Leave. That was such a horrible word for him to hear anymore. His ears leaned back as he listened to her vague story, struggling to stop his mind from filling in the blanks with unfavorable options. He shouldn't judge, especially so quickly; he'd learned that with Cas. It was hard, though, especially when it was so possible that their splintering had caused an immense amount of pain. Had they been responsible, considerate? Was that even possible when ultimately you were shrugging off responsibility and walking away from those who had depended on you?
If only he knew the whole of it; that this was actually Sahalie's former pack mate. That might be a full story he would never hear, however, as the facets of it were too numerous.
She then turned a question onto him, the curiosity in her voice
bonzerly genuine.
"Yeah," he answered, tone hinting at his steadfast awe that so few wolves could claim this same fact about their lives.
"I mean, I was born there. I'm proud of that. Of the place, of my name... all of it."
His tail swept the snow nervously behind him. He wanted to ask her more personal questions, figure out how someone could drift so easily. Had she never felt the same way about her birthplace?
Why not? But that was all too much, Cas had gotten so defensive (granted his tone had been much harsher), and... he was so scared she wouldn't have a good reason at all and he'd have to lump her in with the rest of the deserters he knew. He didn't want to judge and feel disgust, for once he just wanted to be able to get on with someone without crowding questions and fears.
"I should go. My sister is probably wondering where I snuck off to."
He pressed an earnest smile onto his face, or at least one as genuine as he could manage with the rain clouds threatening to overtake his mind. It felt good enough to pass to him. His paws had pedaled him backwards a few strides before he turned, angled to take his leave.
"Don't forget; I'll be back for that hunt."