Lion Head Mesa Running is a victory

God, I love Genie!

Pipit wasn't to be deterred by the young wolf's shyness, but she did find it time that she respect it. Boundaries weren't her thing. She'd often pestered Shrike into oblivion, forcing him out of shell and otherwise making him act in ways that seemed to make him uncomfortable; but that was her brother. This was a complete stranger, and she had no right to tease her in the way she might have with kin. She didn't want her desperate loneliness to turn her into a greedy, unfeeling monster, so she eased back a step. "Don't apologize. I could listen to your praise all night if you let me," she beamed, watching the girl turn shier as their conversation moved to song.

I was alone too, she said, and then introduced herself as Genie— sweet, beautiful, brown-furred Genie. Pipit's eyes swept along her long, lissome legs, taking advantage of the lack of eye contact to study the girl's features more deeply. "I'm Pipit, and it's really nice to meet you, Genie. I don't believe either of us deserve to be lonely," she remarked, speaking softer now, as if she thought they might disturb the stars. "Do you know any songs?" Pipit asked then, her smile lighting up the space between them.