Bearclaw Valley But you know that when the truth gets told

@Zitari

Ameline shook her coat, fluffing it up so that it might guard her against the cold that threatened to creep in. She went to the sentry stone and leapt atop it, cackling to herself quietly when her paws slipped on a thin layer of frost. She circled a few times, until her pawprints melted through the silvery film, and she sat.

It was good to be back home- and with more pack members to help ensure the Valley’s future. Her mood was bright, and she squinted out into the lifting sunlight of the meadow, taking the first watch for the day with an easy sigh.

The young wolf ventured across the valley, her gaze sweeping over the area as she walked. After her time spent with Machiavelli down west, she has taken directions towards her next stop. The gold surrounding her eye glimmered in the autumn sun, shiny brightly. She was still extremely grateful for all he had done. Perhaps one day she’d get the chance to repay him.

For now though, she would focus on finding Kekoa. There was still a slimmer of hope that he was alive, after all. At least, that’s what she was convincing herself of.

Her train of thought was interrupted by the scent of another canine. Her nose had always been one of her stronger senses. It usually caught anything before her eyes or hearing ear did. The girls eyes lit up. Maybe this stranger could’ve ran into Kekoa!

Only one way to find out. She thought, picking up pace as she continued on.

At first glance, the deep honey of the woman’s pelt reminded Aneline of a brilliant, golden-blonde fox she had seen once. Her eyes sharpened as she looked again, hoping the creature had returned so she might get her paws on a rare and beautiful pelt. Her gaze softened considerably when she realized that it was a wolf that approached- though the colour of her fur was no less appealing. 

Ameline hopped down from the sentry stone and strode toward her, tail flagging over her back as she established her dominance in the area.

She slowed down once more as the stranger approached. Be cautious. That’s what she’d always been told. Just because she ran into a kind stranger once, it didn’t mean they all would be. She lowered her posture slightly, hoping the woman picked up on her friendliness. Zitari wasn’t one to pick a fight.

"Hello." She greeted, keeping an appropriate distance. The girl wouldn’t get too close. Not unless invited, anyways.

A few moments of studying the young woman reassured Ameline that she wasn’t a likely threat. Red wolves were a smaller subspecies, and she had a youthfulness to her features that led the Regina to guess she was a yearling. Still- yearlings could be fierce; and the one before her bore not only scars, but a floppy ear, possibly from broken cartilage. Had she been provoked or attacked? The woman’s cautious mien hinted at the latter.

Hullo, She greeted, casual but with some intensity. After all- this was her turf. Thith ith Bearclaw territory, She advised. You lookin’ for thomethin, or jutht pathin’ by?

Bearclaw Valley? She thought. What an interesting name. Where there any bears here? Her thoughts seemed to get ahead of themselves. She would have to give a reply first. "Passing by." She replied. 

"Lookin' for something, you could say." Her words nearly caught in her throat. Please, please, please say you’ve seen him. She wanted to plead. That wouldn’t make her brother appear any faster, though.

At least this woman- unlike the nuisance Grackle- was content to bypass the valley rather than insisting that she go through. If she wanted to join a pack, she would have mentioned it. 

She did, however, search. 

Mmmm’alright, She said, intrigued now. Whatchu lookin’ for? She asked with a tilt of her head.

"A wolf." She replied. "Red one, to be specific. Larger than me, darker fur. More brown, too. I was wonderin' if he’d passed by this way? Just as I am." She tilted her head, deep curiosity reflecting in her eyes. Unfortunately obvious.

There was a chance. Always a chance. So she was gonna take it no matter what.

Red wolves were easy enough to pick out, in a crowd. She studied the features of the one before her, trying to imagine a masculine version of her but darker, more red. Not long ago she had been surrounded by wolves of many packs- some who had coyotes among them, some who were part coyote, but red wolves were somewhat of a rarity. She frowned slightly, and shook her head. 

Doethn't thound familia, She said, in an apologetic tone. Don't thee many red wolveth, She admitted. He got a name? An', uh, what colour are hith eyeth? This might give her the opportunity to stretch her legs and visit with Swiftcurrent and Kvarsheim; she missed being a scout. But was it worth going through that effort for a drifter? There wouldn't be much use in finding him, if she couldn't find the woman who searched for him, afterwards. We got a couple packth in the area I can check with, but if you're gonna keep searchin' for him yourthelf, I won't bother to make the trip. They could strike a bargain, if the woman was willing to sacrifice her search even temporarily.