Most nights if Banner felt restless she'd get up and wander for a while in an overly-polite gesture to her brother - wouldn't want to interrupt his beauty sleep, after all.  But she found today that morning had been the issue instead.  It was strange, she thought as she peered up at the still-dark sky, to be up before the rest of the world.  Well, maybe not the whole rest of the world.  That damned robin seemed awfully chipper this morning!  Glaring at the cheerful creature, she huffed and moved across the frozen ground to do what she did when all else failed: patrol the borders.

It seemed she wasn't the only one with work on the brain at this insane hour.  Slowing her previous trot to a leisurely walk, Banner called out in her low voice as she neared: Hello.  Simple enough.  She remembered this wolf from the incident at the borders several days earlier, though unfortunately they hadn't properly met yet.  Her social circle had been expanding at a glacial pace and she couldn't recall for the life of her if she'd ever even heard the light-colored male's name.  Er.. not a night owl, I take it..? she asked, eyes widening as her features morphed into a look that was half mortified and half apologetic.  It wasn't even necessarily that she'd said something idiotic (she did) but more that her delivery was so damn awkward (it definitely was)!

She let out a quiet sigh of relief when he gracefully didn't pay any notice to her awkward..ness.  Banner nodded her head, silently agreeing and acknowledging that she, too, had issues with sleep at this ungodly hour and therefore decided to make good use of herself.  Apparently if strange wolves could wander so far into Easthollow without using half a brain to deduce they weren't in Kansas anymore the pack's borders weren't as obvious as they'd imagined.

Baner, she offered in her quiet voice, the beginnings of a smile evident through her dark fur.  Nice to meet you, Mawk.  Hopefully with an usual name like that she wouldn't forget it any time soon.  Do you often have trouble sleeping? she asked, more to make conversation than anything else.  Usually when sleep eluded her it was becuase she wasn't able to quiet her mind long enough to slip into a blissful slumber, so having the opposite problem was.. confusing.  Er, you don't have to answer if that's too personal, she rushed out, suddenly wanting to kick herself.

Again, he was gracious in his response, and Banner appreciated it in a way she couldn't possibly vocalize.  Several responses were on the tip of her tongue, most having to do with how sorry she was to hear that he was having trouble sleeping, but she kept them all at bay.  Things like that didn't hold much meaning - anyone could give a one-off apology just to move along conversation.  That, and she wasn't really sure how to relate to the lightly-colored male just yet.  Was Easthollow a close-knit pack or did she have that impression simply because she'd known Valette so long?  More time was needed to figure that part out.

I'd love to, she responded, relieved cheer coloring her low voice.  I usually find it very relaxing when I can't sleep, Banner added with a shrug.  Best to stay invovled, anyway.  She offered him a a half-smile and began moving on in the direction he'd been headed before she interrupted his route.  The short lady didn't bother to look back and see if he'd follow along.  It seemed like a nervous gesture and Mawk hadn't done anything to put her at ill ease.  Have you been at Easthollow long?  My, she was full of questions tonight.