.:: A home to find... [OPEN]

[kahira]

White, if not slightly muddy paws, padded through the forest, pushing aside clumps of snow with massive paws leaving barely a good paw print behind, just smudges in the ground. The white fur on the wolf was dirty and a bit matted. The cold made small icicles form on the belly and tail of the wolf as steam rose from it's nose and mouth. Alexander hated winter. It was so cold and wet and just an overall pain to do anything in. His eyes blue eyes scanned the area for any signs of life. Something rustled to his left but slow reactions caused whatever it was to escape. No doubt a deer of sorts. Alex hadn't eaten anything for days and it was beginning to bring him down. He was tired, wet, and cold and longed for a warm room with lots of fuzzy blankets and perhaps even a hot bath. How long had it been since he had taken a bath? Sure he dunked himself in a river once in awhile as a wolf, but that hardly seemed to mask his wet-dog smell.

His front right paw hit a large log hard causing him to fall forward. He yelped just from the surprise as his face hit the snow, snout first. He huffed and squirmed a bit to get off the log before just curling up on the ground. Snow had begun to fall but even though he was wet, his body temperature alone seemed enough to keep him from the dangerous cold, but he felt if he got any more wet, he'd definitely come done with a cold.

How long had he been traveling this time? A month? That seemed right. He had managed to get food at least once a week, but Alex had no money, it wasn't like he could walk into the nearest town naked and get something to eat. The less attention he attracted to himself, the better, he had seen a few humans out and about though during his travels. Hunters mostly, Alex had almost been shot a few times but once humans caught sight of exactly what he was and how big he was they usually ran away screaming. Perhaps he'd just lay here, sleep a bit.

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Connie shook herself and stumbled to her white paws. Her black coat stuck out on end, and her golden eyes gleamed in the winter light. She loved running in the snow, but only if she didn't have to do it very often. She twitched her ears forward, then back, listening. She thought she had heard something when she had shifted, but she wasn't sure. She sat back, tilting her face up and howling, calling out to anyone that might be near. She hoped it wasn't a human, she hated running into them when she was in wolf form.

Standing, she started to move slowly through the snow. It was deep in some spots, and soon her underbelly was white instead of it's usual black. The tip of her tail was white too, though that was the fur instead of the snow.

She paused, one foot raised, and sniffed the air. She smelled another wolf out there. Pausing, she put her foot down and lowered her head to the ground, sniffing. The icy smell of snow filtered in, stinging her nose, but she could smell wolf too. Trotting, she followed it and found a half-buried log in the snow. She huffed as she nearly ran into it, paying more attention to the trail instead of where she was going. That was stupid of her.

Shaking her head, she hopped up on top of it, and nearly slid off the other side onto another wolf. She let out a bark of surprise, and slid back down the side she'd climbed up on into a deep drift of snow.

Huffing, struggling, she managed to get back up and shook herself off, growling a little at the log. I can't believe I just did that. Good lord, what's the point of having a nose if I don't use it?

She let out a soft bark, and stood on her hind end to peer over the other side of the log, down on the curled up wolf. She whined softly. He, she thought it was male, looked dirty and worn, as if he'd been running in snow for longer than was wise even in wolf form. She wanted to hop over and see if he was okay, but she didn't know if he'd attack her and really didn't want to get into a fight.

[kahira]

Alex had thought he heard something in the distance. A howl? But he was so tired, so worn out that he paid it little mind. His eyes closed again and his ears tucked back solidly against his head as the heat of his breath melted the snow in front of his nose. He was barely visible probably among the snow, as white as his fur was, but perhaps his back markings would stand out a bit more that they normally would. He was have dozed off when he heard a noise behind him. Rustling and a bark and soon to follow after a moment of silence, a whining sound. What was that? His nose picked up a smell and his ears twitched in curiosity.

