Mallaidh was tired. Her paws ached, her stomach growled, and her eyelids were heavy with the threat of exhaustion. She knew she had to stop soon, the last few months constantly on her feet and the last few weeks had been an extra stress induced mania that was slowing wearing thin on her young battered body. A home would be the answer to what she needed, temporary or otherwise, because her chance of survival during the upcoming winter months wasn't looking too good with each passing day. She had enough to another day, another hunt, as long as she kept going what what she needed but each day she went without proper and consistent care of herself just addled her mind.
She couldn't remember the last time she applied her salve to her wound. It was significantly smaller than what it originally looked like and it would have been long healed by now had she been in one place to care for it. Places that had the herbs she needed for the mixture but each gap in application would set her back and open it, pus collected and threatening to take over. It caused weakness, leaving her with a difficult time hunting, and luck had only been able to carry her so far.
Sure she had run dry on what luck was left, she quietly hummed to herself before her nose ran against the side of a large boulder. The scratch caused an involuntary groaned, allowing herself to step back carefully and repeat the scrap of her muzzle. The rough massage temporarily distracted her from her aching paws and weary travel, not realizing she was creeping close to a claimed territory. Mallaidh too a long breath, held it in, and released. When her lungs refilled, she noticed the change in scents scarce beginning to thicken. She cursed her distraction before she shuffled back but without leaving. The musk of other wolves wasn't so thick she felt danger of trespassing but she knew the closer she got, her chances were wide with error.
For now, she waited; rested. Mallaidh was not in prime condition to be a new recruit but it didn't hurt to try and make friends in the meantime.