Bitterroot Valley iv. loneliness

The boy had spent the day wandering through the valley, craving some sort of adventure of his own. He hadn't found much, disappointingly. Ever the optimist, Ali kept his feet moving and his nose to the ground-- but he didn't forget to stay aware of his surroundings.
Things had a way of going wrong for Alarian when he let his attention slip. So, being the thoughtful and rational creature that he was, the boy's first reaction when he spotted the mouse was to give frantic chase. It was tiny and skinny, and no thoughts of eating it crossed his mind. Mostly Ali was just too bored to ignore it. His focus zeroed in on the little thing, paws scrabbling at the ground around it when he drew near enough to the fleeing creature.
He didn't notice the mute girl until he nearly crashed into her, and as soon as he was alerted to her presence, recognition flashed through him. Her scent-- that coat-- a terrified yelp ripped from his throat and he recoiled, lowering his body close to the ground. Ears flat, tail tucked between his legs, he stared at her. It didn't register that she was wounded-- only that she was dangerous, and he had walked right into her.