Sleepy Fox Hollow Here i am

Etienne woke as the morning sun showed his face to the sky. A small bite in the wind as he moved from his small den. Nothing more than an outcropping of rock he'd dug out and made cozy. Reinforced a little the sides.

Golden eyes took in the day and he stretched out his legs and neck. Running a gentle paw along the scabbed scratch that marred his face. It would be healed soon and that would be enough.

A slow movement and he started forward. Thinking through all he needed to do. Soft pawstep on dewy grass. The sun warming his tan and chocolate fur.

Nose to the ground he caught the scent of rabbit and weasel. The weasel more prominent as most of the rabbits began to enter their dens.

"Hey,"

Ksura called out with a bark; a sound not unfriendly, but he realized if the male hadn't spotted him before, it might come as a bit of a surprise. The sparrow had been prowling the basin in search of small prey when he'd caught the young, sandy male's scent and given his latest conversation with Mira, he felt that this fella might be worth a shot. 

Unfortunately, Ksura wasn't particularly adept at small talk. He was, however, relatively observant- and could tell that the other was trying to hunt down a meal as well. This might work perfectly as a test, he thought, and both stood to lose very little if things didn't work out. 

He trotted a bit closer. "Y'wanna hunt together?" He asked.

Etienne stopped moving as a voice rang out. Masked face lifted and he gazed outward. Ears quivered atop his head. Golden eyes narrowed in question.

His tail curled a bit like Granme's had and there was grey and brown upon him. He was rangy, built for hunting or fighting. Etienne wasn't entirely sure.He waited calmly until the man got closer.

@Anselm was nearby and Etienne was unsure if he wanted to travel to far from him in case he needed him. He probably wouldn't nor would he ever say. But he was still healing.

The thought of fresh meat made his mouth water a little and they did need to fill caches.

So he gave a nod. Very well. I'm Etienne

tag for reference

"Ksura," He replied with a nod of his head. The wolf seemed quiet, patient, and Ksura thought he'd heard a trace of an accent on the young man's voice. By the look of him, they were possibly about the same age, which likely meant that Etienne had been separated from his family as well. He didn't smell of a pack, though he smelled faintly of another male wolf. He began to track, his head lowered, and he meandered this way and that trying to locate a good trail to follow. 

"So. You more or less alone out here?" He asked. Obviously, he'd cottoned on to the fact that the other fellow was at least travelling with another wolf, but he was curious to know if they were a pack, or simply travelling. He wanted to suss out Etienne's situation, and his loyalty- and the potential of him being a candidate to help Mira move her kids to a better hunting area.

The face painted boy seem3d nice enough. His coloring pretty. Though Anselm probably had prettier eyes. Eti took this all in with a glance and then turned eyes back to the task at paw. He couldn't stare or comment or besuty to a male. He felt almost ashamed enough, because he knew. He knew what he was. And though no one had ever told him it was wrong, a part of him wondered if others may feel that way?

Dere be otter. he didn't want to say there were only two. What ifcthis wolf wasn't as kind as he seemed. Eti wouldn't be the reason for pain.

I be 'unting. Would you like try for someting bigger? We split it?

One wolf; maybe two. Maybe more- it was hard to say.

It could be perfect. And by the way the yearling spoke, he gauged that he was somewhat protective of the other. These little hints gave Ksura the idea that perhaps, the beach-furred yearling might be an excellent candidate for what he had in mind. Perhaps even his travelling partner might be of some use- but Ksura would want to screen them first, to make sure. 

"Something bigger would be better," He said, sounding almost relieved at the idea. Something like regret came to his features. "I'm hunting for...Someone, too. And she's got kids, we're just...Really just trying to get by, but it hasn't been easy, lately," He trailed off.

Eti wasn't entirely a fan of wolves making plans for him, but he had no idea that the other would be doing so. He seemed friendly enough. But was he friendly to be friendly or because he needed or wanted something. One lesson he had learned, was that not everyone was out to help just as he was, one that he was made painfully aware of just recently.

Eti's ears lifted up and he frowned. Baby and mama and they only had the yearling here. Well that couldn't be good.

Okay I be 'elpin' you get someting bigger. Are dey 'ealt'y otterwise? I am a 'ealer. Do dey need 'elp?

Etienne couldn't in good conscience let a mother and her babies be on their own if they were hurt. It didn't seem that they were, but it never hurt to ask right?

After all if he could help he wanted too. No matter what Anselm said. It was what he did. Helped.

He had a funny accent, but he was easy enough to understand, Ksura decided. The fact that he was a healer was a definite bonus- wolves who knew how to take care of wounds could surely help carry children, and be careful about it. He was given no reason to suspect that Etienne might be lying- there didn't seem to be a mean bone in his body. 

Mira would be the judge of that- but at least Ksura had found someone that she could vet, and decide for herself. 

"Healthy, yes. All four of them," He said, with a light chuff. A full battalion, someday. "We need help moving them...They were born on a mountain, but it won't be a good place to winter, so we have to move them elsewhere. It's...Tough, with just the two of us," He admitted.

He knew well that he wasn't always understood well. He had a thicker accent than most and the fact that he could speak three different languages though he preferred the Creole to the French, and English to both.  But he never minded. His voice reminded him of his family and he loved that about himself. That he could carry them with him.

Etienne nodded his head. Yes mountain's be cold and 'arsh. Unyieldin'. I will 'elp you if der modder be wantin' it. I probably don't 'ave to be tellin' you 'ow fierce de modder's can be w'en dey babies are concerned.

He thought of his own mother, his grandmother's all the women in his life who would have murdered for their children and not thought twice about it.

Ksura paused, when the offer came. It almost seemed too easy, asking this yearling- the first he'd seen in some time as well- to come and help with the children. It felt uncomfortable, putting trust in a stranger even when his instincts told him that Etienne was inherently good. He'd never believed himself to be terribly lucky, but if ever a little shine of fortune had cast its light upon him, it was now. 

"Please," He nodded. "She'll want to meet you first," He added, though Etienne already seemed to be aware that Mira would have the final say in the matter. Still- as critical as she might be, he found there to be little lacking in Etienne. 

A scent caught his attention. His whiskers twitched. "Rabbit. And....Weasel," He said. His lips pulled tight. They might have missed their chance. Still- it wasn't a wasted opportunity. "Might be a few steps ahead of us," He commented.

Eti thought for a moment, perhaps he had misspoke or made a misstep, he did that sometimes. But he hadn't meant too. But perhaps his offer didn't seem genuine, or he had agreed to help too eagerly? Did that make him a bad wolf? To want to help no matter what? He wondered sometimes, if he was entirely right.

Etienne nodded his head. We can be meetin' somew'ere dat your 'ome isn't at. If dat be easier for 'er. I know de women in my family, would rip 'ide and tail from wolves dat be too close to dem babies.

The scent of rabbit and weasel wafted towards him, and he felt such a longing for his brother Theo. He had to take a minute to breathe. Theo would have hunted with him so gladly. Would have made it fun too.

This was a matter of importance now to hunt for the small little band of pack he had made. But yet. He still loathed it, so. A matter of life and death it was, eating and drinking as it were. And it wasn't great that he hated it. Made him feel even stranger than he already was and felt. 

Dat be okay. If we move fast enoug' we may catc' dem yet. Eti went into a hunter's crouch and moved forward. Nose twitching as he followed the scent.