Northstar Vale One Week Later

Descending into the vale, River picked a careful path forward, moving in stealth. She had her nose to the ground and deer tracks to guide her, all of her focused on locating the herd so that she might harry a doe to its inexpedient demise.

She became distracted at the sound of a voice crying out, utterly anguished. Though River hesitated to locate the source, curiosity eventually overcame her hunger, and she abandoned the hunt to find a distraught she-wolf standing over the remnants of a cave-in. The Sandraudiga studied her profile for a moment, drawing in her tawny features with sad recognition.

She knew grief when she saw it. She remembered well the sight of her own reflection after her children had passed, and the sight of her bereaved mate. She hated to see it on another wolf.

Unable to find the words, River kept her distance and reclined upon her haunches, hanging her head as she watched. She politely cleared her throat for attention, waiting to see if the wolf preferred to be left alone.