The Raven Feather

---

While Adam and Girl walked with more urgency and ease, Roland limped at a much slower pace. A few grunts would lace into his ragged breathing, but all was normal for him. It was nothing more than a display of his old age, and a part of his everyday life.

Bright eyes would watch as Pigeon flew about, something about looking for food or whatever it was. But there was no mistaking the sudden spark of interest that ignited in Roland’s gaze, something had captured his attention. Quickly, he glanced towards Adam, assuring that the boy was not looking his way. Then as casually as he could, the man altered his path ever-so-slightly.

A stark black feather had fluttered down, in the light it nearly harbored a blue sheen. Swiftly Roland snatched it and nestled it neatly into his dark fur. He was sure to avoid Adam or Girl’s eyes in doing so.

A feather from Pigeon would be a nice keepsake.

Adam’s Stone

---

As the large group of wolves began to dissipate and disperse, Roland made no attempt to follow suit. His den was not far from the spot, and the sun was shining down perfectly for a nice evening of sunbathing. It grew quiet and serene as he found solitude.

After an hour or so of lazing about in the warm rays of light, the old man began to stir. His eyes blinking away his slumber as he sprawled out in a gangly stretch. The reflection of light on the lake made him wince and grumble, but as he recoiled he caught a glimpse of an unusual little stone.

Glancing side to side, and concluding that no one was around, Roland made his way closer to the shoreline. A smooth pebble, colored in fiery reds and oranges. Many would likely compare it to a setting Sun and its striking gradient. But Roland’s mind only went to Adam's molten fur. Greedily, the man grabbed it and took it to his den.

It was beautiful.

A stone that would always remind him of Adam.

Amethyst Beach Glass

---

After his long chat with Valeska, Roland was ready to begin his preparations for his date! The old man limped towards the lake, finding a nice section free of ripples to get a look at his reflection. He had a few stray hairs, and something slightly sticky dried to his side — a good grooming would be in order. The man found a decent slope off the shoreline, using it to enter and slowly submerge himself. Gradually, as he waded about, the clear waters around him grew murky with whatever gunk was dissolving from his fur; likely dirt, old food, and other debris.

A sigh escaped him, the lake nearly made him feel weightless. It did wonders for his joint pain, perhaps he should try swimming more often?

After an hour or so of soaking, Roland hauled himself out of the water. His body dripped heavily and his arthritic pains seemed to reappear the second he stepped back on dry land. A huff and shake out was followed by him taking another glance at his reflection, a classic before-and-after comparison. The sticky mat was gone, and his stray hairs were all spiked from his shake but sure to lie flat once he was dried. He was date ready.

Stiffly wagging his tail, Roland grinned at his reflection. He was so caught up in observing himself he had nearly missed the beach glass that rested atop the pebbles, below the water’s surface. It was purple, a shade that reminded him much of Amaranth’s eyes. Without much contemplation, Roland lunged his head forward to grab the semi-translucent glass, he snorted and coughed, but he had been successful.

Another treasure.

The Seashell

---

Once Amphi had left the date, Roland sat by the waterfall and simply reminisced of their time together. He was truly lucky, wasn’t he? For the support Valeska and Amaranth had given him and the smokin’ hot bod of his lovely wife-to-be. The man grew warm with excitement as he recalled her paw to his chest, and how clearly badly she desired him. It was almost a shame that he was saving himself for marriage, he hoped she would be amicable about his abstinence.

With a grin, he stood up and began to limp towards his den. All in all, the date had been an outstanding success. The night had ended beautifully. A small crack and faint prickle on his foot made him pause. A few small shells had come loose from his fiancée’s fur, one meeting defeat as he stepped on it. But another was still pristine.

Roland snagged the prettiest one and carried it home.

A tangible memory of their first date.

Mud and berries

---

Once reaching his home after the date, Roland stashed away his shell from Amphi’s fur. A grin curled to his lips, but it quickly curdled into something sour as he felt an ungodly itch near his ribs. As he sat down and extended his hind leg to scratch, his paw met with a thick layer of the mud that was dried across his body. He had forgotten about his new look. Aggressively, his legs began to rabbit kick his side, defeating the nagging itch and shedding chunks of dried berry-mud-mixture.

A moaning sigh left him, relief sending a chill up his spine and prickling his fur. That was a really good scratch.

Roland frowned and furrowed his brows, his home was now littered with chunks of Valeska’s concoction. With a grunt, he began to expel it from his home, one piece at a time. After a while, he was nearly finished, only a particularly large remnant still sitting there — staring at him. With a thoughtful hum, he nudged it with his nose. He could see the colorful splatters of berry purée that had been so rigorously combined into it, a small grin appeared. Val had been so helpful. It was a memory he would carry with him forever.

Roland kept the last piece, adding it beside his recent shell addition.

Trio of Antlers

---

His journey home for their Duskguard neighbors had been long and agonizing, Roland was quite certain he would never go on such a trip again for a long, long, long time. At least, if he had any say in the matter, he wouldn’t. Why travel in the first place? The Respite offered them much more than they needed, there really wasn’t a single thing it lacked. So why the hell were they all up and leaving every damn day?

As the border’s scent markers filled his nose, Roland heaved a sigh, dry and hoarse. Oh, finally, he was home. The decrepit man was ready to crawl into his cavern and sleep for a week straight. Moaning, groaning, and complaining to no one but himself, Roland dragging his feet as his hips ached from arthritis. Home was so close but teasingly so far.

Dramatically he flopped to the ground, his eyes - now level with the undergrowth - spotted something. A pile of antlers, likely from some young bucks that had rubbed them on the nearby tree or had a particularly intense rut. He had picked the three smallest ones, his mind flocking to the triplets: Aster, Astra, and Astro. They would like them, right? Once they begin teething, they may help.

Once zapped of energy, the man gathered the antlers and carried them the rest of the way home, his limp hindered him greatly but the idea of his new gifts helped him ignore the pain.

Fossil

---

A sandstone rock with a small swirl of some kind, its stripes remind him of the bobcat, Kane.

Driftwood

---

A particularly smooth and interestingly shaped piece of driftwood that found its way to his doorstep. Something told him that Adam might enjoy it -- Roland held on to it, waiting for the boy to finally return home… It seems Roland wasn't able to hold out that long.

Herbs

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Some of the herbs Valeska and Harper gave him for his many ailments.

Bird’s Nest

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An abandoned bird’s nest that he so dearly wished would one day house a blue bird, now he will never get to witness its potential use.

Amphi’s Presents

---

Within the back of Ronald’s den lay two items, pristine and tucked away behind a rock, a nicely secure area from prying eyes.

The first a large conch shell, swirled with white and pale pink. He assumed Amphi would like it, as it was not only a reminder of their first date, but it also whispered gentle waves if you leaned down and listened closely.

The second gift was one that not many would understand. A round rock, nearly a perfect sphere. Its color was dull, gray, and honestly a bit ugly. But, it was not the exterior that was the gift. No, it was not just some rock, but a geode. Roland had been hoping that the two of them would be able to break it together and witness whatever shining quartz would be revealed.