Qeya River Feels

Her would-be attacker fell back further, then retreated, leaving Wildfire alone with Thuringwethil. Wildfire would have slumped in relief, had she not already been lying boneless at the other woman's feet. Her amber eyes flicked to the dark stranger's back as she moved away, then her friend snatched her attention wholly by pressing her tongue to the yearling's wet face. A small groan loosed from Wildfire's snout and she closed her eyes, leaning into the touch, welcoming the comforting familiarity of it.

Sensing the unspoken command to stand, the young she-wolf shakily pushed herself into a seated position, then stood. Her legs fell wobbly and weak, yet she managed. She blinked down at her bedraggled appearance, then looked up at Thuringwethil, her expression somewhere between apology and gratitude. Wildfire found herself reaching out to nuzzle her smudged snout beneath the dark leader's chin, her tongue flicking out to lick it.

"You saved my life," she said, pausing for just a beat before adding fondly, "Heda."