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Over the crest of the hill came first a small brown shape, and then a young dark-coated female, both running at breakneck pace. The male adolescent heading up the slope caught the female's attention momentarily, and she missed her footing, stumbling, and slowed briefly - just long enough for the rabbit to dart down a hole. Masha stopped short, glaring at the hiding place, and pawed at the entrance. Nothing, except for a faint scuffling from within.

"Damn." The red-eyed wolf turned away with a sigh. That was one chance at a decent meal gone. She eyed the approaching male with some resentment. It wasn't really his fault; she was the one who'd got distracted, after all. She'd probably have tripped even if he wasn't there, she told herself.

It wasn't much consolation. Trying not to glare at him, Masha padded down the slope towards the male. Might as well say hello since they were both here.

((No worries! ^^))

Masha stopped short, irritated by the male's casual attitude. It was rare for her to get annoyed, but right now she was hungry and tired and she - probably - had a right to be a little cross. "It was too fast, that's all," she said after a moment. "And I tripped when I spotted you," she added pointedly.

Then, as she saw how he was looking away in seeming embarrasment, she relented and added, "You've had no luck either? I guess there's just not much prey around right now. But... I'm sure there'll be more. Or I'll just wait around 'til that rabbit decides to come out." She smiled slightly and then sat down, yawning. With her paws tucked neatly beneath her, and her tail wrapped around them, the young female's slight build was evident. She was even skinnier than most of the northern wolves, the result of being a loner with little luck or skill at hunting.

Masha glanced back up the hill. "No, probably not," she admitted. "I guess I can go a little longer without catching anything - there's always stuff to scavenge for." Not that she much liked doing that. While sometimes she felt bad about killing the other animals, it was, after all, what wolves were supposed to do, just like rabbits ate grass and things. To eat vegetation like them was just a little demeaning, but often it kept her alive.

"I'm not much good at hunting," she added after a pause. "I'm not quick enough. I can chase prey but I'm not much good at catching them, unless I take them by surprise..." She eyed the brown-and-white male curiously. He was probably, despite what he'd said, a much better hunter than her.

"Yeah." Masha sighed, a little embarrassed as she added, "I think... I don't have the strategy, really. And you're right about it taking a pack to hunt properly. You're not part of a pack, then?" she guessed, knowing she was almost certainly right. If this male was part of a pack, he'd be with them now, and not talking to her, not commiserating about unsuccesful hunts. That was a shame - she never seemed to meet anyone with a pack, let alone anyone who might let her join up with them.

"I'm Masha," she said after a pause, feeling that introductions were necessary at this point. "And I don't have a pack either, although I'm looking." She shot the male a faint smile. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't mind her sticking around for a while. Maybe they could hunt together.

Masha was slightly annoyed by his smirk - but after all she had said it herself - and then puzzled by his changing expression. If packs had been wiped out or broken up recently, that wasn't a good sign for either of them, so she could understand his slight sadness, but not the cold look he returned to her smile. She was just trying to be friendly.

And with that in mind she kept the faint smile on her face as she tilted her head questioningly and asked, "For what?" Hunting on your own, not having a pack, talking to me? she wondered. If it was the first, she wasn't much better herself - but there were two of them, and together they might be better. If it was the second, well, she'd had no luck either. And the third option... was just odd.