Deepwood Weald ten hour shift

Backdated to October 28.

Young yet an experienced scout, Annaliese believes she can conquer any challenge in her path. Yet this forest gives her an unexpected one. A mirage, it is almost a fortress of mirrors. The same trees in every direction. Those that fallen giving her the only clues, but the further she travels, the more lost she becomes.

With a huff, Anna approaches a clearing, one she's certain she's already circled within at least twice now. Her tail snaps with irritation, ears pressing back though not flattened upon her neck. At least it's the afternoon, but the last thing she wants is to waste all of the daylight wandering in circles.

Lately, it was easy for him to stay close to home and fly a little low on the radar of things. He felt a reprieve necessary, so withdrew a bit--although never completely, for he would miss the company of his family far too much, and neither were his aches so miserable to warrant it. He was just.. trying to cope, adjust, and keep up while things were stretching tight all across the winter-looming wilds.

Vela was likely gone again for now too, and like it or not, it was hitting him worse this time around. He wasn't sure why, so maybe it was part of what drove him for distraction. Thankfully his nephews and niece were a good source of that, especially while there was so much going on beyond the mountain that warranted the attention of the more worldly wolves.

But today, against the grain of what had been normal, it was for him to range out a bit. He had turned towards the Weald early and by the afternoon's explorations he felt confident that Andraste's wolves of her Courtfall had all moved on (confirming what he knew via others who did roam ahead of him); scents were faded, and he found none worth noting. Neither did it look like they left much behind, but these woods were deep and he was still on the move. This led him towards a trail fresher than all the rest, and obligated by his curiosity, he followed after--for a distance at first, though gradually, he started to hone in on what seemed newer, and unintentionally he kept stalking on closer to the red-furred scout he couldn't see yet for the cover of the trees between them still.

Irritation continues to burn bright in the red woman. She rounds her circle again, however, and finds that her tracks are not the only ones here. Another scent lingers close.

Icy blue eyes narrow; curious yet cautious of this intrusion. It lacks the thick scent of the Neverwinter wolves, of who she’s grateful to leave behind. The bratty child grated on her nerves, bull-headed and so wishing for Anna to incriminate herself.

Alas, this means there may be another pack that lurks close—and if so, smart of them to corral a mirage. The forest a maze more than a hunting grounds, but perhaps those who spent time here would gradually learn their way around, if not become victims to the spiderweb. And she, for one, would like to avoid falling into the trap.

So, Annaliese decides to take a different approach than her previous. Slowing her pace, she circles behind a tree. If she allows this wolf close enough, she could spot his intentions; whether he wants to harm, or is hopelessly lost, too. Hell, perhaps he could even be her knight in shining armor and get her out of this mess.

This forest never made it too easy, twisting and turning into its own never-ending depths. He knew how to work with it, though, enough so to get by thanks to having prowled through the area more than once before. It was a different sort of finesse than what the mountain asked of him, albeit not majorly so simply because the heights had taught him how to read for it, then interpret; he was not so out of place, but he did have to keep himself sharp and aware--this was no casual stroll along some meandering creek, and sometimes, the right path took a little work to find.

Along the way, though he thought the trail of wolf was getting warmer and with it was where the bulk of his interests lie, he still was not single-minded in his goals. There was plenty else to take in too, but again, time had told him to expect the unexpected, and stay prepared, for any and all.

He still was not able to see anything noteworthy, but paused a second to hover his nose over a fresh pawprint pressed into the dirt crossing his path. After that, he tracked it on with a long-slung walk, his posture hanging downward--looking  almost casually as he proceeded quietly. He wondered.. did he track friend or foe? He kept ears up, always, eager enough to meet it even with the possibility today it seemed. 

Which.. when he thought he heard a something not to far to his right, he stopped again, and peered carefully into the trees--squinting, and nose wiggling to fine-tune his directive.

He had to be getting close.

Close enough now that she hears the crunch of undergrowth under paws, Annaliese holds her breath. Not out of fear, yet anticipation. It is a game of chess, and she is in danger of an unpleasant encounter. Certainly, the same could be said for her shadow. If Annaliese was in a better situation, would she attack him?

Maybe. Depends on his objective. Being a creep is a no-no.

What are you doing? She asks, voice assertive in tone as Annaliese straightens out from her coverage. An eyebrow is arched, and tail sits neutral for now. Curious, yet unwilling to bend. The male does not seem aggressive… yet, but she’s on edge nonetheless.

He drew his breaths carefully, and traveled on slow, perusing as he went skimming on. While his intent was to seem harmless, it came with the fine line underneath it of his guarded state--knowing, and not knowing exactly, what the wilds could offer kept this all sharp about it for him. He knew better than to go anywhere unprepared. But soon when suspicion was well-rooted, the voice rang out, firm as it broke the relative quiet of the woodland's thrum. To it, he turned an ear first, before the rest of him went with it, finally now with an exact spot to hone in on.. assuming she didn't make for elsewhere so soon.

What was he doing? A few things, none all that noteworthy. Lurking after her had become paramount, but it was not his goal that he had come here with.. just one he found along the way. He stepped a pace closer to where she had been hidden, and let himself be more in plain sight now--though he did not come too close. He was comfortable with a touch of space between them for now, and presented in neutrality. Scouting. I live near, he answered with first and an easy-going swing to his left-low tail--but a hawkish look about his eyes and ears all the same as he set his sights upon her, no longer hidden away in the brush and brambles while she could surely do the same to him. There were wolves looking to potentially claim here a bit ago. I'm making sure they all made good on their word to move on elsewhere with that, he justified. Same question to you? he tipped his snout towards the red-furred scout then too.

He would find out what he could before he was back on his way, eventually.