there was the scent of blood in the air. not the bright metallic scent, but something deep and musty; such a note upon the wind typically told a wolf of an easy meal, or something wounded ready to be taken down by capable fangs. mahina hoped it was something like that — something she could more than sink her teeth in to, but really work for. without any ties to bind her to any one place, she was unmoored by responsibility and for the soldier, that was the worst head-space to be in.

so she prowled, learning of this land as she went. it appeared as though spring had arrived as if overnight: she had made camp the previous evening among a copse of frozen trees and lichen, only to wake here without any sign of a deep-freeze. the sun was blazing overhead, the sky was clear; an expanse of permafrost carried as far as the horizon, with shoots of green all over the place as well as clusters of wildflowers.

it didn't make any sense — so she focused on movement, and that was when the blood hit her nose. it would serve as a good distraction to the growing confusion she harbored. or, it would have done this — had she not come upon the lazing figure of a white wolf, marred along their back with thick, dark cuts.

holy shit, she exclaimed — breaking the quiet in the stranger's hesitation pretty quickly. what the hell happened? her ire appeared to rise, but it was the soldier's sense of survival. if some creature with claws like that existed here, mahina wanted to make sure it had not lingered — but she would be utterly thrilled if it had! her focus was split between their surroundings and the young stranger.