Phoenix Maplewood let the rain fall down

There was nothing disrespectful about the way the lone wolf conducted herself and Saena noted it with approval. There were far too many foolish wolves in the world who knew nothing about their species' hierarchy. It was hard to believe they were wolves at all sometimes. Chosovi, by comparison, was a model specimen who did understand the hierarchy and seemed to know the importance of it. Saena neither had to announce she was the alpha female nor behave overly dominant for the woman to show submission, which was a welcome change for a female who ached on a daily basis and found standing tall to be a bit of a strain lately.

"What makes you want to settle here?" Saena asked, more out of interest than anything. A wolf who could show respect at the borders was already welcome to make their home in the maple wood; Saena's old ways of testing their skills before accepting them were no longer appropriate and, she noted maturely, somewhat unfair. Not all wolves who left home were masters of one craft or another, but they could be taught. It was something that, as a yearling, she had not given anyone a chance on, and it was something she regretted in hindsight. Chosovi was already welcome to join the wolves of the maple wood, with Saena holding out on that fact only so she could learn something about the larger female.