Alpine Lake A Thwack of Thought

Part of her—her inner Caru—felt bad for this confused stranger and wished she could help him. But she withdrew a few feet as he questioned his own body parts, as if afraid the condition might be catching. Masquerade was well out of her depth with this kind of disordered behavior. All she could offer him was more advice.

I don’t know, she said evenly when he licked at his paw again. I’m here to scout. If you’re asking if I’ve ever trespassed on another pack’s claim: no. It happened occasionally where I used to live, she explained, a breath shuddering from her before she continued, and we never took kindly to it. Often our Bjerns went straight for the kill.

Hopefully her cautionary tale would knock some more sense into him. Masque arched a brow and felt torn between lingering here with this intriguing if unstable stranger and continuing her own task. Perhaps had he been of sounder mind, she would’ve considered combining them a little and trying to recruit this man.

Her marigold eyes cut from the crown of his head to his overgrown toenails and Masque could only think, There’s no way. That decided her: she didn’t want to waste anyone’s time and would dip as quickly and politely as possible.

No worries. :)