Raven's Watch and every minute gets longer

While he picked along, slow but steady, here came the lurking worry that if he decelerated too much, it could be a time before he found the energy to drudge onward once again. The mountain range loomed nearby, a stalwart shadow, and probably, if he tried, he could fish out some trails worth something. With the cover of trees near, and fields around.. then the coast not too far beyond that, maybe..

But, no. He couldn't let himself wane. It was becoming a daily struggle to keep picking up his feet and going forward, day after day. He knew if this sore ankle got worse, it was only going to take more convincing to keep going.

When he turned from another drink, and began to pivot away from the waters with half a wince, it was then that he noticed a dark figure approaching that effectively had him frozen. She sent a chuff his way first, and by then, some semblance of understanding had started to come over him. While she was darkly-coated, and not all too tall, she was not quite the familiar visage he so dearly craved. After forcing himself to breath again, he chanced a few hesitantly small steps closer to her and therefore, away from the waters. He was careful to hide his hurts in case she came from malicious company.

He chuffed back, and tried to gather up his voice. Ah, hi.. hello, he said, gaining volume with the each syllable he tried to project enough to be heard. Nervousness started to crawl up his throat, so he swallowed thickly and tried to understand her scents on the wind. So many, of others.. Are you from near here? he asked, ready to be on his way if he was overstepping neutral boundaries, and he always worried he was.