It seemed the pack resided further into the forest, which boded well for Ciel's throbbing paws. If this what winter was usually like, he was looking forward to spring already. This sucked!

Pleased to get some blood rushing into his pawpads again, Ciel would keep pace with the other boy once they got moving. Not like it was difficult, being similar heights and all. Glancing at the boy, maybe not as subtley as it thought, it seemed they really were similar in everything but coats. If Ciel didn't know any better, Skoll, as he'd just learned, could be a half-sibling. He even had one of Gaius' blue eyes.

At least their last names didn't match. The thought was almost enough to calm the uncomfortable clench of its gut. Ciel had always been the black sheep of his family (as far as he knew), so seeing someone who looked like he belonged set off the hangups he'd shoved into the back of his mind.

Which was exactly what he was going to do about this, scrambling for a change in subject so he had something else to focus on. "How many wolves live with you?" Ciel asked, internally cringing. He didn't really care, but he was too scatterbrained from getting placed in a strange world to think of something better to ask.

Skoll has to think about the answer to the question. There's a nervous clench in his gut when he remembers the amount of wolves in the pack - fourteen is so many. Skoll still hasn't met the majority of them. If he can recall, nearly half of them are pups.

Fourteen, if Kirain hasn't let anyone new join since Skoll himself. Skoll has no clue - keeping track of everyone is like trying to count mice.

"Fourteen." His tongue swipes over his nose once again. "I haven't met most of them. They should leave you alone."

Hopefully Kirain lets Ciel stay if he wants to. He doesn't think she would chase away another wolf in need.

Fourteen? That was quite the pack. Ciel has never minded big groups, despite never really being around many wolves. The times he had, though, were quite entertaining. Normally, he was all over talking, and new wolves, despite silently judging them. Today had really done a number on him, clearly.

"They're quite big, then." It mused. "I don't really care. Are there more wolves our age?" Ciel preferred company in his own age group, so if Skoll was the only other younger wolf, he might get too bored. That's if he couldn't leave, however. It supposed it should leave all what ifs to when he'd actually gotten answers.

He hums in reply. Yeah, the pack is big. Skoll wonders how big the other packs are. Or if there are any others nearby.

"There's another one our age named Southeast." Skoll leaves out Southeasts' full name. "And Kirain has children. I think there might be one more aside from them." There's so many wolves Skoll can't keep track of them all.

Like counting mice.

"Almost half are our age or younger." Closer to half if Ciel stays.

Southeast? Ciel wrinkles his nose a tad. Who would name their child not one, but two directions? How odd. Although, he supposed everything about this place was odd, so perhaps they belonged here. "I see," he said primly, opting to keep his opinion to himself. It didn't know if Skoll was close with them or not, after all.

Almost half were their age. Well... if all else fails, and Ciel can't leave, at least it could relish in more youthful faces around. He could take or leave the adults, preferring to do what he wanted, when he wanted. He enjoyed structure, don't get him wrong, but his structure. Not some made up rules grown-ups put in place for no apparent reason.

"Quite a lot, then." Ciel observed. He wondered if they were born here, or if they had woken up just like himself. What a strange place he'd woken up in... "What about your family?" It asked, suddenly. Skoll made no mention if anyone came with him, if that was even possible. Had he been ripped away from familiarity, too?

Skoll hums in agreement at Ciel's observations. The pack is big and has a lot of pups. Hopefully they aren't upset at him for bringing another along. When Skoll came around they didn't seem to mind.

He almost stops walking when Ciel asks about his family. Skoll tries to think. He stares at the trees in the distance marking the densites but nothing comes up. His mind is blank, as if a wall was built around the memories containing those of his family.

Skoll knows he has family somewhere. Every wolf has family, whether they like it or not. So why is it so hard to remember?

"I don't have any family." he replies. At least not here. "The pack is all i've got."

He should feel lonely. Somehow, he doesn't mind only having the pack around. Everyone has been nice to him so far. "What about yours?"

Ciel, too focused on himself as per usual, didn't notice the way his words affected Skoll. Too busy wondering about his own issues to think of anyone else, the only reaction the very slight stutter in his gait got was an ear twitch. He was alone, just like Ciel, then. It would be stupid to deny the very dim kinship he felt with the boy for a moment. It was a particular sort of isolation, being ripped from the wolves you'd known for your whole, short life.

Well, that's if he took Skoll's words in a way that related to himself. Maybe he really didn't have any family. They could have died, or something. The realisation made Ciel twitch both ears, this time. Maybe it was a touchy subject. It didn't really want to see a near-total stranger burst into tears or something, so maybe it shouldn't ask. He'd drop it, merely nodding in response instead.

"Not here," he muttered, resisting the urge to snap an obviously on the end there. Unless they woke up somewhere else, he supposed. "I've got my dads, and my sisters. They're probably wondering where I am right now." Ciel added, in case Skoll was asking about his family in general, not where they were. "My Papa has a big family, but my Dad doesn't talk much about his." Not at all, really. He didn't even know if he had any aunts or uncles on Gaius' side. Just two cousins he knew nothing about.

Again, it was a touchy subject. Ciel didn't like tears, so he'd learned to avoid sensitive topics.

Skoll wants to offer his condolences, or maybe tell Ciel that his family could have woken up here too. But why would they not have woken up together if that were the case? Saying something like that would only make everyone feel worse. It's best to expect the worst than have delusions.

"I'm sure Kirain will have some ideas on what to do." He offers, but the words feel dead on his tongue.

Can you even leave? No one talks about it.

They're close to the packsite now.