He was so happy and relieved to see her, but was not expected her to continue forward and completely close the gap between them after she look him over. Her hug made his stiffen and his eyes widen. His ears pulled back as well as his head a bit. What is he supposed to do? He felt so comfortable and yet he was so stiff by it, as he was not used to anyone but his sister giving him the occasional touch at this point in life.

His head turned slightly towards her as she said that she came looking for him, and there is something...off about her voice, perhaps that she was...sad or stressed before. He naturally leans his muzzle in behind her ear and gently nudges her in return- not quite knowing what is an appropriate action for him. He natural reaction is to be nervous of well...everything that is happening, but with her it was so different. It caused him to overcome it...even if it was a just a little.

”Oh...m-me?” he says somewhat surprised. He smiled for a moment when she stepped back and spoke of his sister going to Taviora. But then it led him to frown slightly. Everything was very confusing. He wasn’t sure if all of the pups escaped but became too scared to help and ran. It was...shameful. As always, he was too terrified to be of any use to others, and his white touched ears fell as did his general composure. He only shriveled up a bit more when she asked if he was okay.

”I….I wasn’t able to…h-help…” he said with a frown, his eyes downcast now to his paws as his head lowered beyond his shoulders now. His nerves always got him, and he swore his legs moved on their own when he was scared. He would just...run and hide. His mind would turn off and it was like he was not in control anymore. He knew he was a coward, and he hated himself for it.

”I am okay,” he say quietly, completely ashamed that he was okay when perhaps others were not. He did not know for sure though. He knew little to nothing only than he had to run and find safety. He supposed he was safe now, but they are out in the freelands. Zelda is out in the freelands. His head suddenly lifts up and panic starts to crawl onto his features again.

”W-we can’t have you out here, i-it is not safe!” he says as he looks back and forth for any threats. ”We should g-go,” he says as he nervously walks towards her to nudge her shoulder and encourage her to go to her pack. The last thing he wanted was for something to happen to Zelda out in these wild, untamed lands….even though not like packs have been stable for him either, but at least he knew in Taviora, Zelda pretty much had an army of brave wolves ready to protect her. His imprint instinct was to have her in the safest place possible- even if it was not him that was providing the protection...since he certainly was not worth being her personal guard.