@Ace

Minus the appearance of the ominous cloud that haunted the Glen wolves, the day before had been lovely to experience. As a woman fond of pups, she could hardly contain her excitement at seeing the newborns of the pack take their first steps into the light. And what better day than yesterday; full of radiant light and the curious faces of the wolves that would come to protect the young. Yet for the mountain wolf, as she had looked upon the small faces of the new pups, she saw not only the potential of their growth, but all they could learn. All the places she could show them and the wealth of knowledge she could provide, if their parents were willing, of course. In them, she saw another opportunity to see to their growth as she had with her pack’s young and even now in the Glen. She was too happy for words though her expression made it clear, however subtle… however concealed. A notable spring had been embedded in her step, and it was certainly not due to the wound on her leg. Such pains had long since abandoned her. And for that, she was glad.

Feeling a new sort of spirit, she took to her daily chore with a bit of a change than to walk by the winding creek. Instead, she felt the desire for redder meat. Small and fast, just enough to top off an already full belly, and perhaps test out just how well her leg could take her movements.

Given that the land was claimed and smelled heavily of wolves, there were few fodder trails to speak of, and those she could find led out away from the territory. But distance was not a hindrance, only an opportunity in the bi-colored eyes of the she-wolf. Her nostrils flared and tail extended as her posture became that of a hunter mid-game. She drank the richness of the earth in every breath, but too she scented the musk of another lupine prowling nearby. The faintest hint of the Magnolia trees clung to it as well. Drawing to a brief halt, she raised her head to attention, keeping her ears on a swivel for a directional tell of where this other wolf might be. Perhaps another of the pack was hunting as well…

@Ace

Perhaps the woods were not grounds for another hunter, but the female certainly found she was not alone. There had been not quite an eagerness to her stride, but the speed of purpose once her thoughts had concluded another was near. The desire to investigate momentarily overshadowing her need to eat. Stout ears came forward as she tread further from the course of the cutting creek and more towards the shuffle of fertile flora. Such a sound led her to believe that the cause of the movement was something large if not more so than herself, but with a lacking caution as if it did not belong. Still her head remained low and eyes drawn wide and alert, til a sliver of pale grey parted the earthly hues of the neighboring woodlands, and inevitably the form of a wolf took shape.

She paused near instantly and let her head return to its full and comfortable height. Rather than assume his place, she regarded the male with neutrality, nostrils quivering inquisitively to make certain that he was indeed of the Glen. Quietly, she took a bolder step forward but again drew to a pause as the male began to speak.

In doing so, though his voice was not readily recognizable, she was able to recall the silver and grey fur from just the day before. A quiet male at the time that had looked upon the mother's pups just as fondly as she, if not more openly enthused for the new life under the pack's care. She had not asked for his name then, nor had she given his own in turn. The day was not wholly for the pack to interact, but to witness progress in the form of tiny paws and wide, opened eyes.

"K'arnae," the woman replied simply whilst tipping her muzzle slightly in greeting. Her shoulders drew back as she made herself more open in gesture. Though his size was formidable even compared to her own, it did little to startle, let alone trigger unease. "Have I interrupted your hunt?"

@Ace

For all intents and purposes, the reason for the woman prowling in the woods were clearly her own, and could have been expressed as such. And in truth, she did favor expressing such a thought, but thought better of it given her present company. Her thoughts for the most part stemmed from a mentality still deeply engrained into the life of a wanderer. Simple, callus, and rough around its edges, regardless if such a disposition was truly that of the woman’s. But rather than surrender to what she had taken as her norm, she offered a more… accommodating outlook, allowing her posture to find ease rather than tense in defense.

Smoothly, the female exhaled then willfully rounded her shoulders. “Food,” she confided though lacked the short tone to end a conversation. “There was… a trail,” she continued. “…thought it would be best to follow and perhaps bring back what was found.” Or at the very least feed to add to her replenishing energy.

She made to continue further, opening her maw in the hopes of conjuring some coherent thoughts to life, til a shuffle not far silenced her in an instant. A stout ear swiveled to the side as a rustle came from the way of the creek. The sound was not near them, but continued none the less, its origin almost retreating rather than heading closer to the marked borders. Silently, she turned to Ace to assess whether he had heard the sound as well. Regardless if he had or not, she had a mind to investigate and took a step towards it…

@Ace

She wasted little time in following the trail as the turned swiftly on the tops of heavy paws to pursue. Her injury was almost non-existent as she stepped lively, but she was mindful of the flesh scar as she strode rather close to the trunks of the wilds beyond their home.

Joined by Ace, their steps were relatively silent; no more than a light press on the mossy earth was they followed the retreating steps. When there was a pause, the large dame would halt in stride expecting from her companion to do the same before they could startle their quarry too far out of reach. Then when the steps proceeded again, she too began the hunt once more, but kept a mind to lighten her steps more so than how they progressed. Their pursuit was not long, but intense none the less as the felt the surge of adrenaline from stalking their prey. Her nostrils drew open to greedily drink the musk they pursued, then wrinkled at finding the scent was of the scavengers that often plagued pack borders. Coyotes, more than likely, no doubt having found something left behind by a predator. And sure enough, the scent of stale blood reach her nose, as did the cumulative stench of a wild band.

No longer needing to remain silent, the woman abruptly charged through the thick brush into the chattering thick of the band. Her muzzle swung and jaws snapped at anything that dared move while she threw her bulk forward as a ram to drive off the scavengers from the brush. Her eyes hadn't yet fallen on the prey they had coveted, but she could smell it between the heavy pants, and all but taste it on the moistened flesh of her tongue.