He hadn't meant to end up here. He told himself he was just walking, burning it off in the usual way. His paws moving until the anger thinned out enough to breathe, he had done a full circuit of the territory, jaw set and shoulders up around his ears, replaying the meeting back in his head and finding new things to be furious about each time. The vote, the way it had gone, the way everyone had just accepted it, nodding along like nobody else saw what he saw.

He'd been fine, and he was handling it.

And then somehow his feet brought him here, he paused at the entrance, looking at her for a moment and already irritated with himself for showing up without thinking it through. He didn't have a plan for this, didn't know what he was going to say or why he'd come specifically to her or what he expected from someone who couldn't even see the mess his face was currently making.

Noe, it's me, he moved into the space, lowering himself so that she'd know he was there. A beat passed and he could still feel the meeting sitting in his chest like a hot coal, and the silence didn't do what he wanted it to do, didn't smooth anything over. His tail moved once, restless, and he exhaled hard through his nose.

You doing alright? He asked it like he meant it, which he did even if the words came out gruffer than intended. His eyes tracked her face, the particular stillness of it, and for a moment the coal in his chest banked just slightly. Just enough.

Then it flared back up.

The vote — it was all wrong he said flatly, too impatient to give her the space to answer his prior question.

—

She still didn't feel integrated into the pack like she should've. Maybe it was because Noe was new at this whole wolf thing, but she felt kind of like she was doing this wrong. Mostly she tried to stay out of the way and do some adventuring on her own through the snowy forest, but she was still learning the lay of things and the way of things. In truth, she felt awkward and unsure, and she didn't like it.

Monty, though. Monty helped.

The pack was holding a vote for leadership. Noe had stayed out of it, her own voice useless in the meeting. She'd taken the time to nap, but she felt restless, and the sleep was little more than a doze at best.

Familiar pawsteps approached and Noe sprang to her feet, tail swishing excitedly before stilling in concern. Monty's steps sounded heavier, angrier, and Noe didn't know why.

"Monty," she greeted warmly regardless, padding over to him and stopping what she hoped was an appropriate distance away. His voice came from a little lower, so she crouched, putting them closer to eye level.

Brows knitting in confusion, she tipped her head. "I'm alright," she said, if only to reassure him. What was going on?

Cautious, she crept forward a bit, undoubtedly getting into his space. "Why was it wrong?" she asked, hoping to coax him into speaking.