Swiftcurrent Creek Too cold for a run

Baba was away hunting and had tasked Ashlar, before he left, with trying to do the same.  The boy wasn't sure exactly where to begin here but he knew he just needed to try all the same.  Mama always said that he would do fine if he just tried.  He missed her quite a bit already.

Ashlar began to hum as he nosed through the weeds at the edge of the river.  It was too big to cross, but so long as he stayed on the edge and well away it seemed safe.  He continued his soothing humming as he went, and was likely to scare everything off by doing so, but he didn't get the chance to truly start.  The sound cut off the instant he saw Dauntless, and the boy swallowed and took a quick step back.

Oh, uh, h-hi. Do you live here?  I'm sorry.  He cast his eyes down submissively and dropped his ears in anticipation.  The other wolf hadn't even made a move yet and already Ashlar was making preparations to depart with his belly low.