Damn it, what's with Alaki bringing home the bothersome strays? Why couldn't it be something obediant for a change? Matteo thought bitterly as he trudged through the underbrush, wearing a winter parka and with fur padded around his boots, his jeans thicker than usual and a scarf wrapped around his neck. Oh yes, and mittins, though they were altered for his claws.
...Matteo hated the cold.
Miwa had run ahead. With Alaki busy being the new beta of the pack- a feat that Matteo was endlessly proud of -and training new warriors, Matteo had been left with the duty of being a medic and watching the pups.
Not to mention the pets, the pets' kids, the friends of their pups at times...
It was all getting to be a hassle, one the young male wasn't at all prepared for.
" Miwa! Miwa, come back here! " He called, voice drawn in what could've been mistaken for a series of coyote howls, as his Italian-accented voice was famous for.
Up ahead, the pup had darted on towards an old building, a cave, she figured. Just... a funny looking one. She knew that 'pa' was coming, which meant she'd be going back inside the caves again. But why!? The night was so beautiful! She missed the shining stars and dazzling moon. The caves they lived in didn't have that.
She trotted up to the old sawmill with a wagging tail, not even noticing the cold. " Wow! " She yelped under her breath, instantly off again to check out the inside.
She found her way in through a hole in the side wall, one just large enough for her to squeeze through. She explored timidly, poking her nose into old boxes and sniffing at some weird fuzz that had grown near the bottom of each. Huh.
It was the soft sound of breathing that spooked her, and she spun around, half-expecting to see a monster towering behind her.
Instead, she saw a woman and a puppy, curled up in one of the corners and looking as if they were sleeping. For a moment, she wondered if she should leave them alone.
"Miiiwaaa!" The voice of her pa told her that she had more important things to worry about. She squeaked and darted for one of the boxes nearby, shuffling over the edge and slipping in under the cover of darkness inside.
Matteo had followed her scent to the sawmill, picking up the pace once the forest was left behind. He'd managed to catch up to her enough to spot her squeezing into a hole in the side of the building and groaned in aggrivation. Great. The old Sawmill. Just the place a young pup should be.
"Miwa! Cchhh...!" He hissed through his teeth, giving his ears a quick tug. "Child, you are so grounded when I catch you." He growled under his breath as he trudged up to the mill.
He made barely any sound as he pushed open the front door, stepping in and taking a concentrated sniff of the place.
He froze. ...there's someone else here. He cursed under his breath and snuck around the entryway to the mill, peaking into the central room. Sure enough, there they were. A mother and her child.
Well at least it wasn't someone dangerous for Miwa's sake, at least. He'd get the blunt of whatever temper this woman might have upon being woken up.
"Excuse me, Signora. I hate to wake you, but I didn't want to startle you. Maybe you can help me." He spoke up softly, in a gentle tone. While he didn't want to scare them or show them cruelty, he also kept in mind that this wasn't free land. This feral woman and her child weren't part of the pack, meaning they were tresspassing.
But Teo had a soft spot for pups and women lately, especially the younger ones. He figured they could've used the place to sleep, so a warning of danger in a friendly, concerned manner would probably be the worst punishment the pair would get.
Miwa, on the other hand...
