The Sentinels In this burning house

Deirdre didn't make them wait long. She materialized from the shadows like a ghost. Larkspur smiled, though it faltered a little when she saw that her friend wasn't alone. She supposed that was sensible and fair, considering the late hour and the fact that there were two wolves loitering at the borders. Still, there was nothing but friendliness and warmth in their embrace. No one outside of her family could touch and be touched by Larkspur this way. Her blue eyes closed in contentment as her slender muzzle buried itself into the peak of Deirdre's shoulder blade. She enjoyed the proximity and her best friend's familiar scent before drawing back and reopening her eyes.

Deirdre greeted her father and Larkspur smiled between them, then flashed a briefly questioning glance in the stranger's direction before remembering to mention exactly why they were here. "Deirdre," Larkspur breathed, close enough to the other young woman's ear that her warm breath tousled the pale, silky furs there. "We need your help. My brother, Pip, is missing. We've been looking for days but we still haven't found him..." Her eyes were wide and pleading in the dark as she sought her friend's reassuring gaze.