Slowly, his head rose and his blue eyes looked around his lump of fur to the noise that had come behind him. When his eyes locked to that of another wolf he seemed to panic. Had he wandering into territory? He had done that before and nearly got himself killed, though had managed to escape by no more than the hair on the tip of his tail. His ears laid back down as he slowly got up, though a bit hunched, whimpering as he scrambled to get some distance between himself and the other wolf. His tail drooped though didn't quite tuck in between his legs.

He probably looked pathetic to this female. Despite his thick fur, he was thin, sickly looking almost, no doubt it would put a shame to werewolves everywhere. In his state he didn't stand a chance against anyone if this turned ugly. He stared at the female, though not her gaze as he tried to look even more pathetic in an attempt to be left alone should she decide to attack. Half of him kind of wished for this wolf to just kill him, Alex didn't know how much longer he could go on like this.

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Connie stood, watching the white wolf for a moment. He looked so sick, thin and tired and just simply worn out. She whined again when he looked up at her, looking downcast and beaten. She hopped over the log, managing not to land on him. She kept her ears up as she neared him, trying to portray good intentions as she knelt next to him, sniffing him. She didn't recognize the wolf, nor did she know the scent. Another stray? She was running into a lot of those lately.

She whined, and nudged him. She needed to get him up, maybe back to town. He had to get something to eat. A hungry wolf lost control easier, and she didn't want him wandering around the forest hungry. He was far too skinny. Her ears pricked up, and she looked up. There, not too far away, was a rabbit. She hadn't come out here to hunt, but this wolf needed food. And if this rabbit was stupid enough to present itself, she was going to get it.

She ran after it, snatching it in only a few strides and breaking its neck. Huffing with pride in herself, she carried the dead bunny over to the white wolf and knelt, dropping it in front of him. She took a step back, ears up and tail wagging slowly back and forth.

Here, have a dead bunny. See? I'm a friend, She tried to convey that with her body language, since a wolf couldn't speak. She whined a little, laying down not too far from him and hoping her body heat might reach him and warm him up. The poor thing looked nearly half starved. How long had he been running around out here? How had no one found him yet? The pack usually ran around out here, so how had he been avoiding them?

[kahira]

Alex watched this female with caution and fear, he expected her to lunge at him any moment now, but... she seemed friendly. Alex barely knew the wolf language, though most seemed to come to him naturally there were times were he just wasn't sure. When the female seemed distracted, Alex's ears perked a bit, interested in what caught her attention. He saw the rabbit only seconds before the black blur of fur rushed past him to snatch it up. He watched curiously as the female brought it back, dropping it down in front of him. The only thing Alex had ever managed to get were squirrels, and it was only because he had figured out how to get far enough up a tree to snatch them from their nests. A rabbit? Never. He was so clumsy when he moved that they were long gone before he even saw them.

He stared down at the dead rabbit, his mouth wet with hungry. He glanced back up at the female to see her ears forward and tail wagging. Still he didn't move towards it, but as she laid down, slowly his muzzle touched the rabbit, but his eyes occasionally looked her way out of caution. Hungry overcame him then as he practically breathed down the rabbit. He didn't seem to care about the bones or much of the fur, if it had meat on it, it went down. The small bones easily crunched under the pressure of his jaw and within just a few minutes nothing but a few clumps of fur and blood were on the ground.

He licked his maw for every last morsel and then his eyes looked back at the female, they were a bit more livelier now, the blue wasn't as dull as it had been before. His ears perked forward fully as he laid his head down on his paws, his tongue still occasionally licking at his chaps, his tail uncurled a bit, thumping lightly against the ground. He seemed less frightened now and even though it was only a rabbit, he felt like he had just eaten a whole deer. He was grateful to this wolf, but he was curious why she had helped him when so many others had just chased him away.

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Connie watched the other wolf, silent as he slowly reached towards the rabbit. She didn't move, afraid of startling him as he began to wolf- pardon the pun- down the dead bunny. She was happy that he ate it so quickly, but still worried. If he ate that as fast as he had, then he was obviously starving. Then again, one look at his flank and it proved how hungry he was. He seemed hesitant still even when he finished the rabbit, bones and all. His blue eyes were a little brighter, Connie noticed, and his tail wagged slowly.

