jealousy grabbed lestan again. he told himself it was perfectly natural to admire someone like wake, and that such admiration did not necessarily indicate anything more than — than that. 
but he remembered again how the winterwolf had looked upon him, how they — no. no. it was unfair to assume of kirain what he had. 
lestan was grateful that her attention seemed to be on hunting as well. he put his nose down toward the leaves and inhaled through the earthen rot and degenerating litter. "ground squirrels. they're down far to avoid the c-cold," he hummed, gathering more details as he circled like a very large fox.
was it worth the rush of energy in a storm for what would amount to a few bites? should they not wait out the snow in hunger and search afterward? lestan lifted his head, listening to the wind.