Wild Berry Meadow Faint of heart

The direct, unflinching gaze of the wolf was unsettling, maybe even more so than the Phantom Hollow, but Mitanni stayed in place. Running would only give him a reason to pursue her, and given the way he was looking at her she didn't trust him to let her go unscathed. You're being paranoid, her thoughts tried to assure her, but there was no silencing the slight prickle of unease along the back of her neck.

As he drew slowly, slowly nearer, the black and brown wolf sank further into her cautious, nervous crouch. The stranger didn't outright approach her but chose instead to keep a bit of distance between them, speaking across the space. He sounded friendly enough, his tone at odds with the intense stare he'd given her to begin with, but Mitanni hoped it was only because he was nervous too. "Yeah, nice day," she echoed noncommittally, resisting the urge to fidget in place. "I'm just passing through. Needed a walk."

It wasn't altogether the truth, but given the circumstances she didn't feel too bad about it.