So engrossed was the young father in his search that he did not see the other wolf come up out of the river. Rhaegal was wholly focused on the task that Moonfeather had given him - find the plant, by the river, three parts, five leaves, bring it back to me. He didn't know what it was called or what purpose it would serve, but the healers looking after his baby girl had told him to do this, and so here he was. He continued down the riverbank, fervent in his search, nosing apart reeds and tall grasses to look for that plant that seemed not to grow where his cousin had said it would.

All at once his head snapped up, the rough words of the other wolf taking him by surprise. They seemed to rock him to his core, something in his voice startling him, or perhaps it was simply the truth of his words. Troubled. It didn't even begin to cover it. He was supposed to protect her, and yet she had fallen so ill that neither her parents nor her siblings could visit her...healers tended to her day and night. For just a moment Rhaegal paused in his search, his black ears pricking forward and his head snapping up.

Mismatched ringed eyes met those of this unknown wolf, not even taking stock of the similarities therein. They stood equal in height, Rhaegal perhaps a few pounds heavier, but he did not take notice of such things. He blinked, looking at this unknown wolf, wondering where he came from. Realizing then just how out of sorts he'd become, allowing himself to become so completely unaware of his surroundings...especially with the borders of Iromar not so far away to the south. His mother's voice rang in his head - You have two other children, do not forget them in this. As consumed as he was by Melee's pernicious illness, he also owed his love to Swifttalon and Eldrax. He could not fail them.

"I...yes," the words stumbled from his lips, "My daughter, she is sick." He wasn't sure why he confided his troubles in this wolf whom he knew nothing about, but it felt oddly relieving to give his plight words. His gaze drifted back to the grasses and plants growing along the riverbank. "Do you know anything about plants? I was sent out to look for a plant that's stalk separates into three parts, each part growing five leaves." His brow furrowed as his gaze brushed across the grasses, seeing nothing. "I have to keep looking," he said, more to himself than to the stranger, moving to step past him and continue his search down the bank.