Jade Fern Grove Done messed up

The boy's travels had so far brought him back through familiar areas; there was, however, no sign of Lennon. He ignored it well: he took to humming under his breath and recalling stories, quizzing himself on what herbs he knew, half-heartedly tracking prey scents. Anything, really, to keep his mind off his failure. It's still early in the trip, he assured himself when he dared let it cross his mind, this doesn't mean anything.
Alarian had spent a scant few minutes in the latest territory he was crossing when he smelled something, well, gross. Immediately the young Governor recognized the scent as infection, layered thickly over the scent of wolf. He froze, hackles lifting a bit; something was eerily familiar about the myriad scents he caught faintly under the strange wolf's own. It was slight, though, and he was unable to pinpoint it. Instead, he let concern for the stranger dominate his reaction.
He turned towards the source, only making a few steps before his paws hit something warm and soft. Shocked, Ali jumped back with a piercing yelp before he realized what it was-- the stranger. The boy fixed pale gold eyes on the dark mass of fur, moving closer after a few beats to nudge it with his muzzle. Male, by the scent, and perhaps too wounded to threaten even a mouse.
Ali nonetheless favored caution above all else; he did not relax, but issued a single whine and waited. He knew already he would help, if he could-- but first he wanted to know if this stranger was even coherent.