Keeping his head low and existence beneath the radar of many, step by step, progress had gently guided his weary steps back to this valley once more. Familiarity felt odd, though so distinct that he couldn't help but revel. It had been a long time. Relief was awfully short-lived, and his search was far from over he knew deep in his bones. Though these lands did make him remember (funnily enough, for him) Ukko with an odd faraway ache. Soon, he wondered what else he could dredge up over these old ghosts of a life spent as he kept going towards the mountains--in the end, hopefully, once he could know for sure.

For now, though, he was tired, he was thirsty, a bath wouldn't hurt him any.. so the scent of water lured him towards the lake he might have once known the name for if he tried to recall. For now he just thought to meet the needs, then figure the rest out. He had scraped by so far, somehow, so he would continue to simply go.

On delicate steps, the pale wanderer came to his nearest point of the water's edge and noticed the others also at the lake--first by smelling their duck of the crisp breeze, honestly, but he did not approach them any because he knew better to risk engaging unnecessarily when he was this exhausted. They were a short shore away for now.. so he took the chance to slake his thirst first and foremost, even if it meant telling his position so plainly by the ripples he made.

As cold water ran down his throat, by the second, he felt far more whole. Quenched, at least, now he was no longer focused on the tackiness in his mouth, and he could muster up a more proper watchfulness towards his company. It's a little better.. but he still does find a vague glimmer of concern just because he's outnumbered, and probably easily outgunned.

He slowly, deliberately, lifted his scarred head from the waters when he saw her motion--the shake of her midnight furs. He felt his jaw tighten, then teeth clench, though the rest of him remained lax. Somewhere, he feels like still lingering on the thought of Ukko too. It's nothing like that, not now--but, he is reaching for anything he can get when all the rest has been dead ends.

All he can do is level her with a long look back, his eyes searching, or maybe only wandering. He wants a better look at the other wolf too and knows he has to engage, somehow, if he wants any chance; it is either that or slip away unnoticed, forgetting about this entirely. He worries that may not be helpful, so decided to unroot himself well enough to step a few paces their way (best he could while still clinging close to the lakeshore) and hope he could make do. "Are you.." he rasped, trying. "Wanderers?"