Time proceeded onward along its gradual progression, bringing not always the new but something worth awaking to each day that was gifted. There was nothing of significance one needed to look forward to on this day, but none the less the acclimating wolf was glad to behold it just the same. Dark clouds promising rain hung over head in the early morning, to which bicolored eyes looked to with a soft smile. How she missed the rain and the sweet smell it brought with it. But also there was a memory had on a rainy day then night, when she did not experience the rage of nature alone, but with a like toned companion... just as quiet and calm as she. Yet in thinking of him, thoughts of the dark Neoma surfaced as we'll eliciting a less than pleasant scowl upon her muzzle. How quickly one's mood could change when evoked by another. How easily a good memory could be soiled...

But the mountain dame did not dwell on it for long as she took to her usual walk towards the pack's creek. Due to days of careful healing and attendance, her limp was almost nonexistent, though the scar would forever remain as a testament to her lack if healing skill. Raised without a healer, she had only her own sense and expertise to go by. And if it would mar her, then so be it; as long as she could walk and run and hunt, then all would be well.

This day as she approached the side of the creek, she took to her eon expert brand of hunting. Waiting patiently at its shores with practiced ease, she claimed from the tranquil stream the bounty of its depths; three fish of size and weight. One for herself and two to present at the alter of the pack's leads. It had become a part of her routine for quite a while, ever since she felt confident enough to carry her own weight. And as she had claimed in mind when she first awoke, this day would be no different than any other. And as she collected her catch she proceeded toward the communal dens deposit the meal for the nursing mother, and perhaps clean the exterior if any remains were left.

@Borlla

To her liking, the path to the mother's den was relatively deserted making it easier for her approach and inevitable dismissal. While she was glad for this, she maintained her caution in that another of the pack might find her in route and be less accommodating as she neared the vulnerable treasure of the pack. The only ones that were spared from her worry were the young, and this was only due to their ignorance in the protective nature most packs held for the newly born. She favored them most as they reminded her of the ‘good’ and kindness the world had to provide, and the potential of the young to learn and become something more. All others fashioned by years of experience earned her distance and wary eye. Perhaps rightfully so.

But that was not to say she would avoid them wholly.

As she approached the den with fish in tow, she was surprised to find that while there were indeed bones left outside the den, there was no meat and few scales, indicative that her delivery had been eaten to the fullest. The female would smile albeit briefly, then nod with pride to herself that her efforts were indeed received and made something of. But she was not the boasting sort, only the satisfied, as was seen by a quick but full sweep of her thickened plume.

Drawing nearer to the site, she first set down the meal then lowered her muzzle to the remains of the previous and brushed them away with a broad sweep of her muzzle. Skillfully her paws followed, drawing the bones and mild excretions into a pile before reaching for the fresh catch to replace what had been eaten. Yet she paused as a voice called out from the depths of the den, not alarmed but searching, questioning the presence that could not yet be seen. K’arnae’s ears slipped forward attentively. There was but one she could assume that would call from the den.

“Dame?” her voice echoed quietly with caution being mindful that the matrifocal site was home to tiny bodies with tiny ears. “Are you alright?”

@Borlla

The shrill cry of the unseen pup forced the female’s ears back as her brows raised in alarm. Instinctively, she assume something was of bother to the pups, but the quick silence and murmur of suckling invited her to calm somewhat. If there had been danger, surely the mother would have alerted her. Quiet in her approach, the female shifted from direct entrance of the den to its side and stretched down to let her muzzle rest comfortably at its corner. Her nose twitched slightly at the smell of new youth and milk and fish, a strange culmination, but one the female respected as it meant but a single thing; life.

An ear perked forward when addressed once again, a small smile touched her lips as her attendance was acknowledged but this time with a verbal regard. “I am,” she answered quietly despite her raspy voice. Her tail pat the ground but once in show of her appreciation. But as pride quickly surfaced, it was doused by a quiet doubt, or perhaps it was modesty showing itself in a humble manner. “…do you not like it?” she questioned, recalling then as she had before that not all were keen to the taste of the water’s bounty. For all she knew, the mother did not like the sweet or moist meat and had only eaten it out of necessity rather than true enjoyment.

“…I can bring something else…” she murmured as an afterthought, but not without first trying to sneak a peek at the small bodies and their mother hidden inside the den.

@Borlla

“You were?”

The female inquired without thinking, then quickly set her mouth shut with an audible snap. She perhaps had no reason to feel placed at odd ends by the Alpha female, but she did not consider it respectful to question the word of a superior regardless of the instance. Had the soft laughter not been enough? Was the mother’s very word not enough to imply that what was spoken was true? There would have been a time that the female’s mind would not have doubted another’s word… but recent occurrences had enlightened her from that ignorance, though it had yet to be seen if it was for better or for the worse.

K’arnae kept herself quiet as she anticipated some kind of retort towards her behavior, yet to her surprise it was a request for the catch. The hunt perked up considerably as she was all too glad to nudge one of the fish deeper into the den. “I am glad you like it,” she admitted while keeping her voice soft for the ears of the nursing young. Shuffling just a little bit closer to the entrance, she kept the tip of her muzzle within sight. “…few take a liking to it. So far, it is you and the two young ones.” And herself of course, but the mountain wolf did not believe she counted in this instance.

Again, the woman made another shuffle to the den’s maw, this time under the guise of pushing the head of the second fish closer to be within reach. One would not have guessed that she was such a curious soul when it came to pups. But then, one might not have pegged her as the caregiving sort at all given her brutish exterior. But in her own little way, she was always glad to dispel those assumptions.

@Borlla

Given her excitement to catch a glimpse of the new pups, it was understandably difficult for the woman to keep to the outside of the den. However, more so by discipline of self than the unseen wary of the mother, she kept low to her ground and retreated but an inch back to remain present but just out of sight. In due time, she was certain she would meet the pups of the Glen. She needed only to be patient and retain her duties. And in the mean time, she was content to carry on in conversation with the mother.

K'arnae smiled gently at her Alpha's suggestion, knowing it would take some time and convincing- if the opinions of her young ward were any indication of what the others' of the pack might be like. "It would take time," she added lightly. "But I am sure with diligence it will happen. If the minds of the pack were anything like my prior home, the possibility might have escaped them all together." Folding her paws toward her chest, she let her head again rest on the soft churned soil. "We did not have a creek or river where we lived," she offered in conversation. "There were only mountains as far as the eye could see. When we moved, were it not for one of the elders pulling a fish from the water, we might have starved... and would have been robbed of this wonderful treat. I was just a pup at the time, but he made sure that all the young ones knew how to part the waters for food." The she-wolf exhaled softly. "Everyone should know how..."