A wide yawn she lifted her head, shaking off the collected snow atop her head. Eyes wide she surveyed the forest, noticing there were few tracks around. Bones groaning she uncurled her body, and sat up smacking her lips while blinking her eyes. She did not feel so rested, but could not sleep much longer. The soft light filtering through the treetops told her she had slept quite a time. It must count for something restoring some of her inner reserves she'd empty. A rough sigh she stretched her long legs, letting her tail wave above her back. Another morning, another start. A steady walk she checked around the densite for anything troublesome. The leader was quick to poke her head, trying to see if the pups were still sleeping. It seemed so, and with a plain smile she went to the hiding spot of the dead deer she had found. It took work, but she cut through the snow both hard, and soft to the remains. Strong efforts she tugged one way then the other to free a hind limb. It took longer than she'd like but at last it was free, and she dragged it to the mouth of the den. Satisfaction she touched it with her nose, and then drifted to the borders of Grizzly Hollow.

Covering at least one length, she swiftly trotted onward trying to cover more distance. Some places she noticed where Raigo, and Elettra had come and gone. Sometimes she detected Kade's scent. She marked her own making sure to do a thorough job. There were quite a bit of loner scents, and her nose crinkled from her irritation. None had crossed yet, she only figured it would be a matter of time. A lash of her tail she jumped on a fallen log, and stretched herself out on the snow covered top. She would take a break there, just watching the sun rise higher.

A tumble of emotions fumed beneath her skin, she would wonder if they were pouring into the air giving her away. She tried not to concentrate on any one thing. If she succumbed to her stress she would be taken as prisoner with no way to escape. Thus why she preferred company over beign alone. She had not found anyone, and had not quite wanted to seek Borden out. She was hoping he would come to her, but that hope seemed to waver with each passing day. She stretched her bones, shifting position on the hard temporary bed. She had been quite tired when she'd opened her eyes, and thought she would soon be in need of a nap. That thought was discarded too. She was awake now, after having walked pumping blood through her limbs she could not sleep. Sleep was really another thing to avoid, with her dreams and nightmares becoming undistinguished.

She shifted her eyes upward to the rough bark of the cedar, and pine trees tha encircled her. She started to notice some {word}burled{word} parts of the bark, what had been branches, or mere imperfections. She started counting them, comparing one to the next to keep her mind off two men, and the consequences of her choices she'd made. It didn't last very long, she was already wondering if Elettra had realized Kiche was back. Or if Raigo had found Vlar. If Trisden,Hocus, and Arlette were safe. A grumble in her throat, she flicked her tail, once more altering her position atop the log, and snow.

She was about ready to continue her patrol when heavy footfalls sounded in her ears. A twist of her head, her facade went from cautious to surprise, and delight. "Valiant, what a surprise," she said, a slim smile welcoming him. She then quickly sat up, looking over his form. He was different than the first time they had met, even if it had been dark she saw the changes of time upon him. He was a little thinner, and very unkempt. Nothing like before. His happiness to see her did not go unnoticed, nor his carrying of his large frame. "What can I do for you this fine day?"

He wanted to join Grizzly Hollow? He looked like he could thrive with pack life, but she had taken for a bit of a rogue. Someone who didn't need constant3 company, and wasn't keen on being told what he can, and can not do. Maybe her words had put the idea in his head, and personally seeing who she was. Or it could merely be the hardness of cold weather. He had missed some meals, and his body was starting to use his muscle for food. Winter was anything but over, there would be more weeks of it. She could imagine him becoming much thinner before it was over.

She twirled the question in her mind, knowing they had room for more, but wondered what another male would do. Last year there had only been Raigo, Kiche, and Borden. They had all gotten along fairly well, considering the circumstances. This year she was a little worried what raging hormones might do. He revealed to her, he had a stalker out for him. She raised her brow, hiding a smirk. He was a regular Romeo, and a girl just didn't want him to get away. "Bit off more than you could chew, huh?" She teased, with a coy grin. She smoothed her pale face, and jumped down from the log. All kidding aside, she tested the air with twitching black nostrils, wondering if she might pick up this girl's scent. There wasn't much of a hint upon his coat.

"Hmm, I think there's definitely a place for you, as for your pursuer how about you tell me a name, and what she looks like. " White tail arched above her in a swift motion with the thought of a love struck female coming to her home, looking for him. She wanted no harm to come to her pack because of it, but it seemed a very unlikely risk by placing Valiant in the ranks. The pack had grown in numbers. Unless he was merely here to hide from her. She supposed it didn't matter, she'd just deal with that if it came up. His easy going, and playful nature appealed to her, and she didn't doubt he had skills in the hunt or in a fight. Having someone of his personality had to be a good thing. But she wanted to know details in case this female came by.

Her black lip twitched almost pulling into a smile, by his sudden show of embarrassment. She didn't want to make him fell any more ashamed, and waited till it passed or at least he continued speaking. When he began describing this girl she took everything in with a blank facade, nodding at times. It wouldn't be hard to keep an eye out for her. It would probably be just a matter of time till she showed up wanting to see him.

She couldn't quite tell if he was merely amused by the girl, or talking about her brought the smile onto his lips. It brought up a few questions, but she waited till he finished not wishing to interrupt. "Am I suppose to tell her she cant see you, and deny her acceptance?" She asked, preferring to know what he wanted out of the situation. Demanding females were not her forte. She actually tried to avoid them. Then again, she'd just have to meet this Hawke to see.
If she wanted him by her side like he said, she knew lying wouldn't work, and if the wolf wanted to join she didn't want to accept her if it was going to upset him. The dynamics of the pack were already strained. She didn't need another two wolves at each other.

In his reply she sensed he could be thougtful, and mature if he wanted too. She didn't mention this. It was a fleeting thought. She was more curious how he would fit into the mix of things with the very different personalities. What would her pups would think brought a hint of a grin to her lips. They were known for testing things out.

"Alright then, I guess we'll just see what happens," was her response. She'd first have to meet this wolf, and see for herself. Until then she'd try (try being the key word) to not worry about it till then. Why add another issue to her stack if it hadn't made it's way there yet?

"Now," she stepped closer with a purpose, and invaded his personal space. She met his gaze, and then stepped closer brushing her thick nape along his neck, and shoulders. "you'll least smell like you belong." She smiled, and swiftly moved away to where she had been. "Well, shall we head back? I usually finish my patrol, but I can show you were the main den is if you want. Speaking of which, yearlings don't bother you do they?"