As of late Caiaphas had been more venturous, if not for the judicial reason that winter was soon upon them. Before long they would be snowbound, hovering and slavering creatures famished by icefall and wind. This made the wraith restless, and driven by her intensity, Caiaphas found herself in the heart of a territory she had never ventured in before.

As an Outrider, this almost pleased her. But as a coyote of many reservations, a pall of darkness consumed her -- she had always been of the conviction that what existed without her knowledge existed without her consent -- and here was a veritable kingdom, rife with conifers and life beyond her knowing.

The sound of upheaved earth scattering over brittle snow quick brought Caiaphas to attention -- with sharp ears pressed forwards, the coywolf turned her attention to the source of the noise. It was not hard to discern between the empty hall of solemnly lined trees and the sparse smattering of brittle fern the bent form of a digging wolf -- without fear, Caiaphas approached her.

The wolf Caiaphas did not recognize, though she bore slender features much like Caiaphas' own. A precursory inhalation foretold that the female bore no scent of pack affiliation, though there hung in the air the curdled scent of iron and blood. Caiaphas regarded the narrow creature thoughtfully, her voice venturing without trepidation into the air. "Is that blood?"

If anything, Byl's reply further stirred Caiaphas' interest. Her falcon-yellow eyes fell on the brown blood that riddled the gaunt female's frame -- notably without apprehension or terror. Caiaphas had witnessed many terrible things in the world, and blood was the least of them. If anything it made for interesting conversation.

"Who's?" She queried, her voice insistent. If this did not loudly express that Caiaphas was no more stable than Byl, not much would. She simply must know -- it mattered not if this woman seemed altered -- in many ways, Caiaphas was too. Her intrepid gaze was unwavering as she awaited answer.

She had not expected the wolf to ask her if she wanted some -- though in retrospect, this was not the strangest thing she had ever been asked. She didn't really revel in the idea of smearing blood on her unkempt pelt, though it likely would have done little to dirty her further.

"It depends." She answered cattily, regarding the strange woman with her typical immodest stare. "Is there a fresh source?" She didn't really like the idea of old blood besmirching her, least of all blood worn by this clearly addled creature.

The slender wretch had little time to gauge the senseless blather of the woman besides her, for her attention suddenly divested upon the rustle in the unfathomable wilderness. Both enormous ears pressed forwards in alarm, and she scoured the shivering shadows for the offender.

Byl seemed distracted too, and with a sharp hiss Caiaphas sought to snap her from her retrieve. "Where?" She inquired keenly, the salient gleam of her gaze bent towards the shadows.

If Caiaphas felt any consternation due to the wolf's irrational actions, she sheathed it well. With a low growl she tilted her angular muzzle to the ground, her fierce eyes scouring the quivering thicket for the form of their observer.

She was reluctant to turn her entire attention away from the erratic wolf, and such, hung back, her breath heavy and baited. "Get it." She hissed, lowering her lithe body into a crouch. "Kill it." She whispered hushedly, motioning for the other to go first.

Wickedly, she waited for the creature to blindly chase after whatever apparition haunted the sedges -- and no sooner did Byl go, Caiaphas stole off quickly, silently -- back towards the Sound where she belonged.