Dirk noticed the approach of another wolf far later than was acceptable to his own mind, caught up in thoughts of his past as he was. A dark figure moving at a steady pace through the brittle grass. There was no doubt that the stranger’s trajectory would bring them straight to him and for a moment the pale-masked male contemplated evasion. Apparently his desire to avoid others was just as strong as his desire to be near them at the moment. His indecision would remove his option, however, as while he was debating in his mind, the black wolf--a female now that he could see her more clearly--continued her approach, not slowing until her nose was thrust into the thicker fur at his shoulder.

Dark ears flicked back as Dirk sidled away from the intrusion by the stranger. No greeting, no cursory niceties, she’d just marched right up and helped herself to his scent. Nothing about her body language had suggested an immediate threat, but still it was a bit disconcerting. Even moreso when she began to circle him, muttering to herself, a single word over and over, a word that resonated within him and brought him dangerously close to giving voice to his secret misery.

When she finally stopped, Dirk watched the gel as she finally stopped her circling and peered up at him with her too-bright eyes; eyes that twitched now and then of their own accord it would seem. The wee thing is mad. No way around it. Slowly and deliberately, Dirk lowered his rump until he was seated before the lass, then contemplated her words. Something twisted in the vicinity of his heart. Alone. A gruff grunt escaped him though what he wanted to do was howl. The lass had no idea how very alone one could be.

Not inclined to inform her, Dirk blinked and pulled his head back as the wee black bat let loose a growl and spoke under her breath. Her eyes were unfocused and again something twisted painfully inside of him. His memories reared up and threatened to drag him under but the lass spoke again drawing his attention at least in part back to the here and now. Why? How? Dirk let out a soft snort and tucked his chin into the thick fur on his chest, hiding the pale bib there. For a moment it would seem that he was refusing to answer, but in truth he was trying to remember how to speak. His voice, though naturally gruff, was made even moreso by disuse. ”Och, why is anyone alone, lass?” He hedged, not quite ready to face his demons and certainly not in front of a strange gel who was clearly a bit unhinged. ”Are ye out alone, wee shadow?”

Dirk scanned the field with his brightly hued eyes, looking for any sign of the gel’s keeper. Surely she wasn’t left to wander on her own? His cursory search was fruitless and he brought his gaze back to the wolf in front of him. Not for the first time he contemplated the fragility of the female mind. As an afterthought he wondered what the lass before him had suffered that her mind had crumbled. In his experience it was never anything pleasant.