The snow had begun to fall and all that she could respond to it was with a growl on annoyance. They had just gotten rid of the white trap, and now it was coming back with vengeance. While she suspected that it wouldn’t stick for long, as the weather in the spring time was ever changing and the next day could bring sunny and warmer weather (she hoped), it was still an unpleasant experience. The Star Dancer have her pelt a shake to fluff it up some more in hoped to keep out the chill, a slight frown marring her maw as she trekked on.

As she went, she came across the scent of Anthem. She’d only seen him twice, once in their meeting and at the pack gathering. Their meeting hadn’t been on the best of terms, but it had ended with a half-handed patch up of her mistake. She’d come to know his scent well, as it was almost as common as hers and Vespertio’s. She appreciated his efforts, as he seemed to be working just as hard as them to keep their land in tip top shape. Deciding to follow it, she came across the man wading into the obviously frigid waters. Confusion and slight worry crossed her features as she meandered forward, curious as to what he was doing. As she neared, she realized the stance and the focus he was in as he stared at the water below him. Namid, an excellent fisher herself, could recognize that anywhere and also realized that the skill needed as much silence as possible to avoid scaring away any possible prey. She herself would go in if it weren’t for her pregnancy. If the water were warmer she could chance it, but with it being as cold as it was it wouldn’t be good for her or her children less she caught a cold from it. No, instead she hung back and waited patiently for him to either catch something or turn back.

As she watched, the queen of the lake noted that Anthem seemed to have a reasonable understanding of the skill. Of course, she wasn’t surprised considering half of their land was covered in water and thriving with marine life. If one didn’t know you to fish in their lands, what good would they be? Her head tilted to the side as she watched, paying close attention to his posture. She knew the moment he saw what he was looking for as his ears perked, before a second later the man had lurched forward to ensnare one of the slippery animals in his jaws. It was a clean kill, one that impressed her especially since she assumed it was his first attempt for the day at fishing.

He seemed to notice her then, his blue gaze sweeping over to her. His body followed, trekking its way toward her with a friendly wag of his tail. Until before, she felt no need to posture other than a small lift of her tail. However, the movement would be no different than what he was used to in the presence of Vespertio. Perhaps the woman was finally getting the hang of her position. He placed the fish in front of her, asking her if she would like some. Even if she’d wanted to say no, her body simply wouldn’t allow it. The hunger she’d been feeling that was needed to feed not only herself but her children was seemingly insatiable. Namid felt guilty for taking the prey that he’d gone into freezing waters to retrieve, but something told her that he really wouldn’t mind that much.

“I would love some, thank you. I just cannot seem to stop eating, I fear I may be getting fat,” She chuckled good naturedly. Of course she knew she was pregnant, she was basically a balloon at that point. However, she hoped he could see that she wasn’t the bad wolf that she may have set herself up to be in their first meeting. Bending her head she sank her teeth into the flesh of the fish, holding it down with her forepaws as she tore a bit off, chewed, then swallowed. It was the first fish of the season for her, and she savored the taste in her mouth. Running a tongue over her maw, she turned her gaze upon the man once again. “May I ask how you learned to fish?”

A chuckle of amusement escaped his maw, and a smile graced her own features at this. She seemed to me managing to make progress with the male second, and she was already finding that she liked his company. After learning of everything he’d done for the pack, she was more grateful to him than ever. While many of his outings had turned up fruitless, he had still spent many weeks away from their lands in the harshness of winter in an attempt to keep them driving. He showed great loyalty to them, and she knew that she could count on him. If only she had a friend and second like that beneath her…

To her surprise, he waded back into the nippy waters though he remained closer to her than before. She waited patiently for his reply, having no real place she needed to be at that moment and feeling more of a need to get to know him better. After a moment, he replied and expressed that his father had taught him to fish just like hers had. However, while she had really honed her skills under his supervision Anthem had honed his to learn to survive. That was what their species did, she supposed. They had a knack for developing what they really needed for survival, doing whatever they needed to keep their hearts pumping.

Settling herself into a lounging position on her stomach, she crossed her paws in front of herself, “I suppose we all do what we have to do to survive, it is something that drives us all in the end. I do indeed know how to fish, but that is a skill I will have to show you at another point in time,” She began, gesturing to her belly. “My father taught me to fish as well. I became a sort of expert I suppose under his watch, during the times we spent together personally. I did not learn to fish to survive as you did, I learned it to grow closer to my family,” She finished, a bit of nostalgia entering her mismatched gaze.

A regretful somber mood fell between them for a moment due to her heavy comment. It was definitely a comment that got one thinking about how precious life was and how easy it was to lose it, but that conversation wasn’t one she wanted to have now. Especially not when she was really enjoying the company with Anthem and the conversation they were having. Thankfully, though, his expression brightened as he changed the subject, saying that he couldn’t wait to see her test out her skills. ”Maybe if the pups are old enough we could give them lessons then as well.” he suggested, and to this she nodded fervently in agreement. “I believe that is a wonderful idea. I would really prefer they learn to swim as early as possible, due to the fact that half of our territory is covered in water.” she commented. A bit of unrest would be put to ease once that task was done and her children could swim appropriately in their aquatic dominated terrain. She couldn’t even bring herself to think about the possibility that one of them could venture too far from the den and fall in unknown to her, it brought a shudder to her body. No, they would learn as soon as they were able and that was a must.

He began to speak more about his life and the pale woman listened, ears turned forward in interest to show she was listening. Her brows rose slightly in surprise at the amount of time he had been alone for. Three years was a long time in solitude, and it would certainly make any wolf hardy to life. He waded back into the waters and took but a minute to capture another fish. This time, when he came back to offer it to her she refused and motioned for him to eat it himself. They had more food in the caches for her to eat, and she wanted him to be able to have some as well. After all, the water was obviously cold and she didn’t want him to have no reward for his hard work.

I have traveled for almost all of my life that's why I have come to value what I have in the Cove maybe more than some might.” the second expressed to her, and this made her heart swell. That single comment proved to her what a loyal member to them Anthem was and what luck they had in having him in their service. Not many men were out there like him, and they had been lucky to snag him up. A gentle smile played on her lips and she turned her gaze to the lapping waters of the lake, “It seems Fallen Tree Cove has become redemption for many fugitives and the needy. We take in those in need and nurse them, preening them to become loyal members to our cause. I certainly happened that way for me. This land…it is a way to right the wrong I have done in not being able to save my family. It is a new start, a place for me to truly protect and love in the way that was ripped from me a time ago. This is why I will give anything to see us prosper, to see us thrive and survive and become the pack that I knew we can become. You all have already given me so much, it is only fair I return the favor.”