Why was he so stupid?

With the devastating loss of his family, Kinis had somehow, finally, managed to find some kind of strength within himself. Whether it was for the good of him, or Ruiko, he had tried to grow up and stop being such a pathetic child. Looking back on it now, he hadn't really thought of himself as such, but he certainly did now. There was nothing like running off on your own to either make you... or break you.

In truth, it had only been a couple of weeks. Kinis' grown-up journey hadn't even spanned an entire season, and here he was, back in Relic Lore. In an attempt to console himself, he told himself that it was only because he had chosen the worst part of the year to flee. Seriously, winter? No yearling would be able to survive that, surely. He hadn't even had much success with hunting-training, let alone master it. What had he expected, to just make a mad dash in the dead of night and somehow survive?

It had been at the first sign of snowfall that Kinis had felt the pangs of homesickness. He could remember so clearly his talks with Ruiko about snow that every time he watched it fall, or slipped in it, or came over a hill and saw it laid out in thick blankets before him, his heart stung and he had to swallow the lump in his throat.

What was the reason for all this, again?

In the end, it all got the better of him. No matter his intentions, no matter how foolish he looked crawling back with his tail between his legs, Kinis Tainn was forced to turn around and head back to his brother... and his sister. Still unaware of his family's return - or at least some of them - the visions he had of returning were now rather more sour. Rather than emerge as a grown, mature wolf, he was just a child who had made it a little further than most half-hearted runaways, but ultimately failed just as hard.

Hunger and cold were real killjoys.

The smell of blood stirred his mind, like wafting bacon beneath a half-hearted vegetarian's nose, and Kinis allowed himself to draw out from his automatic loping in order to enjoy it. He hadn't had a mediocre meal for days, and he hadn't had a good one since before he had left. It showed on his frame, for though his coat was thick for warmth, he had little in the way of fat, and his flesh was uncomfortably taut on his skeleton. His thin muzzle began to show signs of heavy salivating as his subconscious grabbed onto the idea of a meal. He was unable to resist moving towards it, weak though he was, and unlikely as it was that he would actually be able to enjoy whatever was bleeding, it was very difficult to overcome the compulsion.

After the pleasant surprise of the meaty blood smell, his nose quickly realised that there was certainly more to this than initially thought.

She wasn't much older than him, though everything about Kinis immediately demanded he be subservient. Staring back at the young she-wolf, he realised that he was interrupting a meal, and took a hasty step back. He wasn't a fighter in the prime of his life (had he even had a prime yet?) and he was certainly in no condition to squabble now. He knew he looked a scrawny mess, but even his hunger wasn't enough to drive him forwards to steal at least a bite of her rabbit.

Still, it was hard to just walk away. At the first sign of aggression, he planned to flee, but until that point... it was intoxicating just to imagine that he would be allowed to taste a tiny sliver.

At first, she had thought the tracks were Raigos - they were small enough for his tracks.. but the smell wasn't..quite right. Vlarindara had been hunting, ranging farther from their den than was required...but coming across the pawprints had put a stop to the hunt right then. The white female put her head down and followed the tracks, snuffling along the snow and in the air for the scent of the wolf. She stopped when she came across two wolves - one a larger, older one... and one a malnourished pup.. For he couldn't be anything *BUT* a pup with his size! The sight of the small wolf pulled at her heartstrings just as seeing Raigp had done and the female bit back a whine.



He could belong to the female in front of him - who seemed barely older than her own Raigo...but if he didn't, she couldn't let her hurt him over the rabbit she was standing over. A deep breathe and the ivory female was pushing through the underbrush, walking slowly and nonthreatening - but she couldn't lessen her size.. the thick ruff around her shoulders and neck prevented that. Amber eyes glanced first between one, then the next as she stopped, her plumed tail curled up over her back. "Forgive me for the intrusion... but.." She turned her head, looking at the pup, sizing him up and finding that he was worse off than Raigo when she'd found him! "Do you have a home....little one?"



Her eyes shifted between the two wolves, to the young pup, then to the slightly older female, watching and waiting. The Female seemed to have done well for herself - or with the help of her pack... but she couldn't not offer the pup a home.. a place to stay. She already had one a little older than he was... if she had to guess by a few months. Her tone was gentle, a melodic tamber of highs and lows, but her stance was slightly dominant, but not to the pup - towards the other wolf.. if she wanted to cause him harm...

