The young hellion padded through the thicket, weaving through the bushes, and even sometimes having to turn around and find another route as his body was too large to fit through tight spaces. But he didn’t mind, it made the day interesting, trying to find his way around his present home. No, he didn’t have one place that he could call ‘home’, as he was a wanderer, and could only call a place his home when he was around others like him, but the only wolf like him was on the other side of the mountain, and he had to make sure his mission was complete before they met up again, or everything he had done would be all for naught, a complete waste of his time, and most likely his life.

Hearing the tittering of birds in the distance, it reminded Anouke of the cool and unforgiving season that was, which was the harshest of all; it froze everything, chased their food sources away to warmer areas, and made the landscape a snowy, white wonder, but also a nightmare for those who didn’t watch their feet, for the snow covered holes in the ground that became a death trap for those that fell into it. Wolves of darker fur like him were spotted so easily it was like looking for the differences between a dog and a cat. They were targets for wolves who did not care about others, who were half-starved and willing to devour anything in their path. But wolves also like himself could protect themselves from most things, especially canines that were half mad and unable to think straight enough to formulate a plan that had a chance of bringing down their food. It was preposterous for them to think it would work.

Snapping out of his memories as he stepped into thorns, he growled to himself and muttered under his breath, but still continued on his journey through the thicket, hoping to find himself out on the other side. Even though he had lived there for a few months, Anouke still could not remember how to quickly make his way through the thicket, and so he had attempted to learn what was where, but it was useless, for everything looked the same, and so he had given up on that plan and just stuck to walking in one direction until he reached the edge of the thicket, which luckily for him at that very moment, he did.

Pausing for a few minutes, he closed his eyes and lifted his chin up to the sky, letting the cool sun that stretched across the sky in the early afternoon wash over him. His dark fur almost glistened under the sun’s rays, and he let out a contented sigh as a soft, whispering breeze tugged at his long, pristine pelt, as if it was tempting him to dance to a sweet melody. But that was not all the wind brought to his attention.

Eyes opening slowly, Anouke stared ahead of him, out towards the fields where, in the distance, he saw a large shape slowly rising to its feet; it looked to be a wolf. His dark head and shoulders lifted up with practiced ease as he slowly padded towards the creature, and away from his pack’s borders. Although both would be on neutral ground, he wouldn’t act like a simpering fool and pretend to be friends, no, he would be himself, yet also try and act friendly. It was an act he had to play all day, every day.

As the Young Hellion got closer to the wolf, close enough that he could see her properly, he saw that it was as large as him, if not slightly larger, but it was also female. Resting upon her shoulders and along the length of her form was a rich golden colour, like the fading radiance of autumn flowing into winter. Her mane and ridge were darker and deeper earthen hues, while her underbelly and legs were a creamy colour with flecks of brown. The tri-coloured she-wolf had a rougher build than the usual female did, but it complemented her in a way. But the way she held herself: shoulders forward, head low, tail hanging low made it look as if she was guarding herself against the world, and everyone in it.

His interest peaked immediately, and coming around from the side so he could approach her more directly, Anouke cleared his throat loudly as to not startle the female, and with a forced smile on his face, he spoke.
“A nice day to be about, isn’t it?” He would start off with how the usual wolves acted, and then act accordingly to how the female did. Hopefully, she would be more interesting than the others he had met.

Watching as the tri-coloured she-wolf raised her head, yet kept her shoulders braced, he noticed that she had slightly loosened skin from lack of food, as well as the scrawny look of a wolf in need of food. It wasn’t that he enjoyed seeing wolves suffer from all kinds of reasons, it was only when he made them suffer for the things they had done, but only if they deserved it. He was fair in his own way, they just had to learn what to do, and what not to do. She also averted her eyes from her face, but whether it be out of respect, habit or for another reason, he did not know, nor did he care to find out.

Eyebrows raising infinitesimally at the female’s comment of no food nearby, in a cracked and rough voice, he had no time to answer before she queried if he knew the answer. It was a reasonable question to ask, and he canted his head slightly to the side, not a definite nod or a shake of the head, nor a shrug of his shoulders.
“You could say I live in the area, but do not know it very well.” It was completely true, as he had no reason to lie to the female. He only did so if he had a goal in mind, but at that moment he was purely curious about her.

There was food in the pack caches, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t let her near them for the sake of he could be kicked out of the pack for it, and that he didn’t know very much of the tri-coloured she-wolf. Being curious about her, and respecting her were two very different things that shouldn’t be mistaken for the other. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be nicer to her than others, should he choose to. Letting the corners of his lips twitch up in the beginnings of a smile, but not able to let it emerge into a full smile without showing his disgust for the emotion, Anouke stared at the woman for a few seconds, before asking a simple question he had asked so many before her.
“May I ask how long you have been alone?”

