'Brave' wouldn't quite have been the word Kinis chose, but he didn't contest it. The snippet of personal information surprised the boy; four years... that must have roughly been his current age. So he had only recently left his home pack? Not that Kinis' actions really counted as 'leaving', seeing as how he had come scurrying back so quickly.

Kinis turned his hear and an ear perked up automatically as Alexander dropped his voice, though the boy took the hint from its quietness and chose not to comment on the words he caught. At least he was offered a question as distraction. "Kinda," he admitted with no shortage of embarrassment. "Though I don't really... I don't know what I'm gonna do. I mean, I just... I left..." Did Alexander know Ruiko? Would mentioning his brother do any good? Even if he did, Kinis doubted that he himself had ever been a topic of conversation. His fear of Ruiko's disappointment was partly borne from a greater fear that Ruiko had been compelled to care at all - better disappointment than apathy. His ears flattened, and his expression and body language better conveyed 'and I feel like a fool' than anything he could have voiced.

The scrutiny wasn't pleasant, especially because Kinis was so acutely aware of it happening, but he sat there and took it. It was the least he deserved. The older wolf's words struck home, causing an extremely mixed reaction in Kinis; on the one hand, he was delighted to think that all would be forgiven, and things could go back to normal. On the other... it just made him feel like more of an idiot. He was still experiencing reluctance to just skip on back, which went in direction contrast with his hopeful agreement of Alex's comments. What was wrong with him?

The generous offer which followed took Kinis by surprise, and the boy looked up sharply at Alex, stunned but flattered. For a moment, he seriously contemplated it. He wasn't sure why, but he did trust Alex, and he hadn't heard anything truly bad said about the pack on the hill - and nothing about this white leader seemed false. Inherent paranoia and nerves stalled him, but in the end, he said slowly, "I... that's really kind of you. I think... I would like that. Could I - could I have some time to think on it? I want to..." He left it unsaid, unable to vocalise his plan in a way that didn't make it sound silly.

Then, for the first time, he seemed to cheer up, his tail giving a brief wag of genuine gratitude and pleasure at the notion. He recognised Alex as superior, even if, in his experience, he wasn't quite sure how high the wolf was... probably leader, though, to have made such an offer without needing to consult anyone else. He reeked of authority, too. Ever the submissive one, Kinis promptly reacted in the only way he really knew how, shuffling himself closer to Alex so that he could brush the wolf's chin with his tongue, cementing his thanks. He pulled back a little, then glanced up to the rather intimidating sight of the snow-covered mountain range. "Is there any, um, special path up there? Or should I just follow the mark of your pack?"

As Alexander's generosity continued to display itself, Kinis couldn't help but feel relieved knowing that he had options now, at least. It was better than anything he had previously, that was for sure. Now with the potential safe haven of the mountains open to him, the boy was able to relax a little and fight the constant worry.

Listening to Alexander's advice regarding the mountain, Kinis nodded, understanding. He had never been up there before - if he did ever get the opportunity to take the white wolf up on his offer, it would be an adventure in its own right. "Thank you," he said softly, unable to hold back the reiteration of his gratitude. With that, it almost seemed like the matter was concluded, though it was selfish to walk away now that he had gotten 'what he wanted' - not that he had ever intended to ask anything of the wolf. Somewhat uneasy with the concept of falling into silence - he felt safe around Alexander, but hardly knew him well enough to be socially comfortable - Kinis licked his lips and tried to think of a topic. His eyes fell to the waterfall, and his natural penchant for questions soon came to his aid. In an abrupt change of topic, he turned to Alexander and asked, "Do you know what happened to the water?"

The change of topic seemed to be a fruitful one, and Kinis' eyes widened as he heard of Alexander's heroism. If he was telling the truth - and surely he was, why would the kind wolf lie? - then he must understand that his actions had practically saved the entire region. They had certainly saved Swift River, and by consequence, Ruiko! Was it possible to have so much admiration and adoration for someone who wasn't family? This feeling was utterly alien to Kinis, who had never had heroes outside of his older family members. Was it so strange to place that attachment on a relative stranger?

Not wanting to allow his amazed, awed expression to make him look like a fool, Kinis quickly shut the jaw that had fallen slightly open and smiled, distracted. "Wow," he breathed, holding back most of his enthusiasm, "that's... wow." What should he do? Thank him for saving all their lives? The nonchalant manner the white wolf had treated it almost made Kinis feel embarrassed for being so affected by it. Perhaps living with Alexander on the mountain would be such a good idea if he was this amazing. "You're Relic Lore's hero," he laughed, slightly nervously, completely inadequate in comparison.

He refused to agree with Alexander's modest rebuttals, but, out of an interest not to actively disagree, Kinis did not press the point. It didn't matter if Alexander thought it no big deal. In truth, that just elevated him to new levels of amazing, and the boy was more than happy with that. It was always reassuring to know that you were casually idolising the right people.

"I'd like that too," he said quietly, duly humbled. All things considered, it might have just been easier to go to the mountain after all; fears of disappointment and unfriendliness and not being wanted still haunted his every moment. Here, he was being offered kindliness and a home. Everything inside him screamed to take it, but, like a dog with a long leash, this was as far as his tether would reach. Just because he couldn't return to his kennel didn't mean he wanted to abandon that opportunity. Family. It was all Kinis knew, and he felt starved, empty. Like he was missing a piece of himself. As such, his next question came out almost without him realising; it was just as soft as his previous gratitude and, on the surface, fairly innocuous, but somehow it exposed a weakness as if opening up a small window into his deepest motivations.

"Do you... do you have family on the mountain, then, Alexander?"

Can one trade in blood relatives for friendly strangers? Did the temptation to do so make him a bad person?