Noon; Clear — Current Temperature: 40° F/4° C

The past few days Fenru had to admit had been very strange. Not only had Dad been silently creeping about the territory, unseen and unheard, but Mum had also mysteriously vanished during the day. He figured they were together, doing and talking about "adult things" he had yet to understand, for when Corinna made sure three gangly pups had come back to the den at nightfall, she had made sure they were all completely unscathed and obedient. Indru made sure to reenforce the concept that nighttime was the time to sleep. It was all completely unnerving. Why was everyone acting so weird? And it wasn't just his parents either, Uncle Triell was often nowhere to be found nor Uncle Marsh... Even the three new wolves he had only seen here and there around the territory were acting quirky like they knew something he and his siblings did not.

So the youngest Tainn sought out a place to think. He had mustered up all the courage he could find and dashed across Swift River then followed the fork in the stream to the south until he found his way in the company of several droopy trees adorned with green shoots. He let out an exasperated sigh, fed up with being at home for the time being. If no one wanted to pay any mind to him, then he would do the same and leave them to their own devices. He strolled slowly towards a tree with dark, soil brown bark, examining it closely. Willows weren't all that uncommon in the Sacred Grove but for some reason or another this one, being so far away from his parents' safe haven, was all the more interesting because it was someplace he had not yet been.

Imitating Indru's actions from a few days ago, Fen raked his black claws down the tree's trunk then proceeded to step around it in search of any other scents aside from his own. Unfortunately, it didn't help him understand the action or its purpose any further than marring an organic thing. He plunked down between the roots of the earthen giant and scowled up at it in frustration. "What're YOU not tellin' me?" he demanded, questioning it as the crisp, spring breeze made the branches around him sway just enough for a small rustle to fill his ears. He pretended the silent being had answered him and shrugged, "Whatever. I'm old enough to understand. Don't talk to me then either."

The youth continued to frown at the willow's roots, his face distorted and wrinkled with vexation. It didn't last for long though, for when a friendly voice rang through the air in greeting, Fen's ears drew upwards from their forward position then folded back in surprise as his jaw fell open. A rogue came forth, the sunlight dappling her coat as he silently took her in. Her mouth and jaw were stained with... with... was that... blood?! She eyed him and he merely stared as she asked and commented, "What brings you out here? You seem a bit balled up." In his head his family's firm instructions echoed at the forefront of his mind: Don't speak to strangers... Howl for help... Don't tell anyone anything unless it was someone he knew.

Fenru continued to gape at her and it was only until his mother's constant scolding of "Fenru, it is rude to stare" came to mind that he closed his mouth. He sealed his lips tightly then slowly straightened his limbs and backed up against the tree. The blood around her jowls could have easily meant that she had recently eaten... but eaten... what? Wayward puppies, his subconscious answered. He immediately shook his head to whisk the thought away. For a moment, he tried to convince himself that she would not frighten him. That fear would not even get a single taloned paw around him.

Assuming that he would not be able to call attention to his superiors, he opted to deal with this encounter on his own. Besides, he had told himself several times before that he was not a pup anymore. Maybe this experience would validate the statement. His hackles rose defensively as his prickly, irritable mood returned. As a stranger he felt she was pressing some boundaries and warily snapped back, "Nothin'! Why ya wanna know?"

Her words did little to reassure him or whisk away the idea that she had finished eating someone. She drew back and Fen merely sniffed, impatiently waiting for an answer from her. "I ain't gonna bother you," her voice drawled. The youth's muzzle wrinkled in a frown. Whatever, he had wanted to say, but he was quick to bite back the word. His eyes did not stray from her as she lowered herself onto her haunches.

"Well, yer botherin' me," he shrugged. "If you don't have any answers for anything I don't wanna talk. You're probably just like everyone else, anyway... Doing things and saying things and not even telling me why you're doing 'em. I shouldn't even be talkin' to you. You're a stranger." He snorted then took a step back for good measure before taking a seat himself with his back to the willow's trunk.

Her words shattered the air and the pup merely glared. She was right though; Fenru had been very lucky she was nice. "And what kind of questions should I be answerin for you, anyway?" she offered as he continued to glower. "Have your parents not taught you manners for your elders?" "Yeah," he spat, his ears turning forward. "I jus'... I just don't get why everyone's acting so funny." He stopped himself before the additional statement of "And I miss Mum." could even leave his mouth. If he was to be seen as a youngster that was not a pup, then he would have to stomach the facts and deal with being away from Corinna.

"Nothing's like it used to be," he sadly admitted looking up at the rogue female, the fiery hue in his eyes not as bright as they had been before. "Everything's changing... too fast."