Doing this "Talking about it"

Sleep was coming easier to Vinnie now. She wasn't afraid her packmate were going to kill her in her sleep, wasn't worrying over what the next day would bring - not like she had before. Even her nightmares no longer plagued her as they had before. They still came on occasion, but she had more peace. Maybe that came with growing self-confidence.

Tonight, however, was different.

She'd almost forgotten what spring was like, with everything going crazy. She didn't notice during the day, as they were usually travelling, but sometimes at night the other animals around them just wouldn't shut up. Finally, unable to take another second of sitting still staring wistfully into the night, Vinnie hauled herself to her feet and decided to go for a walk.

She slipped carefully away from their resting place, unsure if @Neo was experiencing the same sleeping troubles she was or not. She didn't want to risk disturbing him if he was actually sleeping. She wouldn't wander far; the dark still unnerved her and she didn't want to be too far from her friend is such unfamiliar territory. Growing self-confidence or not, she was still small and inexperienced and a little afraid of the unknown.

Okay, make that a lot afraid.

Through the filtered moonlight, Vinnie saw twisted shapes rising from the otherwise flat landscape they found themselves in. She paused, squinting to make out what it was. It wasn't moving, so she decided to creep closer - and drew up short. They were antlers. Bone-white antlers all piled in a ring.

"What...?"

Doing this "Talking about it"

Vinnie strained forward, staring at the strange sight before her. Who would do something like this? Why-

a soft bark startled her, and Vinnie jumped a solid foot off the ground, flailing about in the air as she tried to turn toward the voice. She landed hard, back feet slipped. Her butt hit the dirt, but she managed to catch herself before she completely sprawled into the hard ground. She glanced up at the stranger, a shape of muted earthy colors in the darkness.

"Hi," she said sheepishly, pulling herself back fully to her feet and shaking out her fur. She sniffed in the direction of the newcomer. He didn't smell familiar; not family then. She took a deep breath. Time to be brave; she could have a conversation without Neo here, right? She could do that.

Doing this "Talking about it"

Vinnie listened raptly as her opposite described the friend he was looking for. Her ears pricked up at 'might be pregnant'; she knew that pregnant wolves were both vulnerable and defensive - at least at home, they were. But that might just have been because of her father's attitude. She was sad to find she didn't recognize the description.

She slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, I haven't met anyone like that. I've met a Woya..." she trailed off, thinking. Woya was the only other person they'd met even close to where they were now. "You said you're looking for a couple wolves...?"