Dark ears twitched at the tri-coloured she-wolf’s grumble at his ‘lack of knowledge’ about any food or prey in the area. He understood her reactions, but at the same time the way she acted seemed almost… childish. The Dark Hellion wouldn’t hold her against that though, no, it was only when he found out how she could be useful that he made the decision if he could use them, or if they were useless to him. But he had a feeling the woman could be useful to him, as those who didn’t immediately seek a pack were usually closer to the way he was, than the rest of the wolves.

She turned to leave, but at his query paused and turned her head back to look at him, brows somewhat peaked. Her voice was still cracked and rough, whether it be from misuse or an injury, he didn’t know, nor once again did he want to find out, it was not important to him, but her words were. So the tri-coloured she-wolf was older than him, and so must have more experience than him about life, which he could possibly use, if the time came.

Eyebrows raising infinitesimally at her next enquiry, Anouke canted his head slightly to the right. No wolf had ever asked him that question in such a way, and it only improved the way he thought about her. The way she spoke would give for answers holding more information in them, as she asked not just if he found the pack, possibly how long he was alone, or if he had been a part of it his whole life, all asked for in just one question.
“I wouldn’t exactly call it my… home, but yes, for a year I wandered until the harsh winter forced me to make a choice,” his voice held the hint of curiosity that he couldn’t manage to get rid of. He couldn’t help if he wanted to know more about the female.

Twitching his nose as the wind blew gently past them, carrying the scents of grass, bushes and trees, but no prey, he glanced to the female.
“Is there anything that you need assistance of?” Maybe if he could do something for her, she might return the favor, but it was also a good way to see what she needed, and when. His thought processes were all about deception, as after all, being deceptive was his passe-partout.

At his words the female before him simply nodded, perhaps in understanding, as if she knew the reasoning behind his choice of finding a pack. Survival was easier among others, and he wouldn’t test himself against such a harsh winter, for the consequences would be dire, possibly even ending in death from exposure or starvation. Dying was not what he had planned for his immediate future, and so whenever an opportunity arrived that would help him with staying alive and healthy, he would take it as a gift, but would always analyze the positives and negatives of his decisions beforehand. Only if the choice had better chances of survival, but also less dangers, would he choose it.

Bright amber eyes holding the tri-coloured she-wolf’s eyes in his, Anouke shifted his weight to his back legs, but didn’t quite sit down. He felt more comfortable in the woman’s presence than most others, but not comfortable enough to fully relax. There was only a certain few that he could count on one paw that he could be himself around, and none of them were nearby. But the Young Hellion did not have to be with one of those few to relax, being by himself worked just fine, as even though they were in each other’s company, they did not necessarily converse. Talking was only needed when things were to be worked out, orders given or to dole out punishments where they were required.

The female’s next words caused him to blink, and for once a fully confused expression was etched on his face, before he regained control of his emotions and wiped it off so his natural calm façade was back on. Eyes narrowing curiously, he had to pause for a few seconds to work out what she had meant by her words of “…tree hollow,” Several reasons swam through his mind, but only a few actually made sense. The tri-coloured she-wolf was either looking for a place to sleep, was telling him of a place where there may be food and shelter or her voice had been so quiet he hadn’t heard the other parts of the sentence.

Thinking over what to say, the Young Hellion decided to go with being vague, as he would rather not ask her to repeat it again or ask what she had meant by it, that was one of the few things he would never do. “I do not know where a tree hollow is, but I do know of a lone tree on a hill nearby that has large roots and branches.” His eyebrows raised slightly, as if asking a silent question for him to take her there. He wasn’t usually this cordial or helpful to strangers, but something about the female intrigued him, and he intended to find out.

Ears twitching as the tri-coloured female spoke again in her scratched, rough voice, coughing afterwards, Anouke nodded his head slightly, a simple two-way movement, once upwards, and once downwards was all that was needed. No further words had to be spoken, for it seemed the female had caught on to his meaning and gesture, for her stepped in his direction and lightly nudged her bony shoulder against his. It was an invitation for him to lead on, show her where the lone tree upon the hill stood – the place where he had been beaten by that useless wimp of a wolf, Rayne – and ultimately where she could rest for the night, or couple of nights should she choose to. But he would go no further in helping her, until she proved herself to him that she could be of some use, whether it be mentally or physically.

Starting forward at a slow trot, the Young Hellion headed in the direction of the lone tree, setting a pace that the female should easily keep up with, but not too slow that it would take the rest of the day to reach the spot. He still had other things to do, instead of using it all to transport the female from one place to another, but he hoped that she would think of it as a favor, and when the time came that they met again, and in the right circumstances, she may just return it. But it was a far-fetched idea and goal to say the least, though it was one he hoped would come in handy for the future.

After they had been padding in the direction for a while, he finally saw the hill upon with the lone tree stood in its majestic beauty. Pausing as they reached the base of the hill, Anouke turned his bright amber orbs on the female, giving a slight indication of his muzzle towards the tree.
“You can stay here for as long as you want, as long as you don’t interfere with any of the pack members or their duties,” he said gently, as a warning that she should heed. He knew some of the members to anger easily, and would prefer a possible future ally to not be chased away.