Where others might feel cheated, or disappointed at the lack of unity among the wolves that lived in the pack she had joined, Eek only saw opportunity. While it was true that she was no spring chicken she still had a few good years in her yet. While Iopah inched closer to the edge of the perch, childless with spring well and truly in swing, the dark woman beneath her worked to quietly prove that if push came to shove, she could surely do it better. Regardless of Koda's arrogance, she couldn't see the old man shaking Eirian from his throne now that he seemed so cozy in his placement. Even if he did, it hardly mattered. She could certainly find a way to make sure he never saw the end of winter.

Nose poked through the damp undergrowth that hugged the banks of the secret falls, seeking out devils bite, quailbush or sweetgrass. Anything that might give her momentary escape, from the depressive atmosphere hanging over the trees that lay as broken as the members of the pack that called it home, a little legitimacy. She would very much loathe to be accused of slacking off.

The sound of the roaring water and her own absorption in the scents that passed under her nose made her an easy target, the chipper Oh, hi! met with a rapidly raised head, tendril of some waterside creeper or other draped across her head like a leafy lopsided crown. Wide eyes, so pale it was difficult to distinguish where the grey of her irises ended and the whites of her eyes began, darted to the young grey wolf, her nose wriggled to take in the scent. One of them, her rump took up a steady wave to compensate for the tuft of bone and fur that sat where a long plush tail should, the movement so second nature now she almost forgot that she lacked the appendage at all. "Oh hello!" she answered back with far more enthusiasm than she truly felt. The more years a wolf had under their belt the less interest she held in them to be sure, and with a lack of interest came a lack of tolerance.

She had a job to do, she reminded herself. This was all only a means to an end.

Her bright smile never faltered, nor the shaking of her rump. "How are you finding it here?" she finally questioned, "You usually have another one with you don't you?" While her social skill may have been lacking, her power of observation could not be faulted.

Everyone is really nice here, There was an edge to Eek's answering grin, don't lie for my sake dear. They were fragmented, fragile, and Koda's return had done little to stabilise anything. Although the girl had come with rather a large group and perhaps that was enough to make her feel just a little more welcome, she had not noticed any of those few who had been here before going out of their way to make the transition any easier for the displaced wolves of the plateau.

As the girl went on, Eek felt her concealed hostility slipping away. This one might have been older in years, but she was just so... Optimistic. Zeta might not have been a child in the physical sense, but there was something in those wide mismatched green eyes, her washed out silver coat... Eek didn't have to force her smile anymore.

It was quick to slip away however, as the girls true purpose for being out here was realised. Instead concern touched the corners of her eyes and mouth. "Brothers are curious creatures," better off dead, "but I'm sure he'll be back soon, clueless to any distress he may have caused. Don't worry yourself just yet." she attempted to reassure the girl as her name was offered more formally. "I'm Eek," she replied, soft smile returning to her face. "Tell me @Zeta, do you know much of plants?"

Eek's easy smile only grew as the girl went on and on. Surely all this innocence couldn't be genuine? Or perhaps it was. Maybe, just maybe @Zeta had been so sheltered from the cruel realities of this world that she genuinely believed good people still existed and that her brother would actually come back for her. Were Eek less amused she might have given the girl a lesson on just how terrible the world could be, but there was a large part of her that just wanted to sit back and enjoy the show. Some lessons were more entertaining when learned the hard way.

She chuckled at the girl's comments on plants, nodding along with her descriptions, "Oh but theres more to it than that, even plants that are good for you can be bad in the wrong dosage. Arnica," she pointed to the bright yellow blooms, stalks placed in a folded length of fresh bark, "is great for cuts and bruises but don't let the sap get in your mouth or you'll shit out all your blood and die. Wolfsbane? Will help with slow blood but it will also take your breath away, and devil's bite might take away the pain or you could wind up vomiting so much you wish you were dead. Your brother did well to warn you to steer clear. Not even those who proclaim themselves healers can be certain of what the plants might do."

She paused, silver eyes meeting green and dancing from one to the other, waiting to see if her words were having an impact. "Before you go running to a healer for a scrape or a bruise, always ask yourself twice - Will I survive this on my own? and can I guarantee the same with intervention? Plants might speed the process up but they might kill you quicker than the wound. Always remember that." She had to wonder if anyone had ever told Koda the same.

The younger wolf's reactions were measured with the hint of a grin on the edge of her lips. It would seem contrary to her own thoughts prior to this encounter that innocence was not given an age limit. Her relief was well concealed as the girl gave her word that she would not forget the lesson she had been given, beyond a somewhat gruff "Good," mumbled in response.

As she went on to say that it all must have been a lot to remember, a coy smile worked its way to her face. Her learning had not been without some difficulty, laced heavily with memorable moments - but where was the fun in learning only through the words of others? The lesson never stuck without her seeing the consequences first hand. "I'm sure you could if you really wanted to," she gently answered, her hips taking up their usual wave in the absence of her tail, the motion covering the sinister nature of her smirk at the latter statement.

If it was any luck at all it was hardly good. But none of these wolves knew that yet, and she was more than happy to keep it that way.

"Say, I recently found a warren just outside the borders, they seem to be a pretty lazy bunch. Would you like to help me bring some home for the leaders? I can get this stuff later."