Larksong Grotto Riding alone, town after town, toll after toll

Reek could feel the small amount of hope he clung to leave his body in the wake of her clipped response. His head drooped and he exhaled sharply. In the greying gloom of rain, the two wolves (Aspen and Tavi) were nearly indistinguishable from one another. The dissapointment lingering in this case of mistaken identity was evident in Reek's voice. "Oh," he returned on the breath of a sigh. She would return eventually. She had to.

It took a great deal of self control to not turn back now. Reek yearned for the comfort and the protection from the rain that his cave offered. However, realizing that this wolf was not Tavi, Reek now had business to attend to. His body language stiffened, the comfort that once peppered his stance now fading away. Lifting his tail, Reek took a step toward the stranger.

"You're close to my border," he said, matter-of-fact. "Why?"  No one approached a wolf pack without reason. Whatever her's was, it better be good.