The storm had been worse than expected. Kite was happy to have spent it with Mirren. The storm amplified, it certainly did not diminish. As Kite informed him of her intent to check on the Fields as they were close to where she would one day live (if all went well with his leader). Kite would double back to him when the status of the Fields could be identified, but as she walked away Kite felt her longing for him grow. Kite knew how she felt, and it was no childish, fleeting fancy. Each step she took only increased this awareness. Her breathing grew more heavy as the strangest things dawned on her... things she still didn't quite understand, but... Kite also was aware that she didn't have to understand them. It just was.

And she enjoyed that. She need not ask why, because truthfully... it did not matter to her. Kite's confusion brought her to one conclusion: Mirren Tainn was someone she was meant for. To be with, to stay with, her forever. The notion was not frightening to her... it was welcome. She was swift in her acceptance. Kite did not find accepting what she recognized as the truth a difficult thing to do. Because it just was. What was this word she sought?

Love. It was love.

But Kite did not know this. Strangely, Kite had never heard of the word, although she had been loved by her family.

The brightness in her heart, her mind, nearly had her miss some of the devastation. Most everything was alright, but there was some shrubbery that was out of place, fallen over, their roots splayed in the air. Kite grimaces, but her concern also is wildlife. Perhaps there was prey to be found here, harmed due to the dismantling of some of this land. Overall, all seemed okay... but Kite needed to be certain that no one was caught in the crossfire. The rain made scents confusing and all muddled up, but Kite sorted them as she went.

As she had hoped, the storm had been a blessing, downing the more fragile branches of the Thicket to the west to trap the smaller fodder that could not make it to shelter. The destruction had been on a natural scale, uprooting and tossing shrubbery as well as littering the fields with many puddle. But the autumn creature of the wild did not mind this at all, for in her maw was a fortunate meal of hare, and she hadn’t the time to care for anything other than that. The field would heal itself with time. No doubt the earth would drink from the nourishing rainwater and sprout new buds to lure the wild cervidae to come forth and nibble. It would make for excellent hunting grounds in due time. She need only to wait to see this come to fruition.

But for the time being, she was glad for her catch.

By purposeful march, she headed toward the hill that kept her root-laden shelter, stepping over fallen leaf and deep puddles with able. Though that was not to say her lack of finesse did not dirty her by too heavy a sloshing step. Occasionally she would pause and have a look around her immediate proximity to make certain none were following her or her prize. While she was quite content to share with another when able, this was not one of those times she was accommodating. It was difficult enough to find a meal, let alone one so waterlogged, and she hadn’t the desire to fight over her portions.

There was a bit of movement spied a few yards from where she came, but she ignored it in favor of reaching her ‘den’ before her presence was noticed.

The scents caused Kite plenty of confusion. The water caused scents to overlap and in her frustration, she shifted to visual. Her primary sense was scent, and she was bamboozled as to how to truly sort it all out in the allotted time she might have. But in the distance there was a moving figure... Kite lurched forward, moving through the currently murky terrain, her brow furrowed as she pushed onward. Ah, there! But the way the other moved... Kite could visibly see that the other did not want company. It was written in the way the other walked, trying to get a move on. Kite stopped in her tracks, not wanting to be a bother but still... she wanted to be sure the other was alright. It wouldn't be right to just leave. Externally all appeared well, but Kite knew that not everything was how it seemed.

HEY! Kite bellows, taking a single step forward, ears erect for an instant to listen but then melting atop her head in a nonthreatening manner, YOU OKAY? EVERYTHIN' ALRIGHT? Kite had only good intentions, her tail flicking limply at her hocks, mud clinging to her heels and the tip of her plume. Kite did not want to be a bother, and only then noted the thing swinging from the others muzzle. Kite only looked at that for a moment, not at all hungry due to eating recently. If the other disregarded her entirely, Kite... well, she had no idea what she would do. The L'Crowe had been ignored before, but somehow this was different if only because the other might not be well. It wasn't in her to let it alone without knowing she was in good health.

A few yards more and she would be at the crest of her coveted hill, but they were yards pocked with puddles that needed skirting around. However direct her route, it was not without its obstacles, adding more time to her journey; time better spent feasting than standing with the risk of being found.

Yet nature had its own agenda for the female, she noted, as a voice crept from the rear in the direction of the figure she had glimpsed. Visibly stiffening, she turned her muzzle back to observe the smaller form (either by size or distance, she could not readily tell) nearing her albeit cautiously while inquiring her condition. The she-wolf knew she was more worse for wear, having let her exterior go in lieu of conserving her energy and feeding. Grooming on the regular was a routine for the fortunate; a luxury that catered to made pack wolves. Not the vagabond at heart.

The female kept the hare tightly clasped in her jaws as she took but a single step towards the distant figure, lowering her head between her shoulders defensively. Her tail stilled between her ankles while gradient eyes narrowed and honed in on the tawny form, set at the ready should she need to be. For all she knew, the female had had the same idea to come out and try for a morsel after the storm. At worst, she could have been a member of the Thicket pack either hoping to share or steal her meal. Either scenario was not about to come to fruition. The beast croaked in response,

“…What ‘you want…?”

Kite watched as the other noted her presence. Defensive. Of course she would be. Kite should have guessed at it, but truthfully, she had guessed at nothing. Not even whether or not the other would entertain her. But the wolf had, turning to face her, and Kite noted the others condition. Not very put together, but then, the same could be said of Kite. Particularly after the storm. There were likely cowlicks hither and thither, but Kite couldn't be bothered then. Even though she traveled with Mirren, technically she was still a lone wolf until Nina accepted her into her ranks. They would head there, likely sometime soon, but firstly Kite would make sure that the other was okay. The stranger looked alert and aware both. Kite's waving tail slowed to a stop as it wrapped idly around her leg. She did her best to look a little smaller, submissive and respectful both in that moment. Not to fight, her averted gaze foretold.

