She really needed to stop loitering around this damn lake. If nothing else, there was a pack nearby, which undoubtedly had a female alpha. Said alpha was probably pregnant, or planning on it, and Kyna remembered well just how moody and predictable her own mother had been once Lila had been conceived. It was a dangerous place to be, and even if she still didn’t feel like she had her head on quite right…she should really leave. Back up into the mountain, down the mountain, into the plains, and—

A familiar scent stopped the woman in her tracks, nose twitching. Not Greer – but another friendly face. Perhaps he would keep her company for a while; or even better, perhaps he had more medical knowledge than your average wolf. Kyna altered her course, breaking into an unsteady lope until Gen came into view. For all the older wolf felt like the walking dead, the young loner was quite certain she looked it.

“Gen!” she called, wishing not to startle her friend. Were they friends? They were acquaintances, at the very least. A known entity was far better than a stranger. “Gen! Are you busy?”

Please, let the man have at least a moment or two to spare.

What did she need?

The question sent her mind spinning – there were so many answers. She needed, she wanted attention. Touch. Attention. Closeness. Those three things were close, but not quite what she was looking for. Was there even a word to describe the way she felt? If she tried to explain, would Gen even understand? Sometimes the wolf had to wonder if maybe she was broken. If this wasn’t the same thing that had happened to her mother, and maybe she was making it all up in her head.

Oh. He probably expected an answer, didn’t he?

“Uh,” Kyna said dumbly. Why had she called him over? Certainly not to gape like a fish out of water. Surely she hadn’t always been this strange. “I, uh-- Oh! Yes. I’ve been feeling a little – out of sorts, lately. I was hoping maybe you could help me hunt?” Her tail gave a hopeful little wiggle as she smiled up at the older wolf. It probably didn’t sound too appealing, did it? Help her out, and what did he get in return? Her thanks?

The smile already started to fade, and she gave a soft sigh, shoulders drooping. “That is, if you have sme time. If you feel like it.”

Kyna allowed herself a shaking laugh – of course. Perhaps it felt natural to him, but the lone wolf certainly hadn’t been trained to expect anything from anyone else. Even Greer was met with some level of caution at all times; her closest friend might never mean to hurt her, but Phineas hadn’t, either. His body had given out, presumably against his will. Tomorrow was not guaranteed, and even when given, a wolf’s word was not to be trusted, not absolutely.

But she was quite a bit ahead of herself now, wasn’t she?

“Thank you,” she breathed, fire-bright eyes twinkling as she bobbed her head. Appreciation was never misplaced. “I’ve done some hunting, yes – mostly marmots, if Iyes is around, or squirrels. Injured mountain goats.” She rolled her shoulders in a shrug. They certainly shouldn’t count on anything injured, and Kyna had to guess the ice covering the Lost Lake wasn’t thin enough to go searching for any fish this time of the year, either. A marmot, though… She was getting quite practiced. As long as Heigen could follow basic directions, they should be fine. Putting her nose to the ground, she inhaled deeply – anything was a good distraction at this point. “We need to look for a burrow, yes? Both sides. Then we can scare it out.”

Even as she began to move, searching the ground for tracks or for sign to lead her back to the rodent’s den, she paused just long enough to let her eyes fall back over her partner, to make sure he was on board with the plan.