Restlessness was a terrible sickness, especially when the promise of relief was being dangled over your nose. So soon, yet so long to wait! There was only one way to alleviate the symptoms, and that was to be productive, and though there was little he could yet do to promote his future, he could help out Swift River as much as possible.

As such, he headed for Bramble Falls, intending to try his hand at fishing; his previous attempts had not been too successful, but at least he was an adept swimmer now. His memories of this place were mixed, the fear of drowning such a contrast to the moment when Triell had saved him, and together they had planted the seed of Kinis' abilities. Oh, he wished that Triell would come with them, but he doubted that his brother would want to leave Indru.

The scent of an unknown female only crossed his senses when he was very close to the pool, and with a start he stopped in his tracks, afraid to cause alarm.

Why was it always females? It was as if Relic Lore just didn't attract guys, or at least no-one Kinis had stumbled across in the last couple of months.

Keeping his posture neutral, he stepped lightly about to the right, giving the woman a wide berth. Out of instinct he inhaled, taking what information he could from it, and was surprised to recognise a hint of Indru. What had this girl been doing with his brother? His curiosity cemeted, he stopped at the pool's edge - keeping a safe distance between them - and glanced at the dark wolf, wondering what connection she would possibly have with his pack. Leaning his head down to lap at the water, he wondered if it would be rude to ask.

Considering how bold the female proved herself to be, Kinis presumed that it would not have been rude to ask. Granted, all she said was one word, but it was a plucky, enthusiastic word, and having experienced nothing more than casual polite encounters with strangers, Kinis was rather taken aback.

It could almost have been awkwardly charming had the scent of Indru not concerned him.

"Erm, hi." Eloquent as always! He blinked, a little bewildered, but then a smile grew from the awkwardness-ashes, and he didn't sense any threat from the girl. Maybe she was just lonely? "Are you... new around here?"

Her answer came easily enough, and he nodded in return, unsure what was the proper thing to say back. 'And do you like it so far?' seemed so forced. He eyed her as she hesitated, but then proceeded to edge forwards anyway, and the corner of his mouth curled upwards in an amused smile as he watched. Just as he was about to reply, the wound under her eye finally caught his attention - and that, coupled with Indru's scent, made him all the more curious and suspicious. Taking a step forwards, he focused on concern for her wound, and hoped that it would lead him to his answers. "Are you okay, are you hurt?"

She had forgotten it? Kinis wasn't sure whether to admire that or not, because though he had been lucky enough to rarely sustain bad injuries in his short life, the times he had endured pain had been difficult to put a brave face on. Maybe he just wasn't tough enough? But then, pain was a good thing to avoid, and in avoiding it you tended to prevent yourself from doing stupid things, so he supposed it all worked out in the end.

He watched her clean herself, wondering if Indru had given her the cut. Once she had finished, she asked that question, and he winced slightly. He could hardly lie. Well, that went this pretence, he just had to hope that she didn't automatically hate him on principle. "Yeah, I do," he said, trying to keep the implications out of his voice and remain as neutral as possible. He gestured at her cleaned wound with his nose. "Is that... where you got that?" Just how much am I supposed to treat you like an enemy?

It seemed the problem was clear to both of them now, and Kinis watched her carefully, going through all kinds of scenarios in his mind. When the wolf spoke, Kinis just knew there had to be more to it than that... if it that mark was Indru's, then he wouldn't have given it for nothing.

"Oh," was all he could think to say at that moment, uncomfortable but still so curious. He opened his mouth but then changed his mind and closed it again with a light frown. He wasn't angry, nor hostile, for it truly wasn't in his nature to feel such against a wolf who hadn't wronged him - but had she? If she'd incurred Indru's wrath, then she was worth feeling wrathful against. Oh, it was so convoluted.

In the end, he chose to remain on the friendly side of things, for there was time enough to figure out what he thought of this girl personally. Smiling, he gave a wag of his tail and eyed the wolf with a good-natured critical gaze. "Let me guess, the leader, right? Big guy, orange eyes?"