He hasn't been back in the woods since before he broke his leg, so it feels nice to get back out here again, breathe in the crisp air, look for something that's comparable to a needle in a haystack. He's determined not to get lost this time, noting landmarks as he makes his way through the trees, but he'd forgotten to account for the things that go bump in the night. The sun's only just setting, but it's dark enough to have to squint when he hears the snap of a branch, the rustling of leaves.

He makes a sharp right and stops in his tracks, eyes wide at what he sees just a few feet away. There's a giant goddamn wolf, and he'd probably be backing away slowly right about now if the thing didn't look so... well, sad. Instead, he takes a few cautious steps forward, tilting his head when he hears a whimper and wondering if the big guy's been hurt. He holds his hand out when the wolf notices him--or at least finally decides to acknowledge his presence. "Not gonna hurt you, buddy. Everything's good, we're good."