Swiftcurrent Creek ghost in hanging lights

vague on timeline placement! <3

lestan had begun a practice of bringing part of his kills to @Suzu's densite. he did not stay long, or at all, for that matter; he did not come close, but instead left the meat in the nearest cache, or set beneath one of the shrubs nearby.
with etienne accompanying akavir, and swordfish apparently gone, he saw fit to find himself in the role of hunter.
it was on one such day that he found himself close; he was depositing portions of a duck beneath a blackberry bush, quite lost in his task as he considered his talisman yet again.

Caliste had gone to the pack hunt with Etienne, leaving Suzu behind with Leonore, Saturin and Shark. She felt comfortable now, to leave them in Arlette's care when she needed to go out to hunt (or just grab a breath of fresh air for herself), and willingly watched over the medic's brood as well. But with every day that passed, she found herself pining for Etienne's return. The other members of the pack were pleasant enough but still...She felt like a stranger amongst them. 

She'd noticed that someone had begun leaving her food, which she inspected and then shared with the pups and had begun expecting drop-offs regularly. She depended on them, the way she might depend on Etienne to help feed the children. She knew the hunter to be Lestan- the one who had first pointed her in this direction- but the shy man seemed respectful of her densite, and was often gone long before she found the food he left behind. 

Her children called for food, so she set out to check the 'giving tree' which had become Lestan's usual stashing place- only to arrive before he could drop off and leave. 

Caught you, finally, She said with a laugh.

"h-hello, s-suzu," lestan managed bashfully, paws dirtied from his digging and mouth still smeared in a little blood. swiftly he tired to remedy both in one movement, coming across as rather disjointed.
"are y-you w-well? and th-the l-little ones?" lestan was aware that the creek was one short for now but had no real notion beyond that of who had gone where.
"a d-duck, th-this time," he said at last, motioning to the mound of earth beneath the blackberry bush. "i h-hope all of y-you enjoy it." it felt more than a little nice to be needed, though this was only a temporary state for suzu and soon she would be up hunting most of her own meals again.