Chapter Text
Nora hurried Enid away from the highway, nose sniffing out for any danger they could be walking into. The sight of the girl sobbing had been too much for her. wolf blood they say, yet when a 200-400 pound wolf jumps you for your weapons and food it could scar a folk. The older woman whispered calm words to Enid as they rushed away from her parents cold bodies. It had been horrible, the walkers ate them like nothing, but there wasn't much she could do. Though not the biggest in The Wolves she carried herself with speed and agility more than strength or defense .
Nora lost Enid, she had been tracking the girl down for the past eight months, stealing from her own. All the scent or tracking trail's she found were gone and were too faint for her to track longer than a mile or two. Enid was smart to run. She couldn't lose here and that was a fact if she had to fight her way out she would. She couldn't give up cause some ripped up alpha told her to, she was independent. Nora didn't need to rely on a pack.
"Traitor" Owen's words stung like acid. The group she trusted pushing her away because she gave into the Beta instinct to raise and protect.
Nora made her quickest escape, Legs heaving under the pace she had set herself to. they wouldn't chase her, she wasn't worth their time.
Two weeks out of the group and Nora had lost hope of finding her girl. It was only the alluring scent of fresh kill that she couldn't help but pick up and follow that rose her spirits. She moved ahead, tail thwacking back and forth behind her at a steady pace. Two weeks since she decided to switch skin to another being. It turned out well but the frustrations she felt by not eating grew greater.
so she stood again, tilting her head back to stick her nose into the air to try and test for any humidity. If there was that she had a chance for water. Aha found it. Nora perked up when she smelt it, water. Following it like an obedient dog to a bone until she could hear the rushing water from what she assumed to be a river. Completely correct, even if Nora's strong suit was in inking and not the wild, you had no choice. She collapsed in the wide creek when she arrived. Light hazel eyes scanning the area for any threats she could encounter.
She missed Enid. Her cocky jokes brought comfort in the form of laugh-filled memories. Until one day Enid wasn't laying at her side asleep and was instead gone. Somewhere she knew Nora wouldn't find her.
Nora poked her nose into the water, pulling her head back to send water flying over her chocolate coat.
Her body tensed when she heard a whisper of a twig snapping then got a whiff of musk, male human? too potent. Her hackles raised on point, so she heaved herself to her feet. Listening over the dripping of water from her coat and the creek she stood in. When she turned around to face the owner of the noise her light hazel eyes met intimidating blues. Causing the Beta ranking wolf to lower to sit down. Even as this larger and stronger shifter sized her up, she only watched in amusement as her hackles lowered . With respect, he did as well. He wasn't from The Wolves, She knew this immediately.
who're ya?
Nora didn't have plans on talking with anyone. She stood again, bent down to take in some freshwater then stood straight as the man mentally prodded her. Though doing the exact same with his eyes as he continued to check her for any bites. None, to which he was happy about because to Daryl, the last one of them he saw was his brother.
When Nora trotted from the water and towards the male she let herself take in his scent. Grumbling when he smelt clean and.. well kept? he was groomed , more than the average survivor. She backed up, making eye contact again. He was a little bigger than her, by five inches or so because when she looked at him she had to cock her head back. He wasn't Alpha, and he was well kept so she pushed her borders back
Who are you? smelling like some caged animal that gets groomed every three hours. scare away everything dammit.
This is how Nora reacted with everyone she didn't know. Bitchy and too much at first but later becoming less embarrassing. She wouldn't look to her feet if Hela was staring her down. She earned herself a growled grunt. Tailing the man as he turned around and began walking where he came from. His step was heavier yet still silent compared to Nora's. She wasn't quiet nor did she plan to be. She wasn't hunting so it wasn't going to affect her in the slightest.
Quit followin' me
Nora didn't understand, they were the same? Her eyes moving to the way his pelt fluffed and each marking against it. He was a striking black, even appearing to shine in the sun. Breathtaking!
Scared I'm gonna bite you?
Once more he didn't reply, he didn't even give off the signs that he was listening. Only kept walking, was he not going to make her submit for this?
what seemed like an hour passed before the man came to a stop. Bending and digging a bag of what looked like clothes out of the roots of a still-standing tree. Nora watched him turn to face her with the bag in his mouth, eyes narrowing before a thick growl pierced the air.
D'you, Mind?
Not realizing that staring what rude. After taking down two walkers that the man let wander by she thought staring would be the least of her worries.
No... OH! oh yes.
She backed away, turning around and sitting to wait for the man to change to his other skin. The sound of bones crackling and skin reshaping making Nora cringe. It was upsetting to hear. She hadn't realized it sounded so cruel. It was all painful and after the first few times, it was easier than snapping your fingers. When he huffed and told her she could look back again she obliged to take in the man's looks. He was on the stronger side by the look of his arms, those eyes as well still cut her like glass.
"You really gonna follow me?"
He went quiet, she was going to follow him. No matter what.
"fine. how many walkers you kill?"
Then came the three questions, she answered ever so honestly . It was hard to remember how many walkers she had killed, but how many people and why? easy as pie.
"right, come ere then"
There go her weekend plans then. Her human intelligent mind worked for ways around prancing in as a giant wolf. What choice did she have but to go into the community this way? she hadn't seen Enid in months, she could have been dead. Nora gave the man a look, the look of a very horrible hunch. He had one pair of pants, yeah, but he could lend her his boxers and vest. He caught on and shook his head. Pointing at her with one hand before going to tug at something under some leaves. When he pulled the item out Nora went into fight or flight mode and growled. Hackles standing on end as he gripped his Crossbow, puzzled by her reaction.
"Naw I ain't lending you my shit, go scavenge something up yerself dog" The scout grumbled.
Calming down when she realized his lack of aggression. She approached him, His rough hands sliding over her dirty fur when she tried to walk by.
"We could drag ya in for a pet for the kids until I can find clothes that would fit yer fat ass"
How rude. Nora's bit down on her tongue to stop herself from biting at his hair or clothes, in a friendly manner of course. But as they started to walk she couldn't help but hold an uncomfortable feeling in her gut. Children? Germs. This was dangerous too, they didn't know her and it went both ways. This could be a trap.
Reluctant to go further, she stopped and tugged the collar of the man's vest. She would take it and tie something around her bottom, this was the only way she would agree to go back to Alexandria.
It didn't take long to figure clothing out, and Nora was newly equipped with Daryl's vest and underwear. A long story short, she forced him to give her and would be owing him big time for this later. On the plus side, he was still dressed enough to interact with other people.