The Sentinels 12:51

The red drifter ambled idly 'round the gargantuan pines while sniffing for stashed voles in the snow to bide some time. Unfortunately, not a morsel was unearth by the time her position was discovered. An adolescent female was the first wolf to greet the ember at the precipice. She was a pretty thing - a beauty, even - with a coat the color of honey. A pang of envy brewed in Tuwawi's breast. Maera, her daughter, had been a beautiful; a young woman with a striking pelt of fire and ash.

Yet, the age and inexperience of the pack-wolf meant more promising odds. It might be easier for Tuwawi to appeal to the maiden than a suspicious guard. However, the girl - now known as Eilidh - claimed herself to be a child of the leaders. The Sveijarn knew she must trek carefully, lest rouse the ire of her guardians.

The matron's posture was cordially neutral, ruddy tail hanging limp. She made no move to impede the young princess' instructions, knowing to listen for the sake of bolstering the girl's ego. A slight tip of Tuwawi's slim muzzle acknowledge her words before speaking her own. "Eilidh of Donnelaith," the ember drawled, playing with the foreign words upon her tongue, "I am a courier from the Taiga and bring urgent information." It wasn't a flat-out lie, Tuwawi thought, just... shrouding the full truth. "But my.... journey has been long," she wheezed and fake-stumbled to the side, "winter has made the mountains nearly impassable. I had no choice but to go around. I am so thirsty... so hungry." The matron slouched down to her rear and looked to the blonde girl with pleading eyes to put on a most convincing show.