Connie's tail thumped in response, and she slowly stood, reaching out with her nose to try to push him up and get him to stand. He needed to eat more, and it would be too hard to get him food out here in the winter. One rabbit might have been out searching for food, but most others would be hiding in their burrows.

Connie whined a little at the other wolf, hoping he would understand. She didn't think he understood body language well. Born wolves knew it instinctively. Maybe he was newly bitten? That would explain why he'd let himself get so skinny and hungry. If he didn't stand up and walk with her soon, she'd have to shift and talk to him despite the fact she'd be naked in the snow. Could she manage another shift after that? She was so not running naked in the snow with an unknown wolf, even if he did look like a soft breeze would knock him on his ass.

She took a step back, ears perked and turning so she was just slightly away from him, hoping he would understand that she wanted to go. Her clothes weren't too far from here, and she could shift there but she didn't think she could walk back here to get him. The snow was deep in a few parts, and her human self would have too much of a problem with the snow. She let out a soft whine, and wagged her tail. Would he follow her even if she did shift to talk to him? She had no idea.

[kahira]

Alex flinched just slightly when the female stood and nudged him. He didn't move at first, but when she began to move as if she wanted to go, he wondered if she wanted him to follow. Did he even have the strength for such a thing right now? Well... the rabbit had made him feel better, but he was sure that would fade quickly. Best to move now before it faded. Slowly he pushed himself to his feet. He wobbled slightly but remained steady for the most part and slowly, he walked towards her, his eyes mainly on his paws though since he didn't want to trip again. He climbed over the log a bit awkwardly before he stood there waiting for the female to lead.

He still looked nervous and uncomfortable, but he figured if she had wanted to hurt him by now she would have. She had gave him food, and that was enough to earn a bit of trust for him at this moment. He was curious as to where she would lead him though. Was there a pack near-by? Alex wasn't sure he could handle that, hadn't he embarrassed himself enough already? Or... was she to lead him into town? He knew there was one near-by but did he trust himself enough for that? Who's to say he wouldn't freak? Being around humans frightened him, after what he had done before... he didn't quite trust himself. Still, he didn't have much of a choice. He'd starve to death before he could find his next meal and if this female was willing to help, he might as well accept it.

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Connie let out a little huff of relief, and moved over to press her flank against him to steady him. She watched as he hopped over the log, and moved to follow him. She managed it this time a little more gracefully than she did last time, and managed not to look like an idiot and fall in the snow again. She glanced over where she'd fallen earlier, and if wolves could blush she probably did just then. That was just embarrassing.

She looked at the other wolf, and pressed her side against his for a second to show it would be okay before she trotted off slowly towards where she had left her clothing. She glanced back a few times, making sure he was still following her. She would have to shift back to human to drive her car. She had driven out to the forest instead of walking today because of the snow.

When she reached her clothes, she paused, glancing back at him. When you were a werewolf, you got used to having to be naked around others. But still, she didn't know this one and thought he was a human, maybe recently turned. She nudged at her clothes, and found the blanket she had laid out when she had shifted the first time. She moved over to it, and glanced at the other wolf. She didn't want to embarrass him, but she needed to shift back.

She closed her eyes, and let the shift take her. She shuddered as she slowly began to change, her body protesting the sudden second shift so soon after her last one. It had only been, what, thirty minutes?

As she became human again, she shuddered in the cold, partly from the cold, but mostly from the pain of shifting so soon. She breathed out, and dressed as fast as her sore limbs would allow. She glanced up at the other wolf, her face red from cold.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't want to make you move so soon, but you're nearly starved. I have a couple options for you." She sat, cross legged on her blanket and watched the other wolf, speaking softly so as not to scare him.

