Bearclaw Valley and i hit the ground running

Cole stepped forward, his movements steady, deliberate. He did not hesitate as he lowered himself beside her, shoulders squared but posture loose, as if he hadn't spent days—weeks—avoiding this moment.
His eyes flickered over the items she had gathered, hands moving instinctively to help organize them. There was a careful precision to the way he worked, the same methodical nature he applied to everything, but his jaw was set, tension brimming beneath the surface.
He didn’t say anything at first. He simply moved alongside her, matching her pace, adjusting items as needed. It was a quiet truce, one he hadn't expected to find himself settling into so easily.
Eventually, he cleared his throat. "You've been busy, he remarked, his voice steady but lacking its usual gruffness. A statement, not a question. His paws brushed against the edges of a neatly folded fur, and he took a breath before adding, Good of you to do this.
A pause.
Then, because the silence stretched too long, too thick between them, he glanced sideways at her. How have you been? The words were simple, but the weight behind them was not.