Another dump of snow had come just when Greer thought that it had finally left for the season. He was growing weary of the elongated winter and had begun to doubt that spring was ever coming. Perhaps they were stuck in a perpetual winter, plagued by cold winds and freezing temperatures until every last wolf of Lore turned into a pupsicle. A frown cut across his dark features at the thought. The cold was getting to him; he had not been bred for this weather. Even his time on the tundra had not fully prepared himself for the dreadful season. He scoffed aloud, disturbing the silence that engulfed him as he left the heights behind him.

It had been quite some time since he had last visited Kyna’s former home. Prior to the disbandment of the pack Greer had never been inside the borders and had always met his little flame on the outskirts. Now, however, he could pass freely through the stale borders and discover why the scarlet wolf was so infatuated with the place.

Of course, it was difficult to admire the views with the snow falling from overhead. Anything the white substance covered was quickly dismissed by the long-legged shadow for he wanted nothing to do with it.

The voice of another caught his attention, causing his frown to deepen as his pace slowed. Instinctively the Archer wanted to flee, for he did not enjoy the company of others. But, as someone who was starting a family (how did he get here?) he should be a little more… open to conversation. Even if it was one-sided. With a quick roll of his mercury eyes the shadow gave a soft woof to alert the younger wolf of his presence. He hoped that the loner was content on conversing with himself and would dismiss Greer, but it was unlikely. Wolves who talked to themselves were typically always up for conversation and nearly impossible to shut up.

For a fleeting moment Greer hoped that the dark agouti had not heard him and would continue along his way. He did not want to strike up a conversation with the loner, but he knew Kyna would want him to. And sometimes love meant doing things he did not want to do.

He was sorely disappointed when the yearling called out a greeting in return followed by a question. His nostrils flared as he noticed the scent of the abandoned deer, his nose pointing to where it originated from. A frown creased his dark features as his own stomach tightened with hunger. It was a little harder to find meals with just the strawberry blond at his side but they managed. To answer the stranger Greer gave a small shake of his head, his brows furrowing. He wanted to take the meal for himself, Kyna and their growing family, and while he was sure the loner would not put up a fight, there seemed to be enough for all three (or four, or five…) of them.

The scarlet wolf had a few friends lurking around the mountain—perhaps the wolf before him could be one of them, if a home was what he was searching for. “Share some?” He suggested with a soft tilt of his head, his mercury gaze focused on the blue-eyed loner. The smell of lynx was still fresh but the shadow knew the two of them could take on the feral feline if need be. He was in the mood for sharing with a fellow canine, not a flea-ridden cat. “After Greer take,” he added, his lip curling as an invitation for the loner to try to challenge him. Fighting was something that the Archer had done well to avoid. He knew which battles were worthy of fighting over; this was not one of them unless it needed to be. He would not return to Kyna empty handedpawed.

The shadow was pleased that the blue-eyed loner did not put up a fight for who would take the meal once they finished eating their fill. Kyna needed it just as much as the rogue before him—if not more—and if he refused to comply Greer would not back down. His lips twitched into a soft smile to show he meant the stranger no harm. They could eat peacefully together, as the Archer was now a loner himself, without having to bring tooth and claw into the equation. He had always steered away from fights, for he was more of an observer. Assessing and dissecting situations. It was why he would have excelled as a scout for Whitestone, but remaining in the northern pack no longer interested him. His main focus was, and always would be, Kyna.

He gave a soft nod toward the meal as an invite for the loner to dive in—they were loners, there was no pecking order. They could eat together.  Without waiting a moment longer Greer took the first bite, the low hum of hunger in his stomach slowly subsiding as the stale meat slid down his throat. It was not quite as nice as a fresh kill but beggars could not be choosers. He would take whatever he could get without complaint.

“Where go?” He asked once he swallowed his mouthful, brows narrowed curiously as he studied the dark agouti. The loner appeared deep in thought and while Greer did not care what was consuming the stranger’s mind, he figured that the wolf would not object to small talk. Even if the Archer was repulsed by it, he would comply. They were dining together, after all; did conversation not play a role in meals?

It was apparent by the way the teenager gorged on their meal that he had not gotten a proper meal in quite some time. Until now Greer had always lived in a pack, surrounded by others who all worked together to bring home food and fill the caches. He was used to hunting on his own, pursuing smaller game or making an attempt to fish. But never for a long stretch of time—not like the wolf before him, who gobbled down the deer meat hungrily. Adventure. His lip curled at the word. Wasn’t that why most wolves left home, to seek the unknown? It was why he had wanted to leave the willows behind, to see what else was beyond the territories he was confined to. You? The question pulled him away from his thoughts. He shook his head, no, at first, his silver gaze narrowing slightly as he swallowed his mouthful. “Stay,” he answered as he licked his nose, shoulders rolling into a soft shrug. “Home near,” he added as he motioned over his shoulder at nothing in particular. It was not home yet, but it would be soon.

As he took another bite the dark agouti introduced himself, the name offered in a dismissive manner. The shadow was the same way when it came to introductions, for he did not like sharing his own name. Usually he could not prevent his name from slipping out, for his abrasive way of speaking due to his self-induced isolation made it difficult to keep his name to himself. “Greer,” he responded after a short pause, his tongue picking at the meat stuck between his teeth.