Usually a creature of the day, Morganna could seemingly more often be found now emerging from the tree roots or under a wilting shrub around noon. Perhaps it was to increase her chances of doing a round of the borders with @“Skoll”, whether they were scheming or enjoying silent companionship was anyone’s guess. Or perhaps it had something to do with the change of the seasons and her extended absence messing with her sleep cycle. Regardless, the last place she could be expected to be seen with the sun slowly sinking was alone, all the way out here… Yet with the sky painted in oranges, pinks and purples, even a streak of green - here she was reclined in a sphinx like pose on the banks of the lagoon, toes trailing across surface of the flat pool with its mirror-like surface, now disrupted by the ripples caused by her interference.

Peachy eyes turned to the horizon where a fat moon was slowly making it’s presence known. Perhaps in the warmer months fireflies would flit across it’s surface, a real world pantomime of the stars above? She hadn’t been to this particular corner before - intent on avoiding ‘bumping into’ Caverns wolves whenever it could be avoided, but they were gone now. It seemed like most of the neighbouring packs had up and left. She smiled a small smile to herself and started to hum. She would have to come back here again soon. Maybe next time she would even bring @“Sven”.

Small ripples countering her own was the first sign she had that she wasn’t alone, her muscles coiled ready to rise, but relaxed when a voice broke the silence. If he had any intention of causing her harm, surely he wouldn’t have given himself away so readily. Perhaps she was cocky, maybe her confidence was well placed? A casual flick of her ear in his direction was all the acknowledgement she would give to his words before her head slowly turned to consider the dark silhouette that she knew to be a wolf. It was hard to tell in this light, but he looked to be close to her own age. There was no breeze to bring her his scent so she couldn’t know if he was an ally of @Rook Lyall and the traitor @Titan.

She would take her chances.

Her paw traced back over the surface of the water, sending another wave of ripples in his direction, a small smile concealed by the failing light. “It could be…” she finally spoke to the stranger, her smirk carrying in her voice, full of promise. She was quite comfortable and had no intention of moving. She wondered what had bought him here but kept her question to herself.

She tried to give off an air of disinterest but the tilt of her ears allowed her to catch every word. The smile fell from her face at the mention of fish, a meal she hadn’t had since the passing of her dear Nona Skana. She stood suddenly, looking back over her shoulder towards the Willows contemplating seeking out @Skoll for just a moment before she stepped forward into the water. What had been pleasant on her toes, bit at her legs with a surprising chill. Her tail sat level with her spine, if only to spare it a soaking as she slowly moved closer to the stranger to better observe him at his task.

“I ‘aven’t had fish since I was a pup.” she replied less than eloquently, clearly far from a tumescent being. The sudden ache at the memory of their loss when Skana passed away well concealed by her level voice. The stars and the moon seemed to be even more brilliant out here, dancing on the small waves she had created with her movement. Silt squished like mud between her paws as she tried not to imagine just how many creatures could be lurking beneath the surface hungry for a bite of wolf. “Would yer mind showin’ me how?” she requested boldly. If he was indeed good enough to catch fish out here in the dark, he might be of use to her yet.

She listened intently, her head tilting ever so slightly as she watched the man at work, feeling something slither by her foot just after his mention. She jerked her paw away reflexively and felt a rush of water against the other leg as the fish raced away. Clearly this would take some getting used to. He seemed to pause before his head darted under the water, emerging with a fat fish that was quickly thrown onto the bank, left to suffocate for a while before her companion delivered his killing blow. Well that looks simple enough… she thought to herself, eyes scanning the banks was he returned to the water, looking for a place where the earth seemed to curve, roots poking through what soil remained.

Eyeing a place that in her mind presented potential she moved towards it slowly, not lifting her paws too quickly for fear of startling all the fish that remained. As she considered the best angle of approach, one paw dangled indecisively below the waters surface. Without warning there was a sudden drag and pressure about her forelimb, a look of horror coming over her face before she trust her head below the surface, to bite whatever had her back. She caught the fish somewhere about its midsection, catching her head on an overhanging root on her way back up. Panic again, and the blood rushing in her ears as she finally fought her way free. The fish put up a fierce struggle, a barbed fin collecting her snout. Her sudden yelp of surprise set her dinner loose again with a loud splash. It was far from the graceful display her companion had managed.

Her eyes began to water from the pain (and perhaps a dash of humiliation). Now she was cold, wet, and sore with nothing to show for it. “Yer didn’ tell me they had stabbin’ bits!” she moaned, too readily reminded of her very first very first experience where dinner fought back and won.

She wasn’t going to take a loners fish. Not when she had a pack with hunters and caches if she wound up starving. She huffed momentarily and inched away from the edge, considering what to do next. As her companion shot his head below the surface again and failed to come back up straight away she almost panicked again, taking two short bounds toward him before his head finally broke the surface with a large silver fish. She could only watch, no doubt having scared all the fish in the vicinity off with her sudden movement and the violence of his catch’s fight.

“Impressive.” She praised him with a smile, thinking that perhaps she should introduce herself to this one. She waited a few moments more but there was no more movement around her feet. “I think they’re onto us.” She finally conceded with a smile, slowly making her way back to dry land weighing up the options. “Morganna Archer, Willow Ridge.” she finally declared, leaving the end of her introduction open for his own. “Th’ water’ll be frozen soon. What’r yer plans fer th’ winter?” she questioned. She was sure they would always find room for just one more.