For a heartbeat, Kiva simply stared.

Relief arrived first.

Not because she recognized him. She didn't. She was pretty sure she'd remember a wolf like this, but because he was someone. Sinew and bone. Real enough to cast a shadow across the grass. It was enough to loosen the knot that had been steadily tightening in her chest since she'd realized every familiar landmark had vanished. She felt like she could breathe just a little better.

And then her brain caught up. It was… a stranger. Right. That was significantly less comforting, but she could work with it. Her ears flicked forward as she studied him, taking in the uncertain way he carried himself. Yeah, he looked healthy enough, but there was something kinda off. Not dangerous, exactly. More like he'd wandered into a story halfway through and was trying to pretend he knew the plot.

The corner of her mouth twitched. "Well," she said, breaking the silence with a small huff of amusement, "unless I've finally started talking to myself, I'm going to assume you just said hello." Smooth, Kiva. She glanced over one shoulder toward the trail she'd come from, then back again, as if expecting the forest to suddenly explain itself.

"I have to admit..." Her expression pinched into a sheepish smile. "I'm really hoping you know where we are."

A beat passed. "...Or at least that you're as lost as I am."

The admission felt foreign on her tongue. Kiva almost never called herself lost. Misdirected? Temporarily inconvenienced? Sure. Lost? Never. Yet here she was. Drawing in a slow breath, she gave a polite dip of her head. "I'm Kiva."

The smile softened, more genuine this time. "It's nice to see someone else. What’s your name?" She had to be polite sometimes, no?