As a wolf of rank, she was accepting of his compliance. But as a wolf that clung deeply to the past as an ‘unknown’, the feeling of being heeded was still strange. She did her best not to mind the unease, focusing instead on fulfilling her responsibility to the unknown soul. Though before he came too near, she gave yet another inspection to his person, walking smoothly around his dark hide with nose quivering. If this was some ploy by the Creek she wanted it revealed before placing her pack at risk. It was bothersome that she needed to go to such lengths, but she accepted that this was now the way of their world and simply adapted to it thusly.
After her sweep of him completed by the return to his front, she nodded her approval then led the way beyond the border. Each step was quiet to match the tune of night, no press too hard lest she stir the nightly fodder to sing of their disruption. She made quick work through the brushes surrounding the pines, following an unseen path toward a temporary holding cache. “You will rest here,” she affirmed, standing aside that the male might see the small hallow of the tree. Wafting from its keep was the aroma of dried kill, a carcass perhaps or a hind-leg left for a meal in the morning. But something should the wanderer succumb to hunger. Gently, she gestured with a nudge of her muzzle. “You may go in, I will stand as your guard until the morning. Find your rest now…” Strangely, it was then that she realized she hadn't a name to call him by, nor offered hers in proper introduction.
"Apologies," she sought to correct the error before it lingered for longer. "I am Xi'nuata, warrior to the Northstar Vale. May I know your name?" |