Winter ran its course across the lands, the fox returning from the firefly lake still dumbfounded by what he had found. There was a girl. A girl fox, and a thrill of excitement coursed through him as he crossed the river back into Abaven territory. He was thrilled, and he wanted to tell Bass, but he hadn't seen nor heard from him since the meeting, and that was a while ago. What had become of his dear friend? Why had he been absent lately? His excitement turned to worry, so once he made it safely to Abaven's side of the river, he put his nose to the ground to see if he could detect Bass' scent somewhere. After a while though, he couldn't pick anything up that told him Bass whereabouts. Maybe someone else would know?

The fox. Another dear ol friend of Vali's. whom he never really bothered to get to know. Now, though, he seemed to be staring around, and she approached as he seemed to sniff the ground, and her head tipped to the side. "Are you alright?" she questioned quietly as she approached, tail swishing in a mild, hesitant greeting. Was he? Or was something wrong? He seemed worried... about something. Anything? Vali hoped that it wasn't anything bad. After a couple split seconds, she then added, "Is there anything I could help you with?" If she could help, she would; that was her pledge as a healer but also her pledge as a wolf. If she could help, she would.

ooc//didn't even realize you posted here lol

	A voice, one he'd heard before from a woman he knew by name, but other than that he knew nothing else about her. He stopped what he was doing as she questioned him, asking him if he needed help. He breathed a sigh, unsure if he should tell her what he was worried about. He wasn't really one to dive into personal things with those he didn't know too well, even when he and Bass had first met, he was pretty reserved about stuff. "Er, hi Vali. I'm doing alright, just uh...looking for a good fishing spot." a lie. He didn't want to tell her he was looking for Bass because if he did, then he was afraid that his suspicions would come true. He shuffled his paws in the damp earth, fluffy plume twitching slightly. He was older than the healer woman by a couple years, not that it mattered or anything. She was pretty, but also not his type. Literally. His mind drifted to the vixen, and suddenly he felt heat rush to his cheeks. Desperate now to find something to distract himself, he asked "So uh, what're you doing here?" "Speak"

She said nothing to his reply - it was clearly a lie, but she would say nothing. He wished not to share, and of course she would respect that. Instead, she nodded, smiling just a little bit, though with sympathy. She wasn't sure what he was doing, but it seemed like it was pretty hard on him, so... sympathy she felt, regardless of the situation. Her ears twitched when he asked what she was doing, and she shrugged just a little, looking sheepish. "Honestly? Just... checking up on the pack. Watching the lands. Approaching, if something seems wrong. I want to be available to the members of this pack."

	Her response didn't seem to make him think much of anything, really. It made sense, after all. It was a healers job to check on the members of the pack, lucky for him he hadn't been sick in a while, and even at his age still felt as spry as ever! "That's good, least you have something to do. I feel like I haven't found much of a purpose beyond fishing, really." Was that true? It felt like it. Only recently he had met a new possible companion that was the same species as he was, but beyond that? He didn't have many friends asides from Bass and maybe Finch, but the shy girl was hardly one to really talk because, well...she was shy and he didn't want to make her feel awkward. Crimson gaze looked over the water for a moment, his mind churning with thoughts. He supposed he should set aside his worries, and maybe find something worth having a conversation about, but what? His mind briefly flickered to Amaryllis, and he bit his lip for a second. He'd been feeling a little odd whenever he thought about her, but he didn't know really anything about love or...well, actually it was all pretty foreign to him. "Hey Vali, can I ask you something? If you have a minute, anyway." He figured she might have some advice, or an idea on what he might be feeling. She was a girl, after all, and who better to ask than a female? "Speak"

She nodded, a trouble expression passing her gaze, though only briefly. "Yes, the pack has been... quiet, hasn't it?" There had been no need of messengers, nor of... any other rank lately. It made her wonder - were the others becoming lax in personal training? Wolves could barely show up to trainings as it was. Perhaps that was an issue that she'd try talking to someone about, to at least give some ranks something to do. Messengers could be sent to scout out new packs, check up on the locations of older ones. Healers could be collecting herbs. Fighters could be sent to do fun, new training - if any of the even bothered to do it. Hunters could be tasked to hold hunting activities for any young ones. There had to be something, and more than just what she thought of off the top of jer jead.

Lost in thought, it took a moment for her to realize Dart was talking to her, and her ears twitched in a slight embarassment. She missed a few words, but it was easy to figure out what he was talking about. "Of course, Dart. What are you wanting to know?" Was it something herb related? She eyed him. He seemed nervous, which in turn made her both confused, and slightly tense. Was something the matter?