It is almost simple, the way that I follow him, but I am eager to do so if only because he has shown me kindness. Because he seems concerned about my safety and I do not feel threatened by him. He is not like that silver-snouted boy who threatened to hurt me. He is not like my half-sister as she crooned at me and told me the horrors that would befall me. He is not like my own mother, who shunned me in the midst of winter, nor my father, who grew steadily madder and despised me. No, he is like Zharko, in a way, and I am right at his heels as we begin to race away from the baying pack and the risk of being caught out here alone. But I am not alone now and I find the tense muscles of my shoulders relaxing as I stick with him.

The sounds of things skittering in the underbrush does not entice me into chase. In fact, it drives me closer to Juris so that our sides almost brush with each jolting movement, and I find comfort from the warmth that radiates off his fur even as the rain begins to fall in a slow drizzle. If we stay under cover for most of it then we won't end up soaked and chilled but I let him take the lead, holding back my own idea of my fox-hole den. Besides, I don't think we could both fit. It was barely enough for me and I slept nose to tail most of the time.

His woofs draw my attention and I am quiet as I watch him, as he wishes me to do, and when he begins to turn over a rock I inch closer, peering at the spot. Suddenly bugs begin to creep out, scattering until he grabs them and stops a few with his paws. When his eyes flick up to me I realize he wants ME to eat too so I snatch one gently from the edge of his paw and crunch down. It doesn't taste bad - crunchy. Not as filling as I would like, but sustenance nonetheless.

He coaches me and I smile gently, tail wagging at him because I find I like him all the more. He is kind and caring when my life has been little more than racing from here to there. I was a coward, mostly, but I don't think... Juris would care. "They are good," I assure him sweetly as I snatch a few who try to skitter away until he begins digging and I move in close and begin to do the same. I am not sure what I am digging for but I don't want to be useless. Our paws brush a few times and when he pulls out a snake I stare wide eyed as he chomps down but then he is giving me bits of it and a mole and I eagerly chew and swallow. I don't care what it is but the ache in my belly has eased quite a bit by the time we are done.

"Eggs sound delicious," I say wistfully but wag my tail again so he won't think I am ungrateful. I had only had eggs once in my life and that was in my short stint in Glorall, right after the gulls had laid eggs. They were delicate and delicious. I glance up between the canopy of the tree as he talks before looking down at him rather shyly but offering a small smile. "Okay," I reply, pleased that he wants me to stay with him. It had been so long since I had shared a den or even a night with another wolf and I was eager for the warmth that he would bring me.

Juris licks my face and I close my eyes, a soft whine of contentment given as I lean into it. Zharko was the only one who had done that in... forever. It was comforting to have another wolf show such affection. Maybe I am already a little in love with him, so naive in thinking that even a small bit of kindness is worth everything. "Thank you," I say when he pulls away and my eyes say the rest. for everything.