<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900"><i>Good, I like that she's a fighter. She may seem physically weak--and who could blame her-- yet there's much resolve in her. She has great potential. </i></span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900">"There you go, you're doing great," </span>he encouraged her on the sidelines, watching her shift back into a beautiful young woman, but in the process, he couldn't help but shift his weight to turn away from her. It was his first time seeing someone naked of the opposite sex for many months. They were both adults, true, but something about seeing other people in the naked flesh made it seem quite personal, and he was sure that she needed her own space. Then again, what if she was freezing cold? Duh! Why could he not have offered his own shirt to her sooner?<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900">"Hey, there's no need to thank me. I'm just glad that you're all--"</span><br/><br/>Their brief exchanges were cut-off abruptly by the three from her pack; they had just shown up with intense stares, sniffing the air as well as the man with the unfamiliar scent. They were certainly not happy to see the rogue wolf, but here was Okomi's chance to prove to them that he wasn't going to be of any threat. Obviously, this was the pack she belonged with, but there had to be a reason why she refused to return to her group. Hopefully, within the time he would get the chance to find out if they'd allow him to be part of and initiated into their pack.<br/><br/>He slid away a few inches from Holly as the others engaged with her, but Okomi still remained adjacent to her, needing for the others to see that he regarded them. He was well aware that his nose was unwelcome in their business, but tough luck--he wasn't planning on hightailing out of there anytime soon. He<i>just </i>met the beautiful girl; she was in pain and their words were so dry. It was protocol, something that he was used to doing most the time. He didn't want to make any presumptions, but this pack already lacked warmth. It had structure, procedures in place, but there wasn't exactly much sympathy. Then again, he wasn't aware of her background and how she came to be initiated. All he knew was that she was being defiant because of something that recently happened. He'd glance between the trio and the one known as Holly.<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900"><b>Holly</b>, beautiful name. I will remember it...</span></i><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900">"Excuse me, please,"</span>interjected Okomi, with his deep russet eyes steering down toward the snow. He knew better than to challenge his current adversaries even though he did not want to cause trouble himself.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b35900">"Here, may I have that jacket? I have been observing her longer than you all, and I want to just say that before I state my name, Holly is injured and the evening grows dark. It's best that we move to safe grounds and back to your area. I promise to explain who I am, but right now the most common thing is to disappear out of these uncharted territories, especially if it's bordering on a neighboring territory. That is my suggestion. The rest is in your hands. Just know that I am not an enemy--I just want to help and I came by this way because I already kind of live out here, anyway," </span>he shrugged and offered the jacket that she just declined, but tried to offer a friendly smile to break the tension. He was right by her side and remained steadfast. He made up his mind: he would follow her back. Maybe if she knew that he was willing to learn with her as well as know how things ran in her pack, it would give her hope, knowing that she wouldn't feel awkward all the time. From his assumption, her time as a were wasn't long at all.<br/><br/>Now, the others, however, may not have been ready to accept him. The Arapaho had no objection in being obstinate. If he had to, he'd resort to challenging them, but hopefully, they would take special note that a lone wolf was willing to follow orders from strangers. He used to be a high-ranked wolf on the totem pole once upon a time, but if he had to play dumb, then so be it. It was more or less his strategy to gain trust or at least the first step in building it. But one thing was for sure--his feelings and his intentions were good and he didn't have hostility like his ex-leader. He was done with his old life and wanted to start over in higher spirits. He just couldn't afford to repeat being betrayed again...he just...couldn't.