He recalled hearing @Valour say he found @Hela in the Caldera back when the boy had first brought her to the Haunt. Black Had hadn't actually been inside of it before, only passed it by. So on he and @Tzila's way back from their extended outing, he split from her to investigate it himself. No one had been here in quite some time, it seemed, but there were faint relics of a pack that once was.

A large boulder sat by its lonesome in the open, looking quite out of place. He approached it inquisitively and was met with the stench of bodily decay. Some unfortunate creature laid crushed beneath it, unrecognizable from what few remaining bones jutted out. Whatever it was had supplied the local scavengers with a decent meal, at least. An earthquake was no doubt the culprit. He stood over the crude grave as he studied it coldly, unaware of any living being's presence here in this ghost town.

So absorbed in his studies, he didn't notice the presence of another until she spoke up behind him. With a start, he turned to face her with a flash of panic in his eyes, though it quickly faded, as it was obvious she had no ill-intentions. His fluttering heart stilled, hard as it was to shake his instincts after years of battle.

More like studying, He corrected calmly, turning back to the boulder. I've no idea who or what this was, I just know a boy from my pack rescued a girl from this Caldera a while back. Probably from the likes of this, if he had to guess.

From the size of the bones... probably, He supposed with a cant of his head. If it was a wolf, did Hela know them? He could ask her, but it wasn't enough of a pressing matter for him to be arsed. Besides, he knew she wouldn't be inclined to talk about it if that were the case.

Yet another question came his way, which he answered in a jesting manner, That something, maybe a wolf, died here. He grinned at his dry humor, unperturbed that he was making light of someone else's death right by their gravesite. They were long gone, and Black Hat held no belief in the afterlife or anything of the sort. Hell, even if he did, he'd probably do it anyway, because he was just that shamelessly deplorable.

He agreed with what she was getting at, and he walked over to where she was digging, inclined to help her. These were trying times, after all. But she stopped to ask if he knew of anyone who'd gone missing. Radar came to mind, but he didn't find her important enough to bring up. No, He answered simply, then started digging alongside her, testing different spots until he found one free of roots.

Black Hat began shoveling with more effort then, sending debris flying behind him. He wouldn't mind sharing what was left of this alleged wolf carcass with a like-minded individual. He wasn't famished enough to fight the woman over the measly scraps, anyway.

Black Hat appreciated how they rode on the same wavelength, making words unnecessary. He heard the woman tug at something with success but didn't back up until he grabbed hold of something, himself. It was a hind leg, and he yanked and yanked, occasionally twisting his head until part of it popped off. Dropping it, he glanced over at her, and his mouth watered from the smell of grey matter. The size and shape of the skull — or what he could make of it — confirmed that the victim was, in fact, of the wolf variety. He didn't think much of it.

Not a bad find. We got more out of it than I expected, He said conversationally. What's your name, stranger?

Black Hat didn't expect her to decline offering her name, but he supposed she had a point. Even if they did meet again, knowing one another's names likely wouldn't make a difference in anything. Fair enough, He uttered, sliding onto his belly. You're a traveler? He wasn't always much of a talker, but it'd be nice to have something to break the monotony of stripping meat from bone.

He presumed she meant the earthquakes. Many were on the move due to the drought of prey. He was fortunate enough to not be one of them by force... yet, anyway. Not so much. My pack is nearby; I was just on my way back from an extended outing. He gnawed away at the bone, stripping away all it was worth.

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