<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">“One thing I've learned it to never overstay my welcome. You'll thank me for it later when you two have some privacy again.” Sig winked at Blue. “I'll find you two again, don't worry. I'm happy to have met you guys.” Even Eivind, who'd beat the snot out of him initially. Obviously, he wasn't a man to hold grudges, and Eivind even seemed as if he forgave him since Blue had done so.<br/>
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Blue hugged him before he had a chance to depart, wrapping his arms around the taller human in return, and to his surprise Eivind didn't protest the touchings, seeming to understand how innocent it actually was.<br/>
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“Stay away from that big male who chased you. He's not anyone you want to meet a second time. My pack, the one you're looking for, may be a safe bet. Just let them come to you. Don't walk up on them,” Eivind advised. They didn't take kindly to that sort of thing, and he didn't know how presumptuous Sig intended to be. Just because it worked for him so far didn't mean at some point his luck would run out, and honestly even Eivind didn't want to see the smaller, innocuous wolf harmed.<br/>
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Sig nodded and headed off the direction they'd come, and Eivind realized he'd likely put himself out of his way to tag along with them a few days.<br/>
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Eivind nodded his head 'yes' when Blue asked if they would follow what Sig had advised. He wasn't so bullheaded to try and carve his own way when there was a reasonable path somewhere up ahead. The mountains could be dangerous in many ways. He took Blue's offered hand, and they went along. Eventually, they did come upon the bridge, but as Sig has said, it was in disrepair. Of course, it was. No one saw fit to venture this far usually, so there was little incentive to maintain it. Now it was just a hazard and an eyesore, but one navigable if careful. This wasn't the worst part of the river by far, and really it was their best chance, short of building a raft but even that came with risk.<br/>
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“It's really jagged beneath the water. It's not even so much the risk of drowning as it is getting turned to hamburger against the rocks,” Eivind explained, giving the cables a good shake. They hardly moved, and there were areas that looked as if they could walk. Eivind went first, of course, going slow and testing places as he went. He used his upper body strength to navigate the areas that were absent support beneath, and the two cables held. Eivind wished that they had rope, but nothing doing for it now. Once across, he talked Blue over it carefully, telling him here to grab hold next, where to step, pointing out weak points. Blue slipped at the point in the center, the wood partially rotten and slick, and momentarily seemed more worried about the backpack being snatched away from him than he was a regaining his footing.<br/>
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“Don't worry about it!” Eivind shouted, but Blue managed to recollect the bag and pull himself back up, all while Eivind's heart was hammering away in his chest. He finished his way across, seemingly without consequence, and Eivind pulled him the last few feet into his arms.<br/>
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“Enough risk for today,” he said, though it had gone well all things considering. Blue's lower half was wet again, but that was better than sliced up. With the worst part of it over, they navigated the forest, both most likely eager to get to someplace they could settle and call their own for however long. Being out in the open was not Eivind's preferred method, and once established he was sure predators would understand there was a new sheriff in town.<br/>
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The cave opening would have been missed if Sig hadn't told them where to look for it. It was partially shrouded, and covered in a film of moss.<br/>
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“Blue,” Eivind said, grinning, pointing out the shadowy area the opening cast. Once past the entrance, it opened up to a mostly level ground, and Eivind could see the remains of a fire.<br/>
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“I imagine Sig stayed here more than a couple of nights. I can smell him,” he told Blue, walking up to the fire pit where he found a parcel left behind. On top of it was a note, addressing the contents to any weary traveler that should have a need of it. He couldn't help but find that endearing because of its thoughtfulness, even if Sig did it before knowing them. They'd have to leave something behind if they had need of any of its contents. He set it down without opening it, leaving it for Blue to do so as he wished since he seemed so fond of the other wolf.<br/>
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“Was it worth it?” Eivind questioned, flopping down and taking his first breath of relief. They'd finally made it somewhere they could gain a little peace.</span></span>