Silver Creek Part One: Be Humble

The fact that Laika's scent was faint didn't slip past Grace, but the yearling simply assumed she was out scouting, though she couldn't remember the pale woman ever having shown such an interest. Then again, she'd only truly been friends with Esaro back in those days -- the others she'd simply known of, been aquainted with as packmates -- so who was she to assume Scouting wasn't something Laika did now?

Casmir's scent washed over her moments before he came into view, settling on his own haunches just a couple feet away with a rough "hey" thrown her way: clearly, he wasn't in a good mood.... 

                              "He-hey, Casmir. Everything okay?"

Her front paws shifted nervously, her tongue even darting out to lick at her chops in anxiety a few times -- she'd accepted that the man wasn't going to hurt her, but she was still wrestling with her own guilt. Normally, while her stutter would have vanished upon realizing she was safe, it stayed, even if less noticeable -- perhaps this was because the fear of being rejected also stayed, the fear that not all could forgive her like the Beta had for turning her back on them in a moment of need. Sometimes, she rationalized that her bum leg would have just held them back, that she wouldn't have been a use, but to falsley admit that she was a burden wounded even her short pride. The truth of it all was that she was a coward: Luke's treatment of not just Nova but her had spooked her, and without Esaro to anchor her there, she'd turned and run to the only other support she thought she had, in Nova. 

                                                                                                "I've gotta g-go back to the Strath and get my herbal store -- want t-to go for a walk? Y'look a little.... Pent up?"

Perhaps a good walk would ease his mind -- if not, she could go later herself and get the job done -- and the russet girl would be glad for the company. Even she with her gimpy leg could handle a large load of herbs, assuming she could find a pelt or leaves to wrap them all in.