As Luck Would Have It

If she could will her heart to beat steadily, she would. But its racing and adrenaline filled her ears with a rushing that reminded her of the hunt, of battle, of running. No doubt a buzz would follow, then the exhaustion. She was all too familiar with how it worked. But in the moment, she felt alive with electricity, her pelt on end and eyes brighter with feeling than they had been in weeks. But, as was so often the case, they dimmed soon enough and narrowed, a new sharpness forming on her face as he backed away with a very audible whine. It was a strange contrast to the man's build, and an unexpected (but no less welcome) occurrence after such a start. He followed up with an apology...

Kuwindwa seemed to unfreeze at last, first with the movement of her forepaw from its place on her kill's limb to stable ground, then finally the rest of her moved fluidly as she straightened and her pelt smoothed. Even once she righted herself, there was a distinct guardedness about her: small things gave her away, like the cautious twitch of her ears, the quick dart of her eyes in case he was not alone, the nervous appearance of her tongue, flicking to wet her nose. After a pregnant pause, she finally gathered herself enough to speak, and that came in a halting monotone as she regulated herself... and that perhaps only served to make her seem more suspicious: "And that required sneaking up behind me?"

His appreciation for her skill was all but disregarded at first. Truthfully? She didn't know how to respond. Kuwindwa must've looked more than just a little paranoid to this man who so clearly recognized his mistake. He didn't need her chiding remarks. Still she spoke clearly, her voice betraying nothing of the terror she'd just experienced. Knitting her brows, she gave her head a quick shake as if to dismiss a thought, then continued with the acknowledgment he might've deserved, "Thank you..."

He had been watching her. Is that what he meant? He had been spying? Then there was his question and comment which, when paired together - even from a friendly face - felt rather more menacing to Kuwindwa. Unfortunately for the golden-touched wolf before her, her recent wandering made her more than a little suspicious of strangers, and try as she might to stop herself, she was reading between the lines. Yes, she was exhausted. She couldn't remember the last time she felt properly rested. And that scared her. But she would never admit it, never let it show if she could help it...

Then again, who could miss the pelt that could use more upkeep, the darting eyes, a frame a little more slender than it could be? The image of a stressed animal, even if she was otherwise healthy.

Sidling forward just enough to free her haunches from the brush behind her, the woman made to the side just enough that she might feel less trapped in spite of the male's "evident" harmlessness. At the same time, she was doing her best to reign in her own feelings so she could at least try to return to some semblance of civility. As she inched into a new position and planted her paws again, she verbally sidestepped his question altogether with a brusque "Who are you?" followed by an uncomfortable pause. Even as the words left her mouth, Kuwindwa's expression seemed to suggest she realized how rude that sounded... but too late to reign it in, she stood like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle... except a deer had more emotion than she seemed to have at that very moment.