It was a longer journey than any he had been on so far, but his lack of familiarity of these lands further than a morning's travel from their densite made Ziigwan uneasy. It was difficult going from intimate knowledge of the area for days in any direction to barely knowing where the nearest source of running water was. It was such a desire which had driven him to take a day's travel from their safe spot in the grassy knolls. Having informed Miskwaa of his intentions, he had felt that small thrill of adventure again, the danger which came from the unknown. It was easier to try to enjoy it than be intimidated by it, though he was yet to be entirely convinced.

Striking northward, the journey had been steady and unhindered throughout the night. He did not ache as he had before arriving, with better rest and the strength of two wolves to feed one another. Their situation was adequate, if far from ideal, but it kept them alive, and gave him the comfort to know that he would be able to look after himself for the time being.

As dawn had begun to break, so had the telltale signs of moving water begun to surface, and before long he had found himself at a swelling river, and such a discovery held so much information about the rest of the land that it made him giddy. To follow it upstream would have been the most exciting prospect, but he knew that would likely take him to that mountain stretch which always loomed in the distance, and he had promised to return within two days. That could wait for another time. Instead, he chose to carefully cross it, enjoying the wetness on his fur as he shook on the other side. He paused to quench a quiet thirst before pressing on, but it was not long until he grew weary, and with such a discovery behind him and no trace of danger or pack territory to be found, he deemed it safe to curl up in the shadow of the undergrowth and rest his eyes.

The sound of soft footsteps woke him almost immediately. Taking a breath and holding it, he remained still, long enough to determine that it seemed most like a wolf's movements. Was that better or worse than alternatives? Tempted to remain hidden and let the other pass harmlessly by, that notion was squashed when a voice called out, hesitant and nervous. Damn. Though the names were unknown, and the tension in the female's tone unrelated to him, he had to decide if it was safer to ignore the cry or not.

Her reaction was all Ziigwan needed to relax, for her obvious disappointment overruled any threatening aspect she had previously had. In fact, her disappointment seemed so all-encompassing that he felt a pang of sympathy. She moved forward, only slightly, and spoke of missing brothers, and that was it. If he couldn't empathise with somebody looking for their family, then what kind of a monster was he?

"I'm sorry," he said again, feeling like a broken record. Dropping his guarded stance, he stepped towards her, ears raised in curiosity. In truth he had crossed paths with very few wolves, and none of that description or name. How satisfying it would have been to possess more useful information. "When did you lose their scent? Could you go back to the last place you know they were?" He had fallen off Miskwaa's trail only a handful of times in his long journey, usually after resting or stopping to eat. He knew all too well the panic that could cause, the heavy heartbeats and shortness of breath as you wondered if you would never find the scent again. His nose had always found the traces of it again, stubbornness winning out over the desire to surrender. Ziigwan did not have the strength - nor the selflessness - to help a pure stranger on the hunt for other pure strangers, but he could offer understanding.

Her despondent reply was almost managing to make him feel guilty for not being the brother she sought. If it had been a different issue which plagued her mind, Ziigwan may not have been able to relate as well, but such as it was... As he listened to her explanation, his hope for her success dwindled. It was a sorry situation indeed, one he had dreaded his own turning into. A flood which separated a family, it was a sad thing. Did she even know if they still lived? He decided not to ask that out of sensitivity to her sorrow.

It didn't hurt to look, though that depended on whether or not you thought it was best to hold onto hopeless hope. At least the love of family was an admirable trait, one which lent her more respect. At least she hadn't given up on her's. "Of course," he said, without hesitation, filing away the names and their description. Not that he would yet know how to find her again if by some miracle he did find her siblings, but perhaps that would change - and there it was, a name.

Ziigwan also filed away the name of her pack, but for entirely more self-serving reasons. It was good to be getting solid information of who lived in these parts. This encounter could turn out fruitful after all, at least for him; she would leave with little more than disappointment and the name of yet another poor lone wolf. He was definitely getting the better deal. "My name is Ziigwan Wanishin. I live with my niece, to the south - we came here..." To escape her sister? To seek purpose? For his own selfish reasons? "... looking for a better life." Much more suitably vague, and not dishonest either. It would do. "I'm sorry about your brothers. I'm sure you'll find them if your pack keeps searching." It was an easy assumption to make, that the disaster she had mentioned had happened here, especially with the rivers which ran through this part of the forest.

This friendliness-with-strangers thing was warming to him. Nice to meet you, she said, and he smiled, ears up. Was it, now? This was a land of pleasantries and politeness, and he found that he liked that kind of alien atmosphere. "Is it strange?" he quipped, when his name was proclaimed unusual, finding the notion amusing. So different indeed! "From a cold tundra many, many days' travel from here, where my name is quite common, actually."

His amusement waned as she explained her predicament further, fully laying bare its hopelessness. A year of separation and no word at all, that was a sad thing. Clearly she refused to accept it, and was still searching even now, though he guessed she never expected to find them; it's okay, she repeated, as if to convince herself. At least she was doing what was best for her in the short-term. He assumed that her new pack was full of strangers who would have no personal inclination to help her look. What a lonely existence that must be, despite being surrounded by warm bodies every night.

Ziigwan chose not to comment out of respect for her delicate situation, merely inclining his head in understanding - what little that would mean. She didn't need yet another foreigner's sympathy. That wouldn't bring her family back together. He did not judge her for her emotional moment, though she suddenly looked sheepish about it. "After a fashion," he said slowly, content to let her change the subject. "It's a different life, anyway. Time will tell if it's better. The locals are certainly friendlier." He wagged his tail once and offered a smile, not telling her that he had been one of the many unfriendly locals, a hostility ingrained into the culture of that land, a distrust of anyone not of your own. But he had left behind more than the tundra, and he was enjoying trying on different attitudes, refreshing more of his life than just where he slept and hunted.

"Do you like them, these Fallen Tree wolves?"