Swiftcurrent Creek welcome home

Katya meandered along the tributary's bank, carefully picking her path around sharp fragments of fishbone or rock. Her steel-gray pelt glowed silver in the afternoon sun as her bright blue eyes scanned her surroundings.

She still had yet to meet all of Morningside, but she had an exhaustive last few days and needed some time to herself. Taking a couple days' hike had seemed like a fine idea--one last adventure to give her new residence time to adjust to the newcomers and Khoe's pups. Even when she was alone, she saw, smelled, and heard the activity of other wolves everywhere in the valley. A week ago she could have ignored them, but now that she was attuned to Morningside scents and calls, she could also distinguish what wasn't distinctly her pack's.

She inhaled, tasting the air. Other than the cool fragrance of water and stone, she catches the fresh scent of lone wolf. Nothing to worry about, she reassures herself. They were just passing through, like she was mere days ago. Still, something about it bothered her, even though the scent was nowhere near Morningside. Trusting her intuition, she treads quickly but lightly, steeling herself for an encounter.