Hushed Willows come to me, my sweetest friend.

Her kids were obedient to her request, and Harlyn gave them both an approving smile. Both greetings were quiet and shy and accompanied with smiles and tail wags that seemed to be a struggle to accomplish. It wasn't exactly what she had hoped for, but it was suitable. She could require propriety, but confidence was a different matter.

Harlyn looked to Grace as the girl responded. There was a tremor in her voice, but she thought little of it except for a brief flicker of pity. She nodded eagerly to confirm that there was plenty of room in the game, then stepped forward to take up the willow limbs between her teeth again. Without a word, she darted a few yards away from the wolves that had gathered to her, spun, and dropped down onto her elbows with her haunches raised in the air behind her in an inviting play bow. She waggled the long, limp limbs towards her companions in an effort to tempt them into trying to take the branches from her. Her hope was that it would work without her having to explain, but she would simply have to try harder if that didn't happen to work out.