"I could say the same to you," he said to her, eyes far from subtly tracking along her spine, settling on her shadowed face; he was accustomed to that, dark shakes, rich colors—this pure white she wore was something new to behold, it made him curious all the same, brows inched in careful observation. "It's as though the snow kissed you." M'Jakuna punctuated this with a motion of his head at her chin. "Should we all be so lucky as to know someone like you so closely."
M'Jakuna nodded as she spoke, not voicing his distaste for such nomadic tendencies when he was having to behave within their bounds; he did see why it appealed, some wolves didn't think the stagnancy of a territory to be entirely enriching. That was fine, he'd always been the sort to reside loyally, waiting for the return. "Surely they will, a good leader doesn't restrict; they know a loyal member always finds their way back," said M'Jakuna, believing this strongly—all restriction did was breed resentment. Then, as one, they were on their way, almost side to side as he led them onward.
For some time, he let her do the talking, navigating quietly save for a few rumbles and grunts of adjusting to the terrain as it dipped and leveled. "It sounds real lovely," he said to her, observant enough to note the shift in her expression, how her thoughts trickled into the way she walked and M'Jakuna slowed ever slightly to glance at her. He'd heard of such things before, after all, a wolf's greatest enemy was their wolven kin—packs decimating packs wasn't uncommon in his land though he managed to help his pack thrive in the peaks of mountains, their passive assistance making them no overt enemies and their defenses honed enough he'd never doubted them when it came time to defend; always on the frontlines, too. What she said next, though, it confused him—she had died? Poor thing... His happening in this world was so vague, subtle. "There's not much one can say in the face of such tragedy... though I'm sorry you and your people endured it."
Maybe not intuitive but aware enough to see how the light struck her eyes, tears. M'Jakuna let out a rumble as he shifted, turning to face her, flicking an ear. "Don't be apologetic, it sounds like you're carrying something heavy, Aika," he said, closing the distance between them so that he could ever so gently brush his heavy head against cheek, then next. A reassurance of sorts he'd deliver to any of his pack. "You'd only set yourself up for failure if you didn't try." M'Jakuna lifted his head from her, offering a somber look that didn't fade as he moved to press his forehead to hers, further reassurance. "Grief is a miserable thing, muddies efforts but you're well, Aika, you're well—taking breath and doing now, you'll honor them as they deserve."
the staff team luvs u
