somewhere in the trees

He was once again, on his way back to Winterfell to help with training. Hjarrandi had lost their first raid, and he briefly wondered if his uncle had gone on to do theirs yet. Knowing his uncle, he was likely planning for the right time. Maybe the longer they prepared for it the better they'd be prepared. Unlike Hjarrandi, he supposed. Though he couldn't say how long Valk had prepared for the raid to begin with. They had lost, and that's all that mattered. He couldn't say he felt bad or mad about it, either. He was just there as part of a bargain in exchange for his brothers lover. Or...former lover? He didn't know anymore. His brother wasn't around, anyway. As he walked quietly beneath the tall redwood trees, his companion osprey alerted him to something up ahead. Nose to the wind, Cloud determined there was a small flock of ptarmigan close by, and his stomach suddenly rumbled from hunger. How long had he been walking and when did he last eat?

Thoughtful now, maybe he'd hunt a couple of them. One for him and one for his niece. As Idalia's mentor, he was eager to see her and see how she was progressing. But as he tracked down the birds, he picked up another scent. Wolf. Male. Not native to the north. Or at least, not these parts. Curious as to why he was so close to his uncles pack, Cloud nonchalantly followed the scent until he rounded a tree and spotted him. He had to admit, it was a handsome male. Shorter, but handsome all the same. "Hey there, stranger. Not lost, are you?" He generally wasn't one to speak first, but it might seem weird if he didn't this time, right? He didn't exactly want to give away that he has purposefully tracked him down to see who he was..