no sh#@, sherlock!

The male, an easy half a foot taller than herself, didn’t seem annoyed in the slightest by her abruptness, and as he introduced himself, she offered a brief smile that would have been a lot easier and warmer in another situation. As it stood, she was worried for the future of her people and her land, so she gave him the intense attention prolific of her direct line as he answered her query, eyes shifting away toward the west, and the sea as he finished.

Thus far, the ash hadn’t reached the west too far, but it would. She knew that would be both a boon, as it weakened prey starved by lack of forage in the winter, and a curse, as the prey could die out from starvation, leaving fewer animals come spring or summer, more miscarried fawns, calves and kits from lack of nutrition…

Would the island of Atlantis be a possible haven? It wasn’t very rife with easy prey, according to her father. Her mind flicked to the whale she’d found beached in the north. Perhaps they would have to seek food from the ocean and seas.

She clicked her teeth, canines flashing slightly in the distant glow of the volcano as she turned back to Hemlock.

“Thank you for your answers... Hard times are ahead. For everyone, I think. Loner, pack wolf, band wolf… We might have a better chance if we all work together, but given the nature of some folk, that may not become an answer until it truly becomes dire. Forgive my question to an utter stranger, but what will you do? Will you manage?”

Conversation. Distraction for a brief moment while she tried to work out a plan of action. She couldn’t decide if more numbers would be a danger to Valhalla, with more mouths to feed, or an advantage, with more paws to share in the work of trying to survive in the coming season or more, until the volcano’s fury had run its course and life tried to find some semblance of normalcy.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think