It was little surprise that the young female acted defensively; despite his otherwise mild nature, on the few occasions Kinis had managed to secure some kind of meal he had made the quick and stark transformation into a hungry, hungry creature who did not want to share. This was different, though; it wasn't his meal to protect, nor was it his place to challenge its ownership. The freshness of its death meant that she had killed it, fair and square.

Though his stomach cried out in anger at him, he wouldn't push the matter.

With that all nicely established, Kinis was considerably surprised when the wolf deigned to introduce herself, as if this were quite a usual manner for people to become acquainted. Being very far from worldly-wise, Kinis could believe that that was true, and spent a good few moments boggling at the bizarreness of that thought. The alien need to speak his name hadn't become normal, despite his time away from family; if anything, it was as strong as ever, for he had made a point of remaining as separated from any comparable organisms as possible. He hadn't spoken his name aloud in a whole season.

He had barely spoken at all, come to think of it.

A brief grumble from his stomach was accompanied by an automatic glance down at the tempting mass of rabbit she protected. In an attempt to return her politeness, his mouth opened just a fraction, but he got no further. Whether or not he would have managed a proper greeting would have to remain a mystery.

The arrival of another wildcard, this time in the form of a rather older, more intimidating female, caused the boy to flinch back more, quite unable to handle the simple prospect of more. As his eyes widened and his stance grew instinctively more submissive, he noted that he had been wrong - this wolf wasn't intimidating, just large, for she seemed to be making an active effort not to be threatening. This was acknowledged in some part of Kinis' brain, but at the fore of it all he was just confronted by two strangers and he had no idea what to do.

Her questions were kindly, though they ignited his panic and his heart beat harder in his chest. It was not that he was offended, but that he was taken entirely by surprise. She had no reason to be so pleasant, and whilst the boy was far from suspicious, he was quite able of questioning the whole matter. At the mention of home, a long, low whine was drawn from his chest, the word embodying everything he wanted and feared so badly.

Everything was so messed up and confusing. If he had been fitter, Kinis would have considered fleeing, but right now he felt safest when he could keep everything in sight of his wide eyes. The rabbit's ever-tempting presence in his nose only encouraged this state of mini-madness, and, in an effort to suppress it all and keep control, he took another small step back, lowering his body in quite unnecessary submission.

Her large triangle ears shifted towards first the pup then to the other female and she dipped her nose in greeting to the older female guarding her kill. "I've no intentions of running you off... or taking your meal.. Either of you two.." Her tone was still gentle, relaxed and almost crooning. Vlarindara turned her attention back towards Kinis, smiling softly. "I've a little one of my own about your age.. maybe a little older..perhaps closer to yours.." She nodded towards Makita with a soft chuckle, but soon her eyes went back to the younger of the two. "If you stay here, little one.. I will bring you something to eat and you won't have to eye her rabbit quite so hungrily.."



She didn't wait to see if he listened but instead turned and dissapeared into the woods around them, blending into the snow with ease. She knew that he might not stay in one spot for long - and if he was anything like Raigo.. he'd be spunky.. and attempt to defend himself, though he didn't seem all to healthy... much like she'd been. The female trotted through the snow, her head down and nose to the ground before she caught onto a scent. Rabbit would take too long to catch.. as would a fish or a squirrel.. but a badger.. now a badger would be perfect! They could fight.. but they were slow. She followed the trail to the small den under a log and began digging at it until the high pitched warning warble of the badger lit the skies. She dug further until it flashed out at her feet, only to find jaws snapping a hairs breath from its face.



More digging and false charges later.. she had the badger in hand.. or in jaw and was trotting back to where she'd left the two wolves. The female moved up slowly and settled the freshly caught carcass in front of the pup before nudging it towards him. "Here, little one.. eat up.. both of you.. I will stand watch so no one else comes up on you.." And she did just that, she pulled her haunches beneath her and tucked her tail around her paws as she began scanning the forests around them alertly. She couldn't do anything if either chose to slink away - but she wouldn't take the badger back.. no reason to.

