((Thank you for your patience everyone! It's been a busy couple of weeks and it doesn't look to be slowing down, so appreciate everyone's understanding and continued patience! (ㅅ´ ˘ `) ))

Valla stepped up beside Oleander, close but not quite touching. "No worries, but you're right that we can walk and talk!" She looked at the collection of wolves around her and she was impressed. The Lupin wagged her tail gently and took some tentative steps forward to start the journey once more.

"No worries!" Kamala replied. "It's all good!"

Loki chirped in agreement.

-----

Midnight nodded. "Kamala's right. No hard feelings."

Flameseer purred. "Yeah....besides we were running a little late ourselves."

The party continues forwards, conversation scattered throughout. The sun shines bright overhead, casting pale light across the snowy plain. Around them, mountains begin to rise, gradually cutting the landscape into more of a valley. A light dusting of snow starts to fall, making the wolves pelts shimmer.

There’s a small rustle from behind… just the wind, hmmm? But two pairs of ears pop up- one black, one red. Dooms sharp hearing kicks in while Oleanders instincts tell her something is off.

(I hope y’all don’t mind me occasionally doing things like this- making an “event” and taking random wolves to start it.)

Oleander had done her best to be in the center of the group while also trying to dodge any of the chatter that everyone else seemed eager to engage in Her ears were flattened against her head, which she kept on a swivel, turning sharply from side to side to see if there was any flicker of movement that she didn't recognize. On occasion, a swaying branch or a bounding hare caused her to tense up, a sharp huff of surprise escaping her before her eyes managed to fully comprehend what she was seeing. Being in a larger group did mean more numbers, but she was struggling to comprehend if that meant strength, especially given that the others were nattering on as if nothing was amiss.

And then- something suddenly was.

She stopped- fully this time, her head shooting upwards, paws splayed apart as if to root herself to the spot. She twisted her head around and lifted her snout in the air to take in quick sniffs, trying to pull in whatever glimpse of a scent it was that she had just sensed.

"Quiet," she snapped sharply, speaking for the first time in a long moment. "There is something."

Valla froze at the sound of Oleander's command. Her breath stopped and her ears swiveled in the direction that Doom had turned. When he realized what had apepared, Valla spun around to face the threat and barked loudly. "Come out or run, coward!"

She adjusted her weight onto her haunches, prepared to leap at the beast should it exit the underbrush.