Overture Downs One step forward

@Vuk

A month has come and gone since he lost Thistle. Although his surface injuries were healing thanks to the help of @Sindri, much of Evergreen remains broken; a picture shattered upon the floor and haphazardly glued together. He escapes from Easthollow's protective embrace, and sets forth a goal of getting himself back in better physical condition. With his vision harmed, the world is different. Balance thrown off for distance is difficult to determine. The bearish wolf finds himself determined, yet frustrated by his new life. Vision is not something he's ever heard of being restored, and he is only dealt half of the struggle his mother, Oki, lived with. He almost wishes he could make the journey back, to tell them of the news and seek his family's comfort. Easthollow is kind to assist him, but it did not feel the same.

Exhaling a deep breath, Evergreen grumps as he clips a small boulder on his left that he hadn't spotted in time. His round ears swerve, and feels the need to throw a tantrum akin to a spoiled pup. He knows that won't get him anywhere, so he proceeds once more, striding with purpose despite there being no specific target in mind for his wandering.

her leg bears her weight almost as easily as before the incident - she'd rather not think of it as anything but just that, an incident - but there is still a hurt to it, and overuse brings about a deep-searing ache she feels a part of her now as much as her missing tail is. there's a rather large pile of emotion she's still not stopped to feel following it, but they're doing just fine under the carpet. 

her mind isn't really on what she's doing, as shown by the various debris caught in her pelt and the fact that she has little idea where she is. she can't have possibly gone that far from the hollow, but before she can stop to investigate her surrounds she's surprised by her sudden proximity to another. it's the rustling of undergrowth and a groan that has her veer towards the sound, and his sudden, looming, dark figure that has her freeze totally. very few she's met have been larger than her, save treason and the wolf on the mountain. this stranger has stark similarities to the latter, and her heart plummets so quickly she would not be surprised in the least to look down and see it on the ground between her paws. logic catches up a moment later, and it becomes clear this isn't him. "hi." she whispers, the sound seeming especially small coming from a big a wolf as her.

Try as he might to focus on his surroundings, the presence of another takes him by surprise, too. The bearish wolf startles and halts; his muscles tense and eyes widen. He almost expects to see the murderer come to taunt him, mixing dreams with reality. It is not him. Not the monster that took his sister's life, and left him incomplete forever more. Alas, Evergreen deflates; the fur that stood on end along his scruff gradually falling back into place. His expression turns shy, sheepish almost, and Evergreen forces himself to smile at the girl. Uh, hey, he greets back, just as casual. You scared me for a second there. The bearish wolf chuckles. It's quality not as cheery as it once was. What's up? Are... you okay? This time he furrows his eyebrows in concern as he glances over her healing wounds... birds of a feather really do flock together, huh.

the tension leaks away, and it's almost as if she can feel it fading. she relaxes, too, and the slope of her shoulders rounds out, the stub of her tail twitching in relief and friendliness, very much forgetting that the movement is no longer as visible as it once was. "I, uh, thought you were someone else for a second." she offers, slightly glad that the fear was mutual and she wasn't being stupid. "I'm Vuk." her tongue moves over her lips to dispell the final bit of nervousness, for the man seems amiable and puts her fears to rest well enough.

Ah, mistaken identity.

Oh, Evergreen hums, Are you looking for them? Perhaps he... could be of assistance, at least when it came to keeping her company. His eyesight obviously isn't what it used to be, but maybe it'd be better to look for something than simply wandering around. A goal. Goals are nice. He needs purpose right now more than ever, if he's honest.

She introduces herself as Vuk. Nice to meet you. I'm Evergreen, he pauses before adding; Of Easthollow.

her gaze widens a brief second at the suggestion that she might be seeking him out. "no! I mean, well, no." she hopes to move on quickly from her blunder, and latches onto his introduction and offers one of her own. 

"I'm from Lost Creek Hollow." she supposes there are a lot of packs around here - packs that she ultimately managed to miss completely until she collided with the Hollow's borders. "What's Easthollow like?"

Vuk's outburst takes the bearish male off-guard, but it did give him further insight; this person she mistook him for must not be a friendly face. He keeps his eyebrows furrowed in concern for a moment longer before he lets the conversation go with another smile and nod combo. As curious as he is, Evergreen won't pry further.

His round ears perk with interest as she announces her pack. Oh! We are neighbors then, he exclaims; although assumes Vuk might already know this information. It makes him relieved. Easthollow is... a family. I suppose that's the best way to put it. Close-knit, and we all work together to make sure everything runs smoothly. Nice place. Evergreen just isn't sure he fits anymore, if he's honest. How's Lost Creek Hollow?