Redhawk Caldera don't stop until your heart goes numb.

<3 <3 <3

After talking with Peregrine, Elwood's head was swimming with thoughts of Finley. Not romantic thoughts, necessarily -- just thoughts in general. He spent a long time considering what his next action should be; specifically, whether or not he should seek her out. She hadn't tried to look for him, so he decided that it would be best to continue to keep distance between them for now. He convinced himself that it wouldn't be damaging to their friendship, and with a firm nod of his head, pushed Finley's image out of his mind.

Truthfully, his plan was not that feasible. Although Redhawk Caldera was a decent-sized territory, there were many places where their paths could cross. Elwood purposely avoided locations that he knew she frequented -- like the area near her den, or the little creek not far from it. Or, well, he had stayed away from those spots during the last week. Presently, he had become so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to pay attention to where his feet were carrying him.

Maybe they had a mind of their own -- maybe his feet were smarter than his head and his heart combined. Whatever the reason, Elwood found himself meandering alongside the very stream that he wished to evade. He didn't realize what he was doing until he heard the trickling of the water beneath the ice, and then it was too late. The mottled grey male stopped in his tracks, slowly lifting his gaze from the snow in front of him. Of course, the only wolf in the vicinity was Finley.

He cursed inwardly, though he tried to keep his expression neutral. He really had no idea how she would react to his presence, or, honestly, how he would behave either. There was no anger boiling in his stomach; just confusion. So he looked at her for a long moment, then gave her a small smile and a wave of his tail. "Are we okay?" he wanted to say, but he couldn't force the words to come out of his mouth. So he waited, anticipation catching in his throat; would she welcome him, or turn him away?