Everything was already different. Jhala felt homesick and guilty, her feet heavy as she walked. She'd left Capri by herself to deal with everything that was going on- more specifically this 'heat' that Vuk was in. But she wasn't a good Beta for Porcupine Ridge. There were too many rules and she was better and following them than she was enforcing them. She'd let her alpha's down a handful of times, and she didn't know how to handle that. Anwyl had left the pack, making even more problems for the young girl... It was time to restart, she thought. A new life would be good for her.

But still, she couldn't shake the overwhelming guilt she felt for leaving. 

For now, the dark girl walked along a lower part of the grotto, her tail swinging as she went. Her warm, amber eyes glowed in the sunlight, the spring air flowing softly around her. She was looking now for the second leader of the pack, although she wasn't even sure if there was one. She merely assumed that Reek had a mate, and that it was a woman. She looked curiously for any signs of wolves, following trails of wolves that didn't have a distinguishable name. 

It seemed she was going after the wrong scent, for mere moments later a female approached her with questions. Not that Jhala knew that this was the Queen she was seeking, but she wouldn't have found her anyway it appeared. The girl kept walking, the other now trailing beside her. Jhala was pretty big for a yearling, but still not fully grown. She had a few months before she would peek, and by then she'd be considered rather large for her species and gender. She was bulky too, muscular and thick besides her rather slim waist- mostly from the lack of food in the winter. She wondered if the other could tell her age, or even if she cared.

"Who are you?" she asked, not answering the question. Maybe she would, maybe she wouldn't. Did this woman even care? "'m Jhala," she then said, feeling that she should probably introduce herself regardless. She didn't place her title with her name, it was not important to her anymore. She did not add that she was from Porcupine Ridge, it did not matter anymore.

Jhala's ears perked with surprise, but she quickly shook her head and lowered herself to the ground. "God, no, I'm so so so sorry," she muttered quickly and fearfully. She'd already gone and fucked up again. On like the second day too. "I was tryna find you- seriously- but I guess I didn't have the right scent and like- God I'm so so sorry miss," she rambled anxiously, her head still shaking with embarrassment. 

"I'm- I'm fine," she then answered, "I just left home and, I feel bad ya know? I like, left them hanging'," she added softly, ears falling to her crown. She didn't know Tavi very well, and felt even worse unloading problems on her- but this was her Alphess, her Queen. She couldn't just not answer questions. Jhala felt worse, like an uninformed moron. She should've known that this was Reek's mate. She should've known.

This woman was unlike anyone Jhala had ever met before. She was similar, in ways, on a good day Jhala could be pretty good with comebacks and quick retorts. Tavi was also bold and, seemed, to care enough about how Jhala felt. She thought briefly back to the day she had defeated Anwyl in the Delta position, and the day following where she went to check on him. If it wasn't for all these quick remarks being aimed at her, Jhala might've been a bit more on her feet in the conversation, but for now she felt completely blind-sided with everything that occurred. 

The girl shrugged, her gaze falling to her feet and a small smile entering her face. "I guess so," she replied quietly, but looked up with a bit of a happier expression. "I probably woulda been pretty miserable," she added,  tail waving gently behind her as her usually personality began to flow through her again. Still so young, Jhala was still swayed so easily with different topics and moods- today was no exception, especially when Tavi asked a second question.

Her ears flicked downwards, and she shrugged again. "I uh... I was the Beta," she answered quietly. Hoping the other would judge her too harshly for leaving such a 'grand' position. "I don't think I was helpful in that sort of pack though anyway."

The girl didn't respond. Tavi seemed upbeat (kind of) about her situation, and even mentioned that hard work could earn her her rank back. But Jhala wasn't really sure she wanted her rank back. She'd been a bit weary about it to begin with, and even as she felt she was getting the hang of it she constantly let her leaders and pack down. It was not a burden she felt she was capable of handling so early on in such a new pack. She smiled weakly, shrugging gently. "I think so too," she agreed, but as Tavi's tone dropped off, Jhala felt the conversation had come to an end. She dipped her head gently to her alpha before she parted. "I'm gonna go refresh some borders," she informed her quietly, a slight smile on her muzzle. "Thanks, Tavi,"

With that, she left. Jhala couldn't decide if Tavi cared for her or not, and the same for herself. She moved swiftly to the nearest border, her ears low as she pondered the conversation in full.