Maki craned her neck to look up at the trees that towered overhead. She wished she had claws; or rather the ability to climb with a sense of agility that wolves simply didn't have. Maybe if she was a cat she'd have no trouble at all, she could climb and climb, settle in the canopy and look down at the world below. But as this were, as she stood up on her hind legs, front paws pressed against the bark with curled toes...yeah, it wasn't gonna happen, a girl could dream though!

She did a silly little hop, tail wagging behind her as she imagined scrambling up, the sheer show of strength it'd be. How capable and determined she was, or rather imaginary Maki was.

Tsuga had more or less given up hope of ever finding Galena again. He wouldn't admit to himself that the younger wolf may very well have perished, that was not in the cards for his mental health, and besides he felt as if the spirits of the forest somehow would have let him know. All that being said, he was starting to doubt if he'd ever come across her again either. The world was an endlessly large place, and his legs could only carry him so fast for so long, and spirits help him if he was being carried in the wrong direction. So maybe that's why he ended up back here, near where it began. As a last ditch effort, or maybe just to seal his peace. The thought occurred to him to build a shrine here, to help guide the lost and wandering souls that might also cross these trails, and he set about doing exactly that. He had scoped out a good area and was on task moving some nicely sized stones where he wanted them when he noticed another wolf nearby. Female and near his age as best as he could tell, staring up at the towering treetops. He quirked his head... what on earth could have captured her attention? He looked up himself, half expecting to see a bear or wildcat treed there, or even just an interesting bird. But... well. He didn't see anything at all, actually. Midway through rolling his latest stone he called out, "Miss? Are you alright?" He was not a healer, and had no business treating apoplexy but he supposed something was better than nothing. Probably. Hopefully. "Talk" "Listen" Think

Maki had been feeling pretty unwell as of late, but she was trying really really hard to ignore that. Cause yanno with the giant worm and her scratched up belly and everything, it was a lot, even for her. Still standing against the tree, she pushed her weight against it, trying and failing to look all casual as she leaned over to look at the stranger. Was she alright? Mostly, probably would be in time.

"Yeah! I was jus' thinking how cool it'd be to be able to climb, all the way to the top. Stand on the branches and just...see, yanno?"

Escapism always came to easily to Maki, but some things she just couldn't daydream away.

Peering closer, it soon became clear that despite what the woman said, she was in fact not doing so hot. Again, Tsuga wasn't a healer do he couldn't put his paw on it exactly but she was certainly more than a smidge off kilter. He nodded along to her words, trying to parse them and analyzing her at the same time. "Hm, yes I imagine it would be quite the view." He quirked his head. "Bit dangerous though too, no?" The stranger was resting her weight against the tree. Most wolves shouldn't be climbing trees anyhow, but she absolutely should not. Probably. Again, not a healer but he'd venture a guess. Keeping her out of the trees seemed like the best plan for now, and while he didn't want to risk contracting whatever this was, he'd feel miserable knowing he'd left a clearly addled wolf unattended. Especially after losing Galena, there was only so much his poor heart could take. "You know," he hedged, "I was just about to begin a small project here and could use a second set of eyes if you're free. Mind lending me an opinion or two? I'm Tsuga by the way." He nodded his head in greeting and nudged the rock down at his paws. Perhaps spending some time assisting the spirits here would lend her their favor as well, speed her healing. Internally, he offered up a quick prayer that it would be so, hoping they were around to listen. "Talk" "Listen" Think