Leroy led her out of the camp, through the pine trees that looked like they reached to the sky. As they were making their way towards the river, the pair could spot different prey running about, uncaring of the predators presence. Shortly after, the sound of rushing water could be heard, coupled by yips of joy from wolves of all ages and the occasional large splash.
As the pair emerged from some bushes, the brute took in the sight amongst them. The river was lively today, pups trying to catch their first salmon or bass which littered underneath the moving water. The river itself was almost crystal clear, the water being cleaned by the rocks in its bed as it made its way down the mountain side. He could spot some pups learning to swim and even some adults. The elderly of the pack were basking in the suns glorious rays, talking and laughing amongst themselves about some trivial. Leroy's eyes moved to Heart, curious to see if she approved or not of his pack. Why did her opinion matter so much to him? He normally never cared but a tiny piece of him wish this stranger would stay, become pack. An odd feeling for him.
At the edges of the river, flowers and grass grew like siblings together. They blew softly in the breeze, creating such an alluring smell of pollen that it was almost impossible to resist the temptation of rolling in them. Bees were busy bouncing around from one on to the next, doing their job of pollinating. They didn't seem to mind the occasional water drops from the splashing that had the flowers glistening in the light. To Leroy, the river on a nice summer's day like this was his peace, the only thing missing from the picture was a perfect sunset. He hoped life after would be as magical as moments like these were for him.

Heart looked in awe at the sight before her eyes. She had never seen anything like it, and feared she probably would never again if they wouldn't accept her into this pack. The thought of so many pups and mothers just being alive, let alone having such a wonderful time together was just unfathomable to her. This pack was truly something else. Something she had never seen before. She only wished her mother could've been here to see the kindness that this pack operated within. There was so much pray that it blew Hearts mind. Where were they are hiding all this time and why didn't they seem to care about the wolves among them. This pack had obviously never had to deal with hunger let alone starvation. It was incredibly different in the pack she had came from. They would eat pups and discard of the weak. This is what she had known about pack life, it was so different compared to everything she had ever known.

"This is an average day? Is it like this all time?" Heart found it hard to believe that this pack could be so simple yet so beautiful.

Leroy perked his ears up, her question would've almost confused him if he knew less of the valley wolves than he did. His pack was originally created a few years ago as means of escaping that life, escaping the cruel individuals that ran things down there, thriving more than surviving. His memory flash back to the origins of the pack but he shook it from his mind, unpleasant memories on a day like this was a waste.
"Maybe not always, no. Often? Yes. No pack is perfect but Hannalore works hard to live like this," The way he spoke of his pack, it sounded like he was talking about family. In a way, he was. Some of these wolves he watched grow up, from pup to mother or father. He watched some fall in love, wishing himself to be able to find his own wolf. His heart twinged in pain at the thought, he wasn't scared of much but ending up alone haunted him.
The brute smirked once his thoughts cleared yet again, mischief twinkling in his eyes. What Heart hadn't noticed is how close to the rivers edge they both had become. He grinned, pushing his side against her, watching her fall into the water with a splash. Thankfully this area of the river was shallow enough that if she wanted to she could stand in it.

Leroy let out a hearty laugh, stopping in his tracks to take a second and breath after his laughing episode. "You're all wet now!" He spoke, not in a yelling tone but just loud enough to be heard over the water and others around them. No sense in letting the day go to waste, he was excited to let loose a little.

Heart plunged into the water it was still a little chilly and it seem winter hadn't lost its grasp everywhere. But Heart enjoyed the resfreshingness of the cold water. Her head emerged from the water and she grinned shyly at Leroy, "Oh no what ever shall I do?" She said hopelessly, with her muzzle in a pout. As Leroy laughed she climbed out and shook off her thick coat purposely getting him soaked. "Now YOUR wet!" Heart laughed loudly as she covered her muzzle trying not to laugh too hard. It was nice, everything flowed so easily here...

Leroy let out a playful growl as the water drops covered his no longer dry pelt, she was so in for it now. He ran at her, tackling her back into the river with his own body following after her. Another splash like earlier echoed out into the air, rippling waves disturbing the almost peaceful water that was still only moments ago.

The pair was now soaked, the brute almost resembling a wet rat with all his fur sticking to him. The water was cool, pairing nicely with the heat from the sun. He lapped some of it up, quenching his thirst. Leroy was enjoying this moment, he couldn't remember the last time he got to really play unlike when he had to carefully play with the pups of the pack.

