Need a Little Ray of Sunshine

He’d just spread out the rabbit hide and dipped his fore paws in the icy water, preparing to sink his weight and claws into the mud to begin digging around the root when running paws heading in his direction through the snow captured his attention. Quick as a flash, his mind ran through the facts; he was alone, close enough to the borders to howl for help, but not close enough for help to get there in time if he was attacked. Even as these thoughts whipped through his mind, his body fell into a light, well-practiced fighter’s stance, mostly defensive as he spun to face the stranger, one shoulder slightly closer to the wolf.

However, this initial stance eased slightly as he looked at the female who had come racing up, just as she stopped mid-bound. She was the same height as him, though with a bit more heft. Her stance, and indeed her question, held no aggression—just curiosity.

His vivid, celestial-inclined bicolored gaze roved over her, guessing her to be about his age. A momentary change in the breeze both confirmed the notion and brought a fresh smattering of snowflakes fluttering into his face. Her scent also carried that of a pack. There was something familiar about the alpha’s scent. A bit like his father, but not exactly alike. Family, then?

He relaxed, almost completely, though remained ready to change his mind should the need arise, and shrugged, offering an apologetic smile as he answered in the common tongue, heavy, educated brogue rolling on his tongue, “No one in particular. Just the world in general, I suppose.”

His gaze glanced toward the root he was after before returning to the girl. Her eyes were emerald, and her coat was made up of earthen hues or brown and silver. Mostly warm tones, though it was hard to tell under a layer of settled snow on her back. “I’m Paladin Ancora, by the way.” A little metaphorical sliver of meat, thrown out to see if a fish took the bait. If the pack this girl was from was led by a family member, Ancora would probably be a good name to throw out there. Her reaction would tell him a great deal, he felt.