Neverwinter Forest Get busy living, or get busy dying

Sorry for taking so long!

Malachi waited until the girl's voice met him again. The name struck no recognition, and despite his early fears, he remained with eyes fixed on the shadowy shapes of the undergrowth. He'd managed to turn his face in her general direction, and at her prompting, honed his attention on the narrower region of the woods from which she spoke. He was still some distance away - far enough to leave without revealing himself. Instead, he let intrigue lead him to her, where her scent mingled with the sharp sting of pine - a scent that brought more recognition than any name could offer.

He caught a glimpse of her fur through the thicket's twisted arms, and only then did knowledge of the other click. Malachi paused midstride. Though he'd only promised Dante he would stay away from the South, he had personally sworn to keep his distance from all of the Caldera, to avoid even the chance of causing a stir among them. But despite his precautions, he was too close now for his own mind to justify turning away. She was no enemy to him, but whether she felt the same was a mystery to him.

Turn away, or risk it all. Logic prompted him to leave, but something else held him there. He ducked his head to try and catch a better glimpse of her. "What're you doing in the thicket?" He spoke with gentleness, yet felt a tightness to his voice, a restraint. This was foolishness - but she was a wolf as much as he, and he wasn't about to treat her any different than that.