Spotted Eagle Mountain To the outside, the dead leaves laid on the lawn

She woke with a quiet cough and stirred some, forgetting temporarily where she was or what was happening. But the pain from her sore muscles and pressure wounds was a quick reminder. And when everything came flooding back, memories of Mahler had her gaze flying over to where he lay at the entrance to the cave. She swallowed, and the dryness of her throat made her wince. She winced again and she shifted to rest against the wall. She stared at him for a few silent moments. She was feeling a bit more herself today than she had in however long she had been here. She couldn't decide if she was angry that he was here. She was sure she would have died otherwise, but that knowledge didn't just automatically erase all the hurt and bitterness she had harbored for so long. Of all the wolves to find her, it had to be Mahler. 

But almost dying had a way of making you see things differently. She couldn't help but feel like there was a reason he had been the one to find her and bring her a little further back from the grips of death.  So she was left feeling confused and conflicted, something her still foggy brain wasn't quite prepared to deal with yet. She cleared her throat and winced again. How did you find me? she asked, her voice raspy and too quiet as it moved through her ravaged throat. When had she even spoken last? She didn't know. She wasn't even sure how long she had been here.