Sig was carefully watchful of Eivind's phone, making sure Blue didn't get any ideas of what was going on. The voicemail was received and then deleted. Eivind had a bad habit of putting his phone down somewhere and just leaving it, not attached to the device like many were nowadays. They'd gone into the jewelry shop right the next day, right after dropping Blue off at work. Eivind was good at hiding his excitement behind his mild expressions while Sig had a more difficult time containing himself. Sig prodded him the entire way there about<i>how</i>he was going to do it.<br/><br/>“I'm not sure,” Eivind said with a shrug, though he seemed entirely calm for someone who was about to propose.<br/><br/>Sig scolded him for being so flippant about it but Eivind's attitude didn't change.<br/><br/>“One thing at a time,” he said instead, walking back into Harlo's jeweler to inspect the design and possibly make changes. Harlo seemed pleased to see them and motioned them forward, ready to show off the ring he had designed, and not only the one. Eivind inspected it closely and listened to his explanation and what all he'd added, trying to decide if it both felt and looked right. It was clear by the look on Eivind's face that he wouldn't settle for anything less than perfection for Blue, his eye critical. Sig worried Eivind was going to be<i>too</i>critical but after an uncomfortably long moment Eivind looked up to Harlo and nodded. About as much praise as Eivind was going to give, but Sig could tell he was pleased. Hopefully, Harlo would be able to as well from the slight crease at the corner of his eyes. The second ring was criticized much less. It met his perimeters when he'd asked for a flat band that wouldn't get in the way of his work, and more. Blue's fingerprint was hidden on the inside, a subtle but pleasant reminder.<br/><br/>“I'll take them both,” Eivind told him, and they finished up the business end of things while Sig chatted with Harlo's wife.<br/><br/><br/><br/>–<br/><br/><br/><br/>Sig continued to pester Eivind about what he was planning to do now that he had the rings hidden away but he was no more forthcoming than he'd been on the way to the jewelry store. One thing seemed to be certain, opportunity wasn't going to present itself in town where they were at.<br/><br/>Eivind had stopped by to show the ring to Katherine, and Louis if he'd cared to look. He was just as stoic about it as Eivind was with most things but sat and had lunch alongside his wife and his son's boyfriend. The friendliest he'd been thus far. They got to talking about Eivind and Blue both feeling a little cooped up since moving to the city and Louis offered up the name of a place he'd taking Blue hiking when he was younger; Silver Creek Ridge.<br/><br/>It was a bit of a drive but the opposite direction of pack territory. A neutral sort of place but one that planted the seed in Eivind's head. Not knowing the area, Eivind went and explored it first, getting a good idea of the layout and local wildlife. Werewolf free, it seemed and a decent place to stretch out his legs. For Blue, he imagined it would be the same thing and it had been too long since they'd been able to play one of their games. Safe. This time Eivind would change the rules and the prize would be a different sort of thing, though maybe if he was lucky they'd still end up naked in a bed full of leaves.<br/><br/>They'd both been busy with their own things, Eivind working long hours and Blue working on school and his own projects. When there was a lapse in both of their schedules Eivind promised Blue that they'd do something together. He just hadn't been aware of the planning that had gone into it beforehand.<br/><br/>Eivind had drawn Blue a map that would lead him to the first location. Blue would already know the territory to some extent if he remembered it anyway and with his dull human senses he didn't think the territorial advantage would hurt.<br/><br/>“It's safe here,” Eivind said when he pulled the truck up. Like usual he'd not told Blue where they were going, just to get up and that no, they couldn't remain in the bed all that day. Eivind even turned down early morning lovemaking, complaining that he was feeling particularly restless that day and not in the way sex could cure.<br/><br/>“Wanted to change it up this time. You come find me. I'm going to run off ahead, just give me a five-minute head start and look in the glove compartment.” Where Blue would find the map and his first hint that this was more premeditated than Eivind had let on. The map would lead him to a bridge over the creek where Eivind had left his next hint. He was fully aware Blue's tracking skills weren't like his own but with time came understanding of how human senses worked; how humans would track if they couldn't rely on their nose. Eivind left deep gouges in the earth indicating his direction heading up the trail and then more hints hidden in the trees that he was on the right path.<br/><br/>Eventually Blue would come upon shovel sticking up from the ground a bit off the main trail and more gouges in the earth, indicating that Blue would have to dig. Prior to all this, he'd buried the moose head, now missing a section of antler but no less cumbersome. The jaw and skull were detached with no connective tissue but once both pieces were fished out Blue would find a small six number combination lock box. It was meant to hold keys and mount to a wall but the only thing not overly cumbersome Eivind could find at the hardware store that fit the ring box.<br/><br/>'I've got the hint. Come find me,' was written on the back with a silver permanent marker in Eivind's messy scrawl.<br/><br/>More hints left in the dirt, indicating the Blue should keep going up, where he'd find Eivind waiting for him at the top in front of a backdrop of forest, wearing only his jeans and boots now since he'd draped the rest of his clothing along the way as markers.<br/><br/>“It's the date you say yes,” Eivind told him before dropping down to one knee in front of Blue, an unmistakable human gesture.<br/><br/><b>052118</b>was the combination.<br/><br/>Eivind had made sure Blue had worn his watch that day so they could 'keep track of the time'.