It was peculiar now, being away from the woods. A wolf that was once a traveller of regions had turned into a guardian that lacked any sense of adventure. As this became clear to him, he struck out on a quest to find something new; something that was not cast in shadows or drowned out by the calls of crows and ravens.

The farther he got, the more familiar things became, however. He’d lived in the valley before, long ago, giving the terrain a ghostly sort of familiarity as he meandered through the meadow. Distracted by the past, by the ghosts that walked alongside him, Kove nearly missed the female. In a rare moment of total oblivion, he stopped just short of colliding with the other wolf, at whom he cast an apologetic glance. “Ah... sorry about that,” he added with a dip of his head, a second apology mixed with a greeting.

Whilst the female stepped back Kove remained where he’d stopped, watching her was muted curiosity; she was entirely unfamiliar to him, with not even a single scent on her pelt that he could pick out as knowing. Still, he gave her his full attention, even as she stammered through her words. Briefly, a smile made the corners of his lips twitch as her voice rose then fell back to a normal volume, a combination of amusement and interest in his gaze.

“I don’t mean you any harm,” he assured her, noticing her nerves. “You can relax. We are both just exploring beyond our homes, aren’t we?” They were on even grounds, as far as he was concerned.

The bit of information offered made everything fall into place. It gave him an understanding of her peculiar behaviour, of her nervousness and stammering. “It’s easy to forget how to converse with others when you’ve been separated from them for any length of time,” he noted. “Don’t feel bad.” He’d been so quick to jump down the throats of others back when he’d started to reintroduce himself to the social scene, so he could understand the strangeness of it all.

The strangeness, and the benefits.

“Are you currently without a home, then?” he asked. “Do you not have anyone with you?” A true lone wolf, having not a single soul with them—or perhaps that was not true. Kove had always been a perceptive man, listening to and assessing his surroundings at every point, which made catching the sound of approaching steps an easy feat. A single ear swiveled in the direction whence the steps originated but his head did not yet follow, allowing the unknown guest to remain unseen, should that be her choice.

Just as he had so many years ago, she left her hone willingly. Though the reasons were different their quests were, at least at one point in his own journey, the same: to find where they were meant to be. The quest to find stability was something he could appreciate—though, if she had set out on her own, just as he had, then perhaps the friend he believed she had was anything but. Well, in that case...

“If you’re searching for a home, I have a pack just a short distance from here,” he offered. “The forest can be a bit intimidating but there are only kind souls within our ranks. I believe you might fare well there.” It was time for blood beyond his own and the Melonii line to join the woods, to ensure its strength. Besides, the children were aging and in need of being introduced to mentalities that were neither born into nor altered by Blackfeather’s pull.

It was time for them to evolve.

The shift in the wind interrupted his thinking and he turned his head in the direction of the other, ears erect. “You are no longer hidden,” he noted, then cast a glance towards Shisu. “Do you have anyone travelling with you? Anyone that might have tagged along?” If not, then who might be watching them?