Bitterroot Valley The kombucha mushroom people

thank you for starting this! ♥ tagging for reference. :-)

vilkas is loathe to leave @Lily for too long. with her broken ankle she is left defenseless and yet ...leaving her for a few hours at a time has become an uncomfortable necessity for the raptorial firebrand. if they want to eat he has to hunt and she's in no state to assist. he leaves her to rest near a fresh water source in the shade and protection of the only trees he's seen, ensuring that she's comfortable and wishing he could give her something that might help ease the pain; but the warrior's healing skills are so rudimentary they are practically extinct and he is likely to do much more harm than good. the bitterroot valley is covered in flowers of vivid some-shade-of-purple and he barely resists the snort that threatens to push itself from his flared, black leathery nostrils. the territory was so lily that he was both amused and slightly annoyed. he's not a big fan of flowers, admittedly ( which is ironic because his companion is named after one and he likes her just fine ...in fact, more than just fine but that was neither here nor there ).

he feels comfortable enough to leave her and venture towards the north, following the snake of the river in the hopes that it might lead him towards prey. or, if he is left with no other choice, an area of river that is more populated with fish. they are close to bracken sanctuary now — they would make it back in another day he estimates, even with their slow progression. at least it's summer, he thinks. the heat is not reached it's peak for the year and prey is plentiful and does not require him to venture out of howling range from lily.

the scent of another wolf travels down river, carried upon the wind and at first he does not recognize it. he stops and lifts his head, sniffing at the air as his fiery hackles bristle and his upper lip curls back and trembles with a low growl. he shifts his body, half turned to return to lily and half pointed towards the direction of the other as he visibly deliberates. another waft of the scent triggers recognition and slowly his defensiveness and hostility abates as he follows it. he knows that scent. and he sees her soon after, barking out her name "aela!" in pleasant surprise.