The festival had been entertaining, and Wayne would no doubt return to partake in more of the activities and socializing, but for now the dusty-furred man headed back to Casa di Cavalieri territory. Luckily, it was only a short journey from the Sugarwoods to get back home. Not every pack member had come to the gathering, and neither all of the horses; he wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly. Perhaps he was just paranoid, but it was also nice to see the courthouse in the distance and smell the mingled odors of his friends and comrades. Finally, the pack was beginning to feel more like home and family to the former loner. It might have been because he was digging a nice niche for himself by taking care of the horses, or that he resolved to seek training to become a true warrior Cavalierite, but much of it also was peace now that he and Dixie were together. It had seemed that the small white-furred woman cared more about the pack politics than him earlier in the winter, but that had been a ridiculous assumption he had soon gotten over. Everything was going well now.
He jogged toward the area where the remaining horses were temporarily gathered, knowing full well that they would have to start construction on the stables as soon as the snow passed. Their "herd" was growing almost faster than the pack, after all! He reached for the gate of the makeshift pen, ready to go in and check on all the steeds individually--only to find that it had already been nudged open. In their haste to get to the festival grounds, someone must have left it open. Stiffening, the wolfdog counted the equines inside and cursed quietly when he saw who was missing: Tupelo.
Quickly, he ran to Buckeye, taking the light-colored bay's halter and leading him to where the tack was kept. We need to find your friend, Wayne muttered as he cinched the saddle. Swinging himself up onto the horse's back, he set off at a ground-eating canter in the direction of the fields. The paint horse had been a gift from the Court (along with Buckeye, whom he hoped would calm the mare down once they caught up with her), and she was carrying a precious bundle. Casa would be missing two horses rather than just one if he didn't find her soon.
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