The decision was made. With the unseen hand a chilling reality, Maddox knew they couldn't afford to wait for Elara's birth pack to find them. He assembled a small, elite reconnaissance team, led by Finn, to travel to the distant territory Elara had sensed. Their mission was diplomatic: to confirm the pack's existence, establish contact, and present Elara's story. It was a perilous journey, cutting across lands potentially affected by Mara's rogues or even other wary packs.
Elara poured all her energy into guiding Finn's team, projecting the mental pulse of her birth pack's 'song,' helping them navigate treacherous landscapes and avoid dangerous territories. The separation from Maddox was difficult, but the hope of finally knowing her origins fueled her resolve. During their nightly mental link, Elara shared the subtle shifts in her birth pack's mental signature, confirming their continued existence and their deep sorrow, a sorrow she now fully understood was for her.
Meanwhile, back at River Pine, Maddox focused on bolstering their defenses against Mara. He tightened patrols and continued to train his warriors, a silent, unyielding pillar of strength for his pack. He felt Elara's absence keenly, but the shared purpose, the knowledge that they were working towards a future where she could finally be whole, sustained him. The journey was long, fraught with risk, but it was a journey of hope, driven by the chance to reunite a lost Luna with her family.