she is on the trail of a stag, the scent fresh and strong. she brushes her muzzle over hoofprints in the snow, drawing from the scent what she can. the beast is in it's prime, healthy, alone. hardly good prey material, but in the slim chance it should lead to a herd, she follows. large prey is only beginning to return, and the first to do so know it. they're ghosts, especially elusive and careful; that does not mean that they are invisible, however.
Since reentering the Wilds Howl had feasted on relatively small game. Rabbits, beavers a few squirrels here and there but nothing to truly satiate him. He had been absent during the time of famine and was therefore unsure at what had his luck so low. Today it appeared that his luck would change as he stalked a doe and her previous summers fawn. Healthy but young and small enough that he thought he would take his chances.
As he watched them along came a stag, healthy and possible unforeseen difficulty in Howl's plans. With a group, he may be open to the risk, but a toe to toe with a stag meant sure injury on both sides. He waited abided his time, seeing if another opening may arise where the stag may venture off once again.
the stag does lead to a pair; a doe and a younger version of her that must be her fawn. hunger makes itself known, even as the stag moves to the doe's side, with a boldness that makes it clear he won't easily abandon his small group. disappointment curves her muzzle into a frown, even as she notices the other wolf.
swiftly, she moves around the small group; giving them a wide berth. her approach toward the dark-coated man is heralded by a soft chuff, barely audible, and a slight wag of her tail to convey her attention. "bad luck," she murmurs as she comes to a stop a short distance from him, gaze returning for a moment to the deer. "we could wait them out," she suggests. an opening could arise; however unlikely, and two had better chances than one.
Shortly after the stag’s arrival, Howl noticed a female wolf in the distance of grey and silver. She kept her distance and minded the point of view of the deer having clearly done this before. When she backed away, Howl thought perhaps she would venture off to easier prey before he heard a subtle chuff to his side along with a friendly greeting.
He nodded to her in greeting giving his tail a light wag of his own. “It might be worth it.” He stated to her suggestion of waiting. “This areas usually full of big game, but I haven’t seen many lately.” He said with a somewhat mystified tone.
she nods in agreement, willing to settle in for a little while, at least. he seems rather confused about the lack of prey, but knows enough about the lands here to know they're usually verdant, full of life and food. a resident here once, she considers, returned only in the aftermath of the shaking ground. "its the fallout from the quakes—," she explains, elaborating, "the famine's only starting to let up; this is some of the first large prey I've seen in months." it explains why they're all lean, hungry; even the best hunters among them are worn thin.
the stag shifts, glancing in their direction. it's difficult to tell if he's stopped them, in any case, he doesn't seem to be heading anywhere anytime soon. "I'm dawn," she introduces, glancing to the man in turn.
Quakes? Famine? So it wasn't his luck that his belly hadn't seen a decent meal since his arrival but the condition of the Wilds. Perhaps it would be best to leave these ones alone. Allow them to breed more prey into the population. He was no expert in ecology or the ways of other beings but the idea of reproduction he was very educated in. "Maybe we should leave them be then, allow for more in the coming seasons." What else had he missed during his absence?
Hearing that she hadn't eaten a substantial meal in a few months he looked over to her and saw how lean and fit her body was. Not outwardly skinny but built of muscle and little fat for this winter. "But if you wish, seeing as how you've been deprived in months, maybe you've earned this one" he said leaving the ultimate decision to her.
Once she introduced herself Howl had the faintest thought itching in the back of his mind. Had he met her before? She smelled familiar but they were rather close to Easthollow, perhaps she was a current member there. No, it wasn't quite strong enough... or the same... he couldn't put his paw on it. "Dawn... I feel as though I've heard that name before... Yeah, I have!" he exclaimed as in an excited whisper as his eyes brightened up. "A young daughter of a pack leader I used to be the right-hand man to years ago. That wouldn't be you now, would it? Howl. Grayday. Morningside." he said throwing out associated terms to see if any of them would land with her.
she sighs; despite her hunger, he makes a valid point. when he suggests they take a chance anyways, she shakes her head lightly. she'll survive without this meal, despite how much she longs for venison. "you're right. they deserve a chance, to grow again—but with this many hungry wolves, I can only hope they'll last the winter." they are a young, fit, group, and they certainly have a better chance to do so than most.
as if sensing the decision, the trio begins to move away, toward the shelter of the grove's edge. her attention returns to the man swiftly, however, when he admits his own familiarity. her heart skips a beat when her father, and then morningside is mentioned. grin is etched across her muzzle, and she dips her head swiftly. "that's me! I'm glad to meet you, Howl—very few people around here know of Morningside, anymore." her memories of the man might be vague, but she simply knowledge that for a time, they'd run together in her childhood pack, has her feel some extent of warm kinship for him.
her joy ebbs, then, when she realizes he must not know. "I am sorry to tell you that my father died—one, two years ago, now." expression turns somber; with his death she has come to terms, now; he had led a full life. and she liked to think he'd be truly proud of her, now.
A smile grew on his face when she confirmed his assumptions. She surely wasn't the youngster that he remembered. Far more mature now, though still quite young in comparison to himself. Always actively out and about and bringing in fresh game he hadn't had the chance to get to know her on a personal level, but he knew anything born of Grayday was bound to be splendid.
Though with the joy came to some sadness as she mentioned her father's passing. It has been some time ago but the void of a lost parent could never truly be filled. "I know. I'm sorry. I was in Easthollow when word traveled. The two packs were very close as you know doubt remember." he couldn't remember off the top of his head who had told him, or perhaps he had overheard. Valette had a special place in her heart for Easthollow and its members, a second family to her.
she nods, he does know, then. "Easthollow is a good place. I'd been living there since recently—now I'm looking to start my own pack to the north. it will be like Morningside was; a family," she reveals, wondering then about him.
"and you? what had you return to Teekon?" he smells of no distinct place, but of earth and wind, marking him as a loner. he is older than she by two years, she guess, not exactly the prime age to be such. was it nostalgia that had drawn him back, or something besides?
Echoing his previous through of Morningside and Easthollows kinship Dawn shared that she too had been apart of Easthollow though in much more recent times. She also mentioned the formation of her own pack and her desire to replicate what her father once had. "I'm sure you'll do your member proud" he stated earnestly.
When asked of his intentions he felt no need to hide the truth seeing as she had been there and known of his past. "I came back to visit them... Heartha and the kids" he stated knowing that she would understand it as their burial. "You wouldn't know if another group resides there currently would you?" he asked knowing that without Morningside there it was open to claim. It had been a great territory, high real-estate value.
the woman smiles lightly at his confidence, dipping her muzzle. she hoped so; only time would tell.
her expression grows somber at his admittance, she remembers the bloodied grief of that day. her chest tightens, though she admits, "I think so. I was in the area not long ago, there were markers, scents there." she could not imagine what she'd feel should stranger claim silvertip, where her father's bones lay buried. it felt almost as bad as another group on the plateau. it stood as a relic to what had been, wolves she'd loved had lived and died there. she decided then she'd go back, sometime soon, and confirm it.
she sighs. but there's still an offer she wants to make, and so, "you were a friend of moringside, and easthollow too. if you need it, our borders are open to you," she offers. he probably has some purpose here besides falling in with a pack, as he'd mentioned. but it feels right to make the offer, even if he never need to accept. they exchange a few more words, and then the huntress takes her leave, intent on following the deer a little while longer before heading back north.