Phoenix Maplewood When the dark returns

The rustling of leaves almost masked Ryker's approach, but his chuff announced him well enough. Saena was rarely surprised by wolves coming up behind her any longer. More often than not it was Reek, and when it wasn't it was usually no one to fear. Only in the neutral lands did she put her guard up readily enough to turn on a dime. This was no neutral land, as any wolf with half a nose would know just by approaching it.

So her turn was leisurely, at least until she spotted the horsefly on her shoulder. With a snarl and a snap the alpha female sent it on its way at about the same time Ryker pointed out how irritating they were. "I can live with them," she said after a beat, "but we had nothing like these at the rise. It'll take some getting used to." Even Blacktail Deer Plateau was almost too high to be bothered by flies like this. They liked water and lowlands.

"How do you like it aside from them?" Saena asked, gesturing broadly to the forest around them. She hoped upon hope that her followers approved of Phoenix Maplewood just as she did, but she was eager to hear his honest feedback.