Sequoia Coast don't you know the stars envy you?

The distance closes between them before she realizes it, surprised by their approach, but their words are not silent to her. She hears the faint introduction of Lucani, her name instead of title, and she feels a rumble begin in her chest. She quietens it, mostly due to the dark male with her, but her focus doesn't break from the older woman. She's thinned out, perhaps more than when she left, but the famine had not been kind—her survival, however, does remain surprise—but her own figure has narrowed with hunger.

Lasher introduces his following and speaks highly of Lucani, and she has to break her attention away from her. Once, she'd felt a fondness for her, a connection she didn't get to fully pursue, but her spot has since been marred black with betrayal. Thuringwethil had worked to keep her life that day, against her better judgment, against the respect of her other wolves, and a sour taste raises in her mouth. She hadn't realized relief and bitterness could share the same palate, but being in the same space as she leaves her unsettled.

Another pack gets her benefits, gets the life she deserves. Thuringwethil has nothing to show for it and the ungrateful bitch goes elsewhere as thanks. The words sear her tongue and she bites back the bile the builds, threatening to spit fire from her teeth dipped in poison. Words swell her cheeks and, when she realizes no good will come from the things she wants to say, she dips her nose once in acknowledgment, "perhaps she will not betray you and your own."

The dark leader does not linger, and turns to go instead.

Sorry it's awkward. I didn't realize they were in speaking distance. I thought they were pretty far apart, lol.