Whitebark Stream every hurricane gets its name from a girl like this

He had such high hopes, but the answer that came from across the river squandered them fast. So much time had been wasted following this fools errand to only be stopped by the icy grip of winter itself. Reek snorted with displeasure; a thin and whispy plume of warm breath followed in it's wake. Once more, he cast his eyes low and looked down at the thin layer of ice that seperated him from his next meal. He was a risk-taker by nature, but Reek knew what battles to fight. A fight with hypothermia was one he would not win.

The stranger from across the frozen stream drew ever closer and continued on, further discouraging Reek from pursuit of the herd. Of course, he couldn't rust her— she was but a stranger, and Reek expected no such kindness from someone he did not know. That wasn't how the world worked, he thought. More-so, he had begun to think this way as of late.

"That doesn't really help," admitted Reek with a subtle twinge of distaste. "I mean, thanks though." If the cougar that had mauled Scarlett remained in the area, her word could have been true. Reek wasn't willing to take that chance now that two of his pack members relied solely on him.

"You from around here?" he asked after a beat. It was rare to see another wolf this far north who wasn't activly looking for a home.