Lena sniffed the air, brows knitting as she sorted through the array of smells. Prey. She had seen a lot of large and frankly intimidating herds on her journey, but none more so than here. Wood Bison and Caribou plucked at grasses and shrubs, fattening up in preparation for the winter. There had been rodents too, plentiful, and it was thanks to her speed that she'd been able to feed herself, keeping up with the healthy, skittering beasts. Marmots that had begun to grow rounded at the waist, hares that binkied and bucked, even the occasional lazy prairie dog that rushed for cover a moment too late. This was good land, Lena decided, so the next heavy scent that hit the adolescent came as no real surprise; pack.

Lena had passed numerous packs before, but she was always respectful of their borders. Being a runaway did not mean she had no manners, priding herself on the teachings her father gave her about being a mindful lass. But still, being amicable with strangers did not mean she would prance all happy-happy towards the borders of someone's home. In fact, Lena would rather keep her distance, save herself the woe of having to deal with a grumpy sentry, or the scorn of a lead wolf. She'd experienced that pain before, in a fraction, and the bruise on her buttocks would have been a telltale sign from the harsh nip she had received, were it not covered with wiry fur.

She stared in the direction the wolfy, heavy scent was originating from, wafting on the breeze, before turning away, taking up a slow trot. Perhaps she'd find some vagabond like herself to chat with, and interrogate. She was still on the trail for Relic Lore, after all, entirely oblivious to the fact she actually stood on the edge of it's reach. Lena wouldn't know where she was 'til she asked.

Colour Lena surprised when a voice suddenly bellowed out, causing her to jump. She wheeled around, ears pressed against her skull, and cursed herself. Had she really gotten that close? Had her nose betrayed her? The yearling could have sworn she had kept her distance! In fact, she knew she had. There was really no reason for such a demanding, rude order.

Pale eyes rested on the figure trotting towards her, and she raised a brow at his impolite attitude. He wasn't exactly close, so features were all smudged together and it was hard to pinpoint anything beyond he was black, with yellow eyes like little buttercups.

Lena's ears pricked and her chin lifted. Brute! For a moment she stood her ground, like a scorned little princess. If he wanted to be rude, she need not pay him any mind! She was no pushover, not now not ever. Respectful of ranks when it called for submission, yes, but there was a big difference between that and letting some bully tell her what to do.

She called back to the swarthy stranger, her voice laced with faux irritation. "You want to talk?" She turned away, cheekily, and gave a loud snort. "Then you better bloody well find yer manners an' ask nicely!" With an almost cat-like flick of her tail, and a titter, Lena plopped her rear to the ground. The little voice in her head that governed her logic squealed; perhaps this isn't the best idea! It was too late to run off now. Ah well, Lena had always been one for blind leaps of faith, so why should she change now? She quite enjoyed the thrill of it.

The girl paused. "Er... yer not creeping up on me, are you?," she twisted her head so she could gaze over her shoulder with a genuinely curious expression. She looked a bit daft, really, and entirely giving away the whole I'm-pretending-I'm-angry-at-you shtick.

Lena practically guffawed at his reaction, her eyes lighting up in amusement. He seemed so offended, so distraught, at her little question and to say it wasn't funny was a truth-be-damned lie. His borderline girly shriek, his wildly shaking head. It was like she had accused the stranger of having a crush on someone. The laughter that erupted from within shook her whole body, tail thumping the ground as she gave an ugly snort mid-chortle. No one ever said that Lena was a graceful, dainty girl.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for playing with you so!" She twisted, her rear never leaving the ground, turning to face the swarthy fellow with a toothy grin. "Anyone ever tell you that yer kinda adorable when you flip out like that? Eh, but I won't lie; proper thought you were a nutter for a moment!" Rising up to stand, she snickered. Boys were silly, and it turned out that adult men could be just as endearingly daft. Full glad she was, though, that she wouldn't have to dash for safety if he took her little manners statement wholly wrong.

She took a few steps forward to close the slight distance that he had caused by staggering backwards in shock. That holier-than-thou look flew right over her head as she tilted her head with a friendly wag of her tail--no harm done? A dozen more steps, full of brazen assurance, Lena decided that she best leave the rest of the walking to him ... well, if he were feeling up to it. At this proximity, she could make out the streaks of tan on his face, like racing stripes. "Awright, truce, yeah?" She had meant no harm with her verbal jabs, in her eyes it was all fun and games. Well, mostly. She had meant it about the manners.

Naturally, Lena was far too easy going. She had very few walls, trusted easily--perhaps that was a lesson she failed to attend. It was odd, really, when her father's personality was taken into consideration, but there were certainly a lot of similarities between the two of them as well. Traits that were obvious, if you knew them both.

"And I didn't flip out, you just ..." "Uh-huh?" "... surprised me is all, won't happen again."

"Won't happen again. Is that a challenge?" She chuffed, clearly joking. His response changed very little. Whilst he hadn't suddenly had an outburst, his embarrassment was clear to Lena. She noticed he was flustered and so she let her gaze soften, her smile sweeping across her features rather than bursting at the seems. "Just kidding," she offered, like it was soothing ointment for aching limbs. Her sister sprang to mind at this fellow's apparent character; just like he, Amelié was a bit rough on the outside ... and so, Lena wagered he was just as gooey on the inside. Metaphorically speaking.

She was secretly delighted that he opted to follow suit, taking small steps towards the tawny adolescent and repeating the oath of truce. Right. He'd said it. That was that, no more teasing. For now. Her tail gave a reassuring wag, a sort of I won't bite sway.

"Might seem a tad hopeful to ask this, but ... I'm looking for a place called Relic Lore. D'you know if I'm headed in the right direction?" Pale eyes lit up as she waited for his answer, praying that she hadn't messed her orientation by her little mountainside escapade--that'd be a rough part of her journey. Veeery rough.

It would be easy to understand why many wolves would find Lena tiresome company, and even irritating. She had yet to discover something that would ground her, bring out the adult in her. She was a teenager but also still a child, despite not really knowing it. It showed, if you went out of your way to pick her apart. Her naivety, her youthful energy ... how long would it last? Not a question she ever asked herself, but it was a question many back in her birth pack did. She'll grow out of it, they'd say, she needs to focus. She had to. But she never quite did mature in that sense. Ever the playful joker.

Lena's questions received an answer, and his words caused her heart to sing. Her tail was practically vibrating and she beamed with delight. "This is Relic Lore?" She barely registered that this was the northern reaches, barely registered the fact that she was starting to pant with the excitement. Dad's from here! "Wicked! I didn't think I'd find it this fast! I mean, when I think about it, it makes sense. Dad probably didn't wanna stray too far, but he made it seem like it was miles and miles away. Technically it is, I guess. But that's not the point! Yer an angel in disguise, aren't cha?" She threw herself full force down into an excited bow, her tail twirling in the air like a ribbon.

"Sorry, sorry. It's just that, I'm looking for my family. Well, my dad's family. He never told me much about it, I just ... felt like I needed to come and experience it. And meet them." Her explanation was honest, if not a bit vague. Her father never gave her the name of the pack, said he didn't deserve to say its name. She thought it daft, how he muttered about how he left them with such a forlorn look. Family never turned away family ... right?