In a land unseen; {claiming}

[{Laurel.}]

Koi.

He exhaled into the dry, chilling air, sending a trail of vapor up from his nostrils. Koi scanned his surroundings and sniffed at the air. Nothing. He was alone… and for some reason, he didn’t feel lonely. He was in a secluded patch of trees, hidden by their dark shadows, standing out against the deep green grass. He could hear a stream calling to him in the distance, beckoning to him with her voice. He followed the sound, his ears pricked straight up, and with every step, the sound got louder and louder until he broke through into the light and nearly fell into the meandering stream. He could see through the icy blue water to the bottom, where a few scattered rocks fought against the flow. The occasional fish floated by, and though they were small, it was winter after all, and they would make a great meal for him. He reached in suddenly with a swift paw and flipped one out onto the soil. It flipped around in surprise, but Koi ended it’s misery quickly.

It was the best meal he’d ever had.

After savoring every last bit of his fish, he stepped back and hopped over the river to explore the foothills. They too were covered in trees, but it wasn’t nearly as dark. He could see many prime den-making areas scattered around on the hills, but that only added to his love of the land. The second he arrived he’d decided this was his home, and with a smile, he let the feeling of being home consume him. This was his land now, and he loved every single piece of it.