The Sentinels To the lepers in your head

the cub truly did carry an old soul within her that slept quietly in her breast, but emerged in times such as these when she felt so passionately. her love for nature was great, given to her from the Days of Knowing All Things; she retained this, now, and perhaps the world around them knew it as it nestled and protected her in its roots, or its thorns that wrapped around her as though she herself were the rose blooming from its stem.

deirdre felt herself quietly agreeing with the other, and clung to the other bit of wisdom. she would watch others, watch how they treated the world they were born into. deirdre smiled, feeling rewarded by the others compliment on her own wisdom. deirdre admired the wolf before her, and felt a connectedness to her for the words exchanged. i am friends with all the trees and flowers of donnelaith, and i talk with all the birds and the squirrels and the chipmunks. even the rabbits talk to me sometimes! though usually they run, her tail thumped against the earth and she smiled wanly. with no hunting instinct yet to speak of, or capability, no doubt the forest critters saw no threat in communicating with her while she herself could not shed their blood.