And then she spoke. The voice was gruff, and Kite could not say she was surprised. The other did not look too social, but social enough to have a vocabulary. TO SEE IF YOU WERE OKAY, I MEAN, THE STORM... HIT HERE PRETTY HARD, Kite's gaze fell back to the other and she inhaled a deep drought of air... but no, no scent of wolf blood. AHM... DO YOU NEED ANYTHIN'? ANY HELP? Kite watched now, ears pricking upward before again falling flat, hoping to catch wind of what would be said and looking to the others face for a hint.

Whatever motivations the young girl had (as the older of the two could tell by the octave of her voice) for seeing to her wellbeing, it was not the duty of the wanderer to oblige her. Or so she would have insisted had the youth had a clairvoyant sense. In the wild unmarked by the scent of lupine claim, it was the responsibility of the wanderer to take care of themselves or fall victim to nature’s fury. Why this girl cared was beyond her. There was no connection beyond perhaps a similar coloration in pelt and gender. Such niceties perplexed her, especially when they were not yet called for. Yet in the wake of this, the beast felt no reason to turn her chance to ill favor, and decided instead to address what had come her way. The hare, however, remained firmly locked in her jaws.

The downward slope made movement more effective for the large beast, as the pull of gravity lessened the strain upon her tired muscles. Carefully loping over puddles once necessary to walk around, her progress was swift in nearing the smaller form. The youth’s posture suggesting anything but hostility or threat. She halted but a few feet from the young girl, her keen eyes addressing both her exterior and stature. Matted and haggard fur suggested that she too was a wanderer if not still than recently, as the scent of another all but drenched over her own made it difficult to determine.

Exhaling audibly, the female regarded the curious youth with the fix of a hardened stare, saying nothing initially until she managed to wiggle her tongue around the coarse fur of the hare. “…where is your escort?” she grumbled at length, ignoring all other questions in favor of her own.

Kite had always been selfless. Her time as a lone wolf was the only time she had lived for herself, but Kite was meant to live for others. Kite was eager to get back into pack life, because being solitary was simply not for her. The L'Crowe inherently wanted to aid others, and had been more than happy then to be sure the other was okay before going on her own way. Kite had not expected the others approach, and so as she did, Kite became both excited and anxious. Her lips further peeled backward while her tail waved left and right rapidly. Kite drank in the scent of the other, but it revealed nothing whatsoever. Overhead, a ray of sunlight fell onto K'arnae and Kite was reminded of... her mother.

It was then the other was by her side. The question, somewhat muffled by the critter between her teeth, was met with a slow blink. Huh? It took a minute for her to register just what she meant, and when it registered Kite seemed to adjust her own posture into a defensive one. She was far from an experienced fighter, but had been through plenty of scuffles over food. Ah, but the other... Kite would do what she could, but she felt helpless. So large! And by the looks of her, fearless... 'm not sure the name of the place, I'm new. Not too far, she informs, her eyes locked on the other woman.

I jus' wanted... to know you were okay, Kite murmured, hoping that the woman would at last respond to her query.

The hare hung limp from the maw of the female, shifting only when her jaws adjusted their position. Small indentation had spread themselves in its fur, serrating the thin hide from flesh to reveal the dulling red beneath, as well as surfacing the delectable bouquet of meat. Each moment she spent in the presence of the girl was a moment that could have been feeding on her prize. But the woman was patient, surprisingly so- no different than her conduct would have been around the young of her previous pack. The youth certainly did act like them when presented with her stature fully. Defensive rather than open. Though the she-wolf could not blame her.

Her ears bent forward as the young one spoke noting the murmur in place of her once boisterous voice. The distance had been to thank for that, but now being so close there was no longer a need. And too the female wondered if this muted voice was indeed how the child was used to speaking. “ ‘m fine…” she muttered in turn, and just as quiet though there was a discernable depth to her of age and wear to her voice. “…but you are young,” she stated, continuing her thought. “…not supposed to walk alone.” She nudged her muzzle toward the Thicket as it was the only pack grounds she knew that were near. And if she was wrong in her assumption, it mattered little. Her point would still remained applicable to the situation. “Go home. The storm is gone… but dangers are still around…”

The other was fine. Relief was present on her features then without her really knowing it, and as the woman gestures toward the Thicket, Kite frowns. Did she think...? Well, she must have. Kite felt her toes press further into the muddy earth, and frowns, though the expression of displeasure is strangely not too perceptible on her typically cheery face. It seemed her facade had fallen into simple neutrality, and at length she says, I know. I hope to join them soon, she mentions, But I must wait. She was more than willing to take whatever time it took to do so with Mirren, the idle time not truly idle but well spent and certainly in the name of her future.

Kite then smells something of more substance than the meat between the elders jaws. Her ears perk forward and overhead is a crow, and Kite waves her tail. It will lead to food, she informs, sure K'arnae knew the law of scavenger. Its insistent cawing promised something worth eating, and Kite would be sure the other was perfectly fine before departing. If that meant filling the others belly as well, fine. Kite stretched forward and began to dart after the crow, slowly picking her way around the territory so as to find the safest method of getting there. She pauses, wanting to be sure that the stranger followed her. It was clear that she was hungry by the way she so fervently clung to her meal, that looked to be more of a snack.