"I can take you to my pack, have them help you. Or, if you can't switch back to human yet, I can take you to my house. I have enough food there to feed a small army. You need to eat. A hungry wolf is a danger to everyone involved, including yourself. Or you can go back out there and face the cold snow. It's your choice. I can't stop you if you want to run, but I wish you wouldn't." She gave him a soft smile, holding out a hand towards him but not touching. Her fingers were blue with cold. "If you want to go to my pack, nod your head. If not, shake it and I can take you to my house. If you don't want to do either, you can leave."

[kahira]

Alex followed quietly behind the female, though occasionally he would stumble or trip, though never did he fall again. He grew steadier as they continued to walk. When they finally stopped, Alex couldn't help but sneeze, though he managed to muffle most of it. He watched the female nudge at the clothes on the blanket and at first, he wasn't too sure what she was trying to get across to him, but then it clicked. Clothes, the fact she was a werewolf. RIGHT! Out of respect for her privacy, he turned his head away, his eyes picking a point to stare at, which happened to be a lump of snow on the ground where it had fallen from the above pine.

He didn't look back until he heard a voice. His eyes met the female's to see she was dressed. He listened to her with a steady gaze and side-ways positioned ears. He debated his options. No... he definitely didn't want to run away. He'd die a long, slow, painful death in the cold. That left him with two choices. Go to this woman's pack, or follow her to her home. The pack would no doubt freak him out, he didn't know if he could hadn't that right now, but going to her home, which was no doubt in the town? Could he risk that? He'd feel a bit better going in with her instead of alone.

He licked at his chaps nervously as his head turned slightly to glance behind him. He noticed her hand stretched out, but not quite touching him, he looked at it. Pack or home? The home would be warm probably... lots of food... maybe even blankets? He swallowed the decision and then slowly shook his head, signalling he'd rather go back to the woman's place. He then whimpered and pressed his muzzle against her hand.

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Connie watched him, silently as he debated. A couple of times she worried, as he looked back towards the snowy forest behind him. She didn't move though, hand still outstretched as she waited for him to choose. She wouldn't go after him, like she'd promised, but she would try to find him some other time, with food and maybe something warm. A blanket maybe?

Slowly, he looked back at her, and he shook his head. Relief gushed through her, and when he whimpered and pressed his muzzle into her hand she let out a soft sigh and reached out to run both of her cold hands over his cold, wet fur. "Come on, honey," She said softly. She stood, gathering her blanket. He was a big wolf. She could reach down and put her hand on the top of his head if she wanted to, and she did. "It's not too far to my car, okay? You can hop in the back seat and warm up a bit."

She started to move, using her hip to try and keep him upright without bumping into him. It wasn't long before they reached her small red Toyota, and she hit a button on a keyfob that she had in her jacket to unlock the doors. She went over, and popped open the back door, holding it for him. "Hop on in," She said. She popped open the driver door and turned the key in the ignition, starting the heater up immediately.

"It'll be warm in a minute." She turned and gave the white wolf a smile. "It'll only take a bit to get to my house, but I have clothes if you want to shift back to human. I don't know if they'll fit you or not but I have some sweat pants that fit most sizes anyway."

[kahira]

Alex walked along side the woman, grateful for her help and support. He kept the pace as equal to hers as he could, but he couldn't help himself when the car came into sight he quickened his pace, begging for the warmth of the car. When the woman held the door for him, he squirmed in side and curled up as tightly as he could in the back seat. Even if the heater wasn't on, it was still better than outside.

He was even more glad when the woman started the car. Oh god... how long had it been since he had heard the rumble of a car engine? Ages, too long. As the fans began to blow the air to the back of the car he was slowly getting warmer. When the woman spoke of her house and having clothes he could possibly fit he lifted his head and looked at her, ears perked forward. He did his best to nod his head before laying back down. He had all four legs tucked under him. It probably looked a bit weird and no doubt his head became hidden in the mass of his body making him look like a lump of a huge mop or something in the back seat.

His dirtiness bugged him, he was quite clean most of the time, but his days in the wilderness had taken its toll on him to the point where he had begun to stop caring how he looked. He hoped when he did shift back he wouldn't scare the woman. Though... if she lasted this long, his human form couldn't be THAT bad...