"Where is it?" Nathan muttered, throwing things out of the travel chests.
"What are you looking for?" Griffin asked from a safe distance. He'd already made the mistake of standing too close to Nathan as he searched for something, throwing things randomly.
"The carving."
"Carving?"
Nathan finally looked up, tears gathering in his eyes. "Yeah. The one you made for me. I can't find it anywhere." Nathan's voice broke on the last word, truly upset over losing that carving.
Now that things weren't flying everywhere, Griffin stepped forward, kneeling right next to Nathan and pulling him into his arms. "Shh, it's okay. If we can't find it, I'll make you another one," Griffin soothed the distressed wolf in his arms.
"But… You gave me that one when the mate bond was completed." Tears silently streamed down Nathan's cheeks.
Griffin continued soothing the wolf, stroking his hair and gently rubbing his back. "Why don't you go take a nap. The last few days have been stressful for you. I'll keep looking for the carving before making lunch. Okay?"
Several moments passed before Nathan nodded his head. Slowly, with Griffin's help, he rose from the floor and made his way to the bedroom that they'd claimed.
Griffin watched, waiting for the door to close and Nathan's shuffling to stop. When he couldn't hear any more movement, Griffin turned his attention back to the travel chest in front of him. Careful to not make any loud noises, Griffin began searching through it, pulling things out methodically. Not finding what he was looking for, he moved onto the second chest, repeating the process. Coming up empty, Griffin was stumped. Where was that carving? He was sure Nathan had grabbed it. Maybe it had fallen out.
Sighing, Griffin stood and made his way to the kitchen to make lunch, remembering the rough few days they just went through.
**********
3 Days Ago
20 minutes after leaving their home behind, Nathan finally asked through the bond, "Where are we going?"
Griffin hesitated for a brief moment before answering, "Dark Moon Mountain."
"WHAT?!?!?!? Why are we going there?! Isn't that the first place they'll look for us when they realize we've left?"
"Or the last. Think about it. The only surviving member of the Dark Moon Pack living where the pack was destroyed? Highly unlikely. Especially for a pup. A grieving pup would never choose to live where they lost their family."
[He has a good point,] Axel said to Nathan through their private bond. [A wolf would never let their human live somewhere that causes them pain.]
Nathan sighed, defeated. "Fine. Whatever. How long will it take to get there?"
"If we went straight there, about 18 hours. But I'm going to weave a little and make sure there isn't anyone on our tail, so probably 2 days."
"Okay," Nathan said, subdued.
"I'm sorry, love. I'm sure we'll be able to go back someday."
Nathan didn't say anything, just curling up as best he could.
Feeling his sadness, Griffin made a vow that he and Nathan would be able to be able to go home again.
Letting his grieving mate be, Griffin focused on their flight path, going one way before randomly changing direction. He continued his constant zig-zag for the next two days, only stopping for quick meals and bathroom breaks.