Cold Water Creek or was something more wicked in store

She had lost track of the days that had passed since she had doubled back on her trail. Vesper had shot east, crossing beyond the foothills to more uncharted territory. The unfamiliarity had begun to warp to something more familiar, the uncertainty not entirely gnawing on her as it had before. But this was not a lapse in the discouraging turn of events, nor an acquiescence to the fact that she was alone. It had simply become far easier to keep going forward, to keep putting one foot in front of the other even if the journey had become mindless.

She had gotten fortunate here, along the winding curvature of the creek. A hare had been caught unaware in her maw minutes before and now she jogged haphazardly through the shallows of the creek to cross. Finding somewhere to settle in and chow down was priority number one. She may not have been directing her thoughts to what was rapidly becoming the past, but at least survival was somewhere higher up on the function list.

Along an old path – a path no doubt worn in by other canines that once inhabited the territory – she paused, eager to begin tearing skin from sinew. Food had been a little lacking once she had gotten away from more frequented hunting grounds, so a successful catch finally on her part was a welcome relief to the growing pile of burdens. She hadn't quite worked up the gumption to just wander up and see if she could talk her way into somewhere, but the thought was growing. The opportunities were there, if only she would take a moment and see them.

With daybreak washing away the overnight darkness, she pulled at the tender meat in peace.

Even though he was still freakishly thin Tikhon was starting to feel much better since coming to the Vale. He felt like he was starting to get his strength back now that he was eating more regularly. While he still didn't feel he was up to hunting he did try to make up for what he was talking in other ways. Earlier that morning he'd managed to complete a border patrol and then in the afternoon he sat with one of the puppies so it's mother could have some time to herself. That had been a little awkward but he also knew he couldn't get used to the children if he didn't spend time around them. So she needed help and he offered and once she had returned after an hour or so he'd been free to do as he pleased.

It had been far too long since he'd actively searched for Lorcan and now that he was feeling better it was time for him to get back to that. Since it was so late in the day Tik didn't plan to be gone long or go far but he didn't think it would hurt to look around. Not to mention he could get to know the lands around his home much better. So he'd left the safety of the Vale and headed in a southerly direction paying close attention to the forest around him as he traveled. He soon came to a creek which he drank from before moving on following the creek.

It was the scent of blood that caught his attention and caused a low rumble of his stomach. A fresh kill that his mind couldn't get away from, it was more focused on the meal to be had than the fact there could be another wolf calling it their meal. Tikhon followed the scent along a path away from the creek a little ways until he came across the source of the scent. There he found a woman with the rabbit and be knew then he would have to wait until he returned to the Vale to eat. She didn't smell of a pack so he believed her to be loner therefore she needed the rabbit more than he did. “Sorry to interrupt, I smelled the rabbit and thought I would check it out,” he apologized as he turned to go back down the path.

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