"Leroy!" a little shout could be heard off in the distance as Violet came doggy paddling over to the two of them. "Why don't you play with me like that?" she asked the big wolf, pouting and giving him her best puppy dog eyes. "Vi, go back to your mother. You know I'm too big to truly horse around with you." he piped up, sticking his tongue out in attempt to cheer the little one up.

Heart laughed as she stood back up in the water. The little pup was full of energy and if was refreshing to see. The effort he put into cheering the pup up was very admirable to Heart. She had never seen ANY male care as much as he did. Heart started to feel like she could actually be at home with this pack. It was a very odd feeling since she hadn't been in or wanted to be in a pack since she was a pup.
Just then a pink glimmer in the water caught hearts eye. Her eyes got wide with excitement. She quickly made a shallow dive and snatched the salmon between her teeth when her emerged the look on her face was pure pride. "Ya want some?" She beckoned towards Leroy

Leroy shook his head with a smile, he never liked fish really. He guessed to blame for that was that up here he was almost spoiled by the availability of different prey. The offer was king though, even though she clearly needed the fish more due to the considerable weight difference between them. The brute paused momentarily, should he ask her to join them or give it a few days as a trial period? As alpha, he would be dumb to trust so easily and quickly. The pack came first always so he had to think of them over what he actually wanted, this thought making him grimace for a split second before the smile returned to his features.
The sun had begun to set slowly, forcing most of the pack to surrender back to the camp leaving the pair almost entirely alone and still dripping wet from the river. They hadn't been here long, however, it was just a tiny bit past midday when Heart had stumbled upon him and the pack. The water sparkled as the setting rays bounced off of it, the sky an almost purple and orange ombré now.

Leroy got out of the river, shaking his pelt till he was satisfied the water droplets were few and far in between. He the payed down, his tail wrapping against his frame in a small effort to fight the chill biting at him after leaving the water behind. "Come, sit. The sunsets up here are sort of once in a lifetime. I thoroughly believe everyone should experience this." He spoke honestly, being as he was yet to meet a wolf who didn't love them.

Sorry for my Easter hiatus last weekend was packed)

Heart climbed out of the river and shook her pelt dry. It was so weird how close she had gone so fast. She felt like she had known him forever when it just barely been a day. The pack was so different than anything she had ever experienced. She pushed her hair back behind her eyes and followed Leroy. She had never really been big on sunsets as normally she would never get the chance to enjoy them when they symbolized, another day alone forgotten by everyone, no mother, no pack, and no one or where to call home. The joy she experienced was strange to say the least. All she had ever wanted was something to call her own and a family. She thought it was possible she had found where she belonged, but she knew that. nothing good can be all good and was skeptical.

((No worries at all, I have been busy myself so it worked out LOL))

Leroy sat in the silence with her, watching the sun fall slowly behind the horizon. It's rays began to cascade colors in the sky before it set, making way for the stars to peek out from beneath the current sheet of darkness. They twinkled softly from far away, reminding the brute of his ancestors and his own parents who were now gone.

The sunset from anyone's perspective wasn't anything to brag about, yes it was pretty but it was as ordinary as the same sunset in the valley that he was sure she had seen before. It was what followed the setting sun that really made the moment magical and he made sure he said nothing as to not ruin the moment. Leroy was anxious to see her reaction.

Colors began to reappear in the night sky, dancing between stars and leaving a streak like image above the pair. To humans, it was known as the aurora borealis but to Hannalore pack it was simply the dancing colors. Green was the most prominent color from it, almost appearing as if his ancestors were trying to play him images from the past to relay a message.

Leroy stayed quiet the entire time, his eyes on Heart as he watched her react to the colors. Only occationally would he look up for himself as he had seen this same scene so many times before.

Heart watched as the colors faded silently. Not many times was she out this late as it's safer to stay in the burrow at night then to run into other wolves. The only occasions where she had been out where wen prey was so scarce she hadn't eaten in over a week and she was trying to find something to curb the hunger bitting her gut. But even then she never really got to enjoy the beauty of the sunset. And the idea of the stars always seemed to mock her. Her mother had told her the stories of her ancestors watching her and it always seemed to put her in the wrong mood. How could they stand up there and watch their grand pups dying and not help? Why were they silent as she nearly starved? Where were they to help when her mother passed? These were questions she would ask herself anytime she saw the night sky. But that night was different.

For once she did not ask herself those questions instead she sat there motionless soaking up the beautiful array of colors that changed in the sky. She felt truly at peace for the first time in her life