Since his meeting with Regulus Castiel had been doing even less... if that were possible. With each passing day his remaining vision seemed to fail  him a bit more… and then, this morning, he woke to darkness. Castiel didn’t move from the den, even after Kalli had said she was going out and Etain had gone off to do what she needed. No doubt that Kalli would notice his odd behavior and be back to check on him… but for right now Castiel had decided that he didn’t care. He was feeling tired… and right now all he wanted to do was remain curled up in his den and rest.

...Time seemed both ridiculously fast and slow at the same time. The man felt like his life was fading before him… and in some ways he didn’t doubt it. Castiel knew he was old… and he had a heart that was splintered. He still had no closure in what happened to his sons and each day it hurt him more and more. He tried to bear that alone… or at least quietly. He was sure Kalli and Etain felt it too.

The pale man breathed out a slow breath and lifted his head. He could make out pawsteps, unaware that they were closer than he thought. Even his hearing was beginning to go… The man frowned, stumbling to his paws before emerging from the den.

...and nearly running into the wolf whom was outside.

Spring had come again and with it the ability to relax a little in the role of hunter. It was easy to find young animals too stupid to properly avoid hunters, and as soon as he could gather a group the pack would be able to cull some of the calves and fawns of the larger mammals, who had been largely left alone since there were too few who answered the call for hunts for him to have taken many. It made the larger prey complacent though, so he would take advantage of that.

It was carrying a pair of young buck leverets in his mouth that kept him from announcing himself as he approached the entrance to the den that one of the pack elders and his family lived in. His mate and child were both handicapped in their own way, and with the advance of age and the toll the raid had taken it would fall to the pack to ensure that all three were properly cared for, as was the purpose of a pack. And as a hunter for the pack, that made them his responsibility, one he took very seriously.

The young hares were not much of a meal for three wolves, but they were merely the product of his first hunt of the day. Once he left them, he planned to return to the hunt, though he planned to try his luck at finding gamebirds to give them some variety. There were others among the pack who would likely appreciate a quick meal dropped their way, the healers among them as they went about their own spring time industry. Regulus and his cats provided for his mate and child, but he would bring by something for the pups to play with anyway just out of politeness. He had found some moose sheds last season that had been just sitting around his den. They might like worrying at those.

Because of his distraction and his failure to announce himself, he was as unprepared for the sudden appearance of Castiel as the elder was of him, and the smaller male had only enough time to brace himself before the pair collided. Mask was set back on his heels with a wince, but he immediately dropped the hares to lend support to the other wolf if he needed it. "Begging your pardon," he apologized sincerely. "You are not being injured, signore?"

Correction, he had run into the stranger, stumbling for a moment, though the younger wolf was there to assist Cas in steadying his body. He was startled, more so than hurt, but Castiel did his best ro recompose himself. Once he’d found his footing once more he spoke, though he didn’t look directly at the other male. Not that he could.

“I… I’m alright. S-sorry.” Castiel recognized the accent of the other male. Mask. He offered a gentle smile, easing onto his haunches. “Forgive me as well. I’m afraid that I didn’t see you there.” Castiel let his eyes close. Perhaps if he kept them that way the other male wouldn’t notice…

“What brings you to our den today, Mask?” Cas asked, though not unkindly. He knew that the hunter had been trying to help provide for his family… another thing that made Castiel feel a gnawing guilt in his gut. It wasn’t really his fault he was growing older… and as an elder it was naturally harder to do the tasks he once did. Still… not being able to provide for his wife and child hurt. He’d need to find another role to fill in both their lives and in the pack’s.