not a damn thing

Angry gray clouds dominated the sky, blocking out the weakening sunlight. A chilly wind wove its way through the thicket, sending a shiver up his spine. Hackles ruffling, the wolf snorted at his circumstance. 'I sure pecked a foine time te leave, didn't I?' He thought to himself, picturing his warm den, laden with elk pelts back home. Certainly, staying with one's pack was the smartest thing to do with an encroaching winter, but he had little doubt in his decision to cut ties. He couldn't stand the heated gazes of his father and brother any longer. Sooner or later, someone would've caught a stinging bite.

"Wohin gehen wir? Ich rieche Mäuse." Laika's small, accent-laden voice asked, bringing him back to the present. A blue eye slid downward to glance at her, the little pine marten trotting at his side like a puppy. Despite their extended time together, Dane still couldn't understand a damn thing she said. He wasn't fully certain why she so loyally followed him everywhere. "We need te find a plece to stay fer a couple deys." The dual-colored wolf replied anyway, whisking his bushy tail. He paused for a moment, peering through the entanglement of grass and bushes, noticing that beyond it lay a small clearing in the shelter of an old tree. That seemed promising. Ducking, he pushed his way into the bushes, wincing as the little branches pricked at his sides. As he nearly cleared the annoying little pathway, he felt a particularly sharp branch catch in his ear. "Oh fuck me!" he growled, yanking himself free. He sat there a moment, one eye closed as he waited for the pain to subside. Laika, as caring as ever, simply tore off into the thicket towards the sound of birds rustling about somewhere nearby. He scoffed, shaking his head and rising to his paws to survey the area.

The bushes provided adequate shelter for the night, reaching up around the tree trunk. As he investigated the area, the sound of a branch snapping on the opposite side of the thicket would cause his ears to perk. Brow furrowing, he crept forward quietly and peered into the bracken. The scent of another creature would waft into his nostrils, his tail rising above his back in cautious curiosity. Dane had never been the overtly aggressive type. In fact, he almost hoped that someone interesting would emerge to distract him from his lonely state. "Hello?" He called out softly.