He had decided to stay in the copse though he had almost made up his mind what he was going to do. The deer had put some weight back on his skeletal frame but not enough to give him the bulk he once had. He still needed a place he could go to recover. The good news was that he now had a little more energy so that he could catch and kill prey instead of eating what was already dead. Truthfully he was rather tired of eating the carcasses that he found, it had been a nice change to eat that first freshly caught rabbit .

Staying in the copse allowed him to not use up too much energy when he still had so little to waste on travel the other part of him was still considering joining the pack whose lands lay in the same area. He knew it would be good for him but he so needed to find Lorcan and let him know that Laike couldn't be trusted. He did not want his brother to end up as he had because of their brother.

After the winter that had seemed to last forever he'd been hoping for better weather but like many of the previous day's it was raining. It wasn't a constant rain just here and there but it still dampened his coat. He'd grown tired of the rain and near constant dampness that he carried with him as he hunted.

The day was made worse by the constant calls of Magpies, he'd never really liked the birds. When they found their way into the forest they filled it with their sounds and were reluctant to leave. They had woken him early that morning and as he moved through the trees he considered trying to catch a few for his morning meal. He didn't know if he would be able to since he still wasn't himself.

As a clearing came into view through the trees his ears caught the sounds of barking and howling. This piqued Tikhon's interest his paws moving him closer as the birds became louder clearly angry as they flew through the trees overhead. His gaze went up following a few of them as they flew over his head until he heard the laughter. Finally he stepped out into the clearing in full view where he found another wolf, a female, on the ground laughing, “You've certainly upset them,” he commented to announce his presence.

It was clear as he spoke yesterday startled the woman which had not been his intention but it was done. He kept a nonthreatening posture so she would know he didn't mean any harm. It wasn't like he was in any condition to do her any harm anyway. Tikhon had also noticed she carried the same scent as Kuwindwa which was a happy surprise. Perhaps she could give him a little more insight into the pack he'd been lingering around as he considered joining them if only for a short time. He had not yet made his mind up on the matter.

A small smile tugged at his commissures as she laughed, “I supposed it would be,” he agreed, “Nothing wrong with having a little fun especially if it upsets them when they have been so loud all morning.” Turnabout was fair play after all. If he were honest he couldn't remember the last time he had fun. His life had been all about getting through each day without finally giving up. He supposed that was why he’d stuck around the forest for as long as he had. The pack it held gave him hope but he didn't want to join if he couldn't finish his mission to find Lorcan.

She offered her name and rank, she was alpha and the happy surprise only got happier. Of anyone could help him she could, “It's a pleasure to meet you,” he said as he bowed his head slightly in respect of her rank. “My apologies for forgetting my manners,” he said his smile growing a little wider. Maybe this would be the day that his life would change for the better, what would Laike think of him now? It didn't really matter, his brother had left him for dead and he hadn't died. Instead he had made it far enough to join a pack. That was if he made the decision to join, Tik was still unsure of what he should do which was why he was glad to have run into the alpha female.

He brought his gaze to meet hers when she cleared her throat. “Tikhon Artemieva from Artemus valley,” he replied when she asked his name. The thought that maybe hearing his last name might strike a chord with the woman. Maybe she had heard of Lorcan and could help him to find his brother or maybe she'd heard of Laike. Not that he was in any real hurry to run into that betrayer anytime soon.

He laughed when she expressed how she felt about the Magpies and their behavior that morning. “If I were feeling more like my old self I might have made a few of them breakfast already but they are much too quick for me right now.” Perhaps in the future when he was feeling better whenever that might be he would get the chance to make a few of them a meal. Until then he would have to opt for things that didn't fly. He silently hoped she had taught them a thing or two about being so loud for the both of them. Though probably not since they we still creating quite a racket.

He was a little surprised to find out that she was the alpha female of the pack he'd been considering since meeting Kuwindwa. Once he did find out he tried to make up for his informal approach by apologizing for forgetting his manners. Then she told him he didn't need to be, “Only if you insist,” he said offering the woman a wide smile. She also informed him that she was only in the position temporarily, “It's a big change I hope it's going well for you. I'm not sure it is a responsibility that I would be comfortable with, at least not right now.” His confirm had taken white the blow during his time alone along with the rest of him.

After he told her his name he grew amused as she told him that his name sounded like a song. As she repeated his name in her sing song voice he did have to admit that she was right. “I haven't heard that before though I think having it sound like a song is better than it sounding like something that isn't so pleasant.” Maybe it would leave a good impression on the woman if he ever did make the decision to join her pack. He was having some trouble but mostly because he feared he would not be able to find his brother if he joined a pack and not necessarily the one he'd been hanging around.

He wasn't surprised when she asked what he was doing in the forest. Tik didn't have to think about his answer either so immediately he answered her. “I wandered here in search of food and ran into Kuwindwa after speaking with her she extended an invitation to join. I just haven't made up my mind but decided to stay on the area until I do.” He kept his response as honest as possible so that she wouldn't think he was up to something that could harm her pack. He shrugged as she asked if he was lost, “I might have been before I came here but mostly I'm trying to recover from a winter on my own.”

The way she'd described the birds had been in Tik’s opinion rather accurate for they had caused enough ruckus for one morning and they were still going at it. His low weight and lack of energy was what kept him from chasing down a few of the winged menaces, and that was how many it would take to satisfy his hunger in a good day. It seemed weight was her problem as well though at the other end of the spectrum from himself. “I believe you're being too hard on yourself, you do not look to be overweight at all.” He of course might not be the one to judge considering the lack of weight he sported. “One day I will catch at least one, then I will know I am in good condition again,” he missed as he watched one of the black and white birds fly from one tree to another.

He offered a dip of his head at her words, “Then I shall do what pleases the lady,” he said with mock grandeur in his tone. Which he felt went right along with hers but then she her next statement struck something inside him though he could tell she hadn't meant it seriously, “Yes it is,” he stated almost absent-mindedly as his mind went back to the day he'd been banished from his pack. He shook that from his mind as she went on to talk about how she was doing in her new found position. “Your welcome and I'm glad to hear it but I am sure having an outlet for your frustrations certainly helps,” he said a smile crossing his features once more.

She believed that his name was like a song and the dark agouti had to admit that when she said it in her sing song voice she wasn't wrong. “Oh, I don't know I think it sounds rather unique,” and not in a bad way. He'd never heard of a female with such a name which brought a nice change to the man. She however had a nickname that she prefered more, “Well then I shall call you Cas.” He had no qualms calling her by her nickname as he had often been called by his when he'd been at home.

“I did and she was rather helpful.” It was only his unsure mind that had kept him from letting the woman drag him home that day. It was an invitation he hadn't wanted to refuse but at the same time he'd had so many questions he wasn't sure she could answer. “I have been considering taking her up on her offer.” He'd spent quite a few nights unable to sleep since meeting Kuwindwa knowing he needed to make a decision. “Being on my own has certainly taken it's toll and I do feel Quaking Vale would be a good fit for me.” He could not help but laugh at what she said next, “I think it's rather obvious I am hungry,” he pointed out.