the tiger at the border and tales of a lion residing in Abaven too. he wondered if this was all leading up to something. then he realized he didn't want to know. he just wanted to relax, to rest his bones. he wasn't old yet but he felt like he had done enough to relish this rest. Benedict had turned four years this autumn, and he felt nostalgic. he hadn't exactly accomplished anything noteworthy but he had the rest of his life to do so. children and mates were placed at the back of his head; he didn't need them to feel accomplished. he wasn't the type of man to throw his genes everywhere. he'd be quite happy in Abaven until he either died or was asked to leave. "Speech"

She was older and bolder now. With autumn's arrival, Theory was one season closer to a year old - then she'd be able to... what, exactly? The young Destruction wasn't sure, but it felt important. A whole year alive. What a wonderful thing.

After the fire, she had kept her distance from the thicket for a long time. There were nights she still woke up sweating, feeling as if smoke was choking her lungs. Since her mother was never coming back, having left her soul up on the peak of some lonely mountain, Theory had taken up permanent residence in Shaye's den. It felt good to be taken under someone's wing, especially someone so wise and accomplished. Discord had been sown among her siblings as they all dealt differently with Tana's passing. It was nice to be out on her own, not wrestling with any large or important questions.

Today was as good a day as any to return to the thicket. Finally, the ground didn't smell charred and the air was clear of smoke. Theo closed her eyes and breathed deeply, relishing the clean air. "Oh!" She exclaimed, opening her eyes. "I didn't see you there! Hello, I'm Theory," she greeted Benedict warmly. He smelled strongly of Abaven. In retrospect, she realized that she had spent so much time these past few months entwined in her family troubles, that she had hardly met any other wolves in the pack. Now that the thicket was healing and Tana was gone, it was time to begin some new growth of her own.

""

Benedict he was roused from his short slumber by the arrival of another. his eyes snapped open at the voice, looking to see a young girl a few paces away. she greeted him and if he was a cat, he would rumble a purr. she looked like Rhyme and he wondered if this was his daughter or even a relative. he hadn't met many Abaven wolves yet, especially in the family of the two alphas. he'd dip his head to the girl. "s' nice to meet ye, Theory. how are ye today?" he also greeted her warmly, liking the fact that the others in the pack were secure with his presence enough to approach. Twig and Shaye were the first to ever approach him, but he couldn't count on them for entertainment. Shaye led the pack and Twig... well, he didn't know what her rank was. he assumed she was busy too. "m' Benedict" he went on to introduce himself with a gentle smile. he wondered if she was allowed outside of the territory yet. some packs didn't let their yearlings or pups out without supervision. at least, that's what he had come to expect in different lands. "m' a hunter in the pack." he added in. well, he hadn't seen her before so it was just good to let others know. pack wolves were supposed to be proud of their ranks, weren't they? his tone was just acceptance, not bragging or anything. "Speech"

"Well..." She began to answer, considering his question. Most tended to ask how you were doing as a pleasantry, but Theory took his inquiry seriously. "A bit tired, I've been hauling seed for the past few days to spread over the bare ground in the thicket." It wasn't a lie, but there was plenty of other turmoil going on in her life that was positively draining. This stranger didn't need to know that, though. "But hello, Benedict! You've picked a good spot for a rest, that's my favorite place to nap," she said, offering him a conspiratorial smile. Theo never shirked her duties, but she did enjoy a quick lie down when she got the chance.

"Have you seen any good game recently, then?" She inquired as he informed her of his rank. They had been having to venture further and further outside of their territories to feed Abaven's many hungry mouths now that the thicket had been decimated, and their hunting parties were smaller to allow as many wolves as possible to assist in the relief efforts.

""

Benedict seed? ah, yes. he remembered now. Ben had been so busy stocking the prey pile to partake in reseeding the thicket that had been burned. the Abaven wolves were very hardworking and determined. he felt if his home had been burned up, he would seek another territory. maybe move back when the previous land was lush again. "is that rite?" he said to her, moving to the side to allow her access "if ye want to lay down too, I dun't mind." they were pack mates after all. Benedict pulled a thoughtful face at her question. "some rabbits n' fish mostly" he replied to Theory "there's some fish washin' ashore t' beaches that I brought back. t' rabbits are returnin' to t' thicket too." he recalled both his hunt with Shaye and his venture to the beach where he found the fish. also his hunting lesson with Twig at the rapids. he had tried to hunt with others but none answered the call. he wondered if he should approach the more seasoned hunters and ask them to organize a pack hunt. but maybe that was stretching it. he was merely a lowly ranked hunter. but since the rabbits were returning, he felt hopeful the pack's lands would be full of life soon. "pardon me but... are ye related to one o' the alphas by chance?" the resemblance to Rhyme was uncanny. "Speech"

Theory accepted his invitation gratefully. Her paws, though healed from their superficial burns, were still tender when she spent a long time working. As she settled down beside him, she yaaawned wide and then rested her chin upon her paws. It was nice to meet other members of the pack that weren't her family, especially in light of Tana's death. She appreciated the care that Shaye and Rhyme showed all of them, but it was safe to say that was feeling a little bit claustrophobic.

She perked her ears as he spoke of fish washing ashore. That couldn't be good... could it? "Are the fish already dead by the time they wash up...?" She asked, tilting her head to the side curiously. Was the water going bad or something. The other prey, though, made her stomach rumble appreciatively. It was about time to eat.

Benedict's question caught her off guard. She had spent so much time with her family lately, that she had forgotten a stranger might not know her lineage. Theory laughed softly and gave him a beaming smile. "Yes!" She said proudly. "Rhyme is my father." And he had stood by her and her littermates during some of the most difficult times in their young lives. To his young daughter, Rhyme hung the moon and the stars.

""

Benedict she wasted no time in lying next to him, and Benedict was sure to place a few tail lengths between them out of respect. he didn't know this girl, after all, despite her friendly attitude. he also didn't want someone to accuse him of being too friendly, which was never his intention. "ye" he replied to Theory, seeing her point "but I cut a few open n' saw they were still fresh. no sickness or nothin'. maybe t' water was too cold for em. fish cannae adapt as quick as us wolves." if it was one thing he knew it was fish and fish habitats. the reveal that she was the alpha's daughter caused him to smile. so it was true what he thought; Abaven was not dying out from their hardships. they still were strong, stronger as a family, and ready to face anything. "Rhyme's a good man" and if it was another thing he knew, was his capacity to judge a person's goodness. the alpha did not seem a bad person. if anything, he was kind to Benedict when he was at the border and welcomed him in. "do ye have siblings, Theory?" the only wolves he'd met so far were Shaye and Twig. "Speech"