All at once Hollow decided to run, to run as fast as he could. He set off at full speed enjoying the freedom of being happy, the feeling of love coursed through his veins and his loyalty ran with it. His own strength made him feel alive now, not his physical strength no, but the new found strength in his heart to help others, Ashanti the broken one in particular. It was a joyous moment right up until he stepped into what he assumed was a rabbit hole. The yearling tumbled over and over, making quite a ruckus and bruising himself quite a bit. When he at last came to rest he opened his eyes to see a nest... a birds nest, and three little eggs. It would seem before the yearling's eyes new life was being bestowed upon the forest he loved and soon the days would grow warmer and the vegetation lush and green, shaking himself he smiled and turned away to find a perch on which to rest and wash the dirt from his fur.

The wind seemed to ease a little the further Teketa went. He might've continued on without pause if he hadn't caught a streak of movement from the corner of one eye. Teketa's head whipped around until his yellow-green eyes locked on a fleeing figure. It was black like himself, though its details were lost in the rapid movement of its passing. Teketa crouched to watch, his eyes narrowing to green slits; he wasn't hiding himself so much as taking a more defensive posture. He told himself that anyway. In any case, it was such that as the young wolf stumbled and took a painful-looking roll, that Teketa lifted to his full height again and began to walk forward briskly. His stern expression never changed - he was rarely inclined to smile or make friendlier faces - but he didn't act aggressively. His tail trailed neutrally behind him and his head was raised just slightly from curiosity.

The black wolf slowed when half the distance between them had been covered and stopped four wolf-lengths away, squinting carefully at the stranger. The other wolf was younger than Teketa. And his pelt was perhaps a little lighter in places. Close by, Teketa could see the offending nest - the thing he assumed had caused the youngster to falter in his otherwise flawless run. He considered for a moment whether or not to speak. He had approached for a reason, yes, but now that he was here he wasn't sure he was comfortable with his choice. But then, he was here...

Teketa wasn't fond of other wolves. He sought no ingress with packs, or even friends. Perhaps some of that found its way into his deep voice, and also a little of the awkwardness he felt. His words were quick - clipped - but the concern, even awkward as it was, seemed genuine: "Are you all right?" He didn't need to explain why he was asking, but found himself doing it anyway, "I witnessed your fall."

The other wolf was, male, certainly larger than Hollow, older too. Eventually when the male made his approach Hollow was almost taken aback at the feeling that he was looking at an older reflection of himself, the eyes were different and of course the fur was pure black. But the stout and strong build was there, and the way he carried himself. Soon the make spoke, the yearling was pleased to note the lack of all Hostility and was glad for it, he did not especially enjoy fighting. "You saw that? Yes I am fine it would not be the first time I've found my paws facing up!." Hollow's tone was light and kind, as he continued, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hollow Nite, of the Secret Woodlands pack, could I trouble you for your name?." He was trying very hard to be diplomatic, the yearling was not at all comfortable around strangers who were within a days journey of his home, but he hid his discomfort flawlessly and was able to present a neutral face to the stranger.

He grunted. It made sense the youth should belong to someone - something. A pack. And that only served to make Teketa more comfortable. However, he was seasoned in concealing such feelings from others. He flicked an ear casually against a sudden bitter gust, then responded in the same clipped tones he had before: "Teketa." No surname was offered. No pack. Just that one-word name, as plain as ever. Perhaps it was only bad manners that kept him silent on all other counts. Or, perhaps, he really was much more antisocial than he'd let on - approaching Hollow as he had. But then, Teketa had wanted to be sure the wolf was uninjured. And he was - Hollow was fine. Young and strong. Which meant Teketa's presence here was obsolete and any further conversation would only serve to deepen his discomfort.

But he did not move. Indeed, something in his demeanor changed. He was tenser without moving; not a fur rose on his spine, but his eyes narrowed and flicked away from the young wolf. The sense another pair of eyes was watching was not one Teketa often ignored and it served him well to heed it now. As his eyes moved, so too did his massive head. He saw then the shape of another wolf - a mass of shadow was hard to miss amongst the lighter surroundings. It didn't matter that Teketa hadn't noticed her before, or where she had come from. Only that she was there now. The black male's nose twitched as he scented the air - but the wind snatched away what knowledge he might've gleaned from such an action.

"Is she one of yours?" Teketa asked neutrally, his voice low. He couldn't get a good line on her scent with the wind blowing like it was, but he wouldn't be surprised if these two wolves were related. Then again, with the distance between them, how could he say for certain? Teketa didn't dare move closer to the young wolf now, and he was wary of the other wolf he spied now. He disliked being surrounded by others. Then again, what different did one more wolf make?

To Teketa he said, "No, and though you are both a safe distance from my pack I do not like strangers avoiding me, makes me think they could be less than upstanding." Of course he would not pass judgement before a chance to speak with the stranger was at least offered. Hollow let out a sharp bark to request her presence, If she runs, go back to the pack and alert Nina and Koda, if she comes here, at least I'll know who I am dealing with. Hollow was careful, very careful to keep his eyes more inquisitive rather than challenging. It was not the way of the young male to draw a fight where one was not necessary and with expecting females in the pack he needed to avoid injury for Azariah would be stretched thin enough, but he would be very sure to pay extra attention to every loner he met no matter how far from the border he strayed.

"What makes you think the one who approaches might be more upstanding?"

His words were backed with no aggression, nor did curiosity slip into his tones. It was a question - as straightforward as a question could be. Perhaps he intended to make Hollow think on this judgment. Perhaps he asked simply to ask. In any case, Teketa's gaze was soon enough drawn away from Hollow if only because the female had come closer; he studied her as much as he dared without seeming to stare or be too rude. Something struck him then. Not about the female, but about both of the wolves before him. It wasn't big, or even important, but he noticed it all the same: they both had blue eyes. Hollow's were not as icy as the she-wolf's, but they were blue. He'd never met a wolf with blue eyes before - much less two. A strange, striking color, blue.

Teketa nearly forgot himself and where he stood for a moment. He was apparently in the presence of a pack wolf and a stranger the younger male considered "less than upstanding" - or might consider as such anyway. Teketa refused to back down or move forward at that moment, though he was never quite at-ease. It was not his business to question the female, so he kept his mouth shut. If her purpose was to cause them harm, then her chance had come and gone.

He seemed to bear her no animosity, just as he had not done so for Hollow. He would take no sides if a fight ensued - he would merely leave. Teketa, who had made no sound of greeting, merely blinked at her, then inclined his head so slightly it might've been missed if she looked away even for a moment.

Of course the young dark male could read the expression on her face to the point of noticing she must have heard his words earlier and thus Hollow decided it would be better to come out and be direct with both of the wolves. "I, am Hollow Nite, of Seceret Woodlands, Our pack is just to the edge of these fields concealed within the thicket of secrets, Teketa you asked why someone who approaches may be thought more upstanding? Well it is a simple answer, because in an approach we can read the subtle signals a wolf gives, Had this lady here been of more aggressive nature, I would know it sooner. Those who chose to live in shadow have always made me uneasy, especially so close to my home. So that, would be my reasoning for calling you as well. Though now I can see that you mean no harm to me, Teketa, nor my my family, so if you want to, feel free to leave." Hollow finished his little speech and let his voice echo into the fields for a few moments, hopefully he had been diplomatic enough and honest enough to earn the trust of both wolves at least as far as a stranger could, even though he did not know the female's name. One day it may come to pass that he would cross them again and it may be an alliance worthy of having.