Soon after dropping off supper for his family, Peregrine found himself at the borders, then wandering past them. Although he missed the puppies, he couldn't bear being around Hawkeye right now, not after what he'd learned from Atticus. He could barely stand looking at her and he didn't want his bitter anger to manifest in front of the kids. Sooner or later, he would have to tell her that all hope was lost, that their relationship was officially dead. He wasn't quite ready to confront her yet, though, and he wanted to wait for an opportunity to do so away from the children.
In the meantime, he stalked the night, looking for food. Even if he couldn't be near them as much right now, he would provide for them in any and every way he could. He strode purposefully across the flat lands, in the direction of the river, intending to check for any prey that might be using the cover of night to get a drink.
All around these strange new lands, the ebony wraith had been exploring. Starting on the western end, she was slowly, but surely, moving eastward, hitting various territories and exploring. It was very apparent that several packs claimed their homes here, as the smells of their distinct marks filled her nostrils with distain and pity. The loner was still uneasy about joining yet another pack, as her previous four had fallen apart all but because of her.
The night was Nantale’s favorite time, and as she causally strolled onward, the cover of the darkness was like a snug blanket against her fur. Only the soft crunching beneath her paws could be heard. Every so often a bug would chirp or a stick in the distance would break, but the female was none too worried. Darkness was for her.
However, she slowed her casual pace to that of a snail as she approached what, according to her nose, was some presence, somewhere close by. A claimed land was rather close by, so instead, she stopped, and peered off into the distance, attempting to figure out what creature lay nearby.
Somehow, he was able to keep his mind relatively blank as he settled deeper into predatory mode. In fact, he didn't think much at all as he continued on a course parallel with the river, up until the scent of a wolf tripped his cognizance switch back to the on setting. The stealthy tension left his body and he came to a stop, ears pricking and head lifting as he scoured the night with his dusky blue-green eyes and his dark, damp nose.
He couldn't see her, not at first, but Peregrine stalked forward in the direction of the scent and eventually made out a dark figure cutting a silhouette against the backdrop of the silvery river. He crept closer, his body stiffening, but stopped a few dozen yards away. In the dim moonlight, he could discern her rough shape and size, though no details, like her scars.
Since they were two wolves meeting on neutral territory, Peregrine didn't really have anything to say, so he just simply stared at her in cagey silence, wondering if she'd speak first.
It was clear to the ebony female that another wolf was coming into her field of view. But the darkness of the land kept able discernable details hidden at bay. It was really her nose that told her what she needed to know – a male, a wolf, and he reeked of the territory that lay beyond here. Standing her ground, she waited for him to inch closer, only slightly illuminated by the soft moonlight that peered above.
Neither of them spoke, and for Nantale, that was just as well. But she figured eventually he’d ask her some obscure question, demanding her name or where she came from – something she’d really not want to answer, but most likely would be forced too. These lands, after all, were not hers, and she was certainly not a native. In fact, she hadn’t a clue where these wolves hailed from and what horrible things could be dreading in their pasts. Luckily for her, they too didn’t know of her background, either.
The ebony female just stood there idly, a soft grunt escaping her lips as she waited for the male to make his move – whether physically or not.
She replied in a flat, unaffected tone, pointing out that she had smelled the scent markers from miles away. Peregrine's ears slipped backward, then pricked again as he demanded, "Then what's your business here?" There was an edge of irritation in his voice. He wasn't arrogant about his territorial tendencies and he wouldn't attack the stranger for being merely close to the plateau, yet he thought it was well within his rights to inquire as to why this rugged she-wolf was skulking around his neighborhood.
The stranger did not seem to agree with him. She gave him what could only be called a baleful look before silently turning and loping away. Peregrine did not call out to her or otherwise make a move. Simply glad that she was moving away, he waited until she disappeared into the distance before turning and returning to the hunt.