Phantom Hollow while you runnin through the banners [m]

I don't even know why this post is this many words, go figure.

Though things weren't as bad as they were weeks ago, that didn't mean that Mal didn't wander some times to go hunting.  The hollow looked different in winter, but it seemed like the change of seasons and the return of prey did nothing to bring it back to life.  It was still too quiet, just whiter than it used to be.  Mal wasn't finding anything so far, but he'd wander a little longer before turning back home and scratching this forest off the list of places to visit for a few months.  It just wasn't worth the effort.

The thing about this place was that its relative deadness made it easier to spot something that was moving, something that made noise, was far easier to spot.  Such was the case with the shadow in the mists a ways ahead, moving away from him -- curious, he moved to catch up.  At the very least he should get close enough to know who prowled through here so he could warn his wolves if necessary.  

It didn't take long for him to cross her previous trail (so he assumed), she at least wasn't one of the murderous trio, and didn't seem to carry a familiar pack scent.  Safe to talk to, probably?  Yeah.  You know what, that sounds good actually.  He took a slightly hurried pace to start before realizing that wouldn't make him look like a particularly cool dude, he slowed to a comfortable trot and followed the footsteps in the snow.

The mists melted before him -- the dark wolf was hunting, looked like, so Mal slowed to a halt, and called out relatively quietly, Anything out there?  Mal's gaze was inquisitive, and a slow wag of his tail to point out he wasn't here to try and steal stuff if there was any.  Nah, he was just here to find out who this was -- a perfectly normal adventure.