She was hungry. A full month had passed since her encounter with the angry badger, and weeks since her collapse from the injury that had occurred on the front of her left foreleg. Her body was fragile, and the weight she'd obtained over a month ago had disappeared from her body, leaving her so thin the woman looked to have converted from eating satisfying calorie filled meat to a die hard vegan. She had grown too weak to walk much further than the length of Cut Rock Creek, let alone attempt to hunt for herself so that she could gain her weight. In fact, she hadn't moved much since her saviors had dragged her to the safety of Lachesis's den, giving her the medicine she needed to recover and the warmth and space she needed to heal back the shape she'd been since returning to Relic Lore.


The morning she'd awaken from her dream, she sensed the difference in the weather from the week previous, of which snow seemed to be coming down relentlessly. In fact, the skies were clear this morning, besides being relatively cold outside, and she took this opportunity to try and stretch her legs from being cramped within Lachesis' den. The alabaster male was absent, probably off conducting business around the pack, or searching for more herbs that he could salvage from the snow, and Bastet took this time alone from the male to walk around Cut Rock. She hadn't yet met Maksim since the incident, being the alpha kept him busy, and she wondered if she would come across him on her walk, his scent still fresh in her nose--surely he would wish for her to leave them soon.


The musk of Cut Rock burned the hairs of her sensitive nose once she poked her head from the dark den, her mismatched eyes taking a moment to adjust to the bright sun that had peeped through the evenly dug out entrance. Her paws crunched lightly on the snow, reverberating against her eardrums as she walked the lands in silence, wondering who was walking these lands the same instance as her. She breathed deeply, feeling herself grow weak the longer she walked though the young woman pushed on, coming across a snow drenched tree who's branches leaned from its weight. Brushing herself against the tree, she recognized the musk of Lachesis and Maksim, who were obviously frequently marking their territory, before settling to her haunches for a comfortable sit. At this angle she could see everything, including the birds who traveled back and forth on branches in search of food.

The tree did little to camouflage her dark pelt, its branches covered in bright white snow were almost blinding against her blue black coat as the sun shine brightly above, despite its poor job of providing warmth. Shifting her weight on her haunches, she turned toward the horizon, gazing once toward the blazing rays of the sun before turning in the direction of the sound of cracking branches--to her surprise it was the very tree she was beneath creaking from the weight of the snow. Flicking an ear to dismiss the sound, she noticed the approach of another wolf in the distance, her agouti coat and smaller frame a distracting figure against the pristine snow though, Bastet lifted to her paws in preparation of the encounter.


The tone of Naia's voice was surprisingly sweet and friendly as she approached, and her words, though brutally honest, held a undeniable threat that made her blink with disbelief. She wasn't sure whether to feel excitement for Naia's presence or distaste for her seemingly sweet welcome. "I mean no harm," she spoke, wanting the woman to understand that if she went harm to Cut Rock River, she would do little considering how small, and fragile she had become. "I am grateful for your suggestions, and will keep them in mind as I live my days out on these lands," she started, deciding to choose her words wisely in case this woman decided to turn nasty. "I am in search of someone I have not met before but his smell I know quite well. He is a good friend of Lachesis, who too has my full respect and forever loyalty for saving my life." she had idea what this female knew but was sure that she would find out soon enough, "he smells of Cut Rock River, his musk is a dominant presence on these lands. I would not be surprised if he ruled these lands." she wasn't sure if her description of this male was making any sense or leading her closer to him. She only hoped that Naia could give her the answers she needed. "perhaps you can help?"

