It felt as if she'd been gone forever.

And well, she had. A few years, at least. She sighed, a simple sound that was crushed by the injury and turned into a grumble. She coughed, clearing her throat the best she could. She had run into a bit of trouble out there on her own, and had decided that she needed to be somewhere...safe. Where she could find herself some time to heal, how she'd get past this injury she didn't know. She was having trouble hunting, but she knew of the streams and rivers here that were packed most days. Out there...she had trouble finding small enough prey to eat that wouldn't cause her throat to start bleeding again. Now, however, there was hope.

Mom and dad were gone, where to, Oliza had no idea. She didn't think anyone she was related to was still around anymore, but she didn't need anyone, right?! Nah, not quite. She'd stick it out in the free lands, stay there until she figured out where her heart would lead her. She had never chosen a pack before, never wanted too. And now she didn't know where her heart was leading her, but she wasn’t sure where she’d end up this time, but it would take time, that’s for sure.

She found herself wandering towards the rivers, her frame thinner than it should be, she looked like hell, she knew that. Her throat was the most mangled part of her. The fur was still missing, the skin still raw and red, the edges fading into pink. The center, was still gaping open. The tangle with the coyote had been unfair when the rest of it’s pack had ganged up on her. Some other scars told the story, but the throat was the worst. The injury had gone deep, into the inner layer muscle right against her windpipe and trachea. Making swallowing the hardest thing to do. Most days, she had given up on eating, and just drank water to keep herself hydrated.

The black and mottled blue-grey body laid beside the water, her toes dipping into the water. Her blue-orange eyes were hooded as she laid her head on her legs. She felt the tugs of the skin pulling, and she fought back the urge to cry out. This was getting old, but she’d deal. She always had.