Opportunities abound

The kind female told him of her story, how she had wandered for a little while before finding a pack to settle into. She even offered a spot for him. But, he just wasn't sure he was ready yet. He had been wandering so long, had any negative interactions with other wolves, that he was almost afraid of joining a pack. He didn't know their structure, or how they interacted with each other. For many wolves, it just came natural, like his submissiveness toward most other wolves. But, many of those wolves had experiences in packs already. "Thank you," he said gratefully. "I'll keep that in mind." And he would. She was very nice, and he figured he joined any pack, it would be with a friend he met, not an opponent. At least then he felt like he had an alley and a fighting chance of fitting in.

There was the added benefit of hearing her laughter. It was quite the sound, and he almost told her not to hold it back. However, it felt weird to even think it, so he kept his mouth shut. She had saved him from the crab, and for that he was grateful. He wasn't used to all the little creatures on the beach. Thistle let him know that they're actually good to eat. He looked back at the scurrying crab and decided that one could get away. "Maybe not that one," he said. Looking back to her, he tried to continue the conversation. "So, um, have you lived here long?" If she had, maybe she could give him some insight on the area.