Her wound was healing slowly thanks to Pip's stubborn refusal to sleep in the den. Far more exposed to the elements beneath a fallen tree than she would be resting inside the den, the little mute often had her back turned to the wind and her nose buried firmly in her tail at night when the temperatures were at their lowest. Though her insistence on not sleeping in closed quarters since the unfortunate attack in Grizzly Hollow had not ebbed, Pip was at least eating better now. Since the day Ophelia had caught her a fish, the little sea wolf had found her appetite more or less restored.

It was her appetite - and that of the pack's - that the omega was seeing to now. She stood on the bank of Cut Rock River where a warming episode the day before had melted enough of the snow farther north that the river was now swollen with water. Ice churned within the heavy-laden river, swirling slush into rapids. Far from discouraged by the cold temperatures, the little female was determined to catch one of the shy fish swimming in the depths.

Thus far, her efforts were unrewarding. Despite the fishes slowness from the cold, Pip had no luck catching any.

Her gaze was trained on one now, orange eyes following its sluggish movements as it struggled to swim up the rapids in front of her. The moment it surged from the water, Pip reached out for it and snagged it from the air. Both fortunately and unfortunately, the fish was fat. Its weight combined with Pip's failing strength send her front end sloshing into the river where her injured leg was forced to bear a great deal more of her weight than it was used to in these past few weeks. For moments, Pip remained with her head submerged with her catch fiercely writhing in her mouth while her shoulder screamed in protest until she relented and let her quarry go. Slipping on the bank several times, the girl finally backed away and slumped upon the bank in a wet, exhausted heap while the muscles along her left shoulder danced and sang with pain.

Forlornly, she watched as her fish was carried down river, its body made evident by the blood soaking the slush around it. Her ears fell back in time to catch approaching paw steps. Turning, Pip spotted @Veho and thought for a moment to struggle to her paws so he would not think she needed any treatment. However, she was too tired to pretend. She was awful tired of pretending and avoiding in general. He was a sight for sore eyes and her water logged tail thumped in welcome greeting twice against the ground.