Firefly Ravine distant

he hadn't noticed the presence of another wolf, so his question startles him. he flinches, ears flattening, and instinctively lowers himself to the ground, belly just barely brushing the uneven earth below him. his injured paw rests gingerly on the ground, tail sweeping against his body for a moment. the response is too automatic to control, but as his gaze finds the stranger and he realizes there's nothing obviously intimidating about him, the tension leaves him. he swallows hard, finally processing the question, and nods slowly. for a moment muscle memory takes over and some subconscious part of him forgets that — well, that he hasn't got a tongue. he opens his mouth to say something, to thank the stranger for his concern maybe, and struggles for only a second before the realization strikes him and he closes his mouth quickly, eyes and ears heating with shame. he swallows again, fighting back tears now; his leg hurts and he feels so alone, and he can't even tell anyone.