In the midst of conversing, her stomach rumbled loudly, causing her ears to fall back to her head with embarrassment as she searched Naia's face for a response. She hadn't eaten much since her incident, the herbs prescribed by Lachesis for her leg had a nasty side effect of diminished appetite but on occasion the woman would feel her body scream for nourishment but her loner status left her too afraid to hunt on claimed land. Although Cut Rock was friendly enough to allow her to remain on their lands until she healed, she had no intention on finding out if they were kind enough to let her scavenge from their storage banks as well. Ignoring the rumble, her attention came back to the tawny female before her as Naia explained the name of the wolf she'd described and his status--it sounded correct, though his actual appearance was still a mystery to her. When the woman mentioned that she carried his scent along her pelt she let her head cock to the side in confusion, she hadn't noticed it in the wind before, perhaps she wasn't sniffing hard enough. Leaning toward Naia, she cautiously inhaled her pelt to identify the faint smell of Maksim, it hit her like a brick in the wind as a smile spread along her lips in disbelief. "Yes, I smell it. That must be him!" she grew excited, her rump wagged quickly with anticipation of finally meeting her other savior. "He must not be too far away then, I hope he isn't busy." she spoke quickly, giving Naia a glance that both pleaded for her to call him, and hoped that he would come without haste. She had plans on joining Cut Rock, not only for plans of gaining some nourishment, but also with hopes of giving them her loyalty in return for saving her life. During the winter, more numbers in a pack meant more intimidation for neighboring packs but also more mouths to feed during such a lack of food in the area. She only hoped Maksim would allow her the opportunity to prove to him that she would pay him back for his excellent deed.

It wasn't long before Naia belted out a howl to Maksim, she only hoped the male wasn't too busy to see to her request for joining Cut Rock River. She had been living on the pack land since the first of the month, and had diminished since living on the pack land, despite her efforts of scavenging for food which were few and far between, she had lost some weight and looked in need of a loving home. She didn't want sympathy from Maksim, instead she only wanted a warm home to live out the rest of winter and the chance to prove to him that her debt to them would not go unpaid. There was not much she could do now, being as fragile and thin as she was, but she sure that with time she could take up a duty to help prove herself to the pack--in fact, traveling long miles was always her strongest suit. Perhaps the pack could use a scout, that is if they didn't already have one.


Moments lapsed on but she remained patient, feeling her heart pound quick in her chest. The longer the wait, the more nervous she became and before long she lowered onto her haunches to quiet the thoughts that came to her, it had all become too much to bear. She had never been apart of a pack, except her birth pack, but her quarreling beliefs caused her to leave them just after her first birthday. She couldn't agree with choosing her brother as a mate, and was sure that no other wolf should have to do the same; but what if Maksim had the same ideals? She pushed this thought from her mind, not willing to accept that such beliefs would follow her back to Relic Lore, the wolves this way seemed much more different then those in the eastern region back home. The idea of inbreeding wouldn't follow her this far out, right? Maksim please be different... she thought, finally closing her mind to such ridiculous facts, this moment was for joining the River wolves, not for remembering her past.

As Naia's howl in the wind began to die, Maksim's masculine reply resounded through the heavens to assure the women in wait that he was on his way--though he would not bring food along. She understood his reason, food was much too scarce to share with strangers, though she would have relished the ability to chomp on something during their meeting, she supposed she could scavenge for something after the meetings end. Waiting in silence at the River woman's side, her eyes glanced toward the horizon to search for Maksim in the distance, her heart pounded soft in her chest until finally she caught sight his agouti coat in the wind. She inhaled deeply, feeling her chest tighten and heart beat grow louder as the large male closed the distance between them, his dominant posture her cue to lower her stance to show him respect.


Her tail curled beneath her belly, shoulders sinking low as the male took this moment to speak to Bastet, his greeting made her heart lurch within her chest but she dared not show her nervousness as she took the opportunity to answer him. "You and Lachesis are my life saviors. I owe everything that I can give to both of you." she mentioned, never meeting his gaze. "I have been searching for you Mr. Maksim, and I appreciate you for taking the time to meet with me," she inhaled, feeling her nervousness grow, but she reeled it back in quickly, "Please, call me Ubasti." she voiced with her head and shoulders still low, tail tucked, and muscles twitching. She could only guess how vulnerable she appeared to the agouti male, but felt herself grow hot when he asked for her name. Had he really been that curious in knowing who she was?"I hope that I have not overstayed my welcome in Cut Rock River, I can leave if you wish..." she hoped that he declined her request. The odds of her surviving during this winter were stacked high against her.