Lost Creek Hollow there is black coal filling up our homes

As she joined him on the edge of the damp bank, he stepped back to offer her clearance to the drink that she seemed to seek as well. Her own deference in comparison to his stature allowed him to ease ever so slightly as he watched her, and from there it didn't take her long to acknowledge who he was. It more or less affirmed that Harlyn had been the one to intercept her, though there were the finer points lingering in the air that he drew in that agreed with his thoughts.

She introduced herself as he settled back onto his haunches, by then his solitary gaze cast out through the woodland. It was only for a moment, as that same gaze came back to settle on her with a friendly wave of his own tail. She was young, but for the most part seemed healthy; a fair turn around from some of those they had taken in through the late autumn.

"How are you liking the Hollow?" he opted to go with, uncertain of her tenure within their woods. His concept of time came and went, and even he could not place how many days it had been since his unfortunate encounter. If he had to guess, he suspected a few days. It had been long enough for the natural musk of the woodland to permeate her and dictate that she belonged with them. At least the lingering wonder if the cougar would return had not deterred her, and given that he had not seen many of the others he hoped that they had not disappeared in favor for safer grounds.