The notion of altruism existing outside of his family circle was somewhat bewildering, but Kinis was forced to admit that neither of the females seemed to be posing any kind of threat. The younger even apologised, as if she had done something wrong, and that tugged at Kinis. Had he made her feel bad? He hadn't meant to... he was just not feeling himself lately.

When the older female made her actions clear, soft though her manner was, Kinis acted as though he had been given a command. Of course, the notion of being fed, no matter how bizarre the circumstances or foreign the offerer, was more than enough to plant the boy quite firmly where he sat. Plus, she was a mother... mother... Just like 'home', that rang deep, and drew a second, quiet whine from his most heartbroken places.

The time of the female's absence passed in silence on the boy's part, for Kinis barely trusted himself to speak lest be overcome by a desire to flee or ask for some rabbit. It was not quick, but the wolf did return, and Kinis' over-eager nose had long informed him of the treasures she brought. Though badger was far from a delicacy, Kinis would have been prepared to eat week-old roadkill, and the saliva which pooled in his mouth and dribbled from its corners was tantamount to that. Though it still seemed surreal, the carcass was actually offered to him, and it was with the utmost delicacy that Kinis stepped forwards, body low, to meekly accept it. His stomach would never had forgiven him for doing otherwise.

Taught well in ways of politeness and respect, before he began to chew on the dead beast, he drew closer to the white wolf so that he could plant some wolfish kisses of gratitude and admiration under her chin. Only once his thanks was made clear did he set to work on the badger, descending on it like a creature transformed, his mildness turning to uncontrollable enthusiasm as he quenched all his needs on the poor badger who had died to satisfy him.

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Makita's dark golden eyes watched the tall she - wolf as she spoke of her little one. Slowly, Makita let her petite self relax slightly. She didn't seem to be a threat, especially when she offered the other wolf food. Motherly instincts, she supposed, but still, offering food to a stranger? Makita had never done it before and certainly didn't plan on doing it soon. 'You won't have to eye her rabbit so hungrily..' the she - wolf said, and as soon as Makita glanced to the small wolf she noticed he was staring at her plump white rabbit, stained with scarlet red blood that probably made his mouth water and his jaw drop, now that she thought of it. "I'm sorry.." Makita apologized once more, even though she didn't have much - if anything - to apologize for. She watched cautiously as the white she - wolf disappeared, and then she glanced at the wolf. "What can I call you?" she asked finally, her voice soft as it filled the awkward air with words. Of course, he probably didn't want to tell her this. He probably didn't want to tell her anything - but Makita went for the question anyway, not knowing if she was taking a step on thin ice or not. The tall white she - wolf returned later on, not too much time passed but not a quick trip either. She watched the limp badger in her mouth and felt a tinge of jealousy. It was much bigger than her rabbit, and the fact that she didn't catch it made her even more jealous. Makita wanted to be the best, she wanted everyone to know her name - though she wasn't snoody - and this wolf just ruined some of her chances of looking like a superstar. She turned to her rabbit and bit into it, letting the white blood trickle down her throat and quench her hunger. She had decided not to leave, as there was too much action here and she could not bring herself to flee from all these wolves.

OOC: *notes!* Thank you so much, Borden for fixing mah purdy!

The fact that both of the wolves were still there made the older female more than happy. Vlarindara's ears flicked forwards, then backward when Kinis licked at her muzzle and she chuckled, lowering her head and licking his face. "Go eat, little one." She shifted her nose and gently nudged Kinis's backside towards the badger before turning her attention back to the lands around them. She was unaware of the mental musings of the female, but didn't mind it - she would be willing to hunt for either of them.. Then again.. caring for Raigo seemed to have touched her maternal streak.. but she didn't mind that.. not really.

Vlarindara trotted off a ways at the gentle rustling in the bushes nearby and began snuffling around before a slight snarl escaped her throat. The small squeak of the weasel was all the warning it gave before she disappeared into the underbrush. There were sounds of a scuffle before she returned, holding the thing in her mouth by the tail. She could see that Makita's rabbit was almost completely finished so she moved over to the younger female and settled the thing by her foot before nosing it closer. Once she had it deposited, she returned to her previous spot, seated in the middle of them and returned to watching around them for danger... possible danger rather.