The Heartwood Starlight barking

Goodness, Turquoise thought even as her voice shook the stars as they peeked out of the darkening sky, I sound like a man. Unsure whether to feel irritated or pleased about the deep timbre of her voice, she emptied every last drop of oxygen from her lungs. Her call faded and she sucked in a deep breath of cooling summer air, black-rimmed ears already pricking for the anticipated responses.

One came in mere seconds. Her brow furrowed at the simple and mostly useless response, then Turq laughed despite herself. Drawing in another deep breath, she responded, "Hello! I'm Turquoise and I'm seeking information on the packs around here. Can you help?" Meanwhile, she wondered if anybody else would answer her call and whether Rivet was somewhere on the other